Monday, September 13, 2010

Learning the iPhone 4

Last Friday I decided to buy an iPhone 4.
I have been using the iPhone 3G for two years but there were enough improvements (camera, compass, iOS4.1) for me to warrant an upgrade.

While at the Apple store, I noticed there was a class on the iPhone 4  to be held the next day, Saturday, so I signed up.

During the class I watched how students were overwhelmed with all the different things the iPhone could do and they were jumping all over the place with their questions. This was an experience  very common to my beginning computer classes, where students were so excited and wanted to know everything - and all at that moment! I often referred to this learning enthusiasm as a giant pill that could not be swallowed in one gulp, but had to be bitten off a little at a time.

With this realization in mind I decided to put together a small plan for “how to learn” about learning about the iPhone. My advice; take it a step at a time, master one thing and then go on to another. Limit your frustration, relax and have fun.


Start by learning about the following topics - one  at a time. Pick the one that interests you at the moment, and then tomorrow, try another. This is just a partial list - the fun is endless.

iPhone 4 hardware
everyone needs this, start with the buttons, and then go on to memory, sensors, etc. as your curiosity grows.

   The Phone
Learn to make calls, what the bars mean, voice mail, proximity sensor, voice control, FaceTime

   Camera
still, video, HDR, flash, resolution, editing, panoramas, front and back cameras. The camera is a big one for me  of course, and I’ll will explore more about it here at palzot as time goes on.

   Viewing Pictures
saving, copying from the internet and other sources, The camera roll, Albums vs Places

   Playing music
podcasts, songs, and YouTube, Netflix

   e-mail
read and send, create accounts

   Internet
Weather, Stocks, Google, Quick browsing

   PDA
Calculator, Calendar, Clock, Contacts, Notes

   iBooks
read thousands of free classics and ever growing number of purchased new releases

   Navigation
Maps, Google Earth, tag your photos with locations, geocaching

   All those other Apps
create an iTunes account, 250,000 additional things to do with your iPhone


- Now remember, this is an on-going learning experience. You cannot learn it all at one sitting. But that’s the fun part. You now own something you can continue to explore for years to come.

In addition to the digital Photography classes, I will be offering at home tutoring (and general help) on using the iPhone in your home at $35 an hour.