When I was watching Steve Jobs’ announcement of the iPad, I thought it would be a neat device but wasn’t convinced that I needed one. That is, until the end of his presentation when he announced iWork for the iPad. On seeing those apps demoed, I was immediately struck with the idea that the iPad represents the future of personal computing. But I also assumed that I’d be able to print from those apps — so that I could still share with people living in the past.

It isn’t just iWork that made me think we would be able to print from our iPads. It’s also taking a look back at Snow Leopard through the lens of the iPad. The improvements to printing in that update to Mac OS X now seem as though they were driven by the need to bring printing to the iPad (the iPhone OS and Mac OS share a foundation). They solve the problem of identifying and installing the appropriate printer driver for the printer you want to use on a device that has no slot for a disc containing printer drivers. It’s a very slick and seamless process on the Mac that makes finding and setting up printers so much easier. But these improvements are an absolute requirement to print from the iPad. I have to think this was part of Apple’s long term plan for the iPad and the new user interface for printing simply didn’t make the cut for the iPad’s April 3 release — even though the foundation was already laid.

Lending further support to my speculation that we’ll see printing as part of Apple’s announcement about iphone OS 4 tomorrow are some iPad support documents that were discovered. Those documents state that “printing directly from iPad is not currently available.” The wording is the key here and it’s Apple’s use of currently that implies that this problem is only temporary.

I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s announcement. If I am right about this, it is one more step towards the iPad being able to function as someone’s only computer.

Syncing your iPhone with your computer will do three key things. It’ll update the apps, music, videos, podcasts, photos, etc. on your iPhone based on whatever you have on your computer. This may be all that you expected would happen. But, it will also backup your iPhone so that if you lose your iPhone (or replace it for any other reason) you can load the new one with a backup and get everything back as it was. It’s really seamless and will appear magical the first time you setup a new device from a backup. The other benefit syncing will give you is that iTunes will periodically check to make sure the system software on your phone is the latest and greatest version. iTunes will prompt you to download and install the newest version of the OS if your phone isn’t up-to-date. You’ll get new features and/or fixes for issues when your OS is updated.

These are three great benefits to regularly syncing your device with iTunes. Do it at least monthly. You’ll want that backup one day in the future!

You’ll need to supply the developer of the app with an identifier for your device so that they can give it permission to run the application. The developer will then send you two files that are required to run the app: a provisioning profile and the application itself. You can either use the Ad Hoc Helper app to send your Unique Device Identifier (UDID) to the developer or follow these steps:

1. Connect your iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad to your computer.
2. Open iTunes if it isn’t already.
3. Select your iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad from the Devices section of the list on the left side of the iTunes window.
4. Select the Summary tab.
5. Click on the Serial Number field to the right of the large icon of your device. It will change to an Identifier field.
6. Press Command-C (Macintosh) or Control-C (Windows) to copy the identifier to your clipboard.
7. Paste the identifier into a message to the developer by using Command-V (Macintosh) or Control-V (Windows).

Once you’ve received both files from the developer, follow these steps to install an app that is distributed in an ad hoc fashion instead of via the App Store.

1. Connect your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad to your computer.
2. Drag the provisioning profile file to iTunes (it has a .mobileprovision extension). You won’t receive any feedback from iTunes that this was successful.
3. Decompress (or unzip) the Zip file containing the app. You’ll use the app file contained inside the Zip for the next step.
4. Drag the application file (it has a .app extension) to iTunes.
5. Sync your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad. If the app does not appear on your device, make sure it is one of the checked apps on your device’s Applications tab in iTunes before syncing.

Always put your iPhone in your left pocket (with the screen facing in) and your keys in your right pocket. I’m not sure what makes the iPhone’s screen prone to scratching by keys when dropping it face-down onto asphalt doesn’t have an effect, but they do. I got one scratch on my original iPhone’s screen after owning it for over a year and a half this way. So, always keep your iPhone separated from your keys.

This is especially good advice for someone that just bought an iPhone 3GS since it has an oleophobic screen. This makes the screen resist oil from fingers or faces. In fact, on the rare occasion when I do notice fingerprints on mine, all I have to do it put it in my pocket and the next time I pull it out there isn’t a trace of them remaining. Placing a sheet of plastic over a screen this nice is a shame.

The reason why I always keep my iPhone in my left pocket is so that it doesn’t ever bang against the steering wheel as I enter and exit my car. People living in England, India, or other places where they drive on the wrong side of the road should switch pockets… or countries.

iPhone OS 3.0.1 already released, addresses SMS flaw – Ars Technica

The vulnerability was first revealed in June by Miller and University of Milan student Vincenzo Iozzo, who said that they planned to reveal the flaw during Black Hat in July. That week has arrived, with Miller and Mulliner demonstrating a “non-malicious” exploit for the SMS bug. This issue did not only affect iPhones—it affected a number of Windows Mobile, Android, and other GSM phones as well. The iPhone was one of the higher-profile devices on the list, however, meaning that all eyes were on Apple to release an update—and fast.

iPhone 3G S – a set on Flickr.

Our challenge was pretty simple: hop into the passenger seat alongside 14-time European Rallycross champion Kenneth Hansen, hurtle around Lydden racetrack in Dover, England, and attempt to type, “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog”–a pangram, or holoalphabetic sentence containing every letter of the alphabet–onto each device.

via Video: Xtreme typing challenge pits iPhone vs. Netbook | Crave – CNET.