As you'd expect of Apple, the iPhone is gorgeous. iPhone: The Missing Manual is a book as breathtaking as its subject. Teeming with high-quality color graphics, each custom designed page helps you accomplish specific tasks -- everything from Web browsing to watching videos. Written by New York Times columnist and Missing Manual series creator David Pogue, this book shows you how to get the most out of your new Apple iPhone.

The name iPhone may be doing Apple a disservice. This machine is so packed with possibilities that the cellphone may actually be the least interesting part. The iPhone is at least three products merged into one: a phone, a wide-screen iPod and a wireless, touch-screen Internet communicator. The iPhone's beauty alone may be enough for you to dig for your credit cards, but its Mac OS X-based software makes it not so much a smartphone as something out of the film "Minority Report."

The real magic, however, awaits when you browse the Web. You get to see the entire Web page on the iPhone's screen. All of this is cooked up with Apple's traditional secret sauce of simplicity, intelligence and whimsy.

Written by New York Times columnist and Missing Manual series creator David Pogue, iPhone: The Missing Manual shows you everything they need to know to get the most out of your new Apple iPhone. Full of humor, tips, tricks, and surprises, this book teaches you how to extend iPhone's usefulness by exploiting its links to the Web as well as its connection to Macs or PCs; how to save money using Internet-based messages instead of phone calls; and how to fill the iPhone with TV shows and DVDs for free.

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iPhone TMM: Delightful Details,  July 25 2007
Submitted by MacQuest   [Respond | View]

Whether you?ve already invested in Apple?s incredibly innovative iPhone, or are still contemplating this model versus the next, David Pogue, New York Times columnist and Mac enthusiast, has once again produced a ?must have? handbook to get the most out of this treasure. This publication is the 17th in his Missing Manual series (www.missingmanuals.com) building on his tradition of illustrating details, hacks, workarounds, tutorials, humor, and flaws.

A quick look at the Table of Contents shows the thoroughness of this book:

Part 1: The iPhone as Phone
Chapter 1: The Guided Tour
Chapter 2: Phone Calls
Chapter 3: Fancy Phone Tricks
Part 2: The iPhone as iPod
Chapter 4: Music and Video
Chapter 5: Photos and Camera
Part 3: The iPhone Online
Chapter 6: Getting Online
Chapter 7: The Web
Chapter 8: Email
Chapter 9: Maps and Apps
Part 4: Beyond iPhone
Chapter 10: iTunes for iPhoners
Chapter 11: Syncing the iPhone
Chapter 12: Add-Ons: Accessories and Web Apps
Chapter 13: Settings
Part 5: Appendixes
Appendix A: Setup and Signup
Appendix B: Troubleshooting and Maintenance
Index

In a style which is refreshinigly candid, occasionally tongue-in-cheek, brilliantly entertaining and always educational, David patiently and deliberately walks the reader through the opening impressions directly into the meaty productivity details. Punctuated by insightful tips, notes, colors and caveats, to call it a ?page turner? would be an understatement. Liberally illustrated with great photos, instructive graphics and loads of screen shots from the iPhone, his points are easy to understand and apply quickly.

While there are many parts of the book that are quite obvious in using the iPhone, every chapter seems to have a few tidbits that are really worth reading. It is amazing that David was able to, in such a short time, compile all the small hints that make you once again say to yourself ?. . . this is one cool phone!? Of particular note are the explanations of all the settings that can configure the iPhone to work the way you want it to. Many of these settings truly enhance the iPhone experience.

The part of the book that seemed repetitive were the chapter on using iTunes and the Appendix on Setup and Signup. Both of these chapters, while thorough, really don?t add a lot to the iPhones use. Perhaps if right after the Introduction, rather than two-thirds the way through, Setup and Signup would have seemed more appropriate. Most people investing in the iPhone will likely already be iTunes users, and there is little point in reading about the Setup process again once you?ve been through it.

David always seems to add a humorous twist on rather dry facts, everything from initial setup to advanced features, you never feel like you are reading a training manual. Covering all the basic and advanced features with an in-depth instruction book, he leads you from feature to feature as you quickly walk through it. David also makes a strong push on informing readers about the Add-Ons made possible through the use of Safari and AJAX-driven webpages. Everything from a gas prices to movie show times, and to-do list making, he was able to show readers very quickly some of the best resources that are currently available.

Even if you?ve had your iPhone for awhile and think you have mastered it, a trick here and a hint there is bound to save time. The book is definitely worth the read. I highly recommend it.



Secrets & Mysteries,  July 18 2007
Submitted by Rich Koster   [Respond | View]

If iPhone is the "Jesus phone" as some have dubbed it, then David Pogue has written the "iPhone Bible." All the secrets, hidden mysteries and shortcuts about the iPhone will be revealed to you in "iPhone: The Missing Manual" -- in a complete and entertaining way.

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