[UPDATED on February 20, 2010]

These are the top six questions I’ve been asked this week regarding technology.

1. Text, video, and picture messaging doesn’t work: I have WiFi and the internet works, but messaging doesn’t…?

This is usually asked by smartphone owners: however your phone can use WiFi to go on the internet, and it’s the same internet experience, text, video and picture messaging can only be sent or received over the cellular network (unless you’re sending them to an email address, but I’m talking about phone-phone messaging).  There are some emerging technologies where you get a “micro cell”, a device that can be integrated in to a router, or can be plugged into your modem (cable, DSL; doesn’t matter), creates a small personal cellular site.  The most notable implementation of this is by AT&T, the “AT&T microcell.”

2. Why can’t I use my cell phone to connect the iPad to wireless data?

This question has been posed a lot to me in the last week since the iPad announcement, only by poeple who have smartphones (Blackberry, iPhone, or Android): the fact is that all of these phones are capable of sharing their data with other devices, called “tethering,” however:

iPhones will only tether to other computers; Mac and Windows only (sorry, your Ubuntu/other Linux netbook won’t work).  Or you can jailbreak your iPhone and use an (illegal!) app like xx or xx and tether… if the iPad can create (let alone join) a computer-to-computer network (called an “adhoc” network).

The Androids can tether, but going the legit way, you will have to pay [INSERT CARRIER HERE] more money for a separate data plan even though you don’t use near all of your current data plan… yes, I know they’re “buttheads.”  However there are apps you can use, they cost money, and the reliability of them varies.  You’re using the phone that will probably get you closest to a cheap iPad.

The Blackberry can tether, but unless you purchase tetherberry for $58 CAD or pay [INSERT CARRIER HERE] for a separate tethering data plan, you’re SOL.

There’s another problem: as of yet, the WiFi-only iPad can only use WiFi tethering: that means that you will need to tether via WiFi.  This could cause a problem if you’re not using a jailbroken iPhone with an app like xx or an Android phone with xx.

<Update February 20, 2010>

In response to a comment from Billy, I should clarify.  The iPad does indeed do 3G cellular data.  However it requires it’s own cellular account and can’t share your cell phone data (some carriers have plans where a phone and data device such as a laptop card can share a data allotment, but that isn’t what I’m referring to).  I was responding in the context of those who don’t want to pay another (minimum $15/mo) data fee.

</Update>

3. Can you upgrade my iPhone?

Yes: other’s can upgrade your iPhone to the latest version.  This is a common question from my peers who use dial-up (yes, there are still places sans broadband in this day and age).  The typical iPhone update is ~300MB, or about 12+ hours of solid dial-up downloading.  Other iTunes users can update your phone provided that you’ve already sync’d the iPhone (or iPod touch) with your computer.  Also, if you go to restore your phone to factory settings (in iTunes) then you will have to download the firmware or let me do it.  Hint: if you’ve jailbroken your phone, it would make the updaters’ life a lot easier!

4. Why are my iPhone/iPod Touch apps crashing/not opening/running slow/other?

This happens to me all the time! The simple solution: you reboot your phone.  Unlock your device to the home screen, hold the power button (at the top of the device) until you get the “slide to power off” notification, slide it.  Once the screen has gone blank, wait a few seconds, then press and hold the power button for a few seconds until you see the Apple logo.

5. Why are my iPhone/iPod Touch apps wiggling on my home screen?!?!

You pressed and held your finger on an app icon, this puts your phone in a mode which allows you to relocate the icons; when the icons are wiggling you can tap and drag them to any position on the many home screens.  To stop them from wiggling and exit the relocation mode, press the menu/home button (the circular button with a picture of a square on it on the front of the device).

6. Is it possible to download Youtube video to your iPod/iPhone/iPod Touch?

Assuming your iPod has the ability to play videos (the fat-nano or better, the iPod 5th gen or better, and any iPod touch or iPhone) you can.  On Mac OS X you can use a native application such as TubeTV (the best Mac way I’ve found).  In Tube TV you go into the preferences and select the quality you want.  In general, select the name of your device.  If you’re on an iPhone, select the option that is not ‘cellular’.  This will take care of downloading and converting the video for your iPod.  You then just click-and-drag the video files to your iTunes library and make sure that movie syncing is enabled on your iPod (the movies tab when your iPod is plugged in).  There is also Podtube available.  You could also use Tooble, another program I’ve used to download Youtube videos.  Tooble is freemium: you can download videos for free from Youtube, or upgrade to the “Pro” version for more features, check out the site for a full feature list.  All three of these are free.

On Windows there isn’t as much variety as on the Mac; the only program I’ve grown to trust for Youtube on Windows->iPod/iPhone is the Windows version of Tooble.  Same as Mac, it’s free, but you get more features for the ~$20 Pro version.

<Update February 20, 2010>

In response to Billy, I will add the Orbit Video downloader is a viable, and recommended by him and CNet Download.com, option for downloading Youtube videos for your iPhone or iPod.

</Update>