iPhone Atlas

ITunes 9

(Credit: Apple, Inc.)

Last month, Apple released iTunes 9.0.1, which addressed a number of iPhone syncing issues as well as making some performance and stability improvements. We covered some of these improvements and offered a tip on relieving some of the problems people encountered with Smart Playlist syncing. Today, Apple started offering their own tips on what to do when Smart Playlists are not syncing as expected.

If you are syncing a Smart Playlist and you notice that the order and contents displayed in iTunes don't match what appears in your iPhone or iPod after syncing then Apple offers the following suggestions:

Smart Playlist on the device is not in the same order in Tunes:

1. Click the Smart Playlist.
2. Setup the sort order and arrange as desired.
3. Right-click the Smart Playlist and choose Copy to Play Order.
4. Sync the device with iTunes.

If this does not resolve the issue, continue with the following steps.

Smart Playlist on the device does not have the same content as shown in iTunes:

Check the Smart Playlist if its content is all the same kind of media (i.e. all music), try these steps:

1. Right-click the Smart Playlist and choose Edit Smart Playlist.
2. Click the "+" button to create a new rule.
3. Add a new rule with the following selections: Media Kind > Is > Music (or the specific media type for that playlist).
4. Click OK.
5. Sync the device with iTunes.

Finally, if none of the above resolves the issue, continue with the steps listed below.

1. Right-click the smart playlist and choose Edit Smart Playlist.
2. Deselect the option for "Live updating."
3. Click OK.
4. Sync the device with iTunes.
5. Check to see if the issue is resolved. If not, proceed to step 6.
6. Click the Smart Playlist.
7. Choose Edit > Select All.
8. Choose File > New Playlist from Selection.
9. Enter a name for the playlist.
10. Click the device on the left-hand side of iTunes.
11. Click the Music tab and then click the new playlist you just named; there should be a checkmark next to the playlist.
12. Sync the device with iTunes.

Are you experiencing this problem on your iPhone or iPod Touch? Let us know in the comments.

(Credit: Apple Inc.)

iPhone Atlas reader golf11, participants in Apple's discussion boards, and I are all complaining that iTunes 9.0.1 refuses to remember our Apple ID passwords.

The Apple ID password is part of the user ID/password combination that you use to access and authorize activities and purchases in the iTunes Store. After iTunes 9.0.1 was released, a number of users were annoyed that the check mark button for saving their password no longer worked. As a result, each purchase or app-upgrade triggers iTunes to prompt for a password.

Fortunately, there are two fixes and a few tips from Apple to fix the problem. I used the first option to resolve my own password-saving issue.

Option 1:

• Launch iTunes
• Go to Store Menu > Deauthorize Computer
• Once deauthorization is complete, quit iTunes
• Relaunch iTunes
• Go to Store Menu > Authorize Computer

iTunes is fixed, but you will have to enter and check the option to save your password the next time you are given the opportunity to do so. Thereafter, iTunes should remember the password.

Option 2:

• Launch iTunes
• Go to Store Menu > View My Account(your Apple ID)
• Click Reset Warnings

iTunes reset warnings

(Credit: David Martin)

Like Option 1 above, Option 2 fixes iTunes. In this case, however, you will be faced with a few pop-up warnings that you will have to dismiss--annoying, but usually brief.

Finally, Apple offers some suggestions to resolve this problem in its article, iTunes repeatedly prompts to authorize computer to play iTunes Store purchases.

Were these tips helpful? Are you experiencing other unresolved problems with iTunes? Let us know in the comments.

(Credit: Apple, Inc.)

Apple's iPhone Configuration Utility 2.1, released last month, isn't designed as an end-user troubleshooting tool--it's really meant to help enterprise users create configuration profiles for device deployment--but it provides three functions that can be very useful for troubleshooting or security.

1. It can uninstall applications directly from the host computer, which can be useful for removing stubborn apps that cannot be deleted directly from the iPhone. Some third-party applications can cause systemic issues, which can be resolved through their removal via a host computer.

2. It allows easy access to the iPhone's console log, which shows application and general system errors, successful or failed attempts to connect to networks, and much more. These logs can prove invaluable for pinpointing otherwise elusive issues.

3. It offers an alternative way for businesses using Microsoft Exchange 2003 or 2007 to Remote Wipe an iPhone without the need of having a MobileMe subscription. However, access to Exchange Management Console (2007), Outlook Web Access (2007) or Exchange ActiveSync Mobile Administration Web Tool (2003/2007) is required to initiate the wipe.

(Credit: David Martin)

Additionally, according to Apple:

Configuration profiles are XML files that contain device security policies, VPN configuration information, Wi-Fi settings, APN settings, Exchange account settings, mail settings, and certificates that permit iPhone and iPod Touch to work with your enterprise systems. For instructions on how to use iPhone Configuration Utility, see the iPhone and iPod Touch Enterprise Deployment Guide, available for downloading at http://www.apple.com/support/iphone/enterprise/

The iPhone Configuration Utility 2.1 is currently available via Software Update or as a direct download for Mac OS X or Windows.

(Credit: David Martin)

(Credit: Apple Inc.)

Facebook 3.0 was heralded as a long-awaited, must-have upgrade on the iPhone, but the initial 3.0 release left many of our readers with a bad feeling. CNET users sent in numerous complaints about the app frequently crashing and wanted to know how to downgrade to the previous version.

Facebook quickly released updates and the app has since stabilized, but you should know that regardless of how big or popular an app is, you can usually roll it back following this tutorial.

Difficulty level:
Medium

What you need:
>Mac OS X 10.5 or later; Windows XP or Vista
>iTunes 8.02 or higher
>Access to a backup of your Mobile Applications folder
>Any iPhone or iPod Touch

If you want to downgrade an iPhone app, you must have a copy of the older version of the app, or this how-to won't work.

We recommend that you make frequent backups of your ~/Music/iTunes/Mobile Applications/ folder, which is located in your home directory (represented by the ~) on the Mac. PC users will find the same folder located at C:\Documents and Settings\username\My Documents\My Music\iTunes/Mobile Applications. These are the folders that iTunes uses to store all app files in your iTunes Library. The app files themselves are represented by file names ending in .ipa. If you keep frequent daily backups, you should always have older versions of your apps available.

How to downgrade an app

Take the following steps to easily downgrade to an older version of any iPhone or iPod Touch app:

Delete the app from your iPhone or iPod Touch

1. Locate the icon of the app you want to delete on the home screen. Tap and press down on its icon until the icons on the home screen start to jiggle. Next tap the X icon in the upper left corner of the app icon. Finally, tap Delete when the prompt pops up.

Deleting iPhone apps

(Credit: David Martin)

Delete the app from your Mac or PC

2. On a Mac, go to the ~/Music/iTunes/Mobile Applications folder of your Home directory, locate the .ipa file for the app you just deleted from your iPhone or iPod Touch and drag it to the Trash. On a PC, go to the C:\Documents and Settings\username\My Documents\My Music\iTunes/Mobile Applications folder and drag the .ipa file for the app to the Recycle Bin.

Mobile Applications folder on the Mac

(Credit: David Martin)

Empty the Trash or Recycle Bin

3. Now empty the Trash or Recycle Bin to delete the .ipa file. Note that if you ever need to get the deleted file back, it can always be downloaded again from the App Store for free, even if it's a paid app.

Restore the previous app version

4. Launch iTunes. Switch the view in iTunes to view your apps library. Drag the .ipa file for the older version of the app you are trying to reinstall from your backup and drop it into the iTunes window. iTunes will automatically add the app back to the App Library.

iTunes App Library

(Credit: David Martin)

Sync app to your iPhone or iPod Touch

5. Connect your iPhone or iPod Touch to your computer. iTunes should automatically sync the app back to your device. If it doesn't, check your iTunes settings to make sure you have not chosen to sync only "Selected applications." If you have, make sure you've checked off the app in question to enable syncing. Finally, if it still does not sync automatically, you may have to click the Apply or Sync buttons.

Conclusion

At this point, the older version of the app should now be installed on your iPhone or iPod Touch.

If you change your mind, just reinstall the latest version by using the Check for Updates feature in iTunes or by going to the App Store and repurchasing the app, which will be downloaded again for free.

I woke up last Friday morning, just like everyone else, looking forward to finally getting MMS on my iPhone 3GS. However, for some of us, the excitement turned into dismay when the MMS update didn't work.

Users were discussing the issue under the topic MMS message send failure on Apple support forums. I was experiencing the problem and initially I could not fix it--even after spending more than 2 hours on the phone with Apple and AT&T. Today I decided to take a new approach and I found an ironically simple fix for this problem that we had all missed on Friday.

In this example you can see that MMS would fail to send an image of my new puppy and a picture of a flower in my garden. Even subsequent attempts to resend by pressing the exclamation point in the red circle failed to work.

Send fails twice then works after the fix.

(Credit: David Martin)

After discovering the following simple fix for my problem the next flower picture was actually sent to the recipient. I tried sending more images, resending images that had failed to send previously, and even a video with sound; all of those worked without a hitch and I was able to receive the same type of content from others.

Warning notes:

• All your preferences and settings are reset. Information, such as your contacts and calendars, and media, such as your songs and videos, aren't deleted.
• You will have to re-enter your passcode, Wi-Fi passwords, and your apps will all be rearranged alphabetically. Note: the latter issue is actually a neat find--now I know how to alphabetize my apps when I want them sorted that way. Drastic yet effective.
• Additionally other settings like VPN, remembered Wi-Fi networks, etc., maybe lost.

Fixing the MMS send failure error message

• Connect your iPhone 3G or 3GS to your computer.
• Launch iTunes and go to the Summary tab for your iPhone.
• Click the Restore button to restore your iPhone and allow it to use your most recent backup when prompted; iTunes should do this automatically. This process will take a while so it is recommended that you try it only when it is convenient and you are not in a hurry. Once it is completed your iPhone will reboot.
• Launch Settings on your iPhone.
• Go to General > Reset All Settings > enter your PIN if prompted
• Try sending and receiving an MMS now.

Hopefully this fix will resolve your MMS send failure woes, and if it does then welcome to 2003!

Tell us about your iPhone MMS experience in the comments.

Updated on 9/26/2009 at 11:56 a.m. PDT: Regarding JOBIROAL's comment about trying Reset Network Settings: both Apple and AT&T recommended this, but it did not resolve the problem for me. However, it is worth a try before attempting my fix.

Updated on 9/28/2009 at 3:27 a.m. PDT: Check your AT&T account online to verify that you have one of the following three message plans:

iPhone MMS supported message plans

(Credit: David Martin)

AT&T charges an iPhone user with a service that's not available on the iPhone.

(Credit: Screenshot by Dong Ngo/CNET)

I've been a customer of AT&T ever since 2003, when I got myself my first cell phone ever, and I've been a very good one. The proof: I set my bill to autopay from day one and even convinced a few friends to move to AT&T (mostly so that we don't have to use the minutes to talk to each other.)

I found out Thursday that AT&T hasn't been very nice to me.

Prior to the release of iTunes 9 (Windows | Mac), arranging pages apps directly on your iPhone or iPod Touch was tedious and unpleasant. So when Apple touted app arranging as a new in iTunes feature this week we got very excited. We've spent the last three days with iTunes 9 and the new app arranging feature. While we're satisfied with it there is one bug that made it less than perfect. Luckily, we have a workaround.

Arranging app icons in iTunes 9

(Credit: David Martin)

Arranging app icons
After connecting your device to a computer and launching iTunes 9, just go to the Applications tab as shown below. Once there, you can drag apps between thumbnails that represent the 11 home screens. Exciting, right? Well not so fast, since the process still is a bit painful if an app isn't currently assigned to one of the 176 spaces on the home screens (four spaces are reserved for the Dock). We have the same problem when arranging (or deleting) app icons on the iPod or iTouch.

If an app icon doesn't exist in a space, you won't be able to manage it until you figure out a secret. The check mark on the app on the left side of the window tells you that it's currently synced to your device. You can't manipulate "checked" apps unless they are sitting on a home screen. If the app is not on one of the 11 home screens you have to do the following.

App checked for syncing and cannot be arranged due to iTunes 9 bug

(Credit: David Martin)

• Uncheck the app so that it won't sync with your phone.
• Place the app on one of the 11 home screens.
• Re-check the app so it will sync again.

Unchecked app can be arranged

(Credit: David Martin)

If you forget to recheck it, you will delete the app from your device the next time you sync it with iTunes. Indeed, it's not a very intuitive process; I only stumbled on it accidentally. You'll also need to remember it for the tasks below.

(Credit: Apple, Inc.)

The iPhone Camera Roll can cause increased backup and restore times in iTunes if not properly managed. It's easy to mismanage the Camera Roll if you--like me--use it store media for showing later to friends or family. Apple did not intend the Roll to be used this way, however, and recommends that users use the Photo app, instead, for storing media you plan on showing off later.

Per this support document, whenever you sync or perform a restore in iTunes, the app creates a backup of the contents of your iPhone. The more pictures, screen snapshots, or video you have stored on the Camera Roll, the longer a backup or restore takes.

The solution to the problem is easy: Make sure that you regularly import the contents of your Camera Roll, delete that content, then sync the content that you must have in your pocket back to the iPhone using iTunes. I had nearly 200 media files in my iPhone 3GS Camera Roll and deleted all of these after syncing and importing using iPhoto on my Mac. I used iTunes to restore content that I needed into the Photo app and I saw an immediate decrease in the time it took my iPhone to back up. Apple provides detailed information on performing these tasks in their support document for Mac OS X, Windows XP, and Windows Vista.

Moving Wiener dog photos and videos of my new puppy to the Photo app from the iPhone Camera Roll improved my backup times.

(Credit: David Martin)

This simple housecleaning effort will reduce the number of media files in your Camera Roll and significantly improve backup and restore times in iTunes. It certainly did for me and it is possible that properly managing your Camera Roll would resolve the issue I wrote about previously where users were plagued by missing photos on their iPhones.

It remains to be seen whether iTunes 9, annouced today, will help resolve this problem in a more elegant manner. Stay tuned.