Sunday, May 10, 2015

A bug fix for arranging apps on iTunes_0

A bug fix for arranging apps on iTunes
Arranging app iconsAfter 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 bugDavid MartinUncheck 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 arrangedDavid MartinIf 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.Arranging multiple apps or app groupingIf you need to move more than one app at a time between home screens then you should use the following steps. This is handy, for example, if you want to move all your game apps to one page. If they don't fit onto that page, they will overflow to the next one automatically.Select multiple app icons using the Command-Click or Ctrl-Click depending on whether you are using Mac OS X or Windows.Drag the icons to the home screen you want to move them onto.Release the mouse button.Some of my apps after arrangingDavid MartinMoving apps between home screensThis is an easy process after you know the workaround for the bug mentioned above.Grab the app icon that you want to arrange and drag it to the home screen thumbnails. By holding the app at the top or bottom of the home screen list, you can scroll through your home screen pages.Move the app to your desired home screen and the page will appear in the center of the photo above.Drag the app icon onto the larger image of that home screen as shown above and drop the icon in a location.Reorder home screensYou can drag home pages around in the thumbnail column to reorder them by performing these steps.Find the home page that you'd like rearrange and select its thumbnail.Drag the selected home page thumbnail to its new position and release it.App arrangement tipsIf you're lucky enough to have empty home screens, use them wisely as a place for temporary app storage. This can be useful during a massive rearrangement or, for example, when starting a screen containing only games or photo apps.Home screen thumbnailsDavid MartinArrange the very first home screen carefully since it's only a Home key press away from any where on the iPhone or iPod. Stock it with the apps you use the most.Use the dock on the very first home page for the four apps that you use most often. These docked apps will appear on every page giving you the fastest access to those most used apps. It's not limited to the default apps--you can replace those if needed, but remember that these default apps cannot be deleted.ConclusionHopefully, this bug will be fixed in a future release of iTunes so that you can move apps regardless of whether or not the check mark to sync them is on or off. Developers are now adding tags to their apps, which can make it easier to find them via Spotlight. It's unfortunate that Apple didn't include a way to sort apps on iTunes using these tags.This is a great first attempt at making managing apps easier, and we that hope Apple will spend time improving on it. For some, however, Apple's new solution falls short in usability when compared to the solution available on a jailbroken iPhone or the simple proof of concept for app sorting that we covered previously.What do you think about Apple's first attempt at app sorting in iTunes? Tell us about it in the comments.


Thursday, May 7, 2015

How to remove the U2 album from your devices

How to remove the U2 album from your devices
Apple recently gifted every iTunes user a free copy of U2's new album. While most people enjoy getting free stuff, not everyone (especially given that there are more than 800 million iTunes users) likes the band U2. You will find the album, "Songs of Innocence," in the purchases section of iTunes.Some users may have also noticed that it was automatically downloaded to their computer and iOS device. This only occurred if you had it configured for your iTunes to automatically download purchased content to your iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, or computer. Not a fan of U2? Here's how you can get rid of the album: Remove it from iTunes on your computerIf the album automatically downloaded to your iTunes library, simply open iTunes, go to your music library, click on the Albums tab at the top, right-click the "Songs of Innocence" album, and select Delete. Screenshot by Dan Graziano/CNETIf you would like to stop purchases from automatically downloaded to your library, open the iTunes preferences, click on the Store tab, and uncheck the automatic downloads box. As mentioned above, you will find the album in the purchases section of iTunes. To hide the album from appearing with your other purchases, go to the iTunes Store and click on the "Purchased" folder under the "Quick Links" section on the right. Hover over the album, click the X in the upper left, and confirm the action by clicking Hide.To unhide the album, go to your iTunes store account and click on the "Manage" button under the iTunes in the Cloud section. Remove it from your iOS deviceIf there is a cloud icon with a down arrow next to the songs, then they aren't actually on your device and thus for aren't taking up space. It simply means that the songs are located "in the cloud," and are available for downloaded to your device.If you don't see a cloud icon, and you've accidentally (or otherwise) downloaded the album to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, you can still delete it from your device. Open the Music app, click on the album, and individually swipe left over the songs to delete them.Screenshot by Dan Graziano/CNETFrom your device, you can't permanently remove an album stored in the cloud, you can hide it from the iOS Music app. This can be done by going to Settings, clicking on Music, and toggling the "Show All Music" switch to off. The Music app will now only display music you have downloaded to your device, and you won't be able to download or stream music stored in iTunes in the cloud.If you are an iTunes Match user, however, know that toggling this switch off will also hide all of your matched songs. Even though it's not on your device, when the album is available for download from the could, it will still be played in Shuffle mode -- meaning you're stuck with the U2 album through October 13, or until Apple fixes this. A simple fix for now would be to create a custom playlist on your iOS device and exclude U2's "Songs of Innocence" from it. Last updated on Monday, September 15 at 10:30 a.m. PT: Screenshot by Dan Graziano/CNETApple now allows users to remove the U2 album from their accounts. To do this, click on this link, select Remove Album, and sign in to your iTunes account. You will receive a confirmation message once the album has been removed. If you have downloaded the songs to iTunes or the Music app on your iPhone or iPad, however, you will still need to delete them manually using the method we outlined above.


Sunday, May 3, 2015

An absurd iPhone application I like

An absurd iPhone application I like
When my colleague Josh Lowensohn wrote his original and well-received 10 Absurd iPhone Apps blog, I agreed with most of his picks. Yet there was one application with which I rather sheepishly had to take issue. I love maps of all kinds so I was dismayed when I found "public transit maps" in the No. 8 slot. Yes, Josh makes good arguments that transit maps are free online, and that you can plan your route before you leave the house, but I thought it sounded like a cool idea. So, during a trip to New York City last week, I packed CNET's iPhone armed with the CityTransit NYC Subway Guide by Magnetism Studios. I put it to heavy use during my stay and definitely thought it was worth the $2.99 price. Here's why.Don't look like a touristI know New York somewhat well, but if I need to get from 39th Avenue in Long Island City to 14th Street in Manhattan, I'll need to look at a subway map to do so. While I can plan out the route before hand, my short-term memory seems to vanish while on vacation. With the complete subway maps on my iPhone, however, I can check my route while on the train (remember that you can't get the Internet while underground), but I can do so on the sly. I can avoid being the gawking tourist, craning my neck around seated riders to read the map on the side of the car. For all they know, I'm just reading my e-mail. You also can look at a list of all stops on each line--very useful if you get on an express train accidentally. My only suggestion is that you can't zoom in on the maps very far. And even when you can zoom in, the maps can be blurry.Accuracy and informationOther New York Subway applications are available, but user reviews on iTunes named CityTransit as the best. Since the maps are licensed by the city's Metropolitan Transportation Authority, I know they're up to date. I was unaware that the No. 9 subway line had disappeared so it was nice to figure out that was the case when I went to 79th Street to get my H&H bagels fix. What's more, the application gives you current information on service advisories for all subway lines. Such information can be very valuable when you need to navigate a long and delayed ride on the No. 7 route back to the city from the U.S. Open.More than just the subwayNot that I ever plan to take the bus in Manhattan, but if I do, the CityTransit application shows all bus lines on the island. It also offers maps of Metro North trains and the Long Island Railroad. New Jersey Transit would be nice as well, but the omission is understandable since that system is not operated by the MTA.Find meWith a GPS connection you can check which subway stops are close to your current location. Though I didn't use this feature that much, it's still a nifty option.Just for funThe last feature--an antique subway map circa 1948--is more fun than functional. Though it can get you where you want to go in some cases, its real appeal is seeing how the underground of Manhattan of sixty years ago differs from that of today.Transit maps are available for other cities including San Francisco, Chicago, New Jersey, London, Sydney, and Washington DC. Just be aware that not all the applications are made by Magnetism Studios so their quality will vary. I haven't had the opportunity to try them for myself yet, but as far as CityTransit for New York goes, I'm sold.