Phone Service
After purchasing the iPhone, users must sign up for cell phone service with AT&T to activate the phone. The cell phone can be synchronized with a computer, enabling the user to quickly download contacts and calendars from Outlook onto the iPhone. The process takes minutes, and starts by plugging the recharger cord (supplied with the phone) from the computer to the iPhone. This is the same cord that has a wall plug attached to the USB plug on one end, and a wider plug on the opposite end. The wider plug fits into the bottom of the iPhone. Remove the wall plug from the cord and insert the USB plug into the computer. The pop-up menus will walk the user through the process.
The Phone
The iPhone is a flat, rectangular phone with a touch screen and a camera lens. The narrow outer edges have several controls and plug receptacles. The off and on button is located on the right side, with the receptacle for the earphone to its left. The receptacle for the recharger is on the opposite end of the phone. On the left side are the sound controls. The long button controls the volume, and the smaller button above it, is the mute control. When it displays a red dot, the phone's ringer is muted. It is fairly easily to accidentally mute the ringer, and users often overlook this control and wonder why their phone is not ringing.
Icons
Illuminating the touch screen is done by pressing the button located on the center bottom of the screen. If no password has been set, run a finger over the unlock command that appears on its face. Four icons are located at the bottom of the screen: phone, mail, safari and iPod. Pressing a finger on any of those icons will take the user to that specific menu. These are the icons that are used to make phone calls, read and send emails, surf the Internet and listen to music.
Functions
On the upper part of the screen are a series of icons, each representing menus for different functions. These include text messaging, calendar, photo album, camera, YouTube, stock reports, maps, weather, clock, notes and settings. The phone can be used as an alarm clock, stop watch or timer, an appointment book, camera and more. Its maps will instantly plot driving directions to any member in your contact list, or allow you to manually insert addresses. The setting icon is the menu to customize the phone's settings. More options, such as games, can be added by visiting the online Apple store. The applications can be downloaded directly with the phone, without hooking up to a computer, and some are free.
Tags: bottom screen, button located, cell phone, touch screen, wall plug, wider plug