Official iCreate Blog > 2008 > July

If you want to get your voice heard on the iCreate podcast, now’s your chance!

As of today we’ll be accepting MP3 messages at icreate@imagine-publishing.co.uk for inclusion in our next podcast episode.

Whether you have a question about Apple products, iTunes, the magazine in general or anything else you want to get off your chest, drop us your MP3 of no longer than 30 seconds and you may be featured in the next episode.

We’re also keen to gather some reader-submitted jingles so if you’re a GarageBand ace, why not knock us something up?

We look forward to hearing your submissions.

While I was out to lunch this weekend an undesirable broke into my flat and stole my MacBook and original 8GB iPhone.

Fortunately, the hapless criminal was caught attempting to sell the laptop an hour later - store owners were tipped off by the fact that it was still on and syncing my contacts to MobileMe!

Besides damage to my front door and a little more mess than usual, all was fine.

What entertained me was a couple of comments from the police officers who came back to my flat with me:

Scene 1. Study - Day

Constable X
(Pointing to iMac G5)
Oh dear. He’s had your computer.

 Me
Um… no it’s right there.

Constable X
No, the actual computer is missing. There’s just a screen left.

Me
No, the computer IS the screen.

Constable X
Oh…

  Scene 2. Living Room - Day

Constable Y
(Writing witness statement)
So I now need to get some information about your phone and laptop. What type of laptop was it?

Me
A white Apple MacBook

Constable Y
What numbers did it have after it? Was it a G6, G7?

Me
(Confused)
No, just an Intel…

 Constable Y
And the phone… you said it was an Apple phone?

Me
Yes. Apple iPhone.

Constable Y
I phone?

Me
iPhone. All one word.

 Constable Y
Made by Apple?

Me
(Astounded)
Yes.

Fortunately I’ll be getting all my property back and I shouldn’t really mock the police officers who did a superb job. I just enjoy it when people are so clueless about Apple products. Especially when they’re talking about the iPhone!

Here we are, outside O2’s Bournemouth store.Very few 16GB models, no White?O2 system appears to have crashed and is causing further delays.Over 100 in this line so far, we’re number 32. Have been for 2 hours…Unrest growing as exact number of phones in store is not allowed to be disclosed by o2 staff.Just a reminder folks: make sure you have credit/debit cards and proof of address at the ready.Hopefully more info soon.Sent from my (old) iPhone

UPDATE: Apparently the O2 systems have officially fallen over. They’ve gone “manual”
One happy iPhone owner has left the store since last post.
Hushed voices and grim looks among store staff…

If you are planning on heading out and getting a new iPhone tomorrow here are a few pointers:

Numbers may be limited.

At both the Carphone Warehouse and O2 stores employees are not sure of the delivery numbers expected later today ready for tomorrows launch. If you are desperate for a phone, get there early.

Opening Times may vary.

Apparently some stores will be opening at 7:02 and others an hour later, so its best to check in with your local store.

Take ID

The exact requirements for what types of ID to bring to the stores seems to vary so its probably better to be safe rather than sorry. Take your Chip and Pin bank card, a household Bill and your O2 account details if you plan to upgrade.

If you have any other tidbits of advice about your local stores and availability let us know in the comments…

If you want to get iTunes loaded with Apps ready for the release of the 2.0 software update, you can now do so.

Go to the iTunes store and search for App Store and the results page will let you into the new system.

Note: You will need to uprade iTunes to version 7.7

So exciting!!!

We are obviously very excited here at iCreate about the new iPhone and the launch of the App Store so we are trying our best to get in touch with App developers so we can be quick off of the mark with our reviews.

If you guys know of any Apps that are going to be released and are worthy of inclusion in iCreate then let us know!

Answers on a postcard…

If you are a keen photographer and think that your snaps are good enough for the whole world to see, then you should take a look at this…

Digital Photographer Magazine, sister title to iCreate, is holding its second annual photography competition  in Digital Photographer 72, on sale 17 July 2008.

The aim of the awards is to give a helping hand to talented individuals and showcase their talents.

“Working in conjunction with some of the leading names in the photographic industry, our objective for these awards is to find hidden talent and expose it to the world,” explains editor, Debbi Allen. “Encompassing multiple genres of photography, the awards will showcase the high standards achieved by many enthusiasts and semi-professional photographers.”

This year’s categories will include Portrait, Landscape, Documentary, Travel, Black and White, Macro, Wildlife and Wedding, with one winner scooping the title of Digital Photographer of the Year and eight separate category winners.

All categories are open for entries from the 17 July 2008 and all categories will close to entries on 14 November. Winners will be announced in issue 78 of the magazine, on sale January 2009.

Theo Georghiades, Fujifilm’s Senior Product Manager says: “Fujifilm UK Ltd are very pleased to be sponsoring the Digital Photographer of the Year 2008.  Both Fujifilm UK Ltd and Digital Photographer share the same values in terms of quality, creativity and professionalism, and this makes the magazine an ideal partner for us to work with.”

The judging panel boasts Digital Photographer editor Debbi Allen, Imagine Publishing’s Creative Director and keen photographer Mark Kendrick, professional photographer and magazine contributor Mark Cargill and Fujifilm’s Theo Georghiades.

The overall winner will receive a Fujifilm S5 Pro with the eight category winners scooping other Fujifilm cameras, models TBC.

For more info head to www.dphotographer.co.uk, there you can also take a look at the magazine.

Below is last years winning photo, so you can get an idea of the standards involved!

So, who is excited about the 3G iPhone and what flavour are people going to pick?

Personally the white one looks so cool that I think everyone is going to get it, thinking that they will stand out, so maybe the black one is the way to go?

As for storage, its got to be the biggest version surely? To accommodate all of those cool new apps…

Thoughts please…..

For anyone who wasn’t aware that Apple have their own summer music festival - its time to wise up!

As of July 1st, iTunes has taken over London’s legendary KOKO for a month-long extravaganza of live music. iTunes Live: London Festival ‘08 will feature exclusive gigs from international acts such as  James Blunt as well as hot up and comers such as Hadouken! and The Ting Tings.

Each performance will be recorded and made available for sale on iTunes.

iCreate has been lucky enough to be invited to some of the gigs so you will be sure to hear about them on the next podcast.

For anyone interested in winning tickets (they are not available for purchase), you should head to www.ituneslive.co.uk