Every iOS 4 iPhone includes a fun hidden feature. Unlike our favourite Japanese (Emoji) characters, Apple goes one further and includes cute Romaji character sets for all your messages, and you don't need an iPhone in order to see them - share them with the world! Example sets:

ヾ(＠⌒ー⌒＠)ノ

！(◎_◎;)

♪（ｖ＾＿＾）ｖ

( *｀ω´) 

Romaji
£Free
Here are step by step directions on how to activate the keyboard on your phone today!

Setup Part 1
- Open 'Settings' from your home screen
- Select 'General'
- Select 'International Keyboards'

Setup Part 2
- Select 'Add New Keyboard'
- Slide down to 'Japanese', 'Romaji'

Example Part 1 (SMS)
- Select the international keyboard icon (the one that looks like a globe with a grid)

Voilà!

Example Part 2 (Notes)

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Rollercoaster Extreme is the next instalment from Barclaycard. Available soon for free on the App Store. Guaranteed to be another smash hit.

Barclaycard Rollercoaster Extreme
£Free (coming soon)
Ride against the clock around the suburbs of New York in an interactive 3D environment.

Sponsored by Barclaycard
Posted via http://myiphoneyourilife.blogspot.com

Spinning Streak is the new free game from Barclays and is sure to be another big hit (you may remember the popular Barclaycard Waterside Extreme). Balance your money well and entertain the audience to go through the levels right up to the fame and fortune of a show in Las Vegas. Lose control and you'll be sent right back to the start.

Spinning Streak

£Free iTunes Link

A simple game where you keep the coins spinning to earn points and gain bonuses by dazzling the crowd, ultimately taking your show through the levels to Las Vegas. A great simple game reflecting the challenges of literally balancing your money.

Download link:
http://itunes.apple.com/app/spinningstreak/id371286642


Sponsored by Barclays
Posted via http://myiphoneyourilife.blogspot.com

The best features from tech come when a combination of great ideas create a truly useful idea. There's no point inventing the bicycle if it wasn't for that other great invention.

Augmented reality, AR for short means enhancing the environment around you in real time. Combining the internet, camera, touchscreen and compass you are able to simply launch one of the following apps, point and genuinely consume information that you might otherwise have missed. Most of the apps listed give you sponsored 'reality' and all will offer more context to your location. Here are my top apps.

1. Urbanspoon

£Free iTunes Link

Starting with a simple problem of where to eat, Urbanspoon is a heavyweight eating out resource.

2. Orange Wednesdays
£Free iTunes Link
First of all you don't need to be on the Orange network and it doesn't need to be Wednesday.

3. Layar (Reality Browser)

£Free iTunes Link

Organised into thousands of digital views like webpages, Layar is less of an app but more of a browser for layers including Tweeps Around (3D) and London Tube Stations featured below.

4. acrossair (Augmented Reality Browser)

£Free iTunes Link

Further emphasising the use of layers, acrossair uses a clean, fast and efficient menu system to access digital views by big brands including Le Bar Guide (Stella Artois) and Gig Finder (Beck's) featured below.

5. Yelp

£Free iTunes Link

Focusing on recommendation and community, Yelp helps you find the best business in your area organised into simple categories with real time reviews.

6. Time Out London

£Free iTunes Link

A wealth of mobile information emphasising ideas for great things to do.

7. topsee (Last Minute)

£Free iTunes Link

Literally topsee puts your cards out on the table. Effective though it's simplicity.

8. Compass

£Free

Default application on the iPhone 3GS. No downloaded needed. Weren't you taught how to use a compass in the cadets?

Bonus!

Ghost Hunt AR

£Free iTunes Link

Posted via http://myiphoneyourilife.blogspot.com

My favourite feature of the iPhone is the camera. Although it doesn't have a flash and the 3G doesn't do video there are many applications to enhance the native photographic and video capturing capabilities. Here are my top apps.

1. PS Mobile (Photoshop Mobile) 

£Free iTunes Link

Offering one of the best image enhancing experiences on the App Store, Adobe, has developed an innovative interface with minimal clutter and maximum usability. Images can also be uploaded directly to the new online service photoshop.com as well as into your Camera Roll.

2. FX Photo Studio

£1.19 iTunes Link

By far the easiest and most enjoyable photo effects app on iTunes. There is a comprehensive library of effects, the option of instant preview and the ability to 'star' your favorites for easy access.

3. PhotoRoom

£1.19 iTunes Link

A slick and simple photo effects app with a familiar range of options to your Mac's Photo Booth application. An excellent choice for those of you that need something easy and smart to enhance your photographic mastery.

4. Gorillacam

£Free iTunes Link

A one-stop-shop to help you take new photos. Some of my frequently used features include '3 Shot Burst', 'Press Anywhere' and 'Self-timer' functions.

5. Flickr (offical Yahoo app)

£Free iTunes Link

A complete range of functinality is included in Yahoo's official app. Mobile uploads, comment moderation, gallery maintenence and a fast interface are all standard. Don't waste your money on premium alternatives.

6. Polarize

£Free iTunes Link

Simple and effective. One of my most used apps. Apply to any photo for an authentic retro Polaroid via your iPhone.

7. FAIL Maker (by Griffin)

£Free iTunes Link

For all those fall-on-the-floor moments there's an app for that. Create and submit a Fail Blog post direct from embarrassment to worldwide acclaim.

8. Photo Censor

£0.59 iTunes Link

If you ever need instant anonymity this is that app for you. For the rest of us you can add fun effects before uploading that mugshot to Twitter or Facebook.

9. PhotoFunia

£Free iTunes Link

Create fun pictures using the large database of 'effects' including Smart Kitty, 3 Shop Posters and Wanted Poster. New templates / effects are added regularly. To use the app you need an internet connection, upload an image, and once it is processed your face could be on that billboard or as the Mona Lisa herself.

10. Comic Touch Lite

£Free iTunes Link

Create comics or add captions to images with one of the fastest and well designed comic creation apps available. The lite version has some limitations but will be an essential free addition to users that need something to add some spice to those Facebook mobile uploads.

11. iDoodle2 lite

£Free iTunes Link

A basic drawing app resembling Microsoft's Paint. You can replay your drawing in fast motion and share with friends. Who needs a camera when you can draw it all?

12. Collage Wallpaper Creator Lite

£Free iTunes Link

Easy and fast. Functionality is implied in the title. Using the lite version limits you to three images at a time but keeps most of the functionality without the need to upgrade to the full version.

13. ePhotoChest

£Free iTunes Link

Password protected images with unlimited storage. Keep your privacy and dignity. Innovative interface including features like using the accelerometer to display the next photo.

Others to note:

- Mosaica

Allows you to take large landscape images but has still not been upgraded for the 3GS's camera

- Collage

Created by one my favourite developers Tapulous, their new social image app allows you to share images from around the world. I'm still not sure how useful or fun it will be however.

Definitions:

- App Store (application store / iTunes)

The exclusive online shop for iPhone, iPod, iPod Touch applications and no.1 digital music / video store.

- Camera Roll (Photos)

Your iPhone's default destination for images and videos. Accessible by the Photos application.

- Accelerometer (motion sensor)

A hardware feature of the iPod Touch and iPhone.

Hardware and software used:

- iPhone 3GS, 16GB

- OS 3.1.2

Posted via http://myiphoneyourilife.blogspot.com

So you decided to do it the hack way. First thing's first, I honestly don't think it's worth hacking your iPhone. I would recommend you either don't hack it or restore your phone now. If you want to find out for yourself then check out my guide and current top apps.

The best apps are available through the App Store, however these are my favourite core Cydia apps. I would recommend you don't download too many apps as many are not well designed or have various issues including conflicts.

1. SBSettings
Advanced settings (successor of BossPrefs). This app does not have a springboard icon, you access it byswiping your finger over the bar at the top of the screen.

2. Make It Mine
Edit carrier name and use Emoji characters. You can also remove both for a cleaner springboard.

3. WinterBoard (themes separate)
Themes and customisation. Successor to SummerBoard. You can download themes from Cydia including new lock sounds, wallpapers, icon sets etc.

4. Cycorder (video recording)
High quality video recording.

5. Video Recorder for 3G (video recording)
Allows direct uploading to YouTube, emailing and various recording sizes and formats (I have experienced errors with emailing videos and uploading to YouTube). Use Discover to download videos to your computer.

6. iBroke (game)
Prank your friends into thinking they broke your iPhone.

7. Installous (http://appulo.us)
Cracked apps from the Apple App Store. Just like your music, you too can have illegally downloaded apps.

8. CyDelete
Allows deletion of Cydia apps like normal App Store apps. If this is not installed you will have to go to the Cydia app and 'modify' current 'packages'.

9. Discover
Utilises a normal internet browser in order to allow access and the downloading of files from the iPhone (with Wi-Fi). Very simple to use and an ideal way to download videos recorded with Video Recorder and Cycorder.

10. Cydia (http://cydia.saurik.com)
App Store alternative, installed when you use redsn0w.

Definitions:
- Cydia
Apple App Store alternative for hacked iPhones

- Springboard
iPhone homescreen where all your apps live

- redsn0w
Free jailbreaking / hacking / unblocking utility

- Repositories
Databases of apps which can be used with the Cydia installer

- Emoji
Keyboard characters available on iPhones. Japanese for 'picture' and 'letter'. Similar to emoticons or smiley icons

Hardware and software used:
- iPhone 3G,16GB
- OS 3.0
- Cydia
- redsn0w (version 8.0)
- Intel MacBook (Leopard)

Posted via http://myiphoneyourilife.blogspot.com