Reviews for iPhone 3GS Portable Genius: Also Covers iPhone 3G

1. Your iPhone's Best Friend

   Rated 4 out of 5 stars, March 12th, 2010

   A gem of a book, invaluable to mildly technophobic people like me. "Portable Genuis", through its well thought out chapter layout, immediately makes the workings of the iPhone understandable in concise language which manages to be simple without sounding patronising. Large, clear illustrations of the various iPhone screens are tremendously helpful in negotiating the phone and the book simultaneously and it's very encouraging, which allowed me to explore and utilise far more of the iPhone's potential than I would ever have expected.
   
   The only minor drawback I could find was that there are a few things, such as some ringtone functions, that seem to apply only in the US. Nonetheless I will continue to explore this entertaining and informative iPhone guide until I'm as geeky as the next man!
   
   Highly recommended.
   
   
   

2. Good coverage and well written - does it meet the value for money question?

   Rated 4 out of 5 stars, March 12th, 2010

   I was offered this book from the Amazon Vine programme just as I bought my new iPhone as it was finally offered by my provider.
   
   So, I'd had a couple of days to play with my lovely shiny new 3GS before the book arrived, I've always synced my phones with MS Outlook and I've had iPods since they first came out - did I learn anything that I hadn't worked out already from an intuitive approach?
   
   Probably only two or three things -
   
   - how to silence an incoming call quickly
   - how to link to the MobileMe funtions
   - how to use the microphone on the earphones to answer a call when listening to music
   
   but those things may well have taken me a long time trawling the internet to work out.
   
   The book is clearly laid out, well written (if a bit breathily enthusiastic about this lovely gadget) and has good coverage.
   
   If you like to read things in a book I don't think you'll get much better. For me, it becomes a value for money question. The RRP is probably more than I would have paid. With a discount I think it is worth it.

3. The iPhone bible.

   Rated 4 out of 5 stars, March 12th, 2010

   With no prior knowledge of iPhones, other than really wanting one, I decided to read this book to familiarise myself with all its features and how to use them prior to purchasing the actual handset after a series of disasters with my now redundant Blackberry Pearl.
   
   I found it well laid out and explained simply but without being patronising, and taught me literally everything I'd want to know and then some. The screenshots were really helpful too as a reference point.
   
   

4. You don't have to be an Apple fanboy to enjoy this book but it helps...

   Rated 4 out of 5 stars, March 12th, 2010

   This book is nearly essential for the iPhone owner. (I'm typing this review on one) Apple, in their wisdom, deemed their device so perfect and user-friendly that it didn't need a manual. This is mostly true. However, there are many little issues with the iPhone which books like this one immediately fix. For example within 5 minutes of picking it up, I had solved 2 niggling problems with the phone, namely, how to get caps lock and how to use the keyboard shifters more efficiently. But, and there is a but, this book has clearly been written by an Apple fanboy of terrifying loyalty. The author raves continuously about how brilliant the iPhone is, in spite of the fact that clearly, the reader knows that the iPhone is fab and groovy else they wouldn't have bought one. This is a minor niggle but it does get on the nerves somewhat.
   
   Overall, however, this book is useful. I found much of the content to be going over the self-explanatory and obvious but then I'm a seasoned tech user and therefore have found the iPhone to be vey easy to use. So if you're in that group that are struggling with the interface this little book could be well worth the investment for you. If on the other hand you're used to working things out for yourself, you'll soon find everything you need to know about the iPhone by the simple expedient of googling.

5. Oh dear :-(

   Rated 1 out of 5 stars, February 12st, 2010

   I bought this book as I upgraded from an iPhone 3G to a 3GS and wanted to understand all the new features and also learn some new tricks.
   
   But to say this is basic is an understatement, it tells you how to load an application! I mean come on, it's like selling someone a book to read on how to read a book !
   
   There is little in here that isn't in the instruction book or a basic iPhone magazine available in your local supermarket for a lot less.
   
   Generally dissapointing and I would avoid.