iPhone screen is a ‘hard’ screen, in contrast to many of the other phones’ ‘soft’ screens. Soft screens are an older technology and they register touches based on pressure. The surface are dented inwards when touched, thus the name ‘soft’. In contrast, hard screens register touches based on static charges. They are not dented when touched.

Due to the reason given above, hard screens are more durable and scratch resistance than soft ones. Based on the same reason, soft screen devices such as Palm, HTC, DS Lite and most PDA phones come with a stylus and its surface can be written with almost any thing with a pointed tip, from stylus and finger to pencil tip and coins. In fact, most users use their fingernails when a stylus is not present. This is a big difference compared to hard screen devices like iPhone and laptop touchpad where no stylus nor fingernails will work, except your finger. If you are still pondering, our fingers do conduct a little current and contain a little static charges, as do most of our human skin.

But, how about more precise writing on hard screens, like signatures? Payment solution providers like VeriFone Inc developed devices such as Mx870 to capture signatures with a special stylus that draw a small current from the device (via a wire) to sign on its hard screen. When the stylus touches the screen, it forms a close circuit to register the signature.

Trying to break away from soft screens technology, iPhone has created a new way of human computer interface. I am glad that it is so innovative.

Press both Home & Power button for 1-2 seconds and release, iPhone will flash a white screen, which fades off in a while. A screen shot will be taken.

Press & hold any apps, they will start shaking after few seconds. Then move them anywhere, even onto the taskbar below. You may also create new pages by moving them off to the right side. Useful to categorize all apps.

While the apps are shaking, press the x icon on the top-left of any apps to remove them from iPhone.

Press Home button to return to normal mode.

Applicable to firmware 2.0 & above

Turn on the iPod on speaker mode, the music is not coming out from the right speaker at the bottom.

Applicable to iPhone 3G

Solution: wait for firmware upgrade or a recall of iPhone

When iPhone is locked, at the Login screen, press Emergency button followed by double click on Home button –> depending on the settings, Favorite or iPod menu will appear. If Favorite list contains entries with emails, web addresses or addresses, other apps like Emaill, Safari and Google Maps will be accessible too. All these without the need of the passcode.

Apply to: firmware 2.0.1 & 2.0.2

Solution: wait for next firmware

Press & hold Home button with Power button simultaneously for few seconds to shutoff iPhone. Hold for few more seconds to restart.

Applicable in situation when iPhone hangs.