Guys I have some strange appstore problems.
I have a BR and a US account (BR had nothing good until very recently, now it's got all the stuff from US), so I need the Appstore to switch Ids and regions when I'm updating many apps. But now it won't complete the automatic switch, and I need to manually sign out from one Id and the resign with the other.
I did a full restore and no deal. Is there any way to fix that?
If you had been using a Palm Treo for two years prior to this, you'd lose your shit too.
It took me until last year to actually pick up an iPhone. But, I have to say, when I saw that keynote in 2007, my opinion of what mobile phones were and could be completely changed. Until then, I was of the "it's just a fucking phone" mentality. Cameras, internet, all that shit was just extraneous and inevitably sucked. I remember seeing people with Treos and Blackberrys, wondering how people could even use the things. What was the point if everything was so cumbersome? Then I saw that keynote and realized that "all that extraneous shit" was only extraneous because it was poorly implemented. A phone with an actually usable web browser, camera, music player, maps etc... I felt like I'd seen the future. I'm still blown away by how much the mobile space has changed in five short years. The iPhone itself has advanced tremendously, and it inspired competitors to put out some excellent products and services as well. The way people use the internet and generally communicate and go about their daily lives has changed so dramatically since then.
I remember seeing people on trains staring at their dumb phones, wondering what the hell they were even doing with them. Now when I see people on the trains staring at their phones, I know they're actually doing something.
floobie on
0
dresdenphileWatch out for snakes!Registered Userregular
Is this the place to ask about iPhone cases, or should I wander over to H/A? My Otterbox Defender has served me well since I got the 4 at launch, but the hard plastic is starting to crack, and the silicone sleeve has tears in it. I'm trying to get something a little slimmer as well, but that may be a pipe-dream.
0
minor incidentexpert in a dying fieldnjRegistered Userregular
Mophie has a very nice armored batter case that feels pretty well built and also includes the battery backup. It's a bit pricier than the Defender, though.
Everything looks beautiful when you're young and pretty
How does jailbreaking work when upgrading to a new version of iOS? Would I just OTA iOS 6 when it releases and install over a JB'ed 5.1.1, do I have to un-JB first, or do a full restore/reversion to factory settings, or something else I can't think of?
0
Blake TDo you have enemies then?Good. That means you’ve stood up for something, sometime in your life.Registered Userregular
I asked this previously a bit back, but now that I've come into some Apple bucks, I'd like to request one more time the most recommended app that turns my iPad/iPhone into a remote keyboard/mouse for my PC.
I mainly want the function of selecting and opening Steam games from across the room (the beta version of "comfy couch", as it were). I already found a couple of apps that let me do this already (such as Wireless Remote Mouse), but I wanted to see if there was an app that let me took it further and allowed me to set up my own programmable hotkeys. Say, for instance, I could map CTRL+ALT+DEL at the push of a single key, things like that.
I've been using the free version of Wireless Remote Mouse by Benzle, which works well. Before I decide on purchasing the full version, I wanted to check if there was a similar app that let me set shortcut keys.
i use the free version of hipporemote on both my iphone and ipad without issue
sure it's running the phone version, but when you zoom in and enable the option that tells it you're using it on an ipad to adjust the sensitivity, it works just fine
So I just discovered that Opera Mini is a thing on the iPhone. As someone that does their best to stay within their 200MB monthly data limit, I'm switching over to that.
So I just discovered that Opera Mini is a thing on the iPhone. As someone that does their best to stay within their 200MB monthly data limit, I'm switching over to that.
So I just discovered that Opera Mini is a thing on the iPhone. As someone that does their best to stay within their 200MB monthly data limit, I'm switching over to that.
Why? (Honest question)
Smart Hero covered it, but basically any URL you punch in gets fed through Opera's servers and it compresses images for you so you only have to load a fraction of the page's original data size.
After losing a couple of hours last night to Faerie Solitare for the PC I bought the iOS HD version, and it's almost as good. After playing it for a few hours any initial complaints I had are pretty much a non-issue. There can be some lag when pressing on screen buttons and there's a bit too much dead space on the iPad, but it's overall a good port. It's going to be my go to game if I need to kill a few minutes or want to play something low key before bed.
Edit: changed my initial impressions after having played for a few hours.
So I just discovered that Opera Mini is a thing on the iPhone. As someone that does their best to stay within their 200MB monthly data limit, I'm switching over to that.
Why? (Honest question)
Smart Hero covered it, but basically any URL you punch in gets fed through Opera's servers and it compresses images for you so you only have to load a fraction of the page's original data size.
Interesting. For anyone that uses it, does it have a noticeable impact on data usage?
I'm getting pretty close to picking one up. A few circumstances are aligning that make it feel like it'll be worth it.
1) Trip to Europe in a month or so. I get the feeling my 15" MBP will feel a bit bulky on the plane, and watching TV shows or whatever on my iPhone for hours on end might not be a very pleasant experience. I'm guessing the iPad's battery would last a bit longer than my MBP's would. And, should I run out of juice, I could recharge it with the MBP.
2) I'm looking into becoming an app developer. I feel like I have a good handle on the iPhone end of things... what the popular apps are, generally how people use iPhones, what consumers want, etc... But, I think in order to answer those same questions for the iPad, I probably need to actually own one.
So, random stuff:
- I have Goodplayer on my iPhone. It handles "otherwise obtained" video quite nicely. Can I assume there's an equivalent (or identical) iPad app?
- For those of you who regularly watch video on their iPads... how much storage space do you think I need? I have access to a pretty colossal dropbox account, so I sort of get the feeling that I won't need a lot of onboard storage (I'm thinking 16gb Wifi model). As long as I can have access to a few episodes worth of TV shows and maybe a movie or two, I'd be fine. But, maybe I'm wrong? I wouldn't put much of my music library on it.
- How extensive is Airplay? Does it mirror the entire interface, or only select apps? Does it stream audio?
- Durability: I treat my stuff pretty well. I don't use a case for my iPhone 4S, and it still looks immaculate. Is anything beyond a smart cover necessary?
- Reading: I use a Kindle now. Is reading novels on the iPad noticeably more eye-strainy? I'd still keep the Kindle around for marathon sessions.
- Colour: My iPhone is white. Is black really finger-printy on the iPad?
You can't charge the iPad via USB, only via the wall charger or, I'm assuming, one of those fancy inductive charging stations. I get a solid 20-24 hours out of mine when browsing and doing relatively non-taxing activities with the brightness turned all the way down, but for watching video and playing games I wouldn't expect much more than the advertised 10 hours or so.
I use the default provided video player and have had no issues with it, but if you don't want to run files through Handbrake you'll want to look into an alternative. I'm not familiar with any of them though. You could also look into a home media server solution like Plex.
You could probably get by with the 16GB, but if you can afford to spend the cash on the 32GB I really recommend doing so. Those 16GB's really fill up fast after a couple bigger games, a handful of "essential" apps, and a few videos. I think you'll tire of having to shuffle content around frequently and find yourself wishing you had the extra space.
I'm not sure a smart cover is "necessary", exactly, but I do recommend getting one. I would recommend a cheap sleeve like the booq Boa skin case if for no other reason than the smart cover can slide around, thus waking the iPad and draining battery. I also like the tiny bit of extra protection for when I put it away or in a bag. Or you could get something like this for full coverage. I personally use a smart cover with a BOOKback Dodocase and I really like it, but it's an expensive combo.
I haven't used a Kindle, but I don't really have any issues reading on the iPad. It's going to be difficult to do in sunlight, though.
The only fingerprints I see on my black iPad are the ones on the screen. Black isn't fingerprinty at all unless you intentionally try to smear your fingerprints on it, but fingerprints easily wipe off with the fuzzy side of a smart cover (pretty sure it's microfiber) without scratching.
0
syndalisGetting ClassyOn the WallRegistered User, Loves Apple Productsregular
If you own a MacBook Pro or any reasonably modern device with high power usb ports, you totally can charge it over USB. Takes a while, though.
SW-4158-3990-6116
Let's play Mario Kart or something...
0
syndalisGetting ClassyOn the WallRegistered User, Loves Apple Productsregular
Airplay mirrors the whole interface, top to bottom. Push videogames, music, videos, etc. to your AppleTV.
It rocks. Though for twitch games the latency is a bit of a downer; you would use the 30 pin to HDMI adaptor if you wanted to develop a two screen game like Real Racing 2.
SW-4158-3990-6116
Let's play Mario Kart or something...
Instead of charging via the MBP (which it can do, albeit impossibly slowly, and only while the iPad is locked and the screen is off) there's several charging packs that will charge iPhone & iPad rather well. I've got a older version of this Mophie Juice Pack that has been solid on trips (great at PAX.) The new version seems like they've thinned it down and it'll charge up an iPad to near-full.
There's a few good video players, AirVideo is handy if you're looking to stream stuff from a home computer, as it can convert videos on-the-fly over wifi (you install a small desktop client to handle that part.) Handbrake (with it's iPad preset) is great for bulk-converting shows & movies to watch locally in a pinch.
If you're not looking to throw the big games (GTA, the Infinity Blade series, etc) the 16GB can hold a surprising amount of stuff on it. If you've got a Dropbox account to handle the rest you're probably in good shape.
The iPad is great for reading at night, but the Kindle beats it in daylight and the iPad's form factor can make holding it for reading a little unwieldy for long reading sessions (unless you prop it up or something)
As for fingerprints, a cheap microfiber cloth will fix that, I don't see too much fingerspoo on the bezel, mostly just the screen.
And as @Bullio said, a good sleeve when it's in a bag with other stuff should be all the protection you need. I've got a Dodocase BOOKback on mine as well so I don't have to be paranoid about setting my iPad down on a surface or looking like a germophobe wiping it down to clear away imagined grit.
If you're looking for some extra accessories, I highly recommend these
TwelveSouth Compass - great little folding stand, can hold the iPad in portrait and landscape very well, and can fold down to hold the iPad at an angle perfect for typing.
TwelveSouth PlugBug - attached to your MBP charger so you can charge iPad or iPhone (or any USB device, really) and your MPB all from a single outlet. Considering how space can be at a premium on a trip, it's one less charger/adapter you have to carry around.
Cosmonaut Stylus by Studio Neat - pen-like stylii are okay, but for a low fidelity touchscreen, something like the Cosmonaut is better. Closer to the end of a finger, has just-enough resistance when drawing on the screen to feel right. Treat it like a whiteboard marker. Could come in handy if you're sketching out wireframes for an app.
Abracadaniel on
0
syndalisGetting ClassyOn the WallRegistered User, Loves Apple Productsregular
I have both the compass AND the plugbug. Love them both madly.
That said, a word of advice: ALWAYS TAKE THE COMPASS OUT OF YOUR BAG AT AIRPORT SECURITY, UNFOLD IT, AND SEND IT THROUGH THE SCANNER AS SUCH.
Twice I have forgotten to do it, and I was greeted with a full patdown / bag examination. Shit looks exactly like a bigass knife under the scanner.
SW-4158-3990-6116
Let's play Mario Kart or something...
0
minor incidentexpert in a dying fieldnjRegistered Userregular
I signed up for iTunes Match over the weekend, and I really can't recommend it to anyone. I did so primarily to avoid the time sink required to upgrade all of my bad CD rips, but I've spent so much time trying to weed out and correct unmatched tracks that I think I would have been better off just reripping everything. The matching algorithm needs a lot of work still. At least 95% of my unmatched tracks were because their track lengths were off by a second or two compared to the iTunes store versions, even if 10 of the remaining 12 tracks of an album were matched.
I can't recommend it as a cloud storage option for music, either. You can't stream tracks stored on Match, but you can with Amazon and Amazon has an Android and iOS cloud player app now. Google Music, which admittedly isn't too useful on an iOS device, stores 20k tracks for free. iTunes saves time and bandwidth by only uploading tracks it can't match, but if you want a consistent bitrate for your music then you best look elsewhere.
It's so close to being a truly wonderful service, but the annoyances are frustrating enough to keep it from being even a good service.
Bullio on
0
minor incidentexpert in a dying fieldnjRegistered Userregular
I, uh, stream music to my iPhone with iTunes Match every day.
Everything looks beautiful when you're young and pretty
Is now, or sometime in January (when I get back to the States) a bad time to upgrade to an iPhone 4S for like $300? My upgrade's been up since last year, but I've put it off because I don't wanna get burned by a brand new iPhone coming out two days later. I'm currently using a 3GS, and it's definitely showing its age.
0
admanbunionize your workplaceSeattle, WARegistered Userregular
I'm probably way too optimistic about this, but all signs point to a new iPhone this year. iOS 6 is coming out, and they normally launch new OSes on a new device (and the new iPad already came out). Apple's been reducing their orders for 4s and 4Ss, even though demand hasn't fallen.
If you're set on a 4S, I'd expect them to be reasonably cheaper, reasonably soon.
By January? This question will likely be long moot.
If I don't have iTunes Match, is syncing a certain playlist of songs to my iPhone still the best way to manage music on my phone?
I have a playlist setup on my computer called "BFicky's iPhone" that's got about 5 gigs of music in it (out of my ~15 gig collection). I sync it with my phone and it works fine. I also setup a "Not on BFicky's iPhone" smart playlist that only shows me songs in my collection that are not on my phone, making it easy to pick out new music to swap in.
However, syncing my phone to a playlist means I can't easily listen to my other playlists on my phone ("Video Game music", "Instrumental", etc.). If I tell my phone to sync with those playlists too, then all the songs from those playlists move to my phone, regardless if they're in "BFicky's iPhone" or not. I could set up some smart playlists, but then I'm basically doubling all my playlists ("Instrumental" and "Instrumental & phone).
How do the non iTunes Matchers manage the music on their iDevices?
So I just discovered that Opera Mini is a thing on the iPhone. As someone that does their best to stay within their 200MB monthly data limit, I'm switching over to that.
Why? (Honest question)
Smart Hero covered it, but basically any URL you punch in gets fed through Opera's servers and it compresses images for you so you only have to load a fraction of the page's original data size.
Interesting. For anyone that uses it, does it have a noticeable impact on data usage?
There's a gauge built into the browser that shows how much data you would have used and how much you're actually using.
Thanks for the iPad advice. I'll have to think on the storage a bit. The price difference is definitely not insignificant. Based on my iPhone usage at least, the vast majority of my storage space is used by music. Take that out, and I'm only using about 5gb on a 32gb iPhone. So, I'm still not convinced I need to spend hundreds more for extra space. I suppose ripping files in handbrake could be acceptable. Haven't tried it in ages. Does it take long? It looks like I'd have to do that in order stream videos from Dropbox. Unfortunately, Good Player doesn't seem to be able to play files out of Dropbox (and I haven't found another that does), but if the files are in the right format, the built in Video app will be able to stream them. This could persuade me to give iTunes another shot for TV shows and movies. The selection is a lot better than when I last tried, and being able to re-download past purchases would help keep my hard drive from overflowing...
Since that provides a nice segue, iTunes Match is the shit. It isn't perfect. I had to upload about 3-4gb of my 55gb library. I do also have problems with album art here and there. But, the convenience of having 55gb of music available to me on a 32gb iPhone wherever I am is just mind-blowing.
As for buying a 4S now: Wait until October or so if you can.
Posts
I have a BR and a US account (BR had nothing good until very recently, now it's got all the stuff from US), so I need the Appstore to switch Ids and regions when I'm updating many apps. But now it won't complete the automatic switch, and I need to manually sign out from one Id and the resign with the other.
I did a full restore and no deal. Is there any way to fix that?
It took me until last year to actually pick up an iPhone. But, I have to say, when I saw that keynote in 2007, my opinion of what mobile phones were and could be completely changed. Until then, I was of the "it's just a fucking phone" mentality. Cameras, internet, all that shit was just extraneous and inevitably sucked. I remember seeing people with Treos and Blackberrys, wondering how people could even use the things. What was the point if everything was so cumbersome? Then I saw that keynote and realized that "all that extraneous shit" was only extraneous because it was poorly implemented. A phone with an actually usable web browser, camera, music player, maps etc... I felt like I'd seen the future. I'm still blown away by how much the mobile space has changed in five short years. The iPhone itself has advanced tremendously, and it inspired competitors to put out some excellent products and services as well. The way people use the internet and generally communicate and go about their daily lives has changed so dramatically since then.
I remember seeing people on trains staring at their dumb phones, wondering what the hell they were even doing with them. Now when I see people on the trains staring at their phones, I know they're actually doing something.
But I'd backup first.
Satans..... hints.....
I mainly want the function of selecting and opening Steam games from across the room (the beta version of "comfy couch", as it were). I already found a couple of apps that let me do this already (such as Wireless Remote Mouse), but I wanted to see if there was an app that let me took it further and allowed me to set up my own programmable hotkeys. Say, for instance, I could map CTRL+ALT+DEL at the push of a single key, things like that.
I've been using the free version of Wireless Remote Mouse by Benzle, which works well. Before I decide on purchasing the full version, I wanted to check if there was a similar app that let me set shortcut keys.
Blog||Tumblr|Steam|Twitter|FFXIV|Twitch|YouTube|Podcast|PSN|XBL|DarkZero
I just want to know if Splashtop does what I'm asking or not.
Blog||Tumblr|Steam|Twitter|FFXIV|Twitch|YouTube|Podcast|PSN|XBL|DarkZero
sure it's running the phone version, but when you zoom in and enable the option that tells it you're using it on an ipad to adjust the sensitivity, it works just fine
PSN: Robo_Wizard1
Switch: 6200-8149-0919 / Wii U: maximumzero / 3DS: 0860-3352-3335 / eBay Shop
Why? (Honest question)
3DS Friend Code: 3110-5393-4113
Steam profile
well in that case I'll just post the wikipedia link
Smart Hero covered it, but basically any URL you punch in gets fed through Opera's servers and it compresses images for you so you only have to load a fraction of the page's original data size.
Switch: 6200-8149-0919 / Wii U: maximumzero / 3DS: 0860-3352-3335 / eBay Shop
Edit: changed my initial impressions after having played for a few hours.
Interesting. For anyone that uses it, does it have a noticeable impact on data usage?
3DS Friend Code: 3110-5393-4113
Steam profile
I'm getting pretty close to picking one up. A few circumstances are aligning that make it feel like it'll be worth it.
1) Trip to Europe in a month or so. I get the feeling my 15" MBP will feel a bit bulky on the plane, and watching TV shows or whatever on my iPhone for hours on end might not be a very pleasant experience. I'm guessing the iPad's battery would last a bit longer than my MBP's would. And, should I run out of juice, I could recharge it with the MBP.
2) I'm looking into becoming an app developer. I feel like I have a good handle on the iPhone end of things... what the popular apps are, generally how people use iPhones, what consumers want, etc... But, I think in order to answer those same questions for the iPad, I probably need to actually own one.
So, random stuff:
- I have Goodplayer on my iPhone. It handles "otherwise obtained" video quite nicely. Can I assume there's an equivalent (or identical) iPad app?
- For those of you who regularly watch video on their iPads... how much storage space do you think I need? I have access to a pretty colossal dropbox account, so I sort of get the feeling that I won't need a lot of onboard storage (I'm thinking 16gb Wifi model). As long as I can have access to a few episodes worth of TV shows and maybe a movie or two, I'd be fine. But, maybe I'm wrong? I wouldn't put much of my music library on it.
- How extensive is Airplay? Does it mirror the entire interface, or only select apps? Does it stream audio?
- Durability: I treat my stuff pretty well. I don't use a case for my iPhone 4S, and it still looks immaculate. Is anything beyond a smart cover necessary?
- Reading: I use a Kindle now. Is reading novels on the iPad noticeably more eye-strainy? I'd still keep the Kindle around for marathon sessions.
- Colour: My iPhone is white. Is black really finger-printy on the iPad?
I use the default provided video player and have had no issues with it, but if you don't want to run files through Handbrake you'll want to look into an alternative. I'm not familiar with any of them though. You could also look into a home media server solution like Plex.
You could probably get by with the 16GB, but if you can afford to spend the cash on the 32GB I really recommend doing so. Those 16GB's really fill up fast after a couple bigger games, a handful of "essential" apps, and a few videos. I think you'll tire of having to shuffle content around frequently and find yourself wishing you had the extra space.
I'm not sure a smart cover is "necessary", exactly, but I do recommend getting one. I would recommend a cheap sleeve like the booq Boa skin case if for no other reason than the smart cover can slide around, thus waking the iPad and draining battery. I also like the tiny bit of extra protection for when I put it away or in a bag. Or you could get something like this for full coverage. I personally use a smart cover with a BOOKback Dodocase and I really like it, but it's an expensive combo.
I haven't used a Kindle, but I don't really have any issues reading on the iPad. It's going to be difficult to do in sunlight, though.
The only fingerprints I see on my black iPad are the ones on the screen. Black isn't fingerprinty at all unless you intentionally try to smear your fingerprints on it, but fingerprints easily wipe off with the fuzzy side of a smart cover (pretty sure it's microfiber) without scratching.
Let's play Mario Kart or something...
It rocks. Though for twitch games the latency is a bit of a downer; you would use the 30 pin to HDMI adaptor if you wanted to develop a two screen game like Real Racing 2.
Let's play Mario Kart or something...
There's a few good video players, AirVideo is handy if you're looking to stream stuff from a home computer, as it can convert videos on-the-fly over wifi (you install a small desktop client to handle that part.) Handbrake (with it's iPad preset) is great for bulk-converting shows & movies to watch locally in a pinch.
If you're not looking to throw the big games (GTA, the Infinity Blade series, etc) the 16GB can hold a surprising amount of stuff on it. If you've got a Dropbox account to handle the rest you're probably in good shape.
The iPad is great for reading at night, but the Kindle beats it in daylight and the iPad's form factor can make holding it for reading a little unwieldy for long reading sessions (unless you prop it up or something)
As for fingerprints, a cheap microfiber cloth will fix that, I don't see too much fingerspoo on the bezel, mostly just the screen.
And as @Bullio said, a good sleeve when it's in a bag with other stuff should be all the protection you need. I've got a Dodocase BOOKback on mine as well so I don't have to be paranoid about setting my iPad down on a surface or looking like a germophobe wiping it down to clear away imagined grit.
If you're looking for some extra accessories, I highly recommend these
TwelveSouth Compass - great little folding stand, can hold the iPad in portrait and landscape very well, and can fold down to hold the iPad at an angle perfect for typing.
TwelveSouth PlugBug - attached to your MBP charger so you can charge iPad or iPhone (or any USB device, really) and your MPB all from a single outlet. Considering how space can be at a premium on a trip, it's one less charger/adapter you have to carry around.
Cosmonaut Stylus by Studio Neat - pen-like stylii are okay, but for a low fidelity touchscreen, something like the Cosmonaut is better. Closer to the end of a finger, has just-enough resistance when drawing on the screen to feel right. Treat it like a whiteboard marker. Could come in handy if you're sketching out wireframes for an app.
That said, a word of advice: ALWAYS TAKE THE COMPASS OUT OF YOUR BAG AT AIRPORT SECURITY, UNFOLD IT, AND SEND IT THROUGH THE SCANNER AS SUCH.
Twice I have forgotten to do it, and I was greeted with a full patdown / bag examination. Shit looks exactly like a bigass knife under the scanner.
Let's play Mario Kart or something...
This man speaks the truth! I've had the EXACT same thing happen to me. I was surrounded by armed TSA agents within seconds.
The same TSA agents who didn't notice the mini folding knife that I forgot to take off my keychain.
I can't recommend it as a cloud storage option for music, either. You can't stream tracks stored on Match, but you can with Amazon and Amazon has an Android and iOS cloud player app now. Google Music, which admittedly isn't too useful on an iOS device, stores 20k tracks for free. iTunes saves time and bandwidth by only uploading tracks it can't match, but if you want a consistent bitrate for your music then you best look elsewhere.
It's so close to being a truly wonderful service, but the annoyances are frustrating enough to keep it from being even a good service.
You can use this smart playlist ruleset to help you track down problem tracks (this article (section 4) has more details)
Are you on a cellular connection when it tells you that? Do you have "Use Cellular Data" turned off in Music in Settings?
Is now, or sometime in January (when I get back to the States) a bad time to upgrade to an iPhone 4S for like $300? My upgrade's been up since last year, but I've put it off because I don't wanna get burned by a brand new iPhone coming out two days later. I'm currently using a 3GS, and it's definitely showing its age.
Odds are by January you'll have a lot of new information.
I'm probably way too optimistic about this, but all signs point to a new iPhone this year. iOS 6 is coming out, and they normally launch new OSes on a new device (and the new iPad already came out). Apple's been reducing their orders for 4s and 4Ss, even though demand hasn't fallen.
If you're set on a 4S, I'd expect them to be reasonably cheaper, reasonably soon.
By January? This question will likely be long moot.
I have a playlist setup on my computer called "BFicky's iPhone" that's got about 5 gigs of music in it (out of my ~15 gig collection). I sync it with my phone and it works fine. I also setup a "Not on BFicky's iPhone" smart playlist that only shows me songs in my collection that are not on my phone, making it easy to pick out new music to swap in.
However, syncing my phone to a playlist means I can't easily listen to my other playlists on my phone ("Video Game music", "Instrumental", etc.). If I tell my phone to sync with those playlists too, then all the songs from those playlists move to my phone, regardless if they're in "BFicky's iPhone" or not. I could set up some smart playlists, but then I'm basically doubling all my playlists ("Instrumental" and "Instrumental & phone).
How do the non iTunes Matchers manage the music on their iDevices?
There's a gauge built into the browser that shows how much data you would have used and how much you're actually using.
Switch: 6200-8149-0919 / Wii U: maximumzero / 3DS: 0860-3352-3335 / eBay Shop
Since that provides a nice segue, iTunes Match is the shit. It isn't perfect. I had to upload about 3-4gb of my 55gb library. I do also have problems with album art here and there. But, the convenience of having 55gb of music available to me on a 32gb iPhone wherever I am is just mind-blowing.
As for buying a 4S now: Wait until October or so if you can.