You can restrict the content that can be accessed from your iPhone using the Restrictions screen in the Settings app. This allows you to block content with explicit lyrics from being accessed using Safari, YouTube, iTunes, or App Store. To do this, go to Settings >General >Restrictions and set the “Explicit” filter to “On.”

One way to transfer documents (Word, PDF, etc.) created on your desktop computer to your iPhone is to e-mail them to the iPhone as an attachment. You can also use the Yahoo IMAP e-mail service to create a new mail folder which would then appear on the iPhone. However, simpler solutions are available on the App Store.

Files ($6.99) allows you to connect your iPhone or iPod touch to a Wi-Fi equipped PC or Mac and drag-and-drop files between the devices (Fig. 12). In addition, it allows you to view a variety of document formats on your iPhone, including Word (Fig. 13), Excel, Powerpoint, PDF, images, text, html, video, and audio files. The program handles large files well.

Air Sharing ($4.99) also lets you connect to any Wi-Fi equipped Mac, Windows, or Linux computer, move files between the mobile device and the computer, and view documents or play media files in many common formats. The 8-16 GB micro drive on your iPhone or iPod touch provides you with plenty of file storage space. Both of these apps will let you use your Apple device as a portable hard drive with your Mac or PC. And both are available in the iTunes App Store.

Figs. 12 & 13: Files lets you move files between your iPhone or iPod touch and your computer (left) as well as view various document files on your mobile device (right)

In addition to the four icons in the bar at the bottom, the Home screen holds 16 application icons. You can create up to eight additional pages for application icons and each page can hold an addition 16 app icons. So a total of nine Home screen pages, each of which can hold up to 16 app icons, plus the 4 icons at the bottom, means that you can have up to 148 apps on your iPhone.

Some iPhone and iPod touch users have used Photoshop or other graphics programs to create a custom Wallpaper image that will help them get their device back if they lose it. The image includes the words “Call <phone number> for Reward.”

When you need to get back to the top of a long list, e-mail, Web page, etc., simply tap the title bar at the top of the screen and you’ll be back at the very top instantly. This works for most apps.