So you just picked up a new refurb iPhone 3GS or discount iPod touch G3 for Black Friday, and you’re eager to know what to do with it next? TiPb’s got you covered. Here are some helpful tips and tricks, apps and accessories, and reviews and overviews to get new users on their way. (Or, if you’re already a pro, to send to those new users who would otherwise be bugging you all night for help).

Know Your iPhone (or iPod!)

• iPhone 3GS Hardware
• iPod touch G3 hardware
• iPhone OS 3.1 Walkthrough
• iPhone OS 3.0 Walkthrough
• iPhone Help and How-to Guides
• Jailbreak and Unlock Resources

ABCs — Apps, Bluetooth, and Cases

• TiPb’s Top 5 Must-Have iPhone Accessories
• TiPb’s Top 5 Apps Series
• TiPb’s Staff Picks of the Week Series

Finally, the Forums

• iPhone and iPod touch Discussion and Help Forums

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Get a New iPhone or iPod touch for Black Friday? Here’s What You Need Next!

Palm recently had a problem with online profiles, and following on the infamous Sidekick failure, it becomes yet another cautionary tale and reminder for us all — backup, backup, backup.

That’s right, the process so nice vitally important we repeated it thrice. Data doesn’t exist if it it isn’t in at least three places: source (device), local backup, and offsite backup (which can be the “cloud” or it can be a little USB hard drive you take to work or leave at the parents’ place). Your device can be lost, stolen, or bricked. Your local backup can error out or burn up or get flooded, and the cloud can eat your data. Having all three puts the odds of having one available version considerably more in your favor.

iPhone users rely on MobileMe, or Google services like Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Contacts, etc., and since the App Store lets us re-download applications we’ve bought, some even rely on that as de facto cloud-storage for our priceless personal information and our costly purchases.

iTunes automatically backs up your iPhone to your PC hard disk. If you have an automated backup to a second hard drive (including Time Machine), along with MobileMe, Google, or a dedicated online backup service, good on ya. You’re doing it right.

If you don’t, set it up now. 1 second after failure is an eternity too late.

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Busted Palm Online Service Reminds Us Again to Backup, Backup, Backup

Just in time for the holidays AT&T is now offering up refurbished iPhone 3GS devices online for a discounted price with free overnight shipping and no activation fee. Both 16GB and 32GB flavors are offered as well as both black and white models.

The 16GB model is on sale for $49 while the 32GB is going for a cool $149.00. Of course the regular two-year contract is mandatory along with new activation if you want these low prices.

If any of you are in the market for a iPhone 3GS on the cheap, this is the deal you may have been looking for. Any takers?

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

AT&T Now Offering iPhone 3GS Refurbs Online

According to a study, Motorola recently surpassed Apple in brand loyalty among men 18 years old and up since the release of the Droid on the Verizon network. The study by YouGov’s BrandIndex scale ranges from -100 to 100 and is based on weekday interviews with 2,000 interviews per day from a panel of 250,000 people.

This past week Apple has dropped from a November peak high of 48.1 to 22 and Motorola is staying strong with 29.3 with an error margin of +/- 2 percent. The real loser in all of this? Research and Motion and their BlackBerry smartphones as they have dropped to a lonely 9 in the study.

All of this may have started from the much talked about Verizon map and Droid commercials. It would seem that the first round of the Verizon vs AT&T battle has gone in favor of Big Red and Motorola. It should be interesting to see if the latest iPhone commercials will be able to swing things back into Apple’s favor.

[Via AppleInsider]

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Motorola’s Brand Loyalty Among Men 18+ Passes Apple

Apple’s iTunes App Store is featuring tons and tons of sales this weekend, some for Black Friday, some for Cyber Monday, some for the entire weekend. We know that no matter how cheap some apps start off, there’s always a commenter who says “meh, I’d buy it for half that” — so now we’re looking at you, sir! Put your money where your anonymous internet chatter is and go get some great, and greatly en-cheapened apps!

What exactly is on sale? What isn’t! But Touch Arcade, App Advice, 148apps are doing their best to keep lists together. Check them out, or just browse the store. And if you find any really great deals, any hidden gems, let us know in the comments!

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

iPhone App Store Black Friday to Cyber Monday Sales

22 carat gold, 190 diamonds, and a cool $3.2 million dollars for this designer Stuart Hughes iPhone case. We’re just wondering if that includes ring, necklace, and earring mounts?

What do you think, ultimate iBling Blang or just gauche iDang?

[Stuart Hughes via Engadget via Phone Arena/Tech Ed Blog]

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Need an iPhone Case? Got $3.2 Million Bucks?

Black Friday Sales are now live for both the US Apple Online Store and it’s slightly anemic cousin to the north, the Canadian Apple Online Store. So, if you’ve been waiting to save up to $5 on a Magic Mouse, $11 on an iPod nano, $21 on an Apple TV, $41 on an iPod touch, or $101 on a MacBook Pro or iMac, get ye a shopping! (And let us know what you grab!)

(You can also hit up Amazon Online in the US, or brave the crowds at Best Buy or other resellers and save some additional dollars — don’t tell Steve we told you!)

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Apple Black Friday Sales Live in North America

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Join Rene, Chad, and Michael Manna of the T4 Show for AT&T and Apple ads strike back, Schiller speaks, the WebApps alternative, Jailbreak worms, Chrome OS, and all the week’s news! Listen in!

Credits

Thanks to the the iPhone Blog Store for sponsoring the podcast, and to everyone who showed up for the live chat!

Our music comes from the following sources:

• I Called You — iPhone Remix by Pete Leidy
via Sneakmove iPhone Ringtone Challenge

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb Presents: iPhone Live! #77 — Apple Strikes Back!