We're ONE!
It’s hard to believe that the site has been going for a whole year, but it’s true! This time last year, the iPhone 3GS had just been launched, the XT Network was all shiny and new, 2degrees were putting the final touches to their giant loggo, and we were explaining how to install our carrier bundles to a brand new audience. Indulge us, won’t you, as we take a trip down memory lane and pick out our highlights from the past year. If you’re feeling generous, you might even stop by in the comments! Read on!
Before we take that trip, how about some stats….
General Site
365 – That’s the number of days we’ve been here
2 – That’s the number of owners and editors-in-chief (Dan and Steve)
2 – That’s the number of senior editors (Mak and Allan)
3 – That’s the number of contributing authors (Paul, Andy and Chris)
1812 – That’s the number of members we have (That’s all of you)
From the Blog
337 – That’s the number of posts we’ve made
2795 – That’s the number of comments you’ve all made
From the Forum
17 – The number of Forums we have
505 – The number of Topics we have
2473 – The number of posts we have
July 2009
Telecom XT Carrier Bundle Launched
Without a doubt, the first highlight on our list is also easily the most important post we’ve ever done. With 183 comments, this is the post that has driven the most traffic to the site (over 41’000 views) and without it we probably we wouldn’t be here. Dan’s handy skills effectively made using the iPhone on XT possible, right up until iOS 4 came along.
This was the very first turn-by-turn navigation app for New Zealand and boy, were we excited to test it out! Funnily enough it remains one of our favourite GPS apps to date.
iPhonewzealand forums launched
We barely remember the site without forums, but these days its one of favourite places to hang out. If you don’t already use our forums, you’re missing out – probably one of the best online resources for iPhone users in the country thanks to all of our readers who make this community the best!
August 2009
How to get MobileMe functionality… for free!
This guide still makes sense and is just as relevant today as the day it was written. Find out how to get the functionality that makes MobileMe so great, but without spending a cent.
Yellow was probably the first notable effort by a major New Zealand company to break into the iPhone app eco-system. A perfectly fine app, we understand it’s currently undergoing a major upgrade to bring even more magical search to your iOS device!
Following its demo at the iPhone OS 3.0 preview event, TomTom was probably the most eagerly awaited GPS app of them all… and we were the first website in the world to review it! We even got a mention on TUAW for that, which made our month!
September 2009
OS 3.1 disables tethering! Oh noooooooooes!!!
Trouble in paradise! XT users who were languishing in iPhone paradise thanks to our bundles were dealt a cruel blow when Apple went and pulled the rug from under them. This was the start of a period we’d rather not remember — tons of emails, lots of people needing help, it was all a bit of a nightmare!
The day the government almost banned us from using GPS apps
This is probably one of the highlights of the year. Early one morning we awoke to the news that the government were about to pass a law that would make the turn-by-turn GPS apps illegal. We took up arms, made some headlines on TUAW once again, and saved the day! Huzzah!
October 2009
One of our favourite local news apps, we were really excited by the launch of the TVNZ app. It was like a coming-of-age for the iOS platform in New Zealand. Naturally it was followed by TV3 and Sky apps. Oh.. no. No it wasn’t. Why not?!
Free calls. From your iPhone. Bliss! We can’t do a review of the year without going past this. Probably one of the most important and essential apps to date.
ZOMG! THE DEATH OF TURN-BY-TURN!
October 29th 2009 will surely go down in history as a dark day for many of the world’s leading GPS companies including TomTom and ALK. Why? Because it was the day that Google announced free turn-by-turn navigation of course! Share prices plummeted as doomsday was predicted, but to this day an iPhone version has never materialised. Lucky for some!
The TomTom Car Kit finally gets reviewed
If the TomTom app was the most eagerly anticipated app of the last year, then the TomTom Car Kit was easily the most eagerly anticipated accessory. We waited months and MONTHS for it to show up in New Zealand, and this is where we shared our thoughts.
November 2009
We had high hopes for this, but to be honest you lot haven’t exactly jumped on this one. If you’ve not heard, Suggest-an-App is where you can go to — well, suggest an app. Devs check it out regularly so get using it!
The iPhonewzealand BIG Christmas Giveaway
The best competition we’ve done by far. Thanks to MagnumMac we were able to bring some Christmas magic to some lucky readers!
December 2009
The start of the slippery XT slope
The first of those awful outages hit the XT network – little did we know it was the first of a concerning trend that… well, we all know what happened. Don’t take us back to the dark place!
WhatsApp launches and saves us a blimmin’ fortune
We take a look at WhatsApp – the free IM / SMS app that has saved us a fortune in texts, and could save you too. If you haven’t already, make sure you check it out.
Our NZ Essentials app goes live!
Our very own app was launched just in time for the Christmas break. We’re immensely proud of it, as it showcases the work of New Zealand developers – something the actual App Store doesn’t do too well. For those of you that might have uninstalled it due to performance issues, give it another whirl. A recent update has ironed out many bugs and it’s the best way to access the site on the go. Thanks to Reuben and Toby at Smudge Apps for creating this for us
Ten things you should do with your new iPhone
Just as relevant today, here is our essential guide for the first ten things any new iPhone owner should do with their new device. Worth a revisit (or a first-time look if you’ve joined us late).
January 2010
TomTom charging issues exposed
The TomTom car kit doesn’t charge your iPhone. Or does it?
Apple releases some sort of magical tablet or other
Ah, the iPad reveal! January!! Seems so long ago and yet it’s still not out here.
February 2010
The dark age ends: Tethering comes back!
There was much whooping and hollering as 3.1.3 was released in all it’s tethering-enabling glory.
April 2010
An iPad lands at iPhonewzealand Towers
Dan managed to get his hands on an iPad, and here we shared our thoughts with you – magical tablet or headache tablet?
Our world turned on its head when the first beta of iOS 4 went live, breaking our carrier bundles and leaving us wondering what the heck we were going to do. Fortunately, things have turned out alright – but this was certainly one of the major events of the year for us.
Like a child sneaking a look at their Christmas presents, we were both excited and a bit dubious about wanting to believe that Gizmodo had actually got their hands on an actual leaked Apple product. Turned out to be the real mccoy, of course.
iPad 3G settings for XT and MicroSIM template
How generous are we? Two stories for the price of one. Not only did we confirm that the iPad was completely compatible with the XT network, but we also revealed the secret to chopping your existing SIM card up into the shape of one of those new micro-thingamybobs.
May 2010
2degrees launch decent data pricing
Up until this point, it had been a two-horse race for the iPhone. But with decent data bundles finally hitting the ‘shelves’, 2degress are finally a real third option.
Whitcoulls surprise us all by hopping into the App Store
Nobody saw this one coming, but it was a welcome surprise when the Whitcoulls app with an online store bursting at the seams hit the App Store. Top effort and a top app!
June 2010
After a terrible six months, XT ‘pulled itself up by its bootstraps’ and relaunched itself.
The iPhone 4 is re-revealed to the world
Our collective jaws dropped when the iPhone 4 was revealed (properly this time) to the world. We’re still on the final countdown to actually getting one, but it’s close!
July 2010
Mmmmmmm, iPhone 4. The biggest highlight so far this month is when we went and had a play with the iPhone 4. Stunning what else can I say.
And so into the future, I am guessing that the next big post on the site will be announcement of the iPhone 4 NZ release date and pricing. We hope to keep bringing you giveaways and the latest news from the iOS community.
We would like to say a huge Thanks to Mak, Allan, Andy & Chris for all their hard work (they do it for free you know). Thanks to MagumMac for their support and giveaways. Thanks to Mauricio of Geekzone, he really was instrumental on putting us on the map with banners and links from Geekzone. And finally a massive thanks to you our readers, without whom we wouldn’t be here at all.
Woo congrats!
Happy birthday
(pknz has made 92 comments)
Congrats guys! It’s awesome to see a dedicated iOS site from little ol’ New Zealand doing so well and bring such quality content to it’s users… Can’t wait to see what’s in the future for the site…
Do we get cake?
(Ecyrb has made 23 comments)
Happy birthday iPNZ! Which is of course, nothing without it’s wonderful users. Keep up the good discussion and activity and tell your friends
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(Mak has made 222 comments)
Congrats and keep on with the fanastic great work, Really enjoy this site
Happy Birthday
(feee has made 16 comments)
Happy Birthday team. Its been a great year and long may it continue. Perfect B'day gift would be your being able to announce the Iphone 4 release date today…come on Apple..help a brother out!!
(camtab has made 464 comments)
Wow, this I did not know! Happy birthday to, well, US!!!!! Here's to the next year and many more!
(Allan has made 42 comments)
Happy birthday bro, now wheres the party at
(deFusion has made 12 comments)
Well done team.
Its been a great year.
More exciting things to come for sure
(Psychrn has made 131 comments)
Happy Birthday guys.. Great stuff. Couldn't start the day without you now !
(falcogeorge has made 13 comments)
Well done and Happy Birthday!
Here is to many more.
Kevin
(kevinnz has made 8 comments)
@ camtab:
I'm picking tomorrow for an announcement on iPhone 4 and/or iPad. Two weeks before release makes sense and there's only two weeks left of July, basically.
(ALFA has made 25 comments)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Thanks for all the help
(emilang has made 18 comments)
ALFA wrote:
Not far off…there is one Saturday (Friday US time) so hats off to you. Well predicted
(camtab has made 464 comments)
Wow Oh my GOD Happy Birthday IPNZ!!!! I was so happy to discover you back when I first bought my iPhone 3Gs and you've been a great help and fun as well!
(Yaman_NZ has made 184 comments)
Happy Birthday Team an thanks for a great helpful site indeed !!
The year has gone so fast an yep I've now had my iPhone 3GS for 1 year too
Whats the next year going to bring ah ?
Looking forward to getting my new iPhone 4 soon !!!
(Curly has made 6 comments)
Thanks guys a great site which I check most days. It has made my IPhone experience so much better
(Mikester has made 4 comments)