That’s it, you’re all set. The next time you turn your iPhone on, you’ll be greeted by the picture of your choice. Unfortunately, that’s just about the only place you’ll see wallpaper with the iPhone. It doesn’t even appear on the home screen, which remains a dull black no matter what.

And, annoyingly, there doesn't appear to be any easy way to go back to not having wallpaper once you start using it. It seems you have to stop syncing or delete that image from your iPhone. All you can easily do, apparently, is change the wallpaper to another picture.

In addition to your own pictures, there are free wallpaper sites out there that have images you can download already formatted to fit smoothly on the iPhone's 320 x 480 pixel resolution display. Simply download them to your computer and sync them to your iPhone.

Overview: iPhone Apps – Facebook, Videora, Leaflets
Don't blame yourself for expecting Apple to launch the iPhone with a fully-functional Apple Music Store, downloadable ringtones and several third-party applications. One or all of these additions seemed to be the last Ace the company was holding, a final, last-minute announcement to blow sales through the roof. It's now several weeks later and we're still waiting on that announcement. It probably won't come until October. Fortunately, unauthorized third-party companies are stepping up and filling in the vacuum created by Apple's slow start.

Click here to learn about three of these applications: Facebook, which has been streamlined for the iPhone; Videora, which allows you to adapt videos and movies to the correct iPhone format; and Leaflets, which optimizes Web content for viewing and reading on Apple's smartphone.

Tip: Generate Custom iPhone Ringtones from iTunes Song Samples
With this hack, you'll be able use almost any of Apple's free 30-second song previews in iTunes, which happen to be available for every track in the vast music store, to create custom ringtones for your iPhone.

Here's a brief outline of the steps involved:

The first step is to create a new playlist of un-purchased songs, export that playlist, and then save it as text. When you open it up, locate the URLs for the audio files you want as ringtones; using those Web addresses to download the 30-second snippets of the songs.

Once the audio samples are downloaded, rename the tracks—giving them a name (while keeping the .m4p file extensions) that's more meaningful to you than Apple's obscure file designations. That way the tracks will be more easily recognizable for the songs they represent when you go to use them as a ringtone.

You’ll be able to do that last bit after loading the files onto the iPhone. Once they’re on the device, you simply pick the file you want to use as a ringtone just like you would with the ringtones Apple pre-loaded. The 30-second song previews you just added are now listed in Settings --> Sound --> Ringtone along with these other tones.

Apple Releases Second iPhone Software Update
Apple has just released its second firmware update, v1.0.2, for the iPhone. As with the first update, v1.0.1, which arrived earlier this month, this one is downloaded and installed through iTunes; either the next time iTunes is scheduled to automatically check for a software upgrade or you click Check for Update manually.

All Apple tells us about what the update is it’s composed of bug fixes. It doesn't even specify what kind of bug fixes.

While no new features are mentioned in v1.0.2,, the same was true for v1.0.1, which offered some minor enhancements anyway—such as the favorites tab jumping to 50 entries from 20, the ability to BCC yourself in an e-mail, and compatibility with a greater number of audio peripherals. Perhaps the same will be true of the new update.

During the installation process, iTunes validates the software on your iPhone. If it finds any hacks or unauthorized third-party applications that run natively on the iPhone, it – unfortunately - performs a complete restore of the device, returning it to factor defaults before proceeding. Meaning you’ll lose everything and will have to re-install the applications and hacks after the upgrade, and the length of the upgrade goes from a mere couple to several minutes or longer.

Some iPhone users are reporting that hacks and third-party software still run successfully on the iPhone after the installation of update v1.0.2. Once you've re-installed everything, of course.

Update: Some folks who've installed the new update report greatly improved Wi-Fi reception, EDGE performance or cellular phone reception. Others say the video preview of the iPhone's camera is much proved, with a greater a refresh rate offering greater image stability. While we have not noticed a change in the former, the later does seem to be better.

Now if only Apple would enable you to take video with the camera.

Tip: iPhoneDrive Brings Disc Mode to iPhones
iPhoneDrive ($9.95), from Ecamm Network, allows you to use your iPhone for file storage, something you can't do with Apple's iPod/smartphone combo out-of-the-box, as there's no disk mode for iPhones like there is for iPods.

Launching iPhoneDrive brings up the utility’s browser window and toolbar. It is from there you can transfer files and folders back and forth between your Mac OS X computer and iPhone.

There are two ways to perform transfers to an iPhone: Drag and drop content from the Mac Desktop or a Finder window into the iPhoneDrive browser or click the "Copy To iPhone" button on the toolbar.

To do the reverse, you can either click the "Copy From iPhone" button on the toolbar to move highlighted files or folders to a location of your choosing on the computer; drag content directly from the iPhoneDrive browser window into a Finder window or onto the Desktop; or simply double-click a file to download it to your Documents folder.

With iPhoneDrive, you can also create folders on and delete files or folders from your iPhone.

You can't view content you've transferred from your computer on the iPhone with iPhoneDrive, however, as the software is for storage purposes only.

Tip: iPhone - .com Site? Forget Keyboard's .com Key
When you use the iPhone with the smartphone's Safari Web browser, try typing in a Web address. You'll notice two keys appear on the alphabet side of the device's virtual keyboard – period ('.') and .com – that normally aren’t there.

What you'll find after using the keyboard for a little while is that the .com button isn't necessary when typing out a .com Web address a lot of the time. So if you want to go to http://www.pdastreet.com, for example, all you need to do is type pdastreet into the address bar and hit the blue Go button. You'll save yourself the time it takes to type a period and three letters (com).

If this tip turns out to apply to all .com sites, and it seems to work on all the sites I’ve tried it with, then perhaps Apple should consider changing the .com key to .net in the future.

Here’s another tip to keep in mind when surfing the Web through iPhone’s Safari browser: If you go to a site a lot, but normally wouldn't put it into your bookmarks, we highly recommend you bookmark it anyway. That's because Safari forms a list of bookmarked sites as you're typing a Web address just underneath the address bar.

The number of sites listed dwindles as you get closer to the site you want to go to. So, even before you finish typing the full site name, if the site is bookmarked, you should be able to more speedily select it from this list.

Texterity Digitizes Complete Magazine Issues for iPhone
Digital publisher Texterity has launched a beta version of its mobile magazine interface and portal for the Apple iPhone. What's neat about this portal is that it allows readers to view a complete digitized version of a magazine, as it was originally published, on the iPhone.

When you go to Texterity's homepage, you see the covers of over twenty different magazines. Tap on the one you want to read and you'll get options to View, Search and Share its content. There's also a table of contents for each magazine.

An Information link leads you to a page with a description of the magazine as well as explanation of the purpose for each icon on the page. Most importantly, the Show Pages icon allows you to view a grid of every page in that particular issue of the magazine, which have been scanned for your reading pleasure. Simply tap on the page you want to read.

Currently in beta, all the issues of the magazines in texterity have been made available for free to all iPhone users. The magazines cover a wide of range of interest areas. For example, 'The American Lawyer,' 'Cottage Living,' 'eWEEK,' 'Popular Science,' 'Every Day with Rachael Ray,' and 'Vibe' are among the titles posted in the portal

Click here to head to the Texterity's iPhone portal.

Jewel of Handheld Puzzle Games Bejewels iPhone
Bejewled is, perhaps, the most popular game for PDAs and smartphones ever released. That's why it's not really a surprise that PopCap, the company behind the title, has introduced a version of Bejewled for Apple's new iPhone.

As the original match-3 puzzle game, Bejeweled has spawned a legion of imitators over the years. We can attest to the fact that it is very simple to play yet addicting. Once you start it's hard to stop.

You begin with an 8 x 8 board filled with various jewels. You have to swap any two adjacent gems to create rows of 3 or more of the same type. When a line is cleared from the board new gems replace it.

As with all other applications released for the iPhone so far, Bejewled runs through the iPhone's Safari Web browser, and not directly on the device itself. According to PopCap, this customized version of Bejeweled has been optimized to take advantage of the iPhone’s unique display and touch controls.

Bejewled for the iPhone is free—simply log on to www.popcap.com via the iPhone’s Web browser to play. We tried this. When you go to that Web address you're automatically redirected to the game at http://static.popcap.com/iphone/.

We found gameplay to be a little slow with the iPhone. PopCap obviously couldn't completely overcome developing for a Web browser rather than an OS.

Keep in mind; because it is formatted for the iPhone, it may not look right in these other contexts.

Apple Releases First iPhone Update
The first firmware update for the iPhone, version 1.0.1 is now available from Apple. It mostly addresses security issues and bugs that have surfaced with the iPhone's Safari Web browser; Particularly one where when visiting a malicious Web site, hackers could gain complete access to the iPhone, making the phone and the data on it vulnerable.

As with anything else having to do with the iPhone, the update is only delivered through the iTunes. It will not appear in your computer's Software Update application, or on the Apple Support Downloads site.

iTunes automatically checks Apple's update server on a weekly schedule. When an update is detected, it will download it. The next time you dock your iPhone to your desktop computer, the following message appears: "A new iPhone software version (1.0.1) is available for the iPhone. Would you like to install it now?"

Apple recommends iPhone users install the update right away.

Because the automatic update process may take up to a week depending on the day that iTunes checks for updates, you may want to consider manually obtaining the update via the "Check for Updates" button or menu choice in iTunes ahead of time.

See here for more information about the iPhone firmware update.

iPhone: Apple Offers Extended Warranty
Considering the iPhone's front face is nearly all glass, in hand it is much sturdier than you might think. For those who don't feel totally secure with the included one-year warranty however—especially after plunking down between $499 and $599 (and that's before taxes and service)—Apple is now offering an extended warranty through a new AppleCare Protection Plan for iPhone.

For $69, AppleCare extends the iPhone warranty by a year, to two, from the original purchase date. As with the bundled one-year warranty, AppleCare covers hardware repair and technical support; the latter is extended from a mere 90 days to two years.

Apple allows you to sign up for AppleCare until the original warranty runs out. The plan guarantees Apple will repair your iPhone or provide a replacement. Previously, Apple announced a loaner iPhone would be made available for $29 to those getting their device repaired.

Since AppleCare is transferable, should you sell or give your iPhone while it's covered, the new owner may still leverage the plan.

Pleasantly, should you buy Apple's Bluetooth headset, which is sold separately from the iPhone, AppleCare will cover that peripheral as well.

Unfortunately for residents of Alabama, Connecticut, Nevada, and Wyoming, AppleCare is not available for the iPhone in those states.

Previously, Apple announced it would replace the iPhone's non-removable battery for $79 plus $6.95 in shipping and handling—you may also be subject to local taxes as well—should it die after the iPhone’s warranty period.

Tip: Access 160 (And Counting) iPhone Applications
iPhone users should check out www.iphoneappr.com through the Safari Web browser on their device. They'll find a site that lists and delivers access to 160 (and counting) applications that are iPhone compatible.

The interface is easy to navigate and software is divided by categories, including Business & Finance, Email & Chat, Games, Miscellaneous, Multimedia, News & Sports, School, Search Apps, Shopping, Social Networking and Tools. It also compiles a list of the Top 10 Apps and allows users to search the entire application data base.

Right now, the only third-party applications that are available for the iPhone run through Safari and are accessible when connected to the Internet—either through Wi-Fi or AT&T's EDGE network.

They do not run on the iPhone itself. Because of this, most of the software listed at www.iphoneappr.com should run on most-any smartphone or desktop computer. They've been specifically formatted for the iPhone's display, however.

Typically, a listing offers a short description of the application, a live demo, user ratings and a button to launch the title on your iPhone. Launching the application means you'll be led to the Web site where the software is being hosted.

Of course, if you end up liking a particular title, you then go ahead and bookmark it so you don't have to go through www.iphoneappr.com every time you want to launch it.

Apple Selling Refurbished iPhones for a Discount
Want an iPhone, but find the asking price a bit too high? Then Apple's got a deal for you. That is, if you're willing to take a chance on purchasing a refurbished unit.

Apple is now selling refurbished iPhones, both the 8GB and 4GB models, at a $100 discount online. So you can now buy either a returned or fixed iPhone for a more consumer-friendly $499 (about 17 percent discount) for the former or $399 (around 20 percent off) for the latter.

Keep in mind, folks have returned iPhones for a number of reasons. There are those who simply didn't like the iPhone after trying out or found it didn't meet their needs, for example. Simple enough.

Then there are those who’ve discovered dead spots on their device's touch screens; had their iPhone's proximity sensor, which automatically shuts off the phone's touch screen when you place it near your face, flake out; or, like me, started to feel like their iPhone feel was literally burning a hole in their pocket—possibly due to an overheating battery; etc.

(To be fair, the tech at the Apple Store’s Genius Bar I went to said they hadn't run into my particular problem yet - as of mid July - when I exchanged my hot 8GB model for a new one, which has stayed pretty cool by the way.)

Thankfully, Apple certifies each refurbished unit. Nonetheless, I would definitely consider purchasing the AppleCare Protection Plan for iPhone, which extends warranty coverage to two years, should you decide to pick up a refurbished unit.