The only drawback here is you must already be a user of the NotifyLink server. However, there is no software required. This works just by using software already contained on your iPhone to sync contacts, email and your calendar.

But there’s much more to it than that. Check out the summary of included features below, taken from the NotifyLink support page:

Email

• Uses the iPhone native email client to send, receive, reply to and forward emails
• Folder Mirroring allows email folders from your mail account to be synchronized to the device
• Email Filters, set on the NotifyLink server, filter mail sent to the device
• Attachment viewing is supported using device’s native viewers. Emails with attachments can be forwarded. With the exception of picture files in the device’s Camera Roll album, attaching a file residing on the device to an email is not currently supported. You cannot save an attachment on the device.

PIM (Calendar and Contacts)

• Interfaces to the iPhone native Calendar and Contacts
• Synchronize calendar events in a configurable Look-Back/Look-Ahead range
• Choose Address Books (on groupware servers that support this)
• Remote Lookup (Global Address List) retrieves contact information from an LDAP directory using the iPhone Contacts application
• Receive and respond to meeting invitations
• Meeting invitations cannot be initiated from the device
• Task synchronization is not supported

Push Types

• Direct Push (Push) and Scheduled Push (Fetch) options

Security

• SSL encryption protocol for data-in-motion between the device and NotifyLink server
• Remote Wipe for devices lost or stolen
• Require password on device (Enabled via the NotifyLink Admin Web)
• Inactivity Timeout (Set on device via Auto-Lock)

[via The iPhoneBlog]

There are currently five of these unique items up on eBay with a starting price of $90. Created by Mii Sculptures, these custom iPhone docks feature charging, syncing, video out ability and of course, Steve Jobs’ oversized head bobbling along right beside it. It’s like he’s presenting the iPhone to you at a keynote on your desk every single day.

Bidding is now over $200 on one of the auctions. But hey, at least the sculpture is actually really good. I mean, that looks like Steve. Fun buy for someone with a lot of extra cash or a diehard Apple addiction.

[via Gadget Lab at Wired.com]

If you’re like me, you get a bit annoyed when every time you try to sync your iPhone it tries to back it up. And this would be fine if it didn’t take an hour. Seriously. Backing up my iPhone took about 30 minutes today, which, if you ask me, is just a little bit too long. It’s so long that I’ve simply cancelled the back up on occasion. Not the best option, but sometimes the only one when in a pinch.

However, there is something you can do to speed up the process just a bit. All you have to do is opt to not send any crash reports to Apple during the back up. Sure, the heart of the time-consuming part of back up is the applications, but opting to not send in those crash reports can shave off some time spent staring at your screen hoping the progress bar will speed up already.

 All you have to do is select “Don’t Send” when prompted with a dialog about sending diagnostic information to Apple. Check the box if you want to opt out permanently. 

[via The Boy Genius Report]