The new iTunes iOS app that goes with the Apple Radio launch annoys the heck out of me. For some reason the GUI designers (and marketing peoples) think that the Apple online services are the only thing you'll ever need. This results in an iTunes menu bar where 80% is useless to me.
Where can I find the iTunesHelper App?
The iTunesHelper application is used to automatically detect iPod's/iPad's and iPhones, when you connect these to your Mac. The application launches iTunes, and (if configured) synchronizes stuff. Very handy, but it can be quite annoying.
E.g. I have an iMac (main 'PC' around the house), and a MacBook. All the synchronization stuff is done on my iMac, and I don't sync anything on my MacBook. But when I attach my iPhone to my MacBook for Internet access (tethering), it launches iTunes and wants to synchronize with an empty iTunes. Something I definitelly don't want.
This feature can be turned off by removing the iTunesHelper application entry from the Login Items in your account settings, but turning it back on is something completely different. I accidentally removed it from my iMac, which wasn't supposed to happen....
iPhone Firmware Update 3.1.3
Apple released an update for the iPhone. Release 3.1.3 fixes some issues like;
- improves accuracy of reported battery level on iPhone 3GS
- resolves issue where 3rd party apps would not launch in some instances
- fixes bug that may cause an app to crash when using the Japanese Kana keyboard
- Tethering is back (even on the non exclusive carriers)....
Results may vary since not every carrier allows tethering (like T-Mobile in the Netherlands).