You’ve made the purchase and you made in home – with a quick stop at book store to pick up the book you’re currently holding – and you’re ready to start using the phone. Not so fast, hot shot. You’ve got some setting up to do. Your first step is activation. Instead of waiting inside a cell phone store, you actually set up teh iPhone yourself using Apple’s music management software called iTunes. Here’s how you do it.

1. If you are already running an Apple OS X machine purchased in the last couple of years, you probably already have iTunes installed. Windows users may or may not have already installed iTunes. Never mind that, because you want to make sure you have the latest version anyway. Open up a web browser and type apple(dot)com/itunes/download into the address bar.
2. Once you’re there. Click the download button in order to start downloading the iTunes installer. Apple asks for an email address, but if you don’t feel like giving yours away you don’t need to. The iTunes website should automatically detect the right operating system(Max OS X v/s Windows XP or Windows Vista) and send you the correct version. If you’re using a Linux machine, you’ll have to borrow another computer or install a version of Windows in order to set up your iPhone.
3. Done downloading? Good. Now find the file you’ve just downloaded and open it. Once you have iTunes installed, it’s time to start up the program. Under OS X. the iTunes app shows up in the dock as a CD with a music mote on top in Windows, you have to go into your Start menu, find the iTunes folder, and then click on iTunes.

Like the iPod. the iPhone doesn’t have an easily replaceable battery. In fact, it’s nearly impossible to replace the battery yourself, and even if you did, don’t count on Apple to hand you a new iPhone if something goes wrong. But if you’re under warranty(AppleCare), battery replacement is free. If you don’t have AppleCare, or it run out, Apple will charge you $79 and a $6.95 shipping fee so replace it. In the plus side, the iPhone’s battery life is impressive, even if you do a lot of talking, iPodding, and web browsing. Just remember, a properly conditioned battery is a happy battery.