A while ago I knocked up a custom iPhone security wallpaper that put your contact details on the front page of your iPhone so that if you lost it someone could easily return it. The iPhone has a couple of security settings which are commonly used by people to safeguard their data. First thing is a four digit ‘passcode lock’ which can be set to enable after 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 minutes of inactivity. The second is an ‘erase data’ feature which will thoroughly wipe the phone after 10 passcode lock input errors. Awesome idea, if you phone gets nicked as the thief tries to unlock it then there is no way for them to get to your personal data.
However, what happens if you leave you phone somewhere and an honest soul picks it up and wants to return it to you? Well, if you have your passcode lock enabled then I’m afraid there is nothing you can do. Mr or Mrs Honest can’t do a thing to find out who owns the phone unless you ring it constantly and hope they answer or you plaster the back of your phone with a big ‘contact details’ sticker.
Well, here’s an easy way around that. Stick a custom wallpaper on your iPhone like the one I use below and when someone turns it on they are greeted with your details.
The initial wallpaper when the phone is turned on
The passcode screen, note how the info fits neatly
One tip, make sure the phone number you put in as your contact number isn’t the number of the actual phone! That would be pretty dumb eh? When you get your custom wallpaper just make sure you put it in your iPhone’s photo library and then go into your phone Settings/Wallpaper and then select the appropriate library/album and then your custom wallpaper. Easy.
Now, how to make one…. Well, it is done in Photoshop and I figure many of you don’t have photoshop so I’m going to make it easy. You can email me (to iphonewallpaper@cameronlaird.com) your email address and phone number and I will do it for you and then email it back. You can even send me a pic to put with it, it MUST be 480px x 320px though. Alternatively, if you ‘do’ Photoshop then feel free to ping me an email (to iphonewallpaper@cameronlaird.com) and I’ll shoot you back the PSD file and you can customize it to your hearts content.
If you would like me to do this for you I’d LOVE if and request that you could leave a comment here in the comments and if you are a twitterer then please tweet this by clicking right here on this link
#1 by Tim at January 29th, 2010
Sweet! Well that’s all I wanted to say, but your site sent me back to add more – so this I have done.
#2 by Cameron at January 29th, 2010
Thanks Tim!
#3 by Dave at January 29th, 2010
Thanks for the offer and a great idea. E-mail sent.
#4 by Cameron at January 29th, 2010
And done for you Dave!
#5 by Holly at January 29th, 2010
How FANTASTIC … having just lost a phone, COUNT ME IN!! Sending email now!
#6 by Winsome at January 31st, 2010
Wonderful idea Cam! Likewise having lost my phone recently (luckily got it back) this would definitely have helped in my situation.
#7 by Nico at February 1st, 2010
Thanks heaps for shooting that over so quick. Will definately use it.
#8 by Craig at March 3rd, 2010
I appreciate the PSD file you provided, Cameron. One of the best things about the web is the generous folks like yourself who teach & share.
#9 by Miami caterer at August 4th, 2010
1. I was requested a few months ago to be a lecturer at a high school in a nearby town . I’ve been in several career talks before as a speaker and I’m excited about this new invitation since I consider it very satisfying to talk about career and life in general.
#10 by Miami caterer at August 5th, 2010
1.I was requested a few weeks ago to be a speaker at a high school in a nearby town . I’ve been in quite a lot of career talks in the past as a speaker and I’m excited about this new invitation since I find it very satisfying to talk about career and life in general. Life in general can be a little hard for many of us. people go to work to pay for dues and credits and spare only a few dollars for future use since we’re all accustomed to living our lives in debt nowadays .
#11 by Miami catering at August 5th, 2010
1.I was invited a few weeks ago to be a speaker at a high school in a nearby town . I’ve been in quite a lot of career talks in the past as a speaker and I’m excited about this new invitation since I find it very satisfying to talk about career and life in general. Life in general can be a little hard for most of us. people go to work to recompense for fees and credits and spare only a couple dollars for future use since we’re all used to living our lives in debt nowadays .
#12 by Event Planner Boca Raton at August 5th, 2010
I was walking at the mall when I noticed a thief running towards the door carrying a bag from a young woman . I was glad that it wasn’t me whose bag was stolen but I felt sorry for the victim. Life in general can be unpredictably harsh for some of us.
#13 by Event Planner Boca Raton at August 5th, 2010
I was watching my children playing by the lawn and they were so active playing with their toys. I constantly enjoy watching them as they are but every time I start thinking that they’ll be going to school soon worries me. Life in general can be very happy when you’re still little but things become different as you grow up.
#14 by Miami Wedding at August 5th, 2010
10. I was reading Paulo Coelho’s book entitled Eleven Minutes and I felt sympathy for the central character in the story since life in general for her was cruel. The author was really creative without losing grasp of the brutal realities of these days which made the work of fiction worth reading.