Five free IT tools available in the Apple App Store

For many years, IT professionals have relied on tools that require a PC or a laptop to run; smaller, more portable devices just weren't available. Now, with the advent of nearly-ubiquitous smart phones and the proliferation of tablets, IT professionals can use these types of devices to test their networks and systems to ensure that things are running properly - and without lugging around a full laptop or heading back to the office to use a desktop.
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In this edition of Five Apps, I take a look at five free IT tools in the Apple App Store which can be used by IT professionals to diagnose problems with their networks and systems. All of these apps are "universal" apps, meaning that the same version can be used on iPhones, iPads, and iPod Touches.

Five Apps

1: IP Network Scanner by 10base-t Interactive

IP Network Scanner quickly scans the local subnet (by default) returning a list of the systems detected and what their IP and MAC addresses are. Additionally, you can view the manufacturer, give the device a custom name and icon, and use several network tools and additional apps on the device all from the right-side pane. The free version is limited to the first five devices found, but you can adjust the scanning range to catch the group of devices you're interested in. The full version is $9.99 and gives you unlimited devices.

2: Speedtest X HD by VeeApps

A speed test app is another must for IT professionals, and Speedtest X HD does an excellent and beautiful job. Free users get access to a limited number of servers to test against while users upgrading to the full version get access to many more. The gauge is simple and easy to read and the app gives you the typical ping, download, and upload results. VeeApps also offers a non-HD version of their app. Both paid versions cost $0.99.

3: NSLookup by Dayana Networks Ltd.

NSLookup does only one thing, but it does that thing well. Simply enter the domain name and it will return a list of name servers and hosts with IPv4 and IPv6 addresses. The few options available allow you to reduce the number of different types of results and make other minor tweaks. The paid version is $1.99 and appears to just remove the ads.

4: Netstat by James Devenish

Another essential IT app is Netstat. The free version will list all currently-open sockets on the device and give several details about those sockets. The paid version ($3.99) goes a little bit further in allowing you to monitor another device's sockets. You can also buy the connection details module for $0.99. One additional stand-out feature of this app is that it exports the results to CSV which you can then sync to iTunes, open with another app, or send as an e-mail attachment.

5: Remote Desktop Lite - RDP by MochaSoft

Finally, no Windows IT professional would be complete without an RDP app. Remote Desktop - RDP is an easy-to-use Remote Desktop client with many options available for advanced configuration; however, basic configuration is as simple as entering the IP address or hostname. Once you connect to a remote Windows system, you can see, zoom, and pan the screen around as needed and use the built-in iOS keyboard or an external one when you need to type. The paid version ($5.99) gives you additional hotkeys on the screen, better mouse support, and removes the ads.

Your picks

What IT Tools have you used from the Apple App Store? Share your recommendations with fellow TechRepublic members in the discussion forum.


Five free IT tools available in the Apple App Store - TechRepublic

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'The Hobbit' to get world premiere in November

The Hobbit will receive its world premiere in New Zealand this November.

Peter Jackson returns to middle earth with the first of two movies, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, on December 14. It has now been announced that the world will get its first chance to see the movie at the Embassy Theatre in Wellington on November 28, two weeks before it hits theatres. Producers are trying to secure all of the main cast to attend.


Jackson said in a statement: "I know I speak for a company of hobbits, dwarves, elves and orcs when I say that this city holds a special place in all of our hearts. We cannot think of a more perfect way to send The Hobbit off into the world than to celebrate with a huge party here in Wellington, where the journey began".


Meanwhile, the latest of Jackson’s behind-the-scenes video blogs has just premiered over at The Hobbit Movie at Facebook. The director's seventh clip shows the project's work from Stone Street Studios, Miramar, Wellington in New Zealand and features footage of Orlando Bloom and James Nesbitt.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey stars Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins and features an ensemble cast including Sir Ian McKellen, Elijah Wood, Andy Serkis, Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lilly, Bret McKenzie and Cate Blanchett. Watch the trailer above.

AT&T reportedly unlocking iPhones for deployed servicemen as well

The nation’s second-largest carrier, AT&T, is beginning to unlock in-contract iPhones for the United States military personnel deployed abroad, a new report claimed Monday. As you know, AT&T is now unlocking out-of-contract iPhones for its regular subscribers.

The unexpected policy change has been instituted following unconfirmed reports last week that some disgruntled customers who had complained about the situation to Apple CEO Tim Cook via email saw their handsets unlocked.

As a result, AT&T subscribers can now slip in a SIM card from another wireless operator and use their 3G GSM iPhones with compatible cellular networks overseas and in the United States, such as T-Mobile USA (which welcomed the change)…

According to unnamed sources who spoke with MacRumors:

In addition to unlocking phones for off-contract customers, AT&T is also quietly unlocking iPhones for U.S. service members still under contract with the carrier.

The publication stressed that federal law mandates that carriers suspend service without penalty for deployed military personnel “upon presentation of their military orders”.

Though AT&T is not required to unlock the handsets, they are nonetheless choosing to do so on their own, the report has it.

If you are considering unlocking your AT&T iPhone, we have a handy survival guide to help find your way around AT&T’s online technical support chat system.

Tanking margins reportedly forcing US carriers to drop iPhone subsidies

Apple may be poised to become the world’s first trillion dollar company thanks to the iPhone, but sustainability of the pricey handset is now being put into question. One prominent analysts warns that United States carriers such as AT&T – faced with plummeting margins at a six-year low – are now considering reducing iPhone subsidies and adopting stricter upgrade policies.

If instituted, these changes could result in a more expensive iPhone and an estimated worldwide drop in sales of 27.5 million units in the June quarter, with a revenue estimate $1 billion below consensus.

Blame it on “aggressive” upgrade policies instituted by the world’s carriers. That’s the crux BITG Research analyst Walter Piecyk wrote in a Monday note to clients (via AppleInsider):

Operators, unwilling to stall the pace of ARPU growth, offered generous upgrade policies including some that enabled a fully subsidized phone upgrade only one year in to a two year contract. We expect those policies to change as the faster upgrade rate of smartphones compared to legacy feature phones has been a costly surprise to post-paid and pre-paid operators, alike.

As a result, Piecyk expects that iPhone sales in the United States will decline four million sequentially to nine million units, resulting in a worldwide drop in sales of 27.5 million units in the June quarter.

Apple retook the title of the world’s leading smartphone maker from Samsung by selling an astounding 37 million iPhones during the holiday quarter.

Interesting enough, the analyst warns carriers are banding together on this initiative. This indicates to me that carriers are growing wary and jealous because profit from the iPhone business is not being split fairly.

Philip Elmer-DeWitt, writing for Fortune, gave this quote from Piecyk’s note to clients:

The commentary by wireless operators is likely to be decidedly more firm in how they plan to continue to hold back the rising phone upgrade rates that are hurting their margins. Even weak operators like Sprint, which has a large contractual commitment with Apple, will likely experience a decline in iPhone sales based in part on changes to its upgrade policies last year.

They will not be alone as we expect a similar trend at Verizon, Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, America Movil and Telefonica, to name a few. In the United States, we expect iPhone sales to decline 4 million sequentially to 9 million with the largest impact coming from AT&T, Apple’s largest customer.

He wrote that carriers will “stunt the pace of phone upgrades” in 2012, beginning this quarter, dismisses the rumors of an Apple HD TV set launch in 2012 and downplayed the Chinese market.

The analyst also did what analysts rarely do, downgrading AAPL from “neutral” to “buy”. The company is scheduled to report quarterly earnings in two weeks.

The iPhone is one expensive device to sell even if its users are more valuable to wireless companies than a typical smartphone owner. Wireless operators in the United States spend billions in upfront payments to Apple.

For example, fourth-largest Sprint Nextel had to cough up a whopping $15.5 billion to get an estimated 24 million iPhones. For each iPhone, carriers pay an estimated $600-plus, selling it to consumers for $199 or less with a two-year contract.

The service contract gradually covers cost of subsidy, allowing your carrier to eventually recoup their investment and profit. iPhone subsidies are the highest in the industry because it’s such an iconic device that attracts people.

But with four major carriers now selling the iPhone in the United States and a bunch of local ones either offering or about to offer it, customers are less inclined to switch their network just to get an iPhone. As a result, churn rate is dropping and so are the carriers’ margins.

At the same time, Apple’s margin on the iPhone business remains the envy of the industry as the company continues to gulp up well over half the mobile phone industry’s profits.

We’re only speculating here, but if carriers are really banding together to drop iPhone subsidies, Apple may be forced to make its phone more affordable to everyone.

What do you think, is a $600-plus iPhone really sustainable for carriers? Perhaps that’s just a lame excuse the carriers need to conspire and break Apple’s tight grip on the wireless industry?

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