Taking screenshots on the iPhone and iPod touch have gotten very very easy after the 2.0 software update.

To take a screenshot on your iPhone or iPod touch:

1. Hold Down the Home Button
2. Tap the power button on the top of your iPhone or iPod touch

You’ll know that the screenshot has been taken because the screen will flash all white. This works while watching video and doing almost everything else on the iPhone/iPod Touch.

Once the screenshot has been taken you can access it in your Photo app. From here you can email it or send it via mobileme back to your other computers.

So, if you’d like to share with everyone you know how awesome it is to have the new iPhone and updated iPod touch then take those screenshots and send them everywhere.

I’m sure many of you have heard that Apple really struggled with their iPhone 2.0 launch. It seems like everyone had trouble getting their phones activated and their iPod touches updated to the latest version yesterday as their were issues with iTunes store server.

I personally felt like Apple was mocking me as periodically through the day iTunes would tell me that a new software version 2.0 was available to upgrade. But, as soon as I clicked upgrade it opened a window to tell me that 1.1.4 was the latest version.

Fortunately everything seems to be working again this morning. I’ve been able to update my iPod touch to the latest software version 2.0 and even sign up for a free 60 day trial of MobileMe.

Check back here soon for a review of both.

Although I have still yet to purchase an iPhone (I’m waiting until after the mass hesteria that will ensue Friday morning at Apple stores and AT&T outlines around the country) I thought it was interesting that the folks over at macrumors.com have discovered the location of the iPhone 2.0 firmware.

Yes, it is true, that you can download the iPhone 2.0 Firmware here:

iPhone1,2_2.0_5A347_Restore.ipsw (download link).
According to the article at macrumors, the firmware is slightly higher than previous builds they’ve seen and will require a bit of attention while installing.  It appears, that for the install to function properly that all media on the iPhone will be erased.   Luckily, iTunes will allow you to back up all your media onto your Mac or PC before the installation.

Additionally, to install this firmware you must hold the Option key while pressing the “Check For Updates” in iTunes.

Head over to macrumors.com for more details.

Although Finder, OS X file management application, has many built in features and capabilities it can be enhanced in many ways.

We’ve mentioned previously how Automator can help you quickly convert files to different formats and show hidden files in Finder. Today’s tip will help you quickly upload files to FTP locations from within finder.

Before we can get started on the application we’ll need to download and install an FTP Plugin automator task from “Upload to FTP”

To create a Finder Plugin to make file uploads to FTP sites quick and easy, follow these steps:

1. Open Automator and select a custom workflow
2. Add the “Get Selected Finder Items” to your workflow
3. Add the recently download “Upload to FTP” automator workflow
4. Update the FTP Details with information about your FTP Site
5. Save your workflow as a Finder Plugin

If prompted, to allow a “perl” application to accept incoming network connection, feel free to allow it.

Now that you’ve created your workflow, you should be able to select a file in finder, right or command click a file, select More, then Automator, and the plugin that you created with your Automator workflow.

After selecting the plugin OS X should take the file and upload it to your FTP site. If you view the FTP site from another application the files should be added to the directory detailed in your Upload to FTP portion of your recently created plugin.

While PC game manufactures with available services from Valve Software’s Steam and Direct2Drive.com have allowed customers to purchase and download games directly to their hard drive for some time now, no one has offered the same capabilities for the Mac.

Despite having the number 1 online Music store and a solid media download service offered through iTunes with Music, Movies, TV Shows, and Games for your iPod, Apple has not yet worked out any deals with gaming studios that would allow them to sale direct downloads for Mac games.

But, it appears that instead of waiting to see if Apple will negotiate a deal with the larger gaming studios that sell games for the Mac (ID, EA, etc.), gametreeonline.com has reached a deal to offer direct downloads of Spore Creature Creator to Mac users. The site is currently accepting pre-orders for the game.

Gametreeonline.com currently offers 3 other games for Direct Download. These include:

1. Puzzle Quest
2. The Tuttles: Madcap Misadventures
3. The Lost Cases of Sherlock Holmes

While none of these are blockbuster Mac games like Command & Conquer 3, the fact that they’ve included Spore means that more EA games may soon follow.

Purchasing from the site is quick and easy and accepts credit cards or allows you to pay through paypal.

So, if you’re interested in some new Mac games and don’t want to head to the store to get them, give Gametreeonline.com a try.