Here’s a poser for the experts among you: Does anyone know which time server the iPhone updates its clock by, or how?

Common sense would tell us it either gets it from the Mac it’s synced to, or online from a specified server (in which case a server endorsed by Apple), but whatever the case it should tell the same time either way, right?

Maybe it’s just my unit, but my automatically-time-synced desktop Mac and my iPhone are constantly five minutes apart. I can’t find a time-server choice anywhere on the iPhone’s settings, or on iTunes.

Why is my iPhone always 5 minutes late? That’s a big deal. It syncs to something for sure - I know this because I sometimes manually set it to the right time, but after syncing it with iTunes, it moves back again.

A possible answer is that it time-syncs with the carrier it’s connected to (in my case Smart), but I can’t tell for sure.

This mystery bugs me no end.

I’ve gotten used to using bluetooth, my old phone and Salling Clicker to control my presentations, and sorely miss the functionality in the iPhone.

Enter Touchpad, which turns jailbroken iPhones and iPod Touches into a wireless touchpad control for Macs, Windows and Linux computers. All the usual trackpad functions are there, plus right-edge page scrolling. Cool!

Someone named Jahanzeb Sherwani created Touchpad from VNSea. All you need do is add the http://cnp.qlnk.net/ repository to Installer.app, download and install it, and follow Sherwani’s instructions on how to install and enable VNC on the computer you choose to use Touchpad on.

Visit Jahanzeb’s developer page here for more details and instructions, even a video.

Go get the iTunes 7.6.1 update via Software Update. It’s basically meant for rental movies and Apple TV - things I don’t avail of or have - but if you do, grab the update. If you don’t have an Apple TV or rent movies, at least you can be happy with satisfying your obsessive need to have the most current version available. (At least you have Apple’s always-vague and -cryptic “includes several bug fixes”.)

Rent and download your favorite movies with iTunes on your computer or directly to your living room on Apple TV. Enjoy rented movies in sizes up to 720p HD with surround sound on your Apple TV and sizes up to DVD-quality on your computer. Transfer your rented movies from iTunes to your iPod or iPhone and enjoy them on the go.

Also, purchase and download your favorite TV shows, music, and more directly on your Apple TV. Effortlessly transfer purchases made on Apple TV back to your computer with iTunes.

iTunes 7.6.1 includes several bug fixes and improves compatibility with Apple TV software version 2.0.”

I was expecting this, but not in this way. Not on the iTunes Store, for goodness’ sake.

American Idol aspirant Renaldo Lapuz, a Filipino who caused a riot of sorts with the hosts of American Idol Season 7 by WilliamHung-ing his way into the spotlight with his white feathered costume and self-composed ode to Simon Cowell, is now a free music video on the iTunes Store.

Oh dear God.

It was amusing at first to the MacADoodlers in the Philippines, where MAD is made, and where Lapuz was originally from, but it was particularly amusing for the Doodler himself, as Lapuz’ previous job for 13 years prior to moving to the States, he discovered, was as a public tricycle driver in Sikatuna Village, where the Doodler lives. No wonder he looked familiar.

AI gave him lots of airtime, and Simon himself predicted sarcastically that Lapuz’ song, We’re Brothers Forever, would be the next hit. Well, it’s here. A free 7-min video, all of an 83mb download, from the iTunes Store. Get it while it lasts.

Another sign that the end times are nigh.

Jesse Derris, an Account Manager at Sunshine Sachs & Associates, the PR group for Product(Red), got in touch with the Doodler to give the real story behind the previous post we wrote about the campaign. So as not to make any mistakes, we reproduce Mr. Derris’ reply here verbatim:

Hi Adel—

Realizing it might be difficult for us to speak on the phone, I wanted to write to you to correct some of the facts in your story regarding (RED). We’re so glad that you like the products!

First, (RED) products generate funds for the Global Fund to fight AIDS across Africa, not just in Rwanda. (RED) money is currently at work in Rwanda, Swaziland, and Ghana. While you’re right that a portion of sales of (RED) items goes the Global Fund, that portion is at least 40 percent of gross profits – a very large amount.

Up until this point, (RED) has generated more than $60 million for the Global Fund, $22 million of which is being used in Rwanda.

The Advertising Age story you quote in your post is from March 2007, almost a year ago. That story accused (RED) partners of spending upwards of $100 million on advertising and generating only $18 million for the Global Fund. However, both numbers are false. Advertising Age has never revealed the source of the numbers they used, nor how they were calculated. In short, we have no idea where they came from.

Now, back in March 2007, the actual figures were an estimated $50 million spent on advertising, generating $25 million for the Global Fund. This is a very successful figure. Why?

The amount of money that went to the Global Fund at that point – $25 million – represents 40 percent of the profits. Remember, the companies get to keep the other 60 percent of their profits. The reason we do this is because (RED) is a business model that is meant to help companies give to the Global Fund and make a profit at the same time. By ensuring that companies profit on their (RED) partnership, we can make it sustainable in the long run. Unfortunately, when Advertising Age calculated their figures, they left out the other 60 percent of profits.

It is important to point out that (RED) itself doesn’t spend anything on advertising. Our partners each divert a portion of their existing advertising budget towards ads for their (RED) products. It is money that will be spent on advertising whether or not (RED) exists. It’s not money that would be earmarked for charity. We’re so grateful to our partners for advertising on our behalf.

I hope this is helpful in explaining what (RED) is and how we are doing.”

That’s that. Straight out of the horse’s mouth. Now to get that red nano.