Wed 27 Jan 2010: Latest Apple Event!

Hold onto your horses.... Apple's officially preparing for a big event next week! All eyes, ears and salivating mouths are anxiously awaiting the mythical Apple Tablet, as well as further iPhone/iPod Touch evolutions.

(Invitation card design viewable here at Appleinsider.com: http://www.appleinsider.com/articles..._creation.html)

The biggest thrill that I'm getting is the rumour that an Apple employee said that even Steve Jobs likes it. And that guy is a damn perfectionist. He almost canned the iPhone because afew months from the announcement, he said "We still don't have a product". I don't know how, but I reckon he could still wring blood from a stone, given how he gets his staff to do the impossible: Take existing ideas and make them drool-worthy.

I mean, Tablet PCs have been around since 1990s! Back then, Bill Gates envisioned a time when everyone would be toting one, from students through to business leaders doodling the next enterprise workflow or scientific invention. But it never happened. Why? My understanding is that no one really saw much point in paying a premium for a laptop that is lower-powered than a standard one, and you're supposed to interact with a stylus pointing at small things designed for a quick and accurate mouse. One look at how the iPhone differentiates itself from Windows Mobile shows a clear schism in UI doctrine: WM tries to emulate the same Windows UI of windows, menus and sub-menus; iPhone tries to give everything a easy-to-tap interface that is pretty much obvious and intuitive. One coaxes you into doing something you're familiar with (start bar, menus), while the other tries a different approach. That same categorical difference looks set to be repeated on the Tablet scene very soon.

I'm really damn excited about this!!! I'm practically telling my wife that part of my bonus is going towards this new toy. (Haven't really... still scared, hahaha) But its going to be so awesome.

On a related note, the iPhone 4.0 demonstration expected is also rumoured to have a 'simulator' that will show how apps would look on a higher resolution screen! Now that could mean that iPhone OS is basically portable to the iTablet, or it could mean we're due for a new iPhone hardware revision, with a sharper screen to match those of the latest Android devices. That would be very interesting to see how that pans out. As it is, Android developers already have - in the space of afew months - to accommodate three different screen resolutions somehow! Apple's been smart to keep the same resolution across its mobile devices while the App Store gained traction. I would hate to see it lose its momentum like that.

Do you guys and girls have any thoughts on this? Or don't really care all that much?

Browse iPhone storage like a USB flash

http://www.redmondpie.com/browse-iphone-like-a-usb-flash-drive-without-ssh-9140156/

MotionTouch solar/ambient light charger for iPhone

This baby's solar chargers doesn't only rely on real solar light, but also ambient office lighting too!  Unlimited energy for the iPhone.... definitely a must-have!!!

http://www.motiontouch.com/case-studies/powcell.asp

Macnewsworld: The iPhone's Not the Cause of Apple's Success - It's the Effect

"There's a reason why Apple is doing well right now, and it's not the iPhone. It's quality. Attention to detail. Simple, elegant, durable design. More people than ever are starting to notice because they understand value. All a person has to do is walk into an Apple retail tore and pick up an iPhone. They can feel the value. It's solid. It has nice lines. Everything fits together perfectly. That's Apple, and that's why the company is kicking butt and taking names these days."

http://www.macnewsworld.com/rsstory/67677.html

Why iTunes takes ages to backup the iPhone - Solution?

So, I've had this 2G iPhone for ages and hardly ever done a backup on iTunes. Why? Because it takes so damn long to do it! I've left it on for over 2hrs only to see it come up with an error message that says it failed for some unknown reason. I forget the exact words, but basically I shouted expletives at it.

Scouring around on the web and multiple forums, I think I may finally have the answer!
It seems that for someone, the culprit was AppSniper! It caches the billions of AppStore icons that it sees for viewing offline, and over time this seems to have accumulated to the point where iTunes practically gives up on backing up the iPhone. When you think about it, AppSniper does see on average 100 new apps EVERY DAY.

So I'm giving this a try, and hopefully it solves my problem. Just deleting the cache took just over 2mins....

Here's the link to the Apple support forum: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=9129763�

UPDATE: IT WORKED!!!!! :D

First backup took just over 15mins. Incrementals were over in just afew minutes!!! Amazing!

iPhone stand.... from one paperclip!

This is just brilliant - Forget buying a fancy iPhone stand that cost at least $20.... some ingenious guys have even drawn out a blueprint on how to make it exactly perfect! hahha

Check it out! :)

http://www.deanying.com/PermaLink,guid,a99a1c06-b55b-4001-afeb-46a707055ecc.aspx

DFU mode "disabled" by OSX 10.5.6 update

Some tips from the iPhone Dev Team on how to overcome this issue:

DFU Issues in OS X 10.5.6

Lots of users have been experiencing problems with the use of DFU mode after applying yesterday’s 10.5.6 system update.

We believe this behavior is due to a kernel bug not a specific countermeasure by Apple. Possible fixes are (try at your own risk!) -

1. Replace the following plugin kexts from within IOUSBFamily.kext with the ones from 10.5.5 and then rebuild kextcache (if you don’t understand this, then you shouldn’t attempt it!)

/System/Library/Extensions/IOUSBFamily.kext/Contents/PlugIns/AppleUSBHub.kext

/System/Library/Extensions/IOUSBFamily.kext/Contents/PlugIns/IOUSBCompositeDriver.kext

2. Use a USB hub in-between the DFU device and the Mac and insert/reinsert the iPhone’s USB cable.

3. Use a PwnageTool created .ipsw on Windows! Oh the irony!

Using iPhone in cold weather

iPhone's touchscreen only reacts to actual skin contact, so you can't use it while wearing gloves during winter. So whats the solution? Some have already opted for a pen-stylus Called Pogo which looks a little ackward attached beside the iPhone, but here's something new - a pair of gloves that actually have dots on the fingertips to help you interact with the iPhone.
Smart stuff. Doesn't seem that expensive either at US$15.
http://www.tuaw.com/2008/10/22/dots-gloves-let-you-use-your-iphone-even-when-its-cold/

Pogo Stylus: http://www.tenonedesign.com/stylus.php

Sync gCal with iCal

Perhaps abit of an alphabet soup, but being able to merge and sync Apple's iCal with Google's gCal will be useful for me for one simple reason:
SmartTime iPhone app will soon support syncing with gCal.
This app is brilliant and easily the best productivity app I've used so far (and I've tried practically every free ToDo app on App Store!). Its dead easy to add new tasks, and rearrange them one one of three viewpoints. There's alot more functionality they could include, and I'm sure given their responses on their website forum, that they will include in future releases.
One of the requests was to sync it with either gCal or MobileMe/iCal and since Apple hasn't released the APIs for MobileMe syncing, gCal is the next best thing.

Here's the instructions on syncing on Google's webpage:
http://www.google.com/support/calendar/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=99358#

QuickPwn

Some links on QuickPwn:

http://www.macgeekblog.com/blog/archive/2008/08/21/quickpwn-tutorial-easy-jailbreak-for-202-fw.html

http://www.touchpodium.com/2008/08/21/quick-pwn-your-phone-a-guide-to-quickpwn/

Entering DFU mode

This is reminder how to enter the DFU recovery mode, for when the iPhone crashes irrevocably.

What to do if your iPhone cannot surf on Wifi

I just had a bizarre issue with my iPhone - It was on Wifi at home, but could not access anything on the internet.
When opening the built-in apps from Apple like Safari, I got the following error:


I tried restarting it, and even Reset Network Settings in the Settings section. Still didn't fix it. Note that using the laptop and mac mini on the same wifi network was fine going online.
The one thing that I did find useful was to set the Wifi settings from DHCP to Static, and removing the DNS entry there and replacing it with the OpenDNS servers. Type in these IP addresses then try again:
208.67.222.222, 208.67.220.220

EDIT: Seems that the laptop and mac mini already had the OpenDNS entries placed into their network settings... explains then why those worked fine!

2.0.2 update can be done directly via iTunes - Unlock still works

Prior to going to work, I tried the new firmware update.
I option-clicked the Restore button, as per the usual instructions for updating Pwn'd custom firmwares.
But everytime it finished, it shows a display on the iPhone of a USB plug indicating upwards to iTunes (ie. to be activated).
I also tried going into DFU mode ("Device Firmware Upload") to ensure that the iPhone won't load up its usual security checks on bootup, but still has the same problem.

But some users have claimed that they are using 1st Gen iPhone already unlocked, activated and jailbroken, and can just run this new firmware and it goes fine! End result: updated firmware, more stable and snappier, unlocked and activated, but not jailbroken.

So what's going on??

Turns out that the option I SHOULD have used is the UPDATE button on iTunes, instead of RESTORE. The assumption is that the new firmware will take on the existing condition of the iPhone, including it being activated and unlocked. Using Restore means that I would have fully replaced the current firmware, and thus because its not customised to be pre-activated and pre-unlocked, the iPhone would not know any better.

Can't wait to do this tonight and then report back!
Here's some juicy tidbits from a forum I use: http://www.hackint0sh.org/forum/showthread.php?t=49742&page=3


EDIT: - IT WORKS!!!! Took a bloody long time tho.... took about 3hrs from clicking Update, through downloading the firmware and backing up the iPhone, right to the moment I can pickup the unit and start marvelling at its speed! Don't forget to leave some time for you to re-sync the music and media!

Apple firmware 2.0.2 out

Well, its been rather busy for me these few weeks so I haven't updated this. But for those who were anxiously biting their nails waiting for my verdict on the 2.0.1 firmware, yes its more stable and slightly more responsive than before. If you have used the PwnageTool 2.0.2, you would also get the new Installer.app. However, over the past two weeks I have not seen anything worth installing from there yet. Perhaps there will be, but I have a feeling it will only host tricks such as "Kate", apps that display details relevant for Today (Calendar events, new emails and new SMS). There will also be some of the old hacking tools like OpenSSH etc, but after the simplicity of the AppStore and being able to install anything wirelessly, Installer.app doesn't hold that much interest for me anymore.

Now, word has got out that Apple's released iPhone firmware 2.0.2. What does it do? "Bug Fixes".
There have been various reports on the blogs already about how useful it is. Most seem to agree that it does make the Contacts.app seem abit snappier, not too shabby. Those on 3G also claim that it makes it have better reception.

One important fact for me is that 1st Generation iPhone users can run this update WITHOUT having to wait for PwnageTool to be revised. The iPhone will still be unlocked, but not jailbroken. I only care about unlock as I need to use a local HK SIM card for unlimited EDGE use. Jailbreak doesn't bother me so much now so its not an issue.

Download the update from Apple's servers at
http://appldnld.apple.com.edgesuite.net/content.info.apple.com/iPhone/061-5246.20080818.2V0hO/iPhone1,1_2.0.2_5C1_Restore.ipsw . Remember that OSX will download the file as a ZIP file, then usually automatically unzip the contents. To get the actual .IPSW file, you can find it in the Trash bin.

Will try this later this evening and report back later!

Some quirks about PwnageTool

When an application crashes on the iPhone and even causes it to immediately reboot, you would no longer see the Apple logo... instead its replaced by a bitten pineapple! That's the hackers little prank, and its a little annoying afew a while (yes, my iPhone has rebooted that many times already).
You can get around this by repeating the PwnageTool process again but digging into the Advanced settings instead, and unchecking the two custom logos. The resultant custom firmware will have the Apple Logo at bootup restored.

One other thing about PwnageTool is that it automatically builds in the Cydia application installer.
From some reports on the web, like Hackint0sh.org and everythingicafe.com, some of the stability and performance issues cited by users on firmware 2.0 have pointed fingers at Cydia for running its own version of BSD Subsystem on the iPhone.
I'm considering to try the Advanced mode again to remove Cydia, and see how it runs. Will update this blog when its done. In all honesty, I am very happy with using the AppStore, and will be ok with not using Cydia or Installer to run 3rd party apps.

And lastly, while not directed at PwnageTool, I have noticed that iTunes keeps throwing this this weird alert everytime I connect the iPhone to the USB dock: "An update to the carrier settings for your iPhone is available. Would you like to download it now?"

Whether you select Cancel, or Update, nothing really happens. It might be only applicable to those units on official networks, in that it updates the APN settings for the data transmissions, IP addresses, etc. But that's no use to me, and thankfully it causes no harm. No word yet on how to avoid this annoying little critter, but at least it hasn't stopped my phone from working!

iPhone 2.0 + MobileMe... Where's my contacts???

I panicked.
I thought that all my contacts had been deleted!
All I did was go into Settings and and the new option called "Mail, Contacts, Calendar", where you can select your .Mac address and select which of these will have Push sync with MobileMe cloud.
So I toggled them all to ON. When I did that for Contacts, there came up an alert warning that all contacts would be wiped.
No problem... I had synced my Mac with MobileMe already.
I then immediately went to the Phonebook on the iPhone, and.... it was all blank!!!!
After afew seconds, I noticed afew data transfers happening next to the wifi icon.
Waited abit longer, and still nothing. Whats going on???
I was on All Contacts then went back to the Groups level in the top left corner.
When I went back to All Contacts, BOOM! All the names were there again!!! Hurrah!! It worked!!!!

I even did a quick test on me.com (surely the shortest URL in the world!), creating a fictitious person called "A Test", and adding afew numbers. After afew seconds, it got pushed onto my iPhone! I tried to add an entry into A Test on the iPhone, and see how long it takes to push back to the cloud. Roughly about a minute. And I still had the browser open on that A Test contact entry. Not bad... not bad at all.

I think I could get used to this... :)

PwageTool 2.0.1 - It Works!

1st Generation iPhone successfully hacked to run a custom firmware that combines official 2.0 firmware (VPN, Contacts search, Push email for Exchange and MobileMe webapps, AppStore applications) with the classic Installer.app homebrew scene!

PwnageTool, developed by the iPhone Dev Team, is a very slick piece of software, currently only for Macs. As long as you have the correct firmware for your model (1st gen iPhone, iPhone 3G, or iPod Touch), and you have both bootloaders 3.9 and 4.6, it mixes them up into a custom firmware that you "restore" onto your iPhone via iTunes. I found it easiest to get the whole package from a torrent site demonoid.com. If you would rather not torrent, then skip below and follow the instructions on the two blog sites I mention further down that have screenshots documenting the steps.

PwnageTool 2.0.1 w/ Firmware 2.0 + bootloaders for 1st Gen iPhone :
http://www.demonoid.com/files/details/1559508/

PwnageTool 2.0.1 w/ Firmware 2.0 + bootloaders for 3G iPhone :
http://www.demonoid.com/files/details/1559510/

PwnageTool 2.0.1 with Firmware 2.0 for iPod Touch
http://www.demonoid.com/files/details/1559506/

(I cannot vouch for these, as they are 2.0.0 not 2.0.1)
iPod Touch Firmware 2.0 Pwnage for Windows
http://www.demonoid.com/files/details/1559516/

1st Gen iPhone Firmware 2.0 Pwnage for Windows
http://www.demonoid.com/files/details/1558434/

3G iPhone Firmware 2.0 Pwnage for Windows
http://www.demonoid.com/files/details/1558435/


The steps are clearly documented with screenshots at these two blog sites below. Make sure you read them thoroughly and repeat until you have a clear idea of what to do next.

http://coachhowland.blogspot.com/2008/07/pwnage-20.html
http://www.macgeekblog.com/blog/archive/2008/07/19/pwnage-20-jailbreak-iphone-3g-now.html
And here's the original website from iPhone Dev Team: http://blog.iphone-dev.org/post/42931306/pwnagetool-2-0-1#disqus_thread

Once you've done that, you will see that your iPhone is now on 2.0, but with the very welcome icon of Cydia on it too. Cydia is a repository application installer, like Installer.app. Currently homebrew apps that ran well on 1.1.4 are not compatible with 2.0 yet, so give the developers some time to convert them over. But to be really honest, most of the apps you saw on Installer are already available on the official App Store too (both the good and the bad!)

Don't forget to sync over your media and also setup MobileMe on your iPhone! (http://www.apple.com/mobileme/setup/iphone/mac.html)

iPhone 3G, App Store, MobileMe

Been busy moving flats, so I haven't really updated this much.
As everyone knows by now with all the media coverage, iPhone 3G is officially released today. Afew lucky New Zealanders made "history" by being the very first people to own the new handset from 00:01am there.
Reviews from Wall Street Journal, NYTimes and USAToday have all been positive about the iPhone 3G, especially the advent of a new development platform that Apple will host as the App Store. The negatives are that it still doesn't have Copy & Paste, MMS and the battery only realistically lasts about 4.5Hrs talktime or web use. On that note, I think its still a good attempt by Apple, and I'd say even better than other Smartphones, which are horrible to use, and still only last at most 3 days, because no-one bothers using any of their "features". From my experience, the iPhone 2G was such a joy to use, that you will definitely end up killing the battery on a daily basis. But that's what happens when you have good design - you tend to use it more and will enjoy it too.

Moving onto the App Store, its available via the new iTunes 7.7 released yesterday. You might need to enable "Applications" from the Preferences, but there's also a big banner ad on the main iTunes page anyway. There are literally hundreds of apps already, and a good portion of them are free too. However, that's not to say they're all useful. Some are as meaningless as a cow going "Moo" each time you shake it. In my view, these should be vetoed out so customer focus can remain on the good stuff like the iTunes and AppleTV remote app, Bloomberg app, Epocrates (identifying medication) NetNewsWire and many other intriguing apps. There's even a VOIP app called TruPhone! Of course games are there too, and I will definitely get the SuperMonkeyBall app. Bomberman is there too, but I doubt that it will be that fun. In fact, Gizmodo has already started tested several apps, and they dont rate the thumb-flick for movement, as your thumb obscures most of the screen. But if it has wireless play to other friends, then multiplayer mayhem could counter that fault :).

MobileMe is the Apple's great way of syncing mobile devices with desktops and laptops, wherever you might be. It is really interesting for me because it means that my wife can now use iCal to input new events, tasks and set timers, that will then sync to my iPhone and beep at the required time! A great way to save me picking up her calls, only to forget when the time comes. And I'll also be able to use the online web calendar to type in new entries, or even use Outlook if required (nah....!) and type up easier than on the iPhone. Its just one of those things that would make life that little bit simpler.... if only it gets its bugs fixed out of the way! As of today, its still down and inaccessible, so there must be afew niggly things remaining for them to fix. Lucky I still have the account under trial for now! :)

Do not install "KATE" on iPhone!!!

A work colleague installed this, hoping that it would be brilliant since its on the FEATURED list on Installer.app.
However, after reloading, he could only touch into an app in Springboard, and then... nothing.
No other gestures were recognised, it was as if KATE had installed some veil over the screen that was invisible, and you could not get rid of it, either by soft reset or hard reset.
Even on forums on Hackint0sh.org and everythingicafe.com, no one has a repeatable solution... aside from doing a full restore and jailbreaking again.

What to expect from iPhone SDK

I haven't been playing around with the iPhone apps that much these days, as its coming close to June and I thought I'd wait to the SDK apps start appearing and get them loaded officially. (God only knows how I'll be able to unlock it to continue using my HK sim card while being officially tethered to iTunes, but thats another matter to deal with later).

But one app that really caught my eye while casually flicking through hackint0sh.org was this 3D racing game demo, called Raging Thunder. Its really amazing that the developer has managed to get a proper 3D racer deployed to a jailbroken iPhone! Think Ridge Racer, and you're there! Of course, its still got bugs and playability issues to resolve, but its a mighty good indicator of how far gaming can really go on an iPhone! Here's a little youTube clip for you to watch while you download it from the BigBoss repo (which is think is part of the community sources these days. Look it up under Games).