US Mobile Industry

So the iPhone 3.0 firmware has been out and you’re wondering how to do a proper upgrade and jailbreak.  You can try using aptbackup to backup your jailbroken apps, but I’m all for fresh starts.  Here’s how I did it.

Note:  If your iPhone is not jailbroken and this is your first time, jump ahead to Step 3.  Jailbreak at your own risk.  If you brick it, it ain’t my fault.

1. Backup content if applicable (via SSH)
   • Custom ringtones
   • Custom themes (if you made your own)
   • Photos, videos, etc.
2. Familiarize
   • Create a list of all your downloaded apps from Cydia (i.e. SBSettings, Categories, Winterboard, etc.)
   • Unhide any hidden apps, and remove apps from thier folders.  It may not be necessary, but I always do it as a precaution.  This one time, I updated to FW 2.2 and forgot to remove my Settings.app from a Categories folder.  That shit disappeared.
3. Update
   • Update iTunes to version 8.2.  Just launch iTunes and it’ll prompt you about the update.
   • Update your iPhone to 3.0 through iTunes.  It’s safe to do this.  You’ll also be able to backup your contacts, calendars, App Store downloads, media, etc.
4. Jailbreak
   • Download either PwnageTool (OS X) or redsn0w (Windows) and follow the instructions to jailbreak your device.  You’ll also need a copy of the .ipsw file (use Google).
   • Install your previous Cydia apps.  Note that not all are required/compatible with FW 3.0.
5. Software Unlock (applies to iPhone 3G at the moment)
   • Open Cydia or Icy and add the source repo666.ultrasn0w.com.
   • Allow it to refresh and install ultrasn0w.

I hope this brief guide was helpful.  If you have an iPhone 3GS, the Dev-Team indicated today that:

Apple is surely coming out with a 3.0.1 firmware release shortly. They need to fix ultrasn0w.  They need to fix some UI issues.  3.0 is buggy and 3.0.1 is coming.  We’re going to wait and see what 3.0.1 brings before figuring out the release date for our version of the jailbreak.

More iPhone articles to come.

The entire planet is about to enter the next cycle of Human Communication.  The June Tsunami’s effects will be felt by every human on the planet.  This revolution will be bigger than the Personal Computer, and it will be pocketable.  And it’s all starting in two weeks.

Advanced mobile users have always had a tough time finding the perfect device.  Historically many devices have needed to make great sacrifices to remain pocketable in size.  Gadget lovers have long been forced to choose between a mixture of 3G, WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth, A2DP, Removable Storage, a great camera, 3.5mm headphone jack, QWERTY keyboard and/or large touch screens.

In their search for the Perfect Mobile Device, many advances users were forced to import unlocked devices not sold by their carrier of choice.  This meant the devices were expensive without carrier subsidies.  The worse downside was that often the 3G frequencies of imported devices weren’t the same as the carrier, so Expensive Imported Devices were trapped in modem-like network speeds with EDGE.

The Nokia N95 was one of the first devices that didn’t make compromises.  Sporting most of the above listed features, save the touch screen and qwerty, The N95 was the singlular choice among most bloggers and media creators prior to the iPhone.  Remember that Nokia has sold over 10 Million N95’s in less than one year.

The iPhone has kick-started the revolution of well-equipped devices with full carrier support.  While many Nokia users would scoff at the iPhone (and many also switched!), many iPhone users were upgrading from a crap-phone like the RAZR.  To these users, the iPhone experience out-of-the-box is mind-blowing.

Two Thousand Nine is the year that all US carriers will (Finally) offer wide choices of very powerful pocketable computers, many US exclusives. The Palm Pre, iPhone 3.0, Sidekick LX, Nokia N97, Nokia E71x, Samsung i8910 are all new devices delivering on this promise starting in June. at&t recently launched six qwerty “messaging phones”, and Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile all have Tsunami-compatible devices in their near-future lineup.

The next infobit to consider is the mainstreaming of Social Media.  Oprah’s on Twitter, your Boss is on Facebook, and your little brother is a star on YouTube.  In the very near future a device *will not sell* if it does not support Facebook, MySpace, YouTube and Twitter out of the box.  Many of these devices will support widgets, which will deliver updates without requiring launching a dedicated app.  Some of these devices will pull the phone directory from these online services, as well as profile pictures.  Sporting full QWERTY keyboards, typing a quick status update, instant message or email is no longer an annoyance, it’s downright easy.

Most of these new devices not only record decent quality video, you can upload the videos to YouTube with just a few clicks.  The user becomes the media creator overnight.  After an initial period of shyness, the wave of video publishers will be big.  Having a camcorder in your pocket will also bring social justice.  The people are watching the watching men.  The camera is the new gun.

Yes, the June Tusnami is the effective end of CrapPhones as we know it.  It is the beginning of much higher expectations from most users.  From taking great pictures and video, to instant communication, the next round of devices are evolutionary, and will start a Media Revolution.

Communication barriers are shattering all at once.  In your pocket. Right Now!

Apple’s new iPhone is expected to ship sometime around June of this year.  The firmware has been available to developers for a few months now, and they’re pretty excited about 3.0.  Any information on the device(s) itself is still speculation, but Apple has let us know some new information about the iPhone cables.

I was having a conversation with Serko from MobileDivide over the weekend, and he pointed me to this MacDaily News posting.  They’re claiming that Apple has told retailers to clear out all existing inventory of AV cables for the iPhone and iPod Touch.  The exsisting cables are $50 each, one for SD and one for HD playback.  The existing iPhone’s HD playback is also limited to 480P.

In the announcement, Apple says “supports multiple AV connections, just like the Xbox 360.”  I’m assuming this is not going to be a simple HDMI cable, as SD tv’s wouldn’t support HDMI.  I’d guess there will be a cable which can connect to the iPhone, and a separate dock sold as another component.

So what’s the big deal about a fricking cable?  I mean, sure it’s exciting to be able to go to a friends house, pull out your iPhone, and queue up your choice of 20 movies.  Heck, all your friends also have iPhones, so let’s just see who’s got what movies and pick the best one to watch.

Nope, the big deal is the iPhone app store, specifically games.  Sure the Xbox 360 has downloadable games, ranging from free demos to $5 – $20 for downloadable games.  The Wii also has downloadable games, going for FREE – $4 – $20.  The Sony Playstation 3 can also download games, I think.  Leave a comment. : )

Even at $4, there’s a bigger barrier to purchasing vs 99c games on the iPhone.  Seriously, if a 99c game sucks, no big deal, just give it a bad review, and download another one.  If you’re spending $10 on a game, that’s Lunch, but a $1 game is more like a tip for a cup of coffee.  An Easy Decision.

Don’t forget that the iPhone also has an accelerometer, just like the Wii.  And WiFi and Bluetooth, like the Wii.  If there’s an AV dock that supports these wireless standards, we wouldn’t even be wired to the TV while playing.

I’m also thinking about how much fun the “offline” aspect of such games could be.  Just because you’re not sitting at home connected to the TV, the gaming could go on.  The iPhone can connect to the Internet just fine, even while you’re out and about.  Besides, at&t is upgrading the whole network to HSPA+ just for the next iPhone launch, so we needn’t worry about data speed issues.

So what would you buy?  A $400 console with $60 games that *might* be fun?  Or just pull the device out of your pocket, and play the same games you know are fun anytime, or *also* in HD resolution on your nice flat panel TV?

This is also overlooking the Media playback expected in the new iPhone.  With WiFi, there’s no reason you couldn’t just stream from your computer to the iPhone, so it wouldn’t even need giant build in storage.  Whether or not this will support MY movies, or just purchased iTunes movies is unknown.

It’s official.  Or at least, it will be official by Tuesday March 30th around 3:30 PM PST.  Skype for iPhone is out.

Sure, you’ve been able to connect to your Skype account with Fring ot Truphone, but this is the official Skype app.  Will it leave the other Skype apps in the dust?  We’ll need to wait until tomorrow to see.

If you haven’t noticed already, Cydia can now handle queueing of apps. So instead of installing every individual app I mentioned in my previous article, check out how to queue up a batch:

Warning: It’s probably a good idea not to queue up too many apps. It’s also a good idea to put your phone on WIFI mode first.

iPhoneFreaks posts regular app and game reviews for the iPhone.  As there are 20,000 (or was it 25k?) apps and games available in the Apple App Store, we human need some way to filter out the noise, and find The Good Stuff.

Rasta Monkey looks like a really fun game, and I’m loving the graphic style.  Combining the happy/super-flat colors of Katamari Damacy, the speed of Sonic (but not too much speed) and delivered on a mobile platform, Rasta Monkey is sure to impress.  And it’s only $1.99.  Here’s what iPhoneFreakz say: 

Rasta Monkey is by far the best iPhone 2D action platformer out there. With perfect physics based gameplay that you will love. You play an extraordinarily happy Rastafarian monkey. One day, Your old father asks you to help the family out: “You need to collect dem fruits for mi special fruit-shake before mi head go CHAKA CHAKA!…”

Download Now from the App Store for $1.99

Let us know if you’ve played Rasta Monkey, or if you’re a Rasta Monkey yourself.

There are a few good eBook readers for the iPhone.  Amazon has released Kindle for the iPhone, Stanza rocks, and I’m sure there are others.

Wattpad is like most eBook readers, in that you can browse and download the content directly through the app.  Wattpad is different because it includes out-of-copyright books by the thousands, which are searchable through the app.  Wattpad also introduces a Social aspect to eBook reading, allowing users to recommend books to their peers, or simply VoteUp an eBook by selecting “I Love This Book!”.

Wattpad, via IntoMobile

One of the main flaws with the iPhone is it’s lack of a full Bluetooth stack.  Sure the iPhone supports a Bluetooth headset, but what about tethering, A2DP stereo music playback, syncing, and obex transfers?  

Well now you can solve the iPhone Bluetooth issue for $3.99.  MeDevil has published iBluetooth in the newly commercialized Cydia App Store for jailbroken iPhones.  Why release this killer app in the Cydia store instead of the Apple App Store?  Obviously because Apple wouldn’t allow this app to be released.

via UMPC Portal, via IntoMobile

This is a workaround for enabling bluetooth audio on your iPhone.

It sucks that Apple’s iPhone doesn’t quite support bluetooth audio.  On one occasion I’ve found it to work, only in the least convenient time.  Try hooking up a bluetooth headset to your iPhone.  Call someone, and in the middle of the call, play some music from the iPod app.  Real stupid, right?  If the call ends, music seems to blast out of the speakers again.  Weak.

I just realized that Sony’s bluetooth iPod dongle works with the device.  First establish a connection between your bluetooth headphones and the iPhone.  I used this one.  Then connect the dongle on the base of the iPhone and turn it on.  Whether or not you’ve turned it on, the iPhone will prompt you with a caution message about using airplane mode.  Select “No.”

 

Ignore the warning.Click “No.”

Your music should now flow through the headphones.  All the buttons on my Philips headphones work:  play/pause, next, previous, volume up, volume down.  When receiving a call, the music will gently fade into the call received.  One issue I did have was that if you attempt to switch the audio source from the bluetooth to the iPhone, the music will continue, oblivious to your buddy on the other end.

 

Click for an alternate view.

Although your iPhone will increase slightly in bulkiness, consider the space you’re saving by carrying one less device.  As for me, this is only a test.  I’m most likely going to continue using my iPod for a few reasons.  80GB is favorable to the iPhone’s 8GB/16GB.  Also, the current support for connecting the iPhone to Linux is still bleeding edge.  I’ll be discussing Linux connectivity in my next article.