Month: November 2008

iPhone Firmware 2.2 is Out. Jailbreakers Should Not Update!

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated January 29, 2016

The rumor was right... Apple did release firmware 2.2 last night and for once, it seems that we have some useful features added:

Enhancements to Maps:

Google Street View public transit and walking directions display address of dropped pins share location via email

Enhancements to Mail

resolve isolated issues with scheduled fetching of email improved formatting of wide HTML email

Other Enhancements

Improved stability and performance of Safari Podcasts are now available for download in the iTunes application (over Wi-Fi and cellular networks) Decrease in call set-up failures and call drops Improved sound quality of visual voicemail messages Pressing the Home button from any Home screen takes you the first Home screen Preference to turn on/off keyboard auto-correction

Apparently, iPod Touch users don't get the Google Maps upgrade that includes the addition of Street View as well as public transit and walking directions.

Like they did earlier this week, the Dev Team warns us about updating the iPhone using iTunes.

So, as anticipated our friends the misfits have recently released the long awaited 2.2 update. We can confirm that this update SHOULD NOT be applied using iTunes if you want the chance of a soft-unlock in the near future.

If you want to keep that option of a ‘soft-unlock in the near future’ available but you want the new features of 2.2, you will be able to update to 2.2 using a PwnageTool created custom ipsw file that disables the baseband update. You will be able to do this using an updated version of PwnageTool that will be released sometime soon.

Some facts -

The 2.2 firmware for 3G contains a baseband update for the 3G iPhone The 2.2 firmware for 2G (1st gen iPhones) doesn’t contain a baseband update and the baseband is still at 04.05.04 We believe that our Pwnage technique (and therefore the Jailbreak) isn’t affected, but PwnageTool and QuickPwn do not support this release as yet, so DO NOT install 2.2 using iTunes as you will lose your jailbreak If you apply this update and you previously relied on PwnageTool or QuickPwn to activate your phone, it may become temporarily deactivated and unusable (until we release the new version of PwnageTool or QuickPwn). PwnageTool and QuickPwn updates will be released as soon as possible that will allow a safe update path to 2.2 the release of these updates is inevitable but not imminent, we are creating the modifications right now and we need to put the new software through the usual testing process. If you apply this update and you have third-party (non AppStore) applications that you rely on they will stop working. 2G (1st gen) iPhone users who cannot wait for the new PwnageTool or QuickPwn can safely “Update” to 2.2 using iTunes, this will preserve the existing activation. However “restoring” to 2.2 using iTunes will return the iPhone to the unactivated state. If you are in any doubt just wait. NB: This works for 2G ONLY. The use of SIM-Proxies (small circuit boards/chips that sit underneath the SIM card) to provide GSM/UMTS service on your locked iPhone 3G is a method that we have always advised against. Early reports suggest that the 2.2 update disables the functionality of these devices. The techniques used were always unreliable and we are surprised that they have lasted this long. We are not working on the 2nd generation iPod touch at the moment, so we cannot comment on what the the 2.2 software update may do to this specific model

So, as always, if you are in any doubt whatsoever please delay the install of this firmware on any of your devices until we have investigated the release in more detail. Watch this space ;-)

Also, iTunes 8.0.2 is out now. I doubt this will make much difference either way, but ask yourself, why bother. Just because a new version is out doesn’t mean you want it. I would hold off on this also.

iPhone Firmware 2.2 and iTunes 8.0.2 are both available from the downloads section of our blog.

LiveCLIQ brings video streaming and recording to the iPhone

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated January 23, 2017

Like Qik and FlixWagon, LiveCLIQ is a free application that allows live streaming and recording of videos directly from your iPhone. Before some of you get too excited, let me tell you right away that this app is only available for jailbroken iPhones. This means that if you're on a stock iPhone, you will have to wait 2017, until Apple finally decides to add video recording to the iPhone for you to enjoy this neat feature...

Here is how LiveCLIQ works. First I downloaded the application from Cydia. After installing, when you launch the application a message shows up asking for your "token number". This got me confused for a while. I understood that I needed some type of registration but nothing was telling me where to get this "token number". The "more info" link for this app in Cydia was showing the LiveCliq.com website and going there didn't help me at all. After googling "livecliq", I finally found the LiveCliq.NET website where you can register.

Daily iPhone News – 11/19/08

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated March 18, 2019

This was a very poor day in iPhone news but here are some of the highlights of the day...

Husband Blames iPhone For Smutty Pic Debacle, Fate of Marriage Hangs on Apple Support Discussion

A Jersey woman has called out to Apple support forum users for a little help with a problem she is having. Apparently, she borrowed her husband's iPhone and found a raunchy pic of him attached to an email sent to another woman's address. The husband admits to taking the picture, but claims that the email attachment was a glitch. In fact, he said that the folks at his local Apple Genius Bar informed him that "photos sometimes automatically attach themselves to an e-mail address and appear in the sent folder, even though no e-mail was ever sent." The wife has asked support forum users whether or not this could be true and adds that the future of her marriage rests on the answer.

iTunes Plus coming to 3 remaining majors?

Apple is discussing deals with the three major music labels yet to sign on to iTunes Plus to remove the locks on their music as well, alleged sources tell CNET. Two reported contacts describe "preliminary" negotiations that would expand Apple's deal for music without copy protection beyond EMI and independents to include Sony, Warner and Universal. The talks are said to have been spread over the past several months for at least two labels and aren't certain to result in a favorable income.

Walmart will sell iPhones starting Dec. 28

Walmart will be taking a pass for most of the holiday shopping season with one particular item: the iPhone. It will begin selling the handset December 28, according to Jamie Townsend, of research firm JRPG.

TouchTerm Puts a Terminal Client on Your iPhone

iPhone/iPod touch only: With Mocha VNC Lite, iPhone and iPod touch users already have a tool for connecting remotely to their desktops, but what about those who like to get things done over a command line? Free iPhone app TouchTerm provides SSH-encrypted terminal access to any Linux, OS X, or even Windows system running a server, making mobile rebooting or service starting over Wi-Fi or EDGE/3G connections possible.

Review: OrbLive

Guest Author ∙ Updated January 23, 2016

This review of the OrbLive [iTunes link] iPhone app is at least two weeks in the making. As soon as I saw OrbLive in the App Store, I knew it had to have it. OrbLive streams pictures, video, music and documents over your cellular or Wifi network. But, the REAL gem of the app is its ability to stream LIVE television! But, I had a couple of hurdles to overcome:

I did not have a cable television connection available for my computer. I did not have an MPEG-2 encoder that was compatible.

So, first I had to get a cable connection into my bedroom where my computer is. I went to Radio Shack and spent $50 for a really good 4-way splitter (yes, we have a bunch of TVs in the house) and a really long cable. That was the easy part.

Next, I went shopping for a new TV tuner card/MPEG-2 encoder. I decided to play it safe and get hardware I knew for sure is compatible with Orb, the PC desktop software that streams media to your iPhone. There was none in stock at the local stores, so I bought the WinTV-PVR USB2 off of eBay for $46. It's an external MPEG-2 encoder that can run more than $100.

After installing everything, I have to say that live streaming television iPhone through OrbLive is AWESOME! The picture doesn't looks as good as a digital copy of a movie on your iPod, but it's quite good for streaming TV over 3G and Wi-Fi.

Here's pictures I captured of live TV on my iPhone on 3G and Wi-Fi. Can you guess which is 3G and Wi-Fi?:

For the record, the top is Wi-Fi and the bottom is 3G. I have heard on message boards that the Wi-Fi picture used to look better but I cannot confirm that. Using EDGE for live television is not good at all.

To use OrbLive on the go, just make sure that your desktop PC running Orb is on. If you have an external encoder/tuner you need to make sure that is on as well. As far as I know, Orb does not make software for the Mac.

So, the money I spent on a cable connection, MPEG-2 encoder and a $9.99 app came out to a little more than $100. Was it worth it? I'd have to say that it's a resounding YES! But, like the MasterCard commercials, being able to watch your favorite live program on your iPhone when you're away from home is indeed PRICELESS.

Your iPhone As A Numeric KeyPad

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated January 23, 2016

As much as you may love your MacBook, you have to admit that the lack of a numeric keypad can sometimes be a pain in the ass, especially when typing credit card numbers or playing around with Excel.

A simple yet brilliant solution is now available so you can use your iPhone or iPod Touch as a wireless numeric keypad. First you will have to install the Balmuda's Numberkey Connect software on your Mac, and then download the Numberkey app [iTunes Link] from the App Store.

This is only available for Mac so far but I can see it coming to a PC near you soon enough...

[TechnaBob]

Hand Grip iPhone Charger

Sébastien Page ∙ November 18, 2008

I say it's a fake but I might be wrong. Look at the shape of the iPhone. Mine doesn't have such rounded corners. Also look at the time... 4:20! What do you say? Real or fake?

Google Voice App finally out! Rohit’s Take On It…

Guest Author ∙ Updated July 6, 2017

Friday - an anxious wait for google voice app, Saturday - frustration over it not being out, Sunday - the big question whether apple is deliberately holding back the release, Late Monday - the revolutionary product from Google is finally out! This pretty much explains the Google Voice App wait saga. The long wait process was indeed killing and with every passing minute, the rumor that Apple would nip Google's cool voice app in the bud was annoying me. I couldn't help but remember the fate of netshare, podcaster, castcather and a galore of other apps which had to face the axe from Apple. But a voice in me kept whispering that Apple couldn’t be naive to just turn down the Google Giants voice app especially when they have Google CEO, Eric Schmidt as a board member. So despite the rumours that Apple had killed the Google Voice application, I carried on my wait with bated breath. Was it worth it? Oh Hell yeah!

Before I mention about its fascinating features, an important thing you need to know is that you won’t find the voice feature the moment you open the updated Google mobile app. It’s turned off by default so go into the settings option and there you will find a Voice search on/off button. Besides this you also get to decide whether you want contacts, previous searches and websites to be included in your Google search. Then ofcourse there is a gallery of various Google Apps which we all love. (Wish these Google apps launched in an inbuilt browser instead of safari!).

Leaving aside all the features which come packed with the app, the real icing on the cake without a shadow of doubt is the Voice feature. I was a little skeptical as to how effectively it would work but I was fascinated with its easy usage and almost spot on voice recognition capability. However, it may get annoying some times and also there is an issue of lag in the recognition process. But one cant deny the fact that this is a giant leap in voice search and Google will only make it better from here.

All said and done, this truly is a brilliant app which deserves to be on your iPhone!

Google Voice Search. Cody’s take on it…

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 29, 2016

After reviewing the 2 previous voice recognition iPhone apps by Excuse me Services rather harshly, I knew Google's new voice recognition option in their mobile app was up against a wall of skepticism. But, of course, you can never underestimate Google, who have literally taken the software industry by storm in the last 8 years.

I'm going to make this review short and sweet, like my experience with the app. After of course downloading from the App Store, I was ready to give this thing a shot. Needless to say I was anxious to see if it was going to live up to all the hype.

You're first greeted with a search screen, here you can type in any question, any address, any search query, and Google's advanced search engine goes to work, bringing you the most accurate results. To search via voice, you just hold the phone up to your ear like you are talking on the phone, and say whatever question or search topic you would like to google. The software senses the phone is rotated in the 'talk' position, and beeps, to alert you it is ready to receive your voice instructions. Using your voice or typing, both prove to be quick and effortless. Voice recognition is on par with similar applications, and at times is a lot better.

And that's about it. Google's mobile app is easy to use whether you are talking or typing, and with only 1 screen, (a settings screen and a screen with links to google's other softwares) proves to be the least tedious of the other search softwares that recognized user voices.

I would like to see the speakerphone voice recognition be more accurate, handset recognition is almost dead on. I would also like to see voice commands for other applications. But that may defeat the application's 'simple' purpose. Although maybe not living up to quite all of the hype, this application does prove to be the best in its class, and that Google is still cutting edge when it comes to software development.

SBSettings v1.0.1

Sébastien Page ∙ November 17, 2008

SBSettings brings the concept of toggle and app launch directly from the springboard, giving you the ability to launch it no matter what apps is running by just sliding your fingers across the status bar. The drop screen appears with docked icons like 3G, Wifi and SSH. These toggles are green when enabled and red when disabled. There is also quick access to hiding icons, respringing, restarting, and features like the "Apple kill switch", etc...

With 1990+ downloads in one day, SBSettings is one of Cydia's top apps.

With v1.0.1, you can move important toggles on the springboard where they are always available instantly while other apps are running.

New changes:

Add icon to dock Added theme support Home button now closes the window Disabled entirely on lock screen (this one was annoying)

SBSettings is available for free on Cydia. After installing it, you won’t find any icon on your screen but just slide your fingers across the status bar to make it appear.

MCallShow tells you more about who’s calling you

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated October 31, 2018

A new application is available since this morning in Cydia called MCallShow, brought to you by the developers of MCleaner. MCallShow is a call information enhancer that shows the location data of the incoming or outgoing call.

So when you call someone who's not in your contact list, instead of just showing the phone number, your iPhone will also display the location you're calling. I guess this feature is more useful for incoming calls.

The downside of this app... Well first, it's a paid app and although you can try it free for 15 days, it will then cost you $5. Second, the company is in China. I don't have anything against Chinese but a few bad experiences on eBay taught me to be careful about doing any type of business with people located in China. Lastly, it seems that MCallShow requires quite a bit of work on your end to set it up properly.

I didn't get to try this application and I would love to hear from anyone who has. Let us know in the comments...

Poll: Is Your iPhone Jailbroken?

Sébastien Page ∙ November 16, 2008

Please take 10 seconds of your time to take this poll. I am curious to see what percentage of this blog's readers have jailbroken their iPhone and what percentage doesn't. If you haven't jailbroken your phone and don't want to do it, please tell us why in the comments. Thank you.

iRealSMS has potential… if only it didn’t mess up my iPhone

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated January 23, 2016

A new application called iRealSMS 2.0 is available since this morning in Cydia. Earlier this week I had reviewed mySMS and was really impressed with it so I decided to give a try to iRealSMS too. Looking at some of the features available, I was already salivating over iRealSMS...

FULL app in Landscape Mode Your SMS messages organized in folders: Inbox, Drafts, Templates, Outbox, Sent Saving messages as drafts or templates Search messages by sender's name and text Reply, forward and delete individual messages Delete all messages or delete per folder Big text field - both for reading and writing SMS Turn on/off keyboard autoCorrection and autoCapitalization Automatically request sent notification via notification code SMS alerts can be deactivated -> no "new SMS" alerts Adding contact details to SMS

I hurried to install iRealSMS on my iPhone and finally launched the app. Right away I was welcome with a "this is a demo verion" message asking me to register. I chose the "demo version" to try it out and another message popped up saying that since I chose the demo version, features will be limited. Ok, I can understand that, no problem.

I finally get passed all the messages and I am now fully ready to try iRealSMS. However, I got immediately turned off by the limitations of the demo version. All my SMS showed as "demo" so I was really unable to read any text message. Very unconvenient, even for just a demo version.

Not discouraged yet, I started playing with the app anyways and explore a little more these features. You can view your SMS in conversation mode or in a timeline, which is actually my preferred mode. Once you've viewed a text message, you can forward this text message or simply delete it. So far, so good.

A very interesting feature is that you can search your SMS. Let's say you have 1,000 of them in your inbox and you're looking for this girl's number that your friend texted you 3 weeks ago, simply start typing what you're looking for and it will display search results. That has to be one of my favorite features on this app.

The landscape typing mode is very neat too. Nothing revolutionary on this side but it's nice to be able to type in landscape mode. The typing mode also allows you to easily insert the contact info of one of your contacts in the text message. Let's say you want to text your friend's address to one of your friends, simply tap the "insert" button and it takes you to to your contacts. From there, choose the appropriate contact and select what info (email, phone number or address) you want to insert in the text. This is also a great feature!

I was very annoyed by this demo version though. It crashed on me once but the most annoying thing is that I couldn't read my text messages. "Oh well" I said to myself, "let's try to send a text message"... That's when the trouble started for me.

I typed my text message and tapped "send". It took a few seconds and then it gave me an error message saying that it couldn't send the text message due to some error. Mm... ok... not good! I tried again. Same thing. I exit the app and go to the native SMS app and I try to send a text message from there. That's when something I had never seen before happened. It showed that I had -1 text message (see image below). What is that supposed to mean? -1? I can understand "0 text message" but I can't figure out what "-1" means...

I wasn't able to send text messages from my native SMS app either and I started to freak out thinking that iRealSMS had messed up my iPhone. I rebooted the phone and I now had "-2 text messages" showing up on my iPhone. WTF? I was still unable to send text messages. I then decided to clear all my SMS messages hoping it would help. It did. I deleted all my SMS and doing this made the "-2 text messages" disappear and most importantly I was now able to send text messages again.

After that, I launched Cydia and uninstalled iRealSMS. I went to the company's website and realized the app was for sale for 10 Euros (about $13). If you want my opinion, it's way too expensive for taking the risk to mess up your iPhone. I am kind of disappointed because this application seemed to have great potential. All the features available in iRealSMS are great and I would use most of them on a daily basis but I do think it is too expensive and that I'd rather keep my iPhone safe. Hopefully a future update will clear this issue I had, and maybe give less limitation to what you can do with the demo version.