Month: August 2010

Jailbreak & Unlock iOS 4.0.2 on iPhone 3G

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated September 27, 2010

Those of you who own an iPhone 3G or an iPod Touch 2G (non-MC model) can jailbreak/unlock iOS 4.0.2. To jailbreak your iPhone 3G 4.0.2, you will have to use RedSn0w 0.9.5b5-5.

How to Jailbreak iPhone 3G iOS 4.0.2

Step 1: Make sure you have the latest version of iTunes installed (iTunes 9.2).

Step 2: Download iOS 4 (not iOS 4.0.2) for iPhone 3G to your desktop from our iPhone downloads section.

Step 3: Update your iPhone to iOS 4.0.2 via iTunes.

Step 4: Download the latest version of RedSn0w from here.

Step 5: Point RedSn0w to the iOS 4 (not 4.0.2) you downloaded in step 2.

Step 6: Select “Install Cydia”.

Step 7: Follow the onscreen instructions.

Step 8: Let RedSn0w do the hard work for you. Once jailbroken, your iPhone will reboot.

How to Unlock iPhone 3G iOS 4.0.2

Since iOS 4.0.2 didn't update the iPhone baseband, you can still use UltraSn0w to unlock your iPhone.

Step 1: Jailbreak your iPhone using the method described above.

Step 2: Go to Cydia and search for UltraSn0w. If it’s not there, you might have to add the following repo: repo666.ultrasn0w.com

Step 3: Install UltraSn0w.

Step 4: Reboot your iPhone.

Tell us how it goes for you by leaving a comment below.

[Thanks Bruce for the tip]

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Camera+ For iPhone Sneaks in Volume Button Shutter Hack (For Now)

Guest Author ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

First let me say that Camera+ is in my top 5 of amazing iPhone apps. On the iPhone 4, this application allows you to maximize your photography abilities to a whole new level, when it comes to taking pictures on a phone. The developers at Taptaptap have snuck in a feature via Safari, that allows you to shutter photos using the volume buttons. Quite handy when you're using a paid app designed to take stable snapshots.

Apple rejected their public attempt, saying “Your application cannot be added to the App Store because it uses iPhone volume buttons in a non-standard way, potentially resulting in user confusion. Changing the behavior of iPhone external hardware buttons is a violation of the iPhone Developer Program License Agreement. Applications must adhere to the iPhone Human Interface Guidelines as outlined in the iPhone Developer Program License Agreement section 3.3.7” Apparently Apple doesn't think we are smart enough to operate the camera via physical buttons.

Fear not though. Just type “camplus://enablevolumesnap” (don't use quotations), into your iPhone's Safari URL box, and Camera+ version 1.2.1 will enable the feature. Want it removed? Just type “camplus://disablevolumesnap”, and you're back to its original state.

Like always when it comes to a developer circumventing Apple's ultimate authority, this won't last long, I'm sure. So you better grab it now, before it's banished into the violators oblivion. I can't help but again think of how many other, less popular apps, have hidden features sneaked into their applications.

[Smoking Apples]

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Will You Upgrade Your iPhone to 4.0.2?

Guest Author ∙ Updated September 1, 2010

As Sebastien reported just a bit ago, Apple released software update 4.0.2. This "update" is said to have addressed to the PDF exploit that the Dev Team discovered, thus allowing JailbreakMe to function with ease. For those of you who aren't jailbroken (which includes me), do you really plan to update this time?

It would have been nice of Apple to include the various features such as Game Center in this round, but perhaps the Beta isn't quite perfected to release to the masses. It's clear that this update was specifically aimed to prevent JailbreakMe from enticing those who buy their phone from today on. I bet the Dev's get all fuzzy inside when Apple directly implements fixes aimed at their work. I give credit to them (devs), as they do work hard on these jailbreaks.

I think I will be sitting this update out. It may even have a counterproductive effect on me. Now that the hole is patched, I just may jailbreak for the heck of it. How about you? Will you update this go around, or wait for a real update? Let us know in the comments below.

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iOS 4.0.2 is Out. Jailbreakers Beware

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

iOS 4.0.2 is out and available for download. As expected, this update fixes the security hole that was uncovered by JailbreakMe. If you rely on your jailbreak/unlock, you should not update until a new jailbreak has been found.

You can find all the download links for every iPhone model in our iPhone downloads section.

[Image 9 to 5 Mac]

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Face Time Mod Improves Quality of FaceTime Video Calls

Sébastien Page ∙ August 11, 2010

Face Time Mod is a new jailbreak app that changes the FPS (Frames Per Second) during your FaceTime calls to optimize the video quality depending on your Internet connection. This allows for better quality video if your wifi connection can handle it. In the same way, it will lower the quality of the video if you're running FaceTime on Edge using My3G for example.

By default, the original FPS is a minimum of 15 and a maximum of 15 as well. Face Time Mod brings the minimum down to 6 FPS and the max to 30 FPS.

There is one big downside to this app though: both iPhones must have Face Time Mod installed for it to work.

Face Time Mod is available for free in Cydia under the http://repo.modyouri.com repo.

What do you think of it?

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The Wallpaper I’m Using on My iPhone These Days

Sébastien Page ∙ August 11, 2010

A few of you have asked me what wallpaper I use on my iPhone so I figured I'd post it here for you to download. I found it online a few weeks ago but I can't remember exactly where. If you know where it's from, please post the link so I can credit the designer of this wallpaper.

Update: Thanks Stan for the update. This wallpaper is from Effektive Design. They have more colors there.

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Add Contacts to Your iPhone Springboard with CallMe

Sébastien Page ∙ August 11, 2010

CallMe is a jailbreak app that adds contacts directly to your iPhone springboard allowing you to call/text them in just one tap. After installing the application, you can launch it and choose the contacts you want to add to the home screen. If the contact has several numbers tied to him, you can choose which one you want to use, and whether you want to use it for call or SMS.

Contacts added to the home screen can be put into folders. Pretty convenient!

CallMe is available in Cydia for free. You will have to add the following repo: http://ispaziorepository.com.

If you try CallMe, please let us know what you think of it.

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Pandora Update Includes Retina Display for iPhone

Guest Author ∙ August 11, 2010

For those of you who are like myself in the regard of not checking the App Store daily, the streaming sensation Pandora has updated its iPhone app.

The largest feature implemented is the support for Retina Display. It does look nice.

What's New In This Version:

uses high resolution graphics for iPhone 4 yields control of external volume buttons when backgrounded and paused improves detection and notification of device audio failures fixes several crashes improves album art loading other minor bug fixes and improvements

I thought my usage of Pandora would greatly increase with the background capabilities, but I was mistaken. Perhaps it's the lack of 3G in my area, which makes it's functionality nearly unusable. Nevertheless, the update makes it look cleaner on my home-screen.

How often do you use Pandora?

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Motorola CEO Sees Opportunity Of Verizon iPhone

Guest Author ∙ August 11, 2010

This story fits into the category of a CEO saying what sounds good, but with little believability in what they've said. MacWorld reports that Sanjay Jha, Co-CEO of Motorola's Mobility group said, "I'm comfortable with the dynamic that (Verizon iPhone) would create". I don't know what kind of comfort he's referring to, but the way I see it, Apple will be benefiting far more than Motorola from such an acquisition.

As we reported this week, more iPhone-to-Verizon rumors have been floating around the web-waves. The same Verizon who has pumped a lot of energy and money into the promotion of the operator owned OS. Android was first featured on Motorola, thus Jhasays doesn't see Big Red deviating from their big investment, even with an iPhone on their roster.

I agree that the Droid is here to stay. I also agree with the CEO when he says he's confident in continuance of loyalty regarding the promotion of Droid-driven Moto devices. What I don't buy into is the chipper level of comfort that he proclaims, when it comes to the inevitable competition that a Verizon iPhone would bring. To be blunt, they would undoubtedly lose out on potential customers. How could they not?

I know Jha is saying what any decent CEO would say when he faces tough competition. But for those of us who don't have to keep the shareholders and carriers happy, I say different. It would be like a starting quarterback saying he's happy that his team just acquired a better rated QB to compete for the job. It sounds noble, but the level of truth behind it is questionable. Clearly a Verizon iPhone would mean more money for Apple, and less for Motorola. Again I ask, how could it not?

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4,000,000 iPhones Are Downloading Apps Illegally

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated November 25, 2016

The guys over at App Advice got to talk with Dissident, the creator of the infamous cracked app store AppTrackr. In this candid but revealing chat, Dissident shared some interesting numbers about iPhone app piracy.

According to Dissident, Installous, the app used to download these cracked applications is installed on 4 million iPhones, which represents about 4% of all iOS devices in the world. That's insane, isn't it?

Last week we reported about the logic behind iPhone app piracy. Dissident holds the same kind of speech. Here are some of the excerpts from his interview:

I know for a fact that a good share of our users trial applications, and that’s the only reason I continue to work for the community. A very, very considerable portion of our users do so. The user should be able to have a risk-free trial of the application. The user should not have to purchase the application for any amount of money. The user should be given ample time for testing. This trial system should be available for all applications. Developers can be given some flexibility on a per-app basis, but abuse cannot be tolerated and the policy cannot be too lenient.

I do agree that Apple should let people try out applications for a period of 24 hours. I however doubt the honesty of Dissident when he claims his service's sole goal is to help people try applications out.

Apple can work around the edges to either please us or displease us, and that’s really all it comes down to. Indeed, our services will no longer be required if Apple implements such a system.

I don't believe one word of that.

What about you? What do you think about app piracy? Do you download cracked apps? Do you do so because you want to be able to try applications before buying them?

[9 to 5 Mac]

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The EU Joins the Flash Flood

Guest Author ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

Steve Jobs must really hate Flash. Aside from his public comments on the software, which he basically cited that Adobe's prize-fighter wasn't good enough to adapt into productive mobile use, he just (seemingly) won't give in. His hand might be getting forced, however, as it seems the European Union regulators have joined forces with the Federal Trade Commission, regarding "mobile software developers". This, of course means Flash.

The guys over at 9 to 5 Mac brought this ever evolving story to our attention, which cites the New York Times reporting, the European Union has brought itself into what it calls, a "Digital Agenda". Sounds scary. The "agenda" is aimed to (forcefully) encourage interoperability between technology. Basically they're making sure everyone plays nicely together.

Whether or not this correlation of forces will be what finally tips Apple's hand in the never-ending game of Rummy, only time will tell. We at iDB will continue to bring you the latest and greatest from this evolving beast. Until then, Apple and Adobe will have their respective lines drawn in the sandbox, as assurance to not let their balls into each other's playpen.

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