Sébastien Page

Sebastien is the Founder and Editor in Chief of iDB. Once a BlackBerry user, Sebastien instantly fell in love with the iPhone when it was first announced in 2007. Shortly after, he decided to start sharing his knowledge of the iPhone and its nascent ecosystem, which led to the creation of this blog. Sebastien currently owns 14 iPhones, 4 iPads, a MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, a MacBook Air, 2 Apple Watches, 3 Apple TVs, countless HomePods and AirTags as well as a few pairs of AirPods.

DevTeam still working on 3G unlock

Sébastien Page ∙ October 6, 2008

The DevTeam posted today on its blog that it is still working on the iPhone 3G unlock. They apparently broke some hardware in their testings but got it back to work after a round of upgrades and downgrades. I don't like copy/pasting large parts from other people's blogs but in the DevTeam's case, I always find it hard to paraphrase them and it makes more sense to give you the full text. Read the full post here.

Disclaimer!! This is a purely technical post with no pragmatic use! There is no 3G unlock in this post. There is no iPod Touch 2G jailbreak in this post. It’s just a random technical post related to the 3G unlock.

We’ve been exploring different ideas with the 3G unlock, but this past weekend one of us hit a big snag. For whatever reason, all of our poking and prodding of the 3G baseband caused it to finally have a breakdown. After one specific exploit run, all of a sudden our baseband stopped responding to the OS.

Somehow our software hacking had caused the baseband chip’s SPI bus to stop responding (so it looked like a hardware problem). Even though BBUpdaterExtreme reported the correct baseband version, it failed basic tests like memtest.

If you’re familiar with the baseband revision history for the 3G iPhone, you may have noticed that the above captures were done at the original 01.45 baseband. As dire (and hardware-related) as these messages sounded, though, there was a simple solution. We just updated to 01.46 and then downgraded again (because we can run unsigned code on the baseband CPU) to 01.45.

We tried to recreate the problem by using the same exploit over again, but it doesn’t appear to be reproducible (which is actually disappointing, as it might have been exploitable).

Logo, images and icons locations on your iPhone

Sébastien Page ∙ October 5, 2008

Most of the themes you have for WinterBoard often comes with a bunch of new cool icons, carrier images, logos, badges, etc... WinterBoard makes it very easy for you to customize your iPhone but sometimes I want to change one little icon and apply it to all my themes. So how do you do this? Well, you need to know the location of the icon or image inside your phone, SSH into the phone and "manually" change the file.

Below is a summary that will make it easier for you to locate these files:

SpringBoard

Calculator Icon - /Applications/Calculator.app/icon.png Maps Icon - /Applications/Maps.app/icon.png Calendar Icon - /Applications/MobileCal.app/icon.png Mail Icon - /Applications/MobileMail.app/icon.png iPod Icon - /Applications/MobileMusicPlayer.app/icon.png Notes Icon - /Applications/MobileNotes.app/icon.png Phone Icon - /Applications/MobilePhone.app/icon.png SMS Icon - /Applications/MobileSMS.app/icon.png Safari Icon - /Applications/MobileSafari.app/icon.png Camera Icon - /Applications/MobileSlideShow.app/icon-Camera.png Photos Icon - /Applications/MobileSlideShow.app/icon-Photos.png Clock Icon - /Applications/MobileTimer.app/icon.png Settings Icon - /Applications/Preferences.app/icon.png Stocks Icon - /Applications/Stocks.app/icon.png Weather Icon - /Applications/Weather.app/icon.png YouTube Icon - /Applications/YouTube.app/icon.png

Dock - /System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/SBDockBG2.png

Locked Screen

Unlock Text - /System/Library/Frameworks/TelephonyUI.framework/bottombarlocktextmask.png

Slider Bar - System/Library/Frameworks/TelephonyUI.framework/bottombarknobgray.png

General

Ringer background when you use volume keys - /System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/hud.png Badge (alert bubble for calls, sms, etc.) - /System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/SBBadgeBG.png Top info bar - /System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/FST_BG.png

Battery Charging Screen

Battery Background - /System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/BatteryBG_1.png-BatteryBG_17.png

Top Info Bar (signal strength, battery, etc.)

Carrier Logo lighter one - /System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/FSO_CARRIER_ATT.png darker one - /System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/Default_CARRIER_ATT.pn

Signal Strength /System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/FSO_0_Bars.png-FSO_5_Bars.png /System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/Default_0_Bars.png-Default_5_Bars.png

Bluetooth - /System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/FSO_Bluetooth.png

Background bar color HomeScreen - /System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/FSO_BG.png

Background bar color Lock mode - /System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/FST_BG.png

Background bar color for all other screens (Text, Safari, Mail, etc.) - /System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/default_BG.png

WiFi Bars /System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/FSO_0_AirPort.png /System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/FSO_1_AirPort.png /System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/FSO_2_AirPort.png /System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/FSO_3_AirPort.png /System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/Default_0_AirPort.png /System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/Default_1_AirPort.png /System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/Default_2_AirPort.png /System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/Default_3_AirPort.png

Power on Screen

The logo - /System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/applelogo.png

Power Off Screen

Power off slider - System/Library/Frameworks/TelephonyUI.framework/bottombarknobred.png

Calculator

Background - /Applications/Calculator.app/CalculatorBackground.png Screen Background - /Applications/Calculator.app/LCDBackground.png

iPod

Rating Stars - /Applications/MobileMusicPlayer.app/star_filled.png

Phone

Keypad - /Applications/MobilePhone.app/BarDialer_Sel.png

SMS

Input Field (Bubble where you type you're text message) - /Applications/MobileSMS.app/BalloonInputField.png Balloon 1 (Bubble where sent text messages are) - /Applications/MobileSMS.app/Balloon_1.png Balloon 2 (Bubble where received text messages are) - /Applications/MobileSMS.app/Balloon_2.png Bottom Bar Background (Background behing the text input field) - /Applications/MobileSMS.app/MessageEntryBG.png

Safari

URL Bar (Idle) - /Applications/MobileSafari.app/Url.png URL Bar (Inactive) - /Applications/MobileSafari.app/UrlInactive.png URL Bar (Active) - /Applications/MobileSafari.app/UrlProgress.png

Mail

Trashcan - /System/Library/PreferenceBundles/MobileMailSettings/trashmbox.png

Please feel free to add more to the list.

Fring is out! Officially

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

A few months ago I talked about Fring on my personal blog. At the time, this app was just being released for jailbroken iPhones. Six months and 3 firmware upgrades later, Fring made its way to the App Store.

What is Fring?

Fring is a mobile internet service & community that enables you to access & interact with your social networks on-the-go, including make free calls, live chat and seeing your contacts online presence with all your fring, Skype, MSN Messenger, Google Talk, ICQ, SIP, Twitter, Yahoo! and AIM friends using your iPhone’s Internet connection rather than costly cellular airtime minutes.

So far, Fring is the only VoIP app available in the App Store, along with Truphone, althought other similar apps are coming soon.

I haven't tried Fring yet but expect a review from us within the next few days. In the meanwhile, if you try it, please let us know what you think by leaving a comment.

Save web pages for offline reading with Instapaper

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated March 18, 2019

You're at the San Diego airport just about to get on this flight to Chicago for a conference you really don't want to attend when you come across this looong article on the New York Times website about how the Senate finally passed the bailout bill. You'll never have time to finish this article before the usual "please turn off all electronic devices".

In the good old days, you would have had to wait to land in Chicago to read this article. Thanks to Instapaper, these times are over.

Instapaper allows you to easily save them for later, when you do have time, so you don’t just forget about them or skim through them.

Let me explain you how to use Instapaper.

First, you have to download the free version of Instapaper (or get the paid one). Registration takes about a second as it doesn't require much information from you (you don't even have to give your email address!). The app uses a JavaScript bookmarklet, which you have to manually tweak to make it work on the iPhone. I imagine later versions will be easier to install. Basically, it creates a bookmark on your iPhone.

When browsing the web and finding an interesting article, simply go to your bookmarks and use the Instapaper bookmarklet. It will instantly save it so you can read the text offline later.

Additionally, you can use it on your own computer by adding a bookmarklet in your toolbar. Every time you click this bookmarklet, it saves the article for offline reading. Then you can go back to your iPhone and sync your computer activity with your iPhone. In other words, you can save web pages from your iPhone or your computer and sync them.

At this point, I am not sure why you would need the paid version. The free one is just perfect. I was able to save over 30 pages for offline reading (it was supposed to save only 24!).

You can view the saved article as text or as "web". The "web" version is very buggy and caused the app to crash every single time I tried to use it. The text version is just as good as what I would expect anyways.

Your queue of saved articles Reading a saved article

This app is a must-have for anyone slightly interested in saving web pages for later reading. It is simple, yet efficient, and... it's free! Don't you love free?

Google Chrome for the iPhone

Sébastien Page ∙ October 2, 2008

[digg-me]Unless you've been living on Mars for the last 2 months, you probably know that Google launched its own web browser called Google Chrome. It's very unlikely that Apple will let Google develop Chrome for the iPhone for the good reason that Apple and Google are now competing in the mobile sphere: Apple with the iPhone, and Google with Android. There are many other reasons why Apple would never let Google (or anyone else for that matter) develop a web browser for the iPhone but this one is the most obvious reason.

However, there seems to be hope that Chrome will be developed by independent developers and made available for jailbroken iPhones. That's at least one may think when looking at this site.

Now, do you want my take on it? I believe this page is misleading and is actually not offering a download of Google Chrome for the iPhone as an application, but I am convinced they are offering the download of a Google Chrome theme for the iPhone.

So yes, you'll be able to download something Chrome-related for your iPhone but it will not be a web browser. It will simply be a theme that you'll be able to apply using WinterBoard. That's what I think but I may be wrong. If so, please feel free to prove my wrong in the comment section.

DIY iPhone Binder Clip Dock

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated January 23, 2016

If you liked what I posted earlier this week on how to make an iPhone stand with a paperclip, you will appreciate this video found on Make on how to make an iPhone dock, using binder clips. It doesn't look really easy to do but the result is pretty good. If you try this at home, please send us pictures!

Let me introduce you to 2 new bloggers

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated February 5, 2016

I recently posted about positions being opened for iPhone bloggers to join me at the iPhone Download Blog. I received many requests, most of them being completely unqualified. A lot of them just didn't match what I was looking for.

After giving a few tries to some of the people who had applied, I realized this co-blogger thing was being more a pain in the butt than anything else... I gave "contributor rights" to a few kids and the only thing they would do was copy/pasting posts from TUAW or Engadget.

Then there is the blogger who says he's going to write a post every day and you never hear back from him after 3-4 days. A total waste of time and energy.

That was until Alicia got in touch with me. She sent me a nice email, explaining why she wanted to write and sent me some of her qualifications and she also directed me to her iPhone blog. I really liked her writing right away and after spending a while on the phone with her, I knew she was the right person for the job.

Alicia is now an author here. You may have already see her introduction post and you also may have read a few of her posts. You can tell she's a much better writer than I am - hey, English is my second language, so don't be to hard on me ;-)

The same day, Cody sent me a witty email (I like wit!) that raised my attention. I gave him a call and he was very pleasant and seemed very knowledgeable about the iPhone so I asked him to send me a few posts, telling him that I would publish them under his name and that if everything goes well, I will grant him access to the blog.

He did a great job at sending me very interesting posts that you may read here, and today I sent him his login info. He's now officially part of the small team, along with Alicia, and myself Sebastien.

I'm still looking for one or two persons to write about new iPhone apps (reviews, etc...) and general iPhone news (pretty much report what's going on in the iPhone world).

If you think you would be a good match, please read this and make sure you meet all the "requirements".

Thank you and welcome to Alicia and Cody.

Apple drops its NDA on released apps

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated November 5, 2017

Apple announed today that it is dropping its very controversial Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) for released iPhone softwares.

From Apple:

We put the NDA in place because the iPhone OS includes many Apple inventions and innovations that we would like to protect, so that others don’t steal our work. It has happened before. While we have filed for hundreds of patents on iPhone technology, the NDA added yet another level of protection. We put it in place as one more way to help protect the iPhone from being ripped off by others.

And who's going to protect developers from YOU, Apple, stealing their work?

However, the NDA has created too much of a burden on developers, authors and others interested in helping further the iPhone’s success, so we are dropping it for released software.

Oh, really? What makes you think that? Could that be the thousands of bloggers and newspapers talking crap about your legal grip on developers??

They also highlight the fact that unreleased software and features will remain under NDA until they are released, which makes sense.

It took a while but you finally listened to us, Apple.

Podcaster available on Cydia

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated March 9, 2016

The fact that Apple rejected the Podcaster app from the App Store won't stop the company from making this great app available to the general public; well, at least to the jailbroken general public. Indeed, Podcaster is now available in Cydia. Oh, and it comes with a 14 days trial. After that, it will cost you $4.99. Take that, Apple!

DIY paperclip iPhone stand

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated January 23, 2016

How smart is this guy? While some of us would spend $50 in an iPhone or iPod Touch stand, our friends Dean and Ying created their own for just about $0.01. How? Simply by using a paperclip. That has to be the cheapest iPhone accessory you can find. The guys were kind enough to also provide you with a PDF template to make your own. Check them out!

“iPhone” is a bigger brand than “Apple”

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated January 23, 2016

According to a recent survey of the "coolest brands in the UK", iPhone scored the 2nd place, was Apple was 3rd.

The top 20 in the annual poll has been dominated by brands from the world of technology, with iPhone the runner-up and Apple in third place. YouTube, Google and Nintendo came fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively. Playstation, Sony and Facebook also made the top 20.

MacRumors notes that:

The 2007 list (PDF) had the iPod in the #2 spot. The iPod is nowhere to be found on this year's list. Meanwhile, Apple has jumped up from #7 in 2007 to #3 this year.

Flash finally coming to the iPhone?

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated November 12, 2019

That's a feature that has been expected since the very beginnings of the iPhone. Apple has always turned down Adobe's request to include Flash on the iPhone, mostly due to the fact that the iPhone (and other phones for that matter) aren’t fast enough to handle most Flash-driven sites. Even Flash Lite, a shrinked-down version of Flash specifically developed for mobile devices, is requiring too much CPU power.

But according to Flash expert Jens Chr Brynildsen, Paul Betlem publicly confirmed for the first time that Adobe is actively developing a Flash Player for the iPhone.

"My team is working on Flash on the iPhone, but it's a closed platform." He noted that Apple makes all the decisions, so in other words, the ball is in Apple's yard at this time. If Apple says yes, Adobe will have the player available in a very short time.

It looks like we're almost there. I guess the hardest part is not to develop Flash for the iPhone. The hardest part of the job is to get Steve-o approve Flash...

How much do you want Flash? Let us know in the comments why you want (or not) Flash on your iPhone.