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When Does Your 1st Gen iPhone Become Obsolete?

Guest Author ∙ April 3, 2010

I am still using my beloved 1st generation iPhone. I love it, can’t bear to part with it, and it’s been with me through thick and thin. It still looks like new, complete with unscratched original glass screen.

And I’ve never had any real reason to upgrade it, it’s still functioning the way I need it to and it does everything I ask of it. And with the iPhone 4G on the horizon I really want to wait before upgrading, it just doesn’t seem smart now. So I’ve persevered. Until yesterday…

When the iPhone was released I had a choice between a 4 or 8 GB. I went with the 8. At the time it seemed like a vast amount of space while today with 16 and 32 GB storage it seems small. But I digress. The question is, is it obsolete?

I use my iPhone as the primary source of music in my car. The majority of what I listen to is on there and I’m not a radio person so it’s always CDs or iPod. Plus I paid extra for the built in dock & Bose sound specifically for that reason. So I go to sync my phone and for the first time I see the dreaded message “Unable to sync iPhone because not enough space is available for iTunes library”.

What? Have I reached the end of the proverbial rainbow? So, I fiddle with iTunes for at least an hour. Deleting duplicate songs, getting rid of junk I never listen to, etc. Try again… no dice. I’m full. And it hits me, has my beloved 1st gen become obsolete?

I’m wondering if any of you readers have ever filled your iPhone to capacity, and if so, with what? For me the answer is as follows: 1476 songs, 87 apps, 127 contacts, 347 pictures, thousands (I haven’t counted) of undeleted text messages, an above average amount of saved calendar info.

So for me, that’s what it took to fill the 8 GB to capacity. At that point it was too full to take the sync which was about another 340 songs. Granted, I’m close, but even after cleaning up my iTunes account it’s not going to happen. And I could delete some apps & texts I suppose, but it’s the music that’s the storage hog.

So I am wondering, since everyones usage is different (hence the name “I” phone) what did it take for you to fill yours? Are you at capacity? Are you close? And will you modify your use, or upgrade?

Wall Street Journal Chimes in on iPhone Rumors

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 4, 2018

The iPhone rumors and speculation seem to go hand in hand. Even the iPhone itself was a rumor for years before it came into production. Now, If you sift through all the tech blogs like me every morning, you know that Apple is likely to announce an update to the iPhone this summer and there's definitely no shortage on speculation. Will it have a front facing camera? Will they up the megapixels of the camera to compete with the 5MP Android handsets? As far as the software goes, will it support multitasking, will it have a universal inbox?

Perhaps the most consistent rumor is that Apple is working on a CDMA iPhone that would allow it to work on the U.S. powerhouses Sprint and Verizon, significantly increasing Apple's market in the United States. But the response has always been "With Sprint just getting it's 4G network going and Verizon launching it's LTE network later this year, why wouldn't Apple wait for those 2 technologies to mature before manufacturing a batch of CDMA phones that would have obsolete technology within the next 2 years."

Both LTE and 4G are just fancy names for the next generation of cell phone networks. Think blazing fast download speeds, Verizon posted an average 5-12MBPS with bursts of up to 50MBPS download speeds in initial live LTE tests. I don't care who you are, that's lightning.

But none the less CDMA iPhone rumors seem to always regain life, this time it's the Wall Street Journal throwing in their 2 cents:

Verizon also is upgrading its network to a higher-speed technology, so Apple has said it believed CDMA was a short-term technology. Apple later changed its mind as it realized Verizon's upgrade would take longer than expected, said people familiar with the situation.

Bernstein analyst Toni Sacconaghi estimates Verizon could help Apple nearly double the number of iPhone users in the U.S.

So if you popped over there and read the entire article, you kinda get the idea that this is more than just your run of the mill rumor. I for one would not complain, living in a region where neither T-Mobile nor AT&T get very good reception but Verizon blankets the area. Only time will tell what the boys over in Cupertino are cooking up.

I have to admit my fingers are crossed for a larger screen (my work phone is a Motorola Droid and the 4 inch screen makes my iPhone's look tiny), 5 megapixel camera with flash ( 720p video? now I know I'm dreaming) and how about thinner with a faster processor and multitasking! Whew! Sadly Apple has proven time and time again that they add features and updates to products in small increments to lower the chance for hardware/software errors, so most of my list is not feasible.

But with Apple's iPad pre sales exceeding expectations, rumors already flying about the next iPhone, and their stock at an all time high of $233 per share, I'd say old Steve-O knows what he's doing.

What do you think?

How to Save Your iPhone ECID SHSH

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated March 27, 2018

Every time a new iPhone firmware comes out, many of us accidentally update their device to the latest OS, making it impossible to jailbreak/unlock, or even downgrade to an earlier version.

In order to have a shot at downgrading your iPhone, you must have your ECID SHSH on file on Saurik's server, just in case Apple stops signing the older firmware version, just like it did a few weeks ago with 3.1.2.

How to Save Your ECID SHSH

Note that this is only valid for iPhone 3GS and iPod Touch 2G/3G. iPhone 3G owners are not concerned as they can downgrade the firmware (not the baseband).

The Easy Way

If like me you are lucky and you launch Cydia and see that "this device has SHSHs on file for iPhone OS: 3.0, 3.1, 3.1.2, 3.1.3", then you don't have anything to do. I have these 4 SHSHs on file but it's ok if you only have the latest SHSH on file. At the time I am writing this, the latest firmware is 3.1.3 so to date, you should make sure you have at least the SHSH for 3.1.3.

The Other Easy Way

If you don't see this message then don't worry, just scroll down a bit on Cydia's homepage and look for the "make my life easier" button. Simply tap on it and your ECID SHSH will be automatically saved on Saurik's server. Close Cydia and launch it again. You should now have a message at the top saying your SHSH is on file.

You're good to go now! But remember that anytime a new firmware is available, do not update right away. Just wait until a new jailbreak is available.

Meet the new iPhone Killer: iPhone HD

Guest Author ∙ Updated March 27, 2018

Rumors about the new iPhone are mounting as June quickly approaches us. June is the month Apple traditionally hosts the annual Worldwide Developer Conference in which announcements of release dates for gadgets and software is made. This year is a little different as rumors mount about iPhone going to Verizon later this year, ending the choke hold AT&T has had with the iPhone.

Business Insider reports that iPhone HD, as it's currently dubbed, is slated to have twice the resolution of current iPhones checking in at 960 x 640 (compared to the current 480 x 320), a 1GHz processor and a front facing camera. There has also been mounting rumors that Apple will finally permit 3rd developers to hook into the multitasking API allowing 3rd party applications to run in the background.

Other sites have posted claims that iPhone HD will be a few millimeters longer. This may or may not be true but it is possible since the iPhone is purported to be developed for Verizon and Sprint, both use CDMA networks which may be a larger cellular chip.

Thus far, iPhone HD sounds great and it looks like it's already on it's way to killing current iPhones. But why, exactly, is the device dubbed "HD"? Is the screen high definition? If so, will high definition really make a difference on such a small screen? Or does the device output video in high definition? I'm inclined to believe the rumor caters the latter. There's simply no point in making a screen that small output in high definition resolution. But then again, I could be wrong. What are your thoughts on the new iPhone and this high definition rumor?

iPhone User Guide

Sébastien Page ∙ April 1, 2010

The other day as I was trying to figure out how to add songs being played on the iPod to my on-the-go playlist, I landed on Apple's website.

As I was already bitching at Apple for not even bothering creating a mobile version of their website, I was positively surprised to see that they actually had an iPhone User Guide formatted for the iPhone.

I wasn't aware of this iPhone User Guide and even though it didn't solve my problem, I found it pretty interesting to browse for a while (I actually learned a new trick).

You can access the mobile version of the user guide by going to http://help.apple.com/iphone/.

I might be a little late on that one but if you haven't been there yet, it might be worth to go check it out. Now that I think about it, doesn't this iPhone User Guide comes with the stock Safari bookmarks of the iPhone?

BlackBreeze: How to Fix iTunes 9.1 and BlackRa1n Issues on Windows

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated January 23, 2016

With the release of iTunes 9.1, those of you on a Windows machine and an iPhone jailbroken with BlackRa1n RC3 might experience syncing issues. Fortunately, iH8Sn0w, the developer of Sn0wBreeze and F0recast has released a tool called BlackBreeze to fix this.

How to fix syncing issues between iTunes 9.1 and iPhone jailbroken with BlackRa1n RC3:

Step 1: Create a new folder on your desktop and download BlackRa1n.exe and BlackBreeze to it.

Step 2: Launch BlackBreeze and click on Fix my Ra1n! and select the BlackRa1n.exe file you downloaded in step 1.

Step 3: BlackBreeze will patch BlackRa1n and place a file called blackra1n-fixed.exe on your desktop.

Step 4: Execute blackra1n-fixed.exe to boot your tethered iPhone. Once done, you should be able to sync your jailbroken iPhone with iTunes 9.1 on Windows without any problem.

Thanks PhilT for the tip and the tutorial!

iRemix Considerably Improves Your iPod App

Sébastien Page ∙ March 31, 2010

Do you feel that the features of the iPod app of your iPhone or iTouch are limited? You're not alone. The other day as I was miserably stuck in a bus between Ninh Binh and Halong Bay in Vietnam, I was playing with my iPod and building an on-the-go playlist. I found it absolutely ridiculous that I couldn't add songs to the on-the-go playlist while playing the songs.

After doing a bit of research online (all this over the amazing Vietnamese 3G), I came across iRemix, a jailbreak app that aims at enhancing your iPod experience. iRemix is more a mod than an app per say. It integrates seamlessly with your iPod app, making it much better.

I was excited about iRemix because it was supposedly able to do what I wanted: easily add songs being played to the on-the-go playlist. But it also has other badass features:

Favorites: tap and hold on a song then add it to your favorites Bookmarks: tap the little bookmark icon to create a bookmark anywhere in a song or audiobook Quick add: quickly add songs to the on-the-go playlist Fast search: simple and powerful search feature Song info: easily get artist or album info. Also allows you to watch the video of the song as well as search for lyrics Enhanced FFW and REW: tap and hold the FFW or REW button to easily jump forward or backward by 15 s, 30 s, 1 min, or 5 minutes.

In the first image below, you can see the bookmarking feature, the "i" for information search, and the FFW/REW feature. Note that I added all of them for this screenshot but the screen doesn't normally look so busy. In the second image, you can see the "add to on-the-go" and "add to favorites" features.

These sounds like very simple features, don't they? Well, they are very basic but very powerful. So powerful that I suspect we will see some of them in iPhone OS 4.0.

iRemix is available from Cydia for $2.99 and comes with a 5-day trial period. This app is a no brainer for anyone looking to make enhance the iPod feature.

You might have already heard or even tried iRemix since it's not so new. If so, what do you think about this app?

Spirit – A New Jailbreak For iPhone 3.1.3

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated May 4, 2010

Just a few days after GeoHot released a video of a potential untethered jailbreak for 3.1.3, a new video by hacker Comex emerged on the internet showing a new userland jailbreak called Spirit.

UPDATE: Spirit has been released. You can see my Spirit jailbreak tutorial here.

A userland jailbreak is a browser-based jailbreak, similar to the good old JailbreakMe.com, which allows you to jailbreak your iPhone simply by visiting a site from Safari and agreeing to jailbreak your iPhone. If you used JailbreakMe.com before, you will probably remember how easy and quick it was. As for me, I remember going visit the Apple Store and jailbreak a bunch of iPhones on display for the heck of it...

Presumably, Spirit will work for every device on 3.1.3 with the newer bootrom, and potentially even the iPad. It's interesting to note that this is an untethered jailbreak.

For those of you that might be skeptical about this video, MuscleNerd confirmed that it is indeed a legit userland jailbreak.

The question on everybody's lips is when will this new jailbreak be available? Well, there is no ETA at the time. Now that Geohot has been challenged though, I suspect that he's going to rush to release his new jailbreak, which in turn will kinda force Comex to release his too. Only time will tell.

Remotely Control Your Mac or PC with Remote Jr.

Cody Lee ∙ Updated March 27, 2018

I think I'm with Angi on this one. I generally don't pay for apps. But, if I really need an application because it performs certain tasks, and I can't find anything in the free section, I have to buy it. Remote Jr. by Pratik Kumar is definitely one of those applications.

I'm one of those nerds that is constantly trying to find a way to incorporate my iPhone into my everyday life, thus eliminating other remotes and devices. Like when my MacBook is connected to my TV, instead of having an actual wireless keyboard and mouse, I use my iPhone with an app like Logitech's Touch Mouse App.

This proved to be very handy as I could sit quite a distance from my TV and MacBook and pull up webpages, search movies on YouTube, and click through photos. I even had applications that would control my iTunes and the front row applications on my MacBook.

These were all great, but I discovered that what I really wanted was the ability to see the screen of my desktop on my iPhone, as I was controlling it. Just imagine all the possibilities (I say that with a joker-like grin with my hands in a Mr. Burns 'excellent' pose).

After sifting through Apple's App Store I didn't see a whole lot of options. As I started to filter out applications by options (desktop view, mac OS X compatible, etc...) it really just came down to Remote Jr.

After reading that the application also offered the ability to connect to a laptop or desktop over the internet I had no problem dropping the $7.99. The fact that it included a built in front row remote mode was also an added bonus.

But the real value is in the fact that it doesn't have to be on the same network as the computer you are trying to connect to. In general most remote control apps require that you be on the same wireless network as the connecting device, Remote Jr. apparently didn't get that memo.

I had to try this out. From my wireless network at work, I was able to see my MacBook that I left open at home. Without having to mess with the settings, I pressed on my MacBook's icon (that I had setup that morning), and within seconds I was connected to my MacBook at home. I was able to pull up pictures and type a to do list for when I got home.

The coolest thing was probably, right as I was leaving work, I set a playlist up in itunes to start playing. Not just any playlist, but a list of awesome songs that I would love to come home to. Sure enough, after a quick 10 minute commute, I opened my front door to "Welcome to the Jungle" by The Guns and Roses. Que 5 minute air guitar solo, "nunna nunna knees! knees! knees!"

So back to the application. It really seemed to impress more around every corner. Initial setup is a breeze. You run remote helper on your client mac or PC, and you open Remote Jr. on your iPhone. No entering in long and confusing IP addresses, no constant clicking "find" or "search", like all of us have come to expect with apple products, it just worked.

The front row mode on the phone performed like a champ, I was able to watch DVD's browse pictures, and of course play music, all from any room in my house.

Now, for some people, especially those who plan on doing a lot of typing, they may want to go with a full size wireless keyboard. The tiny keyboard on the iPhone screen won't meet everyone's needs. There is also some lag when switching from front row remote to live desktop and other modes, so if that is going to bug you, stay away. But for my needs, this app was perfect.

If you're looking for a way to control your computer from across the living room or across town, at $7.99 Remote Jr. is perfect for you too. Especially if you are a Mac user, this might be your best option for a desktop view capable remote application (and if you know of a better one, link it in the comments, we'll check it out).

Any question or comment, please feel free to ask.

So Long iPhone Screen Protectors and Thanks for Nothing

Guest Author ∙ Updated November 25, 2016

We've learned from iLounge that Apple is pulling the plug and banning the sale of film based screen protectors and removing them from their retail and online store fronts. This includes all stand-alone screen protectors as well as film-based screen protectors that come as part of a package. The ban will affect all iDevices ranging from the iPod Touch to the new iPad due out early April 2010.

iPhone screens are made of durable glass that nearly impossible to scratch. This move comes as no surprise but it should make one wonder why Apple decided to sell these screen protectors in the first place.

Most screen protectors are nearly impossible to install and, with time, collects dirt around the edges. Not to mention the cost. Most of these screen protectors are $20 or more, depending on where you go; online markets are usually cheaper.

Just because Apple has banned film based screen protectors from the retail outlets, we are not completely without screen protectors. Film based screen protectors will still be available at 3rd party stores such as Best Buy, Fry's or other electronic superstores. Odds are you'll find them cheaper at an electronic superstore too.

Since the purchase of my iPhone [3GS] last July, I have invested roughly $100 on different screen protectors in hopes of finding the perfect one. Today, I swear by not using screen protectors since the iPhone screen has proven itself to be very durable and nearly scratch resistant. I do have a small scratch towards the bottom right corner but it's nearly unnoticable except when screen is black. I can even recount how it happened and, to this day, I am still amazed the scratch is as small as it is.

Do you use a screen protector? If so, will this move affect the future of your iDevices? Please share you opinion.

Send iPhone Apps As Gifts

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated July 6, 2017

Giving an iTunes gift card is cool, but I think it's even cooler to be able to give specific apps as gift, and that's what Apple just made possible.

According to Mashable, this new feature has come to the App Store, allowing you to gift specific iPhone apps to other users.

On the drop-down box on each application’s page (next to the “Buy” button) there’s now an option that says “Gift This App.” From that point, you then just enter in details like name, e-mail address and the message that you want to include.

Apparently this feature has been around forever and allowed you to gift music from iTunes. I wasn't aware of it until today. A pretty simple bu neat feature... What do you think? [Via Download Squad]

Why the Apple/Google Feud is Good for Us

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated May 16, 2016

A few months ago I wrote an article titled Apple Vs google: the war is on. As often, I saw things coming fast and the feud between Google and Apple is now a big deal. For those of us who have bad memory, here are a few events that heated up the rivalry between the two giants.

First, Google entered the mobile market with Android, competing with iPhone OS Then Google entered the browser market with Chrome, competing with Safari Now Google wants to enter the OS market with Google OS, competing with Mac OS Google CEO Eric Schmidt resigned from Apple's board Apple tried to buy mobile ad platform AdMob, to compete with Google Google outbid Apple and snatched AdMob Apple bought out PlaceBase, a company that does what Google Maps does Apple bought Lala in a hurry, lest Google buys it out first Apple bought digital ad agency Quattro Google enters the hardware business by making its own phone, directly competing with the iPhone

Both companies have lots of businesses overlapping each other and that's good for us. Google and Apple are now competing on the following grounds: hardware, software, advertising, location services, and probably more that I forgot.

I don't know if you realize this yet but this is the beginning of an amazing war between Google and Apple. Apple is not just a computer company anymore. In the same way, Google is not just a search engine anymore.

Why is the rivalry between Google and Apple good for consumers?

This war between Google and Apple is good for 2 main reasons. First, let's talk about innovation. When 2 (or more companies) fight for a market, one of the several ways they can outdo each other is by innovating. With Apple in the same room as Google, they won't have any choice but to provide users what they really want, and not slow down feature releases like Apple has been doing for a while.

Remember how we were waiting for copy/paste on the iPhone? Remember how we're still waiting for multitasking? Remember this shitty camera on the iPhone? Well this is a thing of the past. With new phones like the Nexus One delivering the quality that you might expect from such a device, Apple will have to come up with at least as good as Google.

The second reason this war between Google and Apple is good for consumers is that prices might go down just a bit. Apple is not the kind of company that sells cheap products. That's part of their marketing. They know people will pay more for quality product with a little apple on it.

However I believe that in the long run (I'm talking a few years from now), Apple will have no choice but reducing its prices to align its strategy on Google's.

I really don't think the price war is coming anytime soon. As I said above it will take a few years. But one thing I am sure of, it's that Apple will now move its butt and come up with an amazing iPhone 4.0 in a few months. They won't do that to please you. They will do that because Google leaves them no choice.

Go Apple, go Google. Beat each other up. We users are waiting to see what good is going to come out of your feud.

[Image: Business Week]