HTCOn Call: Unlocked and jailbroken iPhones
Cut, copy and paste comes to the iPhone
Q: I want to know how to upgrade a jailbroken iPhone's firmware to 2.0 or 3.0 from version 1.0. Presently, all I can do is listen to music, text, and make calls--I can't install applications. Meanwhile, my others friends have it all because they are on AT&T. I am begging for a way to upgrade to 2.0 or 3.0.
- Ishan
A: First off, the iPhone OS 3.0 is available only to developers at the moment. It won't be released to the general public until this summer (Apple hasn't revealed an exact date). Unless you're really, really desperate for it, I would hold off installing it officially launches. In its beta form, 3.0 is a bit buggy, and it slows down the iPhone by quite a bit. But to give you a taste of how it looks, check out our iPhone 3.0 screenshots.
Since you have a jailbroken iPhone, I'm sure that you're aware that if you attempt a software update through iTunes your phone will be jailbroken no longer. Unfortunately, iTunes is the best way to get any updates for their full functionality. I don't know of any way to upgrade your phone while skipping iTunes, but if anyone know of a way around it, please comment below.
You could perform upgrade to the latest available update (2.2.1) and then jailbreak your phone again. It may sound risky, but jailbreak methods go live almost immediately after every software update comes out. It would be a time-consuming, multistep process, but it's pretty much your best option. Again, if you know another way, please share it below.
Q: I want an iPhone, but don't know the best way to go about it. I just canceled my account with Sprint, which was $40 a month. But with the iPhone, my monthly cost will double. Is AT&T the best way to go? Or can I use T-Mobile instead? And what the heck is jailbroken?
- Deb
(Credit:
Corinne Schulze/CNET)
If you want to get full capability out of an iPhone, then AT&T is the only way to go. Though you can use an unlocked iPhone (see below) on T-Mobile to make calls, send messages, use the iPod player, and browse the Web, T-Mobile does not support the visual voice mail feature. And more importantly, the iPhone is not compatible with T-Mobile's 3G network. That means you'd be stuck using EDGE data speeds when you're not using Wi-Fi. And as I mentioned in my answer to the previous question, your phone will be locked to AT&T each time that you accept an official iPhone software update from Apple. Finally, it's worth noting that using an iPhone on T-Mobile won't save you a ton of money. A plan for unlimited voice and data will run you $85 per month.
Concerning your last question, jailbreaking is the method of removing the restrictions on an iPhone that limit the kind of software you can install. Once you jailbreak an iPhone, you can add applications and software not approved by Apple, get new features like video recording and change the look and feel of the iPhone's user interface. Jailbreaking is also a necessary step for unlocking the phone, which removes the restrictions that tie it to one carrier.
Q: I will be traveling to Hong Kong in about a month. I need to know if there is a way to unlock my iPhone 3G so that I can use it there. If not, what are the cell phone carriers there that offer prepaid SIM cards?
- Luis
A: There are several ways to unlock your iPhone 3G. I can't recommend any in particular, but you'll find a few options if you do a search online. Just remember that as I said in my answer to the first question, you will lose some functionality if you use the iPhone on another carrier.
If you're successful, you'll have an easy time finding a prepaid SIM card in Hong Kong. They're sold everywhere, but electronics stores are your best bet. When I was in Hong Kong two years ago, I found one very quickly at a local carrier store.
Kent German is a senior editor for cell phone reviews at CNET. When he's not testing the newest handsets on the market, he's blogging about cell phone news for Crave. In his On Call column, he answers reader questions and gives his take on the rapidly changing mobile industry. E-mail Kent.
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yeah but can your WinMob. phone play all the great games like the ipnone can???
tap tap? zombies? icopter? air hockey? or how about all the great racing games?
let me answer this for you
NO!, the iphone is the funnnest and most addicting cell phone one can have imo
@1klfzd Some people just don't understand that besides functionality, there's usability and the iPhone arguably has the best usability.... even my 3 year old can navigate the screen to find her EDUCATIONAL apps, videos and pictures. Why do you think everyone is trying to mimic it's basic physical format (keyless touchscreen). Unlike the other phones, you can make an iPhone your computer, your cell phone, messaging device, portable media player, educational device, reference device (dictionaries, languages, medical books, you name it), book reader, gaming device. If you've never lived with one for a week and actually took advantage of what it can do... don't knock it. And don't even mention RIM, "oh wow I can get messages INSTANTLY and I only have to pay $50 extra a month!".. Cool
leave smartphone it's not even a decent dumbphone !
apparently Nokia were trying to hard to make a iPhone killer
that they forgot that a Phone's meant to be usable first !
it beyond stupidity to even compare a Nokia 5800 and a iPhone
Android I agree is a great alternative but still needs better hardware
blackberry is mainly for corporate email and messaging junkies !
WinMo again is a tradeoff for features over usability
plus all those custom skins handset makers use are nothing more than lipstick on a Pig !
plus it's generally slow,buggy and requires constant restarts atleast from my experience
But one thing the iPhone has over others is the App store
the apps r dirt cheap which can be a good or bad thing
and the internet browsing experience is again eons better than other phones !
The rest need to catch up.
jailbreaking removes apple's restrictions of only downloading and installing apps from their "app store" it does not remove it from a specific carrier
Works great, for under $50. As you said, EDGE is slow, but the tradeoff is well worth the price difference. Realistically, I rarely use the data service away from a Wifi spot.
Yea, because EDGE is slower than poo. I had the 2G iPhone and then upgraded to the 3G; I just felt EDGE's slow speed defeated the purpose of paying for an unlimited data plan. If you had 3G, searching for a WiFi would no longer be a priority.
Can't beat 50 bucks, I'll give ya that.
So, let's do the math for two years (realistically, will you still have/want the same phone in two years?):
On T-Mobile: $599 iPhone+$50/mo. sevice fees ($1200)=$1800.
On AT&T: $199 iPhone+$70/mo. service fees ($1680)=$1879.
Is saving ~$79 over two years ($3.29/mo.) worth it?
BTW: Be careful if you have an iPhone w/o a data plan--if that baby starts pulling down data, the bill will be massive.
.
I think if you want to enjoy the iPhone, you really need the 3G network for that.
FYI, AT&T 3G test
1261 kbps down and 223 kbps up at Chicago (at 7:02pm)
1478 kbps down and 245 kbps up at Detroit (at 8:39am)
It is ten times slowing for EDGE,
96 kbps down and 15 kbps up at Detroit (at 6:34pm)
I pull this data from the iPhone Speedtest app.
Most people no longer want to carry two devices.
Some want the features of an iPod Touch, but they want a built in mic and ear speaker for VOIP or actual phone service, but don't want/need constant internet access for $30/mo.
Edge Averages 300kbps not your measly 96kbps, I used to tether my curve to my laptop so I'd know.
And T-Mobile's 3G although not everywhere yet, provides a much Speedier and Reliable Connection in my experience in Michigan.
Says alot about ATT's so called network. If you ask me they're spread way to thinly across the US and it reflects in their service in Spades.
This is an untrue statement. I live in NYC and alll wi-fi networks expect for Starbucks are locked.
But after seven years I can not see how anyone says Tmobile has better coverage than AT&T. I used to buy unlocked phones off eBay so I could roam on AT&T's network because Tmobile had such poor coverage outside of cities. I've had no more dropped calls on AT&T than I did on Tmobile and my coverage in MD does not fluctuate nearly as much driving around.
Where in the hell have you lived that there ISN'T complete city-wide Starbucks coverage?
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If you aren't going to use the data capabilities of an iPhone why buy one, you can use almost any phone to call and send texts, leave the iPhone to us that will utilize all of the capabilities.
You provide no clues on how to jailbreak/unlock or where to go to jailbreak/unlock. You don't really go through the pros and cons of jbing/unlocking.
I found all my jailbreaking needs at www.quickpwn.com
As another user mentioned you use iTunes together with Pwnage Tool to Jaibreak and Unlock your iPhone. But the actual steps differ depending on whether you have a 2G or 3G unit. In my case I have a 3G. You first have to update it to Firmware 2.2 but no higher than build (5G77) using iTunes. Then use Pwnage Tool to create a Custom Firmware (using the same 2.2 5G77 Build). Then you use iTunes again to update your iPhone 3G with the Custom Firmware you built with Pwnage Tool). After that use Cydia Installer to install the yell0wsnow app to your phone (to inject the unlock whenever you restart your phone). For more info go to http://www.modmyi.com
As Brian Tong says, it's all about the apps, baby. The iphone is a portable multimedia device that happens to make phone calls. It's for people who care about how it browses the web and feels in their hands when typing or gameplaying than how it feels when holding it up to their ear. Yes, devices like the G1 have app stores, but they are way behind. The paltry 300 mb allotted for apps on the G1 would be used up very quickly. I'm currently using 900 mb. Their stores don't come anywhere near itunes' 25,000 apps and more than 500 mil. downloads. All that said, the iphone has no flash player, flash or zoom camera, camcorder, cut/paste, landscape e-mail, or innate backgrounding ability. There are workarounds for all but the first. Some of these require jailbreaking.
Stick around and get a Pre for 59 a month that includes unlimited texting. It offers enough of the iphone multitouch experience, a better browser, multitasking, and unobtrusive notifications. There will be enough quality apps at launch as well.
Don't get sucked into Apple's 25k app marketing. Studies indicate that the apps are so bad that many get downloaded only never to be used again a few days later. It's a bear to sift through all the junk apps, while the few most useful ones will most likely also be offered on the Pre either at launch or shortly after. Bottom line is that an iphone user uses a handful of apps on their device as will the Pre user.
Expect the Pre and WebOS to advance much faster than the iphone's. Flash will be out shortly after launch for the Pre which opens up a lot of things. Apps will come quickly.
Sprint's network is also higher quality, more mature and will offer better 3g coverage in addition to saving you a lot of money per month.
the Pre isn't even out yet !
It's funny how u palm fanboys go on and on about it !
Looks like Rubenstein not only took the Apple interfaces with him to palm
but also their ability to create buzz and fan followings !
thats because I like the pre ,although the name is dumb
from wat I've seen it seems pretty impressive !
but wat I don't understand is how people keep comparing it to the iPhone
when the darn Phone's not even released or tested yet !
and BTW yr comment about the app store is totally ignorant
here's a nice little article that shows you how much the app store really enhances your phone -:
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2343856,00.asp
from http://www.themott.com/node/2141 (OS 3.0 FW available for download)
To Roll Back To older OS Version Please do the Following:
1. Open Up iTunes
2. Have Your iPhone Connected To Your Computer
3. Hold Down The Power/Sleep Button And The Home Button For Exactly 10 Seconds.
4. Then Release The Power/Sleep Button And Continue To Hold The Home Button Until iTunes Brings Up A Message Saying Your iPhone Is In DFU Mode.
5. Click Ok Or Whatever It Is So That It Closes That Popup.
6. Hold Shift Then Click Restore.
7.Then Make sure You Have Downloaded the ISPW Firmware Called: iPhone1,2_2.2_5G77_Restore. (MAKE SURE ITS iPhone1,2_2.2_5G77_Restore AND NOT iPhone1,1_2.2_5G77_Restore CAUSE THAT FOR THE 2G IPHONE).
8. Let It Restore Once Its Finished You Will Get An Error Thats Normal It Will Most Likely Be 1015 Or Something Like That.
9. Download Quick Pwn 2.2.1.
10. Then Open Up Quick Pwn With You iPhone Connected To Your PC And It will then Say That You Need To Hold The Power/Sleep Button And The Home button For Exactly 15 Seconds Then Release The Power/Sleep Button And Continue To Hold The Home Button For 2 Seconds. This will Then boot your iPhone To the Emergency Call screen.
11.Open up iTunes And Let It Activate Your iPhone.
12. Then Restore your iPhone From A Previous Backup If you Have One.
..and I don't endorse this site in any way.
Appreciate any advice and answers I can get!
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by mnemonick
March 31, 2009 6:03 AM PDT
- So, I have an HTC tilt, is it worthwhile to upgrade to an iphone? I do over 14 tradeshows throughout the year and use teathering to get Internet at a show. I also track my expenses on my phone, I am worried abotut he alck of apps compared to my HTC. Can i tether with it, or am i going to have to but a 3G laptop card and plan ALSO!?
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