Auckland Apple iPad Pro iPhone 15 Repair Unlock

Friday, June 24, 2011

Like Pie? Download PwnageTool to Jailbreak iPhone 3.1.2 : UltraSn0w Unlocks 3.1.2

WARNING: The following information is for reading and research purpose only. You are sole responsible for what you do to your Apple iPhone. Any modification of your Apple iPhone iOS or software will render your product's warranty voided. Please do so be advized!

In response to Blackra1n jailbreak, The iPhone Dev Team came to the rescue again with a jailbreak and unlock for the 3.1.2 iPhone Software using their new Pwnage 3.1.4 (see guides below)

So folks, please stick with Pwnage Tool as your main way to jailbreak, trust us.

From this point on we gonna repeat some of the materials from prior posts, since there is no point to reinvent. But we still like to organize information for people who are on 3.1.2 and like to jailbreak and unlock their iPhone.

If you're not sure whether or not you want to jailbreak, read the following posts (they may sway your opinion.)

Need a reason to jailbreak your iPhone? Here's ten of them

For more information read the articles below before you start (more after the fold):

How to recover your iPhone ( you will need this if your iPhone was not restored or updated properly)

iPhone OS And Other Downloads To Rescue Failed iPhone Hacks (you will need this if you want to roll back your software)

You will need ipsw files before you start

3GS

iPhone2,1_3.1.2_7D11_Restore.ipsw (300+ MB)

iPhone1,2_3.1.2_7D11_Restore.ipsw (240+ MB)

iPhone1,1_3.1.2_7D11_Restore.ipsw (240+ MB)

Download New PwnageTool 3.1.4 from Torrent:

http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/5122330/PwnageTool_3.1.4.dmg

Before You Begin:

Read release information about PwnageTool 3.1.4 from Dev-Team. (Gonna say it again, do not upgrade using iTunes upgrade, specifically if your baseband is under 05.11.07 - 04.26.08. Why, because as of this writing 05.11.07 is not unlockable, so if you update to 3.1.2 using regular iTunes method, you will not be able to unlock your phone.

Update: 05.11.07 Baseband iPhone Unlock will be Released 11/04/2009 via Blacksn0w (this is only a new development, still do not update using iTunes. Make sure to read all the articles and ask questions)

In short:

1. Tool is available for Mac only

2. Jailbreak and Unlock is available for 3GS (assuming you did not update baseband from 3.0), 3G, 2G phones only

3. Unlocking will work on iPhone 3G and 3GS (assuming you did not update baseband from 3.0) using ultrasn0w. Use this guide for unlock 3.1 instructions.

4. No need for DFU mode, when you create IPSW file just you iTunes to restore your custom firmware (triple check that you are restoring from custom frimware)

4. Read comments on Dev-Team blog from early adaptors.

Our iPhone 3.1 Jailbreaking and Unlocking Guides:

The process is exactly the same as in the guides below, we will update guides to reflect any 3.1 issues.

How To Jailbreak iPhone OS 3.0 Using Pwnage Tool 3.0

How To Unlock iPhone 3G Using Ultrasn0w

If you've never jailbroken your phone, just follow the guides above. Don't forget to check out our glossary it may help you to understand the terminology.

Follow the check list below if you already have your iPhone jailbroken:

1. If you have Cycorder installed make sure to copy all of the videos from your iPhone to your computer.

Videos are located on your iphone under mobile user in /mobile/Media/Videos.

2. Check /mobile/library/downloads directory for files you'd like to save.

3. Use AppBackup to backup setting for your applications, just in case.

After back-up, copy /mobile/library/AppBackup folder to your computer.

4. Use AptBackup to save the list of installed Cydia Apps. Make sure to sync with iTunes after back-up (back-up is stored in iTunes).

5. If you use Categories there is no way to recover your settings (let us know if you know a method).

6. Sync your iPhone with iTunes for the last time.

7. Use one of our jailbreak guides (see list above).

8. After jailbreaking, use iTunes Restore to copy files back to your iPhone.

9. Go to Cydia and install AptBackup, restore your Cydia Applications.

10. Copy all of the folders/files from steps 1,2,3 back to your iPhone.

This post is sponsored by:
Dr Mobiles Limited
1 Huron Street, Takapuna, North Shore 0622
Tel: (09) 551-5344 and Mob: (021) 264-0000
Web - Map - Email - Posterous - Twitter - Blogger - Flickr
**** BUYER BEWARE ****
Please note that Dr Mobiles Limited is the only professional mobile phone repair centre that DOES NOT CHARGE inspection to look at your faulty phones. Besides that, other charge up to $85 to produce a damage report for insurance claims; Dr Mobiles Limited will NOT charge your even a single dime to produce such report! Terms and conditions apply, see www.drmobiles.co.nz

First Look in Stereo, 2011: LG Optimus 3D, Android Smartphone tech news update.

A huge high-res screen, a new chipset expected to deliver beyond anyone's wildest hopes and 1080p video recording: the LG Optimus 3D sounds like a great package and we haven't even started yet. These are big ones no doubt, but not even close enough to making the headline. Not with a stereoscopic screen and a couple of 3D video-recording cameras at the back.

LG Optimus 3D official photos

The LG Optimus 3D is flagship stuff, head to toe. A premium package that doesn't need anything else to be complete. But whether it asked for it or not, the LG Optimus 3D might turn out to be the device of the season, on the shortlist of any self-respecting geek. Just look at those specs and you'll see what we mean.

This preview is based on a pre-production Optimus 3D unit and the functionality, software and performance could possibly differ in the final retail units.

LG Optimus 3D at a glance:

General: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz, UMTS 850/900/1900/2100 MHz, HSDPA 21 Mbps, HSUPA 5.76 Mbps;
Form factor: Touchscreen bar phone;
Dimensions: 128.8 x 68 x 11.9 mm, 168 g;
Display: 4.3" 16M-color WVGA (480 x 800 pixels) TFT LCD stereoscopic touchscreen;
CPU: Dual-core 1GHz ARM Cortex-A9 proccessor, PowerVR SGX540 GPU, TI OMAP4430 chipset;
RAM: 512MB, dual-channel;
OS: Android 2.2 (Froyo);
Memory: 8GB storage, microSD card slot;
Camera: dual 5 MP, autofocus, LED flash with 1080p@24fps video recording; Stereoscopic 5 MP photos Stereoscopic 720p@30fps videos; geo-tagging face detection;
Connectivity: Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth 3.0, standard microUSB port, microHDMI TV-out, GPS receiver with A-GPS, 3.5mm audio jack, stereo FM radio with RDS;
Misc: DivX/XviD codec support, built-in accelerometer, multi-touch input, proximity sensor, gyroscope sensor, front facing camera, video-calls.

2010 was a year of disappointment for the LG mobile division, but they're looking to turn things around in 2011. Having beaten all the competition to bring the first dual-core smartphone to the market, LG is now racing to get to the 3D checkpoint ahead of HTC.

And the really cool part is that LG didn't rush through the rest of the development in favor of the stereoscopic screen and imaging on the Optimus 3D. Quite the opposite, the phone is touted as the first to feature dual-channel memory, thanks to the brand new TI OMAP 4430 chipset. The only sour note is Froyo. LG are obviously taking their time with Gingerbread and we're yet to see a single phone of theirs running it.

The LG Optimus 3D at our office

The rest does sound promising though and we cannot wait to see the 3D droid in action.

Design and construction

Despite its entirely plastic construction, the LG Optimus 3D is a pretty good-looking handset. The front is a well-done mix of faux brushed metal (the two plastic pieces at the top and bottom), touch-sensitive keys and an ample LCD.

The back has the LG’s trademark styling with a metal stripe on soft rubbery plastic. We liked that back in the Optimus 2X and a few months later we're glad to report we haven't tired of it.

If anything takes away some points from the Optimus 3D design, it'd be the thickness. Now, we realize it's probably impossible to squeeze all that functionality (including two cameras and a stereoscopic screen) in a anything slimmer so we are not blaming LG here. However, the fact remains that, when placed next to one of its slimmer competitors, the Optimus 3D loses some of its appeal. It simply looks chubbier.

The LG Optimus 3D sized up against the Galaxy S II and the Optimus 2X

The increased thickness also has a slightly negative effect on handling. It's harder to wrap your hand around the Optimus 3D and have the entire surface of the screen within comfortable reach. It's not too bad though, and the result is most probably worth it.

Handling the Optimus 3D

This might be the right place to mention that the LG Optimus 3D is also a pretty heavy device. At 168 grams, it weighs a mere gram less than the Motorola Milestone 2 with its metal body and QWERTY keyboard. While the extra weight gives a certain solidity that many will appreciate, it's also certain to turn off those users who don't like carrying this much bulk around.

A pretty good display that also does 3D

The 4.3" stereoscopic LCD screen of WVGA resolution is the key feature of the LG Optimus 3D. The LG engineers have come a long way since we first met the handset back in Barcelona and the screen has been improved significantly as far as regular 2D viewing is concerned.

At this point of its development, the Optimus 3D screen has very decent viewing angles, and so are the brightness and contrast. And no, when used as a regular 2D screen, the Optimus 3D display won't rival the Super AMOLED Plus blacks or the Retina display's sunlight legibility, but none of them does goggle-free 3D, do they?

The goal of the Optimus 3D display here was to trail the leaders closely and be ready to catch up and even overtake them by playing the trump card. Now the question remains how much is the stereoscopic ace worth to you.

The 3D mode only works in landscape mode and the glasses-free viewing relies on a parallax-barrier technology. It's an extra screen layer that makes sure each eye sees a different set of pixels, giving a sense of depth. On the downside, each eye gets only half of the screen horizontal resolution.

Also, to be able to enjoy it fully you will need to find the sweet spot between your eyes and the handset's screen, which is different for everyone. It might seem a bit of a nuisance at first, but you quickly get used to it.

The display is pretty decent even if you only use the regular 2D mode

The other thing that you have to get used to is there’s no way to share the 3D goodness of the screen. Only one person at a time can watch the 3D effect. Looking at the screen at an angle, gets you a regular 2D image.

That aside, the 3D effects itself are pretty impressive, even more so if you are a fan of the technology - you know, the kind of guy who would go and watch any mind-numbing movie they threw at you, just because it's in 3D (did somebody say Green Hornet?)

Now the 3D visualization is only available in applications that are specially designed for 3D viewing, but those are in no short supply on the Optimus 3D (we'll get back to them later). The regular Android interface looks just like on any other smartphone, you’ve seen.

Still, given it's the first attempt we've seen at a mobile glasses-free 3D screen for mass sonsumption, the Optimus 3D display does pretty well. We were pleasantly surprised and we believe the technology has a future in smartphones. Or at least the potential is there.

2011 Tech News: Google Nexus vs Droid vs iPhone 3GS vs Palm Pre: Total Cost of Ownership.

Nexus VS Droid VS iPhone 3GS VS Palm Pre

A few weeks back, when details and rumors about the Nexus One were starting to dribble out, we did a technical specifications-only comparison between it, the iPhone, and the Moto Droid.

Since then, Google announced complete details about the Nexus (exemplar, superphone in Google speak) -- specifically, that you could buy the phone unlocked directly from Google for a hefty US$529.99, or through T-Mobile for only US$179.99 plus a two-year contract. Which got us thinking: how do those numbers compare with the competition?

As you can see from the chart below, we did a total-cost-of-ownership comparison of the Nexus, Droid, iPhone, and Palm Pre -- the current "must-have" handsets of T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint, respectively. We looked at the phone cost with and without a two-year contract, as well as the monthly costs of both an average plan and one with unlimited calling/texting/data.

Once you get past the sticker shock of "I'm spending THAT much for phone service in twenty-four months?!?", it turns out the Pre and Nexus have the lowest TCOO on the 450-500 minute plans. Now, while these are important factors to consider when getting that smart phone du jour, they're not the only things to consider. Verizon's higher total price, for instance, comes with a larger and more reliable network -- AT&T, while having the single hottest phone (and a gazillion apps for it) recently admitted that yeah, their 3G network is still the pits in some locations. Likewise, the Pre's attractiveness, both feature- and plan-wise, is tempered by lack of apps (yes, compare to other offerings)

Caveat emptor, folks... (comparison after the fold)

450-500 minute plans compared

Update #1: Table above is corrected to reflect that Nexus One is available on T-Mobile with 500 minutes plan only, before we assumed that it's possible to upgrade to the higher minute plan. After going through ordering process, 500 minute plan is the only option. (thanks Andrew)

Update #2: Initial comparison was made among 900 minute plans but since Nexus One is available on 500 minute plan we updated table above.

Update #3: Kenny in Comments pointed out that: "You could use the device with the Even More Plus Plan Unlimited, which is $79.99/month, but you have to pay full price for the device. Then in comes out to $529 + $79.99*24 = $2448.76 beating everybody up there. " This is based on the fact that you can get unlimited $79.99 plan from T-Mobile if you bring your own unlocked device. Looks like that is the best deal.

If you like to see 900 minute plan comparisons for other phone use graphic below.

900 minute plans compared

2011 Gadget News: Alien Dalvik will let you run Android apps on the Nokia N9.

In case you were worried about application support for the N9, you have one less reason to worry now. Along with applications created specifically for the phone, you will even be able to run Android applications on it.

Thanks to a little something called the Alien Dalvik, a software that lets you run unmodified Android application on non-Android devices. All the developers have to do is repackage the .apk files and the applications can be used on other devices running Alien Dalvik. The application is able to utilize the full potential of the hardware and the user experience is virtually identical to that of using it on regular Android device. The software emulates the hardware controls on Android devices so the application can be controlled on non-Android devices.

According to Myriad, the developers of Alien Dalvik, it will be made available for MeeGo sometime later this year.

2011 Reviews: Top 5 Sites to Discover iPhone Apps, www.drmobiles.co.nz

Itunes_review

Anyone searching for the perfect app for, well, anything, can attest to the fact that iTunes is not the first place you're going to want to go to find it.

The iTunes App Store is fantastic, in that, as those ubiquitous commercials say, no matter what you need, there's an app for that, and you'll find it there. Thing is, if you're not quite sure what you're looking for, it can be a bit hard to wade through the thousands and figure out if you can go with a free app or need to pony up for a paid app.

Fortunately, there are several websites dedicated to sorting through iTunes for you, and we've taken a look at five of them to help you weigh the pros and cons. We considered including the Bing.com visual search in our list, but you need to have Microsoft's Silverlight installed. No one here felt like downloading it, so you're on your own with it, though we've heard it's quite nice.

See individual reviews after the fold.

The Review Grid

Top-5-sites-to-discover-iphone-app-review-grid

Click on image to enlarge

The Sites

Apptism
Full index + community reviews
In beta, the site is "currently tracking, 91,132 apps."

Besides searches, Apptism gives you several default searches: Recent Activity, Most Activity, Popular Apps, Newest Apps, Updated Apps and an alphabetical listing. You can search by Free apps, and by seven different pricing categories for paid apps, in addition to category searches.

But what takes Apptism to the next level are all the other community-driven aspects.

First, there are the reviews. The site allows you to search user reviews, critics reviews or both, so you can determine before buying it whether it really has what you want and if the interface is what you're looking for. Then, it also has hundreds of thousands of screenshots and thousands of videos in the "Media" tab. The News tab has links to the latest news about iPhone apps, so you can read up on the latest from the blogosphere.

You can even build a custom Watch List, so you can track apps you're thinking about buying or apps you've built and the App Store has released.

AppStore HQ
Full index + blog reviews feed + discovery engine

The first thing you'll notice about AppStore HQ is the big feed down the middle of the home page - the latest blog posts about iPhone apps from around the blogosphere. On a recent day, the feed was topped by posts from The Unofficial Apple Weblog and Download Squad from just 10 minutes earlier. A few spots down, there was even a link to a Spanish-language post from Esfera iPhone.

Like Apptism, you can look through the apps based on pricing, category and the hottest and newest. You can also search according to how many stars the community has given an app and create custom searches. Perfect place to find and dicover iPhone apps

148Apps
Full index + forums

The gimmick here is that you can always find out what the top 148 iPhone apps are.

The home page is a compilation of the latest app reviews. Each review gives the site's star rating, as well as a one-word descriptor from the reviewer, in addition to the beginning of the full review. The one-word descriptions, however, aren't just "good, poor, fair" - they include "mediocre," "complex" and "solo delight" - more telling, in fact, than even the star-based reviews by the site. The nice thing about giving both the site's stars and the user review is that you can see both sides of the story and decide if you need to do a little more research.

This weekend, for example, the first app review on the site was for IMP: Surf the Music - it showed 3 1/2 stars from 148Apps, but the user review was "Mediocre." In reading the user review further, it seemed she didn't have anything really bad to say about the app, just that she couldn't get hooked.

The site also has a full forum, blog, a listing of the apps with price drops.

App Shopper
Full index +update tracker

App Shopper doesn't have the forums and some of the other community features the other sites have, but it has a variety of RSS feeds and keeps track of all changes to apps.

The home page lists all the latest changes to apps, whether it's an update to the app, a price drop or something new. You can create wish lists and keep track of all the apps you own on custom lists. It has all the same sort of search capabilities of the other sites, as well as a "price drop" search engine.

The site has its own blog, too, but it's not updated every day and is not a listing of all the latest news about apps.

It does have a listing of the top 100 paid apps, which can be sorted by price, rating, its peak position on the list, how long it's been on the list and, of course, its current position on the list. So you can get a handle on what the iPhone community at large thinks are the best apps to shell out the cash for.

Appulo.us
Search engine + "unlimited trials"

Appulo.us bills itself as "The solution to a flawed App Store."

In beta, the idea behind Appulo.us is to fix what it sees as the main problem with the official App Store: Lots of crap applications getting approval that users spend good money on and then don't use. The site allows users to gain free, unlimited trials to apps before purchasing (illegally, we may add). The creators say they are not making any money off the site and it's simply to give both the quality developers and consumers a leg up. Quality developers are more likely to sell their apps if people can try them out first, and consumers won't waste money on a Soduku game "submitted by a 14-year-old writing his first program."

In short, this is a repository of cracked and pirated apps. Not much improvement over itunes, unless you cannot pay a buck for the real app and wanna get it for free. Use this site to find iPhone apps, but make sure to support developers.

AppSpot
iTunes web mirror

Like the App Store just as it is, but don't want to launch another application? Search no more. AppSpot is a web-based mirror of the App Store. It gives you everything the App Store does (or doesn't) with the benefit of being on the web instead of through iTunes.

That's it. Nothing fancy, but some folks like original recipe. Even so, if you want to purchase an app, you still have to launch iTunes. They have limited app finding ability

Conclusion

While each site has its own little tweaks that make it a little different from the others, most of the sites listed above offer more or less the same iPhone app finding options: The ability to search through apps based on several different criteria. If we had to rank them, however, this is what we'd say: AppStore HQ, 148Apps, Apptism, Appulo.us, App Shopper and then, finally, AppSpot.

And while some of the sites allow you to find the apps that have dropped their prices, perhaps the best way to keep track of this is, actually, an app - AppSniper. You can track which apps are on sale and even get notifications once an app you've been watching has dipped down to a price you're willing to pay. This is best for those sales that are only for a few hours and you'd miss if you check the other sites just once a day. And it's only 99 cents.