Archive for category iPhone
Upgrade to iOS 4.1?
So iOS 4.1 reportedly comes out later this week. (Here’s an overview of the new features. The big question is whether it’s worth upgrading for jailbroken phones. Now I have to admit the proximity sensor bug really bugs the heck out of me. Also my bluetooth headset isn’t syncing with my iPhone 4 for some reason, making the problem worse. All that said now that I’m jailbroken again I’m not sure I want to upgrade unless there is a jailbreak. Outside of the proximity sensor bug fix (which is huge) none of the features are compelling.
I’ll probably hold off until a 4.1 jailbreak becomes available. Probably a few weeks after the release.
On iTunes 10
I had a post half written about my thoughts this week and decided everything was enough of a non-story so as to not say much. I mean most of what happened was expected and the (disappointing) AppleTV was at best a slight upgrade (Netflix streaming) along with a better price. I think Apple dropped the ball on this one pretty significantly. I would have written about iTunes 10 but it wasn’t out.
First the big news, Ping seems useless right now. (I find most social media stuff like that though — they tend only to work if you can convince all your friends to use them) The appearance is a mixed bag. I like that they toned down the interface from the Vista like color of iTunes 9. However they went too far into grey. If you want the iTunes 9 icons back there’s a program iTunes 109 that’ll restore the old sidebar and optionally other icons. Me, I wish more of the appearance of iTunes 8 could come back.
What bothers me is that iTunes seems to switch for switching sake. There’s no real concern with usability. In many ways iTunes is the worst of Apple’s software. It’s definitely the worst in terms of UI consistency.
Coolest Lockscreen Mod Ever
OK, I’ve been a big critic of most iPhone themes. I think they are typically pointless and almost all of them are pretty dang ugly. However I came upon a theme for the lockscreen (what pops up when you wake up your phone ready to log in) Not only is it useful (it displays the weather forecast) it is pretty amazing looking. It also supports the retinal screen of the iPhone 4.
Full info at MacThemes. The latest version is here. Be aware you’ll download a rar file you’ll need to unrar. You’ll then have a directory called Weather Elements Revisited_GPS. Follow the directions inside to modify two js (javascript) file. If you want it to automatically use the GPS to find your location and display the appropriate weather you’ll need to sign up with Instamapper and get an API key. There’s a file called README_FIRST.txt that goes through all the details. It’s not too hard.
Get Your iPhone VoiceMail
So in Cydia there is this ridiculously overpriced “forward your voicemail” application for sale. Ridiculously overpriced not just because you can never be sure if it’ll survive until the next version of iOS let alone if you’ll be without a jailbreak waiting for Cydia to update to the latest iOS update. No, ridiculous because you can get all your voicemail at any time.
Install, if you haven’t yet, Netatalk. This lets you access your iPhone as if it were a standard networked Mac. In the Finder go to:
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Theming SBSettings
The best reason to jailbreak your iPhone is still SBSettings. Apple’s caught up on many of the other features jailbreaking used to offer. However if you want to preserve your battery life then turning on and off WiFi, Blutooth and even 3G is a must. Seriously, the amount of battery savings doing this are huge. Only use these services when you need them. The problem is that on a stock iPhone it’s such a hassle to do this that no one does. Enter SBSettings. You swipe your finger across the top of the iPhone and suddenly a set of controls to turn various things on and off pops up.
The most useful settings are Brightness for manually adjusting the screen brightness (nice in the dark) and then the Bluetooth, 3G and WiFi settings. You can via Cydia add plugins for other features. Be aware that not all work with iOS4 yet. My favorite is Veency which is allows remote access to your iPhone via the Finder and even lets you type via your keyboard. (It’s a VNC client, although you’ll need to add in the Veency service via Cydia first for it to work) SSH turns on and off SSH – although if you changed your default password there’s not a lot of reason to do that. I really like RemoveBG which basically kills all background processes. Very nice if you use Cydia’s Backgrounder to enable non-Apple styled backgrounding on some applications. (i.e. it’s as if they are fully running in the background — something I use with 1Password so I don’t have to enter my password again every time I switch between a Mail window and a secure note)
The one problem with SBSettings, if you’ve installed it, is that it is pretty ugly. Enter themes. By far the best theme is Serious SBSettings. Better yet there is an HD theme for your iPhone 4′s display. (See the graphic)
The downside is that not all the icons for custom installed SBSettings Services are available. So here’s a tutorial to fix this. First, if you are looking for graphics visit this MacThemese thread. Lots of people have provided some nice graphics for extra SBSettings switches.
Android Malware
Posted by clark in Commentary, iPhone on 2010/07/29
As expected there’s now active Android malware. The PC/Mac comparison between the iPhone and Android is becoming apt on numerous levels. It was interesting when warnings arose over the potential that Android defenders said merely informing users over app capabilities was sufficient. Many of us recognized that, especially for the typical naive user, this just wouldn’t work.
I still think Android will dominate the marketplace although I’m curious whether the new Windows phone will make inroads or whether HP can revitalize WebOS. I think though what we’ll find is something akin to the Mac where Apple has a small relative marketshare but is more profitable and has less troubles overall. It’ll take a few more years for the marketplace to mature. My bet is that Microsoft will dominate over RIM and take their position. Microsoft’s forte has always been corporate America. Easy .Net programming along with robust Exchange integration probably will be something RIM can’t fight against if Microsoft doesn’t screw it up. But I just can’t see Microsoft dominating the phone market the way it did the PC market. Android’s too flexible and more significantly too cheap.
iPhone 4 Reception
Posted by clark in Commentary, iPhone on 2010/06/28
OK, truth be told I had to post on this just so I could upload that hilarious picture making the rounds. However my business partner, who somehow managed to score an iPhone 4 the morning of release, has noted the same issue everyone else is. That is if you short the antenna by holding it even how Apple suggests you lose a lot of reception. There are rumors this is partially a software issue but basic physics suggests it’s an issue of antenna tuning. It’s pretty surprising this made it through all the testing.
Of course I almost always put a case on my iPhone and I’m sure I will with my iPhone 4 as well (assuming I ever get one). So I don’t see it as quite the disaster some are making it.
Security and Android
Posted by clark in Commentary, iPhone on 2010/06/23
Interesting CNet article on security and Android. Apparently 20% of Android apps expose very private data. This includes email and IM content, phone call info, location and so forth. Yes while installing the program you are made aware of these access issues, but I don’t think most users understand the implications.
While Apple has (to some extent justly) been criticized for its approach to the iPhone I think that the fragmentation issues and “anything goes” issues on Android are catching up with them. I think Apple’s strategy relative to Android has always been that the 80′s and 90′s can’t repeat but rather it’ll be a repeat of the late 90′s and early naughts. That is the internet changed everything and the big worry is fragmentation and security.
iOS 4 Thoughts
Posted by clark in Commentary, iPhone on 2010/06/22
Well it took about 4 attempts to upgrade. Apple’s servers were really being hit hard yesterday. I’d waiting until late thinking that would make things easier. Little did I know!
After only a morning playing with it here are my thoughts:
1. The folders are quite nice and really bring back the more minimal feel the phone had when I first got one a few years back. It’s nice to have all the games and lesser used apps hidden. Beyond that I tend to leave everything the same.
2. After running a bunch of apps I realized I really didn’t need multitasking. The only app I like it in is 1Password (when I was jailbroken). 1Password doesn’t appear updated to handle switching rapidly between apps without having to retype every password under the sun though. So I’ll definitely be rejailbreaking as soon as the 3GS and 4G jailbreaks are out just so I can quickly switch between email and 1Password or elsewhere. I use 1Password to keep very secure notes that won’t be compromised if my phone is lost. I use it a lot. So this was an issue.
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Apple Uses Own Location Services
Posted by clark in Commentary, iPhone on 2010/07/29
Tech Crunch is reporting that Apple dropped Google for it’s own location services with iOS4. I have tons of questions about this, although it’s not unexpected given the Google relationship. A lot of people have been speculating about this ever since they bought Poly9 and Placebase, two map companies. Edit: note this isn’t about the maps although many of us expect those to change soon.
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