Archive for the ‘Mobile’ Category
Unlocked iPhone Upgrade: links to live by
I decided to get off my butt and upgrade my unlocked iPhone from 1.0.2 to 1.1.1 last week…and it was a complete disaster. Here are some of the mistakes I made, how to avoid them, and the links which will bail you out.
- Check your iTunes version, and make sure it’s supported by iNdependence before you start. I’d become somewhat relaxed with my iTunes upgrades, only to learn halfway through the upgrade that 7.5 is not supported by iNdependence. A quick download of AppZapper to completely remove iTunes, and a download of iTunes 7.4 (you’ll have to dig around to find the file) later, I was back with a useable version of iTunes.
- Always do option-clicks on the “restore” and “update” buttons in iTunes. I didn’t decide to upgrade to 1.1.1 until after 1.1.2 came out, and I didn’t realize that clicking “upgrade” (like all the walkthroughs will tell you to do) was going to put 1.1.2 on the phone. If you make this mistake, and have an iPhone that’s been upgraded from 1.0.2 to 1.1.2, follow these instructions to save your phone.
- Start here if you haven’t already screwed yourself up; the guys over at ModMyiFone.com will take you all the way through the downgrade/upgrade process.
- The jailbreakme.com trick didn’t work for me. The ModMyiFone guides will take you through a nifty little process that lets you visit a website from your iPhone, and jailbreak it automatically. Unfortunately, it hasn’t worked for me (on two phones that I’ve now upgraded). Instead, unlock it with iNdependence, and install Installer.app manually through iNdependence.
Like I said, my phone was an absolute disaster…but I was able to upgrade my wife’s iPhone in about 15 minutes. Now, if only I could get her to consistently sync her phone…
Technorati Tags: apple, independence, iphone, unlocking
The iPhone, and The Problem with Tech Guys
This blog is important for those of us who don’t do tech for a living. Trust me.
I spend a lot of time listening to tech podcasts and reading tech blogs…because they’re awesome. I can’t help but love tech stuff, and the guys who do shows like dl.tv and MacBreak Weekly are not only hilarious, but extremely “on top” of the latest tech goodies.
But when it comes to the practicality of something like the iPhone, they’re just missing the boat.
In a recent episode of MacBreak Weekly, Alex Lindsay talked about how he is dying to get his hands on an iPhone, but not because he cares about the phone functionality. His whole premise was that he loved the many functions of the iPhone, but that he would be using it almost exclusively through WiFi connections - either at his office, home, or Starbucks..and subsequently couldn’t care less about the Cingular loop.
Ya know, these guys need to get a grip here. Those of us who don’t spend all day in tech-friendly offices (or who actually get out on a regular basis) want a phone that works with all those features WHEREVER we are. We also need cell phones - because we’re not always within ten feet of our desk.
Don’t worry, friends. We’re here to stand up for us part-time geeks, and say “WE care about good phone functionality, and connectivity on the cellular network. WE want Cingular to provide excellent and affordable access plans for both phone and internet connections…because WE want to be able to rock the iPhone (and similar devices) when we’re walking through the park with our significant others.”
Hang in there, amigos. We’ve got your proverbial back.
technorati tags:macbreak, iphone, dl.tv
I originally heard about Twitter on the Macworld episode of Macbreak, where Justine was preoccupied with the constant updates on her Treo…and I just had to check it out.
Twitter’s premise is a little bit difficult to figure out at first. Their motto “What are you doing?” does an excellent job of summing it up, but only after you dig for a few minutes (ironic, eh?). Fundamentally, Twitter is a service that lets you send updates on what you’re up to from your cell phone, IM client, or the web (update: there are programs like Twitterific that let you update without taking up a tab). Your buddies can choose to “follow” you, and will receive text messages when you send an update to Twitter.
For instance, I know that Leo Laporte uses Twitter…so I told Twitter to follow him by texting “follow leolaporte”. Now, throughout the day I get little gems of interest from Leo. Any time he posts an update, Twitter sends the update to my phone (or my IM client, if I choose).
They’re pretty clear that Twitter is not intended to be a replacement for your favorite IM system, but I can definitely tell that there’s some inside chit chat that takes place. Given that you’re broadcasting your updates to anyone who’s following you, it’s not uncommon for people to see your response to another person’s update, and have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about.
Kinda fun, eh?
Anyway, I’m Twittering semi-regularly; it’s fun…and fits in nicely as a badge on Turnipville. You can find me on Twitter under the username “Turnip,” or at this page.
technorati tags:twitter, leolaporte, text, IM
Apple Roundup
Today was a big day for Apple fans, with the MacWorld announcments of the iPhone and AppleTV. Here’s a roundup of those sites that are doing a far more thorough job of coverage than we are:
AppleInsider
MacRumors
Engadget
Apple.com
We are super pumped about the iPhone; and if you spend a few minutes to watch Steve Jobs’ intro for the iPhone, you’ll probably share our excitement. Cheers.
technorati tags:apple, iphone, ipod, appletv
“Clear” up your voicemail
Have you ever thought: “Ya know, my voice sounds like absolute garbage in my voicemail greeting…just like everyone else”? Take a hint from us, and give this a shot.
Skype is offering free “SkypeOut” until the end of the year, as identified on their site:
Free calling within the US and Canada.
But remember, you can make free calls within the US and Canada to both landlines and mobile phones until the end of the year. It’s really easy; there are no contract fees, no line rentals. All you need is Skype and a phone number you want to call.
SkypeOut lets you make calls via Skype to regular landlines, and given that the connection quality is higher than your normal phone connection, you’ll find that your voice will sound ever-so-wonderful when recorded on your voicemail system.
It’s also an excellent way to record messages left for you and distribute them online.
Dash: T-Mobile Takes the Lead
Regular Martini Geek readers will remember that I hate my MDA, and have been waiting for an adequate replacement that doesn’t suck.
In my most recent post, I was chocking the MDA’s terrible performance up to Windows Mobile 5. But Engadget’s review of the T-Mobile Dash has convinced me that maybe it was the hardware…not WM5. I’m eager to get my hands on the new Dash - if for no other reason than the pleasure I’ll take in snapping my MDA’s stylus in half.
Bravo, T-Mobile. Now, send us a review unit and we promise to use it.
Technorati Tags: PDA, PocketPC, windows mobile, smartphone, video
Why Windows Mobile Still Sucks
I’ve been through a number of mobile devices over the last few years, with my most recent change bringing me to the T-Mobile MDA. Read up on it, if you’re not familiar with the phone…this rant isn’t about this phone in particular.
No, this entry comes as a result of my frustration with Windows Mobile 5, and the MDA.
The following is a list of beefs I’ve got with WM and the MDA:
- It’s freaking slow. I dumped my Nokia Communicator because it was too slow, and the MDA / Windows Mobile combo is faster…but not a lot. I often have to wait 1-2 seconds switching between applications.
- It’s not built for quick navigation. You’ve got to whip out your stylus, if you want to get anywhere quickly. The MDA has a decent number of hardware buttons built in, but together they still don’t cut it.
- Closing applications is a royal pain. That makes things even slower, as your "running apps" list just keeps building (regardless of how many times you click the "X" button). This annoyance is particularly agitating, as it’s been around since the early versions of PocketPC; I dealt with it on my first iPaq.
- You can’t mount the storage card as a removable disk without installing ActiveSync garbage. It’d be helpful to pop a USB cord into my handheld and browse the built-in memory, or the card.
- Picking up reception is sketchy when you’re leaving a dead zone. In my office building, the reception is shotty. But outside, it’s great. Sometimes it can take 5 minutes for the phone to re-establish reception…even if you’re standing underneath a repeater.
- The built-in e-mail app is is rubbish. Trust me.
- WM5 is just like Windows: sometimes it just hangs up, and you’ve got to reset.
It’s not usually my style to just rant…but with the new Sidekick III recently released, it’s tough. I’m so fickle.