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Top Legit Reasons To Jailbreak Your iPhone
The iPhone is a great phone with many features but some simple features that you can find on many other cheaper phones have, for some reason, been left out. In this article I will point out these ‘missing’ features that can help you use your phone quicker and smoother on a regular basis. This article is not about downloading ‘illegal’ apps for free that you would normally have to pay for through the App Store.
As iOS 5 has only just been released, the first list below shows software that you can download through Cydia to bring your phone up-to-spec with iOS 5.
Pre iOS 5
1. Volume button for camera
2. WiFi Sync
3. Lock Info – Like notifications on iOS5
4. Call Bar – Incoming notifications banner.
This list is mainly for users on iOS 5 who already have the features above and want to further improve their iPhone’s uses.
iOS 5
1. Time stamp – Date & Time with each individual text message instead of ‘once every so often’.
2. Winterboard – Custom themes
3. Copic – puts photos next to contacts in call log, address book and messages.
This article is a work in progress and will be updated in the future.
If you know of any extras to add to either list please let us know!
iOS 5 Blocks Gevey Sim Unlock From Working – Downgrade To Older Base Band / Modem Firmware
Gevey Sim ehhh? You what?
A lot of people in the UK have never heard of a Gevey Sim before and do not know what it does.
A Gevey Sim unlocks all networks on your iPhone without jailbreaking or when the ultrasn0w jailbreak doesn’t work because of your iPhone’s ‘baseband’. It’s a special sim card tray with a chip that bypasses the iPhone’s network lock via the emergency calls function of the phone.
iOS 5 Blocks Gevey Sim From Unlocking Networks
Yesterday I was one of the many who fell into the trap of upgrading to iOS 5 after seeing all the good new features but not realising my Gevey Sim wouldn’t work anymore.
The new iOS 5 stops the Gevey Sim from bypassing calls through the emergency call function by updating the baseband (BB) – you will find it on your phone called ‘Modem Firmware’ under Settings -> General -> About.
I ended up with the BB (baseband) 04.11.08 which is NOT COMPATIBLE with the Gevey Sim. (As of 16th Oct’ 2011)
How to Downgrade iOS5 to Baseband 04.11.08 to 04.10.01 (iOS 4.3.5 Baseband)
*IMPORTANT! READ THIS FIRST!
This will only work while Apple is still ‘signing’ the 4.3.5 firmware with the Gevey compatible baseband. When more people convert to iOS5 – Apple will stop ‘signing’ 4.3.5 and your phone may be stuck forever on its network unless Gevey or someone else produces a new work-around. Which there is no news of as yet…
Step One
Download the iOS4 firmware 4.3.5 for your specific device:
Download iPhone 4 GSM 4.3.5 Firmware
Download iPhone 3GS 4.3.5 Firmware
Step Two
Point your hosts file to Apple.
Do this by downloading TinyUmbrella.
Download TinyUmbrella Windows Version
Download TinyUmbrella OSX Version
Once downloaded open it. When I did it I got these 2 messages – just press OK.
Go to the ‘Advanced’ tab and UNTICK the ‘Set Hosts to Cydia on Exit’ box.
Now exit TinyUmbrella as this is all you use it for this time, easy isn’t it! 😉
Step Three
Connect your iPhone to your computer (turned on or off it doesn’t make a difference) and put your iPhone into DFU mode.
Enter DFU mode by holding the ‘home’ and ‘power’ buttons together for exactly 10 seconds at which point you must release ‘power’ but continue to hold ‘home’. After about 15 seconds, the device will enter DFU mode.
Step Four
Open iTunes – it will know it is in DFU / recovery mode and a message may appear to tell you this. Just press OK (or whatever!).
Now on the main iTunes screen press shift-restore (Windows) or option-restore (OSX), and select the 4.3.5 firmware you downloaded in step 1.
If you followed the above steps correctly (including making sure Apple are still signing 4.3.5 with the 04.10.01 baseband) it should only be a short while until your firmware is downgraded back to 4.3.5 with the Gevey compatible 04.10.01 baseband!
Now you’re phone is safe remember not to use normal iTunes procedures to update your phone if you want to keep using the Gevey Sim (or even ultrasn0w via cydia) to keep all networks unlocked.
So if you’re using a Gevey Sim to network unlock your device DO NOT Update with the normal iOS5. Please read below on how to get around this.
Instead, to continue using your Gevey Sim you will HAVE to update to iOS5 while preserving the precious BB (baseband). Coming soon…
Now if you want to have an untethered jailbreak after doing this you will have to downgrade to 4.3.3 or lower as there is not an untethered jailbreak for 4.3.4 or 4.3.5 – follow the steps here.
Buy a Gevey Sim Now! Click here or the Gevey image below! (Please open tab in new window)
Buy a Gevey Sim Now! Click here or the Gevey image above! (Please open tab in new window)
Apple’s iOS5 Upgrade Problems and Solution? Also Untethered Jailbreak News!
Since Wednesday when it was released, (see our article here) many iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPod Touch, iPad and iPad 2 users have come across a number of different problems from apps not working, the update not loading or downloading, data being deleted, and in the worst instance the devices ‘bricking’.
Many users are complaining about the time it takes to download or having to try multiple times before the update is successful. As Apple are using this update for over 5 different devices at the same time (excluding all the different versions of the iPod touch) their servers have taken a beating and like a new DLC, (downloadable content) such as new maps on Call of Duty games, you can either keep trying or just wait a day or two so until the congested internet servers aren’t so busy.
A technology consultant’s advice: “To anyone getting ‘An internal error occurred.’ (3200) while installing iOS 5.0, Apple’s servers are swamped, and failing half the requests”
However even though some ‘bugs’ are expected with new software, iOS5 seems to be on the larger scale of things.
The problems were so common that yesterday on twitter ‘3200’ was one of the tags trending.
Brian Daynes, an iPhone user contacted the BBC with his complaint.
“Have got the error message 1611. When I contacted my provider Orange, they in turn contacted Apple, and were told that the Error 1611 is a hardware fault and is in no means related to the update process of iOS 5.
“On being told this Orange want to now charge me £150 for a new iPhone,” he wrote
“I am very upset over this, as I know full well that if I had not updated the phone, it would be in perfect working order today as I write this email,” he added.
Apple have not commented on this complaint.
How to fix the iOS5 Update Error 3200
Interestingly jailbreakers will know exactly how to do this! All you need to do is download the iOS5 IPSW (iPhone Software) for your particular device directly from Apple themselves instead of through iTunes. When you have downloaded the IPSW to your computer have iTunes up and your device plugged in.
Find the button that says ‘Check for Update’ and on a PC hold the shift key and click on it. Mac users hold the option key and click on it.
A window allowing you to browse for your new software should appear. Simply find where you downloaded your IPSW to and open it. Your device will now begin to update!
Please note this may not work for everyone and it does still not get around the fact that Apple’s servers are overloaded. The file name pictured may vary to the actual one you use. However if you wish to try this for yourself here are links to the IPSW that you will need. You will only need the IPSW from ONE of the following links.
iOS5 IPSW (iPhone Software) Direct Apple Links:
Obvious Disclaimer: We are not responsible if you mess up your Apple device! If you do have any problems such as your device becoming stuck in recovery mode try using the programs ‘Tiny Umbrella’ or ‘redsn0w’.
Remember the iPhone 4S has now been released! For more info go here. Buy the new iPhone 4S here!
Latest iOS5 News
Also! Cydia have announced that an iOS 5 untethered jailbreak is already on its way! ‘Posixninja’ has reported 5 exploit holes for the new jailbreak. The jailbreak is only weeks away for all devices including the iPad 2 and iPhone 4S!
BlackBerry Service Restored
At 3pm today BlackBerry’s founder Mike Lazaridis announced that the UK service was restored. Today being the fourth day of the worldwide black out.
They are now starting a full investigation of what actually happened and why the back-up measure didn’t work. It all started in the UK with server problems at the server centre in Slough. This has been the largest scale crash BlackBerry have ever had, not forgetting the last major crash back in 2009.
Some network providers like O2 are still deciding whether to pay out compensation or not.
This is what RIM had to say earlier today:
iOS5 for Apple iPhone available to public today!
Apple iPhone users have been anticipating the release of the new operating system iOS5 for months. Today it is finally being released to the public as an update through iTunes.
As briefly summarised in our iPhone 4S reveal post, there are over 200 new features which improve the usability of your iPhone.
iMessage – Similar to BlackBerry‘s messenger (BBM) allows iPhone users to instant message each other through either wifi or mobile internet without paying for sms costs.
Notification Centre – Similar to HTC and other Android mobiles a drop / pull down notification menu allows you to easily see all of your incoming / outgoing communication in an easy to view format.
Reminders – Before iOS5 you would have to input reminders through your calender which isn’t the fastest or most ideal way.
Calendar – The calendar has also been improved allowing you to see events easier.
Photo Editing – So you don’t need a separate app anymore.
Camera Access – Now you can get to your camera from the lockscreen which hopefully means you’ll have more time to be able to capture those priceless moments not forgetting being able to use the volume up button as a dedicated shoot button!
Wireless Syncing – No need to plug your device into your computer anymore by syncing your music, videos and photos over wifi.
For more info go to the Apple site!
Want an iPhone 4S? Click the image below for more info!
BlackBerry Service Down for 3 Days (and counting)
BlackBerry service which most people pay £5 a month for is still down for the third day leaving users very unhappy. Until now BlackBerry was known for the best and most reliable mobile internet service for their push messaging services.
RIM (Research In Motion) the main company behind BlackBerry have said it is an issue with their computer systems and the emergency backup system not working as it should.
BlackBerry stated yesterday that it was up and running once again however many people have found it was still not working for them this morning.
People have compared it to Sony’s PlayStation network going down earlier this year, however hackers are not to blame for this – only BlackBerry / RIM are to blame. BlackBerry are saying it costs 16p a day for the service so are refunding people pennies for the loss whereas Sony gave 3 free games to their customers which would usually cost around £25 – £40 each. Plus PlayStation’s service was free. You can do the maths…
This may have come just in time for Apple with the release of the iPhone 4S – I am sure that many BlackBerry owners will ditch their handsets in favour of the shiny new Apple that hasn’t simultaneously let down their worldwide customer base (yet). Click on the iPhone 4S image below to get your iPhone 4S now!
Please open in new tab or window!
Do you think you should get compensation for this issue? Do you own a BlackBerry? Please comment with your thoughts!
iPhone 4S Revealed Today! No iPhone 5 yet :(
Today Apple held an event in Cupertino to press release the new iPhone everyone had waited over a year for. It was dissapointing to find out the iPhone 5 was not here yet. Instead the iPhone 4S was introduced which has the same looks as it’s younger brother, the iPhone 4. However the hardware has been upgraded using the same processor as in the current iPad 2 which is dual core so 2x as fast and up to 7x faster graphics. The camera has increased by 3 megapixels and is now 8 megapixels with a few more features including 5 lens’ instead of 4, face detection, ability to take macro shots and is now accessible from the ‘lock screen’. Below you can see the main features listed.
Hardware Spec
- Dual Core A5 Chip (iPad2 processor / twice as fast as iPhone 4).
- 8 Megapixel Camera – New optics, face detection, accessible from the ‘lock screen’.
- iCloud (Online Storage).
- Dual Antenna.
- World Phone.
- 1080p HD Video – Recording 30 frames per second.
- Gyro to stabilise video recording.
iOS5
- Edit photos.
- Notification centre.
- iMessage – similar to BlackBerry messenger.
- Reminders.
- Siri (Phone Assistant Software).
The iPhone 4S now only takes 1.1 seconds to capture the first photo and just half a second for the next shot.
The internet / data download speeds have also doubled from 7.2Mbps to 14.4Mbps
Siri is the new voice activated software which can send and read text messages, set alarms and reminders, tell you what the weather is like to name only a few features to be stated today.
Here is the link to Apple’s iPhone 4S page.
What do you think? Did you expect the iPhone 4S or the iPhone 5? Will the iPhone 5 look different? Do you like that they kept the iPhone 4 looks?
Leave your comments below! We will keep you updated on further information in the future!
Tech Towers 
