Random Ruminations: Hardware

Jailbreaking iPhone 3GS

Posted Sat Aug 21, 2010 in Hardware

winterboard I’ve been working through the jailbreaking process for iOS 4.0.1 on my iPhone 3GS. I waited a long time before instituting the process because it’s a hassle. I only upgrade the iPhone’s firmware when there is a reason to.

The reason arrived last week. HDR Pro was upgraded and improved. It requires iOS 4 to install. Time for the upgrade…

I made a weak attempt at jailbreaking the new iOS a week or so ago, but gave up when Pwnage 4.0.1 err’d out with the cryptic error message “Wrong Firmware Version” even when I had the correct version of the 4.0.1 firmware downloaded. So, I gave up.

When I revisited the problem a few evenings ago, the issue remained. So, I spent some time using Google to search for an answer. There is a lot of material out there. Most of it seems untrustworthy and so I wouldn’t nibble (so to speak). However, directions (and the required iPhone 3GS bundle) provided by Blancer saved my ass.

I followed the directions, got the correct bundle stored in the application contents, and Pwnage built the custom IPSW. I backed up my iPhone (just in case — always recommended), then installed the new firmware. After a few minutes of screwing around, the iPhone rebooted and I was on Firmware Version 4.0.1.

The next step was to patch the security issue with PDF documents. Fortunately, Saurik and Cydia came to my rescue through PDF Patch. Even if you are not going to upgrade the firmware on your iPhone, you should install the patch if you’re running a jailbroken system. Someone will take advantage of the issue.

Unfortunately, the firmware upgrade broke my favorite iPhone Theme, Matte Nano. That’s because the underlying user interface modification, Matte Graphite UI is broken under iOS 4. The Matte Nano icons are fine, but the system icons do no rescale to the smaller size as they did under iOS 3. Urgh…

I’m an engineer. I’m not an obsessive-compulsive. But, I think things should be “right.” This wasn’t “right.”

I spent some quality time with Google searching for an answer. I tried uninstalling my non-Matte applications, but all that did was delete my user data. (D’Oh!) I tried deleting all the cached icons (using ssh to manipulate the iPhone’s file system — cool!). But again, no joy.

So, I diverted my attention to finding an alternative user interface and theme suitable for my well-refined eye. MP2 received some favorable reviews and the interface looked clean on the MBP screen. So, I decided to nibble and dropped $3US on a license.

MP2 will do the trick. It’s iOS 4 compatible, uses the faster Winterboard interface, and rescales the system icons well. I’m going to live with it for awhile. I think I found something I like — and that looks good.

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iPhone 4

Posted Fri Jul 16, 2010 in Hardware

Interesting. Apple bellied up to the bar and admitted there is a problem. They also offered a fix for customers who complain at no charge. This is the right thing to do.

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An iPad

Posted Wed May 5, 2010 in Hardware

Sunday morning we walked in the Cherry Creek (Denver Colorado) Apple store. Wife dropped her iPhone a few days ago and the blue pixels turned off. The problem was intermittent, but recurring. I thought it a good idea to have the device checked. We were met by a blue-shirt, who checked us in and set up a (quick) appointment with a genius.

We approached the Genius Bar and were approached by a young redhead. She confirmed Wife’s appointment and entered a note “green shirt and orange bag” into her iPad. I started asking her questions about the device. I’m particularly interested in how it fits into Apple’s lineup. It is not a computer (although close) and it is not a phone (nowhere close).

So, what is the damned thing?

I think it’s a netbook. Apple is capitalizing it’s iPhone experience and producing a device that will function as a netbook but provide a lot more capability. The screen is actually big enough to work on, especially in landscape mode. I don’t know about the soft keyboard (yet), but an external Bluetooth keyboard can be used. (Although use of an external keyboard adds to the infrastructure that must be carried.)

Numbers, Pages, and Keynote are all available. I think the device might be an excellent presenter’s tool. I could see using it in that role. It would be a lot easier to use for email than my iPhone. It would be a great way to show digital photos to friends and family. It is also quite responsive. Applications pop onto the screen. The screen is lovely as well, bright and crisp with adequate contrast. Images look like a slide show using excellent chromes.

My issue with the device is that it’s expensive — $700 for the 64G WiFi model. Also, I don’t want to pay for another ATT data plan. I want to be tether it to my iPhone and piggyback on my already expensive data plan. In fact, I should probably figure out how to tether to my iPhone for my MBP and drop the aircard data plan. I don’t use it a lot, but when I need it the plan is invaluable. (That’s why I didn’t buy-out of the plan a few months ago. I hate being stuck like that.)

So, my decision has a lot to do with how I would integrate the device into my workflow. I think it might have a role to play as a notebook (I wish I could write on the screen) and it will fulfill the general netbook position. But, I haven’t determined that a netbook is something I need either. I think they are cool toys, but again have not worked out how one would fit into my workflow.

So, no iPad for me just yet. I need to see how it would work for me first, before I plunk down hard-earned bucks to buy this cool device. Apple did an excellent job.

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Jail Breaking

Posted Tue Dec 29, 2009 in Computing

Cydia One of the things done to my iPhone is that I jailbroke it. There was a couple of reasons why I decided to jailbreak my iPhone. One is that I wanted access to a program called “backgrounder” to enable a couple of applications to run in the background on my iPhone. I sometimes like to stream Last.fm and want to be able to do that while having another application in the foreground. There’s no reason why that can’t be done (within reason — there’s only 150MB or RAM in the device), so I want to be able to do it.

The big winner for me though is the SBSettings program. This program allows a pop-up over the main display to control the radios in the iPhone. I turn off the Bluetooth, WiFi, and 3G radios when I’m not using them. It takes about two seconds to do that. I also clear the RAM on the iPhone when it starts to get kinda-full (technical term). This keeps things running smoothly (probably isn’t necessary, but I do it anyway).

The main program that I use to install these tools (and only a couple of others) is Cydia (note this is a mobile-enabled site) When I applied the jailbreak to my iPhone, I installed Cydia. However, yesterday Cydia wouldn’t load — it crashed on start-up. My suspicion was that there was a cache issue. But, I didn’t have access to the cache, or at least didn’t know where it lives in the iPhone’s filesystem.

This morning, I found a post that has the directory where Cydia houses it’s cache. I used ssh to jump into the iPhone’s filesystem, deleted the cache files, and restarted the program. Ding!

N.B. A few minutes ago (1215) I read this entry and had to laugh at the “only 150MB of RAM.” I remember when my computer had only 640KB (yep, kbytes) of RAM and I thought that was a lot. Times change…

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Sunday-Morning Puttering

Posted Sun Nov 22, 2009 in Hardware

OK, I’m smelling beef stew in the slow cooker. It’s only been on for an hour, but the house is beginning to smell of cooking beef, tomatoes, and Worcestershire sauce. It’s a good smell and foreshadows good things to come later today.

The weather this morning is mixed — it’s windy and clouds keep passing over the sun. It looks like there is more snow in the mountains this morning. I think it might be snowing in the Tahoe basin right now. I’m really tempted to drive up to Spooner Lake and walk the perimeter. If there’s snow, then it would be a wonderful opportunity to make some new images. The walk would do me a lot of good too.

I think I need to drive up to REI in Reno and buy a couple pairs of thermals. I would like to have some lowers for this winter because my legs sometimes get cold when I’m out and about. If I’m going to walk the Spooner Lake park some when the snow is on, then a good pair of light thermals would be very good to have. I should put together a small emergency pack as well. It’s always a good idea to be prepared, even if it’s a short hike.

I’ve been researching digital books again. Sony just announced the Daily Edition a few days ago and it will compete with the Kindle 2. I like the fact that the Sony product support the epub format. If I can find the appropriate software, then my own writings can be published in this format and kept on my reader for reference.

However, content is king and right now the Amazon product has the edge. The Kindle would provide access to a number of my standard technical references, but does not offer either expandability (through SD cards) or the more standard epub format. The Sony doesn’t have most of my technical books, but supports the epub format.

I don’t really want two products. But, that might be the only way to get where I want to be, at least for the near term. Urgh.

Best Buy is selling Sony Readers now. I could buy one (really tempted to) now, play with it for a month, and then return it if I didn’t like it. With the epub format, a lot of public domain materials are available. The Daily Reader should come out in a month and I could return the Reader Touch (now available) and upgrade to the more connective model, if I decide to continue in that direction.

These things should simplify reading, not increase the complexity thereof. Moreover, I want fewer devices to carry, not more. Adding a reader will add a device. That seems like going in the wrong direction to me.

As I said, urgh.

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iPhone 3.0 Update

Posted Wed Jun 17, 2009 in Hardware

1420 PDT: Alright, I decided to bite… The update is now downloading. Next we see if I have a brick of a phone…

1425 PDT: Software is unpacking…

1426 PDT: Software unpacked… iPhone activation server is not available…

1457 PDT: Preparing iPhone for software update…

1458 PDT: Updating iPhone software…

1501 PDT: Verifying updated iPhone software…

1504 PDT: Updating iPhone firmware…

1515 PDT: Update complete… New iPhone 3.0 software is working. Yay! My phone is not a brick!

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Range Day

Posted Wed Oct 22, 2008 in Hardware

Sunday afternoon I decided to go back to the range and work a bit more. I met a friend for breakfast and we talked shop and other things, much like we always do. I worked part of the morning (reading a thesis) and visited some with Young Son. He was picked up about noon, so I was released.

I drove to Walmart to buy some .22 ammunition so I could practice. When I arrived at the station, the attendant was busy with another customer. Then he left. Another clerk wandered by, asked if I needed help, then paged the original attendant, who then showed up, said “I’ll be right with you,” and promptly left. After another ten minutes, another clerk came by, and paged the original again. By this time, my patience ran out. So I left.

As I walked out the door, the original attendant held up the keys and we made eye contact. I continued walking. I’d wasted enough time. I’m a patient man, but I have my limits and they were reached.

I drove over to the new Gander Mountain store and browsed there while talking to Wife on the phone. I found what I was looking for, made my purchase, and then headed for Patriot Range. I visited with Rick for a moment, checked in, and took my place on the line. I ran my target out to 10 yards and began loading magazines.

I spent the next hour or so working through the 300 rounds of .22 LR I brought to the range. I split most of my time between weak hand and strong hand shooting, with a little freestyle in between, first strong side on the trigger and then weak side. This time I wore my computer glasses so the front sight was in focus.

Jason brought a couple of students to the line and I listened to him teaching. He’s a great teacher and anyone in Lubbock could do much worse than Jason for firearms training. He’s also a fine shot.

I swapped the slide back to 9mm and fired about 50 rounds to return to the feel of a larger caliber. The target is my results. The left side is weak hand, the right side is strong hand, the upper is two-handed weak hand operating and the lower is two-handed strong hand operating. I still have a lot of flyers, some from the startle reflex from firing in the neighboring bay; many from operator issues. But I had fun and I feel like I accomplished some good practice and I was far more relaxed at the end of the session than at the beginning.

I returned to the hotel and retrieved the thesis I’m reading, then walked next door to the Denny’s. I sat down, ordered coffee and water, and started reading. The server took my order and left me to reading. I worked my way through the document. It wasn’t a bad read — it needs a lot of editing to make it a thesis, but the work is there. The student will defend tomorrow, then take my comments and finish up the document. It will pass muster if the student does the job.

It was easy to return to my hotel room and begin the process of settling in for the evening. My work was done and any day at the range is a good day. I may have a chance to get back a couple more times before I head back to Nevada. If I do, that will be lagniappe.

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