After spending couple of hours on #iphonedev and going through details of recently released pwnage tool, I finally took the plunge and upgraded my iPhone firmware to 2.0. I still enjoy iPhone 1st Gen as there is a little probability of me using GPS. And, 3G is going to take some more time.
Tag Archive for 'iphone'
The native applications on the iPhone are somehow incomplete in exploiting its capabilities over IP. Probably one of the reasons for the lack of heavy data transfer oriented apps is Apple’s assumption that most iphone users will use EDGE and not WiFi for their communication needs. While I use EDGE for most parts of the day and check my emails extensively without a hitch, it feels good to be able to use iPhone as a portable machine doing practically everything from setting up alarms, managing my web server, taking backups of remote machines over ssh, etc. Now that iPhone is quite common in this part of the world, it’s time to discuss the app suite on my iphone:
- SSH: The famous Open SSH implementation for iPhone opens limitless tweaking possibilities on the iPhone. Connect the phone to home WiFi, switch on the SSH service and you’re ready to control your remote machine of choice, or upload custom themes from desktop to iphone.
- Summerboard: Native iPhone interface is not for me. Dave Shea’s Chalkwork theme does the trick for me.
- Boss Prefs: I personally feel Apple should have included a tool to switch off EDGE when not in use. Keeping EDGE on all the time drains out the battery within a day. Boss Pref, the swiss army knife for network services on iPhone lets you control WiFi, EDGE, SSH, Bluetooth services and save precious battery charge.
- Customize: Who said changing the order of icons and hiding icons was not possible in 1.1.2 ! Customize lets you change icons, indicators, and enables you to hide unused icons to keep the home screen clutter free.
- Lockbox: Keeping secret things secret. This surely won’t protect information if your phone is lost to a hacker with basic unix skills, but stands to people poking in your iPhone.
- iSMS: Sending SMS to multiple recipients and forwarding SMSs – this application fills in for 1.1.3 feature.
- iFlickr: Click photos and push it to your flickr account without clicking an extra button. Allows you to tag photos, and control private/public status of the photos.
All of these applications are available through Installer App if your iPhone is Jailbroken. Which apps do you use?
- Apple launches 16 GB iPhone and makes me jealous. I can barely fit in my music collection on my 8 GB considering my new found love for psytrance.
- StealthSim, the sim card that enables me to use iPhone in India, has confirmed that their sim unlock works on 1.1.3. Yay!!
- iClarified jumped and released how to upgrade to 1.1.3 in Windows before anyone else could act.
Into the third week of using iPhone, I can justify carrying $400 toy strapped around my belt. Believe me, the phone lives upto every iota of hype it created before the launch. Be it user interface, glass screen compared to glossy plastic, integration with google apps or just the looks – each component makes it a proud member of my apple gadget army.
After 4 ipods, an ibook, host of accessories and dominating my rss reader list, a product from Apple can barely keep itself off my desk. And when it’s a super hyped phone, it stands no chance but to submit to my fingers. I got my iPhone 1.1.2 OTB up and running on Airtel network just over two weeks ago. So it was obvious for me to write a rant justifying the last minute Christmas gift to myself. This is why it makes sense to buy iPhone in India and use it before it is officially launched.
- Great Phone with Great Looks: One of the nicest looking gadgets around. If you care about classy, yet very usable stuff iPhone is for you. It sure will turn most heads if you plan to flaunt it.
- Workable Camera: If you happen to click photographs on the go for your moblog or just to keep your flickr stream running, this phone can help you survive. The 2 MP camera isn’t the best option when you compare to the 5 MP in Nokia N95, but 3.5 inch glossy screen makes clicking pictures a pleasure!
- Music on the go: For people who actually travel a lot using public transport or otherwise, iPhone is a perfect example of a convergent device – a basic phone + best portable mp3 player + great web browsing machine.
- Time – “Gadget of the Year” : How many times you get a chance to play around a proudly own a gadget rated so highly by Time Magazine?
So the next few posts will evolve as I explore this new gadget. In the meantime, run and grab one for yourself too!
I am Sumeet,an information security enthusiast, crazy about Coffee, iPod, everything mac, travelling, consuming rss and eating. I work for a large consulting firm where I usually rant about security best practices.