As always - I would like to point out - not everything on the bingo card are items I think will be announced. However these are the top rumors out there leading into the September 12th 2018 keynote event.
Remember the event will be live streamed September 12th at 1:00 PM ET / 10:00 AM PT - http://www.apple.com/apple-events/ Live streaming requires an iOS device, Safari on a Mac, An Apple TV or PC with Microsoft Edge on Windows 10.
Please leave comments about the live event in the post that is pinned to the top of the Tii Google+ community - go there to add in your comments live as the keynote unfolds.
Per the Rumor Bingo card above for those sight impaired and using Voiceover. Below is the actual layout of the bingo card going left to right in plain text.
Above is the what looks like will be the pricing matrix for 2018 iPhones vs 2017 iPhone lineup.
With intro pricing being $349 for the SE2, $449 for the 7, $549 for the 7+, $599 for the 8, $699 for the 8+, $799 for the 9, $899 for the Xs and $999 for the Xs+
The SE2, 7 and 7+ would come in 32 GB and 128 GB versions. The rest would be in 64 and 256 GB versions with a $100 adder for the 128 GB version and a $150 adder for the 256 GB versions.
When you look at the new price matrix for 2018 - it make a lot more sense in fills in a gap that is in the current matrix between the 8+ and X pricing.
Also from an inside source / person in the know - code named AC - The "Fall" event will be Wed Sep 12th, Preorders starting 12:01 AM Sep 14th and Launch / delivery of new iPhones starting on Sep 21st.
I talk more about the new iPhones in Ep 467 of Today in iOS.
As always - I would like to point out - not everything on the bing card are items I think will be announced. However these are the top rumors out there leading into the September 12th 2017 keynote event.
Remember the event will be live streamed September 12th at 1:00 PM ET / 10:00 AM PT - http://www.apple.com/apple-events/ Live streaming requires an iOS device, Safari on a Mac, An Apple TV or PC with Microsoft Edge on Windows 10.
Please leave comments about the live event in the post that is pinned to the top of the Tii Google+ community - go there to add in your comments live as the keynote unfolds.
Per the Rumor Bingo card above for those sight impaired and using Voiceover. Below is the actual layout of the bingo card going left to right in plain text. Reference to iPhone 8XP - means the next gen OLED iPhone rumored to be called either the iPhone 8 or iPhone X or iPhone Pro - hence - 8XP.
As always - I would like to point out - not everything on the bing card are items I think will be announced. However these are the top rumors out there leading into the September 7th 2016 keynote event.
Remember the event will be live streamed September 7th at 1:00 PM ET / 10:00 AM PT - http://www.apple.com/apple-events/ Live streaming requires an iOS device, Safari on a Mac, An Apple TV or PC with Microsoft Edge on Windows 10.
Please leave comments about the live event in the post this is pinned to the top of the Tii Google+ community - go there to add in your comments live as the keynote unfolds.
Per the Rumor Bingo card above for those sight impaired and using Voiceover. Below is the actual layout of the bingo card going left to right in plain text.
Top Row:
5.5 inch iPhone with dual camera module on back side
iPhone 6 and 6+ are killed off the Apple store
4 LED's for the new and improved back side flash
Apple Watch 2 with GPD but not with Cellular
The new iPhones will be called the iPhone 7 and 7+
Second Row:
New MacBook Pros announced
A10 Processor with M10 coprocessor announced in new iPhones
Smart Connector for the 5.5 inch iPhone only
Apple Watch 2 introduced
Apple Watch 2 same size as original models
Third Row:
The Homebutton is now flush with the screen and does not move
Black is introduced as a new color for the iPhones
Free Box
New iPhones are the same basic design as the 6 / 6S
Checking with inside sources - code names - PC, FC and TC - I was able to confirm that Apples fall event to announce the next Gen iPhones will be Wednesday Sept 7th at 10:00 AM PT. Two new versions of the iPhone (4.7" and 5.5") will be announced along with other updated products. The new iPhones will be available for pre-order at 12:01 AM PT on Saturday the 10th. And iPhones will start being delivered (put in customers hands) on Friday the 16th.
Sep 7th - Fall event
Sep 10th - Pre-orders
Sep 16th - Next Gen iPhones in customers Hands.
The Sept 7th date makes a lot of sense - as it is also the first day of CTIA Super Mobility 2016. This goes along with past Apple events timed perfectly to take the wind from the rest of the industries sails. Much more info on this on Ep 400 of Today in iOS - going live later today.
As always - I would like to point out - not everything on the bingo card are items I think will be announced. However, these are the top rumors out there leading into the WWDC 2016 Keynote event.
Remember the event will be live streamed Monday June 13th at 1:00 PM ET / 10:00 AM PT. http://www.apple.com/live/ - Live streaming requires an iOS device, Safari or Apple TV.
Please leave comments about WWDC event in the post for Ep 394 which will be pinned to the top of the Tii Google+ community - go there to add in your comments live as the WWDC Keynote unfolds.
Per the Rumor Bingo card above for those sight impared and using Voiceover below is the actual layout of the bingo card going left to right in plain text.
As always - I would like to point out - not everything on the bingo card are items I think will be announced. However, these are the top rumors out there leading into the September 9th 2015 keynote event.
Remember the event will be live streamed September 9th at 1:00 PM ET / 10:00 AM PT. http://www.apple.com/apple-events/september-2015/ - Live streaming requires an iOS device, Safari on Mac, an Apple TV, or a PC with Microsoft Edge on Windows 10.
Please let comments about the Live even in the post that is pinned to the top of the Tii Google+ community - go there to add in your comments live as the Keynote unfolds.
Per the Rumor Bingo card above for those sight impared and using Voiceover. Below is the actual layout of the bingo card going left to right in plain text.
As always - I would like to point out - not everything on the bingo card are items I think will be announced. However, these are the top rumors out there leading into the WWDC 2015 Keynote event.
Remember the event will be live streamed June 8th at 1:00 PM ET / 10:00 AM PT. http://www.apple.com/live/ - Live streaming requires an iOS device, Safari or Apple TV.
Please leave comments about WWDC event in the post for Ep 350 which will be pinned to the top of the Tii Google+ community - go there to add in your comments live as the WWDC Keynote unfolds.
Per the Rumor Bingo card above for those sight impared and using Voiceover below is the actual layout of the bingo card going left to right in plain text.
Note: The Chart above shows the cumalitive trailing 4 quarter sales of the iphone vs the iPad from when they initially launched, starting at Q4 for each one. As you can see the iPhone continues to grow as it has a much shorter life cycle vs the iPad which has over double the life cycle.
Apple Q1 2015 Quarterly Report Summary:
Rev = $58 Billion (vs $45.6 Billion a year ago quarter and $74.6 Billion last quarter)
Total Cash = $193.5 Billion (Up $15.6 Billion for the quarter from $178 Billion)
Generated $19.1 Billion cash flow and returned >$9.6 Billion via dividends and share buy backs last quarter.
$13.6 Billion in Profits for the quarter
Last Quarter Sales:
iPhones Sold = 61.2 Mil (vs 43.7 Mil a year ago quarter and 74.5 Mil last quarter)
iPads Sold = 12.6 Mil (vs 16.3 Mil a year ago quarter and 21.4 Mil last quarter)
Mac's Sold = 4.6 Mil (vs 4.1 Mil a year ago quarter and 5.5 Mil last quarter)
Misc Notes:
- Upping Capital Return plan to $200 Billion
- Dividend per share going to $0.52 from $0.47
- Best Buy will support Apple Pay in store later this year
Rev = $74.6 Billion (vs $57.6 Billion a year ago quarter and $42.1 Billion last quarter)
Total Cash = $178 Billion (Up $22.7 Billion for the quarter from $155.2 Billion)
Generated $33.7 Billion cash flow and returned >$7.8 Billion via dividends and share buy backs last quarter.
$18 Billion in Profits for the quarter - All time record for any company - ever for a quarter.
Last Quarter Sales:
iPhones Sold = 74.5 Mil (vs 51 Mil a year ago quarter and 39.3 Mil last quarter)
iPads Sold = 21.4 Mil (vs 26.0 Mil a year ago quarter and 12.3 Mil last quarter)
Mac's Sold = 5.5 Mil (vs 4.8 Mil a year ago quarter and 5.5 Mil last quarter)
Misc Notes:
- 1 Billionth iOS device sold in November
- iPhone sales for the quarter worked out to an average of >30,000 iPhones sold per hour for the whole quarter.
- USA Technologies made Apple Pay available at 200,000 locations - vending machines and parking meters and kiosks.
- Apple Watch - Shipping in April 2015
- iPhone ASPs were $687 increase of $50 from the year ago quarter. So going from 32GB to 64GB for the middle tier paid off.
- 200,000 unit decline in iPhone channel inventory for the quarter vs an increase of a 1 Million units in the year ago quarter. And as expected they said they did not real supply / demand ballance until January.
This PDF goes over those vendors that support Apple Pay in their stores or will before the end of 2014 - The Forces of Good. Vs those that are part of MCX - which is not going to support Apple Pay - The Forces of Evil.
The easiest way to let those forces of Evil know what you think is to speak with your wallet iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus - and use Apple Pay at their competitors.
More about this on the next episode of Today in iOS.
As always - I would like to point out - not everything on the bingo card are items I think will be announced. However, these are the top rumors out there leading into the Oct 2014 event.
Remember the event will be live streamed today (Oct 16th) at 1:00 PM ET / 10:00 AM PT. http://www.apple.com/live/ - Live streaming requires an iOS device, Safari an Apple TV and basic understanding of Chinese.
First - I would like to point out - not everything on the bingo card are things I think will happen. Some actually conflict with others. However, these are the top rumors out there leading into the 9.9.2014 event. And no there is no Apple TV listed - it actually just missed the cut.
For those items I think are most likely to happen they are:
- 4.7" iPhone
- 5.5" iPhone
- A8 Processor with M8 Motion Processor
- Sapphire Glass - even if just for one or two specific options of the iPhone.
- 13 MP rear Camera
- iWatch - announced - and it being available in Dec 2014.
And
- 128 GB Version of the iPhone finally.
Those are the ones I think are the most likely to happen - and if they did - we get an X on the bingo card.
Others likely to happen.
- iPhone 4S killed off. But I think the 5C and 5S remain active and for sale.
- iPhone Power button moves to the side of the iPhone from the top.
- 4.7" iPhone available on Sept 19th.
- 5.5" iPhone not available until the end of October.
- iPhone 6 and iPhone Air are the names for the 4.7" and 5.5" respectively.
- a Barometer is added to the sensors
- Camera Sticks out of the iPhone and is not flush with the back.
- 2 GHz clock speed for the A8 - but not actually announced at the event.
And
- Apple introduces a reversible USB cable.
Others that might happen listed are:
- Light up rear Apple logo
- Wifi 802.11.AC - hold over from last years bingo card.
- 4k Video recording and 4k video out - also hold overs from last year
- NFC - again a holdover from last year and the year before.
- 12 Hr 3G talk time - Yup Hold over from last year as well.
- 2 GB Ram - You guessed it hold over from last year.
And finally
- iPhone 6 and 6L are the names used (I don't think that will happen)
Again Definitely not all these rumor will come to pass and if history repeats itself most will not. But some will.
For those sight impared here is the actual layout of the bingo card going left to right.
Above is a Bingo Card with many of the Rumors being thrown around for the next Gen iPhone (5S) and possibly lower cost iPhone (5C) and what may also be announced at the September 10th Event. These are not my predictions - just a listing of some of the rumors I think have even a remote possibility.
We will go over this Bingo Card on Ep 281 which will be out late this week and then again on Ep 282 which will cover what was announced at the Special event.
For those using voice over - below is the full list in Text - starting from the upper left going to the right and then dropping down and going left to right and repeating to the end:
How is that for a link bait / attention grabbing title?
But if you look at what IDC just reported and what Google has reported - it is a title that you can actually justify - even if it is meant tongue in cheek.
Let me explain how I came to that title. IDC reported that last quarter Android manufacturers shipped 28.2 Million tablets.
The absolute best you can get out of that chart is 14 Million tablets activated last quarter. That means some 14.2 Million (greater than 50%) Android tablets were not activated - i.e. sold.
We could have also said Google confirms more iPads were sold last quarter than Android tablets. Again going with those numbers.
And if we look at IDC's numbers - for Windows tablets - they have 2 Million Windows tablets for the quarter. Yet from Microsoft's own 10K report we know at best there have been 1.6 Million Surface tablets sold as of October 2012. If we went with 500k Windows tablets last quarter plus 14 Mil Android tablets and 200k other. That would work out to a market share for the iPad of 49.8%.
This is a far cry from the Link bait - truth twisted headlines we are seeing on the Fandroid sites -
In this upside down world where everyone seems to be beating up Apple and misreporting stats from research firms. I found it really surprising that one of the best breakdown on the numbers per Tablet shipments / sales side, came from a post on an Android site. HERE
But again - one has to wonder what happened to those missing 14+ Million Android devices. Seems lots of shelf space is being taken up by all those unsold Android tablets.
To put into perspective how many unsold Android tablets there were last quarter - if you took all of them still in their boxes and laid them down end to end - they would stretch from New York city out past Salt Lake City. Just Sayin.
Thanks again to Thomas from Tuscaloosa AL for putting together once again a Matrix that shows which iOS devices get the new features in the latest version of iOS. As with the past updates some features are only for the latest and great hardware versions.
Above is a Bingo Card with many of the Rumors being thrown around for WWDC 2013 announcements. These are more geared around iOS related items - so nothing in here about new MacBooks. These are not my predictions - just a listing of some of the rumors I think have even a remote possibility.
We will go over this Bingo Card on Ep 272 which will be out late Monday evening (June 10th).
For those Using Voice Over - below is the full list in Text.
An un-tethered jailbreak is now available for all iOS Devices running versions of iOS 6.0 to 6.1.2.
NOTE - This jailbreak is not for those that need to or plan to unlock. DO NOT USE THIS JAILBREAK IF YOUR IPHONE RELIES ON AN UN-OFFICIAL UNLOCK.
=========
There are some very good articles on how to jailbreak but many miss a couple of steps that new jailbreakers need to know especially when it comes to using Cydia - the resource for finding and installing jailbroken apps and tweaks. This tutorial tries to help those first time jailbreakers by covering both the jailbreak process step by step and also how to use Cydia to install an app.
Do not try to jailbreak if you don't like when things go to (expletive). If you need your device for your business and being without it for any period of time will cause you to loose your job - stop now. If you get mad at your significant other at how they fold towels or put the toilet paper on a roll - Jailbreaking is probably not for your personality. Sometimes things break and your device will likely crash more often then if it was not jailbroken. Apple "claims" jailbreak voids your warranty if that is an issue stop now. Note Squaretrade's warranties still cover jailbreaking.
Step 0 - Before you start make sure you update your iOS device to iOS 6.1.2 if you have not done so already. Make sure to use iTunes to do the update to iOS 6.1.2 - not the over the air update. If you do not know how to update your iOS device jailbreaking may not be for you.
It is also important you have a spot on one of your home screens for a new app icon to be added. If all of your home screens are full with app icons and folders - you will need to make room for a new app to be added during the jailbreak process. Also remove the lock passcode from your iOS device and your SIM lock passcode.
If you are already updated to iOS 6.1.2 make sure you do a sync and backup of your iOS device. If you have any photos or video you shot recently - transfer those now to your computer from your camera roll. Also force quit every open App on your iOS device and then go to settings and general and then go to Reset and select "Reset Network Settings". This will then reboot your iOS device. Next connect your iOS device via the USB cord directly to your computer - not through a USB hub or keyboard or Monitor - right to the computer.
(To force quit the open apps - From the home screen on your iOS device - double tap the home button - a tray will appear on the bottom of the device with your apps that are open - tap and hold one of the apps. All the apps in the tray will wiggle and you will see a red circle in the upper left with a "-" in it. Tap on all of the red circles until all of your apps are closed.)
Step 1 - Close out (Force quit) iTunes on your computer. Make sure your iOS device is still turned on and connected via the USB cable - per Step 0. Also close out all your other open apps on your computer except for your web browser. It is best to have as little running on your computer as possible.
Step 2 - On your browser go to the Evasi0n.com website and click on version of the operating system your computer is running.
Then download the evasi0n software:
Once it is downloaded - unzip the file.
You will see the evasi0n 1.41.5.3 folder (per above) - double tap to open it up.
Step 3 - Launch - evasi0n app.
Then simply click on "Jailbreak"
Sit and Wait. After you click "Jailbreak" above you will see some messages about the status of the jailbreak (see below).
Step 4 - After a couple of minutes you will get a message about needing to unlock your device and tap the new jailbreak icon to continue (see below).
Step 5 - On your iOS device slide to unlock the screen and then find the new evasion icon on one of your home screens. Tap on it just ONE time. It will quickly look like it is launching the app and flash black and then will return to the home screen rather quickly. The jailbreak will then continue on (see below).
Step 6 - Once the jailbreak is finished - your iOS device will going through some restarting cycles - this should take a few minutes. Once it stops going through the restarting cycles and it looks like it is in sleep mode - you can tap on "exit" and that is it - you now have a jailbroken iOS device.
Step 7 - If in step 0 you had turned off your screen lock or SIM Pin lock - now is the time to add those back.
Step 8 - To really see if you are jailbroken - unlock your iOS device and look for the brown Cydia App iCon - it should be in the same location as where you tapped on the evasi0n iCon in Step 5.
Launch the Cydia App. The first time you launch it you will see a message "Preparing Filesystem (cydia will exit when complete)" - and per the message Cydia will quit out / exit when done. Once it does this - relaunch Cydia. The second time you launch it you will be asked "Who Are you?" with the options of "User", "Hacker", "Developer" - if you are reading this - select "User" and then tap "Done"
Step 9 - Once it is done it will open up and you should see a screen that looks like that below.
One App almost everyone will want and that works on the iPhone's, iPod Touch's and the iPad is the app SBSettings. This moves important settings / controls to the notification dock where they are always quickly available.
To install this app Tap on "Search" in the bottom row of Cydia and then in the search box type "SBSettings"
Next Tap on "SBSettings" the top one - not the one any of the others.
Read the warning. Then Tap on "Install" in the upper Right corner
Then Tap on "Confirm" in the upper Right corner
The App will then install - when complete Tap on "Restart Springboard"
Then in the Settings App under Notifications - Go to SBSettings and turn it to "On".
Next launch the SBSettings app - and look at all the options.
That's it you are now jailbroken and have your first real jailbroken app running on your device.
Please understand sometimes installs of apps are interrupted - in which case you need to try and re-install. Things are not as stable when you jailbreak - expect some additional crashes and conflicts between apps. Which is why if you install an app you no longer plan to use - it is best to delete said app - the more jailbroken apps you have installed - the higher the probability you will have a conflict.
Note: If you have an iPad - do not - repeat - do not - install Five icon dock - it will really mess up your iPad and you will need to restore it. However that app works great on the iPhone and iPod Touch.
Here is a very quick summary of the latest quarterly numbers from Apple:
Rev = $36 Billion (up from $28.3 Billion in the year ago quarter)
Total Cash = $121.3 Billion (up $4.1 Billion for the quarter even after paying out over $2 Bil in Dividends)
Last Quarter Sales
iPhones Sold = 26.9 Mil (vs 17.07 Mil year ago quarter and 26 Mil last quarter)
iPads Sold = 14 Mil (vs 11.12 Mil year ago quarter and 17 Mil last quarter)
iPod Touches Sold = Not given as usual but over half of the 5.3 Mil iPods sold
All iPod's Sold = 5.3 Mil (vs 6.8 Mil last quarter and 6.6 Mil in the Year ago quarter)
Misc Notes
iPhone 5 out to 31 countrie already - will be to 100 by end of the year.
iPhone Business was $17.1 Bil last quarter alone vs $16.01 Bil for all of Microsoft last quater. That was also larger than Googles over all revnue ($14.1 Bil) and Amazons revenue ($13.8 Bil).
iPad Business was $7.5 Bil last quater.
Apple TV sold 1.3 Mil units last quarter. Apple sold over 5 Mil units for the past 4 quarters vs 2.8 Mil units for the year prior to that.
Apple had a press release today titled "iPhone 5 Weekend Sales Top Five Million". But that was not the big news from this weekend or even from that press release. And no it had nothing to do with Maps or Youtube apps or where you find your podcasts. Nope the big news from this past weekend and week was the number of devices now running iOS 6 - 100 Million!!!!
Don't get me wrong 5 Million iPhones sold in the first 3 days was very impressive - the only launch close was last years iPhone 4S launch. But that 4 Million sold in the first weekend logistically was not nearly as impressive as this years 5 Million. And Apple said they could have sold more if they had more iPhone 5's to sell. Why I think logistically it is more impressive this year. Last year the iPhone 4S had the luxury of using some of the same components as the iPhone 4. This year the metal case is brand new, as is the screen both in size and technology. There is even a new dock connector (don't get me started on that). This time around Apple's supply chain did not have the advantage of a previous generations device to borrow capacity from. This time it was from zero to 5 million units and components for said units at launch. That is pretty impressive. Congrats to Apple and its suppliers for pulling that off - even if it was still not up to demand.
But again to me the biggest news was not about the aforementioned 5 Million iPhone 5's - nope - it was about the 100 Million iOS devices that are now running iOS 6 after just 5 days. To compare that to last year - when iOS 5 launched last year Apple announced only 25 Million devices had upgraded. A 4X increase year over year is really impressive and great news to devcelopers of iOS Apps.
If you want to see how big a deal this is vs say Android. Jelly bean - aka Android 4.1 launched in early July. Through early September - over 2 months after the launch of Jelly Bean - Android had 1.47% adoption. (And Android fan boys thought that was good news - Yikes!!). Working out the numbers 1.46% of about 450 Mil Android devices is about 6.6 Million Android devices in 60 days that have been able to be updated to the latest version of their OS vs over 100 Million iOS devices in just 5 days now running the lastest version of iOS. This is again why it is so important if you are a developer to develop first for iOS. You can be assured that when you are developing for the latest version - there is actually an audience for your app.
Jist of Rumor - The "iPhone 5S" (7th gen iPhone) is expected to start volume production in Q1 2013. There might even be some initiai production in December 2012.
Beliveability of Rumor - None - it is from Digitimes.
Last year when the iPhone 4S was first announced the Talking heads bemoaned how small an update the 4S was. Which to me seemed way off the mark. So I went and compared the new features to the iPhone 4 vs new features for the 4S. You can see that comparison here. But in a nutshell what I found was the iPhone 4S was just as big an upgrade from the iPhone 4 as the iPhone 4 was from the iPhone 3GS. And essentially just because it was called iPhone 4S and not iPhone 5 - many thought it was an incremental update at best. They were wrong.
Fast forward 11 months and how does the iPhone 5 upgrade from the iPhone 4S measure up. After all Apple said it was the biggest upgrade ever. Well per the below chart you can see all the new key features for the iPhone 5, 4S and 4.
At initial glance it seems to be a major upgrade - at "initial glance" that is. But when you really look closely what I think you will see is that the iPhone 5 is really a smaller update than what we had with the iPhone 4S. Blasphemy you say - well let me take this one step further.
Lets assign a score to each new feature. And lets rate them as a +1 or +2 or +3 depending on if they are a minor, mid or major upgrade to the UI for the end user. So for example with the iPhone 4 - the Retina display would be a +3, the 720p Video recording would be a +2 and the 4 element lens would be a +1. By going through all the new updates for that version of the iPhone vs the previous - you get the results in the chart below.
The iPhone 4's new features vs the 3GS give a score of +30. The iPhone 4S's new features vs the iPhone give a score of +29. This is very much in line with what we said a year ago - that the iPhone 4S was just as big an upgrade vs the iPhone 4 as the iPhone 4 was vs the iPhone 3GS.
But when we look at the iPhone 5 - well it scores just a +25. And that is giving a 0 score for the new 9 pin dock connector. If you are someone coming from another iOS device - this likely would be looked at as a -2 or -3. And then there is the movement of the headphone jack from the top of the device to the bottom. Again this is not scorred - but if it was - it would be a -2 or -3 as well. Wait until try to plug your headphones in and put it in a dock on your desk. Yeah - that is going to suck. So if you add in the minuses - what you are looking at is a score of +20 for the iPhone 5 vs +29 for the iPhone 4S and a +30 for the iPhone 4.
If you are someone with an iPhone 4S - I just don't see how you can be as excited about upgrading to the iPhone 5 - as you were when upgrading from the iPhone 4. Now that all said - if you are coming from the iPhone 4 or earlier or from an Android device - the difference will be that between Heaven and Hades - to pull a quote from a Samsung Executive.
Calling it the iPhone 5 will cause many bloggers to report it as a bigger upgrade than it was - just like they belittled the iPhone 4S last year becasue it was called the iPhone 4S. Isn't it amazing how much power there is in a name.
Verizon CFO Fran Shammo hinted at a major smartphone launch in Q4 of this year - IE the iPhone 2012. That was the highlight most posts started off with from the conference call - but really that is not news just a confirmation of what was expected by almost all.
What was news is this past quarter Verizon sold 2.7 million iPhones - vs 2.9 Million Android smartphones combined. So yes once again the iPhone was the best selling smartphone on Verizon. That the iPhone and ALL Android phones combined were so close in sales is amazing when you consider Verizon sales staff has been pushing new customers to 4G / LTE Android phones the entire quarter.
According to CNET overall Verizon sold 5.9 Mil smartphones. So that you don't need to go to your calc app - that means RIM sold 300k smartphones at Verizon last quarter - Yikes!! Ouch !!! oh my and simply Wow - but not in a good way wow. I should note - That looking at the transcript at Seeking Alpha - I could not confirm that 5.9 Mil number.
To put the 2.7 Mil iPhones into perspective Verizon sold 2.3 Mil in the year ago quarter - but sold 3.2 Mil in Q1 of 2012.
WTF?!! - I think that sums up the reaction of anyone with an iPhone 4 - that found out that in iOS 6 - the long sought after feature of turn by turn navigation - will NOT be available for them, neither will other features announced and even more will be missing for the iPhone 3GS. From Apples site - http://www.apple.com/ios/ios6/
Features are subject to change. Not all features are available on all devices.
...Flyover and turn-by-turn navigation will be available only on iPhone 4S and iPad 2 or later....
Siri will be available only on iPhone 4S and iPad (3rd generation) and requires Internet access...
Shared Photo Streams requires iOS 6 on iPhone 4 or later or iPad 2 or later, or a Mac computer with OS X Mountain Lion...
FaceTime over a cellular network requires iPhone 4S or iPad (3rd generation) with cellular data capability...
VIP list and VIP and Flagged smart mailboxes will be available on iPhone 4 or later and iPad 2 or later.
Offline Reading List will be available on iPhone 4 or later and iPad 2 or later.
Made for iPhone hearing aids require iPhone 4S...
If you want turn by turn directions with iOS 6. Only the iPhone 4S and iPhone 2012 will support turn by turn. iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS owners sorry no soup for you. Which again brings us back to the WTF phrase going through most peoples minds that own the 3GS or 4. Clearly the iPhone 4 and even 3GS can handle turn by turn directions - Tom Tom, Navigon and others have been offering up apps that do that for some time now and work great on the 3GS and 4.
So the only real and logical reason for Apple to not include it is simply a marketing decision to get you to upgrade early. But really Apple if turn by turn was what would drive someone to upgrade - would they not have upgraded to an android phone where that feature is standard on even the most run of the mill get it free with a 2 yr contract type android phone. So Apple Shame on your for not getting Turn by Turn navigation working on the iPhone 4 and 3GS. You know you are still actually selling those devices. Just Sayin.
So a quick summary of what you will miss out on for the iPhone 4 and 3GS in iOS 6
iPhone 4 - No Soup for You Features:
Turn by Turn Navigation
Fly Over
Any Siri Features
Facetime over Cellular (Really???)
Made for iPhone Hearing Aids (This one is likely Bluetooth 4 related)
iPhone 3GS - No Soup for You Features:
All those mentioned above for iPhone 4
Shared Photo Stream (Stick with instagram)
VIP List, VIP and Flagged Smart Mailboxes (Again Really???)
Offline Reading Lists
Clearly looking at this list there are features missing from the iPhone 4 and 3GS that can only be explained by one word - MARKETING. Expect to read / hear more about this in the months to come.
Hi Rob (Per Apple TV SDK) I wish I could believe this but it is BGR reporting the story Steve from AZ
Hi Steve,
This is the "speculation of something that is likely - hey lets call it a leaked rumor from an inside source" game.
Many have been speculating / hoping Apple would allow Access to install Apps on Apple TV for some time. ie release an SDK for Apple TV. You have heard me hoping / wishing for that since Apple TV 2nd gen was released.
Last year there were similar rumors / leaks right before WWDC.
This year it probably will actually happen - given Tim Cooks comments recently about Apple TV.
Point is there has been speculation about an Apple TV SDK for some time - and at least at the links above they all had the integrity to say it was just that "speculation".
What BGR most likely ("most likely" added to keep away the lawyers from BGR) did was take speculation and call it a leak from a "source".
If they are right - they point back and say see we told you and then use said "source" to fuel some other "story" in the future.
If they are wrong - no one remembers.
As always take what BGR says with the same level of integrity of Digitimes.
An un-tethered jailbreak is now available for iOS 5.1.1 for the following devices running iOS 5.1.1:
iPhone 3GS, 4 and 4S
iPad 1st Gen
iPad 2 - with original 45nm Processor (if you purchased it prior to March 10th 2012 you are ok)
iPad 3rd Gen
iPod touch 4th and 5th gen
NOTE - This jailbreak is not for those that need to or plan to unlock. DO NOT USE THIS JAILBREAK IF YOUR IPHONE RELIES ON AN UNLOCK. stay away from Absynthe Jailbreak.
There are some very good articles on how to jailbreak but many miss a couple of steps that new jailbreakers need to know especially when it comes to using Cydia - the resource for finding and installing jailbroken apps. This tutorial tries to help those first time jailbreakers by covering both the jailbreak process step by step and also how to use Cydia to install an app.
Do not try to jailbreak if you don't like when things go to (expletive). If you need your device for your business and being without it for any period of time will cause you to loose your job - stop now. If you get mad at your significant other at how they fold towels or put the toilet paper on a roll - Jailbreaking is probably not for your personality. Sometimes things break and your device will likely crash more often then if it was not jailbroken. Apple "claims" jailbreak voids your warranty if that is an issue stop now. Note Squaretrade's warranties still cover jailbreaking.
Step 0 - Before you start make sure you update your iOS device to iOS 5.1.1 if you have not done so already. If you do not know how to update your iOS device jailbreaking may not be for you.
If you are already updated to iOS 5.1.1 make sure you do a sync and backup of your iOS device. If you have any photos or video you shot - transfer those now to your computer from your camera roll. Also force quit every open App on your iOS device and then go to settings and general and then go to Reset and select "Reset Network Settings". This will then reboot your iOS device. Next connect your iOS device via the USB cord directly to your computer - not through a USB hub or keyboard or Monitor - right to the computer.
(To force quit the open apps - From the home screen on your iOS device - double tap the home button - a tray will appear on the bottom of the device with your apps that are open - tap and hold one of the apps. All the apps in the tray will wiggle and you will see a red circle in the upper left with a "-" in it. Tap on all of the red circles until all of your apps are closed.)
Step 1 - Close out iTunes on your computer. Make sure your iOS device is still turned on and connected via the USB cable - per Step 0.
Step 2 - Download Absinthe 2.0 from the links below and unzip the file.
Download - Absinthe v2.0.2 - Mac OSX (10.5, 10.6. 10.7)
Download - Absinthe v2.0.4 - Mac OSX (10.5, 10.6. 10.7)
Download - Absinthe v2.0.2 - Windows (XP/Vista/Win7)
Download - Absinthe v2.0.2 - Windows (XP/Vista/Win7)
Step 3 - I recommend closing out all of your open programs and restarting your computer before proceeding. If you have iTunes set to launch when you connect your iOS device - you will need to quit out of iTunes again.
Step 4 - Per the iPhone dev teams recommendation - "Once your backup is complete return to your device and go to Settings – General – Reset – Erase all Content and Settings. This will make the jailbreak process much faster." Make sure you keep your iOS device connected to the computer via a USB cable - also make sure it is connected directly to a USB port on the computer and not via a USB hub nor a USB port on a keyboard nor monitor. Also make sure your device is re-activated before proceeding.
Note: If you are using Test Flight to get beta versions of apps for testing on your device - they will be removed if you erase all content and settings - and you will need to manually reload each app at the end.
Step 5 continued - Sit and Wait. After you click Jailbreak above you will see some messages about the status of the jailbreak (see below).
Step 6 - You will eventually (5 minutes typically - could be more or a little less) see the message below.
You will need to unlock the screen and then find the Cydia icon on your iOS device - it is a brown icon - with "Cydia" below it. Sometimes however in the past it has been an all whitie icon. If you see this - you have a jailbroken iPhone.
Step 7 - Once jailbroken, open iTunes and restore your backup from earlier. When you open iTunes it should take you to the option to "Set up your" iOS device - Select "restore from the backup of: " with the correct backup choosen. Then click continue.
If it does not show up - then Right click on your device name under the ‘Devices’ menu in the left panel of iTunes and click ‘Restore from Back Up…’ then select the latest backup you created before. Restoring this backup will return all the content previously on your device ie, apps, photos, etc.
This is the longest part of the jailbreak - and depending on how much content there is to get back on your iOS device it could take a while - it took over 2 hours for me. Once you confirm your restore from back up worked correctly go to step 8.
Step 8 - Launch the Cydia App. The first time you launch it you will see a message "Preparing Filesystem (cydia weill exit when complete)" - and per the message Cydia will quit out / exit when done. Once it does this - relaunch Cydia. The second time you launch it you will be asked "Who Are you?" with the options of "User", "Hacker", "Developer" - if you are reading this - select "User" and then tap "Done"
Step 9 - Once it is done it will open up and you should see a screen that looks like that below.
One App almost everyone will want and that works on the iPhone's, iPod Touch's and the iPad is the app SBSettings. This moves important settings / controls to the notification dock where they are always quickly available.
To install this app Tap on "Search" in the bottom row of Cydia and then in the search box type "SBSettings"
Next Tap on "SBSettings" the top one - not the one any of the others.
Read the warning. Then Tap on "Install" in the upper Right corner
Then Tap on "Confirm" in the upper Right corner
Then Tap on "Restart Springboard"
Then in the Settings App under Notifications - Go to SBSettings and turn it to "On".
Next launch the SBSettings app - and look at all the options.
Thats it you are now jailbroken and have your first real jailbroken app running on your device.
Please understand sometimes installs of apps are interrupted - in which case you need to try and re-install. Things are not as stable when you jailbreak - expect some additional crashes and conflicts between apps. Which is why if you install an app you no longer plan to use - it is best to delete said app - the more jailbroken apps you have installed - the higher the probability you will have a conflict.
Note: If you have an iPad - do not - repeat - do not - install Five icon dock - it will really mess up your iPad and you will need to restore it. However that app works great on the iPhone and iPod Touch.
8:05 AM CT - Leawood Apple Store - There were about 90 people in line when Apple let people in - about 10 minutes early. I was out of the store a minute before 8:00 AM. Based on the number of units in the store about 800 units based on what was behind the genius bar (I took picks and counted) - it is doubtful they will sell out since there were less than 100 people that at opening. Will be interesting to see if they do sell out this weekend at all.
==========
6:15 AM ET - Mall of Georgia - iReport from Larry - Now allowed back in the Mall - about 40 people in line.
==========
5:15 AM CT - Reports coming in that Sams club will be selling the new iPad starting at 7:00 AM Local time - (Thanks Penny)
==========
4:28 AM CT - Leawood KS - They have the new iPad on display at the Leawood Apple store. No secrecy this time. Above is a photo of the one on display.
I was the 11th one in line at 4:15 AM. First ones in line were here at 6:00 PM on Thursday.
Send in your updates from your line.
=========
3:53 AM ET - Mall of Georgia - iReport from Larry - Mall security just kicked everyone out of the Mall and out of line. Nice.
As you likely know AT&T has already gutted the "unlimited" data plans they offered up to those of us early adopters - with their recent announcement that "unlimited" really means 3GB and then throttled to unusable speeds after that. But hey at least we still were in an "unlimitted" plan and there was always hope that when AT&T figured out their network congestion issues - maybe with the help of their LTE roll out - they would reverse their decision with regards to throttling. Well we could hope? Right?
Sadly I just received an email from a listener (who has been emailing in for almost 2 years - so I believe what he sent is legit). The email is at the bottom of the post. First with his Question to AT&T with regards to a data plan for an iPad and then the AT&T response. Names Redacted to protect those involved.
The key line is highlighted in Yellow and what it likely means is that when the next iPhone comes out in the Fall - an iPhone that 99.99999% likely will offer LTE (4G) connection - AT&T will respond in similar kind and that will be - that your grandfathered unlimited data plan on your current iPhone - Well yeah - that dies with the 3G iPhones. And starting with the LTE iPhones - there will be new data plans and no grandfathering of unlimited to 4G iPhones.
So anyone holding out hope against hope that AT&T would one day lift their 3GB throttle cap on their unlimited accounts - yeah - kiss those dreams goodbye.
Q2:Please enter your phone question below: A2:I have an unlimited data plan with AT&T for my current iPad. Will I be able to transfer this plan to the new iPad.
From: AT&T Email Business Customer Care for Wireless Date: March 8, 2012 To: xxxxxxxxx Subject:Re: Wireless from AT&T Customer Email
Dear XXXXXX,
Thank you for contacting AT&T about your wireless service. My name is AAAAAAA, and I will be more than happy to assist you with your inquiry regarding transfering data plans from one iPad to another today.
I understand your concern and frustration; after reviewing your account I would like to inform you that it is not possible to be grandfathered over unless you?re current and new iPad are both 3G compatible iPads. If your new iPad is a 4G compatible device then you will need to pick from one of the current data plans that we offer.
XXXXXX, if you have any additional questions about transfering data plans from one iPad to another, please respond to this email. If you have a question about another issue, please send us a new email via the Contact Us link in the lower left-hand corner of your myAT&T account. Thank you for choosing AT&T; we appreciate your business.
AAAAAAAAA eCare Customer Service Specialist AT&T Business Solutions Customer Care
UPDATE: 3/9/12 1:30 PM CT
Below is an update from the person that sent me the original email. Looks like AT&T has changed their decision with him and is now going to grandfather over the unlimited iPad plan he had. I also heard from another call that talked to AT&T and they confirmed they will grandfather his unlimited plan - but he would need a new sim card. So maybe there is still some hope of keeping your unlimited plan on AT&T for your iPhone when the LTE iPhone comes out.
Hi Rob,
Wow, you post my e-mails on your site and the next thing I know is I get another e-mail from AT&T stating I will get to keep my unlimited plan with an iPad 4G. Score one for the little guy! (at least for now).
XXXXXX
Begin forwarded message:
From: AT&T Email Business Customer Care for Wireless
Subject: Re: Wireless from AT&T Customer Email - West - [CUST]
To: XXXXXXXX
Dear Mr. XXXXX,
I discussed the details of your present Session Based (Prepaid) Data Unlimited plan with an AT&T Consumer Data Support specialist. This is the group that provides most Customer Service support functions for an account such as yours.
This plan is compatible with the new 4G Apple iPad recently introduced. Very simply, this plan supports the iPad, whatever version. In fact, I see that you have changed in equipment in the past from the original iPad to the current iPad 2.
Mr. XXXXXX, if you have any additional questions about the compatibility of the present iPad Data Unlimited plan with the new iPad, please respond to this email. If you have a question about another issue, please send us a new email via the Contact Us link in the lower left-hand corner of your myAT&T account. Thank you for choosing AT&T; we appreciate your business.
ZZZZZZZ eCare Customer Service Specialist AT&T Business Solutions Customer Care
There was a nice post over at Ars Technica that showed their server logs which had few hits from iPads running iOS 6. This inspired the fine folks at one of the major podcast hosts to look at their server logs and what they found for a search of iOS 6 is below.
AppleCoreMedia/1.0.0.10A79 (Applexa0TV; U; CPU OS 6_0 like Mac OS X; en_us) AppleCoreMedia/1.0.0.10A82 (Applexa0TV; U; CPU OS 6_0 like Mac OS X; en_us) AppleCoreMedia/1.0.0.10A117 (iPhone Simulator; U; CPU OS 6_0 like Mac OS X; en_us) AppleCoreMedia/1.0.0.10A136 (iPhone Simulator; U; CPU OS 6_0 like Mac OS X; en_us) AppleCoreMedia/1.0.0.10A136 (iPad; U; CPU OS 6_0 like Mac OS X; en_us) AppleCoreMedia/1.0.0.10A129 (iPhone; U; CPU OS 6_0 like Mac OS X; en_us) AppleCoreMedia/1.0.0.10A157 (iPad; U; CPU OS 6_0 like Mac OS X; en_us) AppleCoreMedia/1.0.0.10A165 (iPhone Simulator; U; CPU OS 6_0 like Mac OS X; en_us) AppleCoreMedia/1.0.0.10A203 (Applexa0TV; U; CPU OS 6_0 like Mac OS X) AppleCoreMedia/1.0.0.10A164 (Applexa0TV; U; CPU OS 6_0 like Mac OS X; en_us) AppleCoreMedia/1.0.0.10A200 (iPad; U; CPU OS 6_0 like Mac OS X; en_us) AppleCoreMedia/1.0.0.10A212 (iPhone; U; CPU OS 6_0 like Mac OS X; en_us) AppleCoreMedia/1.0.0.10A212 (iPad; U; CPU OS 6_0 like Mac OS X; en_us) AppleCoreMedia/1.0.0.10A220 (iPad; U; CPU OS 6_0 like Mac OS X; en_us) AppleCoreMedia/1.0.0.10A221 (iPad; U; CPU OS 6_0 like Mac OS X; en_us) AppleCoreMedia/1.0.0.10A225 (iPad; U; CPU OS 6_0 like Mac OS X; en_us) AppleCoreMedia/1.0.0.10A234 (iPhone; U; CPU OS 6_0 like Mac OS X; en_us) AppleCoreMedia/1.0.0.10A241 (Applexa0TV; U; CPU OS 6_0 like Mac OS X; en_us) AppleCoreMedia/1.0.0.10A242 (Applexa0TV; U; CPU OS 6_0 like Mac OS X; en_us) AppleCoreMedia/1.0.0.10A240 (iPad; U; CPU OS 6_0 like Mac OS X; en_us) AppleCoreMedia/1.0.0.10A244 (iPad; U; CPU OS 6_0 like Mac OS X; en_us) AppleCoreMedia/1.0.0.10A248 (iPad; U; CPU OS 6_0 like Mac OS X; en_us) AppleCoreMedia/1.0.0.10A248 (iPhone; U; CPU OS 6_0 like Mac OS X; en_us) AppleCoreMedia/1.0.0.10A248 (Applexa0TV; U; CPU OS 6_0 like Mac OS X; en_us) AppleCoreMedia/1.0.0.10A249 (Applexa0TV; U; CPU OS 6_0 like Mac OS X; en_us) AppleCoreMedia/1.0.0.10A250 (Applexa0TV; U; CPU OS 6_0 like Mac OS X; en_us) AppleCoreMedia/1.0.0.10A252 (iPhone; U; CPU OS 6_0 like Mac OS X; en_us) AppleCoreMedia/1.0.0.10A252 (iPad; U; CPU OS 6_0 like Mac OS X; en_us)
What I think is most interesting is the hits of Apple TV and OS 6 in the results. This bodes well for a new Apple TV being announced this Wednesday at the March 7th Apple Event. And even more important - AppleCoreMedia is typically what you get for a result from Apps. So maybe that means finally the announcement of Apps on Apple TV.
Sticking with tradition - here is a rumor bingo card for the iPad3 made up of many of the rumors since the launch of the iPad2. These are not all likely - and some have Zero chance - like the 2nd landscape mode dock connector or the 7" iPad. I try and put them in order so we get a bingo on the card.
Put your thoughts in the comments below.
New episode talking about this and more coming later this evening.
Update1 - 1/26/12 - 9:50 PM CT - Updated links for GreenPois0n to v0.3
Update 2 - 1/27/12 - 7:30 AM CT - Hi Rob,
I have heard how everyone is having an easy time doing the new iPhone 4s/iPad 2 jailbreak, well mine wasn't so smooth.
Long story short, if you have any VPN profiles on your device for work or whatever, this will cause the absinthe jailbreak to never complete. The absinthe jailbreak creates a VPN connection to finally install Cydia. If you have any other VPN profiles it doesn't make the correct connection for that final step, so at the very least add a line to your tutorial about removing any VPN profiles you have on your iPhone/iPad 2 when prepping for the jailbreak and things should go smoothly.
It took me a whole day of trying to click the absinthe icon before I removed all my VPN profiles and the next attempt to jailbreak was smooth and successful.
Thanks for the great podcast as always!
Steven in Virginia
=================
An un-tethered jailbreak is now available for iOS 5.0.1 for the iPhone 4S and iPad 2 - that is what this tutorial is for. Note: For the iPhone 3GS, 4 (GSM) and 4 (CDMA), iPad 1 and iPod Touch 3G & 4G - see this Tutorial.
=========
There are some very good articles on how to jailbreak but many miss a couple of steps that new jailbreakers need to know especially when it comes to using Cydia - the resource for finding and installing jailbroken apps. This tutorial tries to help those first time jailbreakers by covering both the jailbreak process step by step and also how to use Cydia to install an app.
Do not try to jailbreak if you don't like when things go to (expletive). If you need your device for your business and being without it for any period of time will cause you to loose your job - stop now. If you get mad at your significant other at how they fold towels or put the toilet paper on a roll - Jailbreaking is probably not for your personality. Sometimes things break and your device will likely crash more often then if it was not jailbroken. Apple "claims" jailbreak voids your warranty if that is an issue stop now. Note Squaretrade's warranties still cover jailbreaking.
Step 0 - Before you start make sure you update your iOS device to iOS 5.0.1 if you have not done so already. If you do not know how to update your iOS device jailbreaking may not be for you.
If you are already updated to iOS 5.0.1 make sure you do a sync and backup of your iOS device. If you have any photos or video you shot - transfer those now to your computer from your camera roll. Also force quit every open App on your iOS device and then go to settings and general and then go to Reset and select "Reset Network Settings". This will then reboot your iOS device. Next connect your iOS device via the USB cord directly to your computer - not through a USB hub or keyboard or Monitor - right to the computer.
(To force quit the open apps - From the home screen on your iOS device - double tap the home button - a tray will appear on the bottom of the device with your apps that are open - tap and hold one of the apps. All the apps in the tray will wiggle and you will see a red circle in the upper left with a "-" in it. Tap on all of the red circles until all of your apps are closed.)
Step 1 - Close out iTunes on your computer. Make sure your iOS device is still turned on and connected via the USB cable - per Step 0.
Step 2 - Download GreenPois0n from the links below and unzip the file.
Step 3 - I recommend closing out all of your open programs and restarting your computer before proceeding. If you have iTunes set to launch when you connect your iOS device - you will need to quit out of iTunes again.
Step 5 - Sit and Wait. After you click Jailbreak above you will see some messages about the status of the jailbreak (see below).
Step 6 - You will eventually (about 5 to 10 minutes - could be more or a little less) see the message below.
You will need to unlock the screen and then find the icon on your iOS device that looks like the GreenPois0n skull and tap on it.
Step 7 - You can then check your iOS device to find the Cydia App - which should be brown with a white circle and logo in the circle. If the Cydia app appears all white - this is not unusual. You likely will not be able to launch the cydia app if it is white. Simply power down (off) your iOS device and then start it back up (turn on). When it reboots - the Cydia app should now be brown.
Step 8 - Launch the Cydia App. The first time you launch it you will see a message "Preparing Filesystem (cydia weill exit when complete)" - and per the message Cydia will quit out / exit when done. Once it does this - relaunch Cydia. The second time you launch it you will be asked "Who Are you?" with the options of "User", "Hacker", "Developer" - if you are reading this - select "User" and then tap "Done"
Step 9 - Once it is done it will open up and you should see a screen that looks like that below.
One App almost everyone will want and that works on the iPhone's, iPod Touch's and the iPad is the app SBSettings. This moves important settings / controls to the notification dock where they are always quickly available.
To install this app Tap on "Search" in the bottom row of Cydia and then in the search box type "SBSettings"
Next Tap on "SBSettings" the top one - not the one any of the others.
Read the warning. Then Tap on "Install" in the upper Right corner
Then Tap on "Confirm" in the upper Right corner
Then Tap on "Restart Springboard"
Then in the Settings App under Notifications - Go to SBSettings and turn it to "On".
Next launch the SBSettings app - and look at all the options.
Thats it you are now jailbroken and have your first real jailbroken app running on your device.
Please understand sometimes installs of apps are interrupted - in which case you need to try and re-install. Things are not as stable when you jailbreak - expect some additional crashes and conflicts between apps. Which is why if you install an app you no longer plan to use - it is best to delete said app - the more jailbroken apps you have installed - the higher the probability you will have a conflict.
Note: If you have an iPad - do not - repeat - do not - install Five icon dock - it will really mess up your iPad and you will need to restore it. However that app works great on the iPhone and iPod Touch.
NOTE on Updates - I moved all the Updates to the bottom - as they were causing more confusion with them at the top. So if you are having issues with your jailbreak go to the bottom and see the updates. Those that are new - ignore the updates for now.
An un-tethered jailbreak is now available for iOS 5.0.1. However it is not working for all iOS devices. It is only good for iPhone 3GS, 4 (GSM) and 4 (CDMA), iPad 1, iPod Touch 3G & 4G.
Note - This jailbreak will NOT work for the iPhone 4S or the iPad 2.
If you have a tethered jailbreak already for iOS 5.0.1 - See this link
=========
FOR UNLOCKERS ONLY - According to the Dev-Team - "The SHSH window is still open for 5.0.1 If you unlock via ultrasn0w or gevey, make sure you only get to 5.0.1 via a custom IPSW! Once you’re at 5.0.1, use the latest redsn0w 0.9.10 to both jailbreak and untether."
Here are links to a tutorials that should help in jail breaking with out updating the baseband.
But really if you are unlocked already - you want to be really really careful before doing anything. Maybe waiting a week or so would be best (just sayin).
=========
There are some very good articles on how to jailbreak but many miss a couple of steps that new jailbreakers need to know especially when it comes to using Cydia - the resource for finding and installing jailbroken apps. This tutorial tries to help those first time jailbreakers by covering both the jailbreak process step by step and also how to use Cydia to install an app.
Do not try to jailbreak if you don't like when things go to (expletive). If you need your device for your business and being without it for any period of time will cause you to loose your job - stop now. If you get mad at your significant other at how they fold towels or put the toilet paper on a roll - Jailbreaking is probably not for your personality. Sometimes things break and your device will likely crash more often then if it was not jailbroken. Apple "claims" jailbreak voids your warranty if that is an issue stop now. Note Squaretrade's warranties still cover jailbreaking.
Step 0 - Before you start make sure you update your iOS device to iOS 5.0.1 if you have not done so already. If you do not know how to update your iOS device jailbreaking may not be for you.
If you are already updated to iOS 5.0.1 make sure you do a sync and backup of your iOS device. If you have any photos or video you shot - transfer those now to your computer from your camera roll.
Step 1 - Close out iTunes on your computer, force quit all open apps on your iOS device and then turn off your iOS Device (make sure your iOS device is connected to your computer via the USB cable before turning it off)
(To force quit the open apps - From the home screen on your iOS device - double tap the home button - a tray will appear on the bottom of the device with your apps that are open - tap and hold one of the apps. All the apps in the tray will wiggle and you will see a red circle in the upper left with a "-" in it. Tap on all of the red circles until all of your apps are closed.)
Step 2 - Download Redsn0w from the links below and unzip the file.
Step 3 - I recommend closing out all of your open programs and restarting your computer before proceeding. If you have iTunes set to launch when you connect your iOS device - you will need to quit out of iTunes again.
Step 4 - Launch redsn0w 0.9.10b1 and select "Jailbreak"
Step 5 - Once you confirm your iOS device is connected to your computer and it is off (and iTunes is shut down) click "Next"
Step 6 - You need to follow the online instructions on getting your iOS device into DFU mode. As soon as you click Next - you will need to hold down the power button for 3 seconds
Then you will need to continue to hold the power button while you hold down the home button for 10 seconds
Then you will release just the power button while continuing to hold down the home button for 15 seconds.
If you / when you mess this step up by releasing the wrong button(s) you can click the back button and try again.
Step 7 - If you correctly entered your iOS device in DFU mode you will then see a few different messages come up in redsn0w.
Step 8 - You will then be taken to a screen on the Redsn0w app that asks you to "select your options" - Instal Cydia will already be selected. For most users that is all you want selected - However if you want to try out multitask Gestures - now is when you want to select those. Once you have selected your options click "Next"
Step 9 - You will then be taken to the screen below which gives the message that the remainder of the install will take place on your iOS device. This is all done by the computer - do NOT disconnect in this step.
You will see the installation completing on your device. If it looks like it is froze up - breathe deep and have a little patience - it can take 5 to 10 minutes to complete. When it is done it will take you to your lock screen. If you miss that - your screen will be black - tap on the home button. And then unlock.
Step 10 - You can then check your iOS device to find the Cydia App - which should be brown with a white circle and logo in the circle. If the Cydia app appears all white - this is not unusual. You likely will not be able to launch the cydia app if it is white. Simply power down (off) your iOS device and then start it back up (turn on). When it reboots - the Cydia app should now be brown.
Step 11 - Launch the Cydia App. The first time you launch it you will be asked "Who Are you?" with the options of "User", "Hacker", "Developer" - if you are reading this - select "User" and then tap "Done"
Step 12 - Once it is done it will open up and you should see a screen that looks like that below. Note some times after the first launch it takes you back to your home screen - just go back and open Cydia app again.
One App almost everyone will want and that works on the iPhone's, iPod Touch's and the iPad is the app SBSettings. This moves important settings / controls to the notification dock where they are always quickly available.
To install this app Tap on "Search" in the bottom row of Cydia and then in the search box type "SBSettings"
Next Tap on "SBSettings" the top one - not the one any of the others.
Read the warning. Then Tap on "Install" in the upper Right corner
Then Tap on "Confirm" in the upper Right corner
Then Tap on "Restart Springboard"
Then in the Settings App under Notifications - Go to SBSettings and turn it to "On".
Next launch the SBSettings app - and look at all the options.
Thats it you are now jailbroken and have your first real jailbroken app running on your device.
Please understand sometimes installs of apps are interrupted - in which case you need to try and re-install. Things are not as stable when you jailbreak - expect some additional crashes and conflicts between apps. Which is why if you install an app you no longer plan to use - it is best to delete said app - the more jailbroken apps you have installed - the higher the probability you will have a conflict.
Note: If you have an iPad - do not - repeat - do not - install Five icon dock - it will really mess up your iPad and you will need to restore it. However that app works great on the iPhone and iPod Touch.
========================================
FIX FOR iBOOKS ISSUE: (NOT NEEDED IF YOU RAN the B4 version above)
This jailbreak breaks the use of iBooks - but there is a fix for this issue.
After you jailbreak and with Cydia open:
1. Go to Manage --> Sources --> Edit --> Add
2. Add the following source - http://repo.insanelyi.com - Then tap "Add source"
3. After the source is finished adding - search for "iBooksFix2"
4. Tap on it - and then tap on "Install" and then "Confim" and then confirm again if you get a warning about the source having been reported to have questionable apps.
5. After it installs - and you are back at your home screen - reboot your iPhone.
6. Open iBooks - it should work now.
====================================
Update1: 12/28/2011 9:28 PM CT.
There was an issue with the original version of redsn0w 0.9.10b1 - Links have been updated below for b2 version.
If you are having issues with the jailbreak using the b1 version - you should rejailbreak running the b2 version - if you had already jailbroke with b1 (working or not) when you do the new run for b2 - deselect the install cydia option. This is again only for those that installed cydia with b1 version. If this is your first time jailbreaking iOS 5.0.1 ignore this paragraph and just go below and follow all instructions as is.
Update2: 12/28/2011 10:08 PM CT.
Removed references to Backgrounder app (which no longer works correctly) and replaced with info on SBSettings App as the example Jailbreak app.
Update3: 12/29/2011 11:53 AM CT.
With this jailbreak - it breaks iBooks - so if you use / want to use iBooks - then this is not the jailbreak for you. Hopefully this will be addressed shortly. But for now stay away if you want to use iBooks.
Update4: 12/29/2011 4:13 PM CT.
There was an issue with the b2 version of redsn0w 0.9.10b2 - Links have been updated below for b3 version.
If you are having issues with the jailbreak using the b1 or b2 or b3 version - you should rejailbreak running the b3 b4 version - if you had already jailbroke with b1 or b2 or b3 (working or not) when you do the new jailbreak for b3 b4 - deselect the install cydia option. This is again only for those that installed cydia with b1 or b2 or b3 version. If this is your first time jailbreaking iOS 5.0.1 ignore this paragraph and just go below and follow all instructions as is.
Update5: 12/29/2011 5:03 PM CT.
There is now a fix for the iBooks issue. See above this section for instructions on how to fix it.
Update6: 1/16/2012 8:21 AM CT.
"The b4 version of redsn0w incorporates the 5.0.1 fix for iBooks, and also for sporadic problems with launchctl. Thanks to @xvolks for merging the iBooks (sandbox) fix from @comex’s github into the overall corona untether from @pod2g! As usual, If you already installed one of the previous Redsn0w versions of the Jailbreak for iOS 5.0.1 you can choose to install the fix either by re-running redsn0w over your existing jailbreak (de-select Cydia if you do that), or by installing the corona package from Cydia (it’s the same set of files no matter which way you choose)."
As mentioned on ep 197 - there were reports of some users having battery drain issues - and a proposed fix. Turn off the update time zone option in Location services. Apple has now admited to the batter issue saying the following.
"A small number of customers have reported lower-than-expected battery life on iOS 5 devices," Apple spokeswoman Natalie Harrison said in a statement. "We have found a few bugs that are affecting battery life, and we will release a software update to address those in a few weeks."
So if you need something to pass the time while waiting in line Thursday night / Friday Morning - these articles will fill up a good chunk of that time.
UPDATE 3: It looks like for new Sprint Customers - you can not pre-order - It says the following:
At this time, we are only taking online iPhone orders for current Sprint customers upgrading a phone on an existing line. If you're a new customer, or simply want to add a new line to an existing account, please select this option and click "Continue". There you'll see how and when an iPhone can be purchased at your local Apple Retail Store.
Which then takes you to this message:
In order to purchase iPhone with a new Sprint account, or to add a line to an existing account, please visit an Apple Retail Store.
So at least for those jumping to Sprint from another carrier or Adding a line - no Pre-Order for you. Walkins only.
Here is a wrap up of what was announced at WWDC with regards to iOS 5.
Scott Forstall started off giving an update to some numbers.
There are now over 200 Million iOS devices sold. Which Apple claims is the number one mobile Operating system with 44% share vs 28% share for Android and 19% share for RIM - with Other filling in 9% share. Numbers from Comscore for US April 2011. So that is not Global - just US Mobile Installed Base.
Over 25 Million iPads sold in the first 14 Months.
Over 130 Million downloads from the iBookstore.
Over 425,000 Apps currently in the App store with over 90,000 being iPad Apps (Smoke that Honeycomb). Over 100,000 of the 425,000 are Game and Entertainment Apps.
Over 14 Billion App Downloads and Apple has paid out over $2.5 Billion to Developers.
64% of Mobile Browser Usage is via Safari vs 27% for Android - Source Net Applications - for US April 2011.
Next up was the important stuff - iOS 5 Additions - Over 1,500 new API's and over 200 new User Features. Scott then went through what they called 10 "Key" new features.
Which are:
1. Notifications - As in improving how they work. Greatly improving them as in not having Push's notifications interrupting you or worst yet them disappearing when you unlock. Actually you can still have a push message interrupt you with a pop up alert or you can have them as a banner at the top of the screen that allows you to keep on doing what you were doing. Apple has created - Notifications Center - where all your notifications are collected in one place. It includes Push Notifications, Phone Messages, Text Messages, Plus stocks and Weather. Plus they are adding Notification info to the lock screen. If you are thinking this sounds a lot like the Jailbreak App - Notifier - you would not be alone in thinking that. For more on the Jailbreak App Notifier listen to Ep 142.
2. Newsstand - Which is essentially the same as iBooksstore but just for Newspapers and Magazines.
3. Twitter Integration - Universal Login for your account in settings - which is shared with any apps using twitter (possible security issue?) Twitter option in Camera App for sharing photos. Plus tweeting from Safari, Youtube and maps. Plus Twitter is added to contacts and you can use peoples Twitter photos in your contact list.
4. Improvements to Safari - They added a button called Reader - which pulls out the chafe and centers in on the story you are reading. Just tap on "Reader" button when it appears in the title bar and it just brings in the text and images for that article and allows you to change the text size. If you tap on the side or on the Reader button again it goes back. Also while in "Reader" mode you can email the content of the article - not just the link. For all those of you that email me in articles where before you were copying and pasting - this will be a nice addition. They also Added "Reading Lists" to Safari - which is a way or bookmarking articles to read at a later time or on another iOS device and Safari on Mac and Windows too - as the reading list is sync'd via iCloud. They Also added Tabbed Browsing to Safari (About Time). You can have up to 9 tabs open at any time and switching between them is very fast. Also you can drag the tabs around to get them in the order you want (Very Nice feature).
5. Reminders - Think digital post-it notes. You can be reminded of things to do by Location or by date.
6. Camera Updates - First is adding a button to the camera from the lock screen. You can take photos with out entering passcode - but can't access other photos. I think college students will have fun with this feature and their friends iPhone - just sayin. They also now allow you to us the volume up button on the iPhone 4 to take pictures. (Yes that is the same feature they kicked someone else's Photo App out of the App store for - again just sayin). They added pinch to zoom in the camera - no more having to try to get on the slider to zoom. Auto Exposure Lock (NICE!!!) you can set the exposure on a person and then move around and the exposure stays set. You can now edit photos on your iPhone - Crop, Red Eye Reduction and Auto Enhance.
7. Mail Updates - Adding Rich Text Formatting (Yawn and sometime annoying), Indentation Control, Draggable Address between To, CC and BCC (About Time), Flag Messages or Mark as unread, Search now searches the content of the Entire Messages not just To, From and Subject - YEAH!!! (and again About Time), For the enterprise users support for S/MIME. You can now choose to show the 50, 100, 200, 500 or 1,000 most recent emails - The last two options being new.
UPDATE 6/9/11 - One big new feature - Being able to add multiple mailboxes to your email accounts including Pop Gmail accounts right on the iOS device. This was the biggest complaint of my Wife on email on the iPad and he favorite new feature in iOS 5. She also likes that it now says it is deleting the email and not archiving it.
8. PC Free - Which means no more needing a PC to setup an iOS device. So now an iPad can be your ONLY computer or at least you don't need to update your old computer to support your iPad. Now software updates will be over the Air. (Air being Wifi) And updates are Delta Updates - which means just what changes is what you download - no need to download the entire 666 MB file. Plus any things you previously needed to set up on your computer - ie a new Calendar - can now be done on the iOS device.
9. Game Center Update (Yawn) - Added Photos, Game and Player Recommendations, Game Downloads, Add dev support for Turn-based games.
10. iMessage - Messaging service between all iOS Devices. Can Send Text Messages, Photos, Video, Contacts, Group Messages. Plus you get Delivery Receipts and Read Receipts and Typing Indication to see if you are about to get a return message. Supported over both 3G and Wifi. All is sent Encrypted. If you are thinking "wow the Phone carriers must be pissed about this" you would not be alone in thinking that.
11. Split Keyboard (iPad only) - Mentioned in the email section - but deserved its own number as it is for all system apps. You can now for the iPad split the keyboard and move it up or down. This make it much easier for those that want to / need to type with thumbs while holding the iPad. Quick testing of this feature and I found it very frustrating to get the keyboard positioned where I wanted it (It is beta I am sure they will get that worked out) but once I did get it where I wanted it - wow - what a difference in sending emails and typing notes. Especially when standing and holding the iPad - the Split works for both Landscape and portrait modes and the position you finally settle on is remembered from App to App - until you accidentally merge and dock it - and then you start all over with the frustration of repositioning them - Apple needs to improve this before going gold in the Fall. This is one of those features you will love or hate.
12. WiFi Sync to iTunes - This should have been in the top 10 for sure and was barely mentioned in the keynote. This is one of those features that previously you needed to Jailbreak for - So once again with a major update to iOS it is clear Apple is looking to Jailbreakers for new iOS features. Apple may say they are against Jailbreaking - but it seems like the perfect Alpha testing ground for next gen iOS features. Just sayin.
13. In All Apple said there were over 200 new features for iOS 5 - some of the other new features that they showed up on the projector included:
- AirPlay Mirroring
- Alternate routes in Maps
- Hourly Weather Forecasts
- New iPad Music App (Which I do not like one bit. It really screws over Podcasters. Hopefully this will be fixed before full release)
- Option to Speak Text Selection
- Swipe to Delete Songs and Playlists
- iTunes Tone Store
- Personal Dictionary
- VoiceOver Action Support
- VoiceOver item Chooser
- Real-Time Stock Quotes
- Custom Vibration Patterns
- LED Flash on incoming Calls and Alerts
- Multitasking Gestures
- Accessible Input for Mobility
- Wirelessly sync Exchange Tasks
and more...
iOS 5 Beta is now available to Devs (lots of Applause). iOS 5 for the general public will be available some time in the Fall (Anywhere between Late September and Late December - NO Applause). iOS 5 will support the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4, iPad and iPad 2, iPod touch 3rd and 4th gens - plus any new iOS devices released before or when iOS 5 is made available.
Next Steve came back on Stage to talk about MobileMe Part 2 - or what they now call iCloud. Guess if a product does not do well - Kill its name and start over with an iName. Ok Ok - Steve did say it was more. "iCloud stores your content in the cloud and wirelessly pushes it to all your devices." The big difference with Apples approach to the cloud is that iCloud is integrated with your apps, so everything just happens. As Steve said "It Just All Works". So I guess it is different than MobileMe. MobileMe was seen leaving the SanFran strapped to the bottom of a Bus - Steve put it there in his speech saying about MobilMe "It was not our finest hour". MobileMe was basically Contacts, email and Calendar. Which Steve says they started over with the three, Apple built them from the ground up for iCloud. There is also one big difference between MobileMe and iCloud. MobileMe cost money - iCloud is FREE.
The Shared Calendars is nice - you and your significant other can share calendars quite easily and as soon as one of you changes / adds and item in that calendar on their iOS device or Mac - it will update right away on any device that is sharing that calendar.
With Mail with iCloud you can get a free Mail account with a @me.com address. New messages get pushed to all your devices and it keeps your inbox and folders up to date across your devices.
With iCloud it also automatically can download a purchased App to all of your devices. So buy the Tii App on your iPhone and it will automatically downloaded to your iPad and or iPod Touch. If you don't go for autodownloads you can check your app purchase history from any of your iOS devices and for any apps you don't have downloaded already on that device - you will get a little iCloud logo next to the app indicating you can download it for free.
iBooks works the same way as the Apps with iCloud, and it also syncs up where you are in a book from your current iOS device to all your other devices. So you can put down your iPhone when you get home and pick up your iPad and the iPad will already know where you are in that book.
They added wireless backup to the cloud. Automatic daily backups via Wifi of your important information. It backups your purchased music, device settings, Apps, App data, Books, Camera Roll including both Photos and Video.
Apple also added "Documents in the Cloud" - It automatically uploads to the cloud any documents you are creating in Pages, Keynote and Numbers - and pushes them out to your other devices. Apple is also releasing the API's that they used for their apps - so others will be able to take advantage of Docs in the cloud. This will work across all iOS Devices, Macs and PC's.
Photo Stream is another new feature in iCloud. You can take photos on any device and it automatically uploads the photos to iCloud and then pushes them out to all your other devices including Macs and PC's. On the Mac it is built into iPhone and on PC's they use Pictures Folder. It also works with Apple TV. iCloud will store each photo for 30 days, Your iOS devices will store the last 1,000 photos and you Mac and PC's will store all photos for ever.
The last feature of iCloud is iTunes in the Cloud. Don't mistake this for a streaming music service - it is not. It is about giving you access to any music you purchased in iTunes to all your devices at no additional charge. This is a pull feature not a push feature for your past music. For future music you can select an option that new purchases will also automatically download to all your other devices. Being able to redownload for FREE your old purchased music is a great new feature - I was able to get back some Led Zep and Pink Floyd songs i thought were long lost. You can have up to 10 devices sharing the music.
FREE seems the be the biggest and best feature of iCloud. To get iCloud on Any iOS device running iOS 5 just enter in your Apple ID and password and that is it. You get 5 GB of Free storage for Mail, Documents and Backup. You can of course purchase more storage as needed. However you may not need even the 5 GB as Purchased Music, Books, Apps and Photostream do not count against your storage.
When you update to iOS 5, the first time you log in it will ask you to sign in with an AppleID - which is to set up iCloud, the App Store, iTunes Store and more on your iOS device - it then sits there for a few seconds before moving on. Then you are taken through the options which are turned on by default but you can turn off if you want - iCloud, then Find my iOS device, and Diagnostic. It is a pretty quick process.
I am not going to go over all of the things that did not make it into iOS 5 (Yet). That will be for future podcast episodes.
Above link takes you to both sessions. One is at 2:30 PM on the 25th and it deals with Advertising for Podcasters.
The other one is at 3:45 PM on the 25th and it has to do with getting an App built for your podcast.
I am looking forward to attending blogworld again and seeing a lot of the old time podcasters. John Wall from Marketing Over Coffee (and the M-Show) will be there as will CC Chapman. Paul Colligan who I used to do Today in Podcasting with is organizing the tracks for podcasting this year. Chris Penn, Jason Van Orden, Andrew Baron, Cliff Ravenscraft and David Prager are all going to be there and presenting as well.
If you are going to be there please make sure to contact me and let me know or at least drop by the sessions I am speaking at.
UPDATE: 10/9/11 - DON'T USE JAILBREAKME.COM - THE SITE HAS BEEN SOLD AND CAN NOT BE TRUSTED AT THIS TIME.
UPDATE: 7/6/11 - THIS TUTORIAL ALSO NOW SHOWS USING JAILBREAKME.COM
This is for Jailbreaking - NOT for unlocking. If you want to take your iPhone to another carrier (unlock) then this is not the tutorial for you.
Note: This tutorial works for iOS 4.3.3 for the iPhone 4 (GSM), iPhone 3GS, iPad1, iPod Touch 4th Gen, iPod Touch 3rd Gen. If your iOS devices is not listed it is not supported with this tutorial. AND NOW WITH IPAD2
There are some very good articles on how to jailbreak but many miss a couple of steps that new jailbreakers need to know especially when it comes to using Cydia - the resource for finding and installing jailbroken apps. This tutorial tries to help those first time jailbreakers by covering both the jailbreak process step by step and also how to use cydia to install an app.
Do not try to jailbreak if you don't like when things go to (expletive). If you need your device for your business and being without it for any period of time will cause you to loose your job - stop now. If you get mad at your significant other at how they fold towels or put the toilet paper on a roll - Jailbreaking is probably not for your personality. Sometimes things break and your device will likely crash more often then if it was not jailbroken. Apple "claims" jailbreak voids your warranty if that is an issue stop now. Note Squaretrade's warranties still cover jailbreaking.
If your iOS device is already jailbroken - then check out this video tutorial on how to back up your jailbroken iOS device. (Thanks Brian for putting this together.)
Step 0 - Before you start make sure you update your iOS device to iOS 4.3.3 if you have not done so already. If you do not know how to update your iOS device jailbreaking may not be for you.
TO JAILBREAK WITH HTTP://WWW.JAILBREAKME.COM - SIMPLY VIA YOUR iOS DEVICE RUNNING iOS 4.3.3 (ANY IOS DEVICE) IN MOBILE SAFARI GO TO THE LINK JAILBREAKME.COM YOU CAN THEN FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS ON YOUR iOS DEVICE AND SKIP TO STEP 16 BELOW.
Step 1 - Close out iTunes and Turn off your iOS Device (make sure your iOS device is connected to your computer)
Step 2 - Create a folder called "jailbreak433" on your desktop.
Step 3 - Download Redsn0w from the following links
Step 6 - Move IPSW file into your Jailbreak433 folder.
Step 7 - Open the Jailbreak433 folder and then the Redsn0w folder and launch the Redsn0w App.
Step 8 - Click the browse button and find the Jailbreak433 folder and choose the IPSW file (Firmware).
Step 9 - Click the "Next" button once the firmware has been successfully identified
Step 10 - You will then be taken to a screen on the Redsn0w app that asks you to "select your options" - Instal Cydia will already be selected. For most users that is all you want selected - However if you want to try out multitask Gestures - now is when you want to select those. Once you have selected your options click "Next"
Step 11 - You need to make sure your iOS Device is both turned off and connected to your computer. Do not connect via a USB hub or Keyboard or monitor port - Connect directly from the Computer USB port to the iOS device.
Note: If you connect your turned off iOS device to the computer at this stage - it will likely turn on your iOS device. If so after it boots up - hold down the power button and slide to turn it off again.
Once you confirm you are connected directly to your computer and the iOS device is turned off - you can click "Next" - Note this next step will take some good timing and following of directions.
Step 12 - As soon as you click Next - you will need to hold down the power button for 3 seconds
Step 13 - Then you will need to continue to hold the power button while you hold down the home button for 10 seconds
Step 14 - Then you will release just the power button while continuing to hold down the home button for 15 seconds.
If you / when you mess this step up by releasing the wrong button(s) you can click the back button and try again.
Step 15 - You will see a message saying Waiting for reboot.
Then one that says "done" Do NOT click on Finish yet.
On your iOS device you will see a bunch of activity including some code - Do not remove the iOS device from the computer. After a minute or so you will see a Pineapple with legs and a message Moving Applications. At this point just be patient the jailbreak process is finishing up. It will take a few minutes for the process to finish and for your iOS device to reboot. If it has been more than 10 or 15 minutes and the iOS device screen is all black - tap the home button one time - chances are it finished and you missed it. If it shows the slide to unlock screen you can then click "Finish" in the Redsn0w App.
That is it - you are jailbroken.
Step 16 - You can now find the Cydia App on your iOS device. It is a brown icon and labeled as "Cydia". Note some reports say right after the jailbreak - the Cydia App is showing up as all white - but after a reboot of the iOS device it returns to its normal brown icon.
Step 17 - Tap on the Cydia App to launch it. The program will do some maintenance the first time you open it.
Step 18 - Once it is done it will open up and you should see a screen that looks like that below. Note some times after the first launch it takes you back to your home screen - just go back and open Cydia app again.
One App almost everyone will want and that works on the iPhone's, iPod Touch's and the iPad is the app Backgrounder. This app allows true multitasking on your device and it is free. To install this app Tap on "Search" in the bottom row of Cydia and then in the search box type "backgrounder"
Next Tap on "Backgrounder from BigBoss" the second one - not the one that says "(2.x only)"
Then Tap on "Install" in the upper Right corner
Then Tap on "Confirm" in the upper Right corner
At this point you have installed your first jailbroken App. It is recommended you open up Backgrounder and adjust some of the settings.
First tap on "Global". After you make your donation that is.
Set all the switches to "ON". Then go Tap "Back" and then Tap "Control"
Finally scroll through and select how you want to be able to enable and disable backgrounding for apps. Personally I like the "Short Hold" of the Sleep Button. It makes it very easy to enable and is not likely going to be enabled by accident.
Thats it you are now jailbroken and have your first real jailbroken app running on your device.
Please understand sometimes installs of apps are interrupted - in which case you need to try and re-install. Things are not as stable when you jailbreak - expect some additional crashes and conflicts between apps.
Note: If you have an iPad - do not - repeat - do not - install Five icon dock - it will really mess up your iPad and you will need to restore it. However that app works great on the iPhone and iPod Touch.
Apple broke their silence today and responded with a Q&A press release - HERE - That answers many questions about the Location Data being cached on your phone. Bottom line - this was a bug and your exact location was never being tracked (which the later was obvious if you looked at the data). Here is what Apple plans to do:
Sometime in the next few weeks Apple will release a free iOS software update that:
reduces the size of the crowd-sourced Wi-Fi hotspot and cell tower database cached on the iPhone,
ceases backing up this cache, and
deletes this cache entirely when Location Services is turned off.
In the next major iOS software release the cache will also be encrypted on the iPhone.
I will go over the entire PR on the next episode along with many of the other stories and any items not covered by the PR.
Update: Make sure to read the comments at the end of trouble shoot help.
This is for Jailbreaking - NOT for unlocking. If you want to take your iPhone to another carrier (unlock) then this is not the tutorial for you.
Note: This tutorial works for iOS 4.3.1 for the iPhone 4 (GSM), iPhone 3GS, iPad1, iPod Touch 4th Gen, iPod Touch 3rd Gen. If your iOS devices is not listed it is not supported with this tutorial.
There are some very good articles on how to jailbreak but many miss a couple of steps that new jailbreakers need to know especially when it comes to using Cydia - the resource for finding and installing jailbroken apps. This tutorial tries to help those first time jailbreakers by covering both the jailbreak process step by step and also how to use cydia to install an app.
Do not try to jailbreak if you don't like when things go to (expletive). If you need your device for your business and being without it for any period of time will cause you to loose your job - stop now. If you get mad at your significant other at how they fold towels or put the toilet paper on a roll - Jailbreaking is probably not for your personality. Sometimes things break and your device will likely crash more often then if it was not jailbroken. Apple "claims" jailbreak voids your warranty if that is an issue stop now. Squaretrade still covers jailbreaking.
If your iOS device is already jailbroken - then check out this video tutorial on how to back up your jailbroken iOS device. (Thanks Brian for putting this together.)
Step 0 - Before you start make sure you update your iOS device to iOS 4.3.1 if you have not done so already. If you do not know how to update your iOS device jailbreaking may not be for you.
Step 1 - Close out iTunes and Turn off your iOS Device (make sure your iOS device is connected to your computer)
Step 2 - Create a folder called "jailbreak431" on your desktop.
Step 3 - Download Redsn0w from the following links
Step 6 - Move IPSW file into your Jailbreak431 folder.
Step 7 - Open the Jailbreak431 folder and then the Redsn0w folder and launch the Redsn0w App.
Step 8 - Click the browse button and find the Jailbreak431 folder and choose the IPSW file (Firmware).
Step 9 - Click the "Next" button once the firmware has been successfully identified
Step 10 - You will then be taken to a screen on the Redsn0w app that asks you to "select your options" - Instal Cydia will already be selected. For most users that is all you want selected - then click "Next"
Step 11 - You need to make sure your iOS Device is both turned off and connected to your computer. Do not connect via a USB hub or Keyboard or monitor port - Connect directly from the Computer USB port to the iOS device.
Note: If you connect your turned off iOS device to the computer at this stage - it will likely turn on your iOS device. If so after it boots up - hold down the power button and slide to turn it off again.
Once you confirm you are connected directly to your computer and the iOS device is turned off - you can click "Next" - Note this next step will take some good timing and following of directions.
Step 12 - As soon as you click Next - you will need to hold down the power button for 3 seconds
Step 13 - Then you will need to continue to hold the power button while you hold down the home button for 10 seconds
Step 14 - Then you will release just the power button while continuing to hold down the home button for 15 seconds.
If you / when you mess this step up by releasing the wrong button(s) you can click the back button and try again.
Step 15 - You will see a message saying Waiting for reboot.
Then one that says "done" Do NOT click on Finish yet.
On your iOS device you will see a bunch of activity including some code - Do not remove the iOS device from the computer. After a minute or so you will see a Pineapple with legs and a message Moving Applications. At this point just be patient the jailbreak process is finishing up. It will take a few minutes for the process to finish and for your iOS device to reboot. If it has been more than 10 or 15 minutes and the iOS device screen is all black - tap the home button one time - chances are it finished and you missed it. If it shows the slide to unlock screen you can then click "Finish" in the Redsn0w App.
That is it - you are jailbroken.
Step 16 - You can now find the Cydia App on your iOS device. It is a brown icon and labeled as "Cydia". Note some reports say right after the jailbreak - the Cydia App is showing up as all white - but after a reboot of the iOS device it returns to its normal brown icon.
Step 17 - Tap on the Cydia App to launch it. The program will do some maintenance the first time you open it.
Step 18 - Once it is done it will open up and you should see a screen that look like that below.
One App almost everyone will want and that works on the iPhone's, iPod Touch's and the iPad is the app Backgrounder. This app allows true multitasking on your device and it is free. To install this app Tap on "Search" in the bottom row of Cydia and then in the search box type "backgrounder"
Next Tap on "Backgrounder from BigBoss" the second one - not the one that says "(2.x only)"
Then Tap on "Install" in the upper Right corner
Then Tap on "Confirm" in the upper Right corner
At this point you have installed your first jailbroken App. It is recommended you open up Backgrounder and adjust some of the settings.
First tap on "Global". After you make your donation that is.
Set all the switches to "ON". Then go Tap "Back" and then Tap "Control"
Finally scroll through and select how you want to be able to enable and disable backgrounding for apps. Personally I like the "Short Hold" of the Sleep Button. It makes it very easy to enable and is not likely going to be enabled by accident.
Thats it you are now jailbroken and have your first real jailbroken app running on your device.
Please understand sometimes installs of apps are interrupted - in which case you need to try and re-install. Things are not as stable when you jailbreak - expect some additional crashes and conflicts between apps.
Note: If you have an iPad - do not - repeat - do not - install Five icon dock - it will really mess up your iPad and you will need to restore it. However that app works great on the iPhone and iPod Touch.
Update: Make sure to read the comments at the end of trouble shoot help.
Per the following email and others I have heard from - it does seem AT&T is sending out their Tethering warning to users - not based on those they know are tethering - but rather those they think are tethering. Here is one of those emails.
Hey Rob,
I received the text telling me about the tethering plan as well. I assumed they were just suggesting it since I consume so much data, so I disregarded it. I have an iPhone 4 that I've never even jailbroken, much less tethered. But after listening to your latest podcast, I'm convinced that they think I'm tethering. Which means the decision to warn me is based on nothing more than my data usage. I watch a lot of Netflix on my phone, as well as stream all my podcasts, so I'm sure they hate me, but I have unlimited data, so I really don't care what they think.
Sincerely, Steve in Knoxville
So it will be interesting to see what type of PR Nightmare and I would guess eventual Class Action lawsuit AT&T will be getting themselves into - once they start changing the billing on customers that are not actually tethering - but just heavy data users. Fun Times
We will be updating with reports from Lines at Apple stores and other stores today. Add your info in the comments below.
OnLine Status:
I ordered through the apple store at 6:30am EST and was getting a 5-7 day ship time. Keith R
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I noticed the shipping times on the iPads has gone from 1 - 3 business days to 2 - 3 weeks.
John 11:00 AM ET
=========
Store Lines:
Apple Store - Woodland Mall - Grand Rapids MI.
At 11:00 AM EDT there are 27 in line. I'm #2 Best... Tom G
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Apple Store - Louisville KY - 40 in line at 11:05 ET
Update - 140 People in line - 1:56 PM ET
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Best Buy - Topeka - 1 Person in line 11:30 AM ET
Lot of unhappy people that thought they'd be getting one at 10am. Got here at 7:30, so far the only one to stay. Got my lawn chair, blanket, water and determination.
They are handing out numbers at 4:30 PM Jeffrey aka The Amish Phonebook Guy
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Best Buy - Hadley MA - No Line at 11:30 AM ET. Handing out numbers at 4:30 PM.
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AT&T - Hadley MA - No iPad2's coming today.
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Apple Store - Lexington KY - Fayette Mall - 40 in line - 12:12 PM ET
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Apple Store - Samta Rosa CA - 0 in Line 9:30 AM PT
Hi. Just left the Apple store in Samta Rosa Ca. at 9:30am No lines They will close this afternoon at 3 to set up for a 5:00pm opening. Cheers, Ron
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Apple Store - Temecula CA - 12 in Line 10:00 AM PT
Hey Rob, Chris in Temecula again, did a drive by on the Temecula Apple Store and there is less than 12 people in line with their folding chairs and black umbrellas. Looks like the store is ready for people to line up though as they have a cart of bottled water and more umbrellas outside the door. It is now 10 am. Thanks! Chris
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Apple Store - Novi Michigan - 100 people in Line - 1:00 PM ET
My SIL is in line at the Apple store in Novi, Michigan. It's 1:00 Eastern time. Been in line since 10:00 am. Says there are 100 people in line. Caryl G
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Apple Store - Knox Store Dallas - 17 in line - 11:34 PM CT
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Apple Store - Natick Mass - 20 People in line - 1:12 PM ET
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Apple Store - Danbury CT - 12 People in line - 11:50 AM ET
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Apple Store - Wellington Mall - West Palm Beach - 67 People in line - 2:30 PM ET
186 people at 4:15 PM.
Rob, I am in line at the Apple store in West Palm Beach at the Wellington Green mall. It is 2:30 and there are 67 people in line. The person in the first position tells me he got into line at 8:30 last night. Fred
I was 38th in line and when I got to the front I was told they have no ATT 3G models left at all. Sigh Fred
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Apple Store - Chestnut Hill - 20 People in line - 1:26 PM ET
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Best Buy - Springfield MO - 50 in line - 1:57 PM CT
Here at 1100 today im number 10, i called att and sams club they do Not have any, heard target had 4 , bb willnnot say how many they have. 1240 now 20 in line- Steve
Its 2:00 50 in line , they are believed to have 300 just a rumor sorry best buy not speaking. Steve
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Hey Rob, Called the local Verizon store in Michigan and they have no iPads in the store. He said Apple release them so fast that they was unable to get them from the warehouse to the Verizon store in time for today. But he did say that you could call back after 5 and they would take your order and ship the iPad Monday. I ordered my iPad 2 from the apple website this morning and received a order acknowledge a few hours later. In the acknowledgment it claims to ship the iPad 2 in 3-5 business days with a estimated delivery of Mar 18-25! There is some good news, my smart cover has a delivery date of Mar 18-21 lol. I guess apple didn't want to leave me empty handed and hopes the smart cover will hold me over until my iPad 2 comes! Quincy
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Apple Store - Palm Beach Gardens Mall - 40 in line at 3:00 PM ET
Rob,
I called the PBG Apple Store and was told that an hour ago there were about 40 in line for the iPad2.
Luis
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Apple Store - NJ - 50 People in line at 3:15 PM ET
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Apple Store - Chestnut Hill, MA - 90 in line at 3:30 PM ET, 150 people at 4:00 PM ET.
About 50th in Chestnut Hill, MA About 40 behind me now. Are being told that there will be enough. No line at Target in Watertown, MA. I just called them. Apple just gave out 20oz bottles of SmartWater to all. -- Marc via iPhone 4
Apple store at Chestnut Hill, MA They ran our of black 64GB+3G. I guess they proud to have whites :-)
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Apple Store - Flatiron Xing - Denver - 70 People in line at 2:30 PM MT
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Apple Store - PeachTree City GA - 30 people in line 4:45 PM ET
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Apple Store - Birmingham AL - Summit store - 100+ in line at 4PM ET
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Best Buy - San Antonio TX - 17 People in line at 4:00 PM CT
Hey Rob! Just wanted to give u a status update from San Antonio, TX. Just showed up to BEST BUY @ the Forum about 4:00pm. Line isn't bad - about 17 people ahead of me laughing and joking with each other just trying to beat the heat. Best buy is handing out tickets @ 430 and product @ 500pm. Im hopeful, but it's not the end of the world if I don't get one. Take care and keep up the good work - thanks for being you!
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Apple Store - Tucson, AZ - 145 in line at 3:28 PM MT
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Apple Store - Greensboro NC - 200+ people in line at 5:33 PM ET
The line is wrapped around the Apple store at Friendly Center. There must be over 200 people in line. I don't think the locals got the message about Walmart or Target selling it.
Brent
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Best Buy - Burnsville MN - 3 People in line at 4:56 PM CT
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Apple Store - Schaumburg, IL - 75 people in line at 4:33 PM CT
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Apple Store - Raleigh NC - 500 People in line at 5:00 PM ET
Word is coming out that in the UK carriers are dropping prices of the iPad - implying the iPad 2 is right around the corner. Plus you know the iPad2 is right around the corner. This means it is time for the iPad2 rumor bingo card. There have been a lot of different rumors about the iPad2 - some going back to right after the iPad launched. The Bingo card above shows many of these rumors. Some will likely be spot on - most will miss the mark - others are just silly. Per my thoughts on those above:
What the Frack is wrong with the NY Times or more specifically Joe Nocera at the NY Times. Did Steve Jobs drown his puppy and run off with his Wife too? Not sure how else to explain the "Article" he posted titled - Verizon Deal May Expose iPhone Flaws. To say it is a flawed post filled with mis-information and is highly biased is really understating how bad this "Article" is. Did the NY Times fire all the editors? To start we have this quote
"Yet for all that it offers, the iPhone has always been plagued by serious drawbacks. The “phone” part of the iPhone has never worked very well, dropping calls with annoying regularity. Even when the phone works, the sound quality is often substandard. You would think in an age when fewer people are using landlines this would matter. Apparently not."
What is not mentioned by Joe is that the iPhone works very well in other countries on other networks. And even in the US the iPhone 4 works very well depending on where you live. NY and San Fran - not so much. But in Kansas City where I live the iPhone 4 is rock solid and the sound quality of the calls is far better than my Wife's smartphone on T-Mobile. I have found the iPhone 4 works in areas my iPhone 3GS never worked.
Joe continues with these gems:
"the iPhone’s lack of a raised keyboard makes it next to impossible to do serious e-mailing. And users have to worry constantly about battery life; if they’re not judicious, the iPhone’s battery can be drained by noon."
Ummm - WOW. Really Joe you are going back to 2007 to bitch about the lack of a Physical Keyboard? That horse has not just been beaten to death - the corpse has long since decomposed and and turned to dust which was then blown away. It is 2011 and to date over 160 Million iOS devices with the virtual keyboard have been sold. Joe - GET OVER IT. Per the second part of that quote - Battery Life - What the Frack? Really - you are complaining about the iPhone's battery life - well then you are about the only one. The iPhone 4 has great battery life, and better than almost all other full screen smart phones. Battery Life ? Joe? Really? Please let us know exactly what other full screen smart phones have a better battery life. Oh I will do that for you - see this link. Looks like only the Droid X has better battery life. Battery Life is not a complaint I get from my listeners. Surely you are not complaining about the lack of a removable battery? If so see comments above about 2007 and the dead horse.
"They never make design compromises at Apple. They make consumer compromises. Yet consumers have always been willing to overlook those compromises so they can claim they own some of the coolest products on the planet."
Joe it appears you just don't get it (understatement of the year). Even if people were just buying the iPhone because it was cool - that would not explain why it turns up on top of EVERYconsumer survey for customer satisfaction. Regardless of the motivation of why people are buying the iPhone - they clearly are very happy once they do get the device. I will not get into the condescending message your quote sends - but clearly you think iPhone owners are mindless drones. Which obviously hit you pretty hard when you found out your son was one of those mindless drones - since he wants the iPhone too. Luckily Joe for your son intelligence comes from the Mother - and that is a better explanation on why your son wants the iPhone.
"As much as anything, the success of Android is what finally pushed Apple into the arms of Verizon Wireless, which got much better terms than AT&T. ... In truth, Apple needed Verizon Wireless more than Verizon Wireless needed Apple. The deal the two companies cut reflects that fact."
Is that the deal that does not put any Crapware on the iPhone and does not put the Verizon Logo on the iPhone? You say "In Truth" like it is fact. But what about the fact that AT&T was adding more subscribers than Verizon every quarter. Reality is both needed each other - but Verizon needed the iPhone more than Apple needed Verizon. Subscriber growth is the life blood for carriers and the iPhone is the key reason why AT&T continually was beating Verizon.
"Mainly, though, the Verizon Wireless subscriber is simply used to a different kind of experience. If they all migrate immediately to the iPhone, then truly I will raise the white flag."
White flags are something you waive in Battle. Obviously Joe, you feel you are in a war with the iPhone - and that comes through perfectly clear in your very biased article. However, what is also very clear based on your mis-information and lack of any real research is that you showed up to a gun fight with just a knife. Remember when you are waiving your white flag to raise it high above your head we would not want you shot by one of those mindless iPhone buying drones or your own son. Metaphorically speaking that is.
What the Frack is wrong with Consumer Reports. Did Steve Jobs drown their puppies before running off with their wives? Because Consumer Reports clearly has become biased in their reporting of the iPhone. And this is really clear with the BS post they put up on the 11th.
They recommended against the Verizon iPhone because it is "middle aged" - ie a new one is likely coming in June - and yes we know that - but that there are new versions of phones from all other manufactures released in shorter periods was not mentioned. Mac Observer had this great observation to make about Consumer Reports "Middle Aged" comments.
By the reasoning they supplied, no one should ever buy a new phone unless it’s the iPhone, and only when it’s a few weeks old.
Consumer Reports also pointed out the issues with CDMA - but did not say that is true of all the smart phones on Verizon. And the craziest of their issues was:
"the iPhone 4 has a 3.5-inch screen in an era where the number of smart phones with 4-inch-plus screens has swelled"
Huh - What the Frack? Did Consumer Reports mention the Retina display has better resolution than the two 4 inch smart phones on Verizon - NOPE. And did they mention those two 4 inch smart phones came out in June & September - You know being "Middle Aged"That was also be a big NOPE.
Did Consumer Reports - report about the lack of Crapware on the iPhone on Verizon - and that it is the only SmartPhone on Verizon without the Crapware - NOPE. They did point out there are 4G Phones out there and listed the CDMA iPhone as a disadvantage compared to 4G. Did Consumer Reports talk about the sparse coverage of 4G at this time? or the battery sucking issues with 4G phones? or that 4G phones on Verizon will not be out until mid-2011?. NOPE, NOPE and NOPE!!!
What did they report about of substance? Well that is not clear - other than they don't like the iPhone 4 and they miss their puppies and wives. When all is said and done I think Antenna Gate and the iPhone 4 will have taken a much bigger toll on Consumer Reports than Apple. At the post on Consumer Reports - the comments are filled with people saying they are canceling their subscriptions to Consumer Reports - and Rightly so.
The Verizon iPhone rumor started back on November 27th 2007. I have since that time been saying 2012 for the Verizon iPhone. I am now changing my tune and officially jumping on the Verizon iPhone rumor Bandwagon. I think the Verizon iPhone will be announced on 1/11/11 at 11:00 AM ET at Verizon's Special event - Just 1141 days since the original rumor surfaced. Here are the reasons why I think this will finally happen.
1. The Verizon Event is 2 days after CES - why not have the event at CES with all the press there already. It would mean the event needs to be something that does not fit in with CES - Like an Apple Announcement. 2. Gizmodo is not invited to the event. 3. MG Sigler is invited - personally and not through tech crunch. MG is the biggest iPhone proponent at Tech Crunch and sometimes the only iPhone Proponent at Tech Crunch. 4. The Event is in NY - the city that is by far the worst of all the Cities for the iPhone on AT&T. What a nice little Jab at AT&T to have it there. I mean invite the press most of which have iPhones to the one place their iPhones will not work. Both Evil and Brilliant at the same time.
5. AT&T just lowered the pricing of the iPhone 3GS to $49, plus you had the lower prices in December for the iPhone from Radio Shack, Best Buy, Sams Club and Radio Shack again. Seems like AT&T is trying to get as many people locked into two more years as they could before the Verizon announcement.
The Stars are all aligning for a Verizon iPhone announcement on 1/11/11 at 11:00 AM. If Verizon does not announce the iPhone at the event, they will have jumped the PR shark even more so than Apple did with their lame Beatles Announcement last year. But at least with that Apple had the good foresight not to invite the press to a special event - just a web page.
If you have listened to the Today in iOS podcast long enough you know that I have a love / hate relationship with stats. As in I love them when they prove my point and hate then when they don't.
Well Google just gave some stats I kind of think I love. Way back in August Google said Android phones were being activated at a clip of 200,000 per day. And that was the last time they talked about those numbers - that is until Monday December 6th when Google said they are now up to 214,000 activations per day.
During that time Apple went from 230,000 activations of iOS devices per day on September 1st to 270,000 average activations per day in Mid October. Which is a nice growth vs Android phones which actually have seen lower per day activation numbers since August. But Rob Going from 200,000 to 214,000 is an increase you say. Ah but least we forget that the Samsung Galaxy tab which is in that 214,000 per day number and they represent approx. 17,000 activations per day. So for Android phones since August there is actually about a 3,000 per day decrease. See why I can love stats.
And if you take these number further. On an average day there are 56,000 more iOS devices activated then there are Android devices. But since everyone likes to talk about quarterly numbers - this quarter based on those number Apple will increase its lead of iOS over Android OS by over 5 Million units. That is a lot more potential iOS customers for App developers vs Android.
It looks like third time is a charm - As in third golden master. Or I guess first - really as both iOS 4.2 GM's were bypassed for iOS 4.2.1 - so for the public there is no iOS 4.2. Just a jump to iOS 4.2.1. We have mentioned some of the new features in the past - but a quick summary of the new features are:
1. AirPrint - Which allows direct Printing to an ePrint Printer, or to any printer connected to your Mac - while you Mac is turned on.Update - Per printing to any Printer connected to a mac that was true in the beta version of Mac OS 10.6.5 - but was removed for the GM version.
2. AirPlay - Which allows streaming of audio or video from your iOS device to your Apple TV.
3. Improved Bluetooth control - allowing for AVRCP control. You know skip tracks, volume control, and more from your bluetooth headset.
4. Find my iOS device - for free. You can easily set up your iOS device for the find my device feature and if your device gets lost - you can locate it on a map, send a message to it, lock it down or even remote wipe it - all for free - no more need for a paid mobileme account.
NOTE: If your iPhone is Unlocked and/or your iOS device is Jailbroken - you should not update to iOS 4.2.1 at this time. Please wait for more info on this to come shortly (hopefully).
If you are on an iPad - you get all the features from iOS 4.0 and 4.1 as well. So for iPad owners it is a major plus plus update. For iPad owners you also get - folders, multitasking, GameCenter, Unified Mailbox, iAds, and a bunch of smaller features.
If you have an iPhone 3G - iOS 4.2.1 brings one key new feature - Usability - as in you can use your iPhone 3G again. If you updated your iPhone 3G to iOS 4.0 or iOS 4.1 - you may have noticed a little bug where in your iPhone 3G slowed to 1/4 impulse power. Well now it looks like your iPhone 3G is back up to full impulse power. Granted not at warp speed like the iPhone 4 - but back to what you were used to in iOS 3.x
"The Find My iPhone (or iPad or iPod touch) feature is now free to use without a MobileMe℠ subscription and helps you locate your missing device.* The Find My iPhone app is a free download on the App Store℠ and lets users easily locate a missing device on a map and have it display a message or play a sound. Users can even remotely lock or wipe data from a lost device to protect privacy."
I set this up for my iPhone 4 and it was quick to set up and easy to use and I did not have to pay for mobile me for this. So I do find it interesting that Apple made one of the most compelling reasons for getting mobileme - a free option. I wonder if this means in the near future all of mobileme features will be free to iOS owners. I hope so.
According to Apple you can use Find My iPhone for free with your iPhone 4, iPad, or 4th generation iPod touch that has iOS 4.2 installed. Or you can use Find My iPhone with a paid MobileMe subscription. Again not sure on that paid subscription thing now. But lets say you have in addition to an iOS device from 2010 (iPhone 4, iPad or iPod touch 4th gen) that have a pre 2010 iOS device. Like the iPhone 3GS or iPhone 3G and you want to set up find my iPhone on them - are you SOL - NO no you are not. You just need to set up your 2010 iOS device first.
Life hacker has an article that goes over this. I have not had a chance to try this out on my 3GS yet - as I have not updated it to iOS 4.2.1 - as it is jailbroken and I was going to wait. But if anyone else does this with success - as the authors of the lifehacker article claim to - please let me know. But it does look like it is easy to do assuming you also happen to have a 2010 iOS device.
One other feature I did not mention that is added to iOS 4.2.1 is the ability to set specific SMS alert tones for your contacts. You are still limited to using the stock SMS tones - but that list of stock SMS tones has grown - but sadly most are still long tones - which is not the best for Text messages. Who wants a 10 sec tone when you are getting a test message every 5 secs. Just sayin. So this is not custom SMS tones - it is specific SMS tones from a predetermined list of tones that you can assign to your contacts - which is still much better than how it was before - if you are someone that is looking to set up specific tones to different people.
Feedback from many different listeners has been very positive for this update. The one issue that has been reported more than once was after the initial update - the Apps and podcasts did not get sync'd over and it required another sync to get that content brought over. So as long as you are NOT jailbreaking and / or unlocking - it does look safe to update. But you should still backup before you do the update - as always.
