If you are still on iPhone 2G or 3G and are dreaming of having iOS 5 features in your phone, you are lucky. There is this new hack called Whited00r allows iOS 5 features to be installed on the original iPhone and iPhone 3G devices, as well as the early iPod touch models.
Whited00r will automatically jailbreak your device, and the latest version of Cydia, 1.1.3, will be installed on it. The biggest advantage of the tool, is that you will get true multitasking, and apps will keep in running state in the background.
Heres how to get iOS 5 on any older iDevice, even if it is not jailbroken:
Download the Whited00r IPSW file of your respective device. There is just one file each available for iPod touch models, but the iPhones have two versions of Whited00r files. If you want to hacktivate your device, download the Unlocker file, otherwise go for the Normal version.
The IPSW files are in zipped form. Unzip them and save on any location n your PC or Mac.
Although this is not necessary, but it’s better if you put your device in DFU mode. This can be done by holding the power and home button simultaneously for 10 seconds, and then releasing the Power button while holding Home for 20 seconds more. Your phone’s screen with go completely black in DFU mode.
Now, connect your device to your computer and launch iTunes. If in DFU, iTunes will automatically detect an iDevice connected in Recovery mode.
For PC, press SHIFT key and the Restore button in iTunes simultaneously, while for Mac, ALT+Restore is required.
Point iTunes to the saved IPSW file, and then restore your device.
It might take about 15 minutes for the custom IPSW to be installed on your iPhone, and once you restart it, you can start enjoying iOS 5 on your iDevice.
I will be waiting for iOS 4.1 which will be releasing on the 8th of Sept. Lifehacker has posted this video comparing an iPhone 3G running iOS 4.0 with one running iOS 4.1. In few instance iOS 4.1 bests iOS 4.0, by as much as 10 seconds. Pretty cool..
While the speed advantages ranged from marginal to significant, iOS 4.1 clearly outperformed iOS 4.0. It’s still significantly slower performance than you’ll get from a 3GS or iPhone 4, and we’re still not sure it’s a big enough improvement that 3G owners will want to ditch iOS 3. The most obvious difference was UI responsiveness. The UI didn’t get stuck nearly as much on an interface element or when trying to enter text. If you are set on using iOS 4, the upgrade is worthwhile for that alone.
Earlier users who upgraded to iOS 4 on their iPhone 3G had reported serious slowdown of their phones, with some units becoming “unusable.” In July, Apple told the Wall Street Journal that it was aware of the reports and looking into the matter. Finally iOS 4.1 will solve this sluggish issue.
For the first I experienced what it is like being a part of a live event at Apple. Thanks to Apple’s live streaming of the entire event, I followed every bit of the event on my iPhone. It was seamless and dint buffer even for a single second. Amazing. Coming to the iPhone bit of the event, Steve Jobs began by introducing iOS 4.1 for iPhone and iPod touch and said that it will show up by next week. iOS 4.1 will fix proximity sensor, bluetooth and will also fix iPhone 3G sluggishness.
And few cool new features in iOS 4.1 will include High Dynamic Range photos, the ability to upload HD video over Wi-Fi, TV show rentals, and a Game Center. Game Center looks to be too cool for all kinds of gamers.
CultofMac has this interesting post that will bring smiles to iPhone 3G owners who are running iOS 4. Here is what they had to say just a while back - In addition to Steve Jobs’ recently publicized email claiming a software update coming soon to fix the problems, the Blogosphere and Twitter are also carrying reports of big performance improvements with recent betas:
Tests with a beta version of Apple’s iOS 4.1 on a well-used 3G suggest that the new OS has increased the phone’s responsiveness. Indeed, apps load much more quickly, text entry is much smoother and the phone no longer slows down beyond the point of usability when more than one browser window is open. [The Next Web]
These have been among the most widely reported problems.
Tests conducted with the new beta version of iOS4.1 reveal that the phone’s responsiveness has actually improved! Apps can be downloaded faster, text can be entered more smoothly and the phone does not slow down when you open multiple browser windows. [Blogote]
Apple’s upcoming Media Event scheduled for early September would be a logical time to release this upgrade; some blogs are even reporting that it may come as soon as this week.
Several posts on Twitter also mention improvements:
jasondelacruz: I heard from a beta tester today that iOS 4.1 brings a huge performance improvement for iPhone 3g. Hang tight.
machelpblog: Beat [sic] testing iOS 4.1 on my iPhone 3G has been a great speed improvement. #iphone Thank you Apple!!!!
Interesting email exchange between a disgruntled iPhone 3G user and Steve Jobs. Covered by MacRumors:
I’ve waited patiently through 4.0.1 and 4.0.2, looking for a fix that will make my phone work again. I’ve read the forums that advise me to jailbreak my phone or use some other method so I can downgrade back to a version of iPhone 3, however I’m not prepared to use a method that is not supported by Apple.
Jobs’ response is typically succinct:
Software update coming soon.
Sent from my iPhone
Macrumors goes on to say – While Jobs did not offer details on the planned software update, he was most likely referring to iOS 4.1, which has been in testing with developers.
Found this interesting video at BusinessInsider.Made by Chris Pinnock and Mike Hellers is pretty cool; all four generations of the iPhone are put to a side-by-side speed test. Check it out. If you are on 3G or 2G, you will suddenly realize how slow your iPhone is:
zToggle lets you easily enable and disable multitasking and background wallpaper on your jailbroken iPhone 3G. You need to have a Jailbroken iPhone 3G/2G for this to work. With this mod, you wont need to use redsn0w or Pwnagetool to toggle Multitasking and Background Wallpapers anymore. Note that this only works with iPhone 3G.
Toggles for Multitasking and Background Wallpapers. No need to use redsn0w or Pwnage tools to toggle Multitasking and Background Wallpapers. This app will let you do that in seconds right from your iDevice. Note that this app is only for iPhone 3G. Users for other devices like iPod Touch can try but at your own risk
zToggle is created by Razi Iqbal and can be downloaded free from the BigBoss Cydia repository.
If you find yourself stuck with iOS after upgrading from 3.1.3 firmware, you could go with this lifehacker method of downgrading from iOS 4.0 back to 3.1.3 firmware. Go ahead and follow the steps mentioned below. Be sure to read every point mentioned below very carefully.
Note: The process should work nearly the same on Windows and OS X, so unless we say otherwise, you can follow the same steps on each. The main difference between Windows and OS X is RecBoot, so Windows users, make sure you pay close attention to the RecBoot process before diving in.
Step 1: Find or Download iOS 3.1.3 and RecBoot
The first thing you need to do is get a copy of the iPhone OS 3.1.3 image. There’s a good chance you’ve already got a backed up copy of the 3.1.3 release on your system, so let’s check there first. On OS X, check in ~/Library/iTunes/iPhone Software Updates. On Windows, your iPhone OS updates should be stored in C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes\iPhone Software Updates (or to get there more quickly, type Win+R and paste%appdata%\Apple Computer\iTunes\iPhone Software Updates). If you see a file inside this folder corresponding to iPhone1,1_3.1.3_7E18_Restore.ipsw oriPhone1,2_3.1.3_7E18_Restore.ipsw, those are likely the restore images you need.
If you don’t see anything that resembles the 3.1.3 OS or you just want to download a fresh version for good measure, web site iClarified has maintained a list of iPhone firmware files. Just find 3.1.3 for your phone (the 3G version points here and it’s what I used successfully) and download the 228MB file.
Next, download RecBoot from here (available for Windows and Mac). This handy little utility plays an important role in finishing off the downgrade.
Though iPhone OS 4.0 is yet to be released, hackers have already jailbroken the SDK version. Apple had earlier mentioned that multitasking will not be working on iPhone 3G and 2G versions. There is this Youtube users named iDarkMallocwho has a jailbroken iPhone 3G which has multitasking enabled. Check this video:
You can now buy iPhone 3G without contract from any Apple Store across the US. “Apple retail stores are now selling unrestricted quantities of the iPhone 3G at the full, non-subsidized price of $599 for the 8GB version and $699 for the 16GB models” reports AppleInsider.
The move follows AT&T’s plans to sell one phone per customer at the full price for existing customers of its service. In Apple’s case however, there is no limit on the number of phones a buyer can purchase, and no need to have an existing AT&T contract. Activation can completed by the customer at home through iTunes.
