Sunday, May 16, 2010

Cydia upgrade fixes missing category on/off toggles, loading changes delay

Open up Cydia and do a complete upgrade!

The new Cydia seems to solve the problem of missing and disappearing toggles on categories (while editing), and also fixes the unusually long time taken by Cydia to show updates when you touch the 'Changes' section. It also shows a popup with a spinner that tells you changes are being loaded. These issues were mostly seen on the iPhone 3G[s].

Monday, May 3, 2010

What happens when you flash the 5.12 baseband with 5.11?

Now that Spirit came out and allowed all the 3.1.3/5.12.01 folks to have MobileTerminal on their iPhones, I tried a small #fail experiment: reflash the 5.12.01 baseband with 5.11.07.

To all those curious as to why and what: There is NO known software unlock for the baseband that comes with stock Apple 3.1.3 firmware. That baseband is 5.12.01. The older version, 5.11.07 that came with 3.1.2 can be unlocked using blacksn0w RC2 available from the Pushfix Cydia repo.

As described on extechblog by crazyfool2100 which only applies for re-flashing a corrupted 5.11.07 baseband, this was applied instead to a fresh 3.1.3/5.12.01. It was bound to fail, I was just curious to see the output to find out at what point it actually fails. Guess?

Validating parameters...OK
Disabling thermal Notifications...OK
Disabling sleep...OK
Configuring Hardware Mux...OK
Opening device path /dev/cu.debug, using initial baud 115200
- Ping failed, trying again, 56 tries left
- Ping failed, trying again, 55 tries left
- Ping OK
Gathering modem information...OK
Checking Static EEP backup...
- backup is OK
Checking Static EEP backup -- All OK
Firmware Version: ICE2-05.12.01
EEP Version: EEP_VERSION:708
EEP Revision: EEP_REVISION:1
Boot Loader Version: ICE2_BOOT_06.04_G2M3S2
FLS/EEP Mismatch: Match
Configuring Hardware Mux...OK
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BEGINNING BOOT
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sending boot code...- GKEY: 0x21
OK
Reading Reference file ICE2_05.11.07.fls...OK
Sending EBL Loader...
Sending EBL Loader Length...OK
Sending EBL Loader Data...OK
Sending EBL Loader Checksum...OK
Sending EBL Loader -- All OK
Sending EBL...
Sending EBL Length...OK
Sending EBL Data and Checksum...OK
Sending EBL -- All OK
Getting EBL Version......OK
- Boot Mode 0xCC
- EBL Version Major/Minor: 6.2
- EBL Version 'ICE2_RAM_B'
- Flashing Compression: 0, CRC Type: 0, CRC Method: 1
Reading Reference file ICE2_05.11.07.fls...OK
Sending Protocol configuration...OK
Sending Flash ID...OK
Doing CFI Stage 1...OK
Doing CFI Stage 2...OK
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DONE BOOT
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Getting software version of file ICE2_05.11.07.fls...OK
Increasing baud rate to 921600...OK
Validating EBL Version...OK
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SENDING FLS FILE: ICE2_05.11.07.fls
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loading FLS file ICE2_05.11.07.fls...OK
>> Sending Block of type CodeClass(0) from file ICE2_05.11.07.fls...
Beginning Dynamic EEP erase at 0x20E40000 to 0x20EBFFFE...
Progress: 0 percent, 0 of 524286
Progress: 100 percent, 524286 of 524286. OK
Sending Security Block...OK
Erasing Load Area from 0x20040000 to 0x20693196 (this will take some time)...OK
Sending data for mapping 0: progress: 0 percent, 0 of 6631832
...
progress: 100 percent, 6631832 of 6631832. -- OK
Checking validation result... - Warning: Validation result code indicates failure, result code = 0x0

OK
>> Sending Block of type CodeClass(0) from file ICE2_05.11.07.fls -- All OK
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DONE SENDING FLS FILE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SENDING EEP FILE: ICE2_05.11.07.eep
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Loading EEP file ICE2_05.11.07.eep...OK
>> Sending Block of type StaticEEPClass(0) from file ICE2_05.11.07.eep...
Sending Security Block...OK
Erasing Load Area from 0x20FC0000 to 0x20FC57FE ...OK
Sending EEP Payload...progress: 9 percent, 2048 of 22528
...
progress: 100 percent, 22528 of 22528. -- OK
Checking validation result...OK
>> Sending Block of type StaticEEPClass(0) from file ICE2_05.11.07.eep -- All OK
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DONE SENDING EEP FILE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Powering radio down...OK
Doing a hardware reset through AppleBaseband
Waiting for baseband power-up...
- Ping failed, trying again, 56 tries left
- Ping failed, trying again, 55 tries left
- Ping failed, trying again, 54 tries left
- Ping failed, trying again, 53 tries left
- Ping failed, trying again, 52 tries left
- Ping failed, trying again, 51 tries left
- Ping failed, trying again, 50 tries left
- Ping failed, trying again, 49 tries left
- Ping OK
- Baseband took 8.210041 seconds to power up
Powering off radio...
Powering off radio -- All OK
Waiting for baseband power-up -- All OK
Re-enabling thermal Notifications...OK
Re-enabling sleep...OK

The only thing that seems wrong is the line in red... but it's a warning, with status code zero, which usually means nothing went wrong?

So the flashing process reported an error... almost nowhere (captured both stdout and stderr). From the output, it seems that you've just flashed a 5.12.01 with 5.11.07. It's important to note that the files were taken from stock 3.1.2 firmware, any altered file will just not pass signature validation.

When you reboot (or re-enable CommCenter) after this operation, what modem firmware does Settings -> General -> About show? 5.12.01!

It's a well known fact that you cannot downgrade a baseband like you can downgrade OS firmware. Back in the days of baseband bootloader 5.8 on the iPhone 3G, an exploit was discovered which allowed the bootloader to be compromised. An older version of the baseband could then be flashed (that's what Fuzzyband does – iPhone 3G only).

Who's looking forward to the next Fuzzyband for 3GS?! Hope something comes out...

Spirit problems with Camera Roll!

A number of users have reported having problems with their camera roll contents getting deleted after applying the spirit jailbreak. So make sure to back up the contents of your camera roll! Also users have reported:

  • Not being able to sync photos via iTunes
  • iPod or iPhone not recognized in iPhoto and Image Capture apps
The only workaround known is to BACKUP your camera roll contents before applying Spirit jailbreak to your iPhone / iPod. Keep watching as this space updates possibly with new workarounds!

Update 1: Spirit is updated to fix the camera roll deletion bug and windows problems!

You can get spirit here: http://spiritjb.com

Sunday, May 2, 2010

The Spirit is freed... finally!

What's Spirit?
  • Spirit is an untethered jailbreak for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch on the latest firmwares.
  • Spirit is not a carrier unlock.
  • If you currently are using a tethered jailbreak, you have to restore to use Spirit. Do not upgrade if you use an unlock on an iPhone 3G or 3GS. (You can, however, restore to 3.1.2 if you have SHSH blobs for that version.)
Requirements
  • Any iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch on firmware 3.1.2, 3.1.3, or 3.2.
  • An activated device: one not stuck on the Connect to iTunes or Emergency Call screen.
  • Any version of iTunes 9 (including 9.1.1).
  • Syncing with iTunes before trying this highly recommended.
Go get it now at http://spiritjb.com


Saturday, May 1, 2010

iPad 3G confirmed unlocked!

The following post was made on the dev-team blog by a member rtheron. Good news for all those waiting for the iPad 3G – you can just cut out any SIM into a Micro-SIM and plug it in!

Hi

I'm a south african living in seattle, moved here about 5 months ago, and picked up my iPad 3G today

I still maintain my south african cellphone account, and decided to try the simcard out in the iPad 3G

I cut the mini sim to match the size of the micro sim, and so that the contact points that appear worn match the only contact points on the att micro sim, and put the custom cut vodacom micro sim inside the micro sim tray and locked it in the ipad

I had to manually configure the data apn for the cellular network, and go turn data roaming on, but after that, all was fine, data worked and I could use my iPad as normal

this confirms two things:
a mini sim can be cut into a micro sim
the iPad is indeed not network locked

Friday, April 30, 2010

Spirit intended for April 30, delayed by a few days

New dev-team member @comex (thanks to his mighty find 'Spirit') recently tweeted a reply to someone asking for an ETA on Spirit availability. According to this tweet, Spirit is intended for release on April 30, Friday!

Later on:
"Works for all *activated* iPhones, iPads, and iPod touches. Not Friday. via Twitterrific"

I turns out that Spirit is delayed by a few days. You can find official links and information ONLY on the dev-team blog: http://blog.iphone-dev.org

Friday, April 23, 2010

Unlocking an Orange UK iPhone 3GS (from another country)

Note: I have heard from many people that iPhones in the UK, though locked, activate with SIM cards from any UK provider. There is also speculation that these phones lock to the provider whose SIM was used to activate them. Unverified information. :)

If you have a phone that was bought from Orange (or from the Apple Store UK, for Orange) you can request Orange to unlock anytime if you have a contract SIM or anytime after three months of use for a Pay-as-you-go SIM.

If you are based out of the UK, got your phone from a grey market and were lucky enough that it turned out to be an Orange UK phone, you can do the following:

1) Buy an Orange PAYG SIM card on eBay.co.uk and have it shipped to you.

2) Register the SIM online on Orange's website. Use the correct iPhone IMEI when asked. Enter a valid UK address that you can remember later.

3) Activate your iPhone with this SIM if it isn't already activated (you can activate before registering as well)

4) Once you register the SIM it will become active within 24 hours. Note that you will be on International Roaming. If the SIM doesn't seem to be active even after 24 hours (you still get No Service on iPhone) then just put the SIM in another unlocked phone and it will have service. Put it back in the iPhone then.

5) When you register your SIM you are told you will receive a 4-digit secret identification code. If you do not receive this SMS you can always call up Orange Services and ask for this code (they might ask your address/postcode to confirm).

6) Set up your account on Orange UK website. You will need the 4-digit secret code to have full account access.

7) Top up some money. 10 pounds or 20. You do not need to top up every month, unless you want the animal benefits that come with the SIM. It's only useful for UK subscribers.

8) After 3 months call up Orange and ask for unlock. They will ask all sorts of information to verify your identity. They will ask your 4-digit code. Your postcode and address. If everything is right, your IMEI. You will need to allow them to deduct 20 pounds as an unlock fee.

9) Orange claims it takes 14 days to get your unlock code, but it's hardly over 3 days. That's the time it takes an Orange employee to forward your request. Once it reaches Apple the unlock is instant.