Samad's Blog

Try Before you Buy – AppStore

Samad — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 06:44:04 +0000

Install the Hackulo.us repository as outlined in a previous post. Tap on Sections and navigate to Hackulo.us folder. Install the following files:

AppSync for 3.0
Installous

Restart your iPhone, and then launch Installous. Search for your AppStore application and download/install it. Once you’re satisfied with its usage, delete the application and purchase it from the AppStore!

Requested iPhone Features Available through Cydia

Samad — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 06:41:13 +0000

Many requested features for the iPhone are available through 3rd party extensions on Cydia. Below you will find a list of commonly requested features that can be added through the application. Simply search on Cydia using the name and you’ll find what you’re looking for! This list is constantly updated as new applications come out.

Video Recording (2G/3G only): Cycorder
Themes: Winterboard
Music Sharing: MewSeek
Ringtones: PhoneZap
Password Protect Applications: Lockdown

Repositories to Add

Samad — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 06:34:09 +0000

Cydia allows for the addition of as many repositories as you want. What is a repository? It’s basically a webserver that hosts files that you can install on your iPhone. Some repositories, such as Hackulo.us, allows you to add increased functionality to your phone’s backend. Others, such as XSellize, allow you to download and try out applications before purchasing them. To add a repository in Cydia, follow these instructions:

Open up Cydia, and tap on Manage (it will take some time to load Cydia)
Tap on Sources
Tap “Edit” in the top right corner, and then in the top left corner type Add

Once on this screen, type in the full URL to the repository.

Hackulo.us: http://cydia.hackulo.us
XSellize: http://xsellize.com/cydia/user-password

XSellize requires a username and password to access their repository. Simply sign up on their website and you should be able to access it.

You’re done! You just added a repository in cydia

DS Modding Scene Still Alive!

Samad — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:51:30 +0000

With the upcoming release of the Nintendo DSi, you would think that people interested in the original DS and DS Lite would stop buying stuff for it. You’re wrong! The newer modding tools are designed to be compatible with not only the Nintendo DS (phat) and Nintendo DS Lite, but also the upcoming Nintendo DSi. I used to be big in the modding scene and had a few favorite shops, and one of those favorites closed down . However, I recently revisited the site and it looks like they’re gearing up for the DSi release and started it back up. Check them out at http://www.modmydsi.com – I recently spoke to a customer service representative and things look like they haven’t changed a bit – still great customer service and great prices!

Three Days Left in Windows Mobile 7 Beta!

Samad — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:53:06 +0000

For those of you unsatisfied with Windows Vista (which many of us are), Microsoft is developing an answer – Windows 7. At it’s initial release, the beta was available to the first 2.5 million people, but that has since changed to allow downloads until January 24th, as shown on the Windows 7 Team Blog. The beta expires on August 1st, 2009, on which day users may be forced to downgrade back to Vista SP1 or upgrade to Windows 7 Beta 2, if available.

Personally, I won’t be downgrading to Vista if there is no other beta out – I’ll be downgrading to XP SP3.

Yahoo Push Sucks Ass.

Samad — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:17:27 +0000

Push E-mail is supposed to be instant – as soon as I receive an e-mail in my inbox, I should get an alert on my phone. However, Yahoo’s service sucks ass – it doesn’t notify you as soon as you get an e-mail. I have a GMail account being checked every hour, and sometimes I receive e-mails on that quicker than I do on Yahoo (I forward all my GMail stuff to the Yahoo account just for the push feature, because I was under the impression that I would know instantly when I get an e-mail). I can’t wait til GMail comes out with Push, if ever.

BeejiveIM Settings Missing (iPhone)

Samad — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 04:53:29 +0000

Recently I installed BeejiveIM from the AppStore on my iPhone. Unfortunately, the settings for the program wouldn’t show up in Settings.app. After uninstalling and reinstalling it on the phone a few times, the problem was still there. Simply delete the application, hook up the iPhone to iTunes, and sync the application from your computer – it will fix everything

iPod Touch Home Button Issue

Samad — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:58:24 +0000

A few months ago I purchased an iPod touch from a local retailer. The three month exchange period from the retailer expired last month, and right around that time I started having an issue with the home button on my iTouch. The best way I can describe this is that the button seems to be recessed into the device itself. When I click the home button on the iPod, it will read it like a single click sometimes, but like a double click more often (bringing up the music menu if I’m not already in the music application). The intended behavior of this button is a single click will lead you to the home screen, and a double click will bring you to the menu.

I called up Apple tech support and they shipped me out a box to send my iPod back in, and once they received it they claimed it had no problems. WTF? I press the button once and it brings up the music menu!! I tried restoring the device before calling tech support along with taking off the screen protector (in case the button got stuck on it) and neither of those worked. Now I’ve got an iPod on the way that has a faulty home button that Apple claims works properly. Great! Anyone else have this type of issue? I expected Apple to be better about this stuff.. I guess I was wrong.

Downgrade your iPhone from 2.0 to 1.1.4

Samad — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 19:03:00 +0000

You can not downgrade firmware in iTunes 7.7, you will need to downgrade your iTunes first.

1. Download iTunes 7.5

2. XP: go to C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\My Documents\My Music\iTunes

Vista: go to C:\Users\USERNAME\Music\iTunes

Rename the file iTunes Library.itl to old.itl.

2. UnInstall your current iTunes. Start>Control Panel>Uninstall programs

3. Once iTunes is uninstalled, reboot your PC. Install iTunes 7.5.

4. Plug in your iPod – You will get an error says something like “iPod can not be used because it requires iTunes 7.7 or later.” Just click ok

5. Now Put your iPod into DFU mode.

1. Connect your iPod touch/iPhone to your computer with the USB cable.
2. Hold both power and home buttons at the same time and count to 10 (1 onethousand 2 onethousand etc. )
3. Let go of the Power button, continue to hold the home button until the iPod/iPhone connects back to iTunes.
- Be patient it can take some time sometimes while holding the home button. Also if your iPod/iPhone shows the connect to itunes symbol, your are not in DFU mode. It should look like the device is off.

6. Once into DFU mode, hold the shift key then click restore and select the 1.1.4 firmware. ( if you do not have the 1.1.4 iPod firmware you can download it here) (iPhone users – search their site! )

Once done upgrade back to iTunes 7.7 and delete the iTunes Library.itl and rename old.itl to iTunes Library.itl and you will have all your songs back.

Fixing Artwork On Your iPod Touch (Linux + Amarok)

Samad — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:39:53 +0000

Recently I decided to install Ubuntu linux on my laptop since Windows was giving me a lot of problems and it was getting to be about the time where I reformat all my computers to start out fresh. Instead of reinstalling Windows, I installed Linux.. but then realized that there is no iTunes for linux. WTF!! Searching around on Google, I found an alternate method to sync music to the iTouch wirelessly, however this “erased” all my artwork for my music. When I say “erased”, I mean it just took it out of the iTunes DB located on the iPod touch. I embed all of my artwork into the MP3/AAC files, so nothing is really ever lost unless I delete the song . Thanks to commenter #34 (Zubin) on http://blog.adaniels.nl/articles/iphone-amarok/, I was able to retreive my artwork and restore it into the iTunes DB located on my iPod. Thanks for the tip!! Here is the comment, quoted below:

actually, artwork DOES work in amarok 1.4.8 (and 1.4.6) if you are using the latest libgpod3. Make sure you have selected the iphone from the Ipod drop-down list in the Devices tab, and then use the ‘update artwork’ option. I have confirmed that this works myself.

UPDATE: It looks like only the first song in an album has the cover art – the rest don’t. I ended up ditching Linux for iPod management and only use my Windows PC at home with iTunes. Hopefully one day they release an iTunes for Linux