dfbills.com blog

Erica Sadun has posted a simple, nerdy method for checking the availability of the iPhone 3.0 firmware.  The idea is to grab the XML returned from the iTunes iPhone software check. 


curl -s -L http://phobos.apple.com/version |\
grep -i restore |\
grep ‘_3.’ | open -f


To understand the output, you need to know which model you’re looking for.

iPhone- 1,1
iPhone 3G- 1,2
iPhone 3G S- 2,1

iPod Touch- 1,1
iPod Touch 2G- 2,1

When I see this- I know I’m golden:

iPhone1,2_3.0_7A341_Restore.ipsw

[via TUAW]

If you’ve been wondering how to disable the Exchange serve PIN requirement, here’s how to remove it. (at least partially)

1. Jailbreak

2. Use PhoneView to download /var/Managed Preferences/mobile/com.apple.springboard.plist

3. Edit the plist file and adjust settings as needed:


<key>PolicyInformation</key>
<dict>
<key>maxFailedAttempts</key>
<integer>5</integer>
<key>maxInactivity</key>
<integer>5</integer>
<key>minLength</key>
<integer>7</integer>
</dict>


4. Use PhoneView upload and overwrite com.apple.springboard.plist

5. Reboot your phone

6. Go into Settings.app and turn autolock and pin off

Note: The KillExchangeLocks application from Cydia does not appear to work.  Some people have pointed to a tightening of Apple’s security policies as the reason.  The app hasn’t been updated since the fall of 2008.

The plist is automatically updated approximately once per day, so I’ll be looking into a cron-based solution soon.

On my system, only the “passcode required” value seems to reset.  I don’t mind a 4-hour lockdown.  It seems like a reasonable amount of security.  This is much better than the 1 minute interval I was stuck with and now I can actually keep my screen from auto-locking when I use SlingPlayer.

Skype, Inc. has just released the official Skype app for the iPhone.  Available for free today on the Apple App Store, you can now make free skype to skype calls, paid Skype-out calls & instant message. 

Wi-Fi is required to make calls, but this is to be expected as it is an Apple-imposed restriction. 

Reacting to the rejection of the latest Tweetie twitter client, Dan Moren wrote “Apple rejects Twitter app because there’s swearing on the Internet” for Macworld.

Regardless, the review process for iPhone apps needs to be standardized, and it needs to be done now, not later. Apple’s created an impressive business out of the App Store — it’s time to stop acting like it’s being run out of a garage.

The ending phrase: “run out of a garage” so perfectly sums up my feelings on the matter.

[via Daring Fireball]

Google has just launched Google Sync service for the iPhone in beta form.  Google Sync is a Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync push service that works with GMail’s contacts and Google Calendar. 

Can push GMail be far behind?

Apple announced a variable-pricing model for the music offered on the iTunes store.  The new, tiered pricing will be launched in the spring at the $0.69, $0.99 and $1.29 price points.  Phil Schiller assured the crowd that more tracks would be priced toward the bottom tier than the top.

Additionally and perhaps more importantly, all music from the major labels will be available DRM-free in the iTunes Plus format by the end of Q1 2009.

Finally, label and carrier restrictions have been lifted for the iTunes Mobile Store on the iPhone and iPod Touch allowing over-the-air downloading of music with no artificial restrictions.  Pricing and content is identical to the desktop offerings.  Hopefully, video will come soon-

The iBluetooth Team has just released Bluesn0w – Bluetooth Keyboard on iPhone.  The software implements a fully functional Bluetooth Stack that runs on iPhone.

I’m surprised it took this long to make this a reality.

[via iPhone-Hacks.com]

iPhone-Hacks.com has posted a comprehensive (and simple) guide: “How to Jailbreak and Unlock your iPhone 3G.”  Good to see that the full “hack” is available again.

New iPhone website for everything iPhone at a glance- iPhone FTW! It’s like popurls. . .but for the iPhone.  This new resource is brought to you by Doug of Installer Apps fame. 

The Apple iTunes App Store is now serving more than 2 million apps daily.  When it was announced, it felt like a game-changer to me, but many analysts theorized that the initial hype would blow over.  At 2 million (and growing) this business is shaping up to be much more than hype.

It seems that predictions of a $1 billion market place are right on track for 2009.