Jailbreaking the iPhone for the benefit of science is a lofty task, especially for people who have too much time in their hand to tinker with new technology. When it first came out in 2007, the first thing I did was immerse myself in firmwares and basebands and scripts until I got familiar with its file system. Now two generations later, Apple still makes incredible attempts to plug holes and stop people from messing up with their systems.

Currently I'm on 3.1.2 and the latest firmware as of writing is 3.1.3. With the release of the iPad and the 4.0 SDK, another upgrade is imminent. To preserve the status quo on my present setup, I sync with iTunes regularly to backup my files and keep a handy set of utilities.

One pitfall I always find myself in is the endless loop of apple logo display that does not proceed to boot up. I also encounter the dreaded iTunes 16xx or 20xx errors when I try to restore to custom firmware. This usually happens when I'm doing a lot of surfing or launching games that connects to the Internet. My phone works fine while I'm doing all those stuff but when I put it down and maybe leave it overnight, or put it in airplane mode while I'm in transit (usually for an hour or so), I find that upon waking it from sleep mode,  it suddenly couldn't connect to my wireless routers anymore.

I then do the customary shutdown and startup just in case there are some background processes hogging the cpu or something, but this often triggers the endless loop problem. In case it does boot up properly and still can't connect to the wireless server, I then continue with resettting the network settings, which might actually fix the issue if it can bypass the endless loop syndrome.

After much hands-on experience with phenomenon, I've devised ways to prepare myself for the impending doom and I've amassed a collection of nifty implements to get me out of jeopardy and back into the almost perfectly working world of fw 3.1.2. What can I say, I don't want to upgrade until I've figured out all the nooks of the current release.

Here are some points to remember:
1. Apple has stopped signing fw 3.1.2 so restoring back to it through the usual Option + Restore method in iTunes will result to 16xx or 20xx errors.
2. It's important to have a copy of your iPhone's ECID and SHSH files.
3. Have a handy copy of your custom restore file.
4. Sync with iTunes everyday to have a backup of your files and settings.
5. Don't jailbreak unless you want your life to be complicated.
6. Panic count: 0.

These days, when my iPhone starts acting up like taking too long to respond after I've opened a hundred tabs on Safari or suddenly disconnects from my router or couldn't search available wireless networks, the first thing I do is plug it on my Mac and sync with iTunes. I am already preparing myself for the inevitable restore so I need the freshest backup possible. Then I try the following and see if any of them works:

1. Restart.
2. Hard reset.
3. Reset network settings.

If it was some stray process, any of the three would solve the problem but if its some weird stuff you were not supposed to install then never, I mean never jailbreak your iPhone again unless you can get yourself out of this. This reminded me of all the ROM flashing I've done with my Palm devices back when CLIEs still roamed the earth. You don't have business messing up the low level stuff if you don't understand a single line of code. Better stick with the stock options.

Anyway, assuming that you know your stuff well, then you really don't need to read this. I'm just writing notes in case someone asks me how and I'm too busy to explain in detail. This morning I woke up and checked the weather forecast on my iPhone but found that it couldn't connect to the server. Could it be all those threads I opened last night to simulate multitasking? I don't know for sure so I just plugged it into iTunes and started syncing. I then tried the quick fixes mentioned above but none of them worked and step 3 brought me to endless apple logo loop.

Without delving too much into the technical explanation of each step, here's the rest of the procedure that resurrected my device:

1. Put the iPhone in Recovery mode.
2. Modify the host file to intercept iTunes
3. Fire up TinyTSS and run your own signature server using your backup SHSH file
4. Run iTunes and plug in your iPhone
5. Once iTunes recognizes the device in recovery mode, restore to the custom firmware and load your settings back.

As I'm writing this I've just finished doing all the steps above and my iPhone is in happy working state again. Thank you Apple for giving me an education.

After owning what is arguably the best phone in the world, I decided to go back to basics so I took out the first mobile phone I bought with my hard earned wages from my first job. It was a Nokia 8210, and it's still working after 10 years. The aesthetic condition leaves a lot to be desired but it's still functional, only the charger and battery needed to be replaced and maybe the case too. When I inserted my sim, it asked for a security code, a five digit number that I have conveniently forgotten, good thing I still have my master code generator based on the IMEI so I was able to unlock it.

I looked at the picture logos and the picture messages saved on it and smiled at how it paled in comparison with the multimedia-rich content that new phones now have; but it's a classic and I love it.

While visiting Ayala, I saw those new brands of mobile phones - Cherry Mobile and MyPhone. Their designs are interesting, they looked like carbon copies of some Nokia models, except they are way cheaper and had more functionality, like a dual sim holder and a built-in TV tuner. I wonder how the build quality is though..

When I first saw the P1, I new I had to have one, it was small and it looked like a calculator, but the selling point of this phone is not really its looks but its price - $23. I was computing the cost of getting a new battery, charger and front and back covers for my 8210 and it looked like it would be more practical to just get the P1 to house my other sim.

After searching for a black P1 at three malls and coming out empty handed, I finally opted to get the next model instead, the P2. The only difference is it has a color TFT screen, an FM tuner and a flashlight, which I still don't know how to activate since I'm refusing to read the manual. The price difference is $7 so I took it home and am now happily listening to the radio on its loud speaker, not bad at all. I just hope it lasts for a year at least.

I never realized the extent of the redundancy in my life until the minute I started packing my stuff. You never really think you have too much stuff until you start trying to fit them in boxes or suitcases. I thought I was an expert in packing already, after the countless moves I've done over the years, I move at an average of five times a year ever since I learned how to walk, and it was only when I was in Makati and Vancouver when that average was reduced to twice or thrice at best. Anyway, I should have learned my lesson and stopped accumulating useless little things that add up, but well here I am, still on the same dillema.

Can you imagine having 10 colors of the same shirt? (this OCB reminds me of the "The Catcher in the Rye" in Conspiracy Theory) dozens of hoodies, tanks, jeans, pedals, shorts, skirts, dresses, flip flops, sandals, runners, boots, none of which I have actually worn more than five times. How did I accumulate all these? And when I move on to my electronics box, eek! More evidence of consumerism here. How have I become so consumed with the things of the world? It's that bitten apple I tell you. It gives momentary happiness with its shiny blinking screens but causes much distress and grief to your wallet.

So now I'm faced with this awful task of eliminating these redundancy in my life. After all, how many laptops, iPhones and iPods do you need to be happy right? I'm thinking two of each would be good enough.. Kidding, of course you don't *need* any of those to be happy, but then again, it's not always what you *need* that makes you happy. It's usually what you *want*. For now I just want to have less luggage, so I can travel light. So which one of these headphones should I keep? I mean, really now, how many pairs of ears do I have again? ^^

my friend from the windy city decided to visit the province of endless rain. she flew into tacoma so we drove down there to pick her up and also to take krissy to the airport so she could catch her flight to florida. we had a detour at the space needle and late dinner at zumi - great sushi fusion restobar in downtown seattle. we rented a car but got a mini van instead so we had too much space and not enough people on this trip. especially since someone backed out and nobody was available at the last minute to do some spur of the moment roadtrip to washington state. anywhichway it was fine, i was navigator again who's only purpose is not really to navigate since the gps is there but rather to keep the driver awake. we got back at around 4am and i retired into dreamless sleep.

vancouver was never shy showing its true colors, rain clouds followed our weekend as we went to queen e park, lynn valley, cleveland dam, deep cove, lonsdale quay, stanley park and downtown. my friend sampled the city's public transit - bus, skytrain and seabus. day pass here is more expensive than in chicago for sure. to try extreme sports, i practiced juggling text messages while biking in the rain along the seawall, some people go crazy in this kind of weather. i'm one of them.

got the purple nanochromatic with "poeticnook 2008" engraved on the back - early birthday present. loaded it up with songs i copied from everyone else - in an effort to expand my music library.

i don't know what happened but somehow a sad veil has fallen over me. it caught me unexpected. i'm not even sure where it's coming from. it just came in a rush and i was left feeling really down and out. must be the sudden change of weather.. as much as i don't want the forces of nature to affect my mood, i couldn't shake off the feeling.

when my friend left 2 hours ago, i realized i'm all alone in vancouver. my travel buddies are gone, my friends with whom i can talk to about what happens behind my eyes are gone. people who will hug me and lend their shoulders for me to cry on when i'm running on empty and i need to hear words of hope - they're all gone. it's depressing to accept the fact that i am now without a listener in a strange city so far from home where i have no family and all i can rely on is me and myself..

i wanna go home...

i. use any iphone with any firmware, upgrade to fw 1.1.4 through itunes

ii. download iplus 2.0, open command prompt and type iplus -u

credits

just when i thought i have nothing else to buy, there goes this need to declutter my hd and put everything in some secondary storage, the solution? a 1tb wd mybook. i don't really think i have that much data to put into this drive but you can't have too much hard disk space right?

for now, i'm putting my photo, video and music collection in it. hopefully it doesnt' break though, or else i just invested in an expensive trash can.

still in search of that path to sound utopia, got an xmod to crystallize my music collection. jake was kind enough to bring it back from new york where he spent the easter long weekend. i remember being excited when i ordered this online some weeks back, but it doesnt really matter anymore, especially when i rarely even spend time in my room listening to songs these days.

is it just me or does my ipod really sound better connected to the xmod and out the x530? i should try watching movies to compare.. guess now i can say my setup is complete. all i need is time to actually use it.

must be the hype of wanting to hear the bass on my songs that i finally gave in and got a 5.1 speaker set. it's definitely not top of the line nor the latest and greatest, but it does its job well..

hail the new addition to my desktop ensemble - the logitech x530. now let's see if the dolby and thx trailers would sound good on this =)

ingredients:
- otb 1.1.2 iphone
- fw 111
- fw 112
- latest itunes
- ibrickr 091
- jailbreak 112

directions
1. restore to 111 with itunes and reboot with ibrickr
2. jailbreak + activate using 307 + jailbreakme
3. insert sim card of choice
4. install community sources, bsd subsystem, g-unlock and oktoprep
5. update to 112 with itunes
6. jailbreak + activate with jailbreak 112
7. best served cold ^_^

to complete the roundup of my desktop crew, i got a pair of dell a215 multimedia speakers by altec lansing. must admit the sound is pretty amazing, gives justice to my itunes playlist, and comes at a very reasonable price too.

also joining the cast is a logitech mx700, not the latest and greatest but couldn't wait for the wireless mighty mouse with dock charger, besides it has good reviews. haven't configured its software yet, it's still sitting on the cradle, charging the pair of energizer e2 aa's that i just loaded. hopefully one charge will last as long as that rabbit drummer hehe ^_^

now if i can only find time to make my awk work with windows, then the ensemble would be complete.

ultramon - sounds like that giant japanese superhero that fights monsters, oh wait thats ultraman. anyway. this handy little utility is great for customizing multiple monitor setup. i tried it just so i could have different wallpapers on my notebook and my lcd display - just upgraded my 196fp to an e228wfp - love the widescreen. looks like i'll be taking the smaller one home for use with my sotec.

more reasons to start watching my tv series collection, now showing: csi lv season 8.

believe it or not, this is my first "real" christmas celebration - the tree, the lights, the gifts, the holiday songs playing in the background, the dinner with every member of the family present - they're all so new and foreign, but apparently for some it's an age old tradition; something they take for granted. if they only knew how it is to not have a complete family, i'm sure they'll learn to appreciate each other more and cherish each other's presence and role in their lives.

on a lighter note, look what santa got for me =)

still not done with the gift shopping and wrapping, nor with the tracing of scripts. so i got crazy and got a dell 196fp as a gift for myself. this will help me see all the defects in full color. more importantly, a dual monitor setup allows me to see all the sub groups i made on my ym. haha. what an excuse to buy something. just like what mavic said, you can never get enough of what you don't really need.

woke up to a snowy morning today. the streets look so picture perfect - straight from a postcard with a "white christmas" caption. had a snowball fight with my cousins then we drove to oakridge to get more things to wrap and put under the dressed up pine tree. hmmm, wish my wireless mighty mouse and keyboard is hiding somewhere under the pile. i'm slowly building my home office setup, tomorrow i'm getting an hp f2140. next time i get snowed in, my room will be loaded with all the things i need to be functional.

watching iron chef right now, secret ingredient is oyster, yum! i miss that.

just got myself a new old toy - the vaio c1x, yeah it was state of the art 10 years ago, but who cares, i just want something to play with and to take along with me on my travels. in the meantime, i need to buy a new battery for it to be more useful.

this should be my last tech buy of the year, although i did want to try the asus eee pc too. aarrgghhh! i really need theraphy. why do i need to be surrounded by things that light up and beep? it's not like they'll talk to me and keep me warm this coming winter.

tomorrow, i promise, i won't look at another gadget again and i'll be contented with what i already have. oh well, i can always say this is my post birthday gift since i didnt receive any from anyone else hehe. gotta turn the saving mode on..

everything you've always wanted your first life to be - nice tagline. i just had to download the game especially after i watched it on csi ny. it's like the sims meet ragnarok or something. anyways, i hope i'll have time to play it on weekends.

found time to assemble the box that pheng bought for me to send back home, though i'm still not sure what to put on it yet. filled up my luggage with clothes which i think i won't be using anymore and placed the shoes back in their boxes. it feels like i'm moving out though i really don't know where i'm headed next. should i sign that piece of crap they call a contract and stay here? or do i go back and find some other place to call my home? hmmm, i still have time to decide on that. i hope i make the right choice.

tonight we had to walk for our free dinner. i was about to faint three fourths up the hill but then i heard cars and i knew paved road is just around the corner. it was an adventure to follow trails where no high heels have ever stepped on, and the magnificent view at the end is more than enough to compensate for the blisters on my feet.

this morning was a day of transitions and trepidations, closing down and moving on to something new, it was filled with mixed emotions. going home, i stopped by pheng's place to get the box where i'll be putting the rest of my stuff in. i'll be shipping them home so i would be travelling light when i return. i'm still deciding if i want to come back, is it worth it? i don't really know.

a package greeted me when i slumped on the sofa, utterly full and exhausted at the same time. it's bright red and shiny, a gift from a friend. now i can sleep and cast my worries aside, i have a new toy to keep me occupied =)

okay now an easier way to jaibreak / activate / unlock otb 1.1.1 iphones. yeah it's not good that there's a big security hole in mobilesafari. so this should be fixed soon by apple. enjoy it while it lasts and be careful where you browse.

credits are due to all hackers who worked on this including but not limited to the following: hdm/metasploit, rezn, dinopio, drudge, kroo, pumpkin, davidc, dunham, and NerveGas

here's the short guide:
requirements:
1. otb 1.1.1
2. strong wifi connection

steps:
1. Dial *#307# and press call
2. Erase the numbers previously typed then Dial '0' and press call
3. iPhone will ring, pick up and put on hold.
4. iPhone will ring again, decline the call.
5. Go to contacts, create a new contact and add the following url:
5.1 prefs://1F
5.2 http://jailbreakme.com
6. Selecting the first url will allow you to go to Preference screen to select a wifi network to connect to. Select General > Autolock > Never while on the Settings page.
7. Selecting the second url will bring you to the jailbreak page in mobilesafari, install appsnap and wait till it restarts the iphone.
8. upgrade installer.app, install community sources, add http://rep.frenchiphone.com
9. refresh sources, install bsd subsystem and anysim 1.1
10. remove at&t simcard, insert sim of choice.
11. run anysim 1.1
12. done!

look! no computer and no cables ^_^

okay, what sane person would stay up til 3am fuzzing over basebands and nordumps? those who iunlocked the iphone v1.0.2 like me. well since i was feeling bored and brave, i decided to go ahead and upgrade to 1.1.1. but of course not before reflashing the baseband to original out-of-the-box state. well here are the steps, in case others want to take the plunge too, caution this is concise and not idiot proof:

prerequisite:
1. iunlocked / anysim unlocked iphone 1.0.2 with your choice of sim

steps:
1. preparing the iphone tools
1.1 restore to 1.0.2 through itunes
1.2 jailbreak through winstaller
1.3 activate through pacay by brasuco
1.4 install mobile terminal vsvn198 and binkit through ibrickr
1.5 set iphone to setting > general > autulock > never

2. start baseband reflash to factory settings
2.1 upload kengz pack to iphone using ibrickr (path: /usr/bbreflash)
2.2 open mobile terminal and execute the following commands:
cd /usr/bbreflash
chmod 755 *
launchctl unload -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.CommCenter.plist
./norz seczone.backup 0x3FA000 0x2000
./iUnlock ICE03.14.08_G.fls eliteloader.bin
./bbupdater -v
./bbupdater -f ICE03.14.08_G.fls -e ICE03.14.08_G.eep
./bbupdater -v
launchctl load -w /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.CommCenter.plist

2.3 exit to springboard and check that it displays no service.
2.4 save seczone.backup in a secure place, you might need it someday

3. upgrading
3.1 update to 1.1.1 through itunes
3.2 jailbreak and activate through carnaval by brasuco

4. unlocking
4.1 go to installer.app and add this source url: http://rep.frenchiphone.com
4.2 install bsd subsystem and anysim 1.1p
4.3 run anysim 1.1

DONE!

credits to dev team, elite team, brasuco, kengz, ppc_hhvn, karljung and the hackint0sh community.

note: this method does not use winscp, ssh, bsd and the rest of the acronyms.

'nuff said

okay here's another addition to my collection..

bought this before i went to bc last january but still haven't played it till now. and guess what?! they have a new expansion pack!!! the sims 2 - seasons

arghhhh!!!! when can i catch up on my sims life??