Redsn0w 0.8 with iPhone 3GS

The iPhone Dev Team released version 0.8 of Redsn0w recently, adding compatibility with the latest iPhone 3GS hardware running firmware 3.0. I had previously jailbroken my 3GS using purplera1n but couldn’t pass an opportunity to play with the latest method. Below is a video for anyone thinking of trying the jailbreak but unsure of what is involved. It’s fairly straightforward, the only bit that requires manual intervention is putting the iPhone into recovery mode and even that is guided by the app. Another top tool from the iPhone Dev Team, many thanks for their continued work. Click the HD button to go to Vimeo and watch or download the full size version (bottom right corner of the page).

UK iPhone pricing

I had hoped O2 would be replacing the 8/16Gb iPhone 3G with the new 16/32Gb 3GS, but the AT&T pricing of $199/$299 made that look unlikely. O2 now have an iPhone 3GS pricing page and they’re not coming cheap.

The last generation iPhone 3G stays at £96.89/free, but the new 16Gb 3GS rises to £184.98 on cheap/shorter contracts, compared to £155.61 for the replaced 16Gb 3G. The 32Gb 3GS comes in at a wallet busting £274.23, or £175.19 if you are willing to sign up for a 24 month contract. That’s a TCO of £890.91 for a 16Gb model on the £35 tariff for 18 months, or £926.91 for 32Gb. The new 3GS is also available on pay as you go:

• iPhone 3G 8GB – £342.50
• iPhone 3G S 16GB – £440.40
• iPhone 3G S 32GB – £538.30

That’s an eye watering price for the 3GS, but since it includes 12 months of unlimited data it works out cheaper for anyone with light call and text usage.

The real issue here is the use of 18 and 24 month contracts, especially when Apple seem dedicated to a 12 month release cycle for its iPhone hardware. Macworld has some details for users looking to terminate their contracts to get the new model, and the bad news is that it looks like O2 will want the remainder of the contract paid in full. That means an iPhone 3G owner 12 months into their contract would have to pay £205.56 plus cost of new 3GS model, with the prospect of doing the same in 12 months when the next version is released.

Moneysaving tips for UK residents

Not exactly tech related, but worth mentioning anyway. I have recently started using the moneysavingexpert.com web site for lots of excellent advice on saving cash. There’s tips across a wide range of categories, including energy costs (currently the big news in the UK), insurance and mortgages. I’m currently trying out their tips for getting Orange Wednesday 2-for-1 cinema tickets using a £1 PAYG sim. They also have some advice for getting the cheapest 3G iPhone over the length of the contract, so I managed to get a gadget link in.

How well does iPhone location awareness work?

I’ve had a couple of experiences this week with iPhone’s that have made me ask this question. I frequently work with a consultant who has owned a first gen iPhone for nine months. He’s never been able to get sending an email through an AOL account to work reliably, so I had a look at the settings for him. We eventually worked out that the only time he could send emails was when the iPhone was close enough to connected through an open wireless access point. Receiving emails works fine, but not sending. The O2 stores he has visited were clueless about this problem, so I’m investigating for the next time I work with him.

While playing with the email settings I asked if he would mind me trying out the location awareness in Maps. Since the phone can use local cellphone towers to work out its location I expected this to have no problem. After a few minutes searching the iPhone still hadn’t worked out where it was so I gave up. My mobile is on O2 and I had maximum signal strength, so did the iPhone.

PwnageTool 2.0.1 released

In an amazingly fast update, PwnageTool has been bumped to version 2.0.1. No iPhone 3G unlocking yet, this release concentrates on some of the issues early adopters have found.

I’ve just tested the new release and the previous problem with PwnageTool not getting the iPod Touch into DFU mode appears fixed. The install went smoothly with no errors, Cydia is working fine and has installed the latest package updates. I had the same issue with iPhoto not seeing the iTouch screenshots but as before a reboot fixed that.

iPhone 3G news

First reviews have now started to appear for the iPhone 3G, along with the usual rush of unboxing photo’s. I’m not looking to get one for a while (if at all) so I’m more interested in the version 2 software for the iPod touch. For those looking for iPhone news, here’s a list of links to the news and views.

Walt Mossberg reviews the iPhone 3g at allthingdigital.com

David Pogue reviews the iPhone 3G at The New York Times

Edward Baig reviews the iPhone 3G at USA Today

O2 warns of shortages ahead at appleinsider.com

Unboxing photo’s at boygeniusreport.com

iPhone V2 upgrade guide at Supersite

iPhone 3G: from $199

One of the biggest surprises of the WWDC keynote was the price of the 3G iPhone. Starting at $199 for the 8Mb version, with the 16Mb at $299. With the same 3.5 inch screen and a plastic back, new features include GPS and a flush headphone socket. 3G talk time is stated as 5 hours, with 5-6 hours of web browsing, 7 hours of video playback, 24 hours of audio playback and 300 hours standby. The 8Mb version is black, 16Mb is available in black or white. There’s a 3D rotating view here.

The new version will be available from 11th July in 22 countries, increasing to 70 countries over the coming months. From the Apple spec page:

Size and weight

Height: 4.5 inches (115.5 mm)

Width: 2.4 inches (62.1 mm)

Depth: 0.48 inch (12.3 mm)

Weight: 4.7 ounces (133 grams)

Color

• 8GB model: Black
• 16GB model: Black or white

Capacity

• 8GB or 16GB flash drive

Cellular and wireless

• UMTS/HSDPA (850, 1900, 2100 MHz)
• GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
• Wi-Fi (802.11b/g)
• Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR

GPS

• Assisted GPS

Camera and photos

• 2.0 megapixel camera
• Photo geotagging

UK iPhone no longer available

Ahead of next month’s all but confirmed 3g iPhone launch, stocks of the current version have now run out in the UK. O2’s web site is showing the image above even though there has been no official announcement of when the replacement will arrive. Speaking of which, there are more images online today claiming to show the next generation. Engadget has them so take a look and make your own mind up. With a (rumoured) month to go until the launch, do Apple have to spend any money on advertising this device?

iPhone for $199?

Looks like American iPhone buyers will be in for a treat when the ‘everyone thinks it’s due in June’ 3G iPhone launches. The latest gossip is that AT&T will heavily subsidise the device on a two year plan, bringing the price of an 8Gb 3G version down to $199. The story started at Fortune, so head over there to get all the details.

Other claimed details of the next gen iPhone include it being 2.5mm thinner than the current version, and will have a GPS chip for navigation and other location-based services. While this all sound good, I’m thinking there’s not much chance of us brits getting the 3G iPhone for the equivalent £99.

Read

iPhone UK price cut

News sites are buzzing today with the news that O2 is to drop the price of the 8Gb iPhone by £100 to £169 tomorrow. Mobile Today reports that O2 has confirmed the price cut, to be available on all tariffs. Is this a move to clear out slow moving stock of the lower capacity iPhone, or even make way for the 3G version? Lets see what happens tomorrow.