Steve Jobs announced Apple iPhone 4 to be available from June 24th. The much awaited iPhone 4 has promises for the frustrated previous iPhone users. iPhone 3GS was the latest in the series though it has some limitations. Most users opted for jail breaking rather than getting stuck with the limited features of iPhone 3GS.
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Apple iPhone 4
iPhone 4 features and design include retina display, A4 processor, built-in three-axis-gyroscope, LED Camera, multitasking (much needed), HD Video recording and editing and so on. It has enabled video calling ‘Face time’ apart from the existing shared features in iPhone 3GS. When you compare the two models, the latest one is obviously better with increased options and promises.
iPhone 4 is going to have multiple new applications including Netflix. Let’s hope the promises are kept up and all the features work properly. 🙂
AT&T or Verizon
Apple has contracts wit AT&T until 2010. In today’s announcement, everybody expected Steve Jobs to mention Verizon as the next service provider. But no such announcement is made leaving the iPhone users to wonder about what is going to happen next?
You can pre-order your iPhone 4 from June 15th onwards which will be available from June 23rd. Let us hope that it wins the smart phone race. 🙂
New iPhone users may sometimes feel stuck by the limitations of the iPhone. Most of the frustration led to jail breaking which improves the features but risks the iPhone itself. Here is a glimpse of iPhone jail breaking.
iPhone Limitations
I was shocked to realize the basic features which other normal phones have are missing from Apple iPhone. I wouldn’t have bought an iPhone if I knew these drawbacks. 🙂
Cannot support flash
Cannot run applications in the background
Cannot customize themes, ring tones, and colors
Cannot stop SMS preview when you are in the middle of something else
Cannot send MMS or blue tooth
Cannot forward text messages
Cannot forward contacts
Calendar cannot sync with Google calendar!
Moreover, if you are listening to music, answering calls and browsing the Internet in a day through iPhone, you need to keep it plugged and charge it all the time!
Jail Breaking iPhone
All these limitations have increased user frustration and led to jail breaking of an iPhone. Jail breaking is nothing but erasing the existing operating system and reloading the customizable operating system. It involves hacking the iPhone software and loading your own operating system software with customizable features.
Jail Breaking versus Unlocking
Jail breaking is different from unlocking an iPhone. Unlocking an iPhone is freeing it from the service provider you bought it and enabling it to use it on any other service. Whereas, jail breaking is the first step to unlocking but not necessarily changing the service provider.
For example, when you unlock an iPhone, you can change the service provider. But, when you jail break an iPhone, you can still continue with your existing service provider.
Advantages of Jail breaking iPhone
Cydia, Spirit, QuickPwn and so on are some of the tools to jail break an Apple iPhone. With jail breaking, you can have customized wall papers and hide native iPhone applications which you do not use.
You can practically make the iPhone work in your personal way which you want instead of getting stuck with the default options given by Apple. Hackers are continuously working on jail breaking techniques and freeing up the iPhone for better utilization.
Disadvantages of Jail breaking iPhone
Once you jail break your iPhone, you cannot return to apple software though you can continue accessing the Apps and tunes from the apple stores. Jail breaking may not be suggestible because of the following reasons:
Conflicts the functioning of the device itself
More prone to viruses and worms
Loss of warranty of the iPhone
With every iTune update, jail breaking is disabled and you have to jail break it again. 🙂
Anyways, if you still decide to go ahead, here are some guidelines for jail breaking.
Legal Issues of Jail breaking iPhone
While the hackers feel that jail breaking is perfectly normal and must be legalized, Apple still claims the copyrights. While it is entirely an individual’s decision whether to jail break or not, I think one must consider all the options before proceeding. 🙂
Are you a new iPhone owner? Are you confused how to set it up? And are awed by the large number of Apps available? Welcome to the iPhone club. Here are some tips and best practices for you and your iPhone.
My husband and son cannot stop jumping after seeing the new iPhone which we got yesterday. The instructions book said to charge fully, but did not mention how long. And we have to switch it off before charging. So, how do we know if it is fully charged.
Setting up
Do not switch on the iPhone initially
Charge the iPhone using the charger provided
Wait for half-an-hour to one hour and switch it ON. Check if it is fully charged.
Connect the Apple iPhone to your personal computer
Start downloading the applications
iPhone Apps
You need not download all the Apps given there. You can choose among the free apps given under each category. The Apple iPhone website lists all the paid and free apps under different categories. The Apps for keeping current and the Apps for fun and games are useful. Alternately, you may browse through your iPhone to download an application.
I found the following Apps useful:
Apps for Business: Currency Converter, Jobs, iSchedule
Apps for keeping current: CNN Mobile, FOX News, Yahoo, TIME Magazine, NYTimes
Apps for Music: Rhapsody, Top 100s by Bing
Apps for Students: Dictionary.com, Math Magic, Â Math Drills
Apps for Working Out: Diabetes, Body Fitness, Weight Watchers, Calorie tracker, WebMD, Runkeeper
Apps for Managing Money: Expense tracker, Bill tracker, Personal assistant, Wells, BillMinder
Apps for Fun and Games: All-in-1, PAC-Man Lite, PandaMania
It is essential to read the customer reviews. Some apps work only on certain version of iPhone and only on Mac computer. The ‘fringe’ app is also useful in calling outside the network and saving minutes! Register at ‘Textfree’ app to send free texts to any other mobile.
iPhone Accesories
Now after the iPhone has arrived, there is a desperate need for its accessories. 🙂 Here are some of the additional accessories you may need for your iPhone.
iPhone LCD Protector – To protect the screen from scratches
iPhone Leather pouch – To carry your iPhone
iPhone Car charger – To charge it in the car on the go
iPhone Additional charger  – To avoid the hassle of carrying the charger to and fro from office
iPhone Emergency battery – To charge the iPhone where you do not have a laptop or other plugin options
iPhone cradle – To charge and rest your iPhone
meritline offers iPhone accessories at a reasonable rate. But, they take two weeks to deliver. If you cannot wait that longer, eForCity can send you the product instantly. The docking station at amazon is $24 and can accommodate your iPhone along with its LCD protector.
In addition, buy.com, newegg, tigerdirect, tech4shop are some other websites to check for iPhone accessories.
Remember to read the user reviews and additional information  before ordering any product and check for its compatability for the iPhone you own. Best wishes for your new iPhone and the monthly internet service charges that your provider bills you. 🙂
