One Love.

I consider myself to be a fairly tech savvy person. I’m not afraid to take a new product and push it to its utmost capabilities. Needless to say I could not wait to Jailbreak my shiny new iPhone 4 (running iOS 4.0.1), especially since there was a new and improved web based method to unlock the phones OS (technically its a PDF font exploit in Safari).

So I Pointed Safari to JailbreakMe.com and I was on my way! The progress moved quickly and within a matter of minutes I had a confirmation message telling my that my iPhone had successfully been freed from the Apple chains of bondage.

First order of business, open Cydia (Open Source alternative to the App Store) and install WinterBoard. I have always been frustrated with the customization/personalization options offered Apple so I was excited to start browsing and downloading an array of themes. The installation process is relatively straight forward and WinterBoard allows you to tuck its administration panel nicely into the iPhone settings. Downloaded a couple of themes via Cydia, switched through a few and settled for Tenuis for the time being.

MyWi would be my next venture, tethering has been on my iPhone wish list for the last two years. MyWi required that I download and install the Rock App (a Cydia knock off) as well in order to use. I signed up for the free 10 day trial ($9.99 subscription fee there after) and was greeted by a host of options that looked similar to what my wireless router offer. I set up the WiFi name (SSID), enabled WEP, and fired up tethering. It took less than 30 seconds to wrap my MacBook to my iPhone’s wireless connection (insert Hallelujah sung by a choir of angles)!

The Rock app lead me to another little gem called My3G ($3.99 after 10 day trial). AT&T doesn’t want you to know this, but you can use Face Time over the 3G network. Just Jailbreak your phone and install this handy little app! Worked like a charm with only a small amount of video degradation.

From here out it was all bad news.

The next three applications I downloaded were Orbit ($1.99, Icon and screen management), MyCinema ($Free, Movies straight to your phone) and Categories ($Free, Icon management). Every effort to launch these apps resulted in an immediate crash and boot into Cydia’s version of safe mode, which basically returns your phone back to boring Apple functionality. I tried reinstalling each application several times and sent several letters to the developers which have received no responses. I was forced to remove all three apps from my phone and I am now out the $1.99 I invested in Orbit (still awaiting my refund).

My phone continued to crash randomly from this point on. Restored the phone back to its super boring state via iTunes until these developers can get some of these bugs worked out. I can see why Apple works so hard to protect the original design/functionality of the iPhone, but the glimpse I got into the iPhones real power has left me wanting.

One Love.