Jailbreak and Unlock your iPhone 3G

The good people at the Dev-Team have brought you the tools to unlock and jailbreak your iPhone 3G from the clutches of the evil empire known as AT&T.

I've posted a video on how to do it on my Youtube page. It's actually quite simple you just need a couple of tools which are totally free.

Hit the link to view my video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suYsmgqKDoI

Questions email me: richmlee@gmail.com

Streaming Video Capture

So have you ever wanted to capture some video on screen of some videos you're watching on any ebsite? For example my girlfriend's Uncle was on the Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien and I thought it would be cool if I could capture the video and share it with friends and family.

But I know I have but there's no computer VCR to just click record on. However there are some interesting solutions and one of the ones I like to use is Camstudio.

It's a free Windows based program that you can use to record video. It's pretty easy to use and best of all it's free. Here is the link to their website and to download it.

http://camstudio.org/

It's a nice program with some limitations it only records in .AVI format so you'll have to use another program to make it iPod/iPhone friendly. But .AVI is perfecly alright for youtube.

I know what you're thinking, what no Mac version? Right now no, but I'm scouring the internet for a good Mac streaming video capture software.

Got Questions email me: richmlee@gmail.com

iPhone 3G vs 3Gs app load speeds

I compared two iPhones with the same apps and firmware 3.0 but one is the 3G and the other is the new 3Gs and you'll notice that the speed of the 3Gs is much faster that the 3G even in normal apps.

Check the link for a video and you'll see the iPhone 3Gs smoke the iPhone 3G!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BXBF1Vs6Dw

Questions email me: richmlee@gmail.com

iPhone 3G vs. iPhone 3Gs

Hey everyone,

Ok I've had my new iPhone 3Gs for the first weekend and so far I've been impressed with it. It's still the same quality phone as the iPhone 3G but just faster.

This short blog will focus on the speed of the Internet browsing. A few things to note.

1. I was comparing my iPhone 3G vs my iPhone 3Gs which were identical in the software, apps and pages so I was making the best comparison apples to apples, no pun intended.
2. I cleared both phone's Safari cache, cookies and history so that were were on a level playing field
3. I updated the iPhone 3G to software version 3.0 recently so it was a fresh install
4. Since I no longer have services on my iPhone 3G, I couldn't compare 3G Internet surfing speeds, I hooked both of the phones up to the same wireless network and did that test that way.

Check the video for the results!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzEfqIu6Ykk

Questions email me: richmlee@gmail.com

iPhone 3Gs - Yes I got one...

Yes I got an iPhone 3Gs today and I'll write a lot more about it later but first impressions are that it's fast and works great and yes it looks EXACTLY like my iPhone 3G but now I have 32 gigs. More later....

iPhone 3.0 Software - Full Review

Ok so I've updated my iPhone with the 3.0 software and I've been playing with it or a few days now and it's been really impressive. I'll go down the key features and give my thoughts:

First up the 3.0 Software:

• Cut, copy and paste - works as advertised I was able to cut, copy and paste just about everything that is a native Apple app so Text messages, mail, safari, notes etc. It's basically really easy to use and one cool thing is that it doesn't just copy text, it'll copy images and whole chunks of text in websites, which other phones can't do. So it's a little more advanced than just copy and paste. Also the "shake to undo" function is really cool and easy to use.
• Landscape keybaord - Works very well and it's nice to type emails in land scape, I don't use land scape with texts much becuase my texts are usually short, but with email it's nice you can type pretty long emails.
• MMS - Awesome, but it doens't work yet stupid ATT.
• Spotlight search - Works great. Originally I wasn't exactly 100% sure the depth of the search, for example on one of my tests I know in an email of mine I had written to my friend about his puppy and when I typed "puppy" it came back with no results, weird huh? But I tried it again and it came up so not sure how that works. But it works awasome for quick access to contacts, apps, notes and it does come up with email searches but it's not 100% fool proof, we'll have to test it out some more to see.
• Native Voice memo app - This is cool, you can record memos and then categorize them and email them and as soon as ATT supports MMS you'll be able to text voice memos too.
• Improved exchange support for your Calendars - Didn't try this I use mobile me.
• Download movies, tv shows and audito books direcly on your iPhone (WiFi only) - Was able to browse all this and music videos pretty cool now I can download stuff when I'm at the airport. ESPECIALLY now that ALL iPhone users have FREE access to all of ATT's WiFi hotspots!!
• Improved Safari for better speed and autofill names, PWs etc - Safari is faster and the autofill is nice so is the built in WiFi authentication.
• Internet Teathering via bluetooth or usb - Can't try this feature as ATT doesn't surpport it yet.
• Stereo Bluetooh! - Didn't try this don't have a BT Stereo
• Sync notes - This worked great and it's cool now that you can type notes on your iPhone and sync them over to your Mac and vice versa.

So all and all very great new updates and the 3.0 software is a hit as far as I'm concerend and it really makes your iPhone 3G like a new Phone. If you have an iPhone you're dumb not to update it, first it's free and second you get all of the cool new features.

Got questions email me: richmlee@gmail.com

iPhone 3.0 Software - Intital Review

Ok so I finished updating my iPhone 3G with the new 3.0 software and it's pretty impressive I'll give you my first takes on all the new key features:

iPhone 3.0 Software is here!!!

Ok I just started to download and install 3.0 onto my iPhone 3G, pretty excited to see all the new features in action. I'll update a new post with first impressions but the download is complete and it's about half done with the install!!

New Macbook Specs!!!

With the big announcements of iPhone there were some announcments on Macs, specificlaly the Macbooks.

Here are the highlights:

• Price drops all around!!!! From $200 to $700!!!!! Very nice!
• Updated Specs all around faster processors and bigger harddrives
• 15 in Macbook pro looses the express slot and get a built in SD card reader
• Rebranding of the the 13 in Macbook to Macbook pro (Still not a pro to me becuase it does not have a discrete graphics card only has the NVidia M9400)
• 13 in Macbook pro gains fire wire 800 port yay!!!
• 13 in Macbook pro gains the nicer screen similar to 15in Macbook Pro
• Support for 8 gigs of from for Pro notebooks
• All Pro notebooks get the new 7 hour battery with up to 1000 recharges
• BAD: All new Pro notbooks do not have a user replaceable battery and don't have the handy removable try to easily swap HDs and batteries.

Pricing summary:

15 and 17'' Macbook Pros:

• Starting at $1,699 (down from $1,999 in prior lineups)
• $1,699: 2.53GHz Core 2 Duo, 4GB DDR3 RAM, GeForce 9400M graphics, 250GB HDD, SD card slot, no ExpressCard
• $1,999: 2.66GHz Core 2 Duo, 4GB DDR3 RAM, GeForce 9400M + 9600M GT graphics, 320GB HDD, SD card slot, no ExpressCard
• $2,299: 2.8GHz Core 2 Duo, 4GB DDR3 RAM, GeForce 9400M + 9600M GT graphics, 500GB HDD, SD card slot, no ExpressCard
• 17-inch unibody MacBook Pro remains the same specs-wise (it's the only Apple laptop left with an ExpressCard slot), but it's getting a price cut to $2,499.

13" Macbook Pro:

• $1,199: 2.26GHz Core 2 Duo, 2GB DDR3 RAM, GeForce 9400M graphics, 160GB HDD, SD card slot, no ExpressCard
• $1,499: 2.53GHz Core 2 Duo, 4GB DDR3 RAM, GeForce 9400M graphics, 250GB HDD, SD card slot, no ExpressCard

Macbook Air:

• $1,499: 1.86GHz Core 2 Duo, 2GB DDR3 RAM, GeForce 9400M graphics, 120GB HDD
• $1,799: 2.13GHz Core 2 Duo, 2GB DDR3 RAM, GeForce 9400M graphics, 128GB SSD (whopping $700 drop!!!)

You can still get the White Plastic Macbook or less than $1000.

But all in all very nice upgrades and if you're looking for a new Macbook now is the best time to get one!!

Questions email me: richmlee@gmail.com

New iPhone 3Gs Horray!!!

So the new iPhone has been announced and it's coming out next week June 19th and for those of you who know me I'm really looking forward to it. I've already reserved mine at the Apple Store and I'll have one on June 19th and I'll post a review then as well.

But as far as the announcemnet goes there are two big announcemens for the iPhone. There is the new iPhone 3Gs (s for speed) and iPhone OS 3.0 which brings a lot of improvements on the iPhone itself.

So the first question most people ask is should I get the new iPhone 3Gs if I already ahave an iPhone 3G. For most people the answer is no for a couple of reasons the first is cost. Although they say $199 and $299 for the 16 and 32 gig iPhones that's only for New ATT customres and "Qualifed" customers. So if you have an existing iPhone 3G you got earlier this year you'll have to pony up $399 and $499 for the 16 and 32 gig versions, ouch! Second while the new features are cool a lot of people who have the iPhone 3G won't find it all that compelling to drop 4 and 5 hundred bucks to get a new one espeically when the 3.0 upgrade will give them so many new features over 100 new features on the 3.0 upgrade so it'll almost be like getting a new phone.

However there will be people like me who need to have the bleeding edge of tehcnology and yes I will be dropping $499 for the 32 gig version of the iPhone 3Gs.

So lets talk about the new features of the iPhone 3.0 software upgrade and the iPhone 3Gs.

First up the 3.0 Software:

• Cut, copy and paste, it's about damn time, but it's seems very easy to use and it works accross all native Apple apps and it's an API free for developers to use in their apps. Also there is the cool "undo" feature where you just litterly shake your phone to undo any copy, cut and pastes.
• Landscape keybaord for email, texts, and notes, nice feature should have been in 1.0
• Finally MMS but still have to wait. While 3.0 update gives everyone MMS!!! ATT customers will have to wait until the end of summer to be able to MMS....Lame, ATT you totally suck this was your bad, you should have been ready for this.
• New text featues like Texting video, text contact info, text forwarding, and another very cool featuer texting your position.
• Spotlight search, very cool feature to search ANYTHING on your iPhone just with a touch of a few letters, searches your email, apps, notes, calendars, everything!
• Native Voice memo app, keep those reminders handy and you can email and text them to yourself or others.
• Improved exchange support for your Calendars
• Download movies, tv shows and audito books direcly on your iPhone (WiFi only)
• Improved Safari for better speed and autofill names, PWs etc.
• Internet Teathering via bluetooth or usb BUT not for ATT yet and will prob come at a cost
• Stereo Bluetooh!
• Sync notes! Finally
• PLUS lots more but these are probably the most significant ones

As you can see the list above will turn the iPhone 3G from a great phone into an even better one. So it'll almost be like getting a new phone!

iPhone 3Gs features:

• MORE RAM double from 128 to 256 which is very welcome
• Clained double the processor speed, but I hear it's only going from 400 mhz to 600 mhz ARM processor
• Double the storage copacity from 8 and 16 to 16 and 32 gigs for the same price
• New 3 megapixel autofocus camera with video recording
• Voice control, dial, control your ipod and make reqeusts with your voice
• Compass, better for Maps directions and better positioning with GPS
• Increased battery life, up 1-6 hours in various usage scenarios
• Pluse all the features above in the 3.0 software update.

So you can see that the new hardware may not be worth it for most people but people who are upgrade eligible or are new/switchign to ATT there's no question in getting the iPhone, like I've always said it's not the perfect phone but it's the best phone out there.

Questions? Email me.

New iPhone...can't wait...who want's one!!!! I do!!

So by now you probably have heard about the new iPhone that is suppoed to come out and we're close enought to the June 8th Apple World Wide Developer Confrence that I can start to make some predctions.

1. The new iPhone will have the same basic shape and same screen size, however there will be a matte black back casing that will give you better grip and be a bit more scratch resistent as well as the silver bezel will be gone it will be a black bezel. **EXTRA rumor that the iPhone may have an OLED screen which will be brighter and more battery friendly maybe have higher resoulution.
2. The new iPhone will have a new 3.2 megapixel camera with auto focus that will support video recording
3. Support for native video editing and being able to email the video to family and friends
4. The new iPhone will have twice the internal RAM from 128 to 256 for faster cashing.
5. The new iPhone will have a faster processor going from 400 mhz to about 600 mhz, which means faster web browsing, faster app loading and faster games. **EXTRA rumor that the iPhone may use the advanced multi core processor but may not be until the next generation. With both the faster processor and more RAM this will make the new iPhone significantly faster.
6. Bulit in magnometer, or digital compas
7. FM Tuner
8. Up to 32 gigs of meomory for music, pictures, tv shows, movies, apps etc. EXTRA rumor, there will be a 4 gig, 8 gig, 16 gig and 32 gig iPhones with the 4 gig being some sort of iPhone lite or something at at $99 price point with the 32 gig being $299, not sure where that puts the 8 gig price point.
9. NEWST RUMOR - FRONT FACING CAMERA!!! For wireless iChat with other iPhones or Macs - This would be so freaking sweet.
10. 3.0 Software upgrade will include:
11. Cut-Copy-paste
12. Global search
13. Turn by turn gps directions
14. Locate my iPhone
15. Type email in landscape
16. MMS, or native picture texting
17. Peer to Peer connectivity via bluetooh or WiFi, have you and your friends iPhones talk to each other
18. Native Voice recording/memos
19. Stereo Bluetooth
20. Rumor release date JULY 17th!!

Who's Excited to get one!!!!

Questions email me: richmlee@gmail.com

Ultra zoom anyone?

So I got my mom a new digital camera for mother's day. I got her the Canon SX200 which is one of the new fangled cameras in a class called ultra zoom. Which is really optical zoom that is 10x or better. Now remember this is optical zoom so it's how the camera sees the subject not the digital zoom which is a pile of crap and no one ever uses digital zoom unless they're desprate.

But the 12x zoom on this camaera is pretty amazing it's as advertized and very good, the image stabilization is very good at the 12x becuase the further the zoom the harder it is to keep the subject stable and not get a blury picture with out a tripod.

This is a bit bigger than your normal point and shoot, it's just small enough to be able to haul it with you everywhere but not small enough to bit your pocket (unless you have big pockets).

It has a cool hide zoom and the lens almost sits flush with the rest of the body so there are no protruding parts which makes it nice to tuck away when you're not using it.

The other cool thing about this camera is the HD video recording capability at 720p. I tried to video and it's records very nice video in good to moderate light. In low light it's about as good as any other pocket HD video recorder. The other downer is that the video recording mode doesn't take advantage of the 12x zoom. But overall very good clear video and will work for most people's situations.

Has your typical canon optics and Digic photo processing chip. However I was a bit dissapointed with the quality of the pictures. While they are nice looking pictures I wasn't as wowed as I typically am, although I only used the SX200 only a few minutes the few sample pics I took were of average quality.

These are my first impressions of this camera and it's more of a niche camera. If you're looking for good quality, ultra zoom with nice HD video recording capbablity this is a good camera. But it's on the larger size and not as portable as one may need. If you need something small, takes good pics has a HD video recording mode and don't need the ultra zoom I'd suggest the Canon SD 780 IS this is a great little camera and less than $280.

Got questions email me: richmlee@gmail.com