iPhone 3GS Jailbreak

iPhone 3GS Jailbreak

Up until this weekend, many iPhone 3GS users running the 3.1.3 iPhone update were unable to jailbreak. iPhone 3GS was not entirely jailbreak-proof. You may have noticed that there were no directions for jailbreaking iPhone 3GS’s running iPhone update 3.1.3 in my Ultimate Guide to iPhone Jailbreak. After months of hacking, a member of the iPhone Dev Team has released a jailbreak for all iPhones, including 3GS’s running 3.1.3. The jailbreak is called Spirit, and it works on iPad, too.

Windows and Mac OS X users, jailbreak your iPhone with Spirit.

Note: I have not tried to jailbreak my iPhone 3GS with Spirit. I don’t endorse this product. Jailbreak at your own risk.

iPad vs iPhone

iPad vs iPhone

Apple today introduced the iPad, a device CEO Steve Jobs heralds as the middle-ground between a laptop and a smartphone. Based on the announcements so far, it looks like the iPad is a lot like a giant iPhone, minus the phone.

Here is a comparison of the iPad vs the iPhone. I will update this page as new details become available.

iPad vs iPhone: How do they compare?

Display: The iPad has a 9.7-inch (diagonal) Multi-Touch display, compared to iPhone’s 3.5-inch screen.

iPad Display

Apps: The iPad will run iPhone apps from the App Store, but Apple has also debuted a Software Development Kit for iPad-specific apps.

Typing: Just like iPhone, the iPad features a virtual keyboard. Steve Jobs demonstrated the keyboard by placing the iPad on his lap and typing. Jobs says the keyboard is “a dream to type on,” but I have my doubts. Imagine typing a long document with no physical keyboard. If you own an iPhone, you know how challenging this would be. Luckily, Apple is also introducing a keyboard dock for the iPad.

iPad Keyboard

Multitasking: The iPad does not support multitasking — running multiple apps at once — and neither does the iPhone. There is some speculation that Apple will introduce multitasking for iPhone soon.

Camera: Unfortunately, the iPad does NOT have a camera, while the iPhone has a camera, and the iPhone 3GS has a video camera.

Flash: Unbelievably, iPad does not have Flash support, and neither does iPhone.

Speed: The iPad sports a 1 GHZ processor, compared to iPhone’s 600 MHZ.

eBooks: Apple has introduced an eBook store for the iPad called… you guessed it… iBooks. iBooks will be available on both the iPad and iPhone via the App Store. You will presumably also be able to use the Kindle app for iPhone on the iPad. Could the iPad be a Kindle killer?

iPad iBooks

iWork: Jobs said he always wanted to include iWork, Apple’s Microsoft Office-equivalent, on the iPhone, but it just wasn’t practical. iWork is present on the iPad, though not on the iPhone.

iPad iWork

Capacity: The iPad will be available in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB capacities. iPhone is currently available in 16GB and 32GB.

Wi-Fi: Both the iPad and the iPhone can pick up a Wi-Fi signal.

3G: iPad will be available with 3G, though you can also get an iPad without 3G for a lower price. The iPad’s 3G signal will be provided by AT&T, though unlike the iPhone, a contract will not be required and you can cancel any time.

Price:

The iPad pricing is as follows:

iPad Price

iPhone price varies depending on whether you buy the 3G or 3GS and whether you are starting a new contract with AT&T or upgrading. See the Apple Store for details.

iPad Video Demo

Check out Apple’s video demo of the iPad:

iPad vs iPhone: What do you think?

Is the iPad a revolution in computing? Or is iPhone good enough? Let me know what you think of Apple’s new iPad in the comments.

Trouble Finding an iPhone 3GS?

iPhone 3GS

I spent all day yesterday trying to buy a new iPhone 3G S, with no luck. Yes, the Apple Store had them in stock, but they don’t let you buy an iPhone unless the AT&T account holder is present. My dad is the account holder for our Family Plan, but he is over 300 miles away.

When I was in Miami, the Apple Store staffers told me I could buy an iPhone 3G S at the AT&T store without the account holder present, but no AT&T stores in Florida currently have them in stock, including stores in Miami, Orlando, Ocala and Gainesville.

I spent over an hour calling AT&T stores throughout the state. Why don’t AT&T employees have the capability to tell me if there is an iPhone in stock at a particular store???

I called an Apple Store in Orlando and asked how I could buy the iPhone 3G S without the AT&T account holder present, and an employee told me the only thing I could do was sign up for a new contract with AT&T… um, no thanks.

“No problem,” I thought. “I’ll order one online.”

So I went through the checkout process on Apple.com, hesitating before clicking Complete and spending $543.36, including an extra $10 for 2-3 day shipping — that is, after selling my 3G iPhone on eBay for $315.

I finally placed the order and received an email confirmation that said my iPhone should arrive between July 9 and July 13, twelve to sixteen days from yesterday. I’m not willing to wait that long.

So I canceled my order, called my dad in Miami and asked him to pick one up for me and ship it up to Gainesville. Hopefully I’ll have it in a few days. The problem is that, in the meantime, my phone will be deactivated because Apple requires you to activate the iPhone in the store when you purchase it, hence deactivating any other phone that’s using that account.

It makes no sense that I can buy an iPhone 3G S on Apple.com without a problem, but if you go to a physical Apple Store, they won’t sell it to you without the account holder by your side. In my opinion, if you’re willing to spend half a grand on a phone, you shouldn’t have to jump through hoops.

Has anyone else had trouble getting their hands on an iPhone 3G S? I’d love to hear about your experience in the comments.