Hey people, I've updated the general iPhone 3G details after the developments of the past month as best I could but there's a slight issue however as to how the iPhone 2.5G and iPhone 3G questions should be presented. The issues:

1) There's a 1.1.4 community and a FW 2.0 community. Some questions answer 1.1.4 questions and some for 2.0. Some of them overlap.

2) Some of the questions are not inter-related enough to be grouped into a certain section. For example, iTunes solutions can be hard to group under a certain section. It's not particularly a firmware related issue so I can't group it under the 1.1.4 nor the 2.0 section. Ditto that for iPhone browser etc. A separate section dedicated to these general software issues will be confusing to navigate because then there will be a FW1.1.4 section, a FW2.0 section and a general software section?

Should there just be an iPhone 2.5G section and an iPhone 3G section? But some of the questions apply to both sections so should there also be a General iPhone section?

As you can see, this can prove to be a real headache..


I'm currently working on the pwnage solution to be posted on the FAQ page but is there any other FREQUENTLY ASKED questions that you guys would like to see posted? If so, post the question and the answer in the thread and I will edit the front page as necessary and credit your name alongside it.

Oh, and layout suggestions are very much welcomed because once I'm done with the FW2.0 FAQ section, the page's gonna look a right mess!

Thanks for the help guys.




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CONTENT

GENERAL QUESTIONS

- 3G iPhone

- Buying iPhone from Overseas


TECHNICAL QUESTIONS

- Unlocking the iPhone and Getting Started [Version 1.1.4]

- General iPhone Software

- General iPhone Hardware Answers


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GENERAL QUESTIONS



3G IPHONE



Q: What new features are there compared to the 1st generation iPhone?

A: Here are the list of new features available on the new iPhone 3G:

i) 3G HSDPA

ii) Assisted GPS, which is actually a good thing because no monthly fees, and the cell tower triangulation can improve location locking at places with high rise buildings

iii) Plastic back, available in black or white.

iv) Better speaker quality, however the speakers are still mono

v) Better battery standby time.


Q: Can the iPhone 3G be unlocked?

A: In a general sense, yes but it's not as straightforward as it sounds. At time of writing, only New Zealand sells unlocked iPhone 3G's off the shelf. iPhone 3G's that are tied down to carrier plans can be unlocked by obtaining the unlock code from the carrier for a fee.

The other way is by using the retro SIM card adapter method first introduced when the first generation iPhone was out. It involves cutting your SIM card and placing it into the adapter to fool the iPhone into thinking the SIM card is valid. As you can see, it is a relatively primitive method compared to the software method used by the 1st generation iPhone's. Also, there are reports of problems using this method such as poor reception etc so use it at your own risk.


Q: Is unlocking the iPhone 3G illegal?

A: In a nutshell, NO if it's for personal usage and not for gaining profits. If you want more details, go HERE. (credit: seaedge)



Q: How much will the 3G iPhone cost?

A: 8GB 3G iPhones will only set you back $199 and the 16GB ones go for $299! There IS a catch however, these prices are subsidized by the respective countries' carriers. Whereas before, buyers were allowed to bring home the iPhone to activate through iTunes, this is NO LONGER possible. Contracts will now have to be signed on the spot.

What this means is you can no longer walk out from an Apple/AT&T/02/etc store without signing a contract beforehand. So no, the price is not $199/299 unless you're signing a contract with the local carrier.

There are unlocked 3G iPhone's in places like New Zealand and the prices are NZD 979 for the 8GB version and NZD 1199 for the 16GB version. From the 3G tumpang thread from Stringfellow, Vodafone is now limiting buyers to 1 unit per person. A friend of mine from NZ confirmed that the Vodafone shop near his place does not sell iPhone 3G without plans at all so it could be a store-by-store case.


In Malaysia, the iPhone 3G from brick and mortar stores in Low Yat Plaza and Sungai Wang are going for upward of RM4000 whereas at the LYN forum, prices range from RM3000-3600. Please note however that some of these may be scams especially the RM2500-RM2800 priced ones so be very careful when purchasing from the forums.





Q: Does this mean us Malaysians won't be able to get our hands on the new 3G iPhone?

A: As mentioned, you can still get it overseas from places like New Zealand but most of the other countries only offer phones with plans. The easiest and laziest way right now is to pay an exorbitant charge and get it from local sellers but this is only recommended if you have lots of money to burn.



Q: When will the iPhone 3G arrive in Malaysia?

A: I've heard from a source that Maxis will be bringing it in as part of their strategy to tie consumers down to long term deals. This is because of the ruling in September where consumers can hop between carriers without changing their phone numbers. For example, users can switch to DIGI and still keep their 012 number. As you can imagine, the local telecommunications market will be a virtual free-for-all.

There are also other speculation that DIGI will be bringing it in. What is for certain, however, is that it won't be here until early 2009 at best.



Q: How much will it cost if it officially launches here in Malaysia?

A: No idea but there are 3 possible scenarios:

1) There is a carrier subsidy and you can get it for a cheap price a la RM1000-RM1500 (Estimate). However, you would have to sign a contract and tie yourself down to a carrier.

2) There is no carrier subsidy, in which case, it's gonna be mad expensive, I reckon, about RM3000.

3) There is a carrier subsidy and you unlock the phone without signing a contract, which is, you guessed right, EXACTLY, what everyone is doing right now.


Q: Should I wait for it to arrive in Malaysia?

A: 1) If you feel you have to have the warranty

2) If you have such strength of will that you can stand not having an iPhone


then by all means, go ahead and wait. Have to warn you though, it's gonna be a looooong wait...




Q: I am a current 1st Gen iPhone user. Is the version 2.0 firmware available for my iPhone?

A: Yes, it is. The 2.0 firmware upgrade will be free for all current iPhone users and will include the new App Store among other features. Details are available at the Apple website. You would have to use the Pwnage tool to jailbreak-activate-unlock your phone again after you've updated your firmware.


Q: I am a current 1st Gen iPhone user. Is the upgrade to iPhone 3G worth it?

A: It depends really. The only major upgrades are 3G and A-GPS. 3G in the Klang Valley is decent but is frankly rubbish elsewhere so it's really your call. If you have some spare change lying around, why not?


Q: I am a current 1st Gen iPhone user. Should I sell my iPhone now and buy the 3G iPhone? Since the price is $199/299, won't my iPhone be worth sweet nothing?

A: No, in fact the opposite is true. With the new policy requiring iPhone users to sign up on the spot, this could be the end of unlocked iPhone's for people in the US. Their only option would be to buy unlocked iPhone's from overseas. There are buyers who are willing to forgo the 3G option so there isn't a better time to sell now before unlocked 3G iPhone's start surfacing after the July 11 launch date.

If you want to sell, try selling on Ebay US. There are iPhones being sold at around the $300-$500 range.

If you're selling with a view to buying the new 3G iPhone however, you would have to consider the fact that you're going to have to top up upwards of RM1500-RM2000 depending on how much you make off your old iPhone.

So consider if the upgrade is worth it before you decide to sell your iPhone because the potential hassle and cost in getting a 3G iPhone may outweigh the benefits of the upgrade.



BUYING IPHONE FROM OVERSEAS




Q: Can I buy a phone from the USA/UK/Singapore, and ship it back to Malaysia? I can save a lot of money..

A: New user policy requires that you sign a contract with the local carrier on the spot. So unless you're willing to pay the high price of a prepaid/unlocked 3G iPhone, you may no longer do so.

If your friend/relative is signing a contract and selling you the iPhone, ask him/her to bring it back personally if possible. Shipping it back here is a huge risk because if the customs find out, and they most likely WILL, you're looking at tax+SIRIM charges at about RM400 give or take. You would also have to go through a lot of hassle, running between departments and also think of all the fuel burnt!


Q: Anything I should know about the iPhone that I buy from overseas?

A: Yes, there is no warranty whatsoever. In fact, the same goes for all the unlocked iPhones in Malaysia. That is why it's safer if you get it from a local seller as you know it definitely works out of the box.






TECHNICAL QUESTIONS


UNLOCKING THE IPHONE AND GETTING STARTED [Version 1.1.4]

This is something you have to understand before attempting to jailbreak/unlock your iPhone. By tempering with the software of your iPhone, you are essentially voiding your iPhone warranty. While the steps below worked for just about everyone, there is no absolute guarantee that your iPhone will work the same because there are iPhone's which tend to act up. Therefore, do not hold any contributor responsible should anything untoward happen to your phone during the unlocking process. Bottom line, unlock your iPhone AT YOUR OWN RISK..

Sorry for making that sound so scary, it really is a very painless process but juuust in case...

Before unlocking your iPhone, I would suggest first restoring your iPhone to version 1.1.4. iLiberty is the program of choice at the moment due to its ease of use. Also, unlike ziphone, it doesn't screw your bootloader up. The unlocking steps can be found from the link below:

Download iLiberty for Windows HERE (Link courtesy of Jeff7112)

iLiberty steps for Windows (Link courtesy of nkymark)

iLiberty steps and download for Mac OS X (Link courtesy of UnUsUaL)

You will need to also install the BSD subsystem, Appsupport, and preferably, OpenSSH as well. These options are available at the iLiberty software and can also be found in the Installer app.

Q: How do I transfer contacts from my old phone to my new one?

A:There are 2 methods.

1) If you have your old phone's cable and software, simply sync your contacts to Microsoft Outlook, Windows Address Book or Yahoo Address book, doesn't matter, they work the same. Then, plug your iPhone in, go to the iPhone subsection and under info, check the "Sync contacts with <program that you chose>" box. Click "Sync".

2) Alternatively, you can use Simport, a native iPhone app that allows you to transfer contacts from your SIM card to your iPhone. Transfer all your contacts to your SIM card and insert the SIM card to your iPhone. To install the program, go to Installer>Sources>Edit>Add>http://install.ifon.no

Once you've added the source, go to Install>All Packages>Simport. Install and use. You're welcomed

Q: How do I set Malaysia as the resident country for my contacts? It's not in the Country Selection list!

A:
1. Download attachment from HERE (provided by frozzbyte & alang)
2. Unzip the file and you will find a file called ABAddressFormats(MOD).plist
3. RENAME it to ABAddressFormats.plist
4. Use your SSH software ( I used WinSCP) or iPhone Browser to log into your phone.
5. Go into the directory /System/Library/Frameworks/AddressBook.framework
5a. (optional step) copy out your original ABAddressFormats file OUT of your iPhone for safekeeping
6. DRAG ABAddressFormat.plist into it
7. Confirm COPY and overwrite the file
8. Disconnect iPhone and restart your phone.
9. MALAYSIA should appear as an option in the country selection list in your Addressbook

(credit: frozzbyte, alang, c_calvin)



GENERAL IPHONE SOFTWARE

Q: How can I access my iPhone files/folders through my computer?

For photos, just double click on My Computer and your iPhone should already be there; recognized as a camera.

To access the folders in the iPhone there are 2 methods:

Via cable/dock:

Download iPhoneBrowser HERE.

Via WLAN (wireless):

There are a few more steps involved here compared to using iPhoneBrowser but hey, it's wireless!

Instuctions and download can be found HERE

Q: Must I always sync with my iTunes library? What if I just want to add one song or one video? It's annoying because my iPod/iPhone always tries to sync with my friend's computer whenever I plug it in.

A: This has been a question that has been asked a lot of times and it's a very irritating myth that your iPod/iPhone library has to mirror your iTunes library. The answer to that is no. You can manually manage your iPod/iPhone library.

1) Turn on iTunes. Under the iPod/iPhone subsection, you should see a "Manually manage songs and videos" box. Check that box.

2) You can now drag and drop music and video files to your iPod/iPhone library without syncing with your library by simply dragging the file and positioning it over the iPod/iPhone heading. There should be a blue highlight over the heading. Release the file. (I know the drag and drop process is very detailed but you can't be too careful with newbies)

Q: What can I do to turn off my EDGE settings to prevent my bills from going sky high? Why is the E sign still there no matter what I do?

A: First of all, the E sign will be there regardless of what you do. It just indicates that there is an EDGE signal in your area. To disable EDGE settings, try installing Bossprefs. You can find it at the Utilities folder in the Installer App. (credit: c_calvin)

Q: What are the MMS/EDGE settings for my iPhone?

To access the EDGE settings, go to Settings>General>Network>EDGE and key in the following parameters according to your carrier:

Maxis
APN: net
APN name: maxis
APN password: wap
WAP gateway: 202.75.133.49
MMSC: http://172.16.74.100:10021/mmsc

Celcom
APN: mms.celcom.net.my
APN name:
APN password:
WAP gateway: 10.128.1.242
MMSC: http://mms.celcom.net.my/

DiGi
APN: digimms
APN name: mms
APN password: mms
WAP gateway: 203.92.128.160
MMSC: http://mms.digi.com.my/servlets/mms

(credit: UnUsUaL)


Q: My caller ID doesn't seem to work. Help!

A: Install AppSupport (1.1.4 or 1.1.3 or whatever depending on your firmware). You can find it at the iClarified folder in your installer app. If you don't have it, the source is: http://installer.iclarified.com

Q: Any recommended apps I should get for my iPhone?

A: There are too many to list down. Part of the fun of a jailbroken iPhone is actually exploring for new apps. Refresh the Installer page, and check the "RECENT APPLICATIONS" folder every now and then and look out for new apps. For more sources, go to the "SOURCES" folder and install the BigBoss recommended sources.

Alternatively, go ahead and check out this thread.

http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/658818 (credit: William_Yeo and LYN contributors)

Q: How do I add album art to my songs?

A: This is really simple:

1) To get an English album art, search for the album in Google or my personal preference, Amazon.com. Right click on the album image, click "Save image as..", and save it to your desktop. For Chinese album arts, try Google Images.

2) Turn on iTunes. Right click the song and select "Get Info". Click on the "Artwork" Tab. Drag the image file from the desktop and drop it on the album art box and click "Ok".

3) To save the same album art for multiple songs, simply Ctrl+select the songs that you want and repeat step 2.

Q: How do I rearrange the icons on my springboard "home screen"?

A: Press and hold onto any icon on the springboard until all the icons start to wiggle. You can now move/delete any icon except for the stock ones such as Mail, Weather, Youtube etc.


GENERAL IPHONE HARDWARE ANSWERS

i) It's not hard to type on the touchscreen once you get used to it. The spellcheck is pretty good.

ii) Battery life is about 1 day with heavy usage (wi-fi, calls, videos, games). Otherwise, the standby time is one of the best I've seen.

iii) The screen doesn't scratch easily, being made from glass. Go to Youtube to see the stress test. It's a fingerprint magnet though, so always have your cleaning cloth close by.

iv) Protective cases are a huge MUST once you get your iPhone. I'll personally vouch for that after dropping mine on the ground and slipping into depression for a few days. There are all sorts depending on whether you prefer form or functionality. Go over to the iPhone case thread.

v) The speakers are, for want of a better word, terrible. They are mono speakers and will crackle at loud volumes. Use your headphones whenever possible.

vi) The headphone , erm, socket? is recessed so most of the headphone jacks will not work with it. To solve this, get a headphone adapter, which is basically a slight extension for you to plug your headphone in. Google to find sellers. This is not an issue with the iPhone 3G, however.

vii) Bluetooth on the iPhone can be used for wireless headset pairing ONLY and it can only be used for answering calls. So that means you can't stream audio to it, you can't transfer files, do hardware syncs etc. (credit: c_calvin)

This post has been edited by blackchides: Aug 24 2008, 02:25 PM

Well, 3G/2.5G iPhone are still called iPhone's. The list is by no means complete, and like I mentioned, is user contributed, so if you feel there is something you would like to add, feel free to post your question and answer here and I'll edit the main post as required.

Guys, like I said, it would really help me if you guys can post it in Q and A form like c_calvin Post #9.

Example:

Q: Question

A: Answer


That would really get things going and make things a lot easier

Well, if you've noticed the first post, you'd have seen that I have always credited whoever gave the answer at the end..

Haha, I was looking for my thread to edit some stuff. Searched through the first few thread pages but couldn't find it before realizing it was pinned! Coolio..

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Added on May 1, 2008, 11:34 pmI think we need to add an unlocking FAQ here. I think we all agree that iLiberty is the best way right now since ziPhone has the bootloader issues? Anyone wants to write a step by step guide for unlocking an iPhone using iLiberty or maybe post a link to it?

If I'm not wrong, the link at the iPhone club thread is iLiberty for Mac. I'm looking for iLiberty for Windows.

I'll add it to the front page and credit your name as a contributor.

This post has been edited by blackchides: May 1 2008, 11:34 PM

Download an iPhone application called simport where you can transfer files from your SIM card to the iPhone.

Alternatively, use a cable to connect the nokia phone to the computer and sync with outlook/address book program of your choice. Then, connect your iPhone to the computer. From iTunes, in your iPhone submenu, just click sync with (program of your choice).

Done

It's a bit different from what you want, but have you tried saving multiple numbers in the same name instead? For instance, Jack HP and Jack House will go under Jack..

It's pretty intuitive. If you decide to change phone in the future, just sync your contacts with Outlook and sync it with your new phone. It will appear under Jack (mobile/home) as well in your new phone. That's what I did with my old Samsung D900 and when I synced it with my iPhone when I got it, it worked seamlessly. Every number in the same category under the same name..

Done. Thanks. Yeah, was going to put it up too. It's one of those hot questions where suddenly, a lot of people start asking...

Done. Thanks for the heads up..

Well, anything that you feel is useful to you. Contacts, songs, videos, etc. If you want to save yourself the trouble of re-installing apps, maybe you want to nick the app files off your phone and save it to your PC/Mac..

Thanks. I've shortened and added it to the Hardware Answers section though to reduce column inches

Yeah, iPhone's are locked to their respective country's carrier so you have to unlock it to be able to use it..

I've no idea, to be honest, but you might wanna go over to the garage sale section in the forum. I think the prices offered there are more competitive compared to the prices quoted in brick and mortar shops. Good luck!

Yes, you can but you're gonna have to go through the whole unlocking process again. Since version 2.0 is coming out, why not just hold out for a few weeks more and just upgrade to the new version instead? Are you on Celcom?

Can't remember the exact app for chinese texting but if you wait a little longer, firmware 2.0 is coming out which has built in chinese text so yeah..

They all run on the same platform, mobile OSX, even though the hardware is different. Think of it as different PC specs but still the same Windows XP..

Did you even read the FAQ page? I mean, come on..

In good time, my friend, in good time. Winpwn has just been released so I'm waiting for any negative feedbacks to surface. There were reports of phones bricking up and all that, so just to be safe, I'll wait for a couple of weeks before posting up the steps..

Hey people, I've updated the general iPhone 3G details after the developments of the past month as best I could but there's a slight issue however as to how the iPhone 2.5G and iPhone 3G questions should be presented. The issues:

1) There's a 1.1.4 community and a FW 2.0 community. Some questions answer 1.1.4 questions and some for 2.0. Some of them overlap.

2) Some of the questions are not inter-related enough to be grouped into a certain section. For example, iTunes solutions can be hard to group under a certain section. It's not particularly a firmware related issue so I can't group it under the 1.1.4 nor the 2.0 section. Ditto that for iPhone browser etc. A separate section dedicated to these general software issues will be confusing to navigate because then there will be a FW1.1.4 section, a FW2.0 section and a general software section?

Should there just be an iPhone 2.5G section and an iPhone 3G section? But some of the questions apply to both sections so should there also be a General iPhone section?

As you can see, this can prove to be a real headache..


I'm currently working on the pwnage solution to be posted on the FAQ page but is there any other FREQUENTLY ASKED questions that you guys would like to see posted? If so, post the question and the answer in the thread and I will edit the front page as necessary and credit your name alongside it.

Oh, and layout suggestions are very much welcomed because once I'm done with the FW2.0 FAQ section, the page's gonna look a right mess!

Thanks for the help guys.