iPhone-Im a newbie-Advice

[ratbag69]

Hi,

I just got an iphone on a contract, I have never had one before.

Couple of things I have noticed:

#The camera-it seems rubbish unless im missing something. No zoom? no flash?

#Background (not wallpaper)-Cant I change this?

Sure there will be other things I will notice as I get used to it.

[juls1585]

no flash or zoom unless you purchase apps. flash for free is a good app to lighten up pics and its in the apple app store.

there is no way to change the background unless you jailbreak your phone

[Mickeylittle]

Yeah ratbag you will probably run in 5-6 things that you swear should work but Apple is trying to give them to us 1 update at a time when they make a new phone. It's their way of ending up with 5-6 iphones! So jailbreaking, which is easy gets most of the 5-6 items for you today!:ok:ok

[ratbag69]

Jailbreakinf? Is that like chipping a games console? Or do u mean so I can put a pay as u go sim in it?

[Mickeylittle]

jailbreaking allows you to download apps that do some of the things you wanna do but can't on the stock phone. It allows me to multitask, change my background, themes, put info such as weather and calendar events on my lockscreen, etc...

[ratbag69]

Thanks.

But if i have read things right everytime they do an update (which itunes prompts me to download) it will stop my phone from working until they come up with a new jail break is that correct?

If it is then just to change the background and get a few apps its not worth it is it.

[dMAXIMOb]

You should be able to Jailbreak after you update. You will find that you will be so much more free after you jailbreak.
This site has most of the current apps on Cydia(Jailbroken App Store) if you want to take a peek before JBing:
http://modmyi.com/cydia/search.php
Also, you might want to search the Jailbreak specific forums in here, and the Dev Team Blog site for more info.

[Cjvdh]

Welcome my friend.

[BrownGem]

Jailbreaks after new updates don't take very long to come out. You don't have to upgrade if you don't want what is in the new firmware. There is a lot of functionality to be added with a jailbreak but if your interest is only in a background and a flash then it probably isn't for you. There are multitudes of camera apps in the iTunes store than can modify pictures so you could probably find some app that will lighten a dark pic.

[iNinja]

Welcome to the forums, and please dont take this the wrong way, but did you do any research into the iPhone at all before you bought it?

[Murdomac]

Regarding the rubish camera, is there a way to make one of the other camera apps the default, as at the moment if you want to take a photo from within an app you are automaticly taken to the default camera and I would rather it defaulted to one of the better apps i'v downloaded, any suggestions?

I'm running a 3Gs 32mb Jailbroken 3.1.2.

[jet66]

There is a lot of functionality to be added with a jailbreak but if your interest is only in a background and a flash then it probably isn't for you.
When I first did my first-ever JB (just over a week ago) I did it because I just wanted some interesting theme action, vs. the plain ol' look. I figured if it didn't seem like anything I'd really use, I'd just restore my iPhone. Now I'm using SSH, MobileTerminal, iFile, and all sorts of tweaks to make the phone do more things, and do them easier. (I'm thinking iBlacklist next, to restrict the times certain people can call or text me, muhahahaha...) It's almost infectious, once you see how many more options you have available. For the first week, I bet I was only getting 2-3 hours of sleep every night, I spent so much time tweaking between the time I got home and the time I would finally go to bed. :dft010:smiling

As much as I liked the iPhone before the JB, and being fairly new to Apple all around, I have to wonder why they wouldn't be all on board with giving us these options in the first place. It takes a really good product and makes it great.

[Mickeylittle]

Apple, like all companies are out to make a dollar. That's why they release a new iphone every June with new features. Until some real competition comes along offering the total package, Apple can continue dragging out the process. I'll but the new phone next June that might come with multitasking or flash! If the 3GS was the perfect phone then they know 3GS owners wouldn't upgrade in 2010.

[jet66]

I can see where they would do that, and don't even fault them to a degree, but they could at least offer different themes. I probably wouldn't have done the JB if I could have just changed my theme. Looking for themes is how I learned about Jailbreaking in the first place.

[garykirsten63]

I am happy with the camera. May be you can use some apps to improve the performance. And as I follow the posts it seems that u have already known about JAILBREAKING. It can help you a lot.

[Mickeylittle]

Yeah, it does seem that themes would be pretty standard doesn't it!

[ratbag69]

Welcome to the forums, and please dont take this the wrong way, but did you do any research into the iPhone at all before you bought it?

Hi

I researched the phone as far as I would research anyother phone prior to entering a contract.

I looked at the contract, I looked at the model of phone, looked at what the phone could offer in way of not needing to carry my ipod touch around as the iphone has the ipod built in. I did look at the fact it had a camera (how never thought it wouldnt have a flash). I also looked at the fact you can have games on it.

So I would say i looked into it quite well.

What I didnt do was think of the phone I wanted and then think 'before I buy i need to look into someone to hack it'. Cos I have done done it before so I never even thought about it.

:)

[ratbag69]

I am happy with the camera. May be you can use some apps to improve the performance. And as I follow the posts it seems that u have already known about JAILBREAKING. It can help you a lot.

I have always mainly had Sony Ericssons. I am very disappointed in the quality of the camera, never known a modern phone to not have flash.

In respect of just jailbreaking to enable me to change the background where the icons are then I think I can live with out it.

[ratbag69]

Apple, like all companies are out to make a dollar. That's why they release a new iphone every June with new features. Until some real competition comes along offering the total package, Apple can continue dragging out the process. I'll but the new phone next June that might come with multitasking or flash! If the 3GS was the perfect phone then they know 3GS owners wouldn't upgrade in 2010.

Well I have a 24 month contract so I wont be upgrading next year.

[Mickeylittle]

You would be surprised how many pay the extra or add a line. Plus if you jailbreak and unlock your phone you can sell it for 400-600 which pays for the new phone at the full price. My numbers are off some but you get the point. Yes, I will probably be one of the people finding a way to justify my new purchase.:dft003:coolkid

[ratbag69]

You would be surprised how many pay the extra or add a line. Plus if you jailbreak and unlock your phone you can sell it for 400-600 which pays for the new phone at the full price. My numbers are off some but you get the point. Yes, I will probably be one of the people finding a way to justify my new purchase.:dft003:coolkid

What do you mean pay the extra or add the line?

I also have 02 insurance on my iphone in case I lose it or damage it.

[Mickeylittle]

Last June we added a new line to our AT&T account so our son would have a phone so I got the 3GS 32GB for $299.00. Next June I won't be able to add a line so I may have to pay some extra money if I can't sell my 3GS for enough money to cover the new phone without the discount.

[iNinja]

Last May I just sold my 3G unlocked and jailbroke on eBay, bought out my contract and signed up for a new 3GS for free. I will be doing the same this June if a new model comes out, and im able to sell my 3GS for the price id pay to cancel my contract

[jet66]

I think the next iPhone would have to go 4G in order to get me to upgrade before my contract ends. I expect to be satisfied with the 3GS' performance for a while, especially with it Jailbroken. I was happy with my Edge BB Curve (and cracked, as well) for the most part. Of course, entering those last six months, I had my eye on something 3G.

[garykirsten63]

I have always mainly had Sony Ericssons. I am very disappointed in the quality of the camera, never known a modern phone to not have flash.

In respect of just jailbreaking to enable me to change the background where the icons are then I think I can live with out it.

One thing I can say sony ericsson users never feel happy with any other cellphone camera.Because they are very much comfortable with their SE device and Sony give them a Nice and powerful camera.