The Truth in Our Hearts...

I have been doing anyone who reads this blog a disservice. I don't post regularly with new cool and interesting things, as surely they must happen in RT (Real Life - not on the Net).

That is especially true for anything iPhone related, as I am a self professed iPhone Guru and have hacked, jailbroken, restored, erased, copied, and basically tried ALL the cool things you can do with an iPhone. I had third party apps running as soon as a command line jailbreak was available and have used/tried every utility that jailbreaks iPhones ever since it could be done. On all firmware versions... you get the picture.

In any case, while I do adore my glossy white iPhone 3G, since iTunes 7.7.1 and firmware 2.0.1, I have been PLAGUED with mysterious freezes and startups that suddenly cause all my App Store applications to suddenly stop working and for my iPod to suddenly say it is empty of content! Please note that all the default iPhone apps still work fine, as do any apps installed via Cydia. Heck, at one point I checked out some of the hacked store apps and even They continued to work, but not my Hundreds of $ worth of paid-for apps and all my music and video content. Interestingly enough, the music and video content still showed in iTunes on my Macbook Pro and could even be played by the computer. The only solution so far has been a complete Restore and then a clean install of all my applications again. HOURS worth of work, just to be repeated again within 24 hours.

Here is a link to some discussions at Apple:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1644828&tstart=0

After having tried all the "quick fixes" and all the other "solutions", I finally found one that has seemed to WORK! At least for me it does. I downgraded my iTunes from 7.7.1 to 7.7 and have had all my problems above DISAPPEAR! Hooray! (does Snoopy Dance for those that remember what it is). While I am certainly happy that it seems to have solved my spontaneous crash and "lose all my apps" issue, I am disturbed that I had to revert to an older version of iTunes. That is Severely disappointing to me. Certainly a "downgrade" should never be an acceptable solution and it irks me to have done so. But I am a Happy iPhone user again! :-)

I would also like to note, as rumor has it, that Steve Jobs commented internally at Apple regarding my issues above and stated that the "bugs" (apps crash and media disappears from ipod on iphone) are known and should be addressed in an upcoming September firmware update. FINALLY! But that means the 2.0.2 firmware update will not help me :-(. I guess I will be staying at iTunes 7.7 until September then.

Posted by Heart at 5:45 PM | Permalink

Ok. I have been testing out Crossover Games 7.0 with my newly purchased Orange Box from Valve. The problem is/was that I don't have enough space on my main drive to install more than one game and still have any useful space left. I am on a MacbookPro with a partitioned 120G drive (a small c drive for boot camp, but I digress).

So what to do? I searched and search but found no direct answer in third party forums or Codeweaver's site (they make Crossover for Mac and Crossover Games). What I wanted to do was use my external USB drive for the install, but the program defaults to your main drive. You can use "hooks" I think to make some startup scripts but that seemed too involved and I was looking for a quicker fix ;-).

What I finally figured out from bits of other solutions, was this: The program does not like aliases to directories when created in the Finder. I had tried this and by linking several directories to folders on my external drive but all failed at some point. (more after the break, as they say at TUAW, my favorite blog)

Continue reading "Crossover and the Orange Box" »

Posted by Heart at 10:57 PM | Permalink

Well, in an effort to get myself posting more often and interfacing my life with the web, I have added a "Tweets" section on the side that displays my most recent twitter posts or "tweets" as they are called.

Now that I have been testing/trying Twinkle (a Twitter client) on my iPhone for a bit, I think I am ready to add it to my blog. AT least that way there will be more "new" content, if brief, and it should also inspire me to write more lengthy posts such as this one.

I know, I know... so WTF does anyone want to hear More form Me? Well maybe they don't, but I am not here for the 'nay sayers' :-). My true purpose? Well now, that is yet to be determined I think....

Posted by Heart at 6:46 PM | Permalink

Mmm... My first post using my iPhone and the iPhone "friendly" Movabletype plugin. The interface is not too pretty ( missing graphics - but maybe a setup issue) but it seems to do the job. I just wish you could select multiple Categories.

In any case, this post is being made while en route to my parents' house for Easter. No, I am not driving too ;-)

Posted by Heart at 11:46 AM | Permalink

Wow. It has certainly been a long while since I last posted on this blog and especially about my iPhone, since I last ranted about my favorite device of 2007.

So, where am I now? I have updated to the latest firmware version 1.1.2, soon to be surpassed by the rumored 1.1.3 version coming any week now. I have jailbroken my iPhone again (did this as soon as there was one available for version 1.1.2 - I didn't have to wait too long) and added all my favorite third party applications again (voice notes, NES, Netflix, DropCopy, Blackjack, etc.). The iPhone is still my all-time favorite phone and iPod.

Of course Steve Jobs did Finally give in to the obvious necessity of allowing third party applications and development on the iPhone, with an official SDK expected in February of 2008. It doesn't mean that all the apps my fellow jailbreakers and I have enjoyed will be safe from the next update, but perhaps by the Next one after that they will be. Happy Days! (does a snoopy dance)

In any case, I just wanted to let me regular readers (ha ha!) know that I am still a devoted iPhone addicted and Apple geek. My second favorite device of 2007 was and is my MacBook Pro with Boot Camp. Nothing like having the fastest Mac laptop and fastest PC laptop all in one box!

Posted by Heart at 1:21 PM | Permalink

Can you tell that I am 'addicted' to my iPhone? (huge grin)

Well I am, and I love it. It is still my best and favorite new gadget/toy/phone/ipod and techno-device even though Apple, its maker, would try to stymie my joy and micromanage how I choose to enjoy this device. Kinda like how Radiohead wants to force us to "enjoy" their music only as an Album and never by the individual songs. Geez, what does that say about the songs if they can't stand on their own or needs Other songs to 'complete them' and the experience? But I digress... iPhones!

That's right, Apple has again taken a fairly nasty stance and let loose the long awaited update that includes the WiFi Music store, which even *I* thought would be cool! Word! But it comes at the cost of my "harmless" and yet Very Useful, unsupported by Apple, 3rd party apps. Do I really want to give up my NES games, Black Jack, TapTapRevolution(TTR) and other games just so I can make an impulsive iTunes purchase? Should I trade the ability to have custom FREE Ringtones of my own creation, a Terminal that I can use to check my servers, and Voice Notes for the ability to have some iPod controls on my screen without unlocking it every time?(hey, the headphone skip and pause/play function will suffice for now and when I use Good headphones I can cope)

No. See Erica Sudan's article on tuaw.com for useful info before YOU upgrade.

I have lived with these "limitations" since the beginning and Apple's small enhancements are not worth trashing the hard work and inventiveness that the 3rd party hackers and developers have done on our behalf. Why Apple choose to do so, and with no real legitimate explanation I might add, is a mystery to me and sadly an indication that my always adored Apple, maker of my favorite computers and tech equipment, is becoming warped and twisted and corrupted by their own size (greed?) and perhaps the "new friends" they seem to be making in the corporate and international world.

Having a Soul is now too costly Steve? Did you loose your Daemon?

Sure, I understand about having to honor the agreements with your phone carriers and making sure only they can provide service for you phone, but that should not mean f*cking over the 3rd party developers. Hell, WTF didn't you give us all an SDK in the first place? Is the iPhone software just Beta still? Or even Alpha? And you aren't done tweaking it enough to issue a supportable SDK? Then SAY so. At least you would alienate less of your devoted fans. WE would understand. And don't think that this new found "Fame & Fortune" means you can forget your "roots". Shun us and it will be your own demise. Read your Ancient Literature!

So, what does it mean for me? I won't be updating any time soon. Not until Someone has re-jailbreaked the iPhone and allowed me to customize it again with Summerboard and other cool apps. Either that, or Apple will continue to pull Microsoftian moves like updating iTunes so that only iPhones running the latest firmware will sync properly... Don't do it Apple! Just don't go there!

In the words and voice of Luke Skywalker, "I know there is still some Good in you!"

From Geek Culture's Joy of Tech.

Posted by Heart at 11:58 AM | Permalink

Well, we got our rebates! Hooray! Apple came through one week later, as Steve said they would (good job Jobs!), and issued $100 credits for each iPhone we purchased. The Extra $100 we spent still 'stings' but I think we'll live... certainly they won't snub us Again... not our Apple Good Guys!

But available NOW to iPod Touch Users! (tough luck iPhones!)

(Mmm mumph murrumph) Eating your own words is not too tasty (sighs). You know, I really though Apple had "seen the light" regarding their treatment of their more devoted, fervent believers, and early adopters of their usually Wonderful technology, but apparently not. Like more plebian companies they seem to be fracturing under the pressure of their recent successes.

With the new WiFi Music Store imminent and the promise of an iPod Touch by the end of the month, it seemed to Me like a perfect opportunity to show their loyalty and thanks to the iPhone owners and roll out the new store for That crowd First! Especially considering that the Touch would ship with the WiFi store already on it. Well, we waited with hopeful stares at our updaters and Apple pages for signs of our new iPhone update with WiFi Store...

But no. Instead I walk into my local Best Buy and see an employee showing off the iPod Touch to a customer, including the WiFi Music Store! OUCH! Surely when I get home there will be an update waiting...I must have just missed it.

Nope. It is now Tuesday and the enabled Touch's are in many hands now and us iPhone users are left wondering When we will be included again? Well Steve, thanks for snubbing the early iPhone devotees again! I was sure that Apple would do the "smart" and responsible thing and open the WiFi Music Store to its devoted iPhone users before it released the iPod Touch to the rest of the world with the WiFi Store enabled. It would have gone a long way to assuaging our loyal hearts, but no, they stay bruised and a reminder that no longer does Apple really "care" about its customers. Sure they will 'service' their customers, but "caring" about them seems to be far less important now. Slowly it seems to be abrading under Apple's own new found glory... I only hope that Steve takes a break and gets some perspective back. Apple with Ideals and heart is a Wonderful Company. Apple with $$ signs as its Goal and Soul is a dead end story.

Get your Sh*t together Apple and stop being so "Microsoftian".

Posted by Heart at 3:34 PM | Permalink

Well, well! You heard my thoughts Steve! Thank you! Should these words prove true and work out as indicated, you will have truly redeemed Apple in my eyes and reaffirmed one of the reasons Why I Believe in you...

.. a good heart and awesome technology on the inside...elegance and simplicity on the outside.

And a Soul too. ;-)

Posted by Heart at 10:28 PM | Permalink

Ouch! That Hurt, Apple! (rubs cheek where I am sure it is quite red) Is that how you reward your loyal and sometimes fanatical devotes of your truly wonderful and often amazing products? Especially for those like myself who have been champions of your greatness since the days of Apple IIs! That's right. We waited a few weeks but broke down and upgraded our phones to iPhones in July.

Well, we broke our banks to do it, devoted fans that we are and bought two new 8G iPhones. And to be Sure, we Do Love our iPhones to death. But Apple, is that how you Thank us? Make us pay $100 per Month for each of the two months we have the privilege to own a new iPhone? We had considered the option of waiting for the price to drop but assumed that the price would remain stable for a long while and that newer versions with more features would arrive at the same price spot, as generally happens with other ipods and macs. Who knew it would drop so drastically in 2 months time? Would we have waited 2 months to Save $400 ($200 per phone)? Absolutely YES! We may be devoted but we are Not complete fools or so rich to take such a savings lightly! Sure, we expect that sooner or later newer versions will come out and older models will drop in price, but to shaft people with such a precipitous depreciation in value after only 2 Months is an insult to Every one of us who Believed in you at the start. Ccertainly some sort of milestone for a company to alienate its most devoted fans. After all, it was us early adopters and our enthusiasm that made the iPhone such a success!

The very LEAST you could do is credit the "early adopters" such as ourselves, with some iTunes credit or a refund coupon to our local Apple store for accessories...say about $100 worth for the 8G buyers and $50 for the 4G folks, perhaps evan as a "credit" when the WiFi-iTunes store comes online later this month?! (serious look) Take the "sting" out Apple...show a little Gratitude to those devoted stalwarts of yours and say "Thanks" to us as well!!

Otherwise, 'thanks but 'no thanks' for your inconsiderate price drop, making our early belief in you quite costly...sorry to seem whiney, but I never thought buying an Apple product would become a "gamble" for a good deal.

A slap in the face.

Ouch! That stings Apple! ... have some 'healing' iTunes for us?

(Comments are open for this post - If you have one or have experience with this issue feel free to post your thoughts, but no spammers please. We'll see how this works...)

Posted by Heart at 4:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

from my Treo? Cool! (geeky smile)
...bluetooth keyboard working...
...Enfora WiFi working(well, somewhat)...
...MediaNet @ 100%...
...GPS working too! (impressed look)

Ok. so it's not an iPhone. but with a few 3rd party apps and some tweaks (uber-geeky grin) it is truly a versitile and Amazing device. The 'tricorder/communicator' the Trekkie in me always wanted.

Posted by Heart at 11:44 PM | Permalink

I am a Techno-Geek, but not just any sort mind you, I am a Mac Addict. Ever since my first exposure to personal computers in the dawn of the computer age, and then later in college, my first Mac, an Apple II with dual 51/4 disk drives. My Psych lab partner would always show me his games and software he had acquired through his friends. It was magical and I was hooked. Hell, my last encounter with a computer in college before that, we used punch cards to get our stats homework done! But I digress... since my first Apple II Plus (my first REAL computer) and shortly thereafter an IIe, I became enthralled with computers and especially my Macs.

Apple II+
Apple IIe
Mac Plus
Powerbook 100
Powerbook 145
Powerbook 160
PowerMac 2100?
PowerMac 5300?
Powerbook 420c
Powerbook Duo2100
Powerbook G3 Wallstreet
Powerbook G4 Titanium 867
Mac Mini G4 1.3G
MacBook Pro 2,0G Duo Core

Almost every model of iPod, Airport, and accessory.... I am a Mac Fanatic. I adore them. And I know just about EVERYTHING about them all (smug look). That is my 'dirty little secret'... I am a fanatical Apple Geek. By my sheer enthusiasm and knowledge of their products I have brought many a happy user to the fold.(chuckles)

Posted by Heart at 7:57 PM | Permalink