Jared Fielding

1. Pandora: best music player available.
2. Fring: best IM app (AOL/MSN/Skype/etc), includes ability make calls with Skype
3. IM+: Stays “online” and sends the IMs to your email account. It’s not great, but the best alternative at present.
4. Shazam: Identifies the song playing
5. Facebook/Myspace: The facebook version is superior, but then again so is facebook.
6. Flixster: Awesome theater information with times/places/ratings/etc
7. Texas Hold ’em: If you like poker, this game by Apple is the best.
8. Around Me: Shows you nearest gas stations, coffee places, restaurants, and other useful categories.
9. Here I Am (be very specific in the name): Email your friends a googlemap link to exactly where you’re at (useful until added as a permanent feature in firmware v2.2+)
10. GoContact: Share contact information
11. Flashlight: Comes in more useful than you’d think
12. Lockbox: for securely storing your critical information (driver’s license number, credit card info)
13. Zenbe: task manager
14. Another good list: http://www.download.com/2701-20_4-7-1.html?tag=page;page

List of iPhone tricks. http://iphonetoolbox.com/news/ultimate-list-of-iphone-tips-and-tricks/

Texting (SMS) via email worldwide: http://teck.in/send-free-sms-text-message-worldwide-from-your-email.html

Just arrived at 7:30am 1/1/2009.

The short version: it works exclusively with the 2.28 baseband, which as of 1/1/2009 is the most updated version. In short, this means that everyone can unlock their phone. Basic steps with times:

1. Backing up your phone (15-45 min)
2. Downloading the newest Apple iPhone update if not already done (1 hr) and installing the update (45 min).
3. Using QuickPwn to jailbreak the phone (15 min)
4. Downloading unlock app yellowsn0w via Cydia or Installer (1 min).

Full details at http://blog.iphone-dev.org/.

UPDATE: I wish I’d started to download the update (download-only, not download and install)before starting the backup. iTunes can do both I think, and on a half ass DSL connection, that would have saved a lot of time.

UPDATE: As of 1/1, I have tested a United Kingdom 02 and USA Nextel SIM – I have not had success getting either to work.

UPDATE: As of 1/2, upgrade to v2.2 is resulting is dropping internet frequently. I have removed Yellowsn0w since I lack other SIMS to test with and based upon user feedback, it’s truely beta. Lots of issues being discovered and hammered out. Advise waiting.

UPDATE: As of 1/9, the Dev team has released 6 beta versions of yellowsn0w, meaning lots of bugs being worked out. All family/friends with non-ATT sims have left (post-Christmas) so I lost the ability to test. I will likely not have any new information on soft unlocking until I get motivated before my next UK trip.

If you’re debating hacking your iPhone or not, the real question is why should you not? Basically, if you plan on turning your iphone in for warrenty work, you’ll have to change it back, which takes hardly any effort at all. Bottom-line, I don’t see any risk.

Jailbreaking your phone:
Download the latest version of QuickPwn. Torrent link available here:
http://thepiratebay.org/user/iphonedev/

Run the program and follow the directions. Piece. Of. Cake. It will Cydia so you can download jailbroken apps straight to your phone – ringtones, apps, games, etc.

Recommended/Ok:
http://d.imobilecinema.com/ (entered by user)
Sleepers.net
app.ifonetec.com
*BigBoss (Recommended: heavy themes and apps)
cydia.touch-mania.com
Hack&Dev.org
iClarified
*iSpazio
*ModMyi (80% of the themes on Cydia, 5% very good apps)
*Steffwiz (sliders/theme mods)
*Telesphoreo (Recommended: heavy apps)
*ZodTTD (game emulators)

Not recommended:
SaladSoft (Nick Lee)
Ranbee
Comcute&Gecko
iphone.freecoder.org
WeHo.ru
http://www.iacces.com/
http://www.richcreations.com/
ZaneKills