Tech of the day: iPhone 3.0

I haven't upgraded my firmware for a long time. I am the type of users that refuse to upgrade unless it provides me features I could use immediately (that's why my Ubuntu install became totally obsolete with no upgrade path available) for 2 reasons: upgrades are risky. You are taking risk of destabilizing your gadget/system. Also, some companies use upgrade as a way to put more control/limitation. However, there are a few features in the 3.0 firmware that I couldn't resist:
- Bluetooth Stereo support (aka A2DP): finally we could go wireless when listening to music.
- Copy and paste: not sure my friends missed getting my e-mails that I wrote by copying and pasting interesting news from websites I visited. I used to do that a lot before iPhone replaced by my trusted Dell Pocket PC.

Here I'm re-posting instructions to upgrade a jailbroken iPhone 3G with 2.x firmware to a jailbroken iPhone 3G with 3.0 firmware (NOTE: NOT 3G S) written by someone (and executed successfully by someone, not me DISCLAIMER: use at your own risk)

1) Backup backup backup! For example, if you have stored some local files on your iPhone's filesystem, make a backup using SCP (assuming you have OpenSSH running on iPhone) That includes data and config (e.g. lighttpd.conf, sshd_config, ... etc) Of course, sync your phone to iTunes, which back it up. Also, some recommend installing Cydia's AptBackup and backup your Cydia settings.

2) Upgrade iTunes to 8.2 from within iTunes. It is a 80Mb+ download. Might take a while.

3) When iTunes 8.2 sees your phone, it will pop up a box telling you there is a new firmware available, click the "Download Only" button (not "Download and Install"!!!!!!) Then you will get a pristine firmware straight from Apple and no need to worry about downloading from dubious source. It is a 200Mb+ download. Might take a WHILE.

4) Put your iPhone in recovery mode (follow Apple's official instructions)

5) In iTunes, hold down the shift button on your keyboard and click "Restore" with your mouse. It will open a file dialog. Choose the file you have just downloaded in (3), under c:\Documents and Settings\\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes\iPhone Software Updates (to be safe, back this up somewhere else too)

Your iTunes/iPhone will go through the lengthy process of restoring (i.e., upgrading) the 3.0 firmware on your phone as well as resync-ing the settings/data (e.g. contacts) to your phone.

Now you're ready for jailbreaking it again. Follow these good instructions on how to use redsn0w for that purpose.

[Update: iPhone has problem with using some bluetooth headphones and streaming through WIFI. Hopefully yours is not on the list.]

Star of the day: Tim Howard

USA's goal keeper has made a bunch of great saves and played a huge role in the upset defeat of the #1 team in the world, Spain. Even though Spain was known for underachieving but it usually had to do with losts to the elite teams. The current Spanish squad is even more exceptional. Well, every good thing must come to an end. There goes Spain's 15-game winning streak. It proved once again that anything could happen in soccer.

Go USA!

Topic of the day: Clear's future is unclear

Just heard from the morning news that Clear, the program that allows paid users ($199 per year) to get through airport security faster, has suddenly stopped its operation. Users who already paid are not getting refund. While I feel bad about people losing their hard earned money, I was not a fan of this program from the beginning. Why should rich people has extra privilege when it comes to airport security? Apparently I'm not alone. See the comment section in the linked article. It's interesting to see some commenters seem to have valid reason to use such service (frequent travelers who is going to pay more than $199 to replace a ticket when they miss the flight on a tight schedule)

Topic of the day: Bozeman is in the news

Not sure if no news is bad news in this case. The Montana city became famous all over the world last week when the city government requested job applicants to handover their passwords of social networks (e.g. Facebook, MySpace) The purpose is obviously for finding out if the applicants have done anything improper and disclosed through social networks. When the news first broke, their official still defended it and said they did not violate privacy, which caused even more uproar. Finally they decided to abandon that practice, but I'm afraid it's already too late for damage control. The damage has been done!

每週一噏：美國精神

「美帝」一向被指責扮演國際警察，最近又孭上引發金融海嘯及輸出H1N1的新罪名，形象可謂每況愈下。

不過今日一場波，又令我再次感受到美國精神：永不言敗，戰鬥到底（當然仍要靠少少運）

講的正是洲際盃，早兩日提過美國兩戰兩敗，在小組包艇，出線機會渺茫。誰知最後一場，面對僅敗於巴西及小勝意大利的非洲勁旅埃及，竟然一洗頹風，越戰越勇，最後以總入球數字趕過同樣一勝兩敗的意大利打入準決賽！