TechGazing

Ever since it was released, jailbreaking the iPhone (releasing it from the restrictions placed by Apple and operators) has become a full-time industry. Although most consumers are content with what the iPhone offers, many have hacked it to be able to access applications and features not approved or supported by Apple and/or the operators offering the device. However, jailbreaking (as the process was called), was a tedious and risky process, taking hours, requiring users to hold certain buttons, and running the risk of rendering their iPhones useless. As a result, jailbreaking was relatively rare and handled generally by hackers who often charged a fee for jailbreaking an iPhone.

Well, that was in the past. Now, one can simply jailbreak an iPhone 3GS, 3G or iPhone 4 by going to a website on the phone. All one needs to do is open the Safari browser on one’s iPhone, and go to http://www.jailbreakme.com. The site will download some files and at the end of it all (generally about 15 minutes over a Wi-Fi connection), your handset will have been jailbroken and will be able to access apps not just from the Apple App Store, but also from Cydia, the app store which features stacks of apps from other developers, many of which have been rejected by Apple. You can even make your iPhone independent of your operator by downloading an app from Cydia, letting your iPhone work with just about any sim card. And if you do not like your iPhone after jailbreaking it, you can simply roll it back to a previous version by syncing it with iTunes.

There is, of course, a catch - the jailbreak works only on iPhones running iOS 4, and jailbreaking your device will result in voiding its warranty. Still, there are many people who will take the risk, just to get the opportunity of trying out more apps. We already have. It actually works.

Apple has just addressed one of the biggest complainst about the iPhone - the absence of multi-tasking. The latest update to the iPhone OS, called iOS 4,brings multi-tasking to the device they call the Godphone as well as a host of other features, such as the option to change wallpapers (yep, believe it or not, you could not do so earlier), get all your e-mail in a unified mailbox, and organising apps in folders (once again, this was not available earlier). There are also significant improvements in terms of speed and battery consumption, as well as the addition of iBooks, Apple’s new e-book reader, although you still cannot purchase books directly from the Apple iBookstore in India.

The update is free and works on iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 and the 3rd generation iPod touch. While iPhone 3G users can also update their phones, they will not be able to access most of the new features, most notably the multi-tasking. Mind you, at 378 MB, it is not exactly a small download. Still, it is well worth it, given the features it adds to what we think is the best phone in town.

You can accuse us of going a little iPhone 3GS-mad over the past three days or so but then, such is indeed the attention the gadget commands. And after its launch in India got official, we have been literally flooded with queries as to whether it is worth buying the phone, especially given the rather high chances that Apple will be pulling a new one out of its hat in a few month and the fact that it seems to command a high-end price for specs that are modest on paper in comparison to some competing devices.

We did some pondering, asked sources official and unofficial, consulted user sentiment and our conclusion: yes, it is worth going for the 3GS, even though it comes a tad late to India, and in spite of what many think is an inflated price. The rationale for our conclusion is simple: Continue reading »

A couple of days after we had made a post speculating about the possible arrival of the iPhone 3GS in India, Airtel have finally confirmed that the iPhone 3GS is coming to India on 26 March. The 3GS version of the Godphone sports a better processor, camera and battery life, but if you were expecting to come at a relatively low price, we would ask you to curb your optimism. According to the release issued by Airtel, “iPhone 3GS will be available from Rs. 35,500 for the 16GB model and Rs 41,500 for the 32GB model. Airtel iPhone 3GS customers will enjoy 500 MB of free data every month for a year from the date of their iPhone 3GS activation.”

We are going to ponder if that makes it worthwhile to purchase or not, especially considering that a new version of the device is expected in a few months. But in the meantime, all Apple fan boys can rejoice - the iPhone 3GS is finally in India.

It has been rumoured to be on its way for months now, but it finally seems that the iPhone 3GS is now only days away from being released in India. While rumour mills are buzzing about the imminent release on the phone any time this week, what gives the entire affair an official touch is the fact that Airtel has posted a press release saying that it would be bringing ” iPhone 3GS, the fastest most powerful iPhone yet, to India in the coming months.” A mini website for the device has also been put in place at http://www.airtel.in/iphone3gs/. Unfortunately, no details about prices, plans or dates are mentioned, but still, at least it is official now that the iPhone 3GS will be coming to India.

While all iPhone fans will be cheering at the news, we are just hoping that the device is launched soon. After all, if past trends are any indication, it is very likely that Steve Jobs will be showing us a new version of the iPhone in a few months, which would pretty much make the iPhone 3GS appear like an old lady.