Jimiz.net – Jim Becher on the web

I am not one to have a belt clip for my phone.  One of the main elements of having a phone for me is to be able to fit without being seen in a pocket.   I currently have an iPhone 4 and like the size and function it has (don’t like the weight – remember I keep it in my pocket).

Since my first smart phone I have never kept a case for any of them.  I have tried many cases and covers for both my iPhone 3 and my iPhone4 but they all caused more hassle than it was worth.  Some were too bulky, others would catch on my pocket, and some would just gather pocket lint.

So for the past few years I have used a naked phone (phone with out a case).  That is until recently when I was in a meeting and scratched the crap out of the back of my iphone.  I thought it would be nice to have a simple just back to the phone to stop that from happening and cushion it.

I happened to see a google add and also a quick mention of  Gelaskins on some site.  It may have been hak5.   Gelaskins make iphone, iPad, and laptop covers or skins.  The iPhone skin was just what I was looking for.   A very thin back overlay.  It also comes with sides and front, but I don’t intent on using those.    You can also choose from many styles or create your own.  I decided to make my own.

If you are looking for a iPad or iPhone case, give these a quick try.  the iPod case is really cool, you could get custom ones made for your business.

GelaSkins are removable covers for protecting and customizing your portable devices. They feature stunning, photo-quality graphics ranging from fine art prints to contemporary urban images designed by our growing family of artists from around the globe. Stand out in the crowd with personalized protection from GelaSkins.

Give them a try, so far I am happy with the design process.  I uploaded the image and customized the rest.  I made the purchase on Sunday Night and it was shipped Monday.

The site was easy to use and the communication was great.  They use 3m adhesive and help stop scratches.  They make covers for most portable devices.

So today I updated my iPhone to 4.3.2 and Jailbroke it again.   I always get asked why I jailbreak.  The simple answer is because I like to hack devices.  The more to the point reasons are the cool customizations.  The business reason is simple, MyWi it allows me to make the device a wifi hotspot and always have internet where ever I go.

I used the redSn0w process to jail break.  You can follow this process it is for 4.3.1 but  but can work with 4.3.2 if you download the proper IPSW version.   Lifehacker always has hst up to date version of the files.

My intial attempt failed.   This is because I did not follow the steps for x64 and modify the affinity for redsnow.exe and set to cpu1

I also did not run redsn0w.exe as administrator.  To do that you just need to right click on the exe and select (run as administrator)

These steps are all in the instructions. Have fun and enjoy if you do decide to jail break.  Drop me a note with your experiences.   I

I have not jailbroken my iPad yet.  I do know this version will not do the iPad2

Update:  I got a note from someone asking if I backed up my iPhone prior to jailbreaking.  Yes, I used AptBackup for the jailbroken apps and did a lot of system file copy with ssh.

If you are part of the group that is having reception issues with your new iPhone 4, here is a great DIY bumper.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/01/iphone-4-gets-a-1-alternative-to-pricey-bumpers/

Instead of purchasing a $30 bumper, you can make one with a $1 Bracelet.
What would be interesting is if you could find an Apple branded bracelet.

It looks like apple is shipping / delivering the iPhone 4 before June 24th.

Maybe this is a good faith gesture for all the issues that surrounded the pre-order of the iPhone 4. No matter what the cause or the reason, this is great to see a company hit a deadline and also come in early.

The keynote speech by Steve Jobs was great. I personally like the moment where the wifi was not working. Beyond that little issue the overall presentation was great. Especially the launch of the new iPhone. I can’t wait to get my hands on the new device. I don’t think of myself as a gadget geek, however I use the iPhone as a business tool. From email, cellphone, remote access, and notes I find that the little device is priceless. My only complaint with my current iPhone (3g) is the speed. It seems to have got slower over time.

So come the end of June I am guessing I will have a new phone, maybe even one for my wife. I’ve been with ATT since ’99, when it was ATTwireless.

There has been a lot of talk in the news about AT&T allowing people still in contract till the end of the year getting an early upgrade deal. To check if this is available to you, you only need to go online and check availability or just call *639#. ATT will text you back if the account can upgrade. As you can see, I am ready to be the proud owner of a new iPhone if I desire.

I hope everyone else has the chance to upgrade.