PineApple iPhone

RedLaser: iPhone Barcode Scanning

App Spotlight

One of the most talked about features of the G1 Google Phone on T-Mobile was it’s ability to scan the barcode of a product and display comparable prices from other vendors.

Of course, on the iPhone…”there’s an App for that.” RedLaser, although there are mixed sentiments regarding it’s usability, is a completely functional and promising realtime barcode scanner.

RedLaser is available in the App Store, although this review is based on the Beta version available in Cydia.

Video games, books and movies scanned rather quickly. Magazines did not register and some items needed to be rescanned, but the speed at which it processed blurry UPCs with almost pinpoint accuracy is remarkable.

If you have a Jailbroken iPhone, RedLaser Beta is offered for free (hosted by BigBoss & Planet-iPhones).

If you have yet to Jailbreak your iPhone, RedLaser is available in the App Store for $1.99.

Pick an Item

Align the Barcode Within the Arrows

Results are Displayed

Results are Saved for Later Viewing

You Can Email Yourself a Product List

or Enter a Code Manually

Shake to Erase iPhone (Redo and Undo Typing)

Apple iPhone Firmware 3.0 Easter Eggs

I discovered this one while texting and driving the other day (which may or may not be illegal where you live); and hitting a bump in the road.

Nothing to Undo

Shake to Undo Typing

Shake to Redo Typing

You can type a message, shake your iPhone to erase it or shake again to get it back. Much faster then the age old backspace key. Kudos Apple!

How to Jailbreak and Unlock Firmware 3.0.1

Nothing has really changed since Apple updated firmware 3.0 to 3.0.1 except for an SMS exploit patch. If you have a jailbroken iPhone, read Updating to Firmware 3.0.1 (Why you should wait) before proceeding. Therefore, nothing really changes with the jailbreaking and unlocking process.

The quickest way is to use redsn0w. The tutorial is up to date for the most part. The only difference you will notice is that even after you update to 3.0.1 through iTunes, you will still select firmware 3.0 in redsn0w to jailbreak and subsequently unlock your iPhone.

3 Easy Steps (A Quick Reference)

1. Update to 3.0.1 through iTunes
2. Select firmware 3.0 in redsn0w to Jailbreak and Unlock
3. Enjoy

Updating to Firmware 3.0.1 (Why you should wait)

Apple released firmware 3.0.1 shortly after 3.0 to fix an SMS exploit that allowed hackers to take over your iPhone’s calling features and steal your information among other things. (Apparently, the exploit also managed to text your ex’s about how you could change, record the wrong shows on your dvr - so your stuck watching Saved By the Bell “The College Years”, and lower the miles you received per gallon on your car). Needless to say this reckless exploit needed to be stopped.

So why wait to upgrade if this exploit is so detrimental.

If you’ve jailbroken your iPhone and gone through a firmware update with Apple, you know how time consuming it can be to restore all your jailbroken apps (even with aptbackup and appbackup; when they do decide to work).

Jay Freeman (”Saurik”) also knows and is promising something, that I can only imagine to mirror what iPhone devs use to do with earlier firmwares 1.x.x; which is allow you to upgrade straight from your iPhone, without a computer. It may only be 3.0.1 specific, since there are negligible changes aside from the sms patch, but this could open the door to complete upgrades without iTunes.

I guess we will have to wait and see.

If you don’t want to wait, check out How to Jailbreak and Unlock 3.0.1

Receiving MMS Screenie

If you’re on a 2G iPhone (using a carrier other than AT&T) you have been able to use MMS shortly after firmware 3.0 was released (thanks to geniusan). If you’re on a newer generation iPhone (under contract with AT&T), then you’re still waiting for AT&T to authorize Apple to unlock that function.

In the meantime, here’s what you can expect…

To activate MMS on your 2G or see more screenshots visit ActivateMMS2G.