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

My MMS Stopped Working…Solution

Two Recent iPhone Tweaks Don’t Play Well Together Proving That You Can’t Have Your Tweak and Eat it Too

If you recently discovered that your ActivateMMS2G stopped working, you’re not alone. ActivateMMS2G, better known for enabling picture messaging on your iPhone 2G has a lesser known compatibility issue with another iPhone Tweak, 3GS Battery; 3GS Battery enables a numeric battery percentage for your iPhone.

Both tweaks are a welcomed asset to your iPhone arsenal; due to unfortunate incompatibility issues, though, you are limited to using only one or the other.

To re-enable your picture messaging you must go into WinterBoard and deactivate 3GS Battery. To use 3GS Battery and inadvertently disable MMS, open WinterBoard and re-activate 3GS Battery.

Download Youtube Videos on Your iPhone

MxTube and Pumpkin are names synonymous with the iPhone Dev scene. MxTube had all but disappeared, when Pumpkin, one of the contributing creators, reinvented and released an enhanced and integrated version of MxTube aptly named YourTube.

YourTube allows you to download YouTube videos on your iPhone directly from the YouTube iPhone app. This tweak adds additional download icons in the app where you can download, track progress and play downloaded videos.

This feature greatly benefits those who may want to watch YouTube videos and are lacking connection through edge or wifi in dead zones (subways, airplanes, trains, your mama’s house - where they still use dial up, etc) .

Available in Cydia Store (on Jailbroken iPhones) for $2.

Download/Install from Cydia

Open YouTube and select a video, at the end of the video, click the icon in the top right hand corner (by “More Info”) to download

Select a Video Quality

Click on “More” then “Downloads” to View Downloads (you may also place “Downloads” in your task bar by hitting the edit button and dragging the icon there)

Track Progress and Watch Downloaded Videos