*POST UPDATED FOR 1.1.1

While a 1.1.1 unlock is just around the corner, I thought I would share some “1.0.2 hacks” I’ve collected over the past few days since I got my phone.

For all of these hacks, certain assumptions have to be made, namely that your iPhone is unlocked for v1.0.2 v1.1.1 This automatically assumes the following among many others:

1. using the 1.0.2 1.1.1 firmware (obviously)
2. activated
3. jaibroken
4. has Installer.app (AppTapp) installed
5. Has the required packages installed (BSD subsystem, SSH etc. etc.)
6. Access to the phone’s filesystem

There are so many (in fact too many) different tutorials out there that will get you to this point… so no need to reinvent the wheel. Actually, tutorials on these hacks themselves are also freely available in the net, but I just thought to consolidate the most useful ones… ones that you might immediately want to apply after every “restore” (should you need to).

Lockdownd

*1.1.1 uses a different activation hack

The lockdownd patch method is to ensure that your phone will be activated regardless of the SIM card inserted. There are other activation methods out there, but this by far is the best and most persistent.

Download the zip here. Extract, and put the lockdownd binary in your iPhone’s /usr/libexec/ folder. The octal setting for the file is 555¹

Force single carrier logo

Now who in their right mind would want to force a single carrier logo setting on the iPhone? Simple; those people who like to use custom icons for their carrier logos.

Customize.app can set your carrier logos, but it does so in a manner of replacing the AT&T logo the phone has by default. So in order for this hack to work, you have to have your phone to always use the AT&T logo, even if it’s on a different carrier.

Download the zip here here. Extract, and put the SpringBoard binary in the /System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app folder² The octal setting for the file is: 755

Being a Globe telecom user myself, I included the carrier logo I made with the typography of their new logo (didn’t include the spherical icon since it sucks balls)

Click on each icon (you’re going to need both) and save to your computer… plunk them into Customize's carrier images folder located in /private/var/root/Library/Customize/CarrierImages

Fix caller ID bug

A bug/flaw in the current firmware (or at least 1.0.2) matches callerID strings in a not-so-optimal way. The fact that my carrier (Globe telecom) decided to put the bonehead policy of having SMS and voice callerIDs to be formatted differently³ makes this flaw even more apparent.

What the hack does is essentially match the first 8 digits starting from the right, so a number registering with +631234567890 will be the same as 01234567890

There are other variations of this hack, basically with different lengths of characters to match, but I think 8 is probably the best. While more characters matched is more accurate, anything above 8 could have an issue with landlines. Lets take 9 characters: +6324567890 is different from 024567890

So unless you have ONLY mobile numbers in your addressbook, then I suggest you stick to 8 and below.

Download the zip here here. Extract, and put the AppSupport binary in /System/Library/Frameworks/AppSupport.framework The octal setting for this file is: 755

The zip also includes a file called ABPhoneFormats.plist UIPhoneFormats.plist which is just a visual modification of how it displays the phone formats. It’s more of a cosmetic hack. If you want to use it (you’re not required to) just place it in the /System/Library/Framework/AddressBookUI.framework /System/Library/Frameworks/UIKit.framework/PhoneFormats folder with octal setting 644

Get Louder

*I’ve just confirmed that this hack is even louder, and can be used safely with 1.1.1

One of the better improvements of 1.1.1 is the increased volume output throughout the phone. Fortunately for us 1.0.2 users, we can avail of something similar if we apply this hack… until we can upgrade to 1.1.1 safely ;)

Download the zip here. Extract, and put the file SystemSoundMaximumVolume.plist to /System/Library/Frameworks/Celestial.framework/ with octal setting 644, then put the com.apple.celestial.plist file in /private/var/root/Library/Preferences/ with octal setting 600

Application hacks

Here are other hacks that may (or may not) be useful to you, just thought I’d share them.

MobileNotes

*Not tested with 1.1.1

John Gruber of DaringFireball.net shared this hack of killing the Marker Felt font and replacing it with Helvetica for the Notes application. Just put the MobileNotes binary in /Applications/MobileNotes.app with octal setting 775 and you should be good.

Stumbler

For those who use the wardriving software Stumbler, and are unnerved by the “splash image” it starts up with, then you can change it to something better like this. Plunk Default.png to /Applications/Stumbler.app with octal setting 644

You can also make your own PNG image and use that.

Others

Most of the visual hacks possible can be accomplished by installing and using Customize via Installer (AppTapp) so if there’s anything visual you want changed in your phone, try it out – chances are Cuztomize has got your back ;)

post updated on May 24, 2010 @ 5:30 pm