Unduly Noted

Edit 2: Well, 7 days later and they figured it out. Crap…Back to the drawing board.

Edit: Still working well after 4 days.

Problem/Old Method: Use activate MMS 3.1.3 and fill in the carrier info. Pop your sim into a MMS capable phone and send a few messages and make some calls. Now back to your 2G and you can MMS. This works until one of AT&T’s 3 scans picks up that you are on a 2G and cockblocks you again.

Solution:
Quite a few steps here.
What you need. iPhone 2G, a friends iPhone 3G(s)/4, Swirly MMS2 (no I’m not sending through this, in the end we will use the native apple app).

1. Install whitedoor custom 3.1.3 (I did the 4.3 with no MMS for 2G, looks just like 4.3 when it’s done) - Note: this wipes everything.

1a. At this point I was just trying a carrier update. You may as well do it because I can’t rule it out.

2. One your phone reboots it will want you to choose a 2G unlimited plan in iTunes and reactivate your phone. THIS IS FINE. As long as you switch between unlimited plans you will not lose your unlimited (I was coming from a broken 3G). Once this is all done go to your att.com/wireless account and make sure you see the $20 unlimited plan. Make a few calls and texts to make sure it works and re login if that doesn’t work.

3. Open Cydia (is included in the custom firmware)  click User and then follow prompts to do the necessary upgrades (I think it will tell you to reboot).

4. Open Cydia and go to Manage on the bottom and then choose sources. Clik edit in the upper right corner and then the Plus sign in the upper left corner. A box will pop up. Type the following: http://bbyscroopy.pirat3.com/cydia and click add source. It will take a bit to refresh this source. When done it will take you back to the list of sources. Click on the new source you just added. Scroll down to “MMS for 3.1.3 2G” and install it. Your phone will reboot. (MAKE SURE TO UNINSTALL ANY OTHER MMS UNLOCK YOU HAVE DONE OR YOU WILL GET ERRORS).

5. Typically this is where people tell you to go to your system prefs and put in carrier info BUT it never will stick even if the APN matches. Now go to cydia and install swirly MMSv2 (you may be able to get away with the trial here). Will probably reboot the phone (can’t remember)

6.   Here is where we do a SIM swap. Stick your SIM card into the 3G(S) or 4 (I actually have a micro Sim that I custom fit into the 2G with good ole tape) and make several calls texts and MMS (make sure wifi is on so you don’t get spanked for not having a 3G plan). Login to att.com/wireless and go to your account. You should see the 3G(S) or 4 listed and guess what? AT&T stuck you back on the 3G plan (unlimited for me). Pop the SIM back into the 2G and make some calls/send texts (no MMS yet). Log back onto att.com/wireless and make sure your phone says 2G. BUT you will notice that AT&T doesn’t downgrade you to the 2G plan, you remain on 3G.

7. Now open Swirly MMS2. Go to settings and choose a carrier config (I chose mmsc.cingular.com, 66.209.11.32, wap.cingular, wap@cingulargprs.com, CINGULAR1. Now go to settings again and in the Swirly Net auto activation activate your number. USA is +11234567890 (but with your number in place of 1234567890). Now go back to the swirly settings and delete the username and password from the at&t config. Click save.

8. Click your home button and choose Settings->General->Network->Cellular Data Network-> and make it look like below (yes most are blank):

Cellular Data
APN: wap.cingular
Username:
Password:

MMS
APN: wap.cingular
Username:
Password:
MMSC: http://mmsc.cingular.com
MMS Proxy: wireless.cingular.com:80
MMS Max Message Size: 614400
MMS UA Prof URL:

Hit the Network button on the upper left when finished and go back in. IT SHOULD STICK (I think and have no idea why but it may have to do with something that swirly does).

9. Go back to swirly and and go to it’s settings. Scroll down and make sure Receive SMS and Send SMS are ON. Now try to send an MMS from swirly. It should work. Now go back to your native SMS app and send an SMS. It should work. Go back to swirly and shut off Receive/Send SMS. Go back to your native app and test it.

I’ll take this down if I can’t send MMS in a few days. No idea why this may work? Maybe AT&T won’t let their systems deactivate the MMS feature for peeps on a 3G plan? And swirly has something to do with letting the network settings stick? Let me know know if you have any luck! GOOD LUCK!

Don’t get me wrong, this is a great phone. But of course EVERYTHING that AT&T get’s their hands on has to be saturated with whatever BLOATWARE they feel useful.

Let me also start by warning you. Symbian apps can be expensive (if you came from the iPhone app store, and are a whiner). But here’s the difference…you will actually use them more than once. ie: they are worth it.

For starters, make sure you have the latest firmware in your E71x (or if you have the version below stop there, unless I take away this warning)
Hit the Home button once, Go to Settings, Go to Device Manager, Choose Options, Choose Check for Updates (check both servers Cingular or Cingularlab). As of this post the latest (and only update yet) was V 03.28. Knowing AT&T (no the E71 firmware won’t work with this) it might never have another update.

FOOTNOTE: Whenever using the internet on this device I choose the MediaNet connection instead of Proxyless, it seems a bit faster.

Tethering (Via WiFi)
After updating lets go ahead and do the most important thing. Make the phone a tether wonder boy (or girl).
Enter Joikuspot Preimum (Joikuspot Light if you only want http and dont care about a landing page)
This software by FAR surpasses anything I have ever used on the iPhone.
There are several ways to install software on symbian phones.
1. Connect your phone to the computer via bluetooth and send file to it. It will show up as a text, install from there.
2. Use the PC Suite software (Windows only) that came with it. I never use this as I am on a mac.
3. Connect your phone via bluetooth and drop the file in the phone internal or external memory. Then open it up with the great X-Plore software. X-Plore is a very nice, and much more than just a file browser. Just highlight the Joikuspot file and click it to initiate install.
Once the program is installed reboot the phone. Open Joikuspot (in your applications folder)
It will ask if you want to allow sharing. Choose Yes. Next it asks which connection, I have the best luck with MediaNet. Give it a few seconds and you are good to go. Open your laptop and choose the wifi Joikuspot00:00:00:00:00:00 network. The numbers at the end of that are your phones wifi card mac address. Once in Joikuspot feel free to change the network name and even put on some encryption (options/settings).
The only problem I ever have with this app is that the damn thing wont shut off sometimes even though it says it is closed. You can download a task killer or just reboot your phone. For now I do the latter.

Threaded SMS
If you came from an iPhone you are going to hate non threaded SMS. It’s ok, Free-iSMS (DOWNLOAD) is here to the rescue. BUT, and it’s a big but, this damn app isn’t signed.
Two things we can do (I have done both, and they work).
1. Make a $5 donation to the Hello0X2 developer and get an invaluable tool that will enable to you install and run unsigned apps.
Go to the developers website and fill in the info. Donate $5 and wait. It took a few hours to get the download link after paying. Run the software and follow instructions. After it is installed go into your applications folder and open ROMPatcher+. Click “Installserver_FP2 and Open4All_RP+” this should make them green. Exit out and run the i-sms installer successfully.
2. This is a 1 time fix, I recommend the above method in case you need to install unsigned apps in the future. Go and get an account from OPDA. After creating an account login and click on “My Certificate”. Now choose the big orange button “Apply cer”. Fill in all the details. Now for all you impatient bastards this takes a good 12 hours for them to process, it’s worth the wait. Go back to “My Certificate” in 12 hours and check to see that it has a green check next to you IMEI. You can download the cer and ket files and sign it from the phone with an app, or just have them sign it (faster). Click on “Signing Softs”. If you uploaded more than one EMEI choose which one you want. Next choose the i-sms file you downloaded earlier. Submit & Upload. They will give you a download link in a few seconds. Go ahead and install your newly signed app. NOTE: If you don’t feel like paying for Hello0X2 you can download the unsigned version from the site and then sign it just like we did with isms. I prefer supporting the developer of a great tool.

NES SNES Emulator
Once again. These cost money, but, unlike the iPhone these run amazingly well (flawless with the sound off).  VNES and VSUN. $9 and $19. Might seem a little steep, but these puppies are very well made and thought out. I choose the SNES because of super mario all-stars. After you procure your ROMS, just do a sendfile from the mac (bluetooth) and this program automatically adds them after opening it. How cool is that! Once in the program saving and restoring game states are insanely fast. You can also remap the buttons to your comfort.

AUTO GPS (Tracking the phone in case it is stolen)
Phonelocator. A very cool free app that updates your phones GPS location automatically at an interval you choose. With some of the smart battery options enabled I honestly don’t notice a difference in battery drain. After installing the app, set it up to your liking. IMPORTANT: The first time you run the app it needs to open Medianet to link the phone to the account. If this does not happen, try again or remove the app and reinstall. After linking the phone open your computer and login to see it on a map.

Other apps worth noting
Google Maps. Installs and runs great. I have used it for trips and to get me out of a bind.
Skyfire. Installs and runs great. Point your phone browser to this. Good if you want to watch some video sites where the flash lite in your MediaNet browser wont work. (No Hulu, they, as in Hulu Suits, killed it…Super BS)
Opera Mini. Super fast (image compression on their servers) web browser.
Opera Mobile. More of the full web experience, but slower than Mini.
JoikuBoost. Not available for the E71x yet, but keep an eye out for it, will be amazing.
RoadSync. $49.99 but kicks the pants off Nokia’s exchange client.

Tips
Get rid of the stupid demo’s and bloatware here.

Transfer Music, Pictures and Video
I will host the app here on my site as I see it was removed from the European site. Nokia Multimedia Transfer for Mac OS X. If you are on windows feel free to enjoy/not the Nokia PC Suite (and use those instructions) that came with your phone. I happen to like the Mac version better. Very self explanatory. Lets you sync via USB or Bluetooth. Sync all your stuff or create albums/playlists to sync.

If you try to boot off the windows 7 dvd you will get a Select CD-ROM Boot Type screen that you can’t do anything with. Apparently the standard of the DVD image won’t work with the macbook pro.

If you have a unibody this problem should not present itsself.
We have to make a new DVD.
Since you have a mac mount the .iso and copy the files to a usb drive (fat32 formatted)
If you have the DVD made already skip that step and head over to a windows machine.

The following steps are on so may blogs with no source I can’t give credit to anyone. (DO THIS FROM A WINDOWS MACHINE, a VM will do)
1- create 3 folders c:windows7iso c:windows7exe c:windows7dvd
2- download this .exe file and put into c:windows7exe
3- copy the files from the DVD or from your flash drive into c:windows7iso
4- open a dos prompt in c:windows7exe and type exactly as shown below:

EDIT: Fixed code below. Somehow \’s didn’t make it through copy/paste. Thanks to the commenter below.
oscdimg -n -m -bc:\windows7iso\boot\etfsboot.com c:\windows7iso c:\windows7dvd\windows7dvd.iso

Burn the new windows7dvd.iso file to a DVD

Go ahead and boot from the DVD in your mac (Pop it in and hold the “C” key or just hold the “Option” key and select the windows cd.

Partitioning:
(NOTE: i used the resize command in the macos x terminal to shrink my partition)

Since I had freespace after my mac partition I created and formatted a new partition during windows installer.
Win 7 will not install on a GUID partition. You will either need to convert (i’ll update the guide in a few days to reflect how to do that) or you can just do the safe way. Backup your mac drive with carbon copy cloner and repartition in windows. Then reformat the mac partition once you boot back to OS X and push your CCC copy back.

Win7 installed every driver by default, but just to be sure and to get all the extra bootcamp features (HFS+ Read) I popped in my Snow Leopard DVD and opened it up.
Go to D:\Boot Camp   (where D: is your optical drive)
Find the setup file.
Right click it and hit properties.
Go to compatibility
Check the box to make it compatible with windows vista
Also check the box to run as administrator (if it lets you)

Hit OK and run that file. Sit back, everything installs fine.
Reboot

To install Daemon Tools.
You will need to install SPTD seperatly from Daemon. Go a head and download that from here SPTDinst-v162-x64
Reboot
Now download Daemon Tools and run the installer.
I had a few initial bugs so you may want to reboot again.
Finished!

I use Avast for my antivirus.

First of all i recommend you going with a cheaper faster internal SSD than what I describe here. This was done solely for convenience/fun.

What: 17 inch MBP 3,1 and a 48GB FileMate SolidGO Express Card

Be careful when buying express card drives. Make sure they actually use the Express Card bus and not the USB.

Pop this baby in and it sits perfectly flush.

Installing OS X is a breeze (and rather quick). Boot from a USB/Firewire image or use a good old fashioned DVD. After you choose a language hop over to Utilities and Disk Utility from the menu bar. Go ahead and Partition your Express Card Mac OS X. Choose Extended (not journaled) and then click options and make sure you make it GUID (Intel). After formatting just quit disk utility and it will return you to the main installer. Go ahead and start/finish the install, nothing special.

*note. i did not enable journaling because I was concerned with it shortening the life of my drive for more than one reason.

Booting doesn’t seem all that faster. Of course I forgot to time the original drives performance.

The good: I can now use the internal drive that came with my computer for a time machine backup or MP3’s and Video’s.

This things is pretty fast. Their Benchmarks: 65MB Write - 115MB Read (Sequential). My benchmarks: 65MB Write - 89.6MB Read with a 128MB file. A little off on the read but still fast enough for me. With the same benchmarking software my original drive gets 23.3MB Write - 23.9MB Read. So you can see by the numbers how much faster it is. The standard drive till outperforms with sustained write. A 1GB file on the SSD 22.9MB Write - 77.9MB Read. Original drive 38.5MB Write - 38.4MB Read. You will only notice this slowdown if you work with large files. But that is why we left the original disk attached inside.

All applications open drastically faster. Photoshop uncached is a second or two. Safari 4 is open before the damn thing even bounces.

One good thing about this is that at a moments notice I can rip it out of the mac bringing all my files with me rendering it unable to boot. All that a thief will be left with are my videos and movies, no personal information.

The bad: If you work with the lid shut connected to an external display this puppy will get HOT! And when it does…Spinning Beach Ball of Death. This has happened twice in the 4 months of ownership. Also once in a rare while it will get hung up for about 5 seconds. Usually happens in Safari, so who knows if it’s even the drive.

Overall I am very happy with this drive. Bad price compared to the internals that are now out there and slower as well. But a good boost of storage and speed that won’t make you rip apart the pain in the ass MBP.

Iphone modem 3 just came out and it seems to be working great. No need to proxy anything (works similar to pdanet). For those of you who have problems with pdanet in 3.0 this is your answer. No disconnects so far. And you don’t even need the helper app.

Install iphonemodem3 by addition in cydia (make sure you uninstall pdanet or iphonemodem zsrelay first)
Create an adhoc network on your computer.
Connect to it with the iphone.
Start iphonemodem from the iphone.
Enjoy surfing. Pretty easy.