iPhone hacked for untethered EDGE data on laptop

While this would be all the more sweet on a 3G iPhone, a new series of hacks will now give you untethered EDGE networking from your laptop. Starting with jailbreak as any proper iPhone hack must, the latest hack installs a new SOCKS server on your iPhone. Join your iPhone and laptop to the same ad-hoc WiFi network and you're pretty much good to go. The procedure is a bit cumbersome if this is your first hack attempt so be sure to check the YouTube video-how-to before you get going. Check it after the break.

[Via MacRumors]

[Totalfixation @ Jul 25th 2007 5:53AM]

pretty not cool.............ok a little cool, but over edge? I rather take the time to take the sim out of my phone and stuff it into a blackjack to to do the tethering. But hey its still something so ill give them that. Now, So......anyone up for the uncovering of the secret 3G chipset? (yes wishful thinking)

[Greg @ Jul 25th 2007 6:01AM]

so I take the sim out of the iphone and use it in my old 3g phone and it will work?

[Totalfixation @ Jul 25th 2007 6:02AM]

Yes it will work.

[hoplite @ Jul 25th 2007 6:15AM]

Welcom iPhone users to the year 1999AD

[Totalfixation @ Jul 25th 2007 6:23AM]

are you serious? Yes i know the limitations of this phone. but i think this phone is far more advance in other ways than most phones scheduled to be released.

[ScOObyDoo @ Jul 25th 2007 6:36AM]

@Totalfixation: No. It is far more POLISHED and far more PRETTY. But certainly not far more advanced.

The only advanced portion of the phone is the multitouch screen. Everything else in it is based on old(er) technology that has been in countless other phones for years. What Hoplite was referring to, is that tethering is nothing new. In fact, I was doing it with my Nokia 6110 back in 1998.

[Totalfixation @ Jul 25th 2007 7:00AM]

@ScOObyDoo

agree, but you have to consider the GUI. I find it alot easier to access many of the features of the phone, than lets say symbian or wm5/6. Everyone should remember to consider the GUI and ease of functionality a technology too, rather than comparing tech specs.

[601210 @ Jul 25th 2007 7:05AM]

@Totalfixation

GUI = Graphical User Interface
Graphical = Look Pretty.

How technologically advanced do you have to be to make a pretty GUI?

[John @ Jul 25th 2007 7:34AM]

@601210

Apparently very technologically advanced if Microsoft, PIM, and Palm can't even get it right.
Also, you missed the whole UI part of GUI, and making that work with the graphics is the key.

I'm done feeding the ignorant trolls now.

[Spyvie @ Jul 25th 2007 11:59AM]

@john: How can you say MS, RIM, and Palm haven’t gotten it right? I’m extremely happy with my WM6 T-Mobile Wing, and there’s a sharing (tethering) icon ready for me in the default interface, with unlimited access over GPRS/EDGE using Bluetooth or USB.

I can even listen to stereo Bluetooth (a2dp) over my cheap Sony head unit while browsing with the tethered connection.

[johnzilla @ Jul 25th 2007 2:56PM]

@Spyvie:

MSFT got user interface design "right"? Hmmm...let's see. To STOP the computer, what button should I click on? Oh, the START button. So to STOP the computer I click on START? Hmmmm....yeah, that's excellent UI design. Wrong. It is excellent MARKETING design. That's the major difference. Some companies (Apple being one of many) design excellent user interfaces and then MARKET them, companies like MSFT and Palm excellently market POOR user interfaces designed by marketers.

[Spyvie @ Jul 25th 2007 12:45PM]

@johnzilla:

I thought we were arguing about phones...

Incidentally, I never had any trouble understanding the Windows interface, but for those a little more “challenged” MS has removed the word “Start” from the button in the lower left corner

[dck @ Jul 25th 2007 1:55PM]

@Spyvie: How do you close a program in Windows Mobile? Hint: You do not click the "X."

I really do not see how closing a program by clicking an X to **minimize** it and then opening up the Memory Manager application (which, is hidden in a few different "forms") to close the application is "getting it right."

I understand that there are programs out there that will fix this, but then, that means that Microsoft did NOT get it right. And they have been getting it wrong for a very long time.

Microsoft can't even be consistent with their products, which is how they have been marketing Windows Mobile.

[Mark @ Jul 25th 2007 2:07PM]

@johnzilla
a) as mentioned above, for those whom it annoys so much, the word start has now been removed.
b) how's this one for you: in os x the close button doesn't actually close the app. just sends it to the dock. i think that's a far more glaring usability problem.

[Miles @ Jul 26th 2007 1:47AM]

@Mark

That's really a personal preference.

I like the ability to hide my windows instead of minimizing them to the dock (which takes up tons of space to do.)

When you press X it doesn't close the window either, it hides it.

You can bring it right back up by clicking the App's main icon on the dock.

Apple should've made it where you can choose what X does.

[Totalfixation @ Jul 25th 2007 7:30AM]

@601210

Nice or not, the iPhone, i think has a gui with one of the best ease of functionality. SMS for example, I like how its log based. Days later would a friend answer me back on sms, I would be like what the hell do you mean? i would have to take the time too look at my sent list to remember what i had asked earlier. on the iphone its all there in one chat log. It sound so simply yet non of the other mobile os has this feature. argue with me all you want. seriously though, I hate mac os and apple laptops with passion, but the mobile version of it is quite fanominal.

[coorspate @ Jul 25th 2007 7:50AM]

palm treo's have had this for years.

[phoomp @ Jul 25th 2007 8:37AM]

Yes, but that does not make it *technologically* advanced. The design of it's user interface is advanced, but it's technology is actually a bit behind.

[kludge @ Jul 25th 2007 8:31AM]

If the GUI is so easy, how do you send SMS to multiple users???

How do you forward SMS???

Could you please tell me how to do it using iPhone???

Or, how do you copy paste text???

Please, dont be shy ... tell us the truth.

[Totalfixation @ Jul 25th 2007 8:41AM]

Ya your right, it cant do it, simple as that.

i guess its just one of those thing you have to deal with for now.

I guess they are thinking of a way to do it simple and easy. thats why haven't incorporated it.

but then again i did mention there are some limitation but what "chip" pointed out, "what it does, it does very very well."

[Richard @ Jul 25th 2007 9:35AM]

Wow. Let's see... my BB has had this feature FOREVER.

Try again.

[Constable Odo @ Jul 27th 2007 8:38PM]

Sorry kludge. Not yet. We'll tell you how it's done when the iPhone is upgraded to Leopard. You'll have all that and more.
Word processing is no problem for the iPhone so cut and paste is no big deal with the proper apps: http://www.maclife.com/article/goffice_word_processing_on_the_iphone
You'll eventually see more apps than you can handle in a few months time, including your SMS/MMS.

[Chip @ Jul 25th 2007 8:09AM]

I may have to disagree with iPhone being easier than Symbian OS. I'm referring to Symbian UIQ especially on the Sony-Ericsson P-series. Using just the thumb jog/click wheel I can browse and listen to MP3s, take photos or video, view calendar and drill down to a particular appointment, view recently called and redial, view or create SMS/MMS and even dial numbers embedded in SMS/MMS. Using jog wheel and keypad I can whip through hundreds of contacts.

You can do a lot of that one handed with the iPhone, but I can also do quite a bit of the above without even looking at my phone. After a week or two of use, you learn the jog dial "notches". One jog-wheel notch up is Contacts. Two job-wheel notches up is SMS/MMS. One jog-wheel down is Calendar etc. Makes it nice to be able to use your phone while driving and not having to look at the screen.

[Ignacio @ Jul 25th 2007 9:22AM]

"Makes it nice to be able to use your phone while driving and not having to look at the screen."

I don't care if you are not looking at it, using a phone while driving is never nice.
http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/22/british-teen-imprisoned-for-texting-related-death/

[Chip @ Jul 25th 2007 11:16AM]

@Ignacio
I use a Bluetooth earpiece and don't send text messages while driving. I receive text messages and will answer and make voice calls.

What do you mean even if I'm not looking at it, using a phone while driving isn't nice? Do you ever change the channel on a radio station while driving? Have you ever enjoyed a beverage while driving? Why is talking on a Bluetooth any different.. except I can have both hands free?

[Ignacio @ Jul 25th 2007 12:02PM]

@Chip: "Why is talking on a Bluetooth any different.. except I can have both hands free?"

Sure, your hands are free, but your brain is busy ;)
http://www.eta.co.uk/news/newsview.asp?n=557
http://alcoholism.about.com/library/weekly/aa020325a.htm

"Those using mobile phones and hands free kits were found to drive more slowly and were nine per cent slower to apply brake pressure and varied their speed much more than drivers with no external distractions."

"Drivers using either a hands-free or hand-held mobile phone significantly missed more road warning signs than when drunk."

[Chip @ Jul 25th 2007 12:21PM]

Wow, this is getting way OT.
I doubt the validity of the tests. I've been using cellphones since they were 3Watt bag phones. I have the TMobile ba-jillion minutes (ok it's only 5000 minutes). I drive a company car and put about 50K miles on it a year. I drive in Dallas, TX constantly and must use the cellphone with Bluetooth. My last accident was in 1995. To be honest it was a fender bender and I was distracted by a hottie (no joke).

I admit I'm one person, but I'm guessing most would agree that driving drunk is FAR more dangerous than using a Bluetooth earpiece while driving.

[Chip @ Jul 25th 2007 8:11AM]

Oh, and I forgot to add, you can use the Sony-Ericsson P-Series as modems just like this hack does... only much easier and wizard based.

I won't bore you with all the other features the P-Series have over the iPhone. I think we're all starting to figure out the iPhone is pretty limited as far as smartphones go, but what it does, it does very very well.

[w00t @ Jul 25th 2007 12:46PM]

Most of us figured out a long time ago, and that's exactly what these projects are about.

I don't care what other phones can do. I don't even care what the iPhone can do out of the box. I care about what I can make it do :)

[Karan @ Jul 25th 2007 8:52AM]

Given how relatively straightforward this is, one only has to wonder why Apple couldn't be arsed doing these things in their usual slick way to make life easier for everyone.

[Dave @ Jul 25th 2007 8:56AM]

But it doesn't work on PPC-based Macs!! Please make this available soon guys.

[Richard A. @ Jul 25th 2007 11:10AM]

Wow, the revelation of the century:

"The iPhone can do [list feature here]? Bro, my [list older smartphone device here] has been doing that for YEARS!"

Then KEEP YOUR STUPID DEVICE. The iPhone has a revolutionary user interface, a polished GUI which means I can press a button on the touch-screen and actually have the device respond to me! I've had mobile Internet Explorer crash ten times as much as Safari on the iPhone has (it's not perfect) ... but at least when Apple issues an update (when it does) for the iPhone, then all devices can be updated at once through software. Try modifying the BlackBerry keyboard through software, ha!

[Chip @ Jul 25th 2007 11:22AM]

Do you think software updates for all is new to iPhone too? A lot of mobile users install Opera. That's what I use for my Sony-Ericsson P910. No crashes yet.. over a year and counting.

[Harbinger @ Jul 25th 2007 11:48AM]

Detractors act as if the iPhone userbase isn't asking for these things. Clearly there are limitations the iPhone has because of software discrepancies. It's not a perfect device, but it's a damn powerful platform. Therein sits the the potential of the device, which should see some dramatic software updates. If you can't live with the gaps in the system, don't buy it. It's a clear obvious choice. Screw the apologists and the haters, there are better things to do than live woefully unfulfilled lives where you have the time to argue why someone else's toy sucks.

[Richard A. @ Jul 25th 2007 11:49AM]

Right, Opera is better than mobile IE (I had it on my old PPC at one point), but try and load complete web pages on either browser. A number of sites smell your P910 and go "nuh-uh, let's load a 'mobile' version for Chip".. the iPhone's touchscreen and ginormous screenspace lets real sites load with ease, and the reverse-pinching action to zoom in, out and all around? I'm sure no other mobile device has had that at all. With the iPhone I can actually leave messages on fully-loaded MySpace and Facebook pages, not their so-called "mobile" version equivalents. That, is revolutionary.

[Miles @ Jul 25th 2007 11:55AM]

iPhone is one of the most advanced (if not the most advanced) phones ever.
Here is a list of things the it does that makes it so.

Multi-touch
Visual Voicemail
Mail
Real Internet (Not the mobile internet like every phone before it)
Youtube
iChat
Innovative GUI
Accelerometers
Stereo Bluetooth
iPod
Video

You can't even name one phone that comes close to the iPhone.

[Ignacio @ Jul 25th 2007 12:14PM]

Miles, please stop posting! :-)
Or at least check what you write, I mean:
"stereo bluetooth"? You do realize that's one of many complains about the iPhone (it doesn't have stereo bluetooth).
"Mail"? Lots of phones support that.
"Real internet": true, Safari is the best mobile browser I've seen, but there is also Opera and the WebKit-based browser used in some phones, which are similar.
"YouTube"? Er... is that something to brag about? ;-)

[paloooz @ Jul 25th 2007 12:21PM]

iChat?

Sir, I have an iPhone ... but I'm not going to make up features in an attempt to defend it. Am I shallow for buying one? Sure. I like how it looks, I like the interface, and I am okay with its features. Is it lacking features my old phone had? Well, just MMS messages. But, as I said earlier, I'm okay with it not being able to do that. Perhaps a software update will include that, and iChat. But for now, the iPhone does not have iChat.

The iPhone is probably not the phone for people who have been using Treos and BlackBerrys (would that be BlackBerries? Hah!) for a long time. I had a Nokie 6230 and then a Nokia 6682. They are far from being "SmartPhones" ... so the iPhone is a major step up for me. I've not had a phone with 3G internet, so EDGE seems fast enough for me. Although, I was using my friend's BlackJack on 3G, and it wasn't faster than my iPhone. We both started going to websites like www.apple.com and then www.newegg.com. Mine had the page loaded before his ... I'm not sure if it's because the iPhone renders pages faster than the BlackJack does, and enough to make a difference over the BlackJack's faster speed ... but whatever.

/babble

[Spyvie @ Jul 25th 2007 12:09PM]

Windows Mobile has this capability as well, a Text/Multimedia inbox that saves all of your SMS messages untill you delete them.

The Reality Distortion Field is in full effect I guess...

[paul @ Jul 25th 2007 12:46PM]

There's got to be some good reason why the comments about hacking the iPhone to tether it to a laptop have to do with whether the iPhone is as good as a blackberry or is missing feature X or Y. Can we keep to the topic? Do we get Mac vs. PC flame wars in here next? What a waste of space.

[johnzilla @ Jul 25th 2007 3:05PM]

@Mark:

In OS X, the "X" closes the window...it doesn't move anything to the dock. The "-" (minimize) moves the app to the dock. It is only Windows that equates "close window" with "stop application", and even then, not consistently...for example, Microsoft Office Communicator...you click "X" and the window listing all of your contacts goes away, but the app is still running and you're still signed in. Other Windows apps behave differently, click the "X" and the app stops entirely.

I don't mean to argue, my point was not that one UI was exactly correct vs. another. My point was that some companies design UIs first and worry about selling them later, and some companies corrupt the design to meet marketing requirements.

[Romanesq @ Jul 29th 2007 9:33AM]

My Windows Mobile T-mobile phone is great. It can access the internet although I don't use it because the screen is so small. And it can connect to the internet with my laptop although I don't use it for that either.

But best of all I can send text messages by feel when I'm driving like now. And I can text this message on the highwayyuyyuou238r78

Guuuuuuuuuudddddddydssssggggggggggggg

[PollM @ Jul 29th 2007 8:09PM]

I'm Dumping the iPhone
Well this is how the story goes, we met at a bar, she was the sexiest thing I've ever laid my eyes on. She looked expensive short of being a gold digger. But who cared I felt good and I went for it.... Here we are three weeks later I find her cranky and having to reboot her often. I honestly thought it would only need it once a month, but this one seems to be special. I think I'll go back to my less sexy unit, she was more dependable and loving towards me.... http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=247 how's your relationship going with your iPhone

[Michael @ Oct 7th 2007 11:45AM]

New IPhone User (big time pc guy), HATE, HATE, HATE Mac, have forever, have owned dozens of apples but really am a PC person...

Broke down and bought the iPhone since EVERYONE has one, had to see what it's all about...

Well, it's nifty, but in typical Mac fashion, trying to make things "idiot Proof" sacrifices a lot of fucntionality...

Over the last 2 days I've noticed:

1) Mime attachments in the email interface (gmail, yahoo, etc) can not be opened or "saved"...?

2) How can I attach a multi-media attachment to a simple mobile-to-mobile text message??
(for that matter how can I attach to an email message?) I know I CAN do it (i think) if I use the web browers and a POP type email (web based) acct, but on my cheap $ 29 Pantech (yeah, I've never heard of them either :) LOL - I could attach photos to text messages easily...