ifuntastic
Latest
iFuntastic all growed up, hits version 3
The ubiquitous iPhone-hacking-for-dummies utility, iFuntastic (that's not an insult, by the way; we use it ourselves), has come out of the gates in its third major iteration today. This stands in sharp contrast to Apple's efforts, which have yielded two super-minor firmware updates for the iPhone since its launch, but we digress. Anyway, iFuntastic v3 adds support for PowerPC G4 and G5-based systems, home screen editing with custom wallpaper, a new jailbreaking technique called "unshackling," and improved custom ringtone support. As of this writing iPhoneAlley appears to be down -- likely due to a deluge of downloads, we suspect -- but there are other joints around the 'nets where you can grab the goodness. As always, our two disclaimers get slapped on this one: user beware, and enjoy![Via TUAW]
iFuntastic goes v3, adds PPC support
While iPhone hacking remains a sport for the brave, the utility infrastructure to give Grandma iPhone User the same tweaking power as the most l33t denizen of #iphone is coming along nicely, thanks. Now at version 3, iFuntastic provides a GUI for almost any iPhone modification task you might reasonably want to do to your ($500, possibly instantly out-of-warranty) iPhone. New features in this version include: PowerPC support, so G4 and G5 users may join in the fun; a 'permanent jailbreak' tool called Unshackling; multiple, editable home screen layouts with custom wallpaper; and simplified/improved ringtone installation. You can download iFuntastic (needless to say, use at your own risk) from iPhoneAlley or Macenstein and go to town. via iPhoneAlley -- thanks Aron
iPhone Hacking 101: Jailbreaking
When you want to add ringtones, change wallpaper, or run third-party applications on your iPhone, you need to perform a task called "jailbreaking". What this does is to open up your iPhone's file system so it can be accessed from your computer. There are a number of tools available to jailbreak. If you're on an Intel Mac, you just won the lottery. The easiest software to use, by far, is iFuntastic. It walks you through the entire process with helpful prompts and pictures and is very simple to use. The iFuntastic crew promise PPC support in upcoming releases. If you are a PPC user and don't have the desire to download, compile and install complicated hacker tools you might be best served by just waiting for the next iFuntastic release. Also keep in mind that you don't have to jailbreak on your own computer. You can borrow a friend's computer for 15 minutes to use iFuntastic. That's handy if you're a Windows users or on a G4 or G5. A much more complicated alternative to iFuntastic is the iPhone Utility Client, with its amusing acronym iPHUC. You will have to google for the link as the website in question has requested no direct links. If you have access to developer tools, iPHUC will allow you to jailbreak on your G4 or G5. I warn you that the process is ugly and involves extreme hackery. If you want a slightly easier way to use iPHUC, the latest version of the iActivator tool performs iPHUC-compatible jailbreaks. Best of all, it's a Universal Binary. For Windows users, there's the original fully-leaded jailbreak utility. The complicated bit is that it requires that you have a copy of the original 1.0.0 firmware present. To get that, you will have needed to have restored your iPhone at least once during it's 1.0.0 release. The bottom line is that if you don't own an Intel Macintosh, the path to jailbreaking is difficult and complicated. You'll need to google a lot and, I recommend, rely on social networking. The best place to get started with jailbreak is over at irc.osx86.hu, in the #iphone channel. Be polite. And remember, anyone helping you out is doing so of their own goodwill. Thanks Nate True, duck_tape and Ste.
iFuntastic 2.5 for iPhone brings full file browser, even more customizability
The iPhone Alley crew are on fire with iFuntastic, their iPhone hacking and modification tool. Just over a week ago they released v2 that brought custom ringtones and reordering apps, and now v2.5 ushers in another major milestone of iPhone hackery: a full file browser and manager. If you've been waiting to dig into your iPhone, edit images and logos or get to even more serious tinkering, this is likely the tool you've been waiting for. Other new features in this version include replacing any system sounds and coloring iChat SMS balloons. Unfortunately, iFuntastic 2.5 doesn't support PowerPC Macs just yet, but iPhone Alley has promised that the next version - which is set to arrive "any day now" - will. More details on the changes in this new version and a download link are over at iPhone Alley.
iFuntastic 2 for iPhone makes custom ringtones, reordering apps a breeze
When Mat Lu first blogged iFuntastic last week, it was a fledgling app that primarily allowed you to install custom ringtones. A drawback, however, to this 1.0 version is that it broke iTunes' ability to auto-launch when you connect your phone; while you could still launch iTunes yourself (or simply leave it running) to sync, I can understand how this would still disappoint some would-be users. Fortunately, a shiny new iFuntastic 2 fixes that drawback and adds a number of slick new features to boot. At the top of my list: users are now able to rearrange the order of apps on the iPhone's home screen. This is particularly useful when using the iPhone one-handed, as some of those icons get difficult to reach with merely a thumb (or maybe I just have small geek hands; who knows). Another new novelty is the changing of the carrier logo to any picture you chose, as long as it fits within some specific dimensions. While I never used iFuntastic v1, I hear v2 has also updated support for ringtone audio formats, including .M4P, the protected audio format of iTunes Store songs. After tinkering with iFuntastic 2, adding a ringtone (Livin' on the Edge opening guitar riff FTW!) and rearranging my iPhone apps for easier one-handedness, I can definitely say I'll be donating for all the good work the crew is cranking out with this app. While there are still no guarantees when screwing around with things Apple hasn't officially opened up yet, remember that one click of iTunes' Restore button in the Devices > iPhone > Summary tab should get you right back to square one, restoring all your contacts, calendars and email accounts, as well as the media you've been synching.Thanks to everyone who sent this in!
iFuntastic 2.0 enables mortals to mod their iPhone
If you were enthralled by the sound of what the Dev Wiki crowd was cookin' up, yet you just couldn't understand the majority of what they were telling you, you're in luck. bitSplit, the man that brought you iFuntastic, has released version 2.0 of the software, which goes the extra mile and enables mere mortals (read: folks who aren't down with code speak) to "add ringtones, change the carrier logo, and reorder their iPhone applications." Best of all, this here software is completely free to use, but unless you've got an Intel-based Mac, you won't get very far. So go on, tag the read link and see what fun awaits you.[Thanks, Dustin]
iFuntastic: GUI iPhone custom ringtone manager
Let me preface this by saying I haven't tested this myself and you should read the warnings before you try this.Some rather complicated instructions for installing custom ringtones on the iPhone have been floating around the net of late. Unfortunately they required some pretty involved under-the-hood tinkering. The newly released iFuntastic is designed to simply this process immensely. This little program allows you to install and manage custom ringtones just by selecting them in a GUI. There is a warning that after using this iTunes won't automatically launch when you dock your iPhone, but you can still sync manually.iFuntastic is a free download, but you will have to register at modmyiphone.comThanks, Kyle!Update: Direct link (no registration required). iFuntastic is Intel only.
