So I found an easy way to root the device (z4root.apk). This was the first step in essentially doing anything beyond factory authorized installs and customizations. It is akin to “jailbreaking” an iPhone, but in this case it is far easier than the current ‘untethered’ jailbreaks for the current version of the iPhone on 4.2.1.

The next step was a big one for a ‘noobie’ like me in the Android world. I can’t tell you how many hours I searched, read, and searched some more for information. Of course, “information” isn’t a problem, but it is the sorting, sifting, and filtering of pertinent and then determining what is reliable and verifiable. That is the tough part!

I decided that instead of trying to “roll my own” I would go with what seemed to be a highly recommended way to easily install customized ROMs for the Milestone/Droid. Luckily, the CDMA Milestone that is offered by Alaska Communications is almost exactly like the Verizon Droid.

This means so much more is available for the device. That includes what Motorola said would not be available for the A854; that being Froyo 2.2 (and beyond.) I was pleased to see that the the device from ACS was running 2.1-update1, but there are some really neat, useful features of 2.2+.

Some of those features include being able to work around the RAM limitation of the device and load apps to your SD (transflash) memory expansion card. This is critical, especially for apps such as Flash. In general you can load most apps to a special partition on your SD card and free up base machine memory. If for no other reason, this is the reason to upgrade.

But, there are other reasons… Currently I’m running a pretty cool Matrix animated wallpaper. This is just one of hundred (thousands???) An easy way to impress those Blackberry users in the crowd.

I decided to try the Bugless Beast (0.6.2.1) ROM to start. It installed without issue and allows me to start to explore the 2.2.1 firmware. Cool features, 800MHz overclocking, and other features included in the base ROM. I hear Cyanogen is another very popular ROM. I think I might load that one to try it out, too…

In all, the large free selection in the Android Market, the ability to customize the device, and the relative ease of doing so, make this first venture into the world of Android a pleasant experience.

In the end, do I think I will I give up my iOS devices…? Ahhhh, NO!

As before (with the 3G and 3GS) I scoured Hong Kong, only to find the iPhone 4 was backordered and generally not available, even through the Apple Store HK.  Then I read an article where Canada (and the UK) were also selling factory unlocked versions. This is in addition to those already available (due to local laws) in Australia, Italy, and the previously mentioned HK.

So I started watching prices.  I see I shouldn’t have waited.  There was the initial flood, then somewhat limited availability, then they became available, but at a premium.

I saved my pennies (and nickels, dimes, and dollars) to pay for the approximate $200 "premium" for the factory unlocked version.  My need for this device is, as mentioned before, that I use GCI service here in Alaska (since I work for them.)

I was also lucky, I later found out, as the device came with iOS 4.0.1.  The key here is that I do use several apps only available by jailbreaking (a couple of them being iRealSMS or SwirlyMMS.)  The newest, at this writing iOS 4.0.2, can not be jailbroken.  In fact, that was the primary reason Apple distributed this release. (There is also a PDF security patch, but that can be downloaded separately via Cydia on a jailbroken device.)  (*** Update:  Apple has released 4.1)

So I charged the device, and after swapping the GCI SIM from my 3GS, activated the phone.  I barely took a glance at the new features before heading straight to http://jailbreakme.com.  A few minutes later Cydia and Rock were installed and off I went.

I added a few jailbroken apps and other than some minor annoying operational glitches with iRealSMS, all was fine.  Or so I thought…

I had placed a few calls, but didn’t think there was a problem.  Then a received a call and picked it up with my Plantronics Voyager Pro BT headset.  After being on the phone for several minutes, the caller finally interrupted and said they were having trouble hearing me.  I spoke up a bit and repeated what I had said.  Still they were having trouble, and a minute later, again said they couldn’t hear me; I was "muffled."  All along, I could hear them fine.

I didn’t give it much more thought, but then on a later call, I was once again told I sounded "muffled."  This time, however, I wasn’t on the headset, so that was really disconcerting. 

After searching Google and the Apple discussion groups I found where there was indeed a "muffled audio" issue, but only saw it associated with Bluetooth audio.  Several people had done a multitude of things to attempt to resolve — all with limited success.

In the process, I also read about "slow upload speeds."  I hadn’t noticed, but decided to check.  Sure enough, I was getting ‘normal’ download speeds, but barely achieving GPRS data upload throughput.  Wow!

Finally, after a few days of use, I started to notice another anomaly, that of the "proximity sensor bug."  Essentially there is a problem with screen control (on / off) when you raise or lower the phone to your ear.  My issue was noticed, on a few occasions, where when I removed the phone from my ear (for example to hang up, or dial a number to continue in voicemail) and the screen remained dark.  It would *not* come back on, even pressing the home button or sleep button, tapping the screen, etc.  This was a real problem (albeit very infrequent in the scheme of things) and sent me back to Google and the Apple support site.

There were all sorts of things to try to fix any or all of these problems.  I started with the least drastic, and did a "Reset All Settings".  That way, I didn’t have to do a restore, mess with my jailbreak or approved apps, etc.  Everything was fine, with the exception of re-entering the network settings for GCI and my various wi-fi connections.  I also had to re-enter a number of (but strangely not all) passwords.

I did a reboot of the phone, and checked the easiest thing first.  Lo and behold, but upload speed problem disappeared.  I was getting normal EDGE (GCI doesn’t have 3G on GSM, only on the CDMA side) speeds.  In due course, made a couple of phone calls, with and without the headset, and the person on the other end didn’t report muffled audio.  The next item, the proximity sensor bug, has not reappeared after the reset.

So, all in all, I am very pleased with the new device.  It is much faster, has a fantastic screen, and on and on.  In general, I have really taken to new features that I really didn’t think I would use, such as multi-tasking.  Time will tell, and with the release of iOS 4.1, I hope a jailbreak will follow soon.

Tags: Apple, iPhone, iPhone 4, 3G, 3GS, GCI, iRealSMS, SwirlyMMS, jailbreakme.com, jailbreak, Alaska

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Lauch of the iPad

I want! It does fill a niche. Looks really cool…

Ok, I’ll buy in and put some gas in Steve’s jet. When can I order?!?! I want to be the first kid on my block with one.

I waited a couple of days, but then couldn’t resist the upgrade. The thought of waiting till I got home was painful. But, the idea of bricking my phone while I was away or having other problems made me wait… but only a couple of days.

The upgrade itself went smooth, as it should. But I did run in to problems associated with the jailbreak. Finally after the umpteenth time I had a stable phone. That was back in June, and been using it daily without a hitch.

Other than copy-and-paste and MMS, and a few new features, I didn’t really explore many of the new enhancements. But one thing that peaked my curiosity was tethering. I’ve done that with the Blackberries and several other phones. It has always worked fine, and serves in a pinch when no other connectivity is available.

iPhone 3.0 advertised tethering as one of the enhancements. I searched Google to find out how to configure and saw many blogs and posts, either folks saying it works great, or not at all. But when I looked at my unlocked 3G from HK, I didn’t have the tethering option. I even went to the “3″ site in Hong Kong to see if they had instructions. As a matter of fact they did, but there was a screen option under network settings that didn’t appear on my phone.

I searched high and low, and finally found a way to enable it! It was almost painless, too. Go to help.benm.at on with Safari on your iPhone. You can run the Mobileconfig Generator and as long as you know the APN settings, etc., you will be tethering in no time.

I set it up, but then never used it after that time. So I decided (since I had trouble on the Slope this past week) to give it a work out. This entry is being written while the iPhone is tethered via USB. While Bluetooth tethering is also an option, to me it really doesn’t make sense. While USB involves the cable, it serves to keep the phone charged as well.

After the past half hour or so, it’s working fine. Throughput is similar to (with the upload twice as fast compared to the iPhone itself) and the phone has not gotten warm. (BTW, this is great for EDGE; we don’t have 3G service here…

I’ve noticed email is still received, but voice calls get directed straight to voicemail. I only know this because Laura called me on my other cell phone and said she just tried to call the iPhone, but the call went to VM.

All in all, worth using if there is no other connectivity. I should qualify that; at least here in Alaska, with GCI service. A side note, I “roamed” on AT&T while on the Slope. GCI hasn’t turned up their cell service in Deadhorse yet. When I attempted to tether, AT&T sensed that and actually deleted the tethering option on my phone. I had to download and re-enable the profile. Once I did that, I tried to tether again. This time, I got a message that said I must contact my provider to enable this service. At least AT&T didn’t blow it away the second time.

There is now a (beta) version of my iRealSMS app. Now, today, SwirlySpace released v.2.1 of SwirlyMMS. I paid for the upgrade, and after several hours received my license code. Why would I buy (for $6USD) an app to do MMS when it’s already built in? Well, the Apple Messaging app works quite well, but is limited in functionality. The Swirly app will all attaching not only photos but also notes, audio, etc. Apple just isn’t quite there yet…

Continuing to get everything set up again, after restoring as a new phone. But that minor inconvenience has resulted in a stable, and really cool, phone!