iOS 7 Jailbreak - The Full Story

Hey guys,

First, I would like to wish everyone happy holidays and I hope your time off will be splendid! During this time of year, people are relaxing and celebrating with family and friends, wishing for the new year to bring them happiness and easiness. Sadly, the evad3rs team is having the exact opposite feeling.

Yesterday, at around 4-6 in the morning, the evad3rs team released an iOS 7 jailbreak that would work for all devices running iOS 7 to iOS 7.1 Beta 2.  The initial reactions were joyful and the team even tweeted "Merry Christmas! The iOS 7 jailbreak has been released at evasi0n.com!" People were amazed and baffled by this news because no one expected them to come out with a jailbreak this early (some were predicting February like the last one).  After a short amount of time, people began to run into issues with the tweaks from Cydia.  iPhone 5s users couldn't even download anything because of their 64-Bit ARM architecture.  A key problem that was found was the MobileSubstrate was not updated for iOS 7 and there was huge commotion among developers not having this prepared.  Most notably, Jay Freeman (saurik), creator of Cydia, discussed his connection with this matter and what he's trying to do on Twitter.  Other developers were angry and outraged about not knowing the release date of this jailbreak, and some were threatening to leave this business for other Mobile Operating Systems (ex. Android, Windows Phone, etc).  Currently, the developers are working together to resolve this issue, but another pressing matter that has brought uproar for this jailbreak is the TaiG company.

The Evad3rs team are a lucrative group of hackers that put endless hours into their jailbreak for no true monetary gain. The donations are how they make some money, and even that goes to other important causes like EFF. Even with this being true, one must contemplate why they would rush this jailbreak.  The true answer deals with TaiG and Geohot.  TaiG approahced the evad3rs team about having their alternative app store encrypted in the jailbreak.  In doing so, a rumored (not yet confirmed) $1 million would be the given to the team for putting their store inside of the jailbreak.  This motivated them to work hard before anyone could take the credit for themselves.  In the mean time, Geohot was working on the jailbreak too and had most of the exploits in place for this jailbreak.  Evad3rs knew they had to release it quickly without anyone knowing (this is what caused developers to be frustrated with them).

The problem with TaiG is their pirated apps on their store.  People were quick to assume that Evad3rs should have known about this, but no one truly understands the situation at place, so one must continue to wait for the team to do an interview.  (They released a statement to the jailbreaking community about this here).

Understanding this sitaution is somewhat complex, but after reading and hearing about this all day yesterday, one must conclude that this does not detract the effort and time that these guys put in for the jailbreak.  The problem comes down to ethical matters, miscommunication, and politics.  I hope people will continue to applaud evad3rs for their effort and time.  The jailbreaking community might have a bleak future after yesterday, but one must be hopeful that more developers will arise from this stumble.

Thank you guys for reading this and I hope this made sense.  Tell me your thoughts in the comment section below and if I should possibly become an iOS jailbreak developer.  Happy Holidays!

Thanks,
Programmer84

UPDATE: I removed some of the concerns about TaiG since I did not have the full story.  I apologize for the misinformation and TaiG has been removed from the Jailbreak, so don't worry.

Google and Verizon: The Effects of Their Unhealthy Relationship

It's great to be back writing! So as you guys know, I've been working on that Wii hack.  Sadly, it is not working out; there have been countless bugs with my program.  I will try this program with a different approach, but if it doesn't work this time, I must forget this project.

Anyway, I want to focus on the title of this post "Google and Verizon: The Effects of Their Unhealthy Relationship" and get your guy's opinion on this matter.  Before I go into detail about this relationship, I first want to acknowledge that I immensely love both companies and they have done fabulous things for their users.  I, in no means, want to diminish my admiration for these two businesses. That being said, let me explain why I sometimes contemplate this "bond."

Google just released the Nexus 5, which is by far one of the best Android phones (if not the best) of 2013. The phone has amazing specs and its a Nexus (the pure Android experience), yet this phone will not be available on Verizon's LTE network.  The company will be working on "projects" with Google for 2014, instead. Though I have no idea what these projects could entail, I am somewhat annoyed that I cannot purchase one of the best phones I have ever seen.

The phone will be released on AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint.  Sprint is a CDMA carrier.  Yet, Verizon's CDMA towers will be incompatible because of the 700 MHz band that they placed on their phones. This upsets me even more because of Google still going with a CDMA network.  The Galaxy Nexus and Nexus 4 are two previous devices that probably caused Google to not even think about Verizon. Even the new Nexus 7 was a problem with Verizon when Verizon stated that it would be incompatible with their service, even though Google said it would.  Later, Verizon changed this claim and said "they will be working on it."  

Both corporations have millions of users, yet they cannot come up with a proper set up for the masses. Sometimes I believe Verizon doesn't really want Android devices on their network, but then I see all their Droid phones and think otherwise (I'm happy that Motorola's Phone department is under Google's supervision now).  Sometimes I believe Google just doesn't want to get involved with the specific coding and hardware for Verizon.  Whatever the case may be, it is damaging both companies' images and revenue. Some people might even want to switch to AT&T because of the vast selection of Android phones, the GSM towers being international, and the somewhat fast updates to their phone (opposed to Verizon's).

Tell me what you guys think about this matter in the comments section.  Would you be willing to leave Verizon or would you choose a new mobile OS to use?

Thank you guys for reading!

Programmer84

Possible Wii Hack with TI 84 Plus SE

Hey guys,

So this blog title is true, I may be on my way on hacking the Wii (and installing Homebrew) with the TI 84 Plus Silver Edition!  Currently, I am coding the app for the TI 84, and eventually will be testing out the hack with my calculator.  Further updates will come in the next couple of months!  If this hack doesn't work out, I will modify it so that the Wiii can be hacked with the use of a jailbroken iPhone! I'll inform you guys about this great development in the upcoming months.  Thank you guys for reading and please leave a comment below regarding this hack and if you would like to see this or not.  I will see you guys next time.

Thanks,
Programmer84

TI 89 Coming Soon!

Hey guys,

So the title of this post is telling the truth, I will get the TI-89 Titanium soon and will do some amazing calculator hacks in the near future!  Now, I have used the TI-89 before, but never purchased it since it was expensive (if you're wondering if I bought the TI Nspire or Casio Prizm, I never bought either one cause I wanted to get a free one by testing it and developing for it, but that never happened).  I should get this calculator in August or September and I promise to port new games into my TI Calculator, and hopefully, re-create Brandon Wilson's amazing PS3 hack with his TI 84, but this time with a TI 89!  Anyway, tell me what you guys would like to see with this new calculator.  Leave a comment below and I will take a look at it.  Thank you guys for reading and I will see you next time!

Thanks,
Programmer84

HTC One: Will I get it on Verizon?

Hey guys,

The HTC One started the year off right in the smartphone industry, but wasn't able to maintain that status for long.  The phone is great, but as other manufacturers continue to produce top of the line phones, HTC started to fade away.  Multiple news articles stated that the HTC One for Verizon will come out in August. As much as I love this phone, I kind of feel that its lost its popularity and I rather wait for the Ubuntu Edge or next Samsung Galaxy Note.  Verizon needs to stop delaying popular phones from coming to their network. I understand that making a phone from GSM to CDMA takes some time, but this is an atrocity to the mobile industry.  I'm not sure what device I will get on Verizon, or even if I will stay on this network once my contract expires, but I do know that a change needs to come. Tell me what you guys think in the comments below.  Thank you guys for reading and I will see you next time.

Thanks,
Programmer84

Kindle Fire HD or Nook HD

Hey guys,

I want to apologize in advance for my lack of posts during the summer, but I had an internship that was taking up most of my busy schedule.  This is going to be a quick post and I want to know your guys take on these great e-readers.  So,  I plan to purchase a Kindle Fire HD or Nook HD to both root and read in my spare time.  As some of you may know, rooting is one of the best parts about Android, but these devices will primarily serve as my new library for books, news articles, and testing different ROMs/rooted features for Android. Price is not a big factor, but the Nook HD and HD+ are cheaper than its Kindle counterparts.  So what do you guys think is the best for a rooting reader, a Kindle or a Nook?  Please leave your comments at the bottom of this post and I promise to inform you on which one I choose in the near future.  Thank you guys for reading and I will see you next time.

Thanks,

Programmer84

Possible Book about Programming?

Hey guys,

So I thought about posting this because I wanted to know the general audience's perspective on this idea.  I have always enjoyed programming, whether it's on the TI 84 or C#.  I believe the reason as to why I became successful was due to my early and easy upbringing in the programming world.  Starting off with TI BASIC made programming easier to understand than someone who started with Java or C++.  Anyway, I was thinking about creating a book that talks about how to be a successful programmer.  I will start with what makes a programmer a programmer, and how to enter this field.  I will also give suggestions and quizzes to see if you are ready for this field.  The book won't go into detail about actual programming, but it will talk about the "gradual ladder" in the programming world.  Before I actually start writing, I wanted to know if anyone would be interested in reading this book.  If so, please leave a comment saying you would or not and what you would like included.  Thank you guys for reading and I will see you next time!  If you guys ever have a question about technology, just leave a comment and I will try to answer it as soon as possible!

Thanks,
Programmer84

Upcoming Review: HTC One on Verizon!

Hey guys,

So this title is true! I will be making a review on the Verizon HTC One.  My contract ends soon, so I should be able to write a review about the upcoming device in August.  This device looks great and as I previously mentioned, this device caught my attention early on! Check the next upcoming posts about this device and what I like and dislike about it.  Thank you guys for reading and I will see you next time!

Thanks,
Programmer84

Hacking Business

Hey guys,

So in my previous post, I talked about hacking businesses I will have during the summer.  The first business will be an iOS one.  Basically, if anyone wants me to jailbreak their iPhone/iPod and put programs/emulators on them, I most certainly will.  The fee will probably be between $5-15, depending on what you want accomplished and your geographic area.  I will also include a guide on my personal recommendations for your phone and how to learn more about it.  Please NOTE: Jailbreaking your iPhone/iPod voids the warranty and I am not responsible if your phone bricks or develops software bugs.  Secondly, I wanted to create a non-profit hacking organization with a small group of elite individuals.  This company will create new hacking mods to iOS and add new elements to the open-source development of Android.  If you are interested in either businesses, please leave a comment on this section and I will contact you as soon as possible.  Thank you guys for reading and I will see you next time.

Thanks,
Programmer84

Summer Programs and Internships

Hey guys,

So it has been a couple of months since I wrote on my blog, but a lot of projects and ideas have prevented me from getting the word out to you guys.  Anyway, this summer will probably be hectic for me because of one possible internship I may have and the apps I am trying to develop.  I also got some hacking ideas and a business coming up (Read the next post to learn more about the businesses and if you want to help).  Some reviews will probably come up in the summer and I hope to talk to you guys later.  Thank you guys for reading and I will see you next time!

Thanks,
Programmer84

Current Projects I'm Working On

Hey guys,

So I know I just posted a couple items and I might not come back on for a while, but let me explain some of the things I'm doing.  My first project is utlizing a typical keyboard and using it to play any Wii games and to move from screen to screen on the home screen.  This project is taking some time with the shells I'm trying to create and deciding which programming language I feel is best for the job.  I'll try to update you guys on how it's going.  Second is utilizing Autodesk's CAD, Inventor, 3DS Max,and Revit programs to make some amazing drawings that could later translate into some other ideas I have.  I'm also working on an independent project for the TI 83/84, which could later look amazing on the TI Nspire CX CAS, if I get it.  So these projects are taking up some of my time, but I hope I can tell you guys that these projects are getting accomplished.  Thank you guys for reading and I will see you next time.

Thanks,

Programmer84

HTC One vs Samsung Galaxy S4: Who wins round 1 of the next Android phones to come?

Hey guys,

I know I continue to talk about my affection for calculators, but what about smartphones?  Everyone uses them, including myself, and I think this year will be one of the best years to come for Android.  After CES, many Android phones have made their debut, but the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4 are the best phones to come out now, in my opinion.  Let's start with the HTC One.  This aluminum unibody is spectacular in all ways.  It's a 1080p, 469 ppi display phone with a new camera called the Ultrapixel.  The smartphone is reported to have a 4 MP camera, but the Ultrapixel is this new way of getting more of one's picture from the scenery.  The storage is either 32 GB or 64 GB with 2 GB of RAM.  It has the new processor, Snapdragon 600, and is running Jelly Bean  which can be upgraded to the new version, 4.2.2.  It will come in either black, red, or silver and has a 2300 mAh battery.  I don't how many carriers it will support, but I do know that AT&T will carry it.  The Samsung Galaxy S4 is another new phone that just popped out of the Android community.  This phone is truly amazing with it's bigger display with a 13 MP camera and 2 MP front facing camera.  It has the same design as the S3 and it has this new feature called Smart Scroll and Smart Pause.  Both of these features will soon be available for the S3 when the update arrives.  Other than that, the phone is basically an updated version of the great S3.  The design, even dimensions, are practically the same.  It was a little hyped up in my opinion and it just didn't live up to my expectations.  It doesn't have the flexible glass Samsung was showing off during CES, and just lacked the ability to improve.  In my opinion, I like the HTC One over the Samsung Galaxy S4, but tell me what you guys think.  Which phone would you buy and why?  Thank you guys for reading and I will see you next time.

Thanks,
Programmer84

TI Nspire CX CAS vs CASIO Prizm fxCG20

Hey guys,

The new TI calculator, TI Nspire CX CAS, has been able to do so many things, from creating Game Boy Advance emulators to having Linux on it!  Truly, this is a powerful calculator with its 16 MB of space to a beautiful resolution and completely thin body.  It's a calculator I'm definitely interested in purchasing and I hope I can make wonderful additions to it in both hardware and application wise.  Though this calculator is powerful, the CASIO Prizm fxCG20 is also catching my attention.  This calculator has gotten very little attention, even though it is extremely powerful.  It has 16 MB of space too, while also having a simple and beautiful UI.  You can also get it personally skinned though CASIO's promotion called SkinIt.  It also hasn't been messed around a lot and has the potential of making great 3D games and hacks.  So, I'm in a predicament guys.  Which one should I buy, the TI Nspire CX CAS or CASIO Prizm fxCG20?  Tell me what you guys think, your experience with either calculator, and leave your response at the bottom of the page.  Thank you guys for reading and I will see you next time.

Thanks,
Programmer84

Schematic Drawing for TI 84 Plus C Silver Edition

Hey guys,

So it's been a long time since I've posted anything guys.  I'm sorry it's been so long, but I've been thinking and working on projects I could work on.  Anyway guys, so let's talk about the TI 84 Plus C Silver Edition calculator.  This calculator is getting closer and closer to release in multiple stores that other calculator websites are reporting on people actually purchasing it.  Now, TI hasn't released the official date for when the public can get their hands on it, but I'm assuming by anytime in the next couple of days to maybe a week or 2 when everyone will be able to purchase it.  I haven't been able to get my hands on it, but I'm hoping to get my hands on the first one available.  Though I haven't gotten the opportunity to use the calculator, other users such as Kerm Martian, have been able to use it.  The reviews are great, especially the programming aspect, but the speed test show that the TI 84 CSE is a lot slower than the traditional TI 84 Plus SE.  Hopefully, TI can make a couple of revisions, such as speed and more color selections, before releasing it to the general public.  To wrap this entry up, I created a quick schematic drawing that quickly shows the TI 84 Plus CSE. I utilized Auto-CAD 2013 to make this drawing. Thank you guys for reading and I will see you next time.

Thanks,
Programmer84

P.S. Sorry about no side view.  I would have used the side of my TI 84 Plus SE, but TI added a couple of ports, like the one used for recharging the battery, and I didn't want to make an error in the drawing.

Updates to TI 84 Plus C Silver Edition Calculator

Hey guys,

I decided to bring up one of the best calculators that will be available in the spring.  The TI 84 Plus C Silver Edition calculator will incorporate TI BASIC programming that will be a little bit more advanced than before.  The command lines will look a little different and new functions (I think, but not sure) will be on this calculator.  Hopefully, TI is incorporating some color functions, or at least RGB, when making programs.  There will be a rechargeable port for the device and who knows if I can make certain .mp3 or .mp4 songs available on the calculator.  Maybe TI should incorporate some Objective-C programming to make a UI on the Home Screen similar to the Casio fxCG20, where mobile apps could be available on TI calculators.  Maybe TI should redesign the apps that are more appealing to eye.  I would say make it look like apps on an iPhone or Android device when it comes to the app's layout.  That would make more people "jailbreak" or "root" their TI 84 Plus C Silver Edition calculator! Anyway, thank you guys for reading and leave a comment at the bottom of the page if you have any questions.  I will see you guys next time!

Thanks,

Programmer84

January RoundUp: CAD Projects for TI 83/84 and CES

Hey guys,

Sorry I haven't been writing a lot.  I have been working on projects that must go through all these procedures for the calculator.  Anyway, I decided to discuss what has happened in the month of January.  So far, I have been working on my CAD drawings for you guys.  You should expect those drawings to be available some time in February.  These will incorporate the many ideas I have for the TI 84 and what I might do to the TI 84 Plus C Silver Edition calculator.  In January, we have all heard or at least seen some something that happened at CES 2013.  Some things that stood out to me were the Tegra 4 processor, Project Shield, Samsung's idea of flexible devices, Huawei Ascend Mate, and the Pebble watch.  The Tegra 4 processor will be amazing with 72 GPUs, 4G LTE, and its of course quad core.  In the year of 2013, a lot of phones will be quad core and might have more RAM and available space than before.  Project Shield is a great new PC Platform Mobile device.  It's similar to the Wii U when it comes to looks and game play, but this project allows you to take it with you on the go and you can store it onto NVIDIA's cloud whenever you want to save it.  Samsung's unveiling of a flexible device has caught the attention of programmers and engineers.  This idea is great for all users because if flexibility can be achieved, then folding your device into a small compact cube could be possible.  I see this as the new change in devices and smartphones could be 7 inches in display, while also being extremely small in your pocket.  That brings me to my next point, the Huawei Ascend Mate phone.  The new Android smartphone is a 6.1 inch, quad core, 4050 mAh phone.  This phone is one of the greatest Android phones that I saw at CES and hopefully will be on many carriers in the United States.  I can't wait to have a chance to use this phone and hopefully, make a review right here!  Lastly, we saw the Pebble watch, which will start "smart-watch" battle.  The Pebble watch allows you to connect to your smartphone device (preferably the iPhone because they are still working on Android capabilities) and get notifications such as tweets, emails, and missed calls.  It has been said that this is the beginning of the smart-watch battle and that many more watches (like the post I talked about the iWatch) will come out.  There you have it guys.  Many new devices will be available this year and many new apps like Temple Run 2 will hopefully be available on all platforms (including the TI 83/84!).  Thank you guys for reading and I will see you next time!

Thanks,

Programmer84