How to Unlock a Jailbroken iPhone 4S to Work on Any Network

“How do I unlock my new iPhone?” Has got to be one of the most common questions we get here at Gadget Helpline. Your network will do it for you at a price, which is usually around £20, or you could get it done through a website or third party mobile shop.

There are also ways of unlocking an iPhone yourself, for free. However, as you may expect, these aren’t always the most legitimate of methods. We’ve recently come across a rather easy way of unlocking an iPhone 4 or 4S if you’ve got your phone jailbroken already.

The process of jailbreaking your iPhone allows you to install software that Apple wouldn’t allow, and if for any reason your phone has to go back to Apple and still has jailbroken software on it, your warranty will be invalid. That said, if you can restore your phone first, the jailbreak will be gone.

So, to perform this unlock you’ll need a jailbroken iPhone 4S, 4 or 3GS. We’d strongly recommend being on iOS 5 as this version has a complete (untethered) jailbreak, whereas those using iOS 5.1 can only use a tethered jailbreak. This means that if your phone completely runs out of battery or reboots at any point, you’ll need to connect it to your PC via USB and re-jailbreak it each time, so you’ll lose your unlock temporarily.

IMPORTANT: Before starting this process, and before you think about jailbreaking your iPhone if you haven’t already, know that Gadget Helpline accepts no responsibility for any harm that may come to your phone as a result of either jailbreaking or installing this package. That said, we’ve been running a jailbroken iPhone for years with no problems – as have thousands of others – and the unlock package has been fully tested and works very well.

Before starting with Step 1, make sure you have the latest version of iTunes installed on your PC or Mac. To check for updates click Help at the top of the screen in iTunes followed by Check for Updates.

Step 1

Jailbreaking your phone will add a little brown icon called ‘Cydia’. This is a jailbroken app store. You’ll need to open this app and tap ‘Manage’ at the bottom followed by ‘Sources’ and then ‘Edit’ in the top right corner. Tap ‘Add’ and then type ‘repo.bingner.com’ and tap ‘Add Source’.

Step 2

Tap Search in the bottom right corner and search for ‘SAM’. You should find at the top of the list a package called ‘SAM’ with the description ‘Subscriber Artificial Module…’ Select SAM then tap ‘Install’ followed by ‘Confirm’ in the top right corner. You’ll see a black screen with a bunch of white text scrolling down for about 30 seconds. Once you see ‘Restart Springboard’ simply tap it and wait for your phone to reboot itself.

Step 3

Open Settings on your phone and scroll down to SAM. Tap Utilities followed by De-Activate iPhone, and tap OK on the prompt to continue. Tap SAM in the top left to go back.

Step 4

Tap Method and then select By Country and Carrier. Tap SAM in the top left to go back, now tap Carrier and select your network.

Step 5

Tap SAM in the top left to go back. Tap More Information and now tap and hold your finger on the long number next to IMSI. Tap Select All followed by Copy.

Step 6

Tap Spoof Real SIM to SAM. You’ll get a notification box saying ‘Spoofed…’, simply tap OK to continue.

Step 7

Tap SAM in the top left to go back. Tap Method and change it to Manual.

Step 8

Plug your phone into your PC using the USB cable provided and open up iTunes. After a short while iTunes should recognise your phone and re-activate it using the new network that you’ve just selected in SAM.

Step 9

Once this process is done you can disconnect your iPhone and close down iTunes.

Step 10

Open Settings on your phone and scroll down to SAM. Tap the On switch next to Enabled to change to Disabled.

Step 11

Connect your iPhone to your PC once more and open iTunes. You’ll be told that iTunes cannot activate the iPhone. Close iTunes down and then re-open it without disconnecting your iPhone.

Step 12

Now iTunes will recognise the phone and re-activate it, and you’re done! Your phone will now work using any SIM on the network you’ve selected. If you want to use another network you can repeat this process, selecting a different network of course in Step 4.

Your phone will remain unlocked and will work fine even when rebooted (unless you’re using a tethered jailbreak of course). However, if you choose to update your iPhone you will lose the unlock as this process will remove the jailbreak altogether. The choice is yours, stay unlocked or stay up to date!

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ZTE Tania Video Review

If you’ve been looking at getting a Windows Phone on a budget then we’ve got a treat for you. We’ve just reviewed Nokia’s excellent Lumia 710 , and now ZTE’s rival has made a star appearance on our review table.

You may not have heard of ZTE before, but rest assured they make a good gadget. You may have even encountered one of their products before, but without the ZTE brand name. The company makes several great budget smartphones as white goods, which are then branded by the likes of Orange and other networks. A great example of this is the Orange Monte Carlo, which is actually the ZTE Skate phone.

At a penny under £200 the ZTE Tania aims to bring you the Windows Phone experience with style. It’s got a 4.3-inch touchscreen with a the same resolution as the Lumia 710 (800 x 480), which means that on the Tania the image doesn’t appear quite as crisp as the smaller rival from Nokia as it’s stretched to fit a bigger screen.

A 5-Megapixel rear camera will provide you with decent quality snaps and 720p HD video recording, although as you might expect with a budget smartphone, the quality from both isn’t out of this world. Still, it’s plenty sufficient and for those quick snaps when you’re on the go it’ll do the job aptly.

Running the absolute bog-standard version of Windows Phone 7.5, the Tania is a no-frills entry into the world of Windows Phone. Although Nokia’s Lumia 710 adds some interesting and useful apps such as Nokia Drive, Nokia Music and the likes of eBay and Sky Sports, you’ll still have access to over 80,000 apps which can be downloaded to your ZTE Tania from the Marketplace.

We like the Tania and think its strong points are in the slim and stylish design and the well-sized screen. The Lumia 710 is cheaper (around £140-£150) and we feel it edges the Tania out in terms of screen quality and what you get for your money. Why not check out our review of the Nokia Lumia 710 after the ZTE Tania and see which you prefer. Let us know which one you go for!

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Nokia Lumia 710 Video Review

 Are you looking for a smartphone that’s kind to your wallet but still gives you plenty of features?

Perhaps you’ve tried the iPhone, Android and BlackBerry options already and fancy trying out that relatively new platform you’ve heard about from Microsoft. Either way, the Lumia 710 from Nokia could be a serious contender in your decision to buy a new phone.

Nokia launched the Lumia 710 as a little brother to the Lumia 800 in the hope that it’s design expertise paired with the Windows Phone platform would become an attractive prospect to those on a budget. Through our time spent with it we’ve found it to be a great phone, especially when you can get one on pay as you go for as little as £130 these days.

The Lumia 710 is a smartphone with access to over 80,000 apps from the Windows Phone Marketplace. It’s got excellent turn-by-turn satnav-style navigation software already loaded in the form of Nokia Drive, along with Nokia Music for finding new artists, building playlists and even seeing when your favourite artist is playing your town.

With a 5-megapixel camera on the back you’ll be able to take decent snaps as well as recording video in HD quality. Unfortunately storage space comes at a premium, and as the Lumia 710 is at the lower end of the price spectrum it loses out in this aspect: 4GB is the fixed storage internally with no option to stick in a memory card to upgrade. You will be able to store documents and files online however, with Microsoft’s SkyDrive service.

Check out our video review and let us know what you think. If you’ve already made the jump to the good ship Lumia, let us know what you think of your new phone.

The Lumia 710 and 800 will soon be joined by something even bigger and better – the Lumia 900.

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Nokia Lumia 710 vs ZTE Tania – Budget Windows Phone Showdown

If you’re bored of Android, iPhone and BlackBerry, have you thought about trying out Microsoft’s platform, Windows Phone 7? The OS has been around for a year and a half now, and can be found on smartphones made by Nokia, HTC, LG and Samsung, amongst others. It has a Marketplace too, which is always expanding and now contains more than 50,000 apps, both free and paid for.

It’s taken a while, but finally manufacturers are starting to create more affordable Windows Phone smartphones, aimed at those on pay as you go, and those who want to buy a handset outright but on a budget. Two brilliant examples of this are the Nokia Lumia 710 and the ZTE Tania; both cost under £200 SIM-free and provide the Windows Phone experience with decent specifications for very little.

The Lumia 710 can be snapped up for as little as £150 or £160 on pay as you go (both Vodafone and O2 respectively have offered those two prices recently), whereas the ZTE Tania can be bought for a penny under £200. Many people may not have heard of ZTE before, though if we were to tell you they’re in the top 5 largest mobile phone manufacturers in the world alongside Apple, Nokia and Samsung, we’re sure it’ll change some inaccurate misconceptions.

So we’ve pointed out two great Windows Phones on a budget, but which one should win your heart? There’s only one way to find out… FIGHT!

Screen

Lumia 710: 3.7-inch LCD, 480 x 800 resolution, 252ppi pixel density, Corning Gorilla Glass

Tania: 4.3-inch LCD, 480 x 800 resolution, 217ppi pixel density

The Tania is a fair bit larger than its rival, and that’s due to the 4.3-inch display. It’s big, but not too big, and it’s a decent size for playing games, watching videos and so on. However, it features the same resolution as the smaller Lumia 710, which on a larger screen results in a loss of sharpness. The pixel density is lower on the Tania which means that text isn’t quite as crisp. The Lumia’s screen is also covered by a sheet of ultra-tough Gorilla Glass, which rounds off a win for the Lumia in this category.

Processing Power

Lumia 710: Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon 1.4GHz

Tania: Qualcomm MSM8255 Snapdragon 1GHz

Both handsets feature the same chipset, although the Lumia’s processor is clocked at a higher speed, and it shows. The Tania is no slouch, and thanks to the undemanding Windows Phone OS, apps will open and close quickly, but the Lumia just edges it thanks to 400MHz of extra grunt. We noticed this especially when loading up games that are more demanding on the CPU, with the Lumia suffering no lag, whereas occasionally the Tania would stutter, albeit briefly.

Form Factor

Lumia 710: 119 x 62.4 x 12.5 mm, 125.5g

Tania: 128.6 x 67.8 x 10.5 mm, 158g

This category is a tough one to call, as we feel the choice comes down to the personal preference of the buyer. If you like your phone to be more ‘pocketable’, the Lumia 710 will cater to your needs perfectly – it’s small, it’s compact and it’s pretty light too. However, for those who want a larger smartphone that provides a bigger screen, the Tania is fantastic. It’s thinner than the Lumia 710 and in our opinion, it’s much more stylish. However, we understand that a 4.3-inch smartphone isn’t for everyone, so it’s horses for courses with this one.

Storage

Lumia 710: 8GB internal, no Micro SD slot

Tania: 4GB internal, no Micro SD slot

Unfortunately when it comes to budget Windows Phones, storage is usually one of the first components to get downgraded in order to cut costs. The Lumia 710 offers a decent 8GB of storage space internally, while the Tania only houses half of that at just 4GB. Neither handset has room for expansion, either, so what you see is what you get. If you like to use your smartphone as a multimedia player, we recommend the Lumia 710 simply for the extra storage that it offers. As a side note, all Windows Phone users can technically expand their storage by using Microsoft’s Cloud Drive internet storage system, storing documents and media online for retrieval on a smartphone.

Camera

Lumia 710 (Left): 5-Megapixel autofocus, LED flash, 720p HD video recording

Tania (Right): 5-Megapixel autofocus, LED flash, 720p HD video recording

On paper it’s a dead heat in the camera category for these two phones. Both offer decent results with both still shooting and video recording, with the usual variety of settings that can be tweaked on offer in the Windows Phone camera application (ISO, Metering, etc). It’s a tough one to call, so we’ve taken two identical sample photos with each phone and compared them above. In our opinion, the Lumia 710 wins out here with better colour representation, which is probably down to the company’s history in making great camera phones. The Tania still takes a decent photo, though, and the 720p HD video samples we took also looked good when played back on the device itself.

Battery

Lumia 710: 1300 mAh battery, up to 400 hours on standby

Tania: 1400 mAh battery, up to 200 hours on standby

Although the Tania packs the larger capacity battery, Nokia’s Lumia 710 handles its power much more efficiently, offering up to double the standby time. The Tania’s larger 4.3-inch screen is sure to be the biggest drain on the battery; whereas the Lumia 710’s smaller display makes it more efficient. When using both handsets on a day-to-day basis we found the Lumia 710 would go past the 24 hour mark, often lasting between 36 and 48 hours. The Tania lasted around 24 hours, but either way you’re looking at charging both phones overnight each day to ensure the maximum charge, unless of course you have an in-car charger or a backup at your place of work to keep the battery topped up.

Overall

We feel that both on paper and in tests, the Lumia 710 takes precedence as the best budget Windows Phone around. The Tania is a worthy rival, and we recommend it for those who consider a large screen as one of the key factors in choosing a new smartphone. It’s got great looks, too, with a glossy front and chrome bezel running around the front edge.

However, with several UK networks now offering the Lumia 710 for as much as £50 less than the Tania, we feel that double the internal storage, sharper screen and more processing power is simply too much to pass up at the price. If you’re looking for a budget Windows Phone, look no further than the Nokia Lumia 710.

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The Revolutionary Ozaki IC502 Slim-Y+ Case for the Remarkable New Apple iPad.

f you love your iPad a much as me you’ll want to give it the very best case, to keep it in it’s very best sleek and shiny apple-y condition.

This will be the third case to grace my iPad since I’ve had it, but the Ozaki Slim-Y+ adds an air of playfulness that my other cases never did. Don’t get me wrong I love the amazing protection that my iFrogz Summit case gives me and the stylish understated-ness of my Macally Bookstand, but there really is no beating the Ozaki Slim-Y+ for fun, functionality and a fashionable look.

Before we go on I feel I should say that I’ve got an iPad 2, and while the Ozaki Slim-Y+ is designed for the New iPad, it fits my older model just a snugly as if it were made for it; which is somewhat of an achievement. The New iPad may only be a few millimetres thicker than the iPad 2, but in the precision fit world of smartphone and tablet cases a few millimetres might as well be a few meters, for the difference it makes to a cases ability to be useable on multiple devices. So Ozaki have really pulled something out of the bag by producing a snap on back case that’ll fit both the New iPad and her older sister the iPad 2.

It’s a flip case which means that both the front and back are protected at the same time, no need for a screen protector; although if you’re as clumsy as me you’ll have one anyway just for the piece of mind. It’s a smart case, which is a must for the lazy among us. And it’s got cut outs for all the important ports and button.

I’ll agree there’s nothing really remarkable in that list that justifies the price tag, but the Ozaki Slim-Y+ didn’t win a Red Dot design award for nothing.

It’s the Slim-Y+ multi-angle stand that’s really something. Now don’t get me wrong when I say multi-angle, I don’t just mean you can chose between a fixed-angle horizontal or vertical position. Not only does the Slim-Y+ front cover fold back like all traditional integrated stand folio cases but it also fold triangularly. Which is by far more fun to use and better looking than a traditional stand, but there’s no point having a stand case because it fun and looks good you have it because its practical. I’m guessing I’m not the only one that’s ever been frustrated by the flimsiness of the stand functions of some iPad smart covers out there. You put the slightest pressure on them and the stand slides completely out and your left with your iPad lying flat on the table and an angle that is completely un-conducive to typing or watching video. Well the Slim-Y+’s revolutionary triangular stand function gets rid of that frustration. Currently I’ve got my iPad stood up with the Ozaki Slim-Y+ case folded up in a triangle behind it on a Dave laptop table that I bought from Ikea, pushing my palm against my iPad2  in a gesture that could hardly be called timid, the Slim-Y+ more that stands up to the stain, it’s the table that nearly went over

The sturdy stand that’ll put up with a lot of rough treatment is not the only thing that I love about this case. The aesthetics are pretty funky too. My absolute favourite colour is bright green and you’ve guessed it, I’ve got the lime green one, but if that’s not your colour then are a six other colours to choose from. Each colour has it own unique embossed pattern, which looks great and provides the case with a high level of tactile grip. There’s something very luxurious about the feel of this case in your hands that really does give you a sense of quality and money well spent. The Slim-Y+’s rubberised coating is smooth and silky to the touch, while the embossed pattern let you know that this level of comfort doesn’t come at the price of the case and your precious iPad just slipping out of your hand.

I admit it, I’m a bit of a Draw Something addict, and the included stylus is just what I need to feed my addiction. It slides into the back on the case so that it’s always on hand whenever I get any artist urges. It’s easy to use and the iPad 2’s screen responds well to it, adding even more to the fun element that the Ozaki Slim-Y+ provides.

All I can say is that the Ozaki Slim-Y+ New iPad case is one well thought through and executed piece of kit. Don’t just take my word for it, try the Ozaki Slim-Y+ case for yourself and find out just how great it is.

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Replace hard drives with Google Drive

Trash you hard drives and pen drives - 'Google Drive' will let you store all your data online and you just need a data connection on your laptop, phone and tab to access and store the data. The launch is sure to turn the heat on similar services like Dropbox and SkyDrive.

IN A move that could render hard drives and pen drives obsolete,GoogleInc has launched ‘Google Drive’ where users can store music, pictures and other data including the PDF files. This is also seen as the next step in the evolution of Google docs, where users will play with their data in a particular cloud.

According to the Telegraph, the service will build on existing ‘Docs’ word processing software and the service will be accessible from anywhere on mobiles, tablets and PCs. Besides letting users to comment on the documents, they can share and store online their favourite songs, movies and pictures taken on a holiday. The app is even rumoured to let users edit the videos within Drive online.

“You can get started with 5GB of storage for free—that’s enough to store the high-res photos of your trip to the Mt. Everest, scanned copies of your grandparents’ love letters or a career’s worth of business proposals, and still have space for the novel you’re working on,” Mail Online quoted Google.

Users would be allowed 5GB free space, 25GB for $2.49/month, 100GB for $4.99/month or even 1TB for $49.99/month. Another benefit that Google says is that once you upgrade to a paid account, your Gmail account storage will also expand to 25GB.

Using Optical Character recognition (OCR) technology, users can even recognise text in scanned documents like old newspaper clippings. Cloud services like Dropbox, Microsoft’s SkyDrive and Apple’s iCloud are already a rage among consumers and Google Drive, coming from Internet search engine giant will certainly add to the competition and people can’t say no without checking the app.

Dropbox charges $19.99 for an equivalent service, but Microsoft’s less popular SkyDrive costs £32 per year for its nearest equivalent. A terabyte of Drive storage will cost $49.99 per month; DropBox charges $795 per year for five users to have unlimited access, which is its closest package, according to the Telegraph.

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Installing Your Sarotech NetBox NAS-10 in 6 Easy Steps

As a newbie in the techie field I find installing the Sarotech NetBox NAS-10 surprisingly easy. Here are the six easy steps on how to attach your hard disk to NetBox NAS-10.

1. Loosen screws from side case.

2. Separate from the main case.

3. Connect the HDD to connector of PCB.

4. Assemble the screws.

5. Assemble the side case.

6. Assemble the side case to mainframe using the provided screws. The box contains a power cord and LAN cable. Connect them to NAS and plug them accordingly to start NAS.

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Nokia X7-00 Review: Nokia catches up

Introduction

Slowly but surely, Nokia catches up in the smartphone race with the new Nokia X7-00. Sleek, solid, and stylish, the high-end model is one of the first phones to carry the Symbian Anna - a step up for Nokia’s proprietary software which is lagging behind Android and iOS. Nokia has been struggling to keep up with the times and the competitors as it made a number of drastic business changes for the past few months. Whether or not it will succeed with its software and regain its former stature, it’s too early to tell. But with the X7-00, it’s clear that Symbian is still alive and will at least not give up without a fight.

Specifications

DISPLAY	AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors; 360 x 640 pixels, 4.0 inches
DESIGN	Bar form
DIMENSIONS	119.7 x 62.8 x 11.9 mm, 85 cc
WEIGHT	146 g
MEMORY	256 MB RAM, 1 GB ROM
CONNECTIVITY	3G, Bluetooth, EDGE, GPRS, USB, Wi-Fi
OS	Symbian Anna
CPU	680 MHz ARM 11 processor, Broadcom BCM2727 GPU
FEATURES	Player:	Music: eAAC+/MP3/WAV/WMV player Video: DivX/XviD/H.264/H.263/MP4/WMV player
	Radio:	Stereo FM radio with RDS
	Camera:	8 MP, 3264 x 2448 pixels, dual LED flash, fixed focus
	Video:	720p@25fps
	Others:	Digital compass, Flash Lite, Office Document reader, Voice Memo
BATTERY	Standard battery, Li-Ion 1200 mAh (BL-5K)
COLORS	Dark Steel, Silver Steel

Form

Front: Earpiece, Light sensor, Touchscreen display, Menu button. Back: Camera, LED flash. Top: Micro USB/charging port, 3.5 mm headphone jack, Power/Screen lock button. Bottom: Mouthpiece. Left: Memory card slot, SIM card slot. Right: Volume rocker and Camera button.

With AMOLED touchscreen behind Gorilla glass display, stainless steel panels, and a truly edgy design, the Nokia X7-00 is a stand-out among its simple, all-plastic XpressMusic predecessors and Xseries brothers. It does look like what it is: a portable media player. And, not including that of the low-end models, Nokia phones’ hardware durability has never been doubted. We absolutely adore the phone’s build and design. We just have to point out that the SIM card and MicroSD card ports are uncomfortable to operate, the camera is exposed to damage, and there are only two loudspeakers, although the phone looks like it has four.

Functionality

The Nokia X7-00 could have been under the Nseries instead because it’s just great not just for music but entertainment in general. Great visuals, great audio, great touchscreen response – it’s a great multimedia device. Anyone would love using this all-around device for media playback, gaming, and, up to some extent, content creation.

Features

As expected from a high-end device, the Nokia X7-00 is feature-rich with plenty of media playback support and connectivity options, comfortable messaging and text input, and excellent hardware to enhance its multimedia features. Even if it is not a business-oriented phone, we’re happy to see that there’s at least a Quick Office reader. Office editor is available but it’s not for free.

Anyone will find it easy to appreciate what the Nokia X7-00 can offer, but of course we need to point out a few misses. The camera produces great images but it’s a fixed focus one instead of an autofocus.Video recording can go up to 720p, but it’s hardly the HD you can truly appreciate. The battery life may feel insufficient for some especially because other phones in its category and price range have much better. All in all the features are very attractive and useful, and also well worth the price.

Focus on: Symbian Anna OS

Although it’s not the first or the only smartphone in the market that runs on Symbian Anna, the attention regarding the software is focused on this phone because it’s a high-end model and the screen size makes it easier to see the beauty and test the usability of its user interface. After our experience with the Nokia X7-00, we can say there’s a significant amount of improvement with Symbian, especially with the interface. We’re not really wowed, but it is worth noting.

Considering the competitors and the context of the smartphone race, we must say, however, that Symbian isn’t picking up enough pace. Users of course want a big software ecosystem for them to get the third party applications they need, but Symbian is still struggling. Except for Symbian fans, most consumers are also left confused with Nokia’s future: with the branding of the Ovi, partnership with Windows Mobile, and changes with its corporate strategies.

The future of Symbian is a big question mark right now, but whether we’re talking about the present or the future, one thing’s certain:  other operating systems are still ahead. Nokia’s hardware and durability is of course established and trusted by many, including us. We are just not sure if it’s enough to convince consumers to stay loyal and to keep rooting for them.

The Verdict

Although everyone’s focus, including ours, is on its operating system and the context of the market, the Nokia X7-00 is still a highly desirable high-end smartphone. The form, functionality, and the features are superb albeit still imperfect. The Nokia X7-00 is also most likely the best Symbian smartphone out in the market to date. Even if its reign will inevitably be short-lived, its user would still be glad to own a great device which can outlive those disposable droids that are merely depending on its software’s popularity.

MODEL	X7-00
MANUFACTURER	Nokia
PROS	Fixed focus camera, No document or video/image editors, uncomfortable-to-operate SIM card and MicroSD slots
CONS	Symbian OS is still behind in terms of usability and software ecosystem
PRICE	Nokia X7-00 Philippine Price
CATEGORY	High-end
RATING*	5.0	Form	4.8 out of 5.0
	4.5	Functionality
	5.0	Features
RECOMMENDATION	An excellent choice.

*5 Excellent. 4 Very Good. 3 Average. 2 Fair. 1 Poor.

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