Unofficial iOS5 upgrade

After reading the iOS5 upgrade on the Lifehacker website, I decided to upgrade my iPad2 to iOS5. It's unofficial, because iOS5 hasn't been released yet. The version mentioned on the Lifehacker websites is considered to be the Gold-Master version. Meaning that it's the final version, waiting to be released somewhere this month.

First I installed the iTunes beta version as mentioned and downloaded the appropriate iOS versions for my iPad and iPhone. The upgrade went extremely well. Just remember to backup your device before the 'upgrade' proceding.
After the iPad upgrade, I decided to upgrade my iPhone3gs. This went as smooth as the iPad upgrade.

The biggest new feature for me so far is the possibility to use custom text/notification tones. The iPhone3gs also feels more responsive.

There was one annoyance with the initial configuration of the iPad;
My Apple ID was a basic username, and not an e-mail address. This is NOT accepted by the initial iOS5 configuration wizard. Your Apple account NEEDS TO BE an e-mail address. It took me a while to set that up properly in my online account settings.

iPhone iOS 4.2 and Carrier Update Released

There's probably more than enough information on this subject, but there's something I ran into;

After the iOS 4.2 update, I also got a iPhone Carrier update through iTunes, and brave as I am, I installed it.

Afterward, several options in the Settings -> General -> Carrier menu of the iPhone were gone. Specifically, the settings regarding the Cellular Data settings, MMS. Basically, all the stuff I had to do manually as described in this blogpost.

Apple must have included the KPN Carrier settings in their Carrier Support package. Checking the default carrier profile location (/Users//Library/iTunes/iPhone Carrier Support/) showed the KPN_nl_iPhone.ipcc profile.

This does make it easier to upgrade to another iOS version, because each earlier upgrade erased the settings I had entered manually the time before. On the downside; The profile could also be updated to remove/disable tethering on the iPhone on the KPN network.

The ipcc file mentioned earlier is the one distributed on (or around) November 24th, 2010.

iPhone 3GS, iOS4 and MMS not working

I ran into a problem with MMS after I upgraded to iOS4 on my iPhone 3GS. Somehow, it was impossible to send MMS messages on the KPN cellular network. Searching the Internet revealed that I wasn't the only one.

The general consensus to solve this issue was a restore of the iPhone and not to restore old settings, but start from scratch.

After doing this, MMS still couldn't be sent from the iPhone, so time to do some more research. It turned out that KPN must have change the MMS settings, since my old MMS settings weren't correct anymore. So try these settings BEFORE you restore your iPhone. It might save you a lot of work and time.

Note: the following settings are for the Dutch KPN Network, and probably won't work on other networks / carriers.

Old Settings

APN: portalmmm.nl
Username:
Password:
MMSC: http://mp.mobiel.kpn/mmsc
MMS Proxy: 10.10.100.50:5080
MMS Max Message Size: 300000

New Settings

APN: portalmmm.nl
Username: kpn
Password: kpn
MMSC: http://mp.mobiel.kpn/mmsc
MMS Proxy: 10.10.100.20:5080
MMS Max Message Size: <leave empty>

Notice the differences? Anyway, with these new settings, MMS worked again.

KPN does have a page dedicated to the iPhone (in Dutch), regarding the Internet, and MMS settings. Just check those pages for the lastest settings.

I've updated the original page on my blog with the new settings.

My iPhone 3GS and iOS 4

Apple released the latest Operating System/software/firmware for the iPhone. This new OS (iOS) adds several new features and lots of enhancements (which I wont be going into).

I upgraded my iPhone earlier this week. No problems with that. The only real hick-up I ran into was the Voicemail number. The phone had forgotten the Voicemail, MMS and Tethering settings, so I needed to add it again. Even tethering was still available on the SIM-lock free iPhone with the KPN carrier.

There's one thing that's not 'Apple' about this update. With the regular Apple operating systems there's always the experience that an upgrade to a new release (10.4 -> 10.5 -> 10.6) leaves you with a faster/snappier OS. Even if the hardware is relatively old. Don't know how they do it, but it's something that Microsoft hasn't accomplished yet since MS-DOS 3.

Anyway, the OS upgrade on the iPhone is completely different. The device is less snappy. It looks like the device goes into some sort of suspended animation and when you need to use it it takes a couple of milliseconds (it's not much, but it's noticeable) for the phone to react. After a couple of seconds it seems to be gone.

For me, the new/improved features are more important than the snappy-ness of the device, so I'll stick to the new iOS for the moment.

Nikon Learn & Explore iPhone App (part deux)

It took them long enough, but they finally released the Nikon Learn & Explore app for the iPhone in the Dutch iTunes store. I'm still wondering why it took them a couple of months to do so.

Enough negativity for now. Initial impression is that it gives you something nice to read with excellent (example) photos. No matter if you're just starting or a more advanced photographer, there's always something to learn (and explore).