Thursday, October 13, 2011

IOS5 Bricked my device


You bricked your Apple device?

Most developers use a different technique to update their IOS and this generally works even if the device is bricked.

The problem is that you may loose your data if you don't have a backup.

Disclaimer: No warranty that this will work. If you try this on a working device you can brick the device. Do that at your own risk!

1 - Try a Reset

  • Hold the Power button and the Home Button until you see an apple
  • Release and press power to see if the device reboots

2 - Download ipsw file from Apple and flash


Download the iPSW file corresponding to your device. IPSW are the firmware files they are coming from Apple and that's what iTunes does install without telling you.
  • Plug in your "bricked" device via USB to your iTunes Computer
  • In iTunes Option+click on the Check for Update button in iTunes.(To wipe your device and do a clean install, Option+click on Restore.)
  • iTunes will display a file dialog
  • Select the ipsw you downloaded
  • IOS will be installed. You can see a white progress bar, Be patient
  • When it is finished iTunes can prompt you for a device backup to restore
  • Follow the instructions and be patient. This can take an hour if you have a lot of stuff
Other methods

3 - Reset & Restore

  • Hold the Power button and the Home Button until you see an apple
  • Release and press power to see if the device reboots
  • If not plug your device via cable to iTunes
  • Select your device in iTunes left column
  • Click Restore. iTunes should go and fetch the latest IOS from Apple
    You should see a white horizontal progress bar download the setup/install
  • When the IOS update is finished iTunes will ask you for a previous backup to restore
  • You can say no at this time and verify that your device is OK or if you have a backup select and click. If you say no you can always restore later.
  • Sync your device. This will take a good hour if you have a lot of stuff
4 - DFU - Digital Firmware Update

How to enter iPhone DFU mode

  • Turn the device off (hold down the power button at the top of the iPhone) 
  • Hold down the sleep/power button and home button together until device shuts off
  • Continue to hold down the Home button ad release sleep/power
  • While holding Home connect your device to iTunes on your computer used to sync
  • You should see a USB cable and an iTunes icon on your screen
  • Release the Home button
  • Restore as shown above step 4 (select device and restore)

Exit DFU mode on iPhone

Exit out of DFU mode by holding down the Home and sleep/power buttons on the iPhone while connected to iTunes. Then just hit the power button as and this should reboot the device as usual.

Saturday, October 8, 2011

XCode4 problems

Typical messages:
  • At least one valid architecture arm6 must be present
  • No architectures to compile for
  • (ONLY_ACTIVE_ARCH=YES, active arch=i386, VALID_ARCHS=armv6)
  • VALID_ARCHS=   (nil)



In Project Build Settings check Build Active Architecture Only and set to NO

You should also check the settings for Architectures and Valid Architectures
and add if necessary armv6 armv7

I have seen once or twice when creating a new project armv6f and armv7f

$(ARCHS_UNIVERSAL_IPHONE_OS) will build a universal iPhone/iPad app

If you set the architecture in the active target to armv7 and check the "Build Active Architecture Only" XCode will create a non-universal binary and you may end up with the proble above when you submit the app because of conflicting settings.

Monday, October 3, 2011

iPhone5

Wondering about what Tim Cook will present tomorrow in the "Let's talk iPhone"?

Curved glass, personal Assistant, voice recognition all these things are flying around. Wait to see all the nice additions in IOS 5: OTA Firmware updates, Cloud Backups, FaceTime, Messages (carriers will scream) and tons of improvements.

iTunes Match thing where you can dump all your music on the Apple Cloud and share it around all your devices for the small amount of 30$ a year. I didn't test it but you don't even need to upload your music, the name will suffice in most cases if you purchased from the store (and seems it could work even if you didn't). This will save an enormous amount of time and uploads. Version 9 is just being released.

Voice Assistant will be a nice addition, but they did not release it to developers in the IOS Beta7 so I am a bit sceptical, but they could have reserved that as the big surprise for the presentation. Meaning it should be in the IOS GM release due tomorrow October 3.

In any case, Apple fans can dream, because Apple is working on things even more wonderful than their dreams.

Check US patents 20110197147 granted to Apple. A projector built in iPads, iPhones and MacBooks with gesture recognition on the screen, and retransmission to networked devices. Imagine, could have your presentation in your iPhone.

Ref: Apple

United States Patents US20110197147