After rooting my UK T-mobile G1 and then flashing with JesusFreke’s ADP 1.5, I was able to install android wifi tether.

Previously I tethered using the adb forward tcp:1080 tcp:1080 socks trick, but that sucked because:

• DNS didn't work
• if it did, you could only use HTTP easily
• bit of a pain to setup

Ideally I would have liked to tether via a USB cable, though I couldn't quite figure out how to create a USB based network. Anyway a Wireless access point (AP) is better for sharing and being social, though it does need to be physically tethered to a power source since the device sucks battery juice whilst tethering.

Ad-hoc Wireless Networking Debian to the Android G1

This is a bit tricky, as I couldn't seem to get a DHCP IP over ad-hoc mode. So here I set up everything manually, after inspecting the device with adb shell ifconfig tiwlan0.

I added to /etc/network/interfaces:

iface wlan0 inet static
    wireless-essid G1mobile # configure this in 'Wifi tether' on your G1
    wireless-mode ad-hoc
    address 192.168.2.20
    netmask 255.255.255.0
    gateway 192.168.2.254
    dns-nameservers 192.168.2.254 # you need to install [resolvconf](http://packages.qa.debian.org/r/resolvconf.html)

And commented out the existing wpasupplicant configuration. Next sudo ifup wlan0 and you should be away.

Comparing England's T-mobile, Orange and Vodafone 3G

I borrowed a Vodafone SIM card, but I couldn't get it working until I manually chose the Vodafone network and setup the APN with wap crap: wap.vodafone.co.uk user: wap pass: wap

T-mobile don't use the loaded legacy wap word, but their APN is confusingly called 'general.t-mobile.uk'. User: 't-mobile', Pass: 'tm'. I need to experiment with APNs as I hope I get around content transformation and crappy looking images.

Orange nicely just requires 'orangeinternet' to hop on. They give Vodafone a run for their money from Guildford! Orange also don't seem to run content through any transformation on my test. So images look decent! Orange WINS!

Just 12 months of poor T-mobile service to go of my 18 month contract... then PAYG for me! PAYG deals for mobile data are getting seriously reasonable of late. So much so, I might switch SIMs where I know T-mobile will suck.

I'm not quite certain if the aforemnetioned APNs are HSDPA. The 3G icon is present on Android during all the tests.

Want prettier shortcuts or bookmarks to your favourite Web applications?

Checkout shortcut.dabase.com and the reasons why.

UK consumers are frustratedly waiting for the RC33 Android update. Featuring Latitude and voice search.

One can manually update, though I am unsure if this Google update is for the UK market.

Though, then again... WHY should there be a difference between UK & US updates? I'm sure there isn't different Iphone software for different regions of the world.

I lodged an email complaint with T-mobile and a "tech" engineer from T-mobile called me, despite requesting T-mobile email me instead.

He asked around and he says there is "no rollout in place" and he didn't know what I was talking about with RC33 and Firmware 1.1.

Furthermore he told me he personally hacked his. Unbelievably he was actually excitedly telling me I could downgrade to RC8 I mean... WTF is going on?

Do Google UK have a contact in T-mobile UK? Talk to each other. Give the T-mobile engineers some information. They actually seem just as thirsty for Android knowledge as I am.

UPDATE: wget --no-check-certificate https://android.clients.google.com/updates/signed-PLAT-RC33-from-RC30.f06aa9b3.zip adb push signed-PLAT-RC33-from-RC30.f06aa9b3.zip /sdcard/update.zip

I called up T-mobile and they sent me a Network / SIM unlock code via email after asking nicely.

So it is true. You can request T-mobile supply an unlock code after being a customer for 3 months. That's great!

Now when I travel abroad I can use a local SIM.

Thank you T-mobile for being sensible about this. This is the text version of the attachment I received:

Mobile number:   

Reference:             DOX/CAT/ 

2008 


Dear  

Thanks for your letter about unlocking your MDA ****. The unlocking code for IMEI XXXXXXXXXXX is XXXXXXXXXXX and the sequence is below. 

   1. Switch on the mobile phone with a UK non T-Mobile SIM.
   2. You will be prompted to enter the pin, after a few minutes.
   3. Then enter the pin code.
   4. Press OK.



The phone should now acknowledge the phone is unlocked. 

We always advise that you shouldn’t make more than two attempts to unlock the phone. Therefore, if you get any error messages at the end of the unlocking sequence, please give me a call on the number overleaf and I’ll certainly help you.  

I’m sure you can appreciate that as our codes are produced from the manufacturer of the phone, we can’t always guarantee that your phone can be unlocked. You also need to be aware that we can’t guarantee the mobile phone features for use with another service provider this is sometimes because other providers have different network settings. 

If you have any further queries regarding this, please contact me on 08454122754 (calls to this number are charged at local rates if you’re a BT customer, but if you’re with another provider it may cost a bit more, so please check). 

Thank you for contacting me about unlocking your phone CUSTOMERS NAME. I’m pleased to have been able to give you your unlocking code and I’m sure you’ll enjoy using your phone. 

Yours sincerely 



NAME

Customer Administration

8.30am – 4.30pm

Monday to Friday

Last Friday, the 30 of January Google Maps UK did work from my G1. Or that of another G1 device.

wget -q http://static.natalian.org/2009-01-02/2008-tmobile-data.txt -O /dev/stdout | awk -F, '{sum += $5 } END { print sprintf("%.2f",sum) }'
10.89

11GBP for 5 days in Germany? I didn't use data nearly as much as I would in the UK. Android has no data accountancy functionality.

A mobile phone that would detail accurate data roaming costs. Those are the sensible sorts applications that provide tremendous value. Not stupid bar code scanner applications.

The proprietary headphone jack

HTC use a proprietary ExtUSB interface for audio. You can get a Stereo Headset Adapter - HTC exUSB for 8GBP.

Do not write Dalvik Android applications

First I implore you not to write an Android Application. i.e. a Java dalvik .apk.

Most developers require Geolocation and you can easily achieve Geolocation in the Android browser. The Web on mobile is the future!

Other reasons not to develop Dalvik applications

• Google's Market has no upgrade mechanism. The Web has painless seamless upgrades by default. Why choose anything else than giving your users continuous improvement everyday?
• The Web works on more devices and computers than Dalvik ever will -- the Web is device independent!
• The Android market allows you to market your application to several certain countries. Choose a Web application and your market is the world!
• Want to create bookmarks to your Web application from the homescreen? Use the Gears shortcut mechanism! (disabled by Google in Cupcake)
• Choose from a larger pool of Web developers, to develop your idea for the mobile platform!
• Does the Web miss a critical device API for your application? Tell the W3C about your requirements.

I HAZ ROOT

# df
/dev: 49564K total, 0K used, 49564K available (block size 4096)
/sqlite_stmt_journals: 4096K total, 0K used, 4096K available (block size 4096)
/system: 69120K total, 60612K used, 8508K available (block size 4096)
/data: 76544K total, 27788K used, 48756K available (block size 4096)
/cache: 69120K total, 1364K used, 67756K available (block size 4096)
/sdcard: 1983360K total, 198208K used, 1785152K available (block size 32768)

# ps
USER     PID   PPID  VSIZE RSS   WCHAN    PC         NAME
root     1     0     264   140   c00a5cd0 0000c36c S /init
root     2     0     0     0     c005bd28 00000000 S kthreadd
root     3     2     0     0     c004c12c 00000000 S ksoftirqd/0
root     4     2     0     0     c006e978 00000000 S watchdog/0
root     5     2     0     0     c0058b40 00000000 S events/0
root     6     2     0     0     c0058b40 00000000 S khelper
root     7     2     0     0     c0058b40 00000000 S suspend/0
root     8     2     0     0     c0058b40 00000000 S kblockd/0
root     9     2     0     0     c0058b40 00000000 S kmmcd
root     10    2     0     0     c0058b40 00000000 S btaddconn
root     11    2     0     0     c0058b40 00000000 S btdelconn
root     12    2     0     0     c0058b40 00000000 S qmi
root     13    2     0     0     c003263c 00000000 D rpcrouter
root     14    2     0     0     c0058b40 00000000 S detection/0
root     15    2     0     0     c0032fb4 00000000 S krpcserversd
root     16    2     0     0     c007a964 00000000 S pdflush
root     17    2     0     0     c007a964 00000000 S pdflush
root     18    2     0     0     c007e8b4 00000000 S kswapd0
root     19    2     0     0     c0058b40 00000000 S aio/0
root     20    2     0     0     c0032fb4 00000000 S kadspd
root     21    2     0     0     c0058b40 00000000 S panel_on/0
root     22    2     0     0     c0151ff8 00000000 S mtdblockd
root     23    2     0     0     c0157d84 00000000 S USB mass_storag
root     24    2     0     0     c0058b40 00000000 S synaptics_wq
root     25    2     0     0     c020dfc0 00000000 S krfcommd
root     26    2     0     0     c01751d0 00000000 S mmcqd
root     27    1     724   208   c0049a2c afe0c4cc S /system/bin/sh
system   28    1     796   148   c0189f10 afe0b74c S /system/bin/servicemanager
root     29    1     1828  256   ffffffff afe0b50c S /system/bin/mountd
root     30    1     652   136   c0196e68 afe0c0bc S /system/bin/debuggerd
radio    31    1     7720  564   ffffffff afe0bdbc S /system/bin/rild
root     32    1     65612 9684  c00a62ec afe0b874 S zygote
media    33    1     32524 2200  ffffffff afe0b74c S /system/bin/mediaserver
bluetooth 35    1     1164  180   c00a5cd0 afe0c69c S /system/bin/dbus-daemon
root     36    1     788   188   c01fb090 afe0b50c S /system/bin/installd
compass  38    1     1304  312   c0169014 afe0b74c S /system/bin/akmd
shell    39    1     3328  128   ffffffff 0000e664 S /sbin/adbd
system   57    32    237556 22076 ffffffff afe0b74c S system_server
radio    101   32    114888 15860 ffffffff afe0c824 S com.android.phone
root     1057  2     0     0     c0032dc8 00000000 D audmgr_rpc
root     10878 2     0     0     c016da84 00000000 D ksdiorqd
root     10879 2     0     0     c0058b40 00000000 S tiwlan_wifi_wq
wifi     10882 1     2972  548   ffffffff afe0b874 S /system/bin/wpa_supplicant
app_7    11242 32    104180 15780 ffffffff afe0c824 S com.google.process.gapps
app_4    11248 32    113160 20052 ffffffff afe0c824 S android.process.acore
app_21   12467 32    96960 13212 ffffffff afe0c824 S com.google.android.talk
root     12794 1     644   232   c009ef28 afe0b50c S /system/bin/logwrapper
dhcp     12795 12794 692   364   c00a5cd0 afe0c69c S dhcpcd
system   12853 32    99116 13672 ffffffff afe0c824 S com.android.settings
app_23   12884 32    102732 19260 ffffffff afe0c824 S com.android.vending
app_3    12902 32    88744 13260 ffffffff afe0c824 S android.process.media
app_34   12924 32    103020 12308 ffffffff afe0c824 S src.com.poidio.terminal
root     12937 27    656   272   c00a5cd0 afe0c69c S telnetd
root     12942 12937 724   324   c0049a2c afe0c4cc S /system/bin/sh
root     12952 12942 868   328   00000000 afe0b50c R ps

# cat build.prop
# begin build properties
# autogenerated by buildinfo.sh
ro.build.id=TC5-RC7
ro.build.version.incremental=112931
ro.build.version.sdk=1
ro.build.version.release=1.0
ro.build.date=Thu Oct  9 21:54:11 PDT 2008
ro.build.date.utc=1223614451
ro.build.type=user
ro.build.user=android-build
ro.build.host=undroid13.corp.google.com
ro.build.tags=ota-rel-keys,release-keys
ro.product.model=T-Mobile G1
ro.product.brand=tmuk
ro.product.name=kila_uk
ro.product.device=dream
ro.product.board=trout
ro.product.manufacturer=HTC
ro.product.locale.language=en
ro.product.locale.region=GB
# ro.build.product is obsolete; use ro.product.device
ro.build.product=dream
# Do not try to parse ro.build.description or .fingerprint
ro.build.description=kila_uk-user 1.0 TC5-RC7 112931 ota-rel-keys,release-keys
ro.build.fingerprint=tmuk/kila_uk/dream/trout:1.0/TC5-RC7/112931:user/ota-rel-keys,release-keys
# end build properties
#
# system.prop for dream
#

rild.libpath=/system/lib/libhtc_ril.so
wifi.interface = tiwlan0

#
# ADDITIONAL_BUILD_PROPERTIES
#
ro.com.google.clientid=tmobile-uk
ro.com.android.dateformat=dd-MM-yyyy
ro.com.android.dataroaming=false
ro.ril.hsxpa=2
ro.ril.gprsclass=12
ro.config.ringtone=T-Jingle.ogg
persist.sys.timezone=Europe/London
ro.config.notification_sound=F1_New_SMS.ogg
ro.url.legal=http://www.google.com/intl/%s/mobile/android/g1-legal.html
ro.config.ringtone=BirdLoop.ogg
ro.config.sync=yes
net.bt.name=Android
dalvik.vm.stack-trace-file=/data/anr/traces.txt

G1 Annoyances

1. SMS not being integrated to email. Basically I want to forward SMSes as email. Would be nice to have an email address that fowards to SMS.
   • Input type file is disabled/unimplemented
   • Phone number in status not updated after number change
   • 2G Internet does not work when you are using voice. URM!?
   • Can't use G1 as a modem.
   • Be good if it showed alarms on the clock face. The Alarm icon on the notification has no value after you've set a couple to manage you routine ...
   • There must be a way of quickly informing Gtalk users you are on the mobile!!
   • Android Issue list
   • Piss off the developer
   • No Google browser Roadmap cupcake. Google develops Android browser stuff in private and then does an open code snapshot. If 3rd party businesses want to work with their platform, they need to know exactly when HTML5 features are going to be rolled out!
   • No Android market for Web applications such as Geo

Gtalk chats are a great feature. But often I miss the chat and I can't figure out how the "Recent conversations archive" supposed to work. What's worse is that sometimes I confuse 'Gtalk chat' with SMS, whereby SMS does not seem to appear in 'Gtalk chat' pane of Gmail!