New life for iPhone 2G, would you be able to use it as a main driver?

[iBlazed]

So I recently discovered a custom firmware for old iPhones based on whatever the last version of iOS they were able to use, it's called Whited00r. In the case of this iPhone 2G I got on ebay for $35, it's iOS 3.1.3. It's designed to look like iOS 7 and mimic as much of its functionality as it possibly can. It even has it's own App Store where you can download old versions of apps that will work with iOS 3 since Apple's "Last Compatible Version" works with iOS 4 at minimum. I was able to find a good SIM adapter thanks to this forum that doesn't damage the SIM reader inside the iPhone and I put my nano-sim into the iPhone. It activated right up. Not sure how long I will attempt to actually use this, but it was a pretty fun little project and the iPhone is in great shape and will be fun to show to future generations one day. I even have the original box and everything.

It's crazy how I was so amazed by this phone back in 2007 (I had one but it broke a few years ago, that's why I got one off ebay) and felt like it couldn't possibly get any better. I mean, what else could you need, right?

Would you ever be able to use an original iPhone as your daily driver today?

 

[MattMJB0188]

That's impressive. But I wouldn't use the original iPhone in this day an age. Even if the apps are older, I bet the processor can't keep up. Even viewing webpages would be an effort. Back in '07 mobile data was much lighter. But good luck with it. Personally, if I were going to use the original iPhone, I'd have kept it on iOS 3. If you want 7, pick up a modern device.

 

[iBlazed]

That's impressive. But I wouldn't use the original iPhone in this day an age. Even if the apps are older, I bet the processor can't keep up. Even viewing webpages would be an effort. Back in '07 mobile data was much lighter. But good luck with it. Personally, if I were going to use the original iPhone, I'd have kept it on iOS 3. If you want 7, pick up a modern device.

You're right, basic tasks take a lot of effort for this oldie. I would have kept it on stock iOS 3, but you can't get any apps for it. At least this way I can put some basic old apps on it. I just put facebook and angry birds so far. And I have a modern device, I just did this as a little project for fun.

 

[rui no onna]

As a daily driver? No, thanks. Works well enough as alarm and music player, though.

 

[lovewd]

This is extremely impressive!! I just looked at the site, and they were saying blur was included. How could the original iphone ever come close to that though? But over all it looks really great!

 

[CEmajr]

No couldn't use it as a daily driver. The camera is what would probably get to me the most. I remember when the 4S came out back in 2011 and sold my 4 early and used a 3GS for about a month. It was terrible. So I'd imagine going back to the 2G camera being unbearable.

I think it would be a great phone for kids though. Touchscreen, texting, and internet.

Maybe Apple should rerelease it for $99 no-contract

 

[MattMJB0188]

No couldn't use it as a daily driver. The camera is what would probably get to me the most. I remember when the 4S came out back in 2011 and sold my 4 early and used a 3GS for about a month. It was terrible. So I'd imagine going back to the 2G camera being unbearable.

I think it would be a great phone for kids though. Touchscreen, texting, and internet.

Maybe Apple should rerelease it for $99 no-contract

They'd never re-release the original iPhone. The 3GS would be the phone to get for $99 off contract. I still can't even see them re-releasing that.

 

[Jessica Lares]

Well, I have access to all my old iOS apps in my iTunes Purchased area. So it wouldn't actually be that hard for me. Heck, I even run some of those games and apps still sometimes. Look up some old news stories about the various apps that came out during that time and enjoy it!

 

[richwoodrocket]

Absolutely not. I can't stand an iPhone 4 let alone that.

 

[MattMJB0188]

You're right, basic tasks take a lot of effort for this oldie. I would have kept it on stock iOS 3, but you can't get any apps for it. At least this way I can put some basic old apps on it. I just put facebook and angry birds so far. And I have a modern device, I just did this as a little project for fun.

Yeah. Can you take screenshots of the settings menu? Does it give you the iOS 7 animations? I bet they are super laggy.

 

[Tinmania]

I didn't even know you could still use an EDGE-only device anymore. Maybe T-Mobile does? I could have sworn AT&T stopped supporting them, and offered a replacement phone or credit to those who had to switch.



Michael

 

[richwoodrocket]

I didn't even know you could still use an EDGE-only device anymore. Maybe T-Mobile does? I could have sworn AT&T stopped supporting them, and offered a replacement phone or credit to those who had to switch.







Michael

I still get edge on AT&T. I have LTE of course too but occasionally I still get edge.

 

[braddick]

I was finally able to get a classic iPhone up and running on 2.X and thoroughly enjoyed it too.
My wife won that bet though: I thought I would go at least a week before popping the SIM and putting it back into my iP5C. Sure enough, didn't last a full day.
The slow factor is tremendous and there are times you simply want the iPhone to work and you want it now.

Outside of not having enough patience though, it was a neat ride, during the short few hours it lasted, but I wouldn't repeat it anytime soon.

 

[iBlazed]

Yeah. Can you take screenshots of the settings menu? Does it give you the iOS 7 animations? I bet they are super laggy.

No iOS 7 animations, that would have been ridiculous of them to even attempt, although you do get folders which is great. And some of the UI elements need correcting which I hope they do with future updates. All Whited00r updates are through cydia.

 

[iBlazed]

I didn't even know you could still use an EDGE-only device anymore. Maybe T-Mobile does? I could have sworn AT&T stopped supporting them, and offered a replacement phone or credit to those who had to switch.

Nope, still works perfectly on EDGE.

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I was finally able to get a classic iPhone up and running on 2.X and thoroughly enjoyed it too.
My wife won that bet though: I thought I would go at least a week before popping the SIM and putting it back into my iP5C. Sure enough, didn't last a full day.
The slow factor is tremendous and there are times you simply want the iPhone to work and you want it now.

Outside of not having enough patience though, it was a neat ride, during the short few hours it lasted, but I wouldn't repeat it anytime soon.

The one thing that really struck me with the 2G is the poor quality screen after using my iPhone 5. It's very hard to read anything in Safari unless you zoom. And of course the speed is unbearable at times.

 

[TacticalDesire]

I could use it for phone calls, email and texting although typing would be slow. Pretty much what I use my phone for now minus apps but I could use other devices for that if need be. It would be an interesting thing to try.

 

[MattMJB0188]

No iOS 7 animations, that would have been ridiculous of them to even attempt, although you do get folders which is great. And some of the UI elements need correcting which I hope they do with future updates. All Whited00r updates are through cydia.

Thanks. I actually prefer that setting menu to the actual iOS 7 settings menu.

 

[iBlazed]

Thanks. I actually prefer that setting menu to the actual iOS 7 settings menu.

Yeah, but check out how horrible these screens look. White text on a grey background and the last letter cut off in "Mailboxes" and "Photo All". Silly mistakes on an otherwise pretty stable firmware mod.

 

[nateo200]

I respect the original iPhone, and I think I could use it for a little bit but honestly the original iPhone 3G is as far as I could go. I still think its nuts that Apple released a GSM only device! Oh man I remember the days of using a friends iPhone on EDGE....then the iPhone 3G came out and it was pure magic, I still have that feeling from the commercials! I never had a 3G or 3GS but I might buy an old 3G in black just to have as a token of some type. I always liked the design with the curved back...partially why I got a 5c over the 5s...more curvy but nothing like the 3G.

 

[iBlazed]

I respect the original iPhone, and I think I could use it for a little bit but honestly the original iPhone 3G is as far as I could go. I still think its nuts that Apple released a GSM only device! Oh man I remember the days of using a friends iPhone on EDGE....then the iPhone 3G came out and it was pure magic, I still have that feeling from the commercials! I never had a 3G or 3GS but I might buy an old 3G in black just to have as a token of some type. I always liked the design with the curved back...partially why I got a 5c over the 5s...more curvy but nothing like the 3G.

If you're gonna do that go with the 3GS. At least you can get up to iOS 6 on it, and it's way faster than the 3G. The 3G is basically the same guts as the 2G except for the 3G chip. The 3GS had a significant speed improvement.

 

[iBlazed]

The Siri alternative "Sara" is completely non functional. Bummer. I use Siri daily and at this point it would be pretty annoying not to have it.

 

[Tinmania]

Nope, still works perfectly on EDGE.

For now it might, and not everywhere.

Here’s what AT&T stated in their Aug. 3, 2012, 10-Q filings: "As part of our ongoing efforts to improve our network performance and help address the need for additional spectrum capacity, we intend to redeploy spectrum currently used for basic 2G services to support more advanced mobile Internet services on our 3G and 4G networks. We will manage this process consistent with previous network upgrades and will transition customers on a market-by-market basis from our Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) networks (referred to as 2G networks) to our more advanced 3G and 4G networks..."

http://www.securityinfowatch.com/ar...s-with-the-securities-and-exchange-commission



Michael

 

[iPodJedi]

The Siri alternative "Sara" is completely non functional. Bummer. I use Siri daily and at this point it would be pretty annoying not to have it.

That sucks that there isn't a Siri alternative. I love the idea and I really wish I could do that... It looks so fun.

 

[rockitdog]

My question is why would someone want to use a 2nd gen iPhone? Seems like a waste of time and energy to me.

 

[iBlazed]

For now it might, and not everywhere.



http://www.securityinfowatch.com/ar...s-with-the-securities-and-exchange-commission



Michael

Hmm, interesting, that announcement was 2 years ago now and they haven't acted on it. And I live in a densely populated state so you would think this is one of the first places it would be done.

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My question is why would someone want to use a 2nd gen iPhone? Seems like a waste of time and energy to me.

I just did this for fun, I have no plans to actually use this phone daily.