If an iPhone IMEI is not legible on the back of an iPhone housing or the iPhone model does not contain an etched IMEI number, you can dial *#06# to retrieve the IMEI instead of navigating to the Settings>General>About screen.
How to Play Games on Your iPhone That Aren’t in the App Store
Gaming on iPhone is something that has come on in leaps and bounds since the inception of the iPhone, and while little throwaway games like Angry Birds are still very popular, there is now a lot more out there for the ‘core gamer’ as well thanks to the likes of Assassin’s Creed – Altair’s Chronicles, Chaos Rings and Grand Theft Auto.
However if you are a nerd who likes to go beyond the normal capabilities of your devices then this might not be enough for you and you might yearn to play the likes of Super Meat Boy or Super Mario on your phone. Well good the good news is that if you are willing to tinker, then there are various ways you can get a number of different games running on your device that were never meant to be there. Here we will look at how that’s possible.
Flash Games
Apple has some kind of grudge against Adobe Flash which is apparently down to some problems with Flash’s security (I secretly wonder if perhaps the name is just too similar for Apple’s liking?) and this has been a well-known fact for some time causing frustration among many Apple fans.
The problem is that there is a lot of good Flash content out there, including a large number of great games like the Original Super Meat Boy and the wonderful Yeti Sports (who remembers that??). Well worry not as there are some ways you can get around this restriction. One of these is to try and use some of the not-so-perfect Flash supporting browsers available for iPhone on the App store. The other more effective way however is to Jailbreak your phone, and then to get yourself to the Cydia store where you can download a proper SWF player. Then you can even play Super Mario World Flash or Super Smash Flash – but I recommend getting a Bluetooth keyboard for better input.
Roms
And seeing as you’ve jailbroken your device, why not install an emulator for a console like the Megadrive or the SNES. Then, if you own the original cartridges, you will be allowed to legally download the ROMs for the games you want to play on your iPhone so that you can enjoy Sonic the Hedgehog, Mario, Golden Axe or whatever else takes your fancy. Then there’s the DosBox emulator (DosPad) that will enable you to actually install MsDos on your iPhone complete with whichever old .exe files you fancy running – from JazzJackrabbit to Duke Nukem 2. In fact you can even install Windows 95 and that will give you access to Minesweeper and even Chip’s Challenge.
TeamViewer
And then there are the various apps that let you view and control your computer, which of course will let you in theory play anything that’s on your PC screen. Of course it’s far too slow to really enjoy anything that is going to require any kind of graphics or sound. However what you can play is pretty much anything that doesn’t. So again you’re good to play Minesweeper… But then you can also play Solitaire or maybe something in a browser. It’s not necessarily that useful or fun, but again if you’re a true nerd then you might enjoy showing it off to friends…
The Four Best Strategy Games for iPhone
Strategy games have a long and much-loved history, both in digital and non-digital form. The iPhone offers new challenges to game designers, which lets them offer new challenges to customers in return. There are some great strategy games out there for iOS5, and as with so many smartphone games, they’re often both cheaper and more original than computer or console games. We check out four of the best for iPhone here. [Read more…]
What the iPhone 4S can Tell us About the iPhone 5
Does the iPhone 4S pave the way for the iPhone 5?
Before its launch in California last month, anticipation was fever pitch that a new look, new style iPhone would usher in a new generation of smartphones. There was some disappointment when iPhone 4S was unveiled. However, do the key features of the new Apple device point a finger as to the direction they might move in for the iPhone 5? [Read more…]
How to Save on Texting Fees for Smartphone and iPhones
Cell phone companies are making bank off of the text message packages that people are being required to purchase as a part of their plans. Not only do smartphones need a data plan for internet usage, but they must also add a text plan, if they are avid messengers that is. Most teenagers will definitely fall under this category. All of these messaging, minutes and data costs can add up. So how can you lower your phone bill and still be able to be involved in the “texting” generation? Here are a few options you can use for you Smartphone or iPhone that will help you save money on all of those texting bills:
**As a note before reading any of these, be aware that most will require that you get a second phone number, usually acquired for free through whichever service you choose.**
Google Voice
Google Voice is an excellent service for making any and all phone calls/text messages for free on both Android phones and iPhones. Unfortunately, if you already have a cell phone number, you will have to get a second Google Voice number, as with most of the services below. If you can make it happen, give all your friends and family your Google Voice number. With this number, you will not only be able to send and receive text messages, but all phone calls will be automatically forwarded to your normal cell phone number. All domestic services are free. International services are also available at a low rate.
Skype
Skype, one of the most popular online phone systems, also offers texting services. Unlike Google, they charge a fee of 4.7¢ per message, which is still about half of what a pay-as-you-go phone would charge. With Skype, you can send a message from the computer or a mobile device that has a Skype app. Then you will receive responses in your regular Skype chat window.
Text+ for Apple
Don’t be fooled by the + sign in the name, this texting and phone service is made for Apple. Although, it is very similar in function to Google Voice. You can get a free Text+ number and use it to make and receive phone calls and text messages on any of your apple devices, including the iPod touch. However, if you are using anything but an iPhone, you’ll have to wait until you are within range of a wireless connection to receive any of your messages. A great free option, but dependent on internet reception or having an iPhone.
The biggest challenge to overcome when trying to find a way to lower your phone bill is the issue of balancing two phone numbers. It can be a real pain to change your number and inform all of your acquaintances of the change. However, if you analyze the people with whom you pass the most texts, you might be able to inform them of the change. That way, you can switch over to a free texting service for your Smartphone or iPhone with the people who are using up most of your texts/minutes. This will reduce the number of paid-for texts you receive on your phone and allow you to lower the limit on your text messaging plan or having a lower bill if you are on a pay-per-text plan.
Top image by katerha.