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The iPhone Serial Port Hack
An anonymous reader writes "The iPhone's little known secret, a hidden serial port, is revealed. 'The real benefit in all of this is that there are so many console packages for iPhone in Cydia now that you can have a fully functional computer, as useful as a Linux box, but without carrying around a laptop.'"
Get a Nokia N900 or Android.
i want to know why everytime i plug in my ipad the pc asks what kind of camera it is
I'm reminded of Linksys WRT-54G routers and such.
You might need to do some surface mount soldering to get to the required connections.
Very handy for booting up a Sun server.
This isn't a "secret"... it's been in the iPhone (and iPod for that matter) for quite a long time. This same serial port is how 3rd party docks and cables control the device from the outside: http://www.adriangame.co.uk/ipod-acc-pro.html
The iPhone's little known secret, a hidden serial port, is revealed. 'The real benefit in all of this is that there are so many console packages for iPhone in Cydia now that you can have a fully functional computer, as useful as a Linux box, but without carrying around a laptop.'
Personally I think it would be far more practical and useful to use an iPad. The iPhone screen is just too small for practical use, however in an emergency the iPhone could be quite useful. But for somewhat frequent normal use, I have doubts.
Could have sworn there was more to these computer things then that.
"Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
If you'd like to read the article instead of Computer World's stupid-ass slide show, it's at http://resolvehax.blogspot.com/2010/10/iphone-serial-port.html
So far my definition of a fully functional computer was based on Turing completeness. How is a serial port important for that?
'The real benefit in all of this is that there are so many console packages for iPhone in Cydia now that you can have a fully functional computer, as useful as a Linux box, but without carrying around a laptop.'"
Or, you could just...you know...get an Android phone with a custom ROM on it...
Living With a Nerd
.. of perhaps iOS itself.
Just get a Nokia N900. Nothing hidden there.
And yet, you are posting on Slashdot.
Please don't use the hardware you purchased and is now yours for non-Apple authorized activities. Apple reserves the right to REMOVE and/or RESTRICT functionality in order to support our business model as we see fit.
Apple
typing router commands using the virtual keyboard and having the console on half of a small screen ? no, thanks ...
as useful as a Linux box
Sure.
What next? They'll discover a hidden parallel port and what? It's supposed to stop world hunger?
1 Earth is warming, 2 It's us, 3 it's royally bad, 4 we need to take action NOW
Woo hoo! Now the iPhone is almost as useful as my 15 year old Palm! Well done, Apple.
lizardb0y
http://www.vintage8bit.com/
<sobbing level="softly">I don't want to go back to carrying gender changes, null modems, 9/15 pin changers as well as worrrying about DCE/DTE and handshaking ..... </sobbing>
I am Slashdot. Are you Slashdot as well?
"There you have it! All parts were acquired from eBay, Ridax and Jaycar."
Steve Jobs: "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!"
He who knows best knows how little he knows. - Thomas Jefferson
...given that you can buy ipod breakout boards on ebay with the serial connectors clearly marked, it doesn't seem to be a particularly well kept secret.
See http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Enhanced-Breakout-Board-Ipod-Iphone-Ipad-/370447835814?pt=UK_CE_MP3Access_RL&hash=item56406962a6 for an example.
......I can put the psion5 out to grass.
Functionally this puts the iPhone one step closer to the Nokia N900 (which is a fully functional Linux computer the size of a phone, out of the box, including physical keyboard and memory slot)... Impressive! You're getting there, apple fanboys :)
My time is worth too much to play with hidden features that the manufacturer won't even tell me about, much less support.
And yet, you are posting on Slashdot.
FUCK! I had no clue that /. had hidden features... I am guessing that's where all the good submissions end up?
http://slashdot.org/zoo.pl?op=check&uid=666
http://slashdot.org/my/comments
Alexander Peter Kristopeit bought his basement from his mommy for one dollar.
This serial port has been around forever. All those cars with iPod integration use it for control and data. I've controlled the iPod functionality on every iPod I've had (since 3rd gen) as well as three iPhones using an Atmega controller. I year or so I shared some controller code for Arduino based atmega microconrollers.
Here's how you control your iPhone or iPod music with an Arduino, easy peasy:
Sheldon
* /* Control iPod/iPhones from Arduino
Sheldon Stokes
Jan 3, 2009
Standing on the shoulders of ipodLinux.org
http://ipodlinux.org/wiki/Apple_Accessory_Protocol
This send comands to the iPod as though it were a remote.
These are the simple 2 byte commands that should work on all
Apple iPods and iPhones starting with the 3rd Generation iPod
*********** Commands (array index, command value, command description) **************
0 0x00 Button Release
1 0x01 Play/Pause
2 0x02 Vol+
3 0x04 Vol-
4 0x08 Skip >
5 0x10 Skip
6 0x20 Next Album
7 0x40 Prev Album
8 0x80 Stop
*/
int commandBytes[]={0x00,0x01,0x02,0x04,0x08,0x10,0x20,0x40,0x80};
int checkSum;
int playPin = 2;
int stopPin = 3;
int fwdPin = 4;
int backPin = 5;
int playVal, stopVal, fwdVal, backVal;
void setup()
{
Serial.begin(19200);
pinMode(playPin, INPUT);
pinMode(stopPin, INPUT);
pinMode(fwdPin, INPUT);
pinMode(backPin, INPUT);
}
void loop()
{
playVal = digitalRead(playPin); // read play button // read stop button // read fwd button // read back button
stopVal = digitalRead(stopPin);
fwdVal = digitalRead(fwdPin);
backVal = digitalRead(backPin);
if (playVal == LOW) // send play command // send button release // send stop command // send button release // send stop command // send button release // send stop command // send button release
{
sendRequest(commandBytes[1]);
sendRequest(commandBytes[0]);
}
else if (stopVal == LOW)
{
sendRequest(commandBytes[8]);
sendRequest(commandBytes[0]);
}
else if (fwdVal == LOW)
{
sendRequest(commandBytes[4]);
sendRequest(commandBytes[0]);
}
else if (backVal == LOW)
{
sendRequest(commandBytes[5]);
sendRequest(commandBytes[0]);
}
delay(100);
}
void sendRequest(int val) {
checkSum = 0x100 - ((0x03 + 0x02 + val + 0) & 0xFF);
int request[] = {0xFF, 0x55, 0x03, 0x02, 0x00, val, checkSum};
Apple decided to allow devices to use serial over the dock connector in February 2010. Why does the summary list it as a "little known secret"? It's hardly a secret that the dock connector which uses USB communicates via a serial connector. That's what the S stands for in USB, btw.
Here's an article telling about the serial port OK from Apple last February:
http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/apple-approves-serial-port-to-dock-connector-design/
Yeah, it's got a serial port, with TTL levels, at its external connector. Big deal.
It's also possible to attach USB devices, which is somewhat more useful today. For example, you can plug a real keyboard into an iPad.
Now you can use your iPhone to program your Arduino.
That's because APPLE had AT&T disable it, so that Droid wouldn't compete against iPhone.
Anticompetitive bullshit, they should be hearing from the DOJ.
I can get rid of my Palm Vx
IMHO, a computer that is "fully functional" will have a fully functional Vagina. :-)
Does this serial port appear on /dev/tty(?) can you run a getty on it ?
More recent ones have anti-tamper (Droid X) or auto-reflash (G2), making it a pain to root.
I honestly think Google is very disingenuous to say Android is open when many currently-selling actual devices are locked tighter than the iPhone.
Perhaps Google is just happy that Android is "open to the carriers".
You want a sure bet for an open system, go with the N900.
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The iPad uses the same pin outs and has serial port support as well.
Cool hack for an iPhone, but you could do the same thing with an iPad to USB adapter and a USB=>RS232 adapter in a smaller form factor.
Two thumbs up for the hack though. I'm going to have to get a few of those breakout boards, my Sansa e200 has the same connector, just different pin outs.
Did you see the masthead? "News for nerds". This is what we do. This is our recreation. I personally found the article fascinating, even though I don't have an iPhone.
You say your time is worth too much to play with hidden features, but I'll bet it isn't worth too much time to watch a NASCAR race or a football game or a movie, now is it?
Free Martian Whores!
Does that mean now i can hook up an old serial port mouse to my iphone in case i want to get a better click event happening,
or maybe the old serial port printers, they could be useful, do they at least still make cartridges for them though???
"you can have a fully functional computer, as useful as a Linux box"
Okay, so it will make your phone useless? Do not want.
I am guessing that's where all the good submissions end up?
There are good submissions on
Trolling is a art,
Dude, it's selling right now from major retailers. Ships today.
I got this after 5 seconds of googling:
Google Shopping
Amazon
Make sure everyone's vote counts: Verified Voting
That is all.
Read the EFF's Fair Use FAQ
Next thing you know and you'll be able to make a phone call on your iPhone.
"To prevent this day from getting any worse, I'll just read ERROR as GOOD THING" 1GJU8xLuDKDxEs4KLf8fAGyptoDsqvEsBT
When you can just buy a bluetooth to serial for 50 bucks.. Even at walmart
---- Booth was a patriot ----
Few people remember when the iPhone serial port was used to hack into a flying saucer and inject a virus into an alien space fleet, saving the Earth. And the President himself led the attack against the mothership. It seems like only yesterday, before these stupid people locked me up in here.
Anyone have any links on all the terminal programs (that work) available for the jailbroken iPhone that this story alludes to? Any free solutions? I thought that was one of the main things jailbreaking the phones was all about...
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
The breakout board is clearly labeled with the typical serial line designations. This project adds a standard level shifter, something described countless times for other devices.
What is interesting is the description of what access the serial port gives you, which is a lot.
Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.
Was that the same serial port used to control the psp at the earphone remote controller?
Anyone who signed up as a hardware OEM knew that there was a UART attached to the dock connector. Apple uses it in the factories for console access.
Personally, I'd have preferred an I2C or JTAG port.