The iPhone Serial Port Hack

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Posted by CmdrTaco on Thursday October 28, 2010 @05:22AM from the totally-top-secret dept.

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.'"

21 of 217 comments (clear)

ipad by Anonymous Coward · 2010-10-28 05:28 · Score: 3, Funny

i want to know why everytime i plug in my ipad the pc asks what kind of camera it is
1. Re:ipad by CannonballHead · 2010-10-28 06:55 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  You're plugging it in wrong.
2. Re:ipad by Anonymous Coward · 2010-10-28 08:29 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  You're plugging it in wrong.
  My girlfriend used to tell me that. Now she likes it that way.
3. Re:ipad by shutdown+-p+now · 2010-10-28 11:49 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  You're plugging it in wrong.
  To be more specific, you forgot to plug a Mac to the other end of the cable.
Computer-Phone=Serial port? by Kenja · 2010-10-28 05:30 · Score: 4, Funny

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?"
1. Re:Computer-Phone=Serial port? by $RANDOMLUSER · 2010-10-28 05:58 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Reminds me of the story from The Zen of Programming:
  
  A novice went into the master's cubicle and saw a new computer sitting upon the master's desk. "What is that computer?" asked the novice. The master placed his hand upon a small box that was connected to the computer by a wire. "Behold," said the master, "This device controls what we see on the screen. The screen simulates a desk. For example, here is a filing cabinet and a trash depository. Here also is a typewriter and a calculator." "This is a wonderful invention," whispered the novice in awe. "It is not as wonderful as it seems," said the master. "Can you see the two desks?" The novice nodded. "One is on the floor, the other is on the screen," he remarked. "Just so. Now, is there something missing on one of the two desks?" The novice pondered for a moment. "One of the desks does not have a computer on it," he said. The master shook his head. "Neither of the desks has a computer on it."
  
  --
  No folly is more costly than the folly of intolerant idealism. - Winston Churchill
2. Re:Computer-Phone=Serial port? by hardie · 2010-10-28 07:14 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Even more existentially, one of the desks has windows on it.
3. Re:Computer-Phone=Serial port? by Nadaka · 2010-10-28 07:50 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Even worse... MS BOB.
Re:Fully functional computer? by idontgno · 2010-10-28 05:37 · Score: 4, Funny

How are you going to attach the tape reader/punch for the program tape without a serial port?

--
Welcome to the Panopticon. Used to be a prison, now it's your home.
Re:Fully functional computer? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-10-28 05:40 · Score: 2, Funny

Wirelessly?
yet another appleboy article... by Kynde · 2010-10-28 05:51 · Score: 3, Funny

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
1. Re:yet another appleboy article... by jiteo · 2010-10-28 06:06 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  What next? They'll discover a hidden parallel port and what? It's supposed to stop world hunger?
  Damn right, it'll feed people cereal in parallel.
2. Re:yet another appleboy article... by Ksevio · 2010-10-28 06:49 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Then I can hook up my HP Laserjet III and print stuff off my iPod!
3. Re:yet another appleboy article... by selven · 2010-10-28 12:13 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Resistance is futile... or at least reduced by a factor of n assuming all the ports parallel to each other are exactly the same.
Re:Oh Christ No!!!! by clone53421 · 2010-10-28 05:54 · Score: 2, Funny

Pff. I’m still fiddling with gender changers, null modems, 9/15 pin changers, RS232 and RJ45 cables... oh, and this ancient boxy thing called a 1747-PIC...

--
Alexander Peter Kristopeit bought his basement from his mommy for one dollar.
Re:No, thank you by Anonymous Coward · 2010-10-28 06:05 · Score: 2, Funny

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?
Re:Next they'll discover the JTAG port by multipartmixed · 2010-10-28 06:35 · Score: 2, Funny

Yeah, it's got a serial port, with TTL levels, at its external connector. Big deal.

You mock, but it IS a big deal.
This means I can plug my iPhone into my Vic-20!

--

Do daemons dream of electric sleep()?
Re:Vagina by opus7600 · 2010-10-28 06:56 · Score: 4, Funny

Love how you classed that right up by adding a smiley.
Re:Oh Christ No!!!! by Anonymous Coward · 2010-10-28 08:05 · Score: 1, Funny

two cans and a string
you must be an AT&T user...
Re:Oh Christ No!!!! by Anonymous Coward · 2010-10-28 10:15 · Score: 1, Funny

What a surprise that the girls on /. aren't really girls.
Re:No, thank you by Walt+Dismal · 2010-10-28 13:29 · Score: 3, Funny

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.