Zak MB

If you are like me lucky and fortunate enough to have purshased an iPhone 3G to replace your previous (2G) iPhone you may have noticed 2 things:

1- Firmware version (Under General -> Informations -> Version menu) is 2.0 (5A345) while the Version displayed in an iPhone 2G after it has been upgraded is 2.0 (5A347) iTunes is not checking for Build number when it’s checking for new updates

2- The display and rendering of the iPhone 3G is darker. A lot of buz have circulated inside different forums concerning “Yellow tinge”

An intersting post may be found in Ars Technica intitulated: “Tip: Updating iPhone to 5A347 reduces yellow tinge“
Another article from ijerad.com: “iPhone 2.0 upgrade is available!” has encouraged me to perform the update.

I have waited 5 days before deciding to make the step (Iphone 3G has been launched in France on July the 17th). Hereafter the 7 steps followed to make the upgrade.

1st Step: download iPhone firmware 2.0 Build 54347
download iPhone1,2_2.0_5A347_Restore.ipsw from Apple.com. The file is 225 MB. Remember the directory on which the ipsw file will be saved.

2nd Step: Pointing iTunes to upgrade from a file:
Your iPhone must be connected to your MacBook. In iTunes window, use both Option key and Right Mouse Button to click on “Check for updates”. This will open a Finder window, select the folder and file downloaded in the 1st Step.

3rd Step: “Firmware update in progress …”

4th Step: “Check iPhone program. Internal iPhone program (firmware) Update …“

5th Step: iPhone 3G is rebooting …

6th step: /!\ Important Step /!\
Activation of iPhone
iTunes tells you that an iPhone is already registered and asks what do you want to do. Answer “Restore application and data from backup”

7th step::
Restore from backup …
iTunes synch … This is the longest step if you have a lot of multimedia and App stuff

Congratulations, you are done !

You can now check in Settings -> General -> Informations -> Version that your iPhone has the latest build installed (5A347)

The effect on the “Yellow tinge”: not obvious at all ! The upgrade process itself is intersting just in case you might need to perform it for another firmware version.