(The response from other fans so far is similar to mine, as this poll shows).

• Step 1: Download and install Installer.app. Make sure iTunes is closed and the iPhone is connected, then just let it do its thing.
• Step 2: Make yourself a root beer float.
• Step 3: Enjoy. (both the iPhone and the float)

Yup, it’s that easy. Absolutely no hacking skills required. An “Installer” icon will be on your home screen and when you open that up, there’s a smorgasbord of 3rd party apps available from the community. Just choose and install!

I don’t know what this says about me, but the first thing that I changed was my dock, using Dan Rubin’s dock image to change it to look like the new iPod touch docks:

Other must-haves are Summerboard and rBST that allow you do some basic tweaks to your homescreen such as rearranging the icons, including the dock. I chose to keep mine exactly the same (for now) just because I’ve gotten familiar with the way it’s laid out. I then stuck all the third-party stuff hidden down below, only a finger-flick away to scroll down. Pretty slick.

My favorite app by far is the NES emulator, which allows you to play the original Nintendo games right on your iPhone. There are some sites out there that have the “ROM” files for every Nintendo game that ever existed. So I installed my favorite games from my childhood. The emulator isn’t perfect, and has some performance issues, but it’s still a lot of fun to relive these games that I enjoyed so much as a kid.

And Lem and Oliver, this is for you.

I also installed some stuff that is more on the geeky side of things: allowing me to ssh and sFTP in and a screenshot utility that allowed me to take these screenshots–actual sceen captures from my iPhone.

So there you have it. Proof that even for a guy who likes things to “just work” the way they are, iPhone hacking is simple with the tools that are available out there right now. Who knows if Apple will break these in future updates, but even if they do, all of this is so quick and easy that it’s no hassle at all to set it up again.

This is really the first design that I have ever done that is so heavy on graphics. I learned a few new Photoshop techniques such as creating the paper-tear look, and using brushes for the coffee stains. Usually I keep background images and decorative elements to a minimum, so it was challenging to do something different, but fun and rewarding.

It’s not quite finished, and is still a little rough around the edges, but check it out.

We impress the ladies.

One of the highlights of my summers is getting together with the guys in Ventura for a weekend for some licorice, hanging out, and good gaming. This year I stayed the whole weekend, instead of driving down Friday and driving back up the next morning–10 hours total driving time, 3 hours total sleep–not the best idea. One of the really fun things this year was dinner at Dargan’s, Lem’s favorite pub in Ventura. They had really good food, and apparently, really good Guinness–as confirmed by Andrew.

Other highlights included The Bourne Ultimatum, cake and ice cream for Matt’s birthday, insulting Lem, and impressing the waitresses at Carrows Saturday morning with our long discussions World of Warcraft Warrior specs.

Ventura friends, I salute you. You guys are awesome. I hope that one day I will be able to take Caleb–and someday–my grandchildren to these boy’s weekends.

Previous year’s LAN parties: 2005 and 2006

Check it out, and let him know what you think of the new Sharks logo.