Qik, the startup that allows users to stream live mobile video from their cell phones, has released an application that allows users to use the service from their 3G iPhones. Unfortunately, the application isn’t available through Apple’s sanctioned App Store, so users will need to jailbreak (hack) their iPhones to use it. And because Apple has yet to enable video capture on the iPhone, we probably won’t be seeing a “legit” application any time soon.
Last week Qik released support for iPhones running the old (1.1.4) firmware, which was made obsolete by the 2.0 software that was released in July and gives users access to Apple’s App Store. This new release also supports the older iPhone, but users won’t be able to stream over the slow EDGE network.
The following instructions are included in the company’s blog post:
You can get Qikking with the iPhone 3G (and earlier models running iPhone OS 2.0!) by doing the following:
1. If you have not already, you’ll need to sign up at http://qik.com/sign_up and receive an SMS from us to activate the application.
2. Launch Cydia.
3. Go to the “Sections” tab at the bottom and scroll down to “Multimedia.”
4. Under Multimedia, you will find Qik. Tap on it then select “Install” at the top right, then in the same spot tap “Confirm.”
5. Now you will see Qik get installed. You may hit the “Return to Cydia” button at the bottom or just quit Cydia when it is done installing.
6. You’ll now notice a “Qik” icon on your home screen – Go ahead and launch it.
7. As long as your initial signup SMS/text message is still in your inbox for the first launch, your account will be linked to your device.
8. Make sure you have 3G service or are on WiFi (edge is not sufficient enough to stream video) before you begin broadcasting.
9. Hit record and enjoy Qik!
Sweet.
Hm, need to hack it…? Damn.
You wouldn’t need to if Apple had video capture as standard on the iphone!
It’s still a mystery to me why they don’t allow it!
They don’t allow it because when the next-gen iPhone (4G?) comes out, they’re going to introduce video-recording as a feature that you’ll have to upgrade to use. That’s the only possible reason that I can come up with. There is no technical explanation.
The other bogus new feature of iPhone 4G will be A2DP (stereo Bluetooth). It’s been a feature in all but the cheapest phones for years now, and the hardware in the original iPhone supports it, but Apple hasn’t enabled it. If you want it enabled, you’ll have to buy a new iPhone.
Until Apple comes around, you’ll have to jailbreak. There’s just too much good stuff in Cydia that Apple doesn’t want in the App Store.
While it’s very unfortunate that Apple has chosen to almost completely handicap 3rd party developers, it’s really interesting to see that semi-legitimate companies, like Qik and Fring, are willing to develop for the jailbroken iPhone.
It’s also puzzling that these developers are so eager to build for a closed platform that is hostile to what they’re trying to do. It’s a support nightmare when you’re constantly one firmware update from a complete re-write.
I wonder what the end-game is. Sure, most developers will play in the sandbox, but there’s a lot of restrictions. Will enough developers opt out of the App Store, and develop apps of sufficient quality that Apple will realize the value that the rogue software brings to the platform, and ease up on the restrictions to bring them into the fold?
Time and time again, Apple has chosen to remain as closed as possible, regardless of the financial-upside of opening up their products. They still won’t allow OS X on non-Apple hardware, despite the fact that, for 30 years, Microsoft has proven that it’s better to be in the software business than the hardware business.
I wouldn’t count on Apple giving an inch on the iPhone any time soon. For now, you’ll have to jailbreak. Next year, you can pick up an Android phone that you won’t have to jailbreak to use. Three years from now, Apple will wonder where their market share went.
Apple probably wants to make the debut of video recording on the iPhone with some special “Apple” way of doing it. So I agree… they will wait for the next release of the iPhone.. to do so.
http://blabtech.blogspot.com
Great, We visited their offices on our last trip to San Francisco. At the time they where working on supporting the iPhone and we saw an early demo. Why is Quik not supported by the Apple App store?
1. They probable have a deal with carriers… Those kinds of apps are data consuming big time, they wouldn’t promote that kind of apps
2. They won’t allow a third party to develop a video camera for the iPhone! What a shame would it be for Apple…
Brilliant! I’ve been waiting for this for eons!! Can’t wait to try it! Time to jailbreak me thinks!
Anybody know if this may be released “officially” on app store?
@Dan:
Seriously, this is a very compelling reason to jailbreak!
Viewing videos on the iPhone 3G is definitely going be the topic du jour in the next few months. I just saw a release last week or the week before that http://www.monkeysee.com had enabled their entire library of 8,000+ how-to videos (all in high def) to be viewable on the 3G. I’m sure other video sites will follow suit before long as well.
Has anyone seen the news from Viacom today that they used Flixwagon (Qik competitor) this weekend to broadcast 6 million live streams from the Jonas brothers. Amazing how that has gone largely uncovered. Seems like Flixwagon is quietly making money (novel concept i know) while Qik lavishes in our beta crowd circle jerk. Smart move. I still prefer Qik’s user experience but they need to focus less on features and more on making sure their money doesn’t run out.
So basically you have to jailbreak your iPhone to use it? That’s a bummer.
I want to jailbreak my iphone so I can start lifecating from qik on my 3g ipnone. I totally got the 16GB in white. http://qik.com/pop17 It’s the video part that Apple doesn’t want to support in their app store. Agree?
@Frank Gruber yes, *waves*
This inspired me to finally jailbreak my iPhone. I tried winpwn when it first came out but I couldnt get it to work. Cant wait to try qik
That is an impressive piece of software.
phone now jailbroken. done after a couple of attempts. now iphone has video. thanks to iphone dev team, qik, and tc for the heads up.
thoughts of mobile porn are stirring.
Some weeks ago I have created a thread on LinkedIn Q&A: Do you expect a strong third party alternative to Apple iPhone App Store?
I reopened it after seeing this article: http://www.link...1_1218727903133
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But I feel Flixwagon is more good for streaming. I read about its cool features in http://whocares...e-by-flixwagon/