on hacking telephones

A week ago, I got an LG Keybo/env2

Until now I'd been working with an outdated piece of metal reminiscent of a carphone.
But there was one thing bugging me - I'd really like to have music ringtones, not just the 'quasi-multicultural' tones that Telus supplies you with. And buying ringtones from the Telus website? Each one is $3 or up.


So, the following is a complete guide to how I hacked my new phone.

HOW TO PUT YOUR OWN RINGTONES

ON AN LG KEYBO / env2

You will need:

• an LG keybo/env2
• the USB cord which came with your phone
• BitPim (download here)

1. Plug your phone into the computer using the USB cord. NOTE: Your phone screen will bring up a prompt, saying 'Connect phone to USB port?' and giving you the options 'Yes/No'. DO NOT CLICK ANYTHING ON YOUR PHONE. PRESS NO BUTTONS. It is the phone being in 'limbo' that allows Bitpim to access it.


2. Run BitPim


3. Click 'Edit' > 'Settings'. Do not click 'Detect Phone' right now, BitPim will recognize it incorrectly.

4. Enter the 'Phone Wizard'. Scroll down under models to 'LG8800 (Venus)', select, and press next.
NOTE: Yes, this is the incorrect model number for the Keybo/env2, but its correct model number will not allow you to edit the files.

5. Select the Port that says 'LG serial' underneath when you select it. It should be COM(#).

6. Click next, then click Finish. Do not try to 'detect phone' again.

7. Click the 'View' menu at the top, and select 'View Filesystem'.

8. A column will pop up in the middle, with a folder and a + sign. click the + sign to expand the folders. *Be patient, it may take Bitpim a couple of minutes to read the folders.

9. Expand 'brew' > 'shared' > 'ringtones'

10. Copy and paste the ringtones you want (in mp3 format) here.

11. Click 'Send Data to Phone' icon (at the top of the program). Check the box beside 'Ringtones' only. Click okay.

12. Your phone will immediately try to reboot itself. BEFORE IT IS FINISHED, REMOVE AND THEN REPLACE THE BATTERY. This interferes with Telus' requirement that mp3s are digital copyrighted. If you do not do this, you won't be able to set your mp3s as ringtones.

13. Start up your phone as normal, no longer attached to the USB/computer. Look in 'My Ringtones', you should now be able to set your added songs as custom ringtones!



If you have any problems with this method or tutorial, leave me a comment here and I'll try to help you out with it.

All the best,

Emily