macnn

01/24/2008, 11:00am, EST

Thursday, January 24th

Hack lets iPhone users add 'speed-dial' icons

Some iPhone owners have discovered a means of installing "speed-dial" icons on the the device's Home page, without first having to jailbreak it. The hack relies on the WebClip feature of the v1.1.3 firmware, and involves going to a URL listed as "http://x.tel.qlnk.net", with the X replaced by a particular person's phone number. People must then cancel the "Call" window that pops up, and add the URL to the Home screen as they would any other webpage.

More advanced users can append "?picurl=http://y" to URLs, where Y is the address of a photo users want as a speed-dial icon. There are also instructions available on how to perform speed-dialing through an independent server, which may be important for those concerned with security. The main drawback to any version of the hack is that users must tap twice, first to select an entry and a second time to dial.


Filed under: iPhone, hacks

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speedy?
0
01/24, 11:39am, EST
doesn't seem very speedy
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Sep 2001
User is offline
Just curious...
0
01/24, 11:50am, EST
How is this a 'hack' if it uses supplied functionality?

By this reasoning, using WebClips in Dashboard to check on your stocks is a 'hack'.

It's clever, but really, all it's doing is going to a bookmark, right?
Forum Regular
Joined May 2001
User is offline
A cool hack.
0
01/24, 1:33pm, EST
Yeah, a 'hack' since that was not the intended function.

I've been trying to hold out for A2DP, but iPhone is starting to look very sweet.
Grizzled Veteran
Joined Dec 1999
User is offline
But why?
0
01/24, 1:36pm, EST
I guess I don't get it: You would need to access the screen with your "speed-dial" icon(s), tap one, then tap again to confirm the action to dial the number. And all this traffic goes through the qlnk.net servers - with the inherent ad revenue & potential security concerns associated with that data flow.

As an alternative using built-in functionality, you just add your favorite numbers to the aptly-named "Favorites" list. Then, just double-click the home button to access this Favorites list, and tap the entry to dial. This seems easier, just as quick to command, and much more secure.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Aug 2005
User is offline
RE: a cool hack
0
01/24, 3:25pm, EST
their site just redirects the URL to a tel:// link - it's not a hack at all. Putting a bookmark on the desktop is an intended function. A web browser being able to access a tel: link is an intended function.

This is not a hack.

Professional Poster
Joined Sep 1999
User is offline

Photo Dialer

0
09/16, 11:00pm, EDT

I've put together a SEXIER version of this that allows you to call the person again without hitting refresh. No jailbreaking needed either!http://madebysquad.com/iphone-photo-dial/You're right... it's not a hack it's just clever. I feel it's much easier to recognize a photo than someone's name at a quick glance.

Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Sep 2008
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