lol, with the use of SAM u can see the network bars and carrier name more stable not only for few seconds, but in fact it is not working as the BB activation ticket is withdrawn immediately, that's what i was trying to tell him and others too :)

apparently, this is a normal behavior of the iphone 4S, owing to the fact that it already gives u the option to use the cellular data network to activate the phone so the BB does receive a temporary activation ticket from /lockdownd/ that allows the usage of the 3g data network (only for a limit of 1MB) and just for a limited period of time, normally this occurs within the /setup/ app during the initial activation, after the jailbreak and since you have the ability to install the Subscriber Artificial Module (SAM) that spoof the SIM data, imsi and SIMid, so it blocks the Apple splash screen (which is the start of the /setup/ app) and may keep the carrier bars and name instead of the "No service" or "Invalid sim" that u should get, but the Baseband activation ticket is just again withdrawn changing the UI lock state from false back to true as u can see here [Jan 22 04:42:01 4S lockdownd[38]: 3fc2bce8 determine_activation_state_new: Changing ui lock state from false to true] , i hope i put that simple & clear as i could and sorry for my long somewhat nerdy reply, but i was working on this issue just yesterday so i got urged to answer you back about it :)

probably your hosts file is directed to cydia or local host, plz check your hosts file, it can be found under /private/etc/hosts for mac or /windows/system32/drivers/etc/hosts in windows, hash all the values in there (add # in front of the values) and save it (needs to be running as administrator on win or to get the file out on the desktop edit then save then re-drag to the etc folder on mac) then flush your DNS (restart mac or pc if u don't know how to flush the DNS) then try the restore again and it ll work

Custom 5.0.1 ipsw using redns0w then pwned DFU mode using redsn0w then restore thru itunes then jailbreak and install cydia using redsn0w (this will activate your phone) then if -for any reason- u got hang on the apple logo (i can dedicate that this will happen from the error u just got thru the verbose boot) then use the boot tethered option thru redsn0w then when it boots search for "corona" in cydia and install it then reboot again then to unlock search ultrasn0w in cydia then install ultrasn0w then reboot (for safety) THEN enjoy :)

probably you have an edited/modified "hosts" file either manually or by tinyumbrella, find the "hosts" file and add "#" in front of 74.208.10.249 gs.apple.com and the local host 127.0.0.1, restart your laptop and try again

you need to use redsn0w to put the phone in the exploited dfu mode thru the "Pwned DFU" button in extras, then restore, not just manual dfu mode

good day everyone, 2 rapid points:
1- in my humble opinion, whilst tethered jailbreak is fine for iPods and iPads, iPhone users should think carefully before applying it as the natural /fear/ of the phone going off while away from your mac/pc leads to the habit of continuously charging the phone when the battery isn't yet low, which consumes the limited battery power cycles, at the end of the day 4.3.3 isn't that bad till an untether is out, unless u are already on 4.3.4/4.3.5 tethered so tethered iOS 5 will make no difference then bravely go on :)

2- those who used the custom firmware upgrade and are stuck on the activation screen with no official carrier sim to activate (i think i saw a post with this complaint) will simply have to run redsn0w once more, choose (jailbreak), then continue the process and redsn0w will just detect that the phone isn't activated and will activate it for you then u may use SAMprefs from cydia to acquire an official activation ticket according to the phone's original carrier (still i didn't check if SAMprefs is working on iOS 5 or not but most probably it does)

thx for your attention

Sad day, nothing to be said except the great words of Holy God and shedding tears while reciting them :'(
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un (إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ)
'Surely we belong to Allah and to Him shall we return'.
RIP great man

great words bro, can't say it better, same goes with MuscleNerd's words above (i m sure they are his).
Be well Mr Jobs, really no company have ever had a better CEO, thanks for our pretty devices and for everything.

"Although it’s always been just “a matter of time” before Apple started doing this (they’ve always done this with the BBTicket), it’s still a significant move on Apple’s part (and it also dovetails with certain technical requirements of their upcoming OTA “delta” updates). "
wow, at last the iOS devs met the BB firmware devs :) , yeah, that was really expected at sometime since they work at the same place :P
still i find it very very arrogant and unacceptable to prevent a user from using an older version on his own device, specially when they aren't very clever in keeping things always running good with updates - for me i find 4.2.1 much stable than 4.3.3 in some ways - , the same arrogance that prevent apple from unlocking the no contract at&t locked phones (thu the full price has been paid) despite they ve started selling the phone unlocked just because they don't want to go thru the headaches of it!! (i can't think of any other reason)
The fact i always thought of is that apple will keep playing arrogant and user controlling as long as the rage of the users is always directed to those trying to help (via intensively working on jailbreaks or unlocks) instead of the mastermind of the problem which is apple itself!! , the same exact situation we have gone thru when the last unlock exploits didn't work out, i can assure you that we have received an amount of insults and rage that apple hasn't faced since its uprise in the 80s :(
well :) , just a free flow of thoughts, forgive me
anyway, as always keep your latest working jailbreaks and unlocks (i have to say including the sim hack ones), and avoid any updates till it is declared safe over here
have a nice day all
n.b remember, keep it clean here, this isn't twitter, any insults about this unlock thing will be happily received over twitter account :)))