Solution: Restore and Update button greyed out in iTunes after upgrade to iOS 5.0.1

I recently ran into a problem after upgrading an iPhone to iOS 5.0.1 where the Update and Restore buttons on iTunes are greyed out (not allowing you to click on either). I believe this problem is not related to the iOS version, but rather the network service provider. Usually if there are any setting changes to the network providers' network, you will receive a notice in iTunes when you plug in your phone the first time after upgrading, that tells you an update to the carrier settings is available and offers to upgrade it for you. If you do not upgrade, you may not be able to receive a signal and your iPhone/iPad may show "No Service" on the status bar.

Especially with iOS 5.x where you can activate your device without connecting to iTunes, this issue may happen more easily. Or if you are using an iPhone which is locked to another network other than the one on your SIM card, this could happen also. So what happens now that you have No Service on your iDevice and you are unable to even Update or Restore?
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iOS 5.0.1 Untethered Jailbreak for pre-A5 devices released: RedSn0w

If you have been following the development on the iOS jailbreak community, you would probably know by now that the untethered jailbreak has been released for iOS 5.0.1 for all iDevices (except for iPhone 4s and iPad 2). Few hours right after the release announcement, I jumped in immediately to restore my iPhone 4 (which was on iOS 4.3.2) and jailbreak it. Dev-team has release the latest RedSn0w tool (version 0.9.10b2) that includes the exploit to jailbreak the iOS 5.0.1.

There are some pre-requisites before you try and jailbreak your iDevice. Click on for more...
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Transition from iOS 4.x to iOS 5 and Jailbreaking

I have recently made a transition from iOS 4.x to iOS 5 on my iPhone 3GS and I can say it wasn't a particularly smooth sailing journey. Of course we're talking about jailbreaking it as well. My plan was to do this:

1. Sync & backup iPhone 3GS with iTunes
2. Fully restore iPhone to iOS 5
3. Jailbreak iOS 5 with redsn0w
4. Install AppSync 5.0+ from Cydia
5. Restore from backup to iPhone with iTunes.

Sounds easy right? Wrong! Now usually when after I sync and backup the iPhone before an upgrade of the firmware, I will do a backup of the backup first so I can do it again if I screw it up. I have written an article on how to do this before and you can see it here: [Restoring from a backup for iPhone, jailbreak or not!]

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Restoring from a backup for iPhone, jailbreak or not!

Here's a myth that most people believe, "You cannot backup or restore a jailbroken iPhone". The fact is, you can. And yours truly have done it a million times (over exaggerated of course). I personally do not use AptBackup, PKGBackup or any Cydia apps to help me backup my apps' settings and data. iTunes can do all that for you. What does that mean? It means that not only are you able to backup your iPhone's settings, the legitimate apps and its data (and settings), but you will be able to also backup your Cydia apps' settings. I will tell you how...
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My first impressions of Angry Birds Rio

At the end of February 2011, we were treated to a preview of this new game which gave us a vague view of what is to come. Gone are the pigs that use to terrorize our birds and its offsprings (eggs). Gone are the snorting of the filthy little pigs that once laughed and taunt our birds from their hideous wodden castles.

Angry Birds fans will surely reqoice with the release of Angry Birds Rio. The new nemesis, humans apparently! Birds have been captured and shipped to the faraway land of Rio de Janeiro (hence the name Rio). Our birds have travelled along to save their comrades. They are caged and stored in shipping warehouses in which we will see hundreds and hundred of crates and chains use to stack the cages. The objective is to free the captured birds from their cages.

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