Iphone Updates

Orange, the leading wireless carrier in France, will be the exclusive French carrier partner for iPhone when it debuts in France on Thursday, November 29, Apple today announced. “The iPhone is a marvelous product and will change how people think about mobile. I’m delighted that it is launching in France through Orange, and I’m sure that our customers share my excitement.” said Didier Lombard, CEO, France Telecom.

Packed with more than 300 new features, Mac OS X Leopard goes on sale Friday, October 26, at 6:00 p.m. at Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers, Apple announced today. And, beginning today, customers can place pre-orders on Apple’s online store. “Leopard, the sixth major release of Mac OS X, is the best upgrade we’ve ever released,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “And everyone gets the ‘Ultimate’ version, packed with all the new innovative features, for just $129.”

On Friday, October 26, Mac OS X Server version 10.5 Leopard will go on sale at the same time as Mac OS X Leopard, Apple today announced. Leopard Server extends Apple’s legendary ease of use, making it even easier to take advantage of the benefits of a server. Leopard Server packs more than 250 new features including Podcast Producer, Wiki Server, and iCal Server.

Apple launched a nice directory of the iPhone Web Apps, very useful for all the iPhone users.

Tags:apple apps iphone webapple, apps, iphone, web

Apple has published an interesting guide for developers who want to make an iPhone friendly web application.

http://developer.apple.com/documentation/iPhone/Conceptual/iPhoneHIG/

Tags:apple developer iphoneapple, developer, iphone

Apple launched a nice directory of the iPhone Web Apps, very useful for all the iPhone users.

Tags:apple apps iphone webapple, apps, iphone, web

In case you’re not tired of seeing high-speed promises for 4G networks, along comes yet another from South Korea that could “enable users to download data at 3.6-gigabits per second while moving at 3-kilometers per hour or slower. Dubbed NoLA, which translates out to New Nomadic Local Area Wireless Access, the technology should allow folks to “download a disc full of data in under two seconds.” Choi Mun-kee, head of the Daejeon-based institute, stated that NoLA data transmissions far surpass the “international 4G benchmark for slow-moving users,” and Minister of Information and Communications Yoo Young-hwan threw in his two pennies by suggesting that it could one day “be applied to home networking and internet protocol TV or IPTV.” Now, if only South Korea was closer to America…

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Archos’ AV420 hit the market quite some time ago, but that apparently didn’t stop the Nanjing Panda Information Industry Company from trying to sneak one by us. The HDD-based V503 claims to feature a 3.6-inch LCD, rechargeable battery pack, FM tuner, USB 2.0 connectivity and support for DivX, AVI, MP3, WMA and VCD formats. Additionally, users can load in a 1.8-inch hard drive and take advantage of the AV output, integrated microphone and text viewer. Per usual, there’s no price listed, but considering that this thing just looks old fashioned, we’d advise on passing, anyway.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

The fun of technology is how quickly improved products are released. The downside is the same. So-called “E-Waste” is a huge problem. Before leaving that old Mac at the dump, consider these alternatives:

1. Sell it. A couple of years ago, we wrote a very thorough how-to on selling an old Mac. You probably won’t make a ton of money, but you will keep it out of the landfill.
2. Apple’s Recycling Program. Purchase a new computer from Apple and they’ll accept your old computer, CRT or peripherals (from any manufacturer) into their recycling program. Simply pack up your old stuff (computers and monitors must be packed separately), bring it to a FedEx drop off point and away it goes. This offer applies to individuals and small businesses. Large corporations may participate in Apple Corporate Recycling.
3. Freecycle. If you’re unfamiliar with Freecycle, it’s a way to give away items to those who need them (or, find something you’d like yourself). It reduces waste and the depletion of natural resources.
4. Part it out. Even a “dead” computer has some good parts on it. Better yet, there are many people who just need that obscure part from your beige G3 All In One. Consider the Low End Mac Swap List when parting out a machine.
5. Donate to a church or school. You might be sick of that Quadra, but kids will love it. Churches and other small organizations could use it for simple bulletins, etc. Heck, my daughter’s preschool has an original Macintosh in the office that, according to the school secretary, still gets used.

These are just a few alternatives to adding to the ever-growing pile of E-Waste. We hope you found it useful.

Today is Blog Action Day, and thousands of blogs have committed to writing eco-friendly posts. We’re doing our part, too.

Check out these MacBook sleeves from Wrappers. They contain no synthetic materials at all (a rarity among laptop sleeves). The interior and exterior are made from cotton, and the whole thing is padded with cotton felt. You have your choice of navy, coffee bean or neutral for the exterior. Plus, you needn’t worry about scratches since there are no hard materials used at all.

They cost £20.00 (plus £3.50 p&p – about $28US as of this writing). Pick one up!

Apple has produced 33 different kinds of iPods (if one counts the various capacities in each type as a unique iPod) and sometimes it can be hard to tell which iPod is which. That’s why I thought it would be useful to, once again, point out this Apple Knowledge Base article which gives you tips on how to tell which iPod you have.

You’ll never confuse your first gen shuffle for an iPod Classic again!

Apple uses new features and UI enhancements that are only available in the current generation of iPods as a carrot to get people to upgrade to the newest model. The new UI on the iPod Classics is a great example. These features could have been placed on the previous generation of iPods with a firmware update, but Apple decided not to do that. as they have for most of the iPod’s history (which is their right, of course).

Some eager hackers have modded the 5th gen iPod’s firmware to make it look more like the iPod Classic’s. If you’re jonsing for split screen navigation but don’t want to pony up for cash for a new iPod this is for you.

Keep in mind, though, that this entails changing the firmware that is currently on your iPod (which is Apple approved, the firmware that is, not replacing it) to something that was modified by a third party. Bad things could happen (though they could just as equally not ) so be prepared to deal with the consequences should the process run amok.

Thanks, Kai Cherry.

Wanna set your iPod touch free and install tons of wacky apps on it but don’t want to muck around with the Terminal? Now you don’t have to with the debut of two new apps that will jailbreak your iPod Touch from the comfort of your Intel Mac or Windows machines (yes, there are iPod touch users running Windows).

iJailBreak is an AppleScript app that takes all the fuss out of jailbreaking. At the moment it only works on Intel Macs, so our PPC friends are out of luck. Oh, and I should mention it was apparently written by two 13 year olds, which I normally wouldn’t point out but it is featured prominently on their website.

touchFree is a Windows app that’ll do the same thing, only on Windows (shocking, I know).

Both apps are free, though I imagine both will void your iPod touch’s warranty, so run ‘em at your own risk. I don’t have an iPod touch myself so I haven’t tried either. If you have had experiences with either sound off in the comments.

Thanks to everyone who sent these in.

Update 1pm: Um, perhaps not. As our commenters note, a post on these forums from one of the Frequency guys says this page is simply a mockup — so far, “no date as yet,” and the dates on the page “mean nothing.” (Note to Frequency: When mocking up announcement party invites, please don’t put in imaginary dates — “October ###” would be just fine.) So Oct. 20th is as good as guess as anywhere else, but don’t get your hopes up quite yet.

It’s a long long way from Cupertino to the Sydney, Australia neigborhood of Rushcutters Bay – and yet perhaps the Down Under retailer Frequency (seller of Macs and more) has gotten some information that the rest of us haven’t heard yet. Frequency’s “Leopard Launch Party” page says

Due to an Apple embargo, we are unable to sell Leopard until 7pm EST Saturday 20th October, the official worldwide Leopard launch.

A product launch on a Saturday night? Not exactly characteristic Apple, but after the 24-hour party people crazed atmosphere of the Friday evening iPhone launch, it’s possible that the retail stores will be rigged for a lively Saturday night party. Leopard-print outfits? Smash your old Survivor “Eye of the Tiger” LPs? I’m sure something fun will be in store.

Thanks Patrick!

I run my personal site using WordPress, and one reason I like using it so much is that (although this is hardly exclusive to WordPress as a content manager) is all the great plugins available for it. On another site I ran under WordPress, I loved using the WP-Print plugin– it automatically creates a “printable” version of each page on your site. All of the printer compatibility, none of the actual work.

And now, someone’s cooked up an iPhone version of that same plugin, where you simply install the WP plugin on your blog (for WordPress 2.2.1), and instantly you can see all your posts formatted specifically for the iPhone. Instead of creating a whole other, “mobile” version of your site, you can simply put in this plugin, and you can get a link that will reformat your content for the iPhone or iPod touch. Very excellent.

If you run a WordPress blog or site and were thinking about creating a version of it for the iPhone or iPod touch, your work is done. Download the iWPhone plugin from Content.Robot, install it, and you’re set.

Thanks, Philapple!

We’re getting closer and closer to the end of the year, and that means it’s almost time for everyone to announce their “best tech product of the year” awards. Gadget website T3 has gotten an early start, and not surprisingly, Apple walked all over everyone else, with the iPhone grabbing tons of awards, and iTunes and the MacBook Pro picking up a few more.

Which means: get ready, because the iPhone is going to pretty much win every award imaginable for 2007. What else came out this year that came even close to moving gadget technology ahead? As predicted, it sold tons of units, captured the nation’s imagination at launch, singlehandedly pushed cell phones ahead light years (even while bringing some harsh light to Apple’s closed architecture policy), and just generally changed the world of gadgets. Is there any other product released in 2007 that could really be called “Gadget of the Year”?

I’d think not. The Wii is awesome and all, but my guess is as these end of the year awards come out, even Nintendo’s little marvel of an input device demo won’t hold a candle to Apple’s communications device.

Thanks, Charles B!

Down at Target, the iPods they sell
Aren’t always what’s seen on the shell
One poor mother got socked
Her two iPods were rocked
And her daughter was P.O.’ed as well.

Still, who knew that this product was real
For just $0.99, such a steal?
Go on, turn down the treble
And unbox your iPebble
Enjoy Apple’s new grey look & feel.

via Fake Steve

I will admit that I don’t really get why anyone would want a stand alone speaker system for their iPod or iPhone, but I know some folks do. If you’re one of those people, and you enjoy wood grain then the Vers 2X is for you. This attractive iPod speaker system is hand crafted from wood and includes more iPod adapters then you can shake a stick at and 2 15 watt speakers.

The Vers 2X will set you back $179.

Merlin Mann at 43Folders wants to know how you keep your Macs in sync (other than dot Mac, of course. That’s the obvious choice).

Are you using a custom-built solution, commercial products or a combination? I use this combination:

1. iDisk for files. Any “reference” material I may want access to – documents for a project, receipts, confirmation emails, etc. – live on my iDisk. I’ve created a folder called “Reference,” which in turn contains 26 sub-folders, labeled “A” through “Z” for simple alphabetical filing.
2. Google Firefox browser sync handles my web bookmark synchronization. It’s worked flawlessly since day one, which is a lot more than I can say for .Mac bookmark sync. All that’s required is Firefox and a few minutes time for the initial upload to Google’s servers.
3. Highrise by 37signals manages my contact information, as well as conversations I want to save or that need follow-up. It’s a terrific tool.

How about you? Share your answers with Merlin and your fellow TUAW readers. Because sharing is caring.

Universal Music is desperate for Apple to face some real competition in the digital music download arena that it is now trying to work with the other record labels to launch their very own iTunes like store. The twist? Universal would like to see hardware manufacturers pay a fee (something like $5) for each device. That device would then have a free, to the consumer, subscription to the label’s music service. Universal figures people will be happy because they can get the music they want on their player they want (as long as it isn’t an iPod), the hardware manufacturers will be happy because people won’t be buying iPods, and the labels will be happy because they can maintain their vise-like grip on the content their artists produce.

How can anything go wrong?

Apple uses new features and UI enhancements that are only available in the current generation of iPods as a carrot to get people to upgrade to the newest model. The new UI on the iPod Classics is a great example. These features could have been placed on the previous generation of iPods with a firmware update, but Apple decided not to do that. as they have for most of the iPod’s history (which is their right, of course).

Some eager hackers have modded the 5th gen iPod’s firmware to make it look more like the iPod Classic’s. If you’re jonsing for split screen navigation but don’t want to pony up for cash for a new iPod this is for you.

Keep in mind, though, that this entails changing the firmware that is currently on your iPod (which is Apple approved, the firmware that is, not replacing it) to something that was modified by a third party. Bad things could happen (though they could just as equally not ) so be prepared to deal with the consequences should the process run amok.

Thanks, Kai Cherry.

Wanna set your iPod touch free and install tons of wacky apps on it but don’t want to muck around with the Terminal? Now you don’t have to with the debut of two new apps that will jailbreak your iPod Touch from the comfort of your Intel Mac or Windows machines (yes, there are iPod touch users running Windows).

iJailBreak is an AppleScript app that takes all the fuss out of jailbreaking. At the moment it only works on Intel Macs, so our PPC friends are out of luck. Oh, and I should mention it was apparently written by two 13 year olds, which I normally wouldn’t point out but it is featured prominently on their website.

touchFree is a Windows app that’ll do the same thing, only on Windows (shocking, I know).

Both apps are free, though I imagine both will void your iPod touch’s warranty, so run ‘em at your own risk. I don’t have an iPod touch myself so I haven’t tried either. If you have had experiences with either sound off in the comments.

Thanks to everyone who sent these in.

The dream of remote system management from your handheld device — like Dick Tracy’s wrist radio, but for geeks — has long enticed IT professionals. Who wouldn’t rather be at the beach or the ballgame instead of chained to a laptop and network access in case something goes wrong? There are already RDC and SSH clients for Windows Mobile and Blackberry devices, but it sure seems like the iPhone would be great for this sort of thing… basic, simple system admin from wherever you happen to be, and on the world’s coolest phone, what could be better?

That’s what Virginia Tech sysadmin Josh Eckstein thought, and hence: Inco, the system management tool for iPhone. Inspired by a vacation (sans Internet access) where he needed to keep an eye on his servers, and complete with heads-up displays of processes and load, file/user controls and an SSH shell (all via MobileSafari, no need to jailbreak or install custom apps), Inco looks like a promising helper for the iPhone owner with rack-mounted gear back in the datacenter that needs monitoring.

The elevator pitch for Inco is “like a Green Beret for your computer: be able to get in, do your work, and get out, no hassle,” says Josh. If that sounds good to you, the beta signup for Inco has begun over at getinco.com, and you can try it out for yourself; the eventual release will run you $39. Josh was kind enough to sit down with us for a quick chat about the current state of Inco and where he hopes to get the product in the near term.

Continue reading TUAW Interview: Inco, simple sysadmin from your iPhone

Update 1pm: Um, perhaps not. As our commenters note, a post on these forums from one of the Frequency guys says this page is simply a mockup — so far, “no date as yet,” and the dates on the page “mean nothing.” (Note to Frequency: When mocking up announcement party invites, please don’t put in imaginary dates — “October ###” would be just fine.) So Oct. 20th is as good as guess as anywhere else, but don’t get your hopes up quite yet.

It’s a long long way from Cupertino to the Sydney, Australia neigborhood of Rushcutters Bay – and yet perhaps the Down Under retailer Frequency (seller of Macs and more) has gotten some information that the rest of us haven’t heard yet. Frequency’s “Leopard Launch Party” page says

Due to an Apple embargo, we are unable to sell Leopard until 7pm EST Saturday 20th October, the official worldwide Leopard launch.

A product launch on a Saturday night? Not exactly characteristic Apple, but after the 24-hour party people crazed atmosphere of the Friday evening iPhone launch, it’s possible that the retail stores will be rigged for a lively Saturday night party. Leopard-print outfits? Smash your old Survivor “Eye of the Tiger” LPs? I’m sure something fun will be in store.

Thanks Patrick!

I run my personal site using WordPress, and one reason I like using it so much is that (although this is hardly exclusive to WordPress as a content manager) is all the great plugins available for it. On another site I ran under WordPress, I loved using the WP-Print plugin– it automatically creates a “printable” version of each page on your site. All of the printer compatibility, none of the actual work.

And now, someone’s cooked up an iPhone version of that same plugin, where you simply install the WP plugin on your blog (for WordPress 2.2.1), and instantly you can see all your posts formatted specifically for the iPhone. Instead of creating a whole other, “mobile” version of your site, you can simply put in this plugin, and you can get a link that will reformat your content for the iPhone or iPod touch. Very excellent.

If you run a WordPress blog or site and were thinking about creating a version of it for the iPhone or iPod touch, your work is done. Download the iWPhone plugin from Content.Robot, install it, and you’re set.

Thanks, Philapple!

We’re getting closer and closer to the end of the year, and that means it’s almost time for everyone to announce their “best tech product of the year” awards. Gadget website T3 has gotten an early start, and not surprisingly, Apple walked all over everyone else, with the iPhone grabbing tons of awards, and iTunes and the MacBook Pro picking up a few more.

Which means: get ready, because the iPhone is going to pretty much win every award imaginable for 2007. What else came out this year that came even close to moving gadget technology ahead? As predicted, it sold tons of units, captured the nation’s imagination at launch, singlehandedly pushed cell phones ahead light years (even while bringing some harsh light to Apple’s closed architecture policy), and just generally changed the world of gadgets. Is there any other product released in 2007 that could really be called “Gadget of the Year”?

I’d think not. The Wii is awesome and all, but my guess is as these end of the year awards come out, even Nintendo’s little marvel of an input device demo won’t hold a candle to Apple’s communications device.

Thanks, Charles B!

Down at Target, the iPods they sell
Aren’t always what’s seen on the shell
One poor mother got socked
Her two iPods were rocked
And her daughter was P.O.’ed as well.

Still, who knew that this product was real
For just $0.99, such a steal?
Go on, turn down the treble
And unbox your iPebble
Enjoy Apple’s new grey look & feel.

via Fake Steve

So many people have been asking about the specifics of iPod touch jailbreaks, that we decided to go ahead and do a jailbreak live for your reading pleasure. I have a fresh new iPod touch at my side and will step you through the entire jailbreak process along with my reactions, failures and possible complete public humiliation. Here then is my attempt to jailbreak my iPod touch.

Continue reading TUAW touch jailbreak liveblog

Merlin Mann at 43Folders wants to know how you keep your Macs in sync (other than dot Mac, of course. That’s the obvious choice).

Are you using a custom-built solution, commercial products or a combination? I use this combination:

1. iDisk for files. Any “reference” material I may want access to – documents for a project, receipts, confirmation emails, etc. – live on my iDisk. I’ve created a folder called “Reference,” which in turn contains 26 sub-folders, labeled “A” through “Z” for simple alphabetical filing.
2. Google Firefox browser sync handles my web bookmark synchronization. It’s worked flawlessly since day one, which is a lot more than I can say for .Mac bookmark sync. All that’s required is Firefox and a few minutes time for the initial upload to Google’s servers.
3. Highrise by 37signals manages my contact information, as well as conversations I want to save or that need follow-up. It’s a terrific tool.

How about you? Share your answers with Merlin and your fellow TUAW readers. Because sharing is caring.

Looks like those Ambrosia Guys have made a break-through. This video shows their iToner utility working with the iPhone 1.1.1 firmware. iToner, as you may already know, allows you to install third-party ringtones onto your iPhone. So you can either use your personal audio collection or record your Mom saying “Pick up the phone!” and play that whenever she calls.

The 111-compatible update to iToner is still in beta but as this video shows, it should be arriving soon.

Universal Music is desperate for Apple to face some real competition in the digital music download arena that it is now trying to work with the other record labels to launch their very own iTunes like store. The twist? Universal would like to see hardware manufacturers pay a fee (something like $5) for each device. That device would then have a free, to the consumer, subscription to the label’s music service. Universal figures people will be happy because they can get the music they want on their player they want (as long as it isn’t an iPod), the hardware manufacturers will be happy because people won’t be buying iPods, and the labels will be happy because they can maintain their vise-like grip on the content their artists produce.

How can anything go wrong?

Stephano “One Thing”

Elliot “Meredith”

Doug “Mankind”

Tags:ad apple iphone tvad, apple, iphone, tv

Apple has published an interesting guide for developers who want to make an iPhone friendly web application.

http://developer.apple.com/documentation/iPhone/Conceptual/iPhoneHIG/

Tags:apple developer iphoneapple, developer, iphone

For 2007, iPhone appears among the very short list of products Popular Mechanics honors in its annual Breakthrough Awards. “The best way to understand why Apple’s iPhone ($400) has sent shockwaves through the cellphone industry is simply to check your voice mail with it.” iPhone “displays a visual list of voice mails,” explain the editors. “Using the bright and responsive touchscreen, you scroll through the list and tap a message. When you’re done with a message, simply slide your finger over it and a delete button pops up.“ “All phones,” they conclude, “should work so smoothly. Because of the iPhone, they’ll eventually have to.“

According to Expatica, the iPhone is on sale in the Netherlands, via GSMtrack, at a knockdown price.

Dennis Boerekamps, manager of the Branbant web shop, managed to buy a whole consignment of iPhones and is selling them in his web shop at EUR 189 along with a subscription. Boerkamps delivers from stock. “If I sell 100 phones, then I still have got stock.”

€189 is around £132, or $268, which is a huge saving on official prices. It’s not exactly clear what the subscription being offered is, how many iPhones Boerekamps has in stock, or quite how he managed to get hold of such a huge number of phones.

(Via Expatica)

Apple is set to launch its own directory of third party web applications for the iPhone, in much the same way as it has done for OS X software and dashboard widgets.

According to AppleInsider, some application developers have been contacted by Apple to provide screenshots, links, and descriptions.

There are no details of when the service will go live.

(Via Apple may offer limited third-party applications for iPhone
Strive Development offer Web 2.0 application development services for iPhone
Applists.com streamlines finding and using iPhone applications

According to Red Eye Chicago, there may be a limit to the number of ringtones which can be used at once on the iPhone.

Trying to sync more than eight at a time results in the additional tones being ignored. It is possible to synchronise your own choice of up to eight ringtones by disabling the automatic syncing mode, however it does seem strange that this limit has been imposed at all, particularly given that Apple can make revenue from their purchase, and that they can be assigned to individual contacts.

(Via Red Eye Chicago)

Related posts
iPhone to get customisable ringtones via iTunes
Apple may launch official iPhone ringtones via iTunes on Wednesday
Efiko announce iPhoneRingToneMaker software

Several news stories have been published today regarding the iPhone’s presence in three European countries.

First up, CEO of Switzerland’s Swisscom AG, Karsten Schloter, has said that his company is interested in getting hold of the iPhone. “It is the first mobile phone that fully utilises the Internet,” he said, adding that the iPhone would help to solve mobile data problems in the country, namely high prices and lower functionality compared to fixed-line Internet services.

He also stated that flat rate data plans would be the basis of a future business model. Whether this means that the iPhone, if and when it comes to Switzerland, will herald that, or is something that has to wait, remains to be seen.

Meanwhile, the Chief Executive of France Telecom, Didier Lombard, has stated that the iPhone should be available exclusively with his company by the end of November. As we’ve reported, French law may make it difficult for Apple to sell the iPhone using the same model as in the US and UK.

And finally, in the UK (where at least we know the iPhone is coming), CFO of the Carphone Warehouse, Roger Taylor, told the Financial Times that they were “very confident” of having enough iPhones to meet demand on November 9th and thereafter.

On the subject of revenue, he said, “We do make money on the iPhone, though possibly not as much as we would like. But the real benefit is as a huge driver of footfall and accessories sales. We are very confident of our supply of devices and we have had a lot of reassurances from Apple.”

Interestingly, the iPhone will be on sale via three high street retailers (O2 Stores, CW, and Apple Stores), of which The Carphone Warehouse probably has the greatest presence.

(Via MarketWatch, MacDailyNews), Pocket-Lint)

Related posts
O2 and Apple to launch multi-million advertising campaign in UK
Computer Warehouse boast one of a handful of UK iPhones
8GB iPhone coming to UK: 9th November with O2

An iPhone / iPod touch lover going by the name of Pyrofer has discovered a way of turning them into 3.5G HSDPA communications devices.

It doesn’t require any hacking – all it requires is the use of “any cheap rubbish Windows phone” which is 3.5G compliant, and then some fairly simple steps to create a Wi-Fi bridge between the two devices.

Of course, an iPod Touch can’t be used to make phone calls, and it’s debatable whether the iPhone could do, either, though it may be possible to use VoIP with this method. However, he makes the very valid point that “for voice calls I’d much rather use the normal phone and not look like a total dork by holding an iPod/iPhone to my head”

Pyrofer tested the technique using an HTC Ameo/Athena with Windows Mobile 6. It requires a few downloads, in order to allow the registry settings of the WinCE phone to be altered.

You can read the detailed steps for yourself at his web site. They’re not hugely complicated, but worth paying attention to.

“And that’s it! You’ve ended up with an iPhone that is 3G, is slimmer and lighter, and cost about 10 times less than an actual iPhone!”

Whether Apple will be happy with this kind of setup is another matter, but it’s an interesting discovery nonetheless.

Turn your iPod Touch into a 3G iPhone!

Related posts
iPhone-friendly Wi-Fi areas expand in UK
Truphone demonstrates VoIP-over-Wi-Fi on iPhone
iPhone UK: What’s the 3G deal?

Unsurprisingly, Apple’s latest iPhone firmware, version 1.1.1., has been hacked to allow a selection of third party applications to run on it, although Apple has put a number of additional protection measures in place, possibly deliberately, to make it harder to add new apps.

Digging around in the firmware reveals references to Nike, and to a radio.

It looks as if unlocking the iPhone from firmware version 1.1.1 hasn’t happened — yet — though it’s likely to be just a matter of time until users with network-free iPhones can upgrade to 1.1.1 and still use them.

(Via ZDNet)

Related posts
User updates iPhone firmware on unlocked iPhone: bricks
Apple preparing another iPhone software update?
iPhone unlocking software goes on sale

The latest rumours surrounding a Candian entry for the iPhone suggest that it could come to Rogers Wireless, but cost twice as much as the US version.

Not only could the hefty $799 tag prove unpopular, but also the fact that there are currently no unlimited data plans available for Rogers customers:

Instead, you can do a pay-as-you-go data plan for $0.05 per KB. Alternatively, there is a $5/month and a $10/month plan for 5MB and 10MB respectively with additional kilobytes coming in at 3 cents each. A web search here and a YouTube video there, and you’ve got yourself one massive data bill. And that’s before you get any minutes, text messages, or caller ID. Ouch.

Of course, O2 in the UK didn’t have a flat rate data plan until the iPhone was announced, and now they’re rolling out the “fair use” version of it to all of their pay monthly customers. Could the same happen in Canada?

(Via Mobile Mag)

Related posts
Expert claims high wireless costs are blocking a Canadian iPhone
iPhone is Canadians’ 8th most sought after Christmas gift, survey suggests
O2 and Apple to launch multi-million advertising campaign in UK

As we’ve been expecting for some time, the possibility of third party applications on the iPhone may be more than just a pipe dream.

While Apple is unlikely to authorise complete access to anyone to develop native applications, it could well approve certain software from selected developers, downloadable via iTunes after they’ve been thoroughly tested (by Apple, of course).

This isn’t fact, yet, so there’s no word on when this might happen, or how developers will get their hands on a software development kit (the iPhone uses a different version of OS X to the Macs).

It probably won’t please those who want a completely open iPhone, either, so expect the hacking and bricking to continue for some time to come. New applications for the iPhone might sound great for the general iPhone-wielding population — even if they do have to be paid for — but it probably won’t satisfy the hackers.

(Via Brighthand)

Related posts
Apple considering third-party application development for iPhone?
iPhone hacking for the rest of us: third party app installer released
Two native third-party applications created for iPhone, hackers claim

Gone are the closeup shots of the iPhone and seamless music and voiceover, replaced by three “ordinary iPhone users” who describe why they like the iPhone – be it the ability to screen the guy who’s left a four-minute sob story on voicemail about why he’s not paid his rent, or the way you can surreptitiously go online to look up the name of someone you’re meeting for lunch. Oh the possibilities…

Interestingly, we spend more time focusing on the three individuals — Doug, Elliot, and Stephano — than on the iPhone itself. Perhaps Apple think that the US doesn’t need to see the new device any more, or it’s found some people who are actually happy with the iPhone and aren’t complaining about it turning into a brick.

Watch the ads here: Doug Elliot Stephano

Related posts
Apple puts out two new iPhone ads, targets business?
O2 and Apple to launch multi-million advertising campaign in UK
Opinion: Apple dissidents peeved over iPhone bricking threaten to sue. Get real!

There have been a couple of announcements over the past few days which could see the number of places offering free Wi-Fi for iPhone users increase significantly.

Granted, both initiatives aren’t exclusive to iPhone users, but as we know the iPhone is the best handheld Internet surfing device around at the moment, particularly when using Wi-Fi, they’re worth a mention.

Firstly, BT has partnered with Fon to bring free Wi-Fi to anyone agreeing to securely share a portion of their home broadband connection, both at BT’s Openzone hotspots, and at the Wi-Fi hotspots of any other Fon subscribers, not jut in the UK but internationally.

Secondly, the McDonald’s fast food restaurant chain has announced that it’s teamed up with The Cloud to offer free Wi-Fi access in 1,200 of its outlets. This will increase the number of places, particularly in urban areas, where iPhone users can enjoy free wireless Internet access. The service won’t be particularly secure, and won’t require a password to access.

“Everyone from big and small business people through to students and online gaming enthusiasts stand to benefit, and it’s possible that it could signal the beginning of the end of high-cost wireless Internet access in the U.K.,” a McDonald’s spokeswoman said.

(Via CNN Money)

Related posts
Truphone demonstrates VoIP-over-Wi-Fi on iPhone
iPhone UK: How much free Wi-Fi can you get?
AeON Wireless provides free, secure Wi-Fi access to iPhone users

According to French newspaper Les Echos, the apparent rift between Apple and France Telecom could delay the iPhone’s introduction in France, missing out on the lucrative pre-Christmas spending spree.

Apparently, the delays have been caused by a French law that requires mobile phones to be sold both with and without contracts. Given the amount of interest there is in unlocked iPhones, that could pose a serious threat to revenue sharing and exclusivity as (officially) enjoyed by Apple with AT&T, and soon O2 in the UK and T-Mobile in Germany.

Given Apple’s turbulent relationship with France, there is the distinct possibility that the country could miss out on the iPhone altogether.

“The risk we’re evaluating this week is that Apple crosses France off,” an Orange spokesperson seems to have told the newspaper.

(Via Market Watch)

Related posts
Apple and Orange may be at loggerheads over French iPhone dealOrange make lacklustre iPhone announcement in France
European iPhone rumour: France to get iPhone via Orange

According to a recent survey of one-thousand Canadians, the iPhone is the eighth most desired electronics item this Christmas.

I’m not sure that the Solutions Research Group survey makes the iPhone a hugely desirable object, given that many of the other general items on the list were above it (laptop, HDTV, digital camera, cellphone, PC, video camera). The Nintendo Wii pipped it to seventh place, with a Blu-ray or HD DVD player in ninth place and a GPS device in tenth.

The iPhone still officially eludes Canada, allegedly due to a disagreement between Rogers and Apple. The iPhone may remain a dream for many Canadians this year.

(Via Mobile Mag

Related posts
Expert claims high wireless costs are blocking a Canadian iPhone
O2 and Apple to launch multi-million advertising campaign in UK
Nokia extols its open mobile handsets, snubs iPhone

Analyst Gene Munster believes that, of all the iPhones sold during September, 10% were destined to be unlocked and sold on for use on other US carriers, or internationally.

He said that, “one Apple employee acknowledged that customers were buying five iPhones per store visit in order to turn around and resell them unlocked.”

What we don’t know is how many that is, or even if the figure is accurate, though it does sound as if any restrictions which were in place on launch day have been lifted.

(Via TUAW)

Related posts
User updates iPhone firmware on unlocked iPhone: bricks
Apple sends out warning to iPhone unlockers of “irreparable damage”
iPhone unlocking software goes on sale

“Former Vice President Al Gore and the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for their work to raise awareness about global warming,” CNN reported this morning. Gore, who won an Oscar for “Inconvenient Truth,” also sits on the Board of Directors for Apple, Inc.

At the Vestavia Hills Elementary School, an Apple Mobile Learning Lab and iLife ‘08 bring technology into the lives of every young student, offering them innovative ways to learn and express themselves. “Our children,” explains Dr. Mark Richardson, principal of the trendsetting K-3 school, “are empowered by the use of technology in the classroom, and their world is expanded with every weblog comment, podcast subscription, and website hit. Having all the right Apple tools has enabled us to use technology in ways we never dreamed of.”

An iPhone / iPod touch lover going by the name of Pyrofer has discovered a way of turning them into 3.5G HSDPA communications devices.

It doesn’t require any hacking – all it requires is the use of “any cheap rubbish Windows phone” which is 3.5G compliant, and then some fairly simple steps to create a Wi-Fi bridge between the two devices.

Of course, an iPod Touch can’t be used to make phone calls, and it’s debatable whether the iPhone could do, either, though it may be possible to use VoIP with this method. However, he makes the very valid point that “for voice calls I’d much rather use the normal phone and not look like a total dork by holding an iPod/iPhone to my head”

Pyrofer tested the technique using an HTC Ameo/Athena with Windows Mobile 6. It requires a few downloads, in order to allow the registry settings of the WinCE phone to be altered.

You can read the detailed steps for yourself at his web site. They’re not hugely complicated, but worth paying attention to.

“And that’s it! You’ve ended up with an iPhone that is 3G, is slimmer and lighter, and cost about 10 times less than an actual iPhone!”

Whether Apple will be happy with this kind of setup is another matter, but it’s an interesting discovery nonetheless.

Turn your iPod Touch into a 3G iPhone!

Related posts
iPhone-friendly Wi-Fi areas expand in UK
Truphone demonstrates VoIP-over-Wi-Fi on iPhone
iPhone UK: What’s the 3G deal?