My friend Mark sent me a link to this video a few days ago and it is perfect for some weekend phone humor.
Be warned that this is the clean version of the video. There is a not safe for family/work version floating around on YouTube.com also.
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Apple Releases iOS 3.2.2, 4.0.2 Updates
Apple has released minor iOS updates for iPad (Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 3G) and iPhone (4, 3GS, and 3G) and iPod touch (second and third edition) to address a Safari PDF security flaw.
Hackers were able to use the Safari exploit to “jailbreak” iOS devices to run applications that had not been approved by Apple. However, that same exploit could be used to allow an attacker to gain control of your iDevice remotely.
If you are running a stock iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch, connect your device to your Mac or PC running iTunes and hit the Update button on the Summary tab for your device.
The update weighs in at about 457MB for my Wi-Fi edition iPad. The package size might be smaller for the iPhone and iPod touch.
If you are on of the folks that doesn’t like to be told how to use your device by Apple, and have gone ahead and jailbroken your device, you will want to wait until there is a new “adjective”sn0w update that allows you to patch your device and exploit a different vulnerability to load unauthorized applications on your iDevice. Proceed with caution. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
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iPhone 4 Screen Is Amazing
My brother in law just got his new iPhone 4. Oh my God the screen is amazing on that device! -
Remembering the Palm TX, T5, and LifeDrive
I just moved my Palm TX, T5, and LifeDrive into storage. They had been local residents on my desk since I acquired them and I have enjoyed playing and working with them for many years. Today was the day they they moved into my storage crate with all of my other decommissioned smartphones and PDAs.
My Palm Pre, Apple iPhone 2G, BlackBerry Storm2, HTC Droid Eris, and Palm Foleo just got more room to spread out.
If you want to take a walk down memory lane, check out the PDA Museum where you can find write ups on many of the Palm/pa1mOne and Sony Clie Palm OS devices.
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Apple: Fixes On the Way for iOS Vulnerabilities
According to an article on AppleInsider.com, Apple had developed a fix for the current vulnerabilities that allow you to “jailbreak” or install and run unauthorized software on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod over the web.“Apple confirmed Wednesday that it has developed a fix for the two security vulnerabilities that allow jailbreaking of their iOS software.
An Apple spokeswoman said in a statement, “We’re aware of this reported issue, we have already developed a fix and it will be available to customers in an upcoming software update.” No release date was given for the update.
Previously, Apple had announced it was “investigating” the issue.”
[Via AppleInsider.com…]
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Safari Jailbreak Can Compromise Your iOS Device
Remember that jailbreaking website I told you about yesterday? Seems like it might not be a great idea after all. Turns out the browser exploit that the jailbreakers are using opens the iDevice up to attack from “bad guys” too.
“Sean Sullivan, security advisor with F-Secure Corporation, revealed on Tuesday the technical details of the jailbreak process, which is done entirely in the Mobile Safari browser. The jailbreakme.com site includes 20 separate PDFs for different combinations of hardware and firmware.”
“While the jailbreakme.com URL itself is not intended for malicious purposes, the PDF exploit it uses could be utilized by hackers to more nefarious ends. Miller said that with this method, a hacker does not need physical access to an iPhone, iPod touch or iPad — they just simply need to have the user visit a vulnerable website.”
The bottom line here? Think twice before you jailbreak your brand new iPhone 4 or other iDevice boys and girls.
[Via AppleInsider.com…]
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Connecticut AG Probing Apple, Amazon on EBook Agreements
Attorney General Richard Blumenthal is investigating agreements between the country’s largest e-book publishers and two of the largest sellers — Amazon.com, Inc. and Apple, Inc. — that may block competitors from offering cheaper e-book prices.
Both Amazon and Apple have reached agreements with the largest e-book publishers that ensure both will receive the best prices for e-books over any competitors — contract provisions known as “most favored nation” (MFN) clauses.
In letters to Amazon.Com and Apple, Blumenthal is calling on the companies to meet with his office to address these concerns. Publishers that have reached such agreements with Amazon and Apple include Macmillan, Simon & Schuster, Hachette, HarperCollins and Penguin.
These agreements appear to deter certain publishers from offering discounts to Amazon and Apple’s competitors — because they must offer the same to Amazon and Apple. This restriction blocks cheaper and competitive prices for consumers.
After a preliminary review, Blumenthal’s office has already found that e-book prices offered by Amazon, Apple, Borders and Barnes & Noble for several New York Times Bestseller books were identical among all four sellers.
“These agreements among publishers, Amazon and Apple appear to have already resulted in uniform prices for many of the most popular e-books — potentially depriving consumers of competitive prices,” Blumenthal said. “The e-book market is set to explode — with analysts predicting that e-book readers will be among the holiday season’s biggest electronic gifts — warranting prompt review of the potential anti-consumer impacts.
“Amazon and Apple combined will likely command the greatest share of the retail e-book market, allowing their most-favored-nation clauses to effectively set the floor prices for the most popular e-books. Such agreements — especially when offered to two of the largest e-book retail competitors in the United States — threaten to encourage coordinated pricing and discourage discounting.”
You can read and download a PDF copy of Mr. Blumentha’s letter to Apple and Amazon on the CT.gov website. A copy of today’s press release is also available online.
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iPhone Jailbreak Available for the Masses
Over the weekend, the iPhone Dev Team has posted a website that exploits a vulnerability in the Safari browser that allows you to jailbreak your iPhone 4.
To jailbreak your iPhone 4 or iOS 4 device, head over to the website jailbreakme.com. Once jail broken, you will be able to run all the unauthorized applications that Apple doesn’t want you running.
Jailbreak your iPhone 4 or other iOS 4 device at your own risk.
[Via GadgetsOnTheGo.net…]
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Who Will Lead Apple After Jobs?
Elecronista the gadgets for geeks blog has an interesting article posted called, “What will it take to carry Apple’s torch after Jobs?”“For years, there has been speculation over CEO Steve Jobs’ health. Is he fully capable of running his company? Over the past year, Jobs has made it clear that he is now healthy and he is firmly at the helm. But what will happen when it’s time to retire and leave Apple in the hands of someone else?
Whoever takes over Apple, whether it’s Tim Cook or someone else, will find themselves in an unenviable position. They will be forced to fill the shoes of arguably the best — or certainly the most in-control — CEO the technology industry has ever seen. And everyone, including investors, customers, and other stakeholders will be skeptical of that person’s ability to run Apple the way Jobs would have.”
You can read the rest of Don Reisinger’s very well written editorial on Electronista.com.
[Via Electronista.com…]
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Comments on Apple iPhone 4 Antenna Reception Reports
I just finished watching the Apple steaming video from the July 16th press event to discuss the whirling controversy around the iPhone 4’s antenna issue. You can watch the 30 minute video on Apple’s website. I’ve waited over a week for the presentation to be posted as a podcast, however, it hasn’t gone up yet, which leads me to believe that this video will disappear from the web soon. (Maybe around Sept 30, when the free bumper case offer expires.)The Facts According to Apple, AT&T
Apple’s assertion that the “death grip” issue is a problem on all smartphones, not just the iPhone 4. Mr. Jobs suggests that the loss of signal, or “bars”, was more noticeable because of the two slits on the lower left and right sides of the iPhone 4.
Mr. Jobs also said that Apple takes these issues seriously and that they, “care about every user,” and that they “love our users.” During the presentation, Apple uncharacteristically came clean with some hard numbers based on the data that they have. Apple also released the delta change between early iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 dropped call statistics per 100 calls.
To help address the issue of signal strength, Apple also released the iOS 4.0.1 update on July 15th. The update is free to all iPhone OS 4 users and anyone using an iPhone 3 or iPhone 3GS. The iOS 4.0 software will not run on the original iPhone, also known as the iPhone 2G. The software update is available for download via iTunes on your Mac or Windows PC.Making Sure Customers Are Happy
Even though Mr. Jobs’ assertion is that this is not the major customer problem that some technology blogs are making it out to be, Apple wants to “take care of everyone” by giving all iPhone 4 customers a free case. If they have already purchased an Apple iPhone 4 bumper case, the company will automatically refund your money. If you still don’t like the iPhone 4 or feel that the antenna issue is a big problem for you, you can bring the phone back to an Apple or AT&T store for a full refund. No restocking fees. A full refund. No questions asked. The iPhone must be in good working condition and you have 30 days to return the phone from the day if shipped from Apple or you purchased it from an AT&T store.
I’m glad to see Apple stepping up to the plate to offer free cases to every iPhone 4 owner and anyone who purchases an iPhone 4 until September 30th.
My personal feeling is that yes there is a problem, but it isn’t as big as you may be lead to believe by the media. For me, I’m satisfied with the outcome, but then again I don’t own an iPhone 4. I plan on waiting until I can get one on the Sprint network.
