• apple,  ios,  ipad,  iphone

    Apple: Fixes On the Way for iOS Vulnerabilities

    August 5, 2010 /

    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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  • att,  blackberry,  blackberry os,  rim

    ComputerWorld Torch Round Up

    August 4, 2010 /

    ComputerWorld has a good round up of reviews for the new BlackBerry Torch 9800, which launches on AT&T August 12.  The Torch will be the first BlackBerry to ship with the new BlackBerry 6 operating system.

    “As expected, Research In Motion launched its BlackBerry Torch (aka 9800) on Tuesday morning. Exclusively on AT&T in the U.S., this small slider offers overhauled software and a few unique features. In IT Blogwatch, bloggers can’t decide if it’s an iPhone killer or if it’s too little too late.”

    You can read the Torch review round up on the ComputerWorld website.

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  • att,  blackberry,  blackberry os,  rim,  torch

    RIM Introduces the New BlackBerry Torch 9800

    August 4, 2010 /

    Dallas and Waterloo, ON – Joining forces to offer the first smartphone to feature the highly anticipated BlackBerry® 6 exclusively on the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network, AT&T and Research In Motion (RIM) today introduced the new BlackBerry® Torch™ 9800 smartphone. Adept for socially connected consumers and packed with the tools business customers love, the new handset is the world’s first smartphone to combine a BlackBerry® keyboard with a full touch screen experience. Whether users choose to type out messages on the capacitive touch screen or easy-to-use BlackBerry keyboard, browse the Internet using pinch to zoom or fluidly navigate with the optical trackpad, the BlackBerry Torch allows them to communicate any way they want. 

    “We were the first to launch the BlackBerry solution in 1999 and have a rich history of innovation and collaboration with Research In Motion,” said Ralph de la Vega, president and chief executive officer, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “The two companies that brought the first BlackBerry smartphones to market have teamed up again with the new BlackBerry Torch, creating a true generational shift in hardware and operating system for this enormously popular service.”

    “This is one of the most significant launches in RIM’s history and we are proud to introduce the new BlackBerry Torch and BlackBerry 6 together with AT&T,” said Mike Lazaridis, president and co-ceo, Research In Motion. “With a new user interface, new browser and new handset design, the highly anticipated BlackBerry Torch and BlackBerry 6 deliver integrated and uncompromising capabilities for consumers and business professionals that preserve the industry-leading strengths of the BlackBerry platform while adding exciting new dimensions.”

    BlackBerry 6
    The BlackBerry Torch is the first BlackBerry smartphone to launch with BlackBerry 6, a new operating system that retains the familiar and trusted features that distinguish the BlackBerry brand while delivering a fresh, approachable and engaging experience that’s powerful and easy to use.

    BlackBerry 6 features a redesigned interface that seamlessly works with the touch screen and trackpad, includes expanded messaging capabilities with intuitive features to simplify the management of social networking and RSS feeds (Social Feeds), and provides integrated access to the BlackBerry® Messenger (BBM™), Facebook®, Twitter™, MySpace™ and various instant messaging applications available on the BlackBerry Torch smartphone. Its enhanced multimedia experience rivals the best in the industry and includes a dedicated YouTube app and Podcasts app.

    BlackBerry 6 also integrates a new and rich WebKit-based browser on BlackBerry Torch that renders HTML web pages (as well as HTML email) quickly and beautifully for a great browsing experience. It features tabs for accessing multiple sites simultaneously, pinch to zoom for easy navigation and an auto-wrap text zoom feature that can intelligently wrap text in a column while maintaining the placement of a page’s key elements (simply double-tap on the BlackBerry Torch).

    Universal search, always accessible from the Home Screen, allows users to search through email, messages, contacts, music, videos and more on the smartphone, as well as extend search to the Internet or to discover applications on BlackBerry App World™.

    BlackBerry Torch Smartphone Features

    • Elegant styling, measuring approx. 4.4″ (5.8″ open) x 2.4″ x .57″ and weighing 5.68 ounces
    • 3.2″ 360×480 capacitive touch screen display
    • 35 key full QWERTY backlit slide-out keyboard, designed to feel optimally balanced when opened for typing
    • Optical trackpad that makes navigation fast and smooth
    • Powerful 624 Mhz processor with 512 MB Flash memory
    • 4 GB built-in memory storage plus a microSD/SDHD memory card slot that supports up to 32 GB cards; a 4 GB card is included giving users 8 GB of storage out-of-the-box
    • 5 MP camera with flash, continuous auto focus, image stabilization, scene modes, geo-tagging and zoom, as well as video recording at up to 640×480 resolution
    • Built-in GPS for location-based applications and geo-tagging
    • Wi-Fi® (802.11 b/g/n); qualifying smartphone customers can enjoy seamless connectivity to over 20,000 AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots at no additional cost
    • 3.5mm stereo headset jack
    • Premium phone features, including voice activated dialing, speakerphone and Bluetooth® (2.1) with support for hands-free headsets, stereo headsets, car kits (including systems that support the Bluetooth Message Access Profile standard) and other Bluetooth accessories
    • New BlackBerry® Desktop Software 6 with integrated media sync for easily syncing music, photos and videos
    • Tri-band HSDPA (3G) and quad-band EDGE support for the option of voice service in more than 220 countries, data service in more than 195 countries and 3G connectivity in more than 125 countries, including Japan and South Korea
    • Removable, rechargeable 1300 mAhr battery that provides approximately 5.8 hours of talk time on 3G networks or 30 hours of audio playback or 6 hours of video playback

    Pricing and Availability
    The BlackBerry Torch 9800 smartphone will be available only for AT&T customers on August 12 in AT&T company owned retail stores and online at www.att.com/blackberrytorch, as well as Best Buy, Wal-Mart and RadioShack stores.

    The BlackBerry Torch 9800 will be available for $199.99 with 2-year service agreement on a qualifying rate plan and smartphone data plan required.  New smartphone customers may choose from two AT&T monthly data plan options, $15 for 200 MB of wireless data or $25 for 2 GB.  Enterprise and small business customers should contact their account representative for pricing details.

    You can read today’s full BlackBerry Torch 9800 press release on the RIM website.

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  • blackberry,  blackberry os,  bold,  pearl,  rim

    Research in Motion Introduces BlackBerry OS 6

    August 4, 2010 /

    BlackBerry smartphone maker, Research in Motion, has unveiled the next version of their BlackBerry operating system.

    Waterloo, ON – Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today announced BlackBerry® 6, a new operating system for BlackBerry® smartphones that retains the trusted features that distinguish the BlackBerry brand while delivering a fresh, approachable and engaging experience that is both powerful and easy to use. BlackBerry 6 features a redesigned interface that seamlessly works with a touch screen and trackpad, expanded messaging capabilities that simplify managing social media and RSS feeds, an advanced multimedia experience that rivals the best in the industry, a convenient new Universal Search tool, and a new and efficient WebKit-based browser that renders web pages quickly and beautifully for a great browsing experience.

    “BlackBerry 6 is the outcome of RIM’s ongoing passion to deliver a powerful, simplified and optimized user experience for both touch screen and keyboard fans,” said Mike Lazaridis, president and co-ceo, Research In Motion.  “Following extensive research and development to address consumer needs and wants, we are delivering a communications, browsing and multimedia experience that we think users will love, and we are thrilled to debut BlackBerry 6 on the amazing new BlackBerry Torch smartphone.”

    In today’s press release, RIM talked up four marquee features:

    • Visual, Fluid Interface
    • Fast Rich Web Browsing
    • Social Feeds and Text Messaging
    • Engaging Multimedia Experience

    RIM will be working with their carrier partners to develop upgrades for the BlackBerry Bold 9700, the BlackBerry Bold 9650, and the BlackBerry Pearl 3G.  If you are a new BlackBerry Storm2 owner like me, or you have a BlackBerry Storm, it looks like we are going to be out of luck.  RIM stayed quite on upgrades for us.  The new BlackBerry Torch 9800, announced today, will ship with BlackBerry OS 6 pre-installed.

    You can read the full press release on the RIM website.

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  • apple,  ios,  ipad,  iphone,  touch

    Safari Jailbreak Can Compromise Your iOS Device

    August 4, 2010 /

    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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  • amazon,  apple,  connecticut,  ipad,  iphone,  kindle

    Connecticut AG Probing Apple, Amazon on EBook Agreements

    August 3, 2010 /

    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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  • blackberry,  blackberry os,  bold,  curve,  rim,  Uncategorized

    RIM: We Won’t Turn Over Your Data Because We Can’t Access It

    August 2, 2010 /

    BlackBerry device maker Research In Motion (RIM) issued a statement today regarding the security of customer data that is stored on their servers and that traverses their systems.

    In an online article appearing on the Wall Street Journal website, Phred Dvorak writes:

    “RIM said the BlackBerry network was set up so that “no one, including RIM, could access” customer data, which is encrypted from the time it leaves the device. It added that RIM would “simply be unable to accommodate any request” for a key to decrypt the data, since the company doesn’t have the key.

    The BlackBerry network is designed “to exclude the capability for RIM or any third party to read encrypted information under any circumstances,” RIM’s statement said. Moreover, the location of BlackBerry’s servers doesn’t matter, the company said, because the data on them can’t be deciphered without a decryption key.  “RIM assures customers that it will not compromise the integrity and security of the BlackBerry Enterprise Solution,” the statement said.”

    While I like to think that my data that passes between my BlackBerry Storm2 and RIM’s network operations center, or NOC, is secured, even from RIM, in today’s day and age, I’m still a little bit skeptical that if the US or Canadian governments came knocking on RIM’s dock that they won’t eventually turn over the data.  For how, RIM is taking the moral high ground and is backing their customer base.  Good for you, RIM!

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  • apple,  ios,  iphone

    iPhone Jailbreak Available for the Masses

    August 2, 2010 /

    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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  • android,  google,  motorola,  verizon

    Android 2.2 for Moto Droid Rolling Out As Early As Tomorrow [Updated]

    August 2, 2010 /

    A number of tech blogs were abuzz this weekend with reports that Verizon Wireless could begin pushing out Google Android 2.2 “FroYo” updates as early as tomorrow.

    The 2.2 update, like many recent over-the-air updates on other platforms, is likely to be a phased deployment, meaning that it may take as long as 2 weeks before your phone receives the upgrade is available notice.

    I haven’t seen any of the Motorola Droids that I support pop-up the upgrade available notice yet.  When the upgrade becomes available for your phone, a notice similar to the following will appear.

    “FroYo” for those not in the know, stands for “Frozen Yogurt.”  Google’s other Android updates have been code named “Donut”, “Cupcake”, and “Eclair.”  At least their updates are getting healthier.

    Update:
    You can download the official Verizon Wireless Motorola Droid 2.2. update release notes from Verizon as a PDF file.

    [Via Droid-Life.com…]

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  • apple

    Who Will Lead Apple After Jobs?

    August 2, 2010 /

    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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