Month: October 2008

Learn Something New Everyday

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 18, 2018

So maybe I'm an idiot, and if I am, then Sebastien will be sure to let me know. But I had no idea the iPhone headphones were so versatile. I knew that you could click and double click your way through songs, but I had no idea that 3 quick clicks would take you back a song. This is very handy for when you can't access your iPhone's GUI right away (jogging, squished in an an airplane seat).

The folks over at macosxhints.com said this was just added in 2.1, so I can't be that far out of it.

Also another interesting fact about the wonderful iPhone headphones, (these are always good ice breakers at awkward get togethers) , they are compatiple with the new macbook line Apple launched today. They will be able to control iTunes via the "clicker" and offer another input with its built in microphone.

New Apple ad: Game Changer

Sébastien Page ∙ October 14, 2008

Have you guys seen the new Apple ad that started airing today? It's called Game Changer and it features MLB at Bat application bragging about how it can be "a score checker, live pitch updater, a video highlight player".

As usual, the ad ends up with someone calling and this time, the caller is named Max Julius.

Watch the video below and tell us what you think of this new ad.

iPhone Applications Graveyard

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated March 18, 2016

Peter Hosey, developer on the Adium X and Growl projects has dedicated a page on his website for applications that Apple killed.

This page lists every application that Apple has killed, along with the reason that they stated for doing so, and what has happened to the app since.

So far, the page only shows 10 rejected applications, including NetShare, I am Rich, MailWrangler, and Podcaster.

Contact Peter if you know of any other application that has been rejected by Apple.

Patchulous is a virus

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated February 28, 2018

If you're like me and you check the new apps in Cydia on a daily basis, you probably saw a new app called Patchulous. The description of Patchulous may be interesting for anyone having issues with cracked .ipa files:

Patchulous patches .ipa files that have a second security measure such as TextGuru or BlueSkies. This can be used for other IPAs that may come out in the future with second security measures.

I googled Patchulous and came across this thread on MMI. Here is what user ButFuq (interesting screen name!) reports about Patchulous:

immediately after installing it to 3g iphone- all cracked apps not installed through cydia were erased. it was installed through cydia.

If I were you, I would not install this app until we know more about it.

Underestimating the Power of an iPhone/Netbook Combination

Guest Author ∙ Updated July 24, 2016

It's all over the web that OLO Computers is going to launch a netbook that allows the iPhone to be inserted into the keyboard to be used as a touch pad. I've seen some sites say that it will be iPhone powered and other sites say that the MAC OS on the display is confusing. There are all sorts of doomsday warning point to past integration efforts. But what if these expectations are making it too complicated? What if they are just creating a netbook that just leverages your iPhone. I mean that the computer is a Netbook in its own right, but just has a great iPhone docking mechanism that could trigger all sorts of automatic connections between the two.

Things that would be cool would be:

Allow me to automatically tether my netbook to my iPhone so I could use it to wireless connect to the internet anywhere. I can do this now, but what if they made it automatic upon docking? Use it as a plug and play drive so I can access the data on my iPhone. Use it sync my iPhone with iTunes. Use it as a secondary interface. Besides using it as a touch panel, I could have game controls or hot keys or specialty buttons on my iPhone screen that interact with the software on my Netbook. Use it with all sorts of client apps that allow you to expand the functionality of an iPhone App. For example, I use a health app to track my workouts, when I dock it, that app is available with visualization features (charting and reporting) and import/export functionality on the Netbook. Can you think of any other ideas?

Best Buy reduces price of Apple A/V Connection Kit

Guest Author ∙ Updated May 26, 2017

Best Buy just reduced the price of this kit from $99.99 to $49.99. According to the ad it is compatible with:

Compatible with iPod, iPod nano, iPod mini, iPod shuffle, iPod with color display, iPod photo, iPod video, iPod classic, iPod touch and iPhone

Note: This works for Audio out for the iPhone and iTouch but doesn't support Video out.

It includes an A/V Cable, universal dock, dock adapters, remote, and USB Power Adapter.

It seems everyone wants a Piece of Apple’s Pie

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 23, 2016

With 10,000,000+ units sold, Apple has without a doubt one of the hottest products this year with the iPhone. That's a lot of merchandise to push through small Apple and AT&T retail stores. That's why this summer, Apple enlisted the help of Best Buy, a nation-wide retail electronics chain, to move the new iPhone 3g.

What you might not have known, was that self-proclaimed retail giant Radio Shack was also in discussions to be apart of this exclusive product distribution.But, after a few months it seems as if Radio Shack has fallen from the lime light and a new retail heavyweight has entered the picture.

According to Boy Genius, Walmart will begin selling the iPhone 3g starting November 15. (2 weeks before black Friday?) Obviously the more retailers you have selling your product, the more money you are going to make. But after reading through a few blogs it seems that some members of the iPhone community are offended by such a "sell out" move, and the 199$ price tag and Walmart availability may make the community a lot less exclusive.

Well as a member of that community, I say, GO Apple. They stand to gain a lot of ground in the mobile market by advertising in "The most visited daily store in America." AT&T stands to make a killing as well, as each iPhone sold carries a 2 year contract agreement to their wireless service.

Hopefully this will open up doors for other retail chains vying for a piece of Apple's pie. Hah, I guess with over 10,000,000 sold, it would seem there will be enough to go around.

Family Guy iPhone Theme and Wallpapers

Sébastien Page ∙ October 11, 2008

Last week I posted about the American Dad theme and today I saw in Cydia that there was a Family Guy theme. Family Guy is one of my favorite shows so I decided to give a try to the theme. I downloaded it and when I went to WinterBoard to set it up, I realized that it had also downloaded 3 Family Guy wallpapers.

After setting it up, my iPhone resprung and I had to "slide to unlock" to go to my springboard. The slider is Quagmire's face and when you slide it, it goes "Giggity giggity giggity giggity". Haha, funny.

How to Use an iPhone Without the Data Plan

Guest Author ∙ October 11, 2008

[digg-me]After playing with my kids iTouch's it became clear to me how much the iTouch is lacking in functionality. Before buying one I considered it just an iPhone without the ability to make calls. The lack of camera was the biggest surprise, because I can't figure out why they left it out. The GPS and Camera would have been really nice to have even if I can't use it as a phone.

So would it still be better to buy an iPhone and use it just like an iTouch but with camera and GPS? I found a thread on one of the iPhone forums where a guy, who was going to college and couldn't afford the $30.00 a month data plan, but wanted an iPhone anyway. He was on campus where they had a robust wifi connection all of the time and didn't really need the data plan. He already had an AT&T cell phone (a Razor), and just wanted to get a used iPhone and put his SIM card into it.

After giving the guy a hard time, a good samaritan responded with a way to do just that. He pointed out a cool service offered by unlockit. It is an APN Changer for 3G iPhones. It lets you turn off the Edge and 3G data service on your iPhone. This lets you use an AT&T SIM card with your iPhone but lets you use it without adding the iPhone data plan.

To use this service do the following:

Put the AT&T Sim card in the already activated iPhone. Make a wifi connection to a local wifi source. Navigate to this page. Click "Continue To The Next Page". Click Disable Data (Fake APN). The Install Profile window appears. Click Install. Another Install Profile window will popup warning you that authenticity of this profile cannot be verified. Click Install on this window too. You should now see a message stating "Could not activate Cellular Data Network; You are not subscribed to a cellular data service.

You should now be able to make phone calls and be able to use wifi to access the internet. When you aren't connected, you should get an error.

To remove the 3G/Edge block, simply go to your Network settings and removed the Fake APN profile.

This thread pointed out a really cool service.

Why Buy the Cow When You Can Get the Milk for Free?

Guest Author ∙ October 11, 2008

[digg-me]Recently I've seen a lot of ads for people selling unlock/jailbreaking services. Some claim to be able to even do a software unlock for iPhone 3G. Prices range from $14.99 to $39.99 just for the ability to download unlocking and jailbreaking software from their website. Some require you to buy an additional piece of hardware (a SIM) to unlock the iPhone 3G, but some sites say you can just download a software.

This bothers me because I feel like this is contrary to spirit of Jailbreaking. Jailbreaking was made free to us by the hard work of the iPhone Dev Team and others, and these wonderful people are doing this to open up Apple's artificially closed offering to the iPhone lovers of the world.

One site I found is charging people for access to a "members only download area" where they can download Jailbreaking and iPhone 2G Unlocking software.

Also, some sites offer 3G software unlock services, although some people do admit that they will have to spend more money and buy a special SIM (from them of course).

There are still other services where you send them your iPhone and they will unlock it for you. I understand that it can be a bit scary to think you might brick your iPhone, but it would be scary for me to to send my beloved iPhone out to a complete stranger. If you they never send your phone back, what is your recourse? Would you call the police and tell them you were trying to illegally unlock your phone?

The basic problems I have with paying for unlocking/jailbreaking services (but not limited to) are:

They are charging an awful lot of money for what is free on the web. They are charging an awful lot of money for something they didn't even develop. Some of these people are promising services that may or may not even be possible. They are not warning people that new versions of the iPhone firmware may make their upgrade obsolete or they are promising them they will always be able to support the jailbreak/unlock. The people listing these services may not even be qualified or understand how to use the software. I found a reference while researching this story of someone who created an Unlocking iPhone 3G website and was trying to sell it for $500, lock, stock, and barrel.

What do you think about this?

Apple’s Dropping of the NDA Has Echoing Effects

Cody Lee ∙ Updated November 13, 2019

For a long time, developing software for the iPhone seemed like a members-only activity. Even when Apple introduced the App Store and released the SDK for public download, the iPhone developing club still seemed pretty exclusive.

A majority of this secrecy was forced upon developers by way of Apple's Non Disclosure Agreement: a binding contract that said anything developers came across while programming iPhone software 'better not leave the room'. Apple claims this was to protect many inventions and innovations embedded into the iPhone software.

But as we all know, after hearing all the moans and groans from developers, and probably reading thousands of angry blog posts, Apple has removed the NDA. In fact, Apple is now planning to tour the world with seminars and workshops for iPhone developers of any skill level from independent game developers, to IT professionals.

But the benefits don't stop there. Now with the NDA lifted, several Authors are given the green light to publish books on iPhone developing. Alicia mentions one of the more popular ones here, set to be released the 15th of this month. Another one, Beginning iPhone Development, is due out the 27th. In fact, a quick search in Amazon for the topic 'iPhone development' brings up a long list of new iPhone-programming-related books due to release in the next month.

I can't imagine the improvements we'll see in the quality and complexity of future iPhone applications. Hopefully this will encourage Apple to drop another rediculous App Store practice ::cough:: App store rejection policy ::cough::

iPhone 3G named 2008 Gadget of the Year

Guest Author ∙ Updated April 20, 2016

iPhone was named 2008 Gadget of the Year in the 2008 British Technology Awards, sponsored by Incisive Media. The iPhone also won the Best Mobile Technology, Most Stylish Technology, and Technological Innovation of the Year awards. iTunes also won honors, winning the Best Music Technology award for 2008.

According to the BTA website, the contest, the British Technology Awards, was designed to

celebrate our national love of technology and gives you the chance to decide what technology is deserving of recognition – all of this years winners were chosen by the great British public

Apple released this information in a press release on their web site.