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Nov

Design Your Own iDevice Case Graphic

Posted by D. St. Charles at 4:16 pm

Most people like to protect their iDevices with a case. For some, it’s all about protection, while others prefer something that reflects their personalities. Ideally, a case does both. Several manufacturers allow customers to choose from a variety of pre-made designs from sports logos to works by renowned artists, as well as the ability to create their own designs by uploading images or pictures. Here are some options for preventing scratches and dings with style:

Skinit – Offering minimal protection, skins are adhesive vinyl stickers that are cut to precisely fit on the back of your device. The advantage Skinit presents is skins for nearly the full spectrum of iDevices including the Classic, Nano, all generations of iPod Touch, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and iPad. Prices for skins for the iPad are $29.99 with the option of an additional clear hard shell for $15. Skins for the iPhones run $14.99. Hard shells in black or white are $15.

Read on for additional vendors.

(more…)

Nov

The Quest for a Better Keyboard Continues for iPad and iPhone Users

Posted by D. St. Charles at 7:39 pm

Adding a real keyboard to the iPad is nothing new. The same day Apple released the iPad, they offered other essentials including a keyboard dock. However, numerous vendors have produced improved devices, incorporating Bluetooth to free the dock for charging, and adding innovations.

The ClamCase essentially turns your iPad into a netbook. It encases the iPad and hinges it to a Bluetooth keyboard. The hinge is versatile, providing the ability to twist the iPad 360 degrees. Unfortunately, the item is in pre-production with price and availability only listed as “coming in Fall 2010.”

The ZAGGmate is a hard screen protector and stand sold with ($99) or without ($69) the Bluetooth keyboard. It is distributed by – wait for it – ZAGG, the creators of the InvisibleSHIELDS. One of the features that sets this keyboard apart from others is the ability to use the iPad in portrait or landscape mode.

Former BlackBerry owners, jonesing for tactile keyboards, also have alternatives. ThinkGeek ($49.99) and more recently, Boxwave ($69.95), have released their iPhone cases complete with flip keyboards. Supply is an issue with both retailers, as ThinkGeek’s cases are currently out of stock, and Boxwave expects to start shipping December 14th. Sure. Both items have cases to accomodate the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4.

PwnageTool 4.1 Released

Posted by Trey Trawick at 9:10 am

The Dev-Team has just released PwnageTool 4.1, which jailbreaks most iDevices (including the Apple TV). It has a ton of handy features, such as the ability to pre-install cydia packages, and maintain the current baseband (for use with ultrasn0w). Hit the source for the full feature list.

We’re pleased to release PwnageTool 4.1 for Mac OS X (free of charge, blog ads, and donation requests — as always!). Today’s big new addition to the jailbreak family is AppleTV 2G, which was first shown jailbroken in its release week!

Through a combination of the recently released geohot limera1n exploit , @comex’s recently released pf kernel exploit, and our original pwnage2 exploit, PwnageTool 4.1 works untethered on these devices at firmware 4.1:

AppleTV 2G

iPad (firmware 3.2.2)

iPod touch 4G

iPod touch 3G

iPhone4

iPhone 3GS

iPhone 3G

PwnageTool allows you to restore to a custom IPSW file. For instance, you can restore to a pre-jailbroken firmware while simultaneously maintaining your current baseband (and thus your ultrasn0w carrier unlock). You can also add whatever packages you want in the “Expert” mode of PwnageTool, if you wish to pre-install Cydia packages. iPhone 3G users get the additional benefit of selecting their own boot and recovery logos, and features like multitasking and battery charge percentage.

They are officially releasing it via BitTorrent, so the servers shouldn’t get too hammered, and there are a few additional mirrors listed on the site. Get it while it’s hot!

[Dev-Team]

398

greenpois0n released

Posted by studangerous at 3:32 am

After GeoHot’s release of limera1n the Chronic Dev Team have made a rapid turnaround to engineer GeoHot’s exploit into their greenpois0n tool rather than burn the original exploit they used in greenpois0n. You can download the release from the greenpois0n website for both Mac and Windows. No beta, no RC1. Just a fully tested and well engineered jailbreak tool for iPod touch 3G/4G, iPhone 3GS/4 and iPad for devices on iOS 4.0.1 and up.

Don’t forget to consider donating for their hard work (and stress) in getting this tool out to the community.

VLC Soon to be Available for the iPhone & iPod Touch

Posted by Trey Trawick at 8:44 pm

Good news everyone! An update to the VLC application that was accepted into the App Store just under a month ago is currently under review. The update will add universal support, allowing it to work on the iPhone 3GS/4 and the iPod Touch 3g/4 in addition to the iPad. (Sorry, older models just don’t have the oomph.) The developers have also been working hard to improve playback as well as codec support, so if you though it was too buggy the first time around, give it another chance.

Concerning this new version, here are a few interesting facts:

Playback should be smoother than the previous version. Indeed, we’ve enabled low-level assembly optimizations to use the ARMv7 core of the Apple A4 processor as efficiently as possible.

It’s still not possible to use the hardware video decoder, so unfortunately in most cases 720p video still won’t play smoothly.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t support older iPhones and iPods. You’ll need either an iPhone 3GS or an iPhone 4 (or a same-generation iPod). The reason is actually pretty simple : based on our tests, the older iPhones (3G and Edge) don’t have enough power to properly decode most movies.

We’re supporting a lot more video extensions. Also, as many of you requested, it’s also now possible to open attachments from Mail or Safari (or any other applications actually) in VLC!

If all goes smoothly, the updated version should soon appear in the App Store.

[Applidium via Twitter]

Google Goggles Now in App Store, But Only for Certain Devices

Posted by Jonathan Kizer at 3:09 pm

Google Goggles is now available for download in the iTunes App Store, but you have to have the right device. The only two devices with hardware good enough to be accepted by Google are the iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS. Why not iPod touch 4, iPhone 3G, and below you ask? Simple; the app requires an auto-focus camera.

Google Goggles is one of those features Android, Google’s very own smartphone OS, (previously) could claim exclusivity to. The app takes a photo of an object, and scans a vast internet database to find images that are similar. It then figures out what those images are labeled as, and then gives you as much relevant information as it can. For example, a picture of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France would be examined, searched, and then you would get background information, such as history, statistics and facts, and location.

All things considered, this is a very interesting move by Google, as the search juggernaut has advertised this app and its capabilities as being specific to Android in the past. If you are curious on how Google Goggles works, hit up this link to see a demonstration on various objects, landmarks, and products.

Google Goggles is available in the iTunes App Store for free, and is compatible with the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4.

Edit: To clear up some confusion, Google Goggles is available as an update to the Google Mobile app (link below). If you already have it, update the app via the App Store. If you don’t, download it via the link below.

[App Store]

Sep

ThinkGeek Flip-Out Keyboard for the iPhone

Posted by Trey Trawick at 5:54 pm

Despite the fact that the iPhone has arguably the best software keyboard on the market, many users still prefer a hardware one for the tactile feedback it provides. It was always possible to connect a 3rd party keyboard via bluetooth, but carrying around another gadget is a pain, and there really isn’t an ‘elegant’ solution available. Until now. ThinkGeek has come up with a promising accessory, dubbed the TK-421. (Which is an odd name, so I assume they are making an inside joke to the Stormtrooper in a A New Hope)

The keyboard clips on like a case, and flips out from the bottom of the phone when in use, so it will stay out of your way if you just want to use the software keyboard. It has a built-in rechargeable battery that can be charged via USB, and connects via bluetooth so it won’t hog your dock connector. It will be available late November for $49.99, but the current run of pre-orders is out of stock. (You can enter your email on the product page for availability updates.)

Product Features

Give your iPhone a real flip-out tactile keyboard

Keyboard flips out for use, then flips back in when done

Magnet based clasp keeps keyboard in position whether flipped in or out

Increased typing accuracy and speed

Works with any app such as e-mail, web browsing, notes, and calendar

Completely wireless Bluetooth™ connection does not use dock connector

Keyboard powered by built in rechargeable battery, recharges via included USB cable

Invented and designed here at ThinkGeek

Models available to fit iPhone 3Gs and iPhone 4

(Please note that the iPhone 3G will NOT work with this case. The OS does not support Bluetooth™ keyboards.)

[ThinkGeek]

Aug

Jailbreak the iPhone 3GS on iOS 4.0.2

Posted by Trey Trawick at 12:39 pm

If you really want to stay up-to-date with the latest firmware updates, but don’t want to lose your jailbreak, then your in luck! (If you have an old bootrom iPhone 3GS that is.) There isn’t any reason to update to 4.0.2 since it only patches the PDF exploit, and Saurik has already taken care of that.

Nevertheless, the latest PwnageTool is able to jailbreak the 3GS by rolling a custom .ispw, which is nowhere as convenient as using Jailbreakme, but it will get the job done.

Hit the source for the full how-to.

[Redmond Pie]

Aug

iDisk Streaming Enabled in iOS4

Posted by Jonathan Kizer at 3:41 pm

It only took a month for us to figure it out, but version 1.2 of Apple’s iDisk (the file storage service bundled with MobileMe) has a nice little feature: audio playback, even in the background.

Theoretically, you would sync your music files with iDisk on the Mac or PC. Then, when you wanted to play them, simply fire up iDisk, select it, and then go update your Facebook status. Or browse the web. Or play a game.

Of course, there are limitations; for example, you won’t be able to do this unless you are on a device that supports multitasking in the first place (iPod touch G3: 32/64GB, iPhone 3GS, and the iPhone 4). You will also have to have data (WiFi or 3G) to access the cloud.

So why is this relevant? Because of the timing, some have speculated that this may be the beginning of ‘iTunes cloud,’ which has been rumored for years. Also, Apple recently purchased a popular music-streaming service, Lala.

On the flip side, some argue that, because it is so simple to add support for backgrounding audio, it would be insane for Apple not to utilize it’s own tools. After touting how easy it is for developers to add various kinds of multitasking, there really is no excuse for any iOS Apple software to not include it.

Regardless, the rumored September iPod event will likely give us some answers as to how Apple plans to expand iTunes to infinity, and beyond.

[Engadget]