Bloomberg is reporting that Apple plans to introduce a low-priced iPhone to compete with cheaper Android alternatives. The device would not require a 2-year contract, making it a fitting phone for customers who fear commitment. $200 is dirt cheap for an off-contract device—current iPhone 4s are $599 unsubsidized.

Apple generally doesn’t release cheap devices, as evident by their current product line-up. A low-cost iPhone would have to sacrifice the Retina display, and would probably have “last-years” specs. Bloomberg’s source claims that the device will be one-third smaller than the current iPhone, but will likely use similar components.

Apple is supposedly also working on a dual-mode iPhone that can work on both GSM and CDMA carriers without having to switch SIMs, making it easier for users to change networks using built-in software.

Apple could very well be testing the above internally, but there is no guarantee that it will make it to market if it doesn’t meet Job’s high standards.

[Bloomberg]

With the release of the untethered jailbreak of iOS 4.2.1 in the form of GreenpoisOn came the added bonus of custom animated boot logos. Today in Cydia, three new tweaks for this option were released. They include iDevice Daily BootLogo, Windows7 BootLogo and Windows Shattering Apple Boot Logo.  Members of our own forums have also been busy churning out custom animations. To use the tweak, use the following instructions (as provided by bocharwood):

1.) Download the desired Animation.
2.) unZIP the contents of the file onto the desktop
3.) SSH onto your iDevice
4.) Navigate to /Library/BootLogos
5.) Create a folder
6.) Copy the 0.png – x.png into the folder
7.) Go to Settings > BootLogo > Folder
8.) Reboot your iDevice

For a more detailed tutorial, check Appman’s write-up here.

Check here for bocharwood’s thread, as well as screenshots and available downloads of the tweaks. Netnerd has also filled some requests, including an Angry Birds custom boot logo here.

Screenshots of the Windows Shatters Apple bootlogo can be viewed after the jump. Baphomet (author of Windows Shatters…, iDevice Daily BootLogo and others) has also posted direct Dropbox download links of his tweaks here.

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Valentine’s Day is less than a week away. If the thought of preparing a gift or special surprise is daunting, here are few apps to help demonstrate your adorations to that special someone.

Valentine’s Day Messages – This app contains hundreds of famous quotes, with some repetition, to express  the full spectrum of feelings. Aside from the usual,”Love conquers all,” from Virgil, there are the intellectually minded (“In the arithmetic of love, one plus one equals everything, and two minus one equals nothing.” – Mignon McLaughlin) to the cynical (“Romance has been elegantly defined as the offspring of fiction and love.” – Benjamin Disraeli) to the romantic (“For you see, each day I love you more. Today more than yesterday and less than tomorrow.” – Rosemonde Gerard).

The quotes can be shared via email, Facebook or Twitter. Favorites can be marked, which is essential as there is no search function. To brighten your love’s day and at no cost, choose some appropriate quotes and send several throughout Valentine’s Day. Just make sure you get that email address correct! The app works on iPhones, iPod Touches and iPads running iOS 4.1 or later. It is free, but be forewarned. It is ad-supported and some of the ads are for decidedly-adult apps. 

Read on for two more suggestions. (more…)

Aww, poor Steve. He wasn’t always his current charismatic self. In fact, preparing for one of his first ever TV appearances in 1973, as a young 23 year old entrepreneur, he actually seems nervous. And, as implausible as it sounds, he also had a luscious head of hair.

“Look! I’m on television!”

Just remember kiddos, you don’t have to be born as a God-like omnipresent being to become successful.

[Gizmodo]

Big Red’s iPhone is now available to be ordered by the general public on Apple and Verizon’s websites, with an estimated ship date of February 18th. If you can’t bear waiting another 8 days for the phone, you can still wake up bright and early tomorrow morning and stand in line. Please note that Verizon stores are selling the device on a “first come first serve” basis, whereas Apple is reservation-only.

Verizon stores will be opening at 7am on the 10th. (Hours may vary, call your local store to confirm).

Google is on a roll this week: just a few short days after bringing Gmail’s Priority Inbox feature to mobile, they have created a native Google Translate app for iOS. Previously, only a slightly dumbed down HTML5 web app was available—which never feels quite right compared to a real app.

Features include “speak to translate”, where users can use the microphone to enter text, text-to-speech for reading those tricky translations aloud, full-screen mode, and offline support for starred translations. Over 50 languages are supported, and like any other Google product, it is completely free.

[iTunes via Google]

Less than a week after the release of his CameraWallpaper tweak, limneos has released a new theming tweak called Masks. The tweak allows users to apply a variety of shaped masks automatically over all their icons. It also comes with matching wallpapers and lockscreens. There are over 40 images from which to choose, including the Apple icon, snowboarder and various geometric shapes with fading edges.  Here is the list of features:

• Choose from 43 premade high-resolution masks
• Create and use your own, custom-made masks.
• Icon masks
• Wallpaper masks
• Launch screen masks
• Use the same mask, inverted for a different effect
• Option to colorize your icons
• Pre-made collections with several masks of the same theme
• Works on iPhone, iPod and iPad

The tweak works on iOS 4.0 or higher and costs $1.99 in the Cydia store.

Check after the break for screenshots or watch the demo video.

If you are recently jailbroken and looking for other themes, read about Recent Theme Releases.

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