Archive for October, 2008
For those of you curious about how the iPhone 3G unlock and the 2nd Gen Touch jailbreaks are coming, here is the word straight from the iPhone-dev team.
We’ve been exploring different ideas with the 3G unlock, but this past weekend one of us hit a big snag. For whatever reason, all of our poking and prodding of the 3G baseband caused it to finally have a breakdown. After one specific exploit run, all of a sudden our baseband stopped responding to the OS. Even after multiple restore attempts, we were plagued with errors like this:Somehow our software hacking had caused the baseband chip’s SPI bus to stop responding (so it looked like a hardware problem). Even though BBUpdaterExtreme reported the correct baseband version, it failed basic tests like memtest:If you’re familiar with the baseband revision history for the 3G iPhone, you may have noticed that the above captures were done at the original 01.45 baseband. As dire (and hardware-related) as these messages sounded, though, there was a simple solution. We just updated to 01.46 and then downgraded again (because we can run unsigned code on the baseband CPU) to 01.45.
We tried to recreate the problem by using the same exploit over again, but it doesn’t appear to be reproducible (which is actually disappointing, as it might have been exploitable).
Anyway, there you go…a random, technical snapshot of dev team work.
So there. The dev team is working on it. For pics and technical stuff, go to there website here.
MacBook
The new MacBook Pros are cool but not really the highlight of Apple’s new releases. No, this time its theMacBook!
The New MacBooks look wonderful and run flawlessly. A huge Improvement over the last models!
For the same $1,299 price of the “middle” MacBook, you get:
That Cheap Plastic Case has vanished! Instead you get the cool aluminum. And yes, the aluminum is in one solid piece = “unibody” as Apple calls it. This does two things: Provides for a more solid construction and less room for manufacturing error.
Size:
- A less than one inch laptop (0.95 inches)
- Height: 0.95 inch
- Width:12.78 inches
- Depth:8.94 inches
- Screen size = 13.3 – nothing too impressive
Expansion and Connections:
- Gigabit Ethernet port
- Two USB 2.0 ports (up to 480 Mbps)
- Mini DisplayPort
- Audio line in
- Audio line out
- Kensington lock slot
Weight: A full half-pound lighter – 4.5 lbs
Battery and Power:
- A full half-hour more battery life – 5 hours
- 45-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery
- 60W MagSafe Power Adapter with cable management system
- MagSafe power port
Graphics:
- Graphic Card = Nvidia Geforce 9400M. Apple claims 5x performance , and with the relative “lightweight” performance of the Intel graphics in previous models, this seems likely.
- Aside from video, the system bus bumps from 800 to 1066MHz.
- LED screens with “instant on” .
Processor:
- 2.0GHz or 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB on-chip shared L2 cache running 1:1 with processor speed
- 1066MHz frontside bus
- 2GB (two 1GB SO-DIMMs) of 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM; two SO-DIMM slots support up to 4GB (Which you don’t really need, but its still a nice available feature for those planning on further upgrading this already amazing machine)
The New Track Pad… isn’t it missing something:
- Full track pad touch gestures (including new ones added today). Previously the full set of gestures was only available on the Pro and Air models.
- The same glass track pad as the Pro models.
- And no “click” button, the actual pad can be pressed down to “click”
Hard-drive Extensions And Back lit Keyboard:
This is clearly an amazing upgrade. For the high end MacBook you spend $100 more than yesterday, but compared to the old laptop at that price you get all the above plus a back lit keyboard. Also, both models now have Hard-drive Extension options for a 320GB drive ).
Yes, there is no Fire-Wire but then again…. not that many people really use it. Still, I wished they would have put that in there just for those who do utilize it (Something to separate the MB from the MBP).
Other Cool things:
- Built-in iSight camera
- Built-in omnidirectional microphone
- Blue-tooth
- Wireless:The latest 802.11n wireless technology
Also…. its Green:
- Highly recyclable aluminum and glass enclosure
- Mercury-free LED-back lit display
- Arsenic-free glass
- BFR-free internal components
- PVC-free internal cables
- Meets ENERGY STAR requirements
- EPEAT Gold rating
Overall: Another great Apple release. Let’s see, much more solid and professional looking. More durable. Better screens. Pretty much all the Pro features except Fire-Wire. Faster performance (especially in graphics). Thinner. Lighter. Same price.
rooster
Ok, here are clarifications and the low-down on everything to do with jailbreaking.
The iPod Touch 1st Gen is jailbreakable using QuickPwn. This is for any 2.0 software and 8.0(1) iTunes. It is also able to be jailbroken if you are running any 1.0 firmware (1.1.4 or 1.1.5 suggested) using ZiPhone.
The iPod Touch 2nd Gen is not yet jailbreakable using any jailbreaking method.
The iPhone 1st Gen can be jailbroken using QuickPwn if running 2.0 firmware or ZiPhone using 1.0 firmware. To unlock it, you must use WinPwn (I suggest this over QuickPwn because of the customization and detali you should put into unlocking a phone).
The iPhone 3G is jailbreakable if you use QuickPwn running 2.0 or ZiPhone with 1.0 BUT it is not yet unlockable.
UPDATE 2: Yeah. I just upgraded to 2.1 and used QuickPwn. That was really easy.
UPDATE: Wow. I forgot about QuickPwn. I think I’ll try that. I’ll see if it works with iTunes 8.0.1.
As some of you might be aware of, the new version of iTunes is 8.0.1 has been out for a couple of days (thanks rooster). You are also aware that the current firmware for iPods and iPhones is 2.1. To my frustration, both of this information means that there is no ability to hack/jailbreak right now.
First off, Zibri (creator of ZiPhone) has not had any impact in the hacker community regarding jailbreaking. I check his site (www.ziphone.org) every day to check for updates. He states that he has a working version running smoothly for himself, but of coures it isn’ yet ready for the public. So yeah, kind of frustrating there.
Secondly, WinPwn (www.winpwn.com) hasn’t been updated since September 14th. I know that might not seem like a long time, but this new firmware has been out for a while and it needs to be jailbroken. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate all of the work that cmw (the main programmer for WinPwn) has done. That is a lot of hard work, and it probably is extremely complicated stuff. But what can I say, I want, no, need to update my iPod.
For those of you who have their iPod jailbroken on 2.0.2 (like me), you know what I am talking about when I say that it is frustrating to have. The firmware is still buggy from its 2.0 status, and it crashes some apps and slows down at awkward moments. Plus, for me, it won’t even sync up to my computer. I have to import my songs using WinSCP and dTunes (a Cydia application). It pretty much sucks right now.
So there. You know my frustration. You hear my pleas. Zibri and cmw, please save us from boredom and give me something to write about, instead of forcing me to just complain in a post.
The iPhone will start selling at Walmart November 15th!
This will boost iPhone sales exponentially. Smart move by Apple. Smart move by Walmart. Just imagine all those non-Internet buying, non-apple store shopping people seeing this amazing phone in stock at their favorite store. The iPhone will now be advertised to all the different types of buyers Walmart has. And because Walmart sells so many different things, this variety is enormous. The timing is also perfect because Black Friday is coming up and christmas shoppers will snag this up like crazy.
Although the iPhone is being sold at other nation wide stores like Best Buy Walmart will have the most affect on actual iPhone sales. But then again there are other things to consider. Walmart will only allow you to buy the phone if you activate it before you exit the store. And, of course… our currently failing world economy.
rooster
Currently the top free app, i.TV amazes…
This app helps you find what shows and movies are playing and on which channel or theatre they are airing at. Find new shows and keep up on old ones. It is a very usefull App for movie and TV show lovers alike.
- 144,000 TV shows
- 5,000 Local Theatres
- 6,000 TV previews and Movie Trailers
- You can also share favorites with your friends and write reviews
What is more exciting than the actual app though, is whats coming in the future.
- Watching Actual TV
- Remote Record TV shows to your DVR
- Mange your Movie Rentals
- Even Buying movie tickets
rooster
This October 14th Apple will hold a special ceremony to introduce new Mac notebooks at its Cupertino-based campus. The Invitations sent to members of the media Thursday included an image of an aluminum Mac notebook with the tagline: “The spotlight turns to notebooks.”
It has been reported that Apple retail stores have been provided with pricing sheets for new MacBook and MacBook Pro models, with prices ranging from $800 to $3100. These prices are pretty aggressive. The current MacBook line is priced between $1099 and $1499, while the MacBook Pro family ranges in cost from $1999 to $2799.
The “Brick Rumors”…..
A new rumor has been released that Apple is going to use a new revolutionary process that would carve a MacBook shell out of a single block of aluminum. This sounds cool but quite honestly unrealistic. Updates on this are pending.
rooster
Verizon introduced the Blackberry Storm today. It includes a 3.2-megapixel camera with autofocus and flash as well as GPS for navigation but lacks Wi-Fi. It’s a touch phone with four buttons on its front side and is overall a pretty impressive phone. It can also operate on a 3G network.
Apple’s “Hello, I’m a Mac” commercials are well-known. To get back into the game Microsoft has recently made their own “I’m a PC” commercial. Something Ironic about this matter (and all you Apple fans will love this) was found in a Computerworld report:
- Four of the images that Microsoft made available on its PressPass site today display the designation “Adobe Photoshop C3 Macintosh” when their file properties are examined. The images appear to be frames from the television ads that Microsoft will launch later today.
I’m sorry all you PC fans but Apple got the better of this one.
Back in September Apple announced the exchange of the iPhone 3G USB Ultra Compact Chargers. Apple had recalled the adapters after receiving reports of the metal prongs breaking off of the adapter and remaining lodged in power outlets, creating the risk of electric shock. They have started shipping them out and they will be available either online at (http://www.apple.com/support/usbadapter/exchangeprogram/) or at an Apple retail store starting October 10th.
The Ultra Compact USB Power Adapter Exchange program allows all those who received the adapters to exchange them for free.
If you are wondering whether your adapter is of the faulty type or new type just look at it. Those with the green dots on the bottom are the new, working, adapters.
The iPhone 3G’s serial number must be shown as part of the exchange process.
Apple just released not only iTunes (8.0.1.) but also the new version of the Apple TV, version 2.2.
New features:
- Support for the Genius
- Support for HD Television Shows
- Numerous bug fixes
- and….
The one bad thing though is the replacement of the wishlist button with the elipsis button. With the old version you could rent/buy/wish and with one click of the remote, be in the bliss of watching your movie or highly anticipating its eventual release. The elipsis button takes you to a new screen whereby you can see more detailed information about the movie and then select whether you want to add it to your Wish List or not. Now this may not seem like a big deal but for previous Apple TV owners it is kind of a pain.
Other than this minor bother its an OK update.
rooster
