Apple is testing the first material update to its iOS 4.0, next-generation iPod touches, an iPad revision, and an “unknown” product.

The latest beta of iOS 4.1 includes three new “Configuration Descriptors” within its USB configuration files – all of which pertain to devices that list “Apple, Inc.” as their “manufacturer” (see screenshot).

The first product, a fourth-generation iPod touch, is referenced as “iPod 4,1.” This year’s iPod touch calls for models akin to iPhone 4, equipped with dual cameras, FaceTime support, Apple’s A4 processor, and Retina Display.

The second product referenced in the USB configuration files is “iProd 2,1.” All indications are that this device represents a material update to the iPad.

Finally, is a previously undiscovered mention of a mysterious device listed as “unknownHardware.” Although the configuration files tag this device with Apple product ID of 20547, it’s textual descriptor is similarly listed as “Unknown- Add device descriptor info for this device.” It’s possible that those place holders are to be dubbed iTV – capable of running App Store applications and based on iOS 4.0 platform.

We’ve gotten exclusive legit details of the upcoming Verizon (unicorn) iPhone 4. The iPhone 4 supposedly will gain a 1.2 GHz next-gen A4 chip, a larger 3.7 inch retina display, an all new internal antenna, all in a more durable design. To be honest that just sounds like the probable iPhone 5 launching in June 2011.

To prove all that, we may say, that Verizon isn’t likely to want launching in January an iPhone 4 that has identical specifications to the current AT&T model. Another possibility, if this is all true, is that the probably iPhone 5 launching in June ‘11 will be the first (AT&T model too) and will carry the rumored features.

Today Apple released patches for its iOS that address a security hole in Mobile Safari, which allowed users to jailbreak their iDevices. The PDF exploit they used also allowed hackers to gain remote control over the device with an iOS.

iOS 4.0.2 is available for:

• iPod touch 2G
• iPod touch 3G
• iPhone 3G
• iPhone 3GS
• iPhone 4.

Apple did NOT release the patch for the first generation iPhones.

iOS 3.2.2 is intended to use on the iPad and iPad 3G.

You can update your device via the links above or simply by connecting your device to iTunes and clicking Update. But note, if you want to continue using jailbreak you should not update your handset/tablet and don’t forget to backup your SHSH blobs.

iSuppli, a market research company, has figured out that a single iPhone 4 16GB cost $187.51 to produce.

The most expensive part of the device is the “retina display”, with its price standing at $28.50. According to iSuppli, it may have been produced by LG Display. The iPhone 4’s A4 processor cost about $10.75 and was made by Samsung Electronics.

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On June, 4 Apple sent a letter to the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) with request to keep new iPhone’s photos and any information about it in secret for forty five days.

Though this is a standard practice for Apple, the situation looks pretty strange as the device’s internals had been already revealed with numerous prototype leaks. But Patently Apple, the company that obtained and published the letter, found the explanation in the document itself:

“Although Apple has begun to market the device publicly, these documents reveal technical and design information that has not yet been publicly disclosed in such marketing and that is protected by Apple as confidential and proprietary secrets”.

AppleInsider created a list of new iPhone’s technical details and features that Apple may want to keep in secret for a while. It includes new features of A4 SoC, details of new frame antenna, new cellular radio support for pentaband UMTS (850/900/1700/1900/2100MHz) 3G bands, details related to possible support of T-Mobile (AWS UMTS IV band) and Verizon/Sprint (CDMA/EVDO) networks.

Apple recentrly released new version of iPhone OS 4. it is called iOS 4.0 GM. Here is an update from DevTeam about iOS 4 jailbreak:

For those who can legitimately activate to the iPhone3G 4.0GM seed, the “point to previous IPSW” redsn0w trick works and will jailbreak your 4.0GM. The “trick” is to point redsn0w at the 4.0beta4 IPSW instead of 4.0GM (do this after you’ve updated to 4.0GM and activated through the new iTunes 9.2 on your Mac). Since the carrier unlocks aren’t yet supported at 4.0, don’t do this if you use yellowsn0w/ultrasn0w/blacksn0w. Many JB apps are still pretty buggy in 4.0, so again this is mostly useful only for developers of those JB apps.

Note: If you’re experiencing MobileSafari crashes, double check that you’re running the version at the bottom of this page.

For those without legit iPhone3G 4.0GM seed access, please wait until the full public 4.0 release for updates to the jailbreak tools.

You can download redsn0w 0.9.5.b4 here.

We’ve published the complete uncut WWDC 2010 Keynote video, where Steve Jobs introduces iPhone 4. It is worth seeing but quite long -- 1 hour and 52 minutes. Just in case you don’t have time, here’s a smaller version -- less than 5 minute long:

We know how the new iPhone 4 compares to the iPhone 3GS. Now it is time to size it against its fiercest competitors from all the major platforms. Take a look at the results against the HTC EVO 4G, Nokia N8, Palm Pre Plus and HTC HD2:

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Thanks to Engadget we now have a spec comparison between the iPhone 4 and the older model iPhone 3GS.

iPhone 4

iPhone 3GS

Steve Jobs responds to a question about data collection and retention with a story about Flurry Analytics.

In his fifth appearance at D: All Things Digital, Steve Jobs speaks with Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher about his well-known issues with Flash. Let’s watch:

Today Engadget revealed new information on the next-gen Apple TV that was received from sources close to Apple.

The architecture of the upcoming device is based on iPhone OS 4, which means it will have the same hardware (A4 system-on-chip) with 16 GB of flash memory, video out and power socket. It will be 1080p HD capable, and will look like “an iPhone without a screen”.
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Yesterday Digitimes posted an interesting interview with its own senior analyst Ming-Chi Kuo who disproved many rumors about upcoming iPhone.

He told that Apple once considered using OLED display in iPhone 3GS, but it was found to be unsuitable for displaying text, and now this is a key direction in which Apple is improving its iPhone since the company promotes iBookstore for it. Moreover, in February scientists unveiled that Apple iPhone 3GS’ LCD display is much better than the OLED screen in Google Nexus One, because the latter doesn’t reproduce colors accurately and has lots of artifacts.

Ming-Chi Kuo also revealed that the work on iPhone 4G was started at the end of 2008. Its codename is N90, and not many people knew about this, but Gizmodo found exactly the N90 prototype. There is another iPhone with codename N91 that is a lesser upgrade that must be used «in case there are major delays [of components] due to significant modifications.

With regard to the iPhone 4G’s processor Ming-Chi Kuo told:

“Since the launch schedule of the Cortex A9 processor is estimated for year’s end and iPhone 4.0 is not ready to fully utilize a multi-core processor, the A4 is the most likely candidate”.

This is not the first words of Ming-Chi Kuo about iPhone 4G, previously we posted another information revealed by him, you can read it here.

Last week Apple has released its iPhone Os 4.0 beta 4 and redsn0w is finally updated to support this as well as beta 1. New version of jailbreak is 0.9.5.b4 and it can be applied on iPhone 3G only(!).

Redsn0w 0.9.5.b4 is targeted at developers who make jailbroken apps, and will not work if you are already using blacksn0w, ultrasn0w or yellowsn0w.

iPhone Dev-Team warns:

“You should stay clear of this beta software if you rely on a carrier unlock.”

To use the jailbreak, follow the guide below:

1. Download redsn0w 0.9.5.b4 here. (Only Mac OS X version since app are developed on this OS).
2. Make sure you have already activated your iPhone 3G with iTunes and your own developer ID.
3. Launch the jailbreak.
4. Select your stock iPhone1,2_4.0_8A274b_Restore.ipsw (beta4) or iPhone1,2_4.0_8A230m_Restore.ipsw (beta1) file that you used to update your firmware.
5. Choose “Install Cydia” and then click “Next”. Use DFU mode to install the redsn0w.
6. When your iPhone 3G comes back up, you will notice Cydia has a blank white icon. It also has no sources so you should go to the Sources panel and add this repo: http://apt.saurik.com/cydia-3.7 (make sure you are connected to the Internet before). When Cydia restarts, you should see its real logo now, and the standard sources should be ready to use.

Hours before we posted photos of another iPhone 4G prototype that were obtained by someone from Vietnamese forum Taoviet. It was revealed that device has a SoC with Apple A4 processor and 256 Megabytes of Samsung DRAM. According to iFixit, the marking “APL0398 339S0084″ indicates the A4 processor, and “K4X2G643GE” goes for 256 Mb Samsung RAM.

“Our engineers are not surprised by this finding. We were very impressed by the extraordinarily low power consumption of the iPad, and remarked at the time that its power consumption and board design was much more in line with handheld devices than laptop computers.”

So now we’re sure that new prototype has the same hardware as in Apple’s iPad. By the way, iPhone 3GS has also 256 Mb of DRAM.

It is also examined that the leaked device has a 16 GB capacity instead of Gizmodo’s “XXGB”, and there are no visible screws on its sites. The new iPhone has a micro-SIM port on its side. A video reveals that new device was turned on but it wasn’t running the iPhone OS.

More photos of iPhone 4G hardware are posted below and here.
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