Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO, confirmed that the new software update iOS 4.x will appear in the near future to correct performance problems on the iPhone 3G, which works on iOS 4.x. He confirmed it while answering to the email he got from a user who was disappointed with the iPhone 3G performance running on iOS 4, describing it as “dog slow”.

Although he did not mention a specific version or date of its release we can guess that he was specking about iOS 4.1, which is going to be released next month, when iTV (Apple TV) and the next generation iPod touch will spotlight.

Have you already updated your device to the version iOS4 and want to unlock your 3GS? Firstly there was Redsn0w, now PwnageTool is available, which can easily help you. Here is a simple and easy course for jailbreaking of your device. Warning: this is not an official release and therefore may be some bugs that can destroy your device or delete some important information. So be careful while using it!

As you may know, iOS4 has new features that allow parents or even companies to limit an access to the system for their children or employees respectively.  Currently an access to Safari, YouTube, camera controls, location services and iTunes content including music, TV, movies, software and podcasts (that satisfy given rating threshold) may be blocked.

But the latest developer builds of iOS 4.1, which in turn must appear in a couple of months, include new restrictions related to the Game Center. The latter will allow players to find other players or teams for group play and track their game scores and in-game achievements, but new restrictions will make it possible for parents to prohibit their children from playing against any other user without supervision.

Screenshots that reveal these options are posted above.

According to UBM TechInsights, Apple had been testing an InvenSense gyroscope in its iPad prototypes, but final version of the next-gen iPad will use a component from STMicroelectronics, which is also used in the iPhone 4. The company’s product manager Steve Bitton wonders why there is no gyroscope in the current iPad.

“It seemed strange at the time that a product like the iPad would have been designed to not include a gyroscope but an iPhone 4 that was being designed at around the same time would”.

Moreover, Bitton disassembled an iPad and found an empty space where gyroscope exactly fits. And if InvenSense unit requires 24 pads, STMicro L3G4200D unit needs only 16 pads and is already used in the iPhone 4, so it obviously will be easier for Apple to use a component, which is also already supported by an iOS4.

“Apple probably chose to wait until the next iteration of the iPad to introduce gyroscope capabilities [and plans] to use [the] ST Micro’s L3G4200D to reduce the amount of [software] development required”.

Today iPhone and iPad Box.net apps were upgraded and now allow saving necessary files for offline access, which means that with a new version you can use Box.net services even if no Internet connection available. When collaborator makes changes to documents on any of the Box platforms, previously saved files may be synchronized with its updated versions. The update also includes iOS4 support, high-res graphics and fast app switching.

One of the Box.net’s co-founders Aaron Levi said that the investments in the mobile strategy are caused by several facts. First of all, the increasing number of business tasks may be now performed on mobile devices and everybody should take it into account. Besides that the service’s competitors like Microsoft Sharepoint haven’t yet created strong mobile offerings, which is a chance for Box.net to increase its share on this market.

At the moment iPhone and iPad apps that implement Box.net services have been downloaded 150 000 times. Levie said that up next are Blackberry and Android apps.

Having problems activating your iPhone? Don’t have original SIM-card? Cannot get passed emergency unlock screen? We have a solution:

If you have iPhone 3G, just use redsn0w to jailbreak and hactivate. If you have iPhone 3GS or iPhone 4 follow these instructions:

If you are already Jailbroken:

So you have an iPhone with iOS 4.0, but don’t have the original SIM and stuck on the Emergency Call Screen:

1. Download ifunbox software (download link)
2. Run ifunbox software and sync with phone
3. Go to /private/var/root/Library/, delete original lockdown folder and put this lockdown folder after you extract it from the zip file
4. Restart phone

If you are not jailbroken

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So you upgraded your iPhone 3G to firmware iOS 4 (or 4.0.1) and you want version 3.1.3 back? CNet specialists will show us how to do it:

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Yesterday Apple released iOS 4.1 beta 3 for developers. Build number is 8B5097d for the firmware and 10M2308 for the SDK. Here is what’s new in beta 3:

• A revised API that allows applications to have an access to contact thumbnail pics;
• Media playback enhancements, which include new classes in AV Foundation, related to batched playback, writing/reading and file compression;
• New features of Game Center: now players can track their in-game achievements and game scores on leaderboards and find teams for group play. But it was also found that Game Center is no longer supported for iPod touch 2G and iPhone 3G, though it is unknown whether it is a permanent change or not.

Final release of iOS 4.1 is expected to be shipped in September or October.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple started to investigate the compatibility problems of iOS4 and iPhone 3G. The company’s spokesman explained that such a decision was made because of numerous user reports, which reveal that after installing iOS4 on iPhone 3G the latter started to work more slowly, became overheated and its battery life had significantly decreased.

Some people are annoyed and disappointed because of the situation:

“This phone has gone from being a dream to constantly annoying me. Not a way to make friends. I would upgrade to an iPhone4, but I’m feeling pretty angry that Apple has forced my hand by making my 3G unusable”.

iOS4 version for iPhone 3G does not support multitasking and Bluetooth keyboards, which was disabled because of RAM requirements, according to Apple.

This week developers started receiving Microsoft’s test units, which will allow them to test the performance of their apps for WP7 instead of using an emulator. The test smartphones are produced by Samsung and LG and have a Technical Preview version of Windows Phone 7, and guys at NewsGeek decided to compare its browser speed with iPhone 3GS’ that runs on iOS 4.

Since the difference in speed is so huge it is noted that both of the phones used 3G network (not Wi-Fi) and iPhone 3GS is a completely finished product, while Samsung’s test unit is a prototype with an unfinished OS that is still in development.

Newsgeek also found Internet Explorer in the Windows Phone 7 to be “surprisingly competent and quick” though it was mostly built off of IE7’s desktop version.

Today Skype released a new version with support of multitasking (iTunes link).

What’s New In Version 2.0.1

- Run Skype in the background with multitasking in iOS4.
Receive Skype calls and IM while other apps are running or when your iPhone is locked. You can also continue your call while you switch to another application.
Multitasking is available only with iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS.

Apple released iOS 4.1 beta and SDK for developers. Here is a quick look at the changes:

1. Larger signal bars.



2. New look of Game Center.



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Today, Apple has released iOS 4.1 beta for developers. The SDK and a beta OS install for iOS devices is now available via Apple developers site. We will update with new features as we find them, including antenna fixes.

John Lewis from Electricpig.co.uk received new rumors from his suppliers about next-gen iPod touch. Here is a list of innovations that will be likely added to the new device:

• FaceTime support;
• 5-megapixel camera;
• front-facing camera;
• LED flash;
• Ability to capture video in HD;
• support for iOS4;
• gyroscope (to be precisely, he said the device “will also offer the same movement sensors as the iPhone 4″).

As we see, new iPod touch will be pretty much the same as the new iPhone (but without phone functions, of course). The new device will be probably presented on the next Apple’s music event in September.

Here is a small comment from MuscleNerd about the upcoming iOS 4 jailbreak:

the next jailbreak from @comex is like first Spirit..all devices, all bootroms, latest FW, painless install

Sounds nice!