Archive for July, 2010

Wow! Did you know that Wired magazine already knew about iPad back in 1999? Here is a scan of April 1999 issue, take a look:

“The next iMac attack promises new lollipop laptops, a more serious series of professional machines, and a wireless handheld dubbed the iPad”.

Well, it was known that Steve Jobs thought about iPad before the first iPhone was actually released, but who could think about 1999?

Today Advertising Age reported that Virgin plans to release its new magazine called "Maverick". It will be targeted on the international audience with covering such areas as travel, technology and entrepreneurism. But its main idea is that it will be fully digital, with no print version available anywhere. First of all the app for iPad will be developed, then the content will be brought to iPhone and Android. By making "Maverick" digital only Virgin hopes to substantially reduce costs.

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Yesterday Silicon Alley Insider reported that Palm had a chance to be acquired by Apple, but eventually HP’s bid was higher. Referring to an anonymous source that was familiar with the negotiations, author Dan Frommer wrote:

"Apple was mostly interested in Palm's huge library of intellectual property and patents (450+ patents on file, another 400+ applications on file). And unlike some other bidders, Apple even seemed committed to funding Palm's operations, perhaps to challenge RIM's dominance in the keyboarded segment of the smartphone industry, our source says."

It is reported that Google also wanted to purchase Palm to spite Apple, but the company didn't know whether Apple was actually bidding for Palm, so no moves were made in that direction.

Eventually HP acquired Palm and now has plans to use its webOS in company's future tablet devices that will compete with Apple's iPad.

According to Wall Street Journal, Apple will not recall those 2 million iPhones 4 that have been already shipped worldwide.

The source, which is familiar with the matter, told that Jobs knew about possible antenna issues nearly a year ago, but he was so amazed by new design that "Apple went ahead with its development". That person also confirmed that the problem was not discovered until now because the units that were tested by the company and its carrier partners were covered in different cases to obscure the design and some functions.

"Those test phones are specifically designed so the phone can't be touched, which made it hard to catch the iPhone 4's antenna problem".

Moreover, carrier partners had limited time to test the new phone, not to mention that Apple equipped them with "fewer devices to test than other handset makers."

Today Apple is going to hold a special press conference about iPhone 4, so there are all chances the true story about antenna issue will finally be revealed.

Here's what hackers tweeted about new Apple firmwares 4.0.1 for iPhones and 3.1.2 for iPad:

DevTeam:

As with *any* new FW, jailbreakers + unlockers must avoid this upcoming 4.1 update until our tools are updated

3GS, ipt3G, iPhone4 users (regardless of current FW or JB status) should backup 4..0 SHSH blobs http://is.gd/dskh9 soon

MuscleNerd:

Obviously avoid today's 4.0.1 update until JB tools are updated. Luckily, no baseband change so ultrasn0w lives on

each FW version has unique blobs. But using http://is.gd/dskh9 you can get 4.0 blobs on PC while you stay at 3.1.2

Hah for those iPhone3G or ipt2g(non-MC) users at 4.1beta1: use redsn0w from 2 wks ago to JB http://is.gd/dstU3

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Following the release of the 4.0.1 firmware for iPhone and 3.2.1 for iPad Apple has released the SDK to go with it. Although the update seems like nothing, and is really is nothing, developers need to update in order to run their apps on new iOS 4.0.1 iPhone or 3.2.1 iPad.

Apple has just released iOS 4.0.1 for iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4. The free update fixes the issue with signal indication - the math formula to display the iPhone's service signal bars. Official changelog for iOS 4.0.1:

• Improves the formula to determine how many bars of signal strength to display

The updates for the iPad OS 3.2.1 are:

• Improved Wi-Fi connectivity
• Fixed an issue that could prevent copy and paste of single-page PDF attachments in Mail
• Addressed an issue that could cause video playback to freeze
• Improved reliability of video-out when using iPad Dock Connector to VGA Adapter
• Added Bing as an option for Safari's search field

You can get the update right now via these links:

• iPhone 4 - 4.0.1
• iPhone 3GS - 4.0.1
• iPhone 3G - 4.0.1
• iPad - 3.2.1

Here is a screenshot of the new signal bars:

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The release of the iPhone 4 turned out to be one of the most favourable developments for Apple for all the time. However the situation is deteriorating because there have already been calls to withdraw iPhone 4. Supposedly Apple released the iPhone knowing about the problems with the antenna reception. The company seems to have not focused too much on testing the phone by wireless communications experts.

Now it is called ‘Antenagate’, and this could have some very negative consequences for Apple. This topic has caused strong public reaction, and a Washington senator has requested Steve Jobs to find a solution without prejudice to the customers.

On 16 July Apple plans to hold a press conference.

Here is a video of a guy who tried to reproduce the antenna issue on the iPhone 4 with a latest iOS 4.1 beta. As you see, the smartphone loses two bars when he holds it with a "death grip", so it looks like the problem with antenna wasn’t actually fixed.

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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Guys from iPhoneHellas.gr report that iOS 4.0.1 may be released today. Such information was received from some "reliable" source, and it looks like true as earlier this site has already been proven to be reliable channel of information.

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.

This video is made to look like an official Apple promo video, however it is certainly not. The topic is iPhone 4 antenna. Funny, take a look:

PlanetBeing successfully unlocked the iPhone 4 yesterday. Today he posted a video clip:

DevTeam hacker Planetbeing has just announced that the iPhone 4 has been successfully unlocked.

Looks like I now have an unlocked iPhone 4.

My soft-unlocked iPhone 4 (in Canada). I'll have video in a couple of hours once I can top-up the SIM. http://twitpic.com/24ycdv

DevTeam congratulated planetbeing in team's official twitter:

Congrats to @planetbeing for first ever soft-unlocked iPhone4 http://is.gd/dqwvv (now to streamline it!)

Musclenerd also mentioned one interesting fact:

We think we have 3 different ways to unlock once inside BB (the 3rd way was first to fully work for @planetbeing !)

Congratulations for accomplishing this in such a short time. The unlock will be publicly available shortly after comex releases his jailbreak utility for iOS 4.

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