A robot hobbyist has developed an application that lets the iPhone 3GS function as the brain and face of a miniature humanoid robot.
The body of the robot — named “Robochan” — consists of a Kondo KHR-2HV humanoid. The iPhone head, which attaches to the body via the dock connector, displays various facial expressions while functioning as the controller. Using Robochan’s iPhone interface, the user can program it to function as an alarm clock, dance to music, and perform other moves based on user interaction.
Solopalmari made a comparison between the 4 devices: iPhone 3GS, Nokia N97, HTC Touch Pro2 and HTC Hero. For each of these we will see a photo (click to zoom) and a video (download). For each device Solopalmari specialists calculated a rating based on test results. And the winner is.. let's see:
iPhone 3GS (Solopalmari camera rating 6.5):
You can also take a look at the video, download it here.
The Dev-Team, after a little advice last night, has released an updated for ultrasn0w, the tool that provides unlock for the iPhone 3G and 3GS.
Through a message on Twitter we found out that this new version fixes a slight bug that appeared when we turn off Airplane mode. So if you have problems - go ahead and update. The update is also recommended for everybody else.
Avaliable in Cydia, repository http://repo666.ultrasn0w.com.
DevTeam updated ultrasn0w. They removed the daemon and used ideas of GeoHot's purplesn0w, but implemented these ideas in a better safer way. New ultrasn0w 0.9 uses 152 bytes of baseband RAM, which is 6900 timesless than purplesn0w. They also use mobile substrate to patch CommCenter, instead of patching the file itself.
Here is a list of features from DevTeam.
Works on both 3G and 3GS.
Works on hacktivated devices.
Works regardless of how you jailbroke your device.
Doesn’t patch any mach-o binary whatsoever. (Doesn’t require a separate patch as each new firmware comes out).
Doesn’t install any additional daemon
Has no race conditions, no popups about “Missing SIM”, no network issues
Is almost 7000 times smaller than its nearest competition
Apple released new SDK and new firmware and 3.1 beta 2. Unless you have a developer account with Apple, don't plugging your iPhone into iTunes, you're not going to have access to it. However here is an unofficial changelist:
Minor release focused more to fix the bugs.
New APIs for video and images.It appears that there will be many applications in AppStore, suitable to apply effects on a video or create animated slideshow.
Xcode bug-fixes.
More items have been localized, such as "In Play", "Request access WiFi".
Developers will be able to use WiFi for debuging, etc.
Baseband is now version 05:10:01.This means that all those who use unlock - do not update yet.
The iPhone is heated much less.
Old method to turn tethering on does not work anymore.
UPDATE: Here are direct links to download firmware 3.1 b2:
Many users are waiting for iPhone navigation software from TomTom. But it looks like TomTom will create a complete solution with a hardware part. They plan to create TomTom GPS Kit that will have additional GPS (more accurate), docking station, charger and probably a loudspeaker.
The devices that will support this kit are iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G and even iPod Touch and iPhone 2G.
Geohot, the creator of purplera1n, has just released his own iPhone 3GS software unlock and named it purplesn0w. Who is purplesn0w for? If you own a jailbroken iPhone 3GS running firmware 3.0 and you want to unlock it to use it with another carrier (T-Mobile only in the USA), then purplesn0w is for you. Are you experiencing wifi/battery/other unlocking problems after using ultrasn0w? Then I highly recommend you try purplesn0w. Geohot says that it’s the best unlock out there.
purplesn0w doesn't run any deamon (resident app) on the iPhone, it just patches three files: CommCenter, lockdownd, and wildcard. You need an activated device in order to use purplesn0w, this is a minus.
Here is how to install purplesn0w:
Make sure you have an activated iPhone 3GS. If you have T-Mobile make sure you disable 3G in the settings.
Open Cydia, and add http://apt.geohot.com to your sources
Install the com.geohot.purplesn0w package
Watch for the success output in Cydia
Reboot your iPhone 3GS
Once you have followed the steps above, your iPhone 3GS should be unlocked.
Update: Geohot has also posted technical details of purplesn0w here along with the source code of purplesn0w. He plans to release an updated version of purplesn0w with hactivation support.
In order to understand the true power of the new iPhone 3GS let's do some tests on the new Apple device using the Backgrounder. You have about 150MB of RAM free, so you can open several applications and games at the same time and get good results. Here's the list:
Applications
Weathereye
Random Facts
Chalky
Google Apps
Phone
Mail
Games
Assassin's Creed
Metal Gear Solid Touch
Real Racing
Games listed above are among those that require a lot of resources. However, the device continued to function without major delays. Here is a video demonstration:
Quantum Collapse is one of the best games RTS (Real Time Strategy) games for iPhone and iPod Touch. The game was released less than a month ago and has already been updated to version 1.1. Regular price is $3.99, but it is on sal enow for $0.99 (AppStore link). There is also a free lite version (AppStore link).
Features:
13 Campaign missions providing more than 8 hours of gameplay
11 Skirmish missions with 3 different AI Types.
Amazing Particle Effects and Explosions
2 Completely different factions with unique designs and powers
Voxel generated terrain (no repetitive tilemaps)
Map Zoom.
Each unit has a unique powerup. Some super units have up to 6 of them.
Spell system enables you to take a huge part in the battle.
In next version developers will implement multiplayer with voice-chat. Note for iPhone 3GS users: the game has graphical glitches on the iPhone 3GS. Developers found the solution and the fix is on it's way.
VolumeBooster is a tool that, by changing some system files, should increase the sound coming from the speaker of the iPhone / iPod Touch 2G by 20%.
The procedure for the installation is simple, run Cydia and find "Volume Boost", available in the repository ModMyi. It works thriugh Winterboard, after installation you need to apply the Mod. VolumeBooster is compatible with all firmware versions.
Note: Do not install on the iPhone 3GS, because the audio there is already set to 100%.
Now everyone will know that the DevTeam and GeoHot are no longer in good terms and in fact shortly after the release of Redsn0w 0.8, the tool to run the jailbreak of Firmawre 3.0, there were many discussions on Twitter between GeoHot and copumpkin, one of the DevTeam members.
GeoHot complained that redsn0w uses the same "hole" and the same exploit to run the iPhone 3GS Jailbreak, copumpkin said that the flaw was the same but the exploit was completely different and created entirely by them. Not trusting, GeoHot asked repeatedly Hash codes (the identity) for the files needed to run the exploit and said that it had not been a good idea to release two programs that use the same "hole" (stealing?).
GeoHot also said, that redsn0w has problems (which is true, some users have reported problems) and so he plans to release a new better version of Purplera1n. It will probably will also unlock the iPhone.