iPhone firmware 2.0.2 released
Well okay, we don’t know if it’s angry or not, but you can bet your bottom dollar that the 2.0.2 update of Apple’s phone OS is out there for your downloading pleasure (via iTunes, specifically). So far, all we know is that this iteration tackles those pesky “bugs,” but what those exact bugs are, we couldn’t say… nor could Apple. We’re grabbing now and will update with any exciting developments.
Update: Well we’ve got the new firmware up and running, and it’s true — those bugs have been fixed. Which bugs? Well, it’s still hard to say, but our voice suddenly sounds deeper, and we’ve noticed improved grammar during calls.
Pwnage 2.0.2 released
Well, judging by the dozens of tips we just got, it’s time to once again get your Pwnage on with version 2.0.2 (which was released to counter the, um, “fixes” in iPhone firmware 2.0.1). As usual, hit up the read link.
WinPwn 2.0.0.4 is out as well.
iPhone 2.0.1 now available through iTunes
Well, finally. iPhone firmware 2.0.1 has just been released by Apple, and we’re hoping it solves the myriad problems introduced by 2.0: crashing apps, interminable keyboard delays, choppy scrolling — you know what we’re talking about. We’re pulling down the 250MB file now, we’ll let you know how things turn out — won’t you do the same?
Update: Well, it took its sweet time to install, but things seem a little tighter and snappier all around. We’ll give it a day or so of actual usage before we pronounce things A-OK, though — how’s it going for you?
Windows iPhone 3G jailbreak tool released
Sure, it was already possible (if complicated) to jailbreak a first-gen iPhone running the 2.0 software under Windows, but this is the one-click tool all you crazy cats with those extra G’s need if you don’t have a Mac — too bad no one’s come up with a better name than “pwn” yet. Please, people. Let’s do better.
PS.- As usual, you run the risk of totally destroying your phone mucking around with this stuff, so don’t say we didn’t warn you.
Update: winpwn.com is down already
iPhone 3G SIM unlock demoed on video
We’ve already seen the iPhone 3G got unlocked to function on any carrier (and you can already buy unlocked versions in several countries), but we haven’t seen a locked handset get unlocked via software only, and the folks at gsmphone-unlocking have the first video we’ve seen of Steve’s newest baby doing the SIM swap dance without any adapters. Yep, there it is, going from Rogers to Fido. Sadly, the video is more of a shameless ploy for publicity than actually useful information, and until we’re told otherwise, we’re just going to assume that they’ve just gotten hold of an early copy of the Dev Team’s unlocking tool — which should be free to the public sometime soon. So, you know: video after the break, but feel free to ignore the obnoxious phone numbers and URLs.
DataCase App Brings File Browser & Wireless Data Transfer to iPhone & iPod touch
Being able to use the iPhone or iPod touch for basic data storage and file browsing has been a missing feature for over a year now. But an app called DataCase, available July 28, claims it will finally turn the iPhone or iPod touch into a “handheld wireless drive.” DataCase uses Bonjour in the same manner as Air Disk—which means the iPhone’s drive will automatically appear in a Mac’s finder. Once you have files on the iPhone, you can browse, view and even delete them. Since the app works with any “wirelessly capable computer,” PCs and Linux are also supported. For only $7 bucks this apps sounds way too good to be true. Let’s hope it isn’t. [DataCase]
iPhone 3G Unlocked with SIM Card Adapter
Just four days after its launch, the iPhone 3G has been unlocked for the first time exactly like the original iPhone: using a special card that piggybacks to your SIM card, fooling the phone into thinking it’s using an official carrier. While this is not the software unlock being developed by the usual suspects, the video clearly shows that it works fine.
Breno MacMasi, one of the Brazilian guys who achieved this, told us how it works:
Our procedure consist in using one SIM adapter to simulate a fake IMSI test card. Instead of the AT&T IMSI like in the universals.
In other words, like the original SIM card hacks for the iPhone classic, this method forges the International Mobile Subscriber Identity, making the phone believe it’s working in the network in which it’s supposed to work. There’s no word yet on the availability of this hack, but we will keep all of those who don’t want to pay roaming charges updated. [Techguru]
iPhone 3G Jailbroken
After unlocking and jailbreaking iPhone OS 2.0, the iPhone Dev Team has now liberated the new iPhone 3G, only five days after launch. This means a Pwnage tool that will allow you to install the unofficial applications that Apple doesn’t want you to have in your iPhone—like video recording apps or game emulators—alongside with the App Store ones. The upcoming Pwnage will support the classic iPhone, the iPod touch, and the iPhone 3G. The video shows it works great:
We can’t wait for the tool to be released. [iPhone Dev Blog]
iPhone Tetris App
The App: Tetris with excellent touch implementation. In a matter of seconds anyone will be comfortably rotating, placing and flicking blocks around the screen, and the block placement preview is a welcome addition.
The Price: $9.99
The Verdict: Tetris isn’t exactly the most ambitious project for a company like EA Games. That’s probably why the company’s iPhone port is just, well, overdone. A good Tetris implementation - one that would have been wildly successful on its own - wasn’t enough for EA, who’ve loaded this port up with so much crap that it sometimes doesn’t even run. EA obviously wanted to use a bit of the iPhone’s rendering capabilities, but the graphics are gaudy to the point of distraction. Starting or resuming a basic game takes quite a while because of the layers of menus and loading screens, and the secondary gameplay modes and Magic Mode tools will be ignored by most. On our 3G iPhone, the app would often freeze at startup, a problem that has been reported elsewhere among iPhone and iPod owners. An update is forthcoming that should address stability issues as well as introduce a feature that allows you to draw your upcoming shape directly.
These inspired features, though, are sullied by the showy, buggy execution. Anyone looking for a simple, clean port like Tris (from the jailbreak days. See you soon, Tris…) should probably pass on this $9.99 monster as you can expect a decent competitor to pop up at a lower price point, if not for free. Also, there are already web apps that offer a traditional (though gestureless) Tetris experience in your browser that don’t have a 40 second startup time. One more sticky point: if you exit out of the game to check email or take a call and return, it will save your game state. But to start playing again you have to sit through 10 seconds of the intro movie. Freaking annoying and a waste of battery.
iPhone 2.0 Tips: Firmware 2.0 Has A New URL Trick
Just a quick note for you iPhone 2.0 users regarding entering domain names. In the original firmware there was a handy “.com” button when entering URLs, but you had to manually type “.org” and “.net” and “.co.uk” and other domain suffixes. Now, though, you simply hold down the “.com” button and presto, you’re offered the above mentioned options as one-click entries. Why this was a priority on Apple’s iPhone to-do list and cut-and-paste wasn’t is puzzling, but we’re still glad it’s there. [TUAW]
