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When Apple products don’t “just work”

Bad Apple Products loves to tout that PC users should switch to Macs because they “just work”. Now, we’ve enjoyed what has been a mostly blissful love affair with Apple products over the past few years, save for a few problems here and there. When an issue has come up, we’ve found that Apple was quick to the rescue (in some cases, we needed to make sure we were actually at a Genius Bar that was competent) and fixed our issues. Sure, the has had a few annoyances here and there, but overall, we’ve been pleased.

However, our pal Xavier over at Notebooks.com has recently experienced what has to be one of the oddest bouts of bad luck with Apple products I’ve ever seen. From two dead iMacs, to a completely dead MacBook Pro battery, to multiple iPhones malfunctioning. To top all that off, he is even experiencing the delay of a third-party Apple accessory he is waiting on, because the manufacturer is saying Apple is taking their time on certifying the product.

It happens to all companies out there friends. Even the “almighty” Apple isn’t immune. Hit the Read More link below for the full scoop.

Read More | Notebooks

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iPhone Dev Team jailbreaks and unlocks iPhone 2.0

iPhone 2.0 jailbroken

In an absurd turn of events, the iPhone Dev Team has announced that they’ve completely unlocked the upcoming software that we are all waiting to get access to come this June. Even better, it is a full unlock as opposed to a simple jailbreak. Custom hacked firmware, ready to run and install any application, whether is is unsigned or “Apple Approved.” Better still, the Dev Team believes that this is a hole that is going to have a very difficult time closing. I guess I should have known when my pal Nate True informed me a while back that, until Apple releases new iPhone hardware, the method used for breaking in will continue to work, regardless of any changes made to the software. This is all part of the Pwnage Project.

We love it.

Read More | ModMyiFone

Why is Apple stalling Flash on the iPhone?

iPhone flashA few weeks ago, we reported that sources revealed to us that Flash on the iPhone was coming soon. At the time, we felt very strongly that the reasons we stated were sound and accurate. Then, a few days ago, Steve Jobs stated that Flash wouldn’t be coming to the because it was “too slow to be useful” and that Flash Lite was “not capable of being used with the web.”

So we started getting comments on our last entry, like this one, saying that we were wrong. The iPhone 1.1.4 release came and went, as did the announcement. Nothing from Apple regarding Flash, until Jobs said it was a no go. So we went back to our source, who was - and still is - 100% convinced that these are just stall tactics.

Click to continue reading Why is Apple stalling Flash on the iPhone?


Gameloft To Create iPhone Games

iPod GamesGameloft, who already creates mobile games for the iPod, has announced that this year it will bring about 15 games to market for the iPhone. They will be using Apple’s SDK and are thrilled that they will have a new venue.

Michel Guillemot, President of Gameloft, said, “The release of the SDK is a tremendous opportunity for Gameloft to apply its creative and innovative approach to mobile gaming.”

The App Store will open in June with Gameloft’s products as well as other applications.

Read More | I4U News

iPhone SDK released, available for download

iPhone SDK released

has officially announced the , and it is amazing. In fact, the SDK gives third-party developers access to the exact same tools, APIs, and Cocoa Touch framework that Apple has been using to design their own iPhone apps. This includes features like location-aware applications, hardware-accelerated 3D graphics, the 3-axis accelerometer, and complete access to the media features available on the . The SDK is built right in to Xcode, which includes an iPhone emulator, called iPhone Simulator. This let’s you test your applications without having to load them onto an actual iPhone, where you might end up with a bricked device. When you are ready to test on your actual phone, it is simple to send your app over to the iPhone for real-world testing.

Exciting, right? If you want to give it a shot, the SDK toolset is available for all to download - free of charge. You won’t be able to send your apps to your iPhone unless you are selected to participate in the iPhone 2.0 firmware update beta program, but hey, that’s what iPhone Simulator is for.

Read More | iPhone SDK

ActiveSync licensed for iPhone by Apple

iPhone exchangeMany, many people have been waiting for official Exchange support, and Apple has finally responded. The company has licensed ActiveSync from Microsoft, which will make the iPhone fully compatible with Exchange. That means:

  • Push email
  • Push contact syncing
  • Push calendar syncing
  • Remote wipe to clear data off device if lost

All of this ActiveSync goodness will be available with the software update, which Apple says will be released in June.


FMJ Earbuds Complement iPhones

FMJ EarphonesAnother company catering to the iPhone crowd is Skullcandy with their FMJ Earphones. They feature a coiled metal cable at a length of 1.1 meters and an in-line mic. The 11mm buds have a frequency range of 16Hz to 20KHz and an impedance of 500mW. Although they are after Apple devotees, the 3.5mm gold plated plug will work with Blackberry Curves and other handhelds and phones. In a choice of black, chrome, or silver, expect availability around the first two weeks of March with a price of $79.95.

Read More | Skullcandy

iPhone SDK Apple Event on March 6

iPhone SDK

Amidst all the excitement about the new announcements yesterday (Penryn Macbooks and MacBook Pros, plus iPhone 1.1.4 firmware), many were left wondering just where the heck the promised had gone. After all, we’d been promised by Steve Jobs himself that it would appear in late February. As it turns out, Apple will be holding another of their Town Hall-type events on March 6, which will specifically deal with both the iPhone SDK as well as “some exciting new enterprise features.” On the invitation itself, you see a Software Update sign, an SDK sign, and an Enterprise sign. Yeah, fairly vague, we know. Still, it is a promising sign. Now we just wait for March 6.


iPhone 1.1.4 Firmware Update now available, already jailbroken

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Software,

iPhone 1.1.4 firmware

Looks like we have new firmware as well this morning! In addition to refreshing their MacBook and MacBook Pro lines to Penryn processors, has also released the new iPhone 1.1.4 firmware. Go ahead and check for a new update after connecting your iPhone to iTunes. Of course, if you are

jailbroken or

unlocked, you may want to wait for a bit while everything gets figured out. Apple is saying this release is all about bug fixes - but we are hoping there is also some iPhone SDK magic in there somewhere.

EDIT: Okay, if you are jailbroken, go ahead and update. ZiPhone still works, and will jailbreak the just-released 1.1.4 firmware update…although the developer recommends waiting until he can fully test. Your call.


Apple Drops iPod shuffle Price to $49

iPod shuffleApple has lowered the price of its 1GB iPod shuffle. The musical mini-player has been reduced to $49.00 to make way for its soon to be released 2GB brother. At a size of about half a cubic inch in volume and a weight of about half an oz., the shuffle will come in silver, blue, green, purple, and a (Product) Red Special Edition, and will carry a price of $69.99. We like the idea that as more products are released, Apple has the sense to lower the old shuffle’s price, rather than charge more for the new one. Maybe they will do the same with their next iPhone.

Read More | Apple

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