Hasta La Gadget!

A hacker has made good on Apple’s warnings about security issues on jailbroken iPhones: Owners of infected handsets are greeted by a new wallpaper featuring the image of 80s pop star Rick Astley and the message, “ikee is never gonna give you up.” iPhone owners, you’ve just been Rickrolled.

The worm reportedly doesn’t do anything malicious–well, nothing more malicious than resurrecting an old 4chan prank. Of course, this may well just be a proof of concept hack from its programmer; the door to more malicious attacks, it seems, is now wide open.

We’re just about a week away from the Orange iPhone launch, and if you folks across the pond were wondering what the deal was going to cost you, you now have your answer thanks to a dizzying but thoroughly helpful series of tables that lay out the costs of the phones, plans, and the various accoutrement to be included. Those willing to sign up for 24 months can get an 8GB iPhone 3G for free for a minimum of £29.36 ($48) per month, but step up to the £122.34 ($200) monthly plan with unlimited everything and you’ll get a 32GB 3GS gratis. Meanwhile, on a pay as you go plan that same 8GB 3G will cost you £343 ($561), while the 32GB 3GS is a rather more painful £539 ($881 — haven’t you figured out the conversion rate yet?). You know what that means: contract ahoy.

Filed under: Cellphones

Orange UK’s iPhone contract & pay as you go pricing plans detailed originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In addition to revamping its MacBook line Tuesday, Apple also unveiled a new remote for the iPhone, iPod, or Mac as well as upgrades to the AirPort Extreme Base Station and Time Capsule.

The Apple Remote will allow users to control an iPod that is connected to a home stereo, powered speakers, or TV set, provided you have an iPod Universal Dock, an iPod with a dock connector, or any iPhone.

“Ready to move on to the next song? No need to get up. Just press the Next button on the Apple Remote. Getting a call on your iPhone? Press Pause, then pick up where you left off,” Apple said on its Web site.

The remote is also compatible with any Mac introduced in 2005 or later that has a built-in infrared receiver. “When you press the Menu button, your desktop fades and the sleek Front Row interface takes its place to give you control over your music in iTunes, your photos in iPhoto, the videos in your Movies folder, and your DVDs,” Apple said.

The remote retails for $19.

Meanwhile, Apple has made improvements in antenna design on the AirPort Extreme Base Station. The upgrades will provide up to 50 percent better performance and up to 25 percent better range than previous base stations, Apple said. The device will run you $179.

Finally, the $299 Time Capsule now includes new technologies and refinements intended to make backing up the device in Snow Leopard 60 percent faster than before.

Apple will open its fourteenth retail store in New York on Saturday, October 17, in Manhasset. The store will open its doors at 10 A.M., and the first 1,000 visitors will receive an Apple t-shirt, according to an e-mail from Apple.

The Apple Store Manhasset will be located at 1900 Northern Boulevard, on the North Shore of Long Island, about 15 miles east of La Guardia International Airport.

Other stores in NY include those in Albany, Buffalo, Garden City, Huntington Station, Lake Grove, Staten Island, Syracuse, Victor, West Nyack, and White Plains, and three stores in Manhattan.