Hasta La Gadget!

This article was written on December 19, 2008 by CyberNet.

I’ve been an iPhone owner for about a year now, and I have jailbroken it off and on throughout the time that I’ve owned it. When I first got the device I jailbroke it to play with some of the apps people were developing, but I really didn’t see any that were must-haves, and they especially didn’t touch the quality of what’s available in the official App Store today. So my iPhone never stayed jailbroken for long.

It’s a different story for me now. I jailbroke my iPhone 3G for the first time about a month and a half ago, and couldn’t imagine having it any other way. Why is that? Here are my reasons:

1. Run apps in the background – There is a free program available through the repositories that will allow you to run any iPhone app in the background. I like to listen to streaming Internet radio stations while doing other things on my phone, and this is really the only solution for doing that.
2. Try out paid App Store apps before you buy them – This is reason enough to jailbreak your iPhone. Basically how this works is you can install any app from the App Store (yes, including paid ones) without dropping a dime. You’ll want to become familiar with sites such as Appulo.us, which are where you can download the “cracked” apps from. You’ll also need to install an app from the repositories that will basically tell iTunes it’s okay to sync the stuff you haven’t actually purchased.
3. Easy tethering solution – Another program in the repositories, called PDANet, is the ultimate tethering program. It’s free if all you want it for is HTTP access, but if you cough up the $30 you can also use things like VPN access. There is little to no configuration to get it running… just connect to your device like you would a router, and you’ll be on your merry way.
4. Backup app configurations – Chronus can also be found in the repositories, and is an extremely valuable tool when it comes down to backing up the configuration/settings of your apps. You can then email yourself the backups you made so that they are safely tucked away off the device in case anything should happen to your iPhone. If you pay the $7.99 for Chronus you’ll even be able to backup all of your programs in a single click.

Those are the reasons that I have so far for jailbreaking my iPhone. I know what you’re thinking about number 2… how could I “steal” apps from the developers without actually paying for them? I’ve actually bought more apps now than before I jailbroke my phone. Why is that? I’m able to see what programs I find useful and fun instead of relying solely on the reviews in the App Store. I’ve pretty much committed to myself that if I keep an app for more than a week that I’ll go ahead and buy it. It’s inevitable that some people may use this method as a way to get programs illegally, but I use it more as a way to “try before I buy.” Not only that but iTunes won’t automatically update these cracked apps for you, and if you like to stay on top of updates you’ll probably want to purchase them.

What about you? Do you have an iPhone or iPod Touch that you’ve decided for or against jailbreaking?

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Attention iPhone owners: we have found possibly one of the coolest gifts under $25 for you. If you’ve ever strained to hear the sound on a YouTube video, or have ever tried to jam out to your tunes via your iPhone’s included speaker, you know how hard it can be to really get good audio. The Bone Horn Stand uses design elements from gramophones of the past, and brings a simple concept to the age of the iPhone. Simply stick your iPhone into the stand, and voila — the sound is automatically louder by 13 decibels.

The Bone Horn is made out of silicone — and that’s it. There are no batteries needed, and no adapters to plug in. It’s simply the trumpet-shape of the horn that amplifies the sound from your phone. Science!

Besides working as a way to boost your volume, the Bone Horn also acts as stand. You can prop your phone into a vertical or horizontal position.

The Bone Horn Stand fits the original iPhone, iPhone 3G/3GS, the iPhone 4. It comes in beige, black, and green, and sells for $24.95 at the Cyberguys.com.

Imagine the possibilities if you used the Bone Horn with the Pocket Vuvuzela iPhone app.

Check out the video after the jump to see the Horn Stand in action — well, sort of.

If you’re an iPad owner, you’ve probably been on pins and needles lately. That’s because back in September, Apple announced that a full-scale update to the tablet’s OS would be coming in the form of iOS 4.2, bringing a slew of new features to the device. Included in that laundry list is proper iOS 4-style multitasking, folders, major mail improvements, Game Center integration, and Safari enhancements (like find-in-page text searches). Besides those features, the company has been touting two other big changes that could cause a major shift in the way you use your iPad — namely, AirPrint and AirPlay. Both additions leverage your WiFi network, certain connected printers, and the new Apple TV in an attempt to make the company’s slate less like a distraction and more like the center of your digital life.

When the update was originally announced, we took you on a walkthrough of the early developer beta. Though 4.2 will roll out to the iPhone and iPod touch, we wanted to focus on the iPad version, as it represents a major change for the platform. We’ve had a chance to spend time with the final version of the OS (which is actually 4.2.1 now), and put it through its paces. We’ve updated our original guide and given the finished product a critical once over, so read on for our full review!

Continue reading iOS 4.2 review (for iPad)

iOS 4.2 review (for iPad) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 08:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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So apparently the hidden island of Lilliput has cellular coverage, but who cares — it’s still gonna be another crap movie. Way to ruin Gulliver’s Travels with Jack Black.

Joe: “Finally, Angry Birds the way it was meant to be played.”
Darren: “That’s a big iPhone.”
Josh T.: “The monolith taught the monkeys to kill, also, how to make conference calls.”
Paul: “Time-traveling Jack Black plants hidden iPhone reference in Jonathan Swift novel.”
Thomas: “It’s holding you wrong.”
Tim: “Eighteen months ago, the first evidence of intelligent life off the Earth was discovered. It was buried forty feet below the lunar surface, near the crater Cupertino.”
Vlad: “It’s just a jumbo iPhone, I don’t see what all the fuss is about.”
Sam: “What does this mean? It’s so bright, so vivid.”
Sean H.: “And so did the tiny scholars toil for decades to unravel the mysteries of the blue block, and the significance of its question marks.”
Richard Lai: “Paul Miller makes a cameo appearance in this scene, tut-tuts at the low pixel density.”
Myriam: “I’m crushing your head! I’m crushing your head!”

Continue reading Caption contest: Gulliver’s iPhone makes it big in Hollywood

Caption contest: Gulliver’s iPhone makes it big in Hollywood originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Nov 2010 12:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thought that every iOS 4.1 device would be compatible with Apple’s Game Center mobile and social gaming platform? We’re sorry to say that’s not the case. Initially it was looking like both the iPhone 3G and second-generation iPod touch would be left out, having to take their copies of Kickety-Kick Ball Bounce Out and go home. But, Apple is now confirming that second-gen touch models will be included after all, however the iPhone 3G is still not invited, nor are first-gen iPhones and iPod touches. That means the final compatibility list includes the iPhone 3GS and 4, along with second, third, and fourth generation iPod touch models. Everybody else: you’re out.

iPhone 3G left out of the Game Center fun, 2nd gen iPod touch gets picked last originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 07:49:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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