Hasta La Gadget!

Before most of us make a purchase, the question “Do I really need this?” comes into play. The answer could be yes, but you can mull that over while checking out these bargains. Here are Gearlog’s deals for Wednesday, March 11:

1. Amazon.com has a hell of a deal on the 30GB Archos 605 Wi-Fi Portable Media Player. Normally $299.99, today, the Archos is just $159.99. You can record TV shows, stream and watch videos from your PC, and download movies and music directly. The deal ends today, so move fast.

2. Today’s deal at sellout.woot is the wiRevo A100 Stereo Bluetooth Adapter for iPod and iPhone. Originally with a list price of $99.99, the cheapest I’ve seen it is $19.99, but today’s deal brings it down to $9.99. The adapter allows you to stream audio from an iPod to a Bluetooth stereo headset so you can listen to music wirelessly from your iPod or iPhone.

3. Looking for an inexpensive laptop? The Toshiba Satellite AMD Athlon X2 Dual-Core 2.0GHz 15.4-inch notebook is on sale at OnSale.com for only $449.99 after a mail-in rebate of $50 for the notebook. But that’s not all, you can also get a HP Deskjet Color Inkjet Printer in the $450 bundle. The printer comes with a $70 mail-in rebate as well, saving you $120 off the total price. Both rebates expire March 28. [Via Bargainist.com]

Bam, another Apple rumor vindicated. Apple just doubled the capacity of its iPod shuffle to 4GB while ditching the control wheel entirely. The new design keeps the clip and adds VoiceOver — a new feature that gets around the lack of display by telling you which song is playing and who performs it at the touch of a button on the earbud cable. It’ll also call out your playlists and let you navigate to others. Available in black or silver for $80 and your claim to what Apple calls the “world’s smallest music player.” Check the video tutorial after the break.

Update: VoiceOver in English, Czech, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish and Turkish.

Continue reading Apple’s redesigned iPod shuffle hits 4GB, talks to you (updated with video!)

Filed under: Portable Audio

Apple’s redesigned iPod shuffle hits 4GB, talks to you (updated with video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Mar 2009 08:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The iPhone Dev Team hackers have been teasing their redsn0w iPod touch jailbreak for what seems like forever now, but those you tired of waiting might want to check out the just-released NitroKey Slipstream. The $15 software does its thing on the 2.2.1 firmware, and automatically installs Cydia for all that jailbroken app action you crave — including the new paid apps store. Windows-only for now, but there’s apparently a Mac version in the works — hopefully we’ll see the free redsn0w take the lead back on that front. Report back if you take the plunge, would you?

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

iPod touch 2G finally jailbroken with NitroKey originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Mar 2009 21:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you want to install cool apps on your iPhone or iPod Touch for free, easily, breaking Apple-imposed limitations without breaking your warranty or Applethingie, here is the how-to guide for Mac and Windows users.

What is a jailbreak?

Jailbreaking is the process required to install applications in your iPhone or iPod touch. It is a very easy procedure. It’s also safe: There are no risks in this operation*, as you can easily use iTunes to restore your iPhone or iPod touch to the default factory settings. When you do that, the iPhone will be like new.

Why jailbreak your iPhone or iPod touch from Apple’s iron fist?

You should jailbreak your iPhone or iPod if you want to install really cool and useful applications that are not in the iTunes App Store. Many of these apps are a complete must for any iPhone user but are not allowed by Apple in their iTunes App Store.

This is what you can do with a phone that has been jailbroken:

• Use your iPhone as a 3G modem with your laptop.
• Record video using Cycorder.
• Unlock your iPhone installing a simple program, so you can use a pre-paid card when you go out on vacation instead of paying outrageous roaming charges.
• Follow speech turn-by-turn directions in a GPS program.
• Copy and paste (yes, copy and paste).
• Play Nintendo Entertainment System games and other emulated classic cames (like Monkey Island!)

In other words: Do it.

*WARNING* Of course, the usual do this at your own risk and we are not responsible caveats still apply, but this process is really fool proof thanks to Apple’s iTunes factory reset. If you are looking to unlock your iPhone now or in the future, DON’T USE THESE INSTRUCTIONS or you won’t be able to unlock it. You will need a different process, which we will explain in another How To.

Opening the backdoor (Mac Users only)

The first thing you need to do to install free apps in your iPhone or iPod is putting it into DFU mode, or Device Firmware Update mode. Don’t worry, this isn’t anything weird: It’s what your device goes through every time you update the operating system in it. With this step, you will be making the iPhone go into this state.

This is the only long part of this tutorial because—since the 10.5.6 update—Apple has made it difficult to easily connect your Mac to a manually DFU’ed iPhone or iPod. This can be solved by replacing some USB drivers from a previous version of Mac OS X. If you have 10.5.6 installed, follow these instructions:

Step 1. To do this, you need to get yourself a free Apple Developer Connection account. Since you are using iTunes with your device, you are already almost there: Just log in with your Apple ID from here. The form will ask you to answer a couple of questions (just answer whatever you want), and you’ll be done as soon as you click the Accept button.

Step 2. Now you need to download and install the drivers. Go to this page and look for this file:

IOUSBFamily-315.4-log.dmg” for Mac OS X10.5.5 Build 9F33

Once it’s downloaded, disconnect ALL USB peripherals except for your Apple keyboard and Apple mouse and install the package included in the disk image.

Once you restart after the installation, you will be ready to run QuickPwn, the program that will allow you to install the applications.

Important: Once you complete the jailbreaking process, you have to restore the previous USB drivers. Go to to this page and download IOUSBFamily-327.4.0-log.dmg” for Mac OS X 10.5.6 Build 9G55, then repeat the same operation. Once you restart, Mac OS X 10.5.6 will be restored to its original state.

Freeing your iPhone or iPod touch (all users)

Here’s the easiest part: Running QuickPwn. QuickPwn is a program that will easily “jailbreak” your iPhone or iPod touch. Jailbreak, as the name says, just means breaking Apple’s limitations on accessing your device, allowing you put anything you want in it. This means installing any application you want, and not only the ones that Apple allows you to install.

Step 1. Download QuickPwn for Mac OS X or Windows from any of the following links:

Windows
• QuickPwn 2.2.5 for Windows: Get the official release via Torrent here.

Unofficial mirrors
• http://miphone.ca/iphone-dev/QuickPwn225-2.zip
• http://foskarulla.com/QuickPwn-225-2.zip
• http://downloads2.touch-mania.com/QuickPwn-225-2.zip
• http://www.applei.ph/devteam/QuickPwn-225-2.zip
• http://phonenews.com/phones/gsm/apple/QuickPwn225-2.zip
• http://rabstalk.bplaced.net/mirrors/QuickPwn-225-2.zip
• http://www.evil-crew.de/QuickPwn-225-2.zip
• http://daniel14.com/QuickPwn-225-2.zip

Mac OS X
• QuickPwn 2.2.5: Get the official release via Torrent here.

Unofficial mirrors
• http://iphone-dev.fgv6.net/QuickPwn_2.2.5.dmg
• http://iphone.schwarzmetall.cn/QuickPwn_2.2.5.dmg
• http://rabstalk.bplaced.net/mirrors/QuickPwn_2.2.5.dmg
• http://jmcoon.net/QuickPwn_2.2.5.dmg
• http://www.iphone-storage.de/QuickPwn_2.2.5.dmg
• http://downloads2.ipod.backshot.eu/QuickPwn_2.2.5.dmg
• http://miphone.ca/iphone-dev/QuickPwn_2.2.5.dmg

Step 2. Run QuickPwn and pick the kind of device you have: iPhone, iPhone 3G, or iPod Touch.

Step 3. Follow the instructions on the screen. QuickPwn is completely automated:

• Firstly, it will download all the necessary components from Apple on its own.

• Then the software will build a custom iPhone operating system, which includes Installer and Cydia, the two programs that will allow you to install the iPhone applications outside of the iTunes Apps Store microsystem.

• When QuickPwn asks you to enter your system password, do it. It’s not malicious. It just needs this to work.

• Finally, follow the precisely timed instructions on the screen to put your device on DFU (Device Firmware Update) mode. QuickPwn will do the rest.

If something doesn’t work, don’t worry. Start the process again. If your device gets a bit nutty, restore it to default factory settings using iTunes, and you will be back to square one, no harm done.

Step 4. Be patient as your iPhone restarts. Once it’s done, you are done too. It’s fun time.

Installing the applications

This is where the fun starts. You will notice two new icons in your iPhone or iPod touch’s springboard: One says “Installer” and the other says “Cydia”. These are the two competing systems for installation of software. It doesn’t really matter what you use to install your software. Most applications can be installed from both—there are exceptions, like xGPS, which can only be installed on Cydia—and both allow you to browse and install software from a a variety of sources.

• Browsing the catalogs. Whatever system you choose, installing applications is as easy as going through the available catalogs and picking the application you want.

• Manually adding applications. There will be times in which you will discover applications on the web which are not in the default catalogs in Cydia or Installer. Fortunately, you can add these by just entering the URL provided by the developer in the web page, a process that is referred to as “Adding a source”. Here’s how to do it:

In Cydia

• Click on “Manage.”
• Click on “Sources.”
• Click on “Edit” and then “Add.”
• Enter the address in the dialog field.
• Click on “Add source.”

In Installer

• Click on “Sources.”
• Click on “Edit” and then “Add.”
• Enter the address in the field.
• Click “Done” and get back to sources by clicking on “Sources.”

And that’s it. Now you can install any application you want using either program. Have fun!

Whether you have an iThing or not, you might use iTunes to manage music, listen to internet radio and podcasts, and buy music and video? If you do, here’s how to get it working—your way.

There was a time in the distant past when iTunes was a nice basic music manager for devices made by Creative and others, when DRM-laced music and video was just a dream in some lawyer’s eye. Now, after the explosion of iPhones and iPods and the proliferation of legal media downloading, iTunes has become a necessary choice for music and video organizing. But as much as the player has improved since 2001, it’s still annoyingly limited, throwing up barriers for enthusiasts and casual users alike. Lucky for us (and despite Apple’s lack of cooperation), plenty of hacks, tweaks and add-ons can help fill the gaps—for both Mac OS and Windows. Here are some of the best:

Sync With Whatever the Hell You Want
iTunes nowadays will only directly sync with Apple products, but we’re a gadget site, so we sought out a few apps to make syncing your iTunes library with other devices as painless as possible:
• iTunes Sync (Win): This tidy little app will sync your library with just about anything that Windows recognizes as a removable disk. The super-long supported device list only scratches the surface, but includes a lot of BlackBerry and Symbian phones—again, anything that your PC assigns a drive letter should work just fine.
• iTunes Agent: Almost the same as iTunes Sync. If that app fails you, you might have better luck with this.
• BlackBerry Media Sync (Mac/Win): Exactly what it sounds like, though Mac users will have to use a beta build.
• Pocket Tunes Sync (Win): If you can’t connect your WinMo or Palm handset to your PC as a mass storage device for some iTunes Sync or iTunes Agent love, this’ll do. Counter to the Dealzmodo Hack philosophy, though, it’s a paid app, so try the other stuff first.

Take Full Control
iTunes doesn’t provide many control options. Aside from the main window, you can manage iTunes from its compact mode, or in Windows, shunt the buttons to your Start Bar. That’s it! Unless you install these:
• You Control: Tunes (Mac): Places extremely comprehensive controls in your Menu Bar. It also recognizes keyboard shortcuts, which some people go inexplicably apeshit over, and can display pretty little toaster notifications.
• iTunes Remote Control (Mac): A simple app that controls iTunes over your network. Perfect if you use iTunes as a media server.
• FoxyTunes (Mac/Win/Lin): A Firefox extension that places buttons in your browser window, where your mouse probably spends most of its time anyway.
• Remote for iPhone/iPod Touch/Android: Your iPod, iPhone or G1 is now a fantastic iTunes remote. Congratulations.

Really, Truly Share Your Music
iTunes’ sharing abilities, which have been eroding since the day they were first introduced, are now officially lame. Third parties, that’s your cue:
• Simplify Media (Mac/Win/Lin): It’s hard to overstate how useful this is. Simplify Media shares your library so that you can access your music remotely, via iTunes or their fantastic iPhone client. You can also access friends’ libraries directly through iTunes, as if they were connected to your LAN. Downloading isn’t enabled, but Simplify more than makes up for that with dead-easy setup and reliable streaming.
• Mojo (Mac/Win): Simplify Media’s sketchy, somewhat unreliable cousin, Mojo lets you download as well as listen to other users’ music. My experience with the app has been a mixed, but when it works, it works well.
• LogMeIn Hamachi (Win, with Mac/Lin console options available for advanced users): Not the most obvious way to share iTunes libraries, but a surprisingly elegant one. Hamachi is a zero-config VPN service that can connect you to another computer over the internet as if it were on your home network. That means file sharing, LAN gaming and—of course—iTunes streaming, all working seamlessly.

Install Scripts, You Nerd
You can get a lot out of iTunes with a little AppleScript, and there might be something in this for you Windows nerds, too.
• Doug, of DougScripts.com, is the preeminent master of AppleScript arts, and he’s compiled 400+ scripts to manage your music and album art, download artist info or lyrics, or control pretty much anything else the iTunes touches—perfect for Foobar-loving, OCD-having power users. And don’t be off put by the word “script,” as Doug packages them with a neat little installer. Lifehacker compiled some of their favorites a while back, but it’s worth exploring the site on your own.
• AppleScript won’t do much good for Windows users. For you, the best options are Teridon’s iTunes Scripts. These are Perl scripts or small .exe files (recommended) that mimic some of Doug’s best: Dupe deletion, advanced artwork management and sophisticated playlisting to name a few.

Miscellaneous Add-ons
There are plenty of useful hacks and add-ons that don’t fit into the above categories. I can’t stress enough how useful it would be to look at Lifehacker’s fantastic list from a while back, but here are a few of my favorites, too:
• iTunes Folder Watch (Win): Monitors your music folders, automatically adding new files to iTunes.
• Last.fm/AudioScrobbler (Mac/Win/Lin): Integrates iTunes with the fantastic Last.fm social network, with a plugin to upload your listening stats. The standalone app plays nicely with iTunes as well, letting you rate and tag songs as they play.
• Dupin (Mac): A simple app for deleting library duplicates.
• CD Art Display (Win): Presents Now Playing info and cover art however your please. Lots of skins are available, it that’s your kind of thing.
• DockArt (Mac): Simple, but perfect, DockArt replaces the iTunes icon with album art.

If you’re feeling adventurous, test DVD Jon’s odd new media manager, doubleTwist. It’s not ready to replace iTunes yet, but it is, as Adrian put it, “extremely promising.”

Dealzmodo Hacks are intended to help you sustain your crippling gadget addiction through tighter times. If you come across any on your own that are particularly useful, send it to our tips line (Subject: Dealzmodo Hack). Check back every other Thursday for free DIY tricks to breathe new life into hardware that you already own.