I found out read today that there is a work around for the iPhone’s Passcode, making the iPhone not as secure as I once thought it was! It seems that when your iPhone is locked and you are prompted to enter your Passcode, you can select Emergency Call and then double tap your Home Button and it will launch your double tap settings. Meaning, if you have your Favorites set as your Home Button double tap (your iPhone’s Home Button double tap is set automatically to your Favorites so, if you have never changed it in your Settings, that it what it is set as), people are able to get into your Favorites even if your iPhone is locked. At first this may not seems like an issue. So, they might call a few of the people on your Favorites list. Well, it also means that if you have an address, email address, Safari link, etc in any of the info for your contacts they can get into all of that as well. If you have an email address set for one of your favorites, it can be clicked on which then opens a blank email if they were then to select Cancel it would bring them into your email’s inbox giving the person full access to all of the your emails, contacts and info. So, when at first it doesn’t seem like an issue that someone would be able to get into your Favorites, it leaves room for them to get a lot of personal information.

It seems that the only way to prevent this from happening is going into your Setting on your iPhone and then General and changing your Home Button to Home or iPod. If you set your Home Button as iPod, it will launch your iPod from your Lock Screen. A person couldn’t do a ton of damage from your iPod but, they would technically be “in” your iPhone. However, if you set your iPhone’s double tap to Home…it will not allow the person to get into your iPhone from the lock screen. Even if they were to select Emergency Call and then double tap, it will just bring them back to the Passcode screen. So for now, until this glitch is worked out (which I assume it is a glitch with firmware 2.0.2), the only way to keep people out of your iPhone is to set your Home Button double tap to Home.

via http://www.appleiphoneschool.com/2008/08/27/iphone-passcode-not-as-secure-as-we-though/

Posted on August 29th, 2008 by admin
Filed under: iPhone Tips | No Comments »

Yesterday, it came out that the iPhone has a serious security flaw that makes it so someone can hack into your phone even if there’s a password activated. But now Apple is coming out and confirming the flaw and stating a fix is on the way.

We can expect a fix sometime in September, though Apple isn’t all that concerned with it, calling it “minor.” This is because you can easily hide the flaw by setting your home button to take you to your iPod instead of your favorites.

Maybe Apple is just overwhelmed with all the other fixes people are calling for? Even so, if you ask me, it’s a bit discourteous to customers to dismiss the flaw so eagerly. But that’s just my opinion.

via http://www.iphonebuzz.com/apple-admits-to-security-flaw-fix-on-the-way-284544.php

Posted on August 29th, 2008 by admin
Filed under: 3G iPhone | No Comments »

GreenMyMac discovered and published a security vulnerability for iPhone 2.0.x at MacRumours last night. The security flaw affects iPhone users who use the password protect feature when locking their keypad, but using this very simple trick gives anyone full access to your cell phone’s private information in Mail, SMS, Contacts, and even Safari.

To recreate this exploit yourself, password protect your phone and lock it. Next slide to unlock and do the following:

1. Tap emergency call.
2. Double tap the home button.

You should now be in your favorites. Seems like a convenient feature feature at first, but the security problem here is scary. Anyone who picks up your iPhone can make a call to anyone in your favorites and can access their address and for some service providers this will let a stranger access your voice mail.

Let’s go a little further down the rabbit hole now:

• If you click in a mail address, it will give you full access to the Mail application. All your mail will be exposed.
• If there’s a URL in your contact (or in a mail message) you can click on it and have full access to Safari.
• If you click on send text message in a contact, it will give you full access to all your SMS.

Until Apple addresses this security threat, there is an easy work around to secure your personal information.

1. In ‘Settings’, select ‘General’.
2. Select ‘Home Button’.
3. Select either ‘Home’ or ‘iPod

via http://www.iphone-hacks.com/2008/08/27/iphone-20-security-vulnerability-and-safe-guard-published/

Posted on August 28th, 2008 by admin
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The Guardian reports that a television ad for the Apple iPhone has been banned by the U.K.’s Advertising Standards Authority after receiving complains about misleading claims.

The television ad which can be viewed online claims that “all the parts of the internet are on the iPhone.” The complaints about the ad pointed out that the iPhone does not support Flash or Java which may be required for some websites. The Advertising Standards Authority concluded that “the ad gave a misleading impression of the internet capabilities of the iPhone”.

Apple responded by saying that the purpose of the ad was to point the iPhone’s ability to access standard websites and that it could not ensure compatibility with “every third-party technology in the marketplace”.

via http://www.macrumors.com/2008/08/27/u-k-iphone-ad-banned-due-to-misleading-claims/

Posted on August 28th, 2008 by admin
Filed under: iPhone Ads | No Comments »

While not yet available, the gold dipped iPhones will be the first with 24K yellow gold housing and bezel. Funnily enough, the makers even hinted that this time around the phones were a bit harder to dip because of the bad quality of the plastic casing. But I guess anything would seem poor to people that dip everything in gold!

Last minute tests are being performed now for people that may want customizations such as engravings. If you want one, you’ll need to e-mail Computer Choppers to find out how much they’ll cost.
Usually, if the price isn’t listed and you need to know it, you can’t afford it. At least that’s why I won’t be getting a gold coated iPhone anytime soon.

via http://www.iphonebuzz.com/24k-gold-iphone-3g-for-the-luxury-crowd-274519.php

Posted on August 28th, 2008 by admin
Filed under: 3G iPhone | No Comments »

A number of users have reported an issue in which movies previously playable movies are suddenly unplayable after an iPhone sofware update.

One user writes:

“I had the same issue with some of my Videos that were converted using Visual Hub. Once I upgraded my iPod Touch to 2.0 they stopped working. I eas confused at first as all of the the ones that still worked were in 4:3 aspect ratio. Anyway after trying many different solutions and settings. I found that if I used ffmpegX instead of Visual Hub to encode I had no problems with any of the resulting my videos-both 16:9 and 4:3 aspect ratio and different frame sizes.”

Per the above user’s commentary, re-encoding movies may be the most viable fix for this issue. Try using an alternative video encoder or a lower resolution/bitrate.

via http://www.iphoneatlas.com/2008/08/26/iphone-error-this-movie-format-is-not-supported/

Posted on August 27th, 2008 by admin
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As the iPhone 3G launch grew nearer, people were pointing and shouting and jumping up and down at AT&T’s sparse 3G US coverage map, and those Swedish scientists saying that it’s not the iPhone 3G’s fault has shifted the focus of everyone’s attention away from hardware and onto reception. Luckily, AT&T CTO John Donovan knows that now is the time to improve, and shared his plan with Gizmodo’s Brian Lam.

Donovan shared the steps he hopes to implement:

• Cell site splitting. We’re deploying about 1,500 new cell sites this year. This enhances service quality in two ways – we’re expanding the geographic reach of the network, and in some places, we’re adding cell sites in existing territory to improve coverage and capacity.
• We monitor the usage for both data and voice on each and every cell site sector, combine that with our forecasts and customer feedback to target specific locations where we need to augment capacity via further cell splits.
• TDMA turndown. Earlier this year we turned down our TDMA/Analog networks. That allowed us to free up key spectrum to redeploy into the UMTS/HSPA network. Not only does that give us the opportunity to increase overall capacity on UMTS/HSPA, it enables us to deploy UMTS/HSPA at 850 Mhz (vs 1900 Mhz). This 850 spectrum provides optimum in-building coverage. We’re in the midst of turning up this spectrum on the UMTS-HSPA network across the country.
• Short measurement intervals. We’re deploying capabilities to measure network performance in much shorter intervals. This capability will be especially important to maximize service quality during major events. For example, during a Final Four or World Series game, traffic on the network will spike during time outs, or when a great play, bad call, or something else big happens. In normal circumstances, we might measure traffic and performance a few times per hour, but in these situations, we’ll monitor every few minutes to ensure maximum performance during the spikes that occur in real time.
• Wireless backhaul. We’re leveraging our U-verse and metro Ethernet fiber deployments to enhance wireless backhaul connections in many areas. We’re moving more and more of our wireless backhaul onto the 40 Gbps AT&T backbone network. So … the investments we’re making to maximize service quality on the wired side also benefit our wireless customers.
• Drive testing. AT&T technicians and other third-party vendors will drive-test its network nearly 30 million miles in the next year to improve the network’s coverage and quality.
• Hundreds of technicians from third-party testing companies, infrastructure vendors and AT&T technicians use specially designed vehicles to travel throughout the country and test the signal strength and coverage of AT&T’s ALLOVER Network.
• Along with drive-testing its own network, AT&T drive-tests competitors’ networks to ensure that its coverage and quality are equal to or better than other companies providing service in the area.
• The drive-test results help to prioritize where the company invests in new cell sites and equipment that enhances the network quality and coverage.

Posted on August 27th, 2008 by admin
Filed under: AT&T iPhone | No Comments »

If you’re a lover of those old LED football games, you’ll be happy to hear Mark Helmuth will be bringing the fun game to the iPhone. Based on the 1970’s handheld games, this game will have all the appeal of the old ones with touch capabilities thrown in. 

There is currently a beta version out there and the games will launch sometime next week. It will only cost a dollar and should be pretty fun.

With big, oversized buttons, beepy sounds and old-school graphics, how can you go wrong? With this new version of an old classic, gadget lovers of the ages will be pleased.

via http://www.iphonebuzz.com/led-football-game-for-the-iphone-274515.php

Posted on August 27th, 2008 by admin
Filed under: iPhone Game | No Comments »

A new document from Verizon Wireless has been leaked, and it focuses on offering tips for their employees so they will be better able to answer just why the new iPhone 3G is not as good as people think. Of course we have to keep in mind that although this document was “leaked” we have not had any official confirmation that is came from Verizon.

Personally, I am inclined to believe it, after all a good salesperson should know about the competition, especially when its an item such as the iPhone 3G that is getting a lot of coverage. Not to mention, if I remember correctly they have a similar document following the launch of the original iPhone.

Anyway, based on the anti-iPhone document there are four popular myth’s that they are looking to prove to be untrue, which are as follows;

    * 3G iPhone is now trice as fast
    * The new 3G iPhone is now half the price
    * iPhone Data Plan Covers All Data
    * 3G iPhone Data Plan include more data at affordable prices!

Basically these “myths” seem to be nothing more than a rehash of the same issues that many other iPhone users have already brought up already. Of course (and at the risk of sounding a little fanboyish) it still does not change the fact that it is an iPhone. While I will be the first to admit the iPhone and the iPhone 3G are far from perfect, they do offer a nice user experience, and at least for my primary uses, email, text and web they have been great.

Posted on August 26th, 2008 by admin
Filed under: 3G iPhone | No Comments »

knew it would happen eventually. It’s a lawsuit-filled world out there. Someone’s got to do it.

Some users have been experiencing some problems with the 3G on their iPhone 3G, and one new owner has decided to try to get her money’s worth.

A women in Alabama by the name of Jessica Alena Smith has filed a lawsuit against Apple for selling her a device that didn’t meet all the hype in the advertisements.

Smith purchased the device in response to Apple’s very convincing advertising. “One could barely turn on the television without hearing that the new iPhone 3G was ‘twice as fast for half the price,’” reads the complaint.

However, from day one her device’s data connection, e-mail, SMS, and other communications were slower than she had expected them to be.

Of course, she’s far from alone in her frustration, so many users are probably cheering her on. That is also why she asked for a class-action case.

Do you think she’ll be successful?

via http://www.iphonematters.com/article/user_suing_apple_because_of_false_advertising_234/

Posted on August 26th, 2008 by admin
Filed under: 3G iPhone | No Comments »