iPod touch and iPhone owners now have a one-click solution for jailbreaking. It's currently only available for Windows but a Mac and Linux version will surely come out eventually. However, there are several conditions that keep "blackra1n" from being a killer app:
1) If you rely on an iPhone unlock (meaning that you bought an iPhone under a carrier like Globe but got it "unlocked" so that you can use other carriers like Sun or Smart), do not download this app. If you have a Mac, you can use PwnageTool to create custom firmware that will preserve the prospect of an unlock.
2) The iPod touch 3G (the one released a month ago) is supported, but if you restart it, you'll need to do the jailbreak all over again.
So with that in mind, how to do it? Well, go to this website and click on the Windows logo. Yes, the Windows logo, trust me. It'll download the app "blackra1n.exe".
After the 600-some kilobyte download, you can open it. This is what you'll see.
Oh sorry, I forgot this was Windows. This is what you'll see.
Make sure your iPod touch or iPhone is connected before you get tempted to click that big grey button. If you do have it connected, just click it and let the app do its magic.
In my experience, it only took around a minute to get things up and running. The app will say that it's putting your iPhone in recovery mode and stuff, which means that your iPhone's screen will do a lot of crap. Don't mind that, that's normal. Once you see the picture of a man with rain as his background, that means success. You've jailbroken 3.1.2, be proud!
The iPhone/iPod touch will have a new icon (probably in the next page) that says "blackra1n". This will allow you to install such lovely sources as Cydia, Icy, and Rock. I advise you to go with Cydia since that's the source I've used ever since I first jailbroke my iPod. After you install Cydia, you can uninstall "blackra1n" if you feel like you won't ever use it again.
And if you've jailbroken (or pwned) your iPod touch or iPhone before, you can just do all that other crap again. Winterboard, NES emulators, what say you. If you don't trust my tutorial, then the two iDevices I have installing Cydia right now after the jailbreak might be from a non-existent dream.
I've relied on the Dev Team for my unlocking needs, but it seems that they might take long to release a 3.1.2 jailbreak for all devices running the iPhone OS.
Now, George Hotz, or @geohot, the 21-year old famous for hacking the iPhone when it was first released in '07, has caught up with the Dev Team with his Windows jailbreaking tool "blackra1n".
You're presented with a dialog box with one button. Clicking the button (while the device is connected, naturally) will start the 10-second process. After that, well, voila, the file system is open!
Notably, another contender, "ha1iday", claims to be able to both jailbreak and unlock iPhone 3GS's and 3rd gen iPod touch's with the latest firmware. It is unclear if the claim is true, or if it's just cashing in on blackra1n's Twitter success.
An interesting possibility of Apple putting in the same FM Radio feature found in the current iPod nano through a firmware update is not at all impossible. Just moments ago, the device-tearing website iFixit ripped out the iPod touch to see its internals.
Apparently, the new iPod touch has a Wi-Fi/Bluetooth chip that's much more advanced than the one found in the iPhone 3GS as it not only unofficially supports 802.11n Wi-Fi, but it also receives and transmits FM radio signals. This means that an app could potentially leverage the FM capabilities of the chip (if made official and working) to transmit music to, say, your car stereo.
Also, there is an interesting gap that could've served as a location for a camera so it's made obvious that Apple must've scrapped this idea for the meantime, although a new model with a camera wouldn't be far behind.
Reports have said that the camera might've been scrapped due to the fact that the iPhone's autofocus camera wouldn't fit. There's a possibility that the nano's camera could be used (since the dimensions of the gap matches that of the nano's) but that must've been scrapped as well because the nano doesn't do photos, just videos.
The people who feel left behind by the new models need not fret, as the best thing about owning an iPod touch or iPhone is their upgradability, meaning that most of the features that the newer models have, the older ones will most likely get.
Apple did not make much emphasis on the new features brought on by the new update since there aren't really any significantly pressing issues with the firmware 3.0. Still, it's recommended for all iPhone and iPod touch users to be able to access the latest apps.
The more obvious changes include the addition of Genius mixes which infinitely play a playlist of songs that sound great together without much user intervention, and Genius for Apps which recommend apps based on your collection.
Didn't I mention that it's now $5 for iPod touch users (upgrading from 2.2.1 firmware)?
Contrary to persistent rumors of a built-in camera similar to the new iPod nano, the new iPod touch does not possess this particular feature. Whether it's because Apple wants to draw more people to the iPhone remains unclear.
What is clear is that Apple still has its focus on gaming. In its keynote, it even compared the device to a Dell netbook, the DS and the PSP! Suffice it to say, Apple does make a few valid points, but overall the quality of the games don't really measure up.
But enough about that, let's go to the thing that really matters: price point and flash drive capacity.
Yes, it's that time again: another Apple music event. I've watched the on-demand stream once again and I invite you to read my not-live-live-blog where I just post my thoughts as the moments unfold. You won't care for a lot of things, which is why I'm going to post the major news stories separately as well, like last time in WWDC. -------------------------
Steve Jobs returns to the stage, and to uproarious applause. People actually half-expected Phil Schiller to speak once more, but THANK GOD a grateful Steve Jobs is back on the show floor once more. Citing the source of his new liver, he wants everyone to be organ donors. It's actually genuinely heartfelt... a rare look at Jobs' human side.
But enough about that, let's get into the music.
Oh wait, iPhone segueway first.
30 million of these things have been sold, and one of the reasons why is the app store. 1.8 billion downloads for 35,000 apps. He also introduces 3.1 for the iPhone and iPod touch which incorporates the Genius feature into the App Store, meaning that the App Store will recommend apps that you might like based on what you own. It's actually quite interesting to see how much coverage a few obscure apps can get. Less interesting are the ringtones incorporated into the iTunes Store. $1.29. Yawn.
Steve goes on to cover iTunes, citing that it is currently the #1 music retailer with 100 million accounts and 8.5 billion purchased songs. iTunes 9 gets introduced, per the rumors as it introduces a very good clean-up of the online iTunes Store.
New features of the new release include Genius Mixes which builds upon the Genius technology first introduced in iTunes 8. "Imagine a 'genius' DJ that plays endless mixes of songs from your library that go great together, like FM radio." A particularly pretty interface, but I still don't really get it.
It also includes "Improved Syncing", and it sounds quite promising, actually. More granular control of your playlists, as you can also sync not only one playlist, but also a particular artist or genre, which is nice. It also applies to Photos, Movies and, get ready: Apps. Now you can organize apps right from iTunes, which quite frankly is a life-saver.
Home Sharing must've been Apple's answer to Windows 7's similar feature. It lets you copy music, songs, TV shows, etc., throughout your house, but you can only authorize for up to 5 computers in the home network.
Cocktail, err, iTunes LP is now being introduced. "Some of us were actually old enough to be able to buy an LP. You got great photography, liner notes, essays... unfortunately, all that stuff left us when we went to CD's and digital music, but that shouldn't be the case." They actually look like DVD menu's of a concert CD, and I'll never really use them because there is no freaking iTunes Store for the Philippines!
Well, anyway, a demo of iTunes 9. Looks responsive and intuitive (and yes, you can select more than one at a time). Hopefully, the Windows version won't be very slow, but how about a way to actually create "Smart Pages" or something? You heard it here first, people, if this feature happens, I'll be getting my royalties.
Kidding aside, some guy also demonstrates the pretty simple Home Sharing feature. Again, you can only authorize up to five computers, and you need to input iTunes Store user information. You can also do a little "Sync" throughout computers, meaning that if new content is added in an iTunes library, sharing will instantly happen and the stuff will be shifted immediately.
The redesigned iTunes Store which surprisingly didn't leak out, is actually the redesign I've always imagined. I've always thought that the iTunes Store needed a revamp, and they pull it off. More convenient, more modern, but still quite familiar. You can even share music to Facebook and Twitter, so it confirms the rumor about a semblance of social networking. It's not full-on which may cause a few people to breathe easy, but it's actually quite refreshing to see Apple incorporate these services.
iTunes LP is also demonstrated, and it includes photos, videos, lyrics, etc.. Totally like a DVD menu, totally not exactly compelling. Still, if Harmonix does the iTunes LP for the Beatles remastered edition (which will eventually make its way to the iTunes Store), it would actually be so awesome. And yes, Apple is opening the gates for record labels to do their own iTunes LP's. Movies also have this as well, making it exactly like a DVD menu. Is buying a movie with an iTunes LP cheaper than a DVD? Well, a Blu-ray is surely much more grandiose since it's 1080p.
Anyway, iTunes 9, as always, is free and available for download through either the Apple site or Software Update.
OK, iPod refresh time.
Phil Schiller is called in, and they announce that 235 million iPods have been sold. Holy crap, iPod makes up 73.8% of the market share. They'll surely make a hit at Microsoft. Oh, there it is. 1.1% market share. Roll eyes. Let's see your Mac market share, Apple. Bashful?
Anyway, it's surprising that more than 50 percent of people are new to the iPod. WTF.
Now, Schiller says that 20 million iPod touches have been sold. Obviously, a new generation will be announced. Hopeful for a camera! A camera on the iPod touch would own the Zune HD terribly.
3.1 firmware introduces Genius Mixes to the iPod and iPhones, and now I figure out that it's actually simply a near endless Genius mix that randomly picks a song to base Genius on and just play.
Schiller says that consumers think that the iPod touch is a great internet device-- a statement I strongly agree upon. "It's a computer that fits on your pocket, unlike someone else's," and a Dell laptop being put in a pocket is displayed. LOL.
Of course, the marketing moniker for "funnest iPod ever" is not let go. "It's a great gaming experience," and for the first time ever, Schiller cites the "inconvenience" of the PSP and the DS, and yes they are mentioned by name. It's like an ad made up of Schiller's cracking voice. While I use my iPod touch more, the DS has better games.
A demo reel of great iPod games is shown. Reminds me of the Sony E3 conference, LOL. Obviously, some developers will be exhibiting hot new apps. New iPod touch later.
A Ubisoft rep is called to the stage to demonstrate, yes, Assassin's Creed II. With the success of the port of the DS Assassin's Creed, it's not much of a surprise. Still, it seems that it will be an Ezio-tic adventure built from the ground up. It looks much faster than the old one, thanks to the new OpenGL standard, but it's quite weird that the d-pad is not an actual d-pad, but an app that sort of scrolls left and right. Subtitled Discovery, Assassin's Creed 2 will be released on the same day as its big brothers-- a release window rarely seen even on the DS or the PSP.
Next is one of my favorite iPhone developers, Tapulous. They introduce a racing-rhtyhm hybrid called Riddim Ribbon. Despite the stupid name, it looks like a mix between Audiosurf and Amplitude. Boom Boom Pow is a featured track. Looks very good. The objective is to tilt the device and go through hoops to keep the music going. Otherwise... ouch. My ears. Comes out on October.
Gameloft is next. Wait, isn't Gameloft owned by Ubisoft? Well, anyway, a rep introduces an app called Nova-- a shooter that possesses some pretty nice graphics. Still, it features the same dual analog control in Brothers in Arms. The control method works, but not as good as, say, Wolfenstein 3D, which is ironic. It looks really Halo-ish.
A frequent visitor, EA, goes back on stage with a new game. Apparently, Madden. I personally do not have any interest in football, or for the politically correct name, rugby. A custom kick gameplay mechanic is present, and it features the titular announcer's voice. Strategizing the play is actually very easy, and it's actually pretty cool. You can manipulate the gameplay so that it even goes slow-mo. Crowds particularly like the intuitive strategy drawing thingy.
A whopping 20,000 game titles are present. But then again, 98% of this stuff is bad, lol.
Schiller references the iPod mini. When it was lowered down to $199, people were crazy about it. The 8GB iPod touch gets the same treatment. Yay!
32GB, you can for just $299, and SIXTY FOUR GIGABYTES for $399. Condition is that the 32 and 64 GB versions possess the same processor and Open GL/ES compatibility that the iPhone 3GS has. So is the iPod touch basically last year's model, with 3.1 and not even a slight cosmetic refresh like the second-gen?
A new ad is presented in the usual manner, and it actually demonstrates the multiplayer capabilities of the thing.
iPod classic. Meh, same $249, but with 160GB again.
iPod shuffle. Well, Apple acknowledges the outrage that came with the introduction of proprietary headphones, so Apple is working with more headphone makers to make it a bit more of a viable purchase. Seriously, the default earphones hurt my ears bad. Schiller also introduces 3 new colors aside from black and white, as well as a $59 price point for a 2GB model, the same $79 for the 4GB model. Apple will also release a special edition release in stainless steel which actually looks alluring.
One more thing...
A video camera.
That's right, a video camera to the iPod nano. Stupid, for me. Come on, it's not exactly an HD camera like the Flip, so you can't exactly cry "MORE VALUE!". True, it's still thin as ever, but how about that freaking video quality?
...Just barely decent.
At least there's a built-in external speaker and microphone for voice memos.
Oh wait a sec, more features?
Genius Mixes, FM Radio(!), a revamped Voice recorder, and yes, a Pedometer that syncs to Nike Plus. Obviously, the accelerometer enables the pedometer, duh.
It still looks pretty damn good though, I have to admit. Newer colors made of adonized aluminum are to be introduced as well. 8GB still for $150, and 16GB for just 20 dollars more. They're available today.
The ad's pretty nice too. People in different colors match the colors of the new iPod.
Again, the environmental checklist... OK, we know, check it all.
All of these iPods, despite rumors of production issues, are available today. Norah Jones takes the stage and brings the keynote to a close.
Oh, and the Grammy-winning singer has an iTunes LP, as well as a new album. And what's with all this talk about secret passages?
Closing Thoughts Now that Apple is willing to adopt much-requested features like FM radio, even if it's only on the iPod nano, it's not that big of a stretch if the Apple TV would get DVR capabilities, or maybe even compatibility to the iTunes LP's since they look like they're meant to be played on an HDTV more than anything.
Frankly, the iPod touch upgrade was just underwhelming despite the addition of a 64GB model and extremely irresistible prices (take that, Zune HD!), and the video camera on the new nano isn't a particularly big draw. The classic isn't particularly of much focus, so it's death may just be imminent in the next two years. Weirdly enough, even an announcement of the Beatles was non-existent, and it would've really been apt because of the event's name and date, but not everyone cares much about it since they can just buy the newly released remastered versions of Beatles songs through their music retailer and rip these higher-quality files onto iTunes.
iTunes LP isn't also terribly exciting, and Apple fans may have to wait another year for a 64-bit iTunes to arrive to match Quicktime X. Still, the novelty of seeing Steve Jobs on the stage again is a pretty good reason to watch, even if the products aren't all that compelling. Hell, I'm even more excited for the third-party apps they had on display!
While it's all good for the iPhone bunch with their free upgrades, there's a bit of a predicament when you start talking about ponying up $9.99 for the same upgrade on the iPod touch. Like anything that's not free, much consideration will have to be made before making the jump. Is the 10 dollar 3.0 firmware for the iPod touch worth it?
1st generation iPod touch
I got my first generation iPod touch through a "points redeem" program so technically, it's sort of free. I actually wanted to hold off for the 2nd gen but my father was persistent and got me that for my birthday. It's still one of my best buds ever, and while upgrading to 3.0 gave a bit of new life to it, it's ultimately not worth paying 10 dollars for.
The only major features that first generation iPod touch users will benefit from are:
1) Push notification support (multi-tasking-ish) and App Store account settings.
2) Configurable Spotlight search...
3) Search everywhere.
4) More complete artist information on lock screen mini-player
5) Specific scrubbing
6) Safari Autofill
7) Cut, Copy and Paste
So yeah, the updates you'll get to notice are simply too subtle, so I think it's either upgrade to the next iPod touch that's probably gonna oversee release in September or October, or ignore it (and the apps along with it). 2.0 was a great upgrade since it granted access to apps, but this one? Maybe not... unless you didn't upgrade to 2.0, that is.
2nd generation iPod touch
The second generation benefits much more than the first generation iPod touch due to the fact that it has Bluetooth. Yeah, that's actually a bit of a distinctive line because what the 3.0 firmware does to it is that it "unlocks" the Bluetooth option so you can listen to music- with (stereo) Bluetooth headsets! Not only that, it also lets the iPod touch go head to head with an iPhone or similar generation iPod touch in several games that utilize the Peer to Peer thing (that or you can download apps that let you share files over Bluetooth as well).
In addition, if you buy any headphones that have a mic, you can also use the gorgeous Voice Recorder that comes with the firmware. Of course, you also get the aforementioned other features, but isn't the upgrade so much more enticing with the new Bluetooth features?
If you're not into Bluetooth headsets, don't upgrade, but if you are, this is a no-brainer.
13-year old Connor Mulcahey won Apple's "Billionth App" promo by downloading the app Bump. This app is able to switch contact information to another contact. Apple awarded him with 10000 dollar iTunes credit, an iPod touch, a 17" MacBook Pro and a Time Capsule, effectively making the prizes worth about 15000-17000 US dollars.
Obviously, other people feel left out and have started to throw fits. Honestly, it's funnier to read what they say than looking at the Apple counter.
A sampler:
"this sucks"
"I wonder if the kid even knew there was a contest"
No new iPhone revealed today, but existing iPhone (or iPod touch) users can expect a lot from the new firmware to be released by Apple in the Summer months (of course, American summer months) and well, let's cover them chronologically according to the media event that was held.
Developers were the ones in mind when Apple decided to conduct this media event, but that doesn't mean that there are no goodies for end-users as well. Just keep in mind though that the firmware is in beta, and new features might be added. Knowing Apple though, they might even strip one or two in the last minute or otherwise add a buggy feature for that matter.
Anyway, here we go.
Statistics, and more boring stuff First we have the director of iPod and iPhone Development Team giving out the statistics, iPhone SDK downloads, iPhone sales, motivation for the iPhone developers in the audience, OK, the rudimentary stuff. Additionally, Apple is defending its right for having extremely tight control over App Store submissions by saying that their approval process has become a bit more lax because 96% of App Store submissions have been approved and 98% of submissions have been approved within 7 days, and the man goes on for 5 more minutes afterwards.
Here it really is... After that, Scott Forstall is called to the stage and we go to the real deal: the iPhone OS 3.0 Software.
Transactions in-App
Developers are pretty much happier because they're able to put purchases in-app, which can actually reduce the number of apps in the App Store, but they're also able to get more revenue and give the consumer more convenience. Catch is that free apps can't do that.
Renew magazine subscriptions inside the app itself.
Local connection to fellow iPhones and iPod touches Then there's the "Peer to Peer" functionality which enables several iPhones or iPod touches to get inside a local match in a game quickly and through Bluetooth so users need not be in a WiFi zone, nor do any inconvenient pairing. Additionally, other apps can utilize it for other purposes... perhaps file transfer with other brands of phones?
Accessories talk to iPhone (and vice versa) Plus, accessory makers can now make an app to control an accessory from the iPod touch or iPhone. For example, if your blood pressure thingy is compatible with an iPhone, you can connect it to one and you'll be able to see your blood pressure displayed and you can send that data over to your doctor. Or, maybe you can connect it through Bluetooth if you don't like wires.
Where do I really go to get to Point B? Next, Google Maps can now be embedded into apps so the full app can be used within a third-party app. Additionally, a framework called CoreLocation can now support turn-by-turn directions for GPS or triangulation, but developers have to make their own maps due to licensing issues. This will make driving to several destinations easier, but unluckily for us, we don't have any Philippine maps that are up-to-date.
Developers can put Google Maps in their apps.
Specific turn-by-turn directions help you cut through traffic.
Broken Promises Made Up For Now here's one thing people have been a waiting for over a year for: Push notifications. Apple hasn't delivered that with 2.0 last year, so now, well, Forstall acknowledges the error and promises Push notifications for the new firmware. Why not background processes, developers ask? Well, battery life wasn't good that way so push notifications became Apple's workaround for better battery life. Plus, performance will not be affected as much. Let's hope Apple's claims are true though, and that the Apple Push server won't get overloaded. This will be great for IM apps.
Miscellaneous Developer Features Oh, and I have a good feeling about iPod library access. Rhythm games...... plus voice chat during games! Consumers obviously will say 'Meh', but this is a big deal for developers.
Now Forstall invites several developers from EA, Meebo, Johnsons and Johnsons, ngmoco:) etc. to demo the iPhone 3.0 features.
"Taking care of puppies in the morning, fragging n00bs at night" (Impressions of select demoed apps) 1) The Sims 3 iPhone looks great and it was just programmed in 2 weeks, but oh crap, you're gonna have to pay real money to buy new objects! Rip-off!
The former involves a Sim dancing around to the iPhone's music library, the latter shows off the in-game store.
2) ESPN's app looks great for sports fans who want to see results and the highlights of a game. They demo the iPhone's new video streaming standard.
The quality of the game's highlights are automatically adjusted depending on the bandwidth.
3) And how about that LifeScan glucose meter? It's an app made for diabetics who want to check their glucose and food intake through just the iPhone and an iPhone compatible LifeScan accessory. Pretty nice.
4) Oh, and ngmoco:)'s LiveFire FPS... how will the controls be implemented?
The iPhone OS 3.0 also helps game developers make the iPhone a more credible gaming platform.
5) Leaf Trombone... well, not a big fan of developer smule's Ocarina app but lolz, Phantom of the Opera is the song being demonstrated by the two men from smule, and they look... funny. Two people blowing into an iPhone and just shifting the pitch, it's just... lol.
To your left you'll see the Phantom, and to your right you'll see Christine.
USER FEATURES
1) Cut Copy and Paste - Finally. How to do it? Well, you can double tap some text (or if you want a block of text, just expand the end point/s) and a bubble will appear. Just double tap the part where you want to paste the text and click Paste. Done. More elegant than Clippy, I'm sure. And yes, SMS and Photos can also be copied and pasted. Third-party apps will have support for it as well.
Jailbroken iPhone? Hell no.
2) Undo/Redo - You can shake the device to summon a dialog box that lets you Undo or Redo some erratic typing. This is prolly gonna be a nice feature for those photo editing apps.
3) Landscape typing - Typing E-mails, Notes and SMS (or pretty much anywhere) is a bit less of a pain because people can now type in that format if they so choose.
4) Messages - SMS has been renamed into a more user-friendly "Messages", and they can now be individually deleted and forwarded, thank God. Plus, MMS support has FINALLY been added. Now photos, vCards (contacts), audio, videos and locations can be sent through MMS instead of E-mail. While I don't use MMS much, I'm still happy that Apple whiners and haters can take a break from making fun of the lack of these oh-so basic features.
Can't you help but point and laugh at the two photos above?
5) Voice Memos - An all new app that should've been built-in since the first iPhone, voice memos can now help people create memos using the microphone (or external mic's). The app looks gorgeous, too.
6) Calendar Syncing - Various Calendaring standards are now supported by the Calendar app and iTunes.
7) System-wide Search - Apple finally gives the users a search feature which is pretty much a mobile version of Mac OS X's Spotlight which searches all major apps for specific information by just flicking to the left of the home screen. This will be very much convenient, especially for people who download loads of apps.
8) Shake to shuffle - I knew it. The gimmicky feature first appeared in the iPod nano, and like that device, it'll probably take a vigorous shake before it gets activated- perfect for runners.
9) Stereo Bluetooth - Yup. A2DP right here. Score 1 for Apple's geek rep.
10) Anti-phishing - More mobile security for mobile Safari
11) YouTube accounts - Yes, I can now log-in to my account straight from the dedicated YouTube app!
12) Auto-fill - You can now worry less about dealing with the virtual keyboard as this Safari feature will enable users to fill out forms with the generic information in one click (or in the iPhone's case, touch).
More than a hundred new features, and a thousand new API's can now be downloaded if you're an iPhone developer. Yep, the iPhone 3.0 beta is available on the Apple site today for developers. The final version of iPhone 3.0 will be released in "summer" for free with all the iPhone's (although Stereo Bluetooth and MMS won't be supported due to hardware limitations) and iPhone 3G owners and 10 dollars for iPod touch owners- yes, both generations.
3) Search everywhere.
No new iPhone revealed today, but existing iPhone (or iPod touch) users can expect a lot from the new firmware to be released by Apple in the Summer months (of course, American summer months) and well, let's cover them chronologically according to the media event that was held.
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