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Apple has released iTunes 8.0.2 and iPhone software 2.2 today.

According to Apple, iTunes 8.0.2 improves stability and performance and provides a number of bug fixes. The new version addresses a quality issue creating MP3s on some computers; fixes a connectivity issue with the iTunes Store when using some Internet proxies with Mac OS X; and improves accessibility with VoiceOver.
Apple also introduced iPhone v2.2 today.

The update was rumoured to be released today and the promised features are present. The new iPhone 2.2 Software update features enhancements to maps and mail allowing users to now use Google street view. In maps, users can now view public transit and walking directions, display addresses of dropped pins and their share locations via email.
Podcasts are now available for download in the iTunes application and there has been work on a decrease in call setup failures and dropped calls. Apple has improved the stability and performance of Safari and has changed the position of the search bar to be inline with the address bar. Work has also been completed on improved sound quality of Visual Voice mail messages and users can now disable the auto-correction in the keyboard settings. Before you ask there is still no MMS or copy and paste support.
Gizmodo have posted a few screenshots of the new update in action, included below.

Download: Download iTunes 8.0.2

1. You must be running a Jailbroken iPhone / iTouch
2. Install original Fring via iTunes App Store.
3. Now SSH into your iPhone / iTouch; remember root / alpine
4. Find Fring.app under root var/mobile/applications
5. To find the Fring.app, you then need to click on the most recently installed folder which will be your original Fring and inside should be the Fring.app
6. On your computer, rename the modified 3g Fring .api to .zip; it will now open in winzip or mac compatible unzipper e.g. zipeg
7. Delete the original Fring.app on your iPhone / iTouch
8. Copy the extracted 3g Fring.app from the zip folder across to your iPhone / iTouch either via the WinSCP (PC) or Yummy FTP (Mac).
9. Now you need to set the permissions. This is easy so please do make it more complcated for yourselves. ALL the files within the 3g Fring.app replacement must be set to 755 (Yummy) or 0755 (WinSCP). You should see all the files being altered as it goes through the process of changing the permissions.
10. When I tried it, it worked immediately after changing the permissions without a reboot but if it does not work then please reboot.

This is not a guaranteed method and I take no responsibility if your Brick your machine — which it should not!

Have fun !!!

The iPhone Dev-Team reports that they have successfully jailbroken the iPhone 2.2 firmware. According to their post:

“The second beta of firmware version 2.2 has been out for a few days. It looks like Apple still doesn’t have a fix for devices already prone to the pwnage jailbreak and unlock.

We wondered aloud if the App Store restrictions might revive the Jailbreak scene and we noted that Steve Wozniak supports the scene.

Source: iPhone Atlas

AT&T has announced that they are now offering free Wi-Fi access to iPhone subscribers across the U.S.

AT&T knows Wi-Fi is hot, and FREE Wi-Fi is even hotter. Which is why FREE AT&T Wi-Fi access is now available for Apple iPhone at thousands of hotspots nationwide, including Starbucks*. Users can relax and access music, email and web browsing services with their favorite blend in hand from the comfort of their nearest location. For information visit www.att.com/attwifi.

AT&T provided a number of early hints that the service would be coming. AT&T has also sent out an SMS message to iPhone users announcing the plan.
Customers can locate Wi-Fi spots through AT&T’s online tool or can locate a Starbucks using this tool. In order to access AT&T Wi-Fi from your iPhone, you must follow these steps:
- Activate Wi-Fi from the settings icon on your iPhone
- Select "attwifi" from the list of available networks
- Enter your 10-digit mobile number and check the box to agree to the Acceptable Use Policy. Tap ‘continue’
- You will receive a text message from AT&T with a secure link to the AT&T Wi-Fi hotspot. You will not be charged for the text message.
- The SMS link will only be valid for 24 hours at the location it was requested. Another request must be submitted when using another hotspot location.
- Open the text message and tap on the link for 24-hour access to the AT&T Wi-Fi hotspot

Source: MacRumors

Although many traditionally think of cell phone carriers as huge conglomerate organizations intent on nickel-and-diming the consumer at every corner, one cannot forget about the heavy subsidies on phones that these companies take on in order to lure consumers to sign for longer term contracts. With the release of the new iPhone 3G, however, companies have actually started to eat into their profits to stay competitive in the fast-paced wireless market. According to analyst forecasts, AT&T’s $200 iPhone offering has helped profits drop almost 5% from Q2 to Q3: the phone is selling faster than the company had expected, and that directly hurts their bottom line.

Not wanting to be outdone, Verizon and Sprint, second and third respectively in the US wireless market, also dropped rates on high-end smartphones, causing smaller, but still noticeable drops, in profitability, according to analysts. With the worsening economic conditions, carriers will be hard pressed to find ways to attract new customers without further hurting their bottom line. Some analysts think higher subsidies will be cut in favor of cuts to service fees, whereas others feel smartphone subsidies are still the best bet, as smartphones usually come attached with an additional data plan on top of the voice plan.

"I think we’ll see average revenue per user (ARPU) decline but the real question will be to what degree," said Stanford Group analyst Michael Nelson, adding that as voice call prices have fallen, carriers have depended on data for ARPU growth.

Apple has seeded iPhone 2.2 Firmware Beta 2 and has fully enabled Google Street View. We had previously reported that Beta 1 of iPhone 2.2 had hidden APIs related to the Street View for Google Maps, but was not enabled.

Apple seeded iPhone 2.2 Firmware Beta 2 to developers tonight. The seed notes also indicated that Line-in audio accessories are now supported in the SDK.

Source: MACrumors

US Democratic candidate Barack Obama is set to turn the iPhone into a political recruiting tool with an application aimed at getting the vote out.

The software has a "Call Friends" option to help organize contacts in swing states.

A note about the software on Mr. Obama’s blog said: "This tool is designed to help you become more directly involved in our campaign to change the country."

The free application was developed by volunteers in less than three weeks.

"This really has the potential to help the campaign," said Jason Grigsby, one of the project leaders.

Read more @ BBC

All the hype came to its crescendo this week as T-Mobile, Google and HTC jointly released the T-Mobile G1, the first commercially available mobile device based on the open source Linux Google Android operating system.

The touch screen G1, known to some as the HTC Dream, bears some similarity to the Apple iPhone, which saw amazing uptake with the release of its 3G model. Even the original iPhone, released 15 months ago, still garners a great deal of hype.

And while it’s uncertain whether the T-Mobile G1 and Google Android will unseat the iPhone for smart phone supremacy, the G1 is better than the iPhone, though it might not be as pretty.

At the G1’s official launch on Tuesday, the main focus was on Google Android’s openness and its work with the Open Handset Alliance. Along with unveiling the physical device itself, the Google and T-Mobile teams also launched the Android Market. Similar in concept to the Apple AppStore, Android Market enables third-party application developers to offer their apps to be used on the device.

The Android Market, simply put, is better than Apple’s AppStore.

Google’s hands-off approach means there will be no whining about what applications do and don’t get picked up. Essentially, a developer can offer his or her application on the market without fees, review or even Google’s stamp of approval. With Apple keeping a tight grip on the apps offered in its AppStore — anyone remember IAMRICH? — Android Market will be a breath of fresh air.

Full article @ Channel Web

Apple has issued a recall for the iPhone 3G USB power adapter due to a flaw with can cause the metal clips to break off inside of the outlet. The adapters were supplied with iPhone 3Gs sold in the United States, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Peru. In addition the adapters were sold as standalone accessories in Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, and Panama.

The USB power adapters supplied with the original iPhone are not affected by this recall.
Due to a risk of electric shock, Apple has encouraged customers to discontinue use of the faulty adapter until their new adapters arrive. Users are encouraged to charge their phone by connecting to their computers or using a standard-sized USB power adapter if they have one.
Replacement adapters will begin shipping starting October 10 to users who register at Apple’s website, or you can wait and exchange your adapter at an Apple store starting that same day. You will need your iPhone’s serial number to complete the registration, but once registered Apple will send you the replacement adapter and packaging to send your old adapter back to Apple.

Apple reports this flaw has only affected a small number of users and no injuries have been reported.

View: More Information | Recall Registration

IPhone (and iPod touch) Software 2.1 has been unlocked by the iPhone Dev Team.

The move means the cat and mouse game between Apple and hackers attempting to open the platform up for use on different mobile phone networks and in order to install non-Apple approved music applications continues.

The iPhone Dev team released software - Pwnage Tool - to unlock the iPhone and iPod touch across this last weekend.

For its part, Apple has introduced new anti-unlocking measures within iTunes 8, measures designed to prevent some hacks from working. And the Dev Team claims Apple has built-in a series of countermeasures within iTunes, in order that unlocked iPhones won’t easily sync with the system.

"We’re waiting to see what Apple tries next," the iPhone Dev Team says. "But we think they might want to rethink their priorities. They probably won’t though."

Source: networkworld.com