iThings

U.S. Copyright allows for jailbreaking and unlocking

A just published update to Section 1201(a)(1) of the copyright law now allows 6 previously prohibited uses under copyright.

Among these there are 2 that related to iOS devices.

(2) Computer programs that enable wireless telephone handsets to execute software applications, where circumvention is accomplished for the sole purpose of enabling interoperability of such applications, when they have been lawfully obtained, with computer programs on the telephone handset. (3) Computer programs, in the form of firmware or software, that enable used wireless telephone handsets to connect to a wireless telecommunications network, when circumvention is initiated by the owner of the copy of the computer program solely in order to connect to a wireless telecommunications network and access to the network is authorized by the operator of the network.

What this boils down to is you can now legally jailbreak and/or unlock an iOS device to install unauthorized applications and to SIM unlock for use on a different carrier network.

I eagerly await a reaction from Apple if they feel this warrants one.

Read more of the Statement of the Librarian of Congress

iPhone 4

Here is it, what we have all been waiting for!! Just minutes ago Steve Jobs announced the iPhone 4 at WWDC. The phone is a whole new take on the form factor and the features.

The next Apple TV

Engadget makes the claim that they have the scoop in the next AppleTV

A tip we've received -- which has been confirmed by a source very close to Apple -- details the outlook for the next version of the Apple TV, and it's a doozy.

The details involve the new ATV running the iPhone OS along with Apple A4 chips.

The new architecture of the device will be based directly on the iPhone 4, meaning it will get the same internals, down to that A4 CPU and a limited amount of flash storage -- 16GB to be exact -- though it will be capable of full 1080p HD (!).

The shocker according to their source is the price.

the price-point for the device will be $99.

Given that my current AppleTV has been decommissioned due to lack or real utility, I would be interested in seeing this happen.

Source

1Password integrates with Dropbox

The latest beta of 1Password from Agile Web Solutions has taken a tremendous leap forward. The new version allows users to leverage DropBox for sync and storage across devices.

In addition to various improvements and fixes, this build includes an experimental feature that creates a special "sandbox" folder in Dropbox. This folder can be accessed by Mac, Windows and (future versions of) iPhone/iPad applications.

This marries 2 of my essential applications for an even better workflow. Interesting is this from the release notes.

The sandbox folder will be required for iPhone and iPad applications because they will be using Dropbox APIs and will only be able to see the files inside the sandbox.

Moving forward the applications become tied on mobile devices.

Source

The iPad is a failure!!

The iPad pre-orders started last week, reports have placed them at over 100,000 so far. After the start of the frenzy the PC anti-Apple trolls started spewing their hate. One of my favorite pieces so far was this from PCWorld's Galen Gruman in his article iPad Pre-Orders: For Idiots Only

After all, the first-generation iPad is particularly likely to have disappointments, as it's the version that will tell us what, after the hoopla dies down, Apple should have done.

You know what, shut up! THis is the same crap that preceded the iMac and the iPhone both of which have been spectacular successes. I reserved on myself, I admit want one even if I don't know what to expect. Will it fail, I doubt it, but if you look at the numbers from Fortune's Philip Elmer-DeWitt the jig is up.

After the initial burst of excitement on Friday that saw iPad pre-orders coming in at the rate of 25,000 per hour, there was a dramatic fall-off over the weekend.

Any idiot could have predicted a drop off, why is that news? If they completely stopped selling, that would be news.

I predict that iPad, iPhone and Apple bashing will take a dramatic drop-off after hell freezes over.

The future is almost now

Tomorrow morning Apple will unveil something new and exciting, what it is exactly no one really knows. Everyone has an opinion and they all are confident in their assumptions.

I am excited, eager and I confess to know nothing. I won't even try to guess. This could be a new form factor altogether. I have an idea of what I'd like to see, but one of the reasons I love Apple is they produce products that are far beyond what I can envision.

The iPod Less than a decade ago Apple released the iPod, the device no one understood or really expected. The pre-iPod rumors existed, but not with this frenzy. I followed the rumors closely and was shocked by the final product. It was exactly what I didn't know I needed, but had to have. It filled an invisible niche that started a frenzy.

The iPhone Rumors of the iPhone started early and some were very close to what we saw from the raw specifications. What Apple delivered was a new paradigm in portable computing. It just fills that niche that nobody really thought existed, now we have a smartphone explosion, an app store explosion and an entirely new marketplace that has made millions for the most unexpected people.

Steve Jobs said yesterday during the Q1 2010 Financial call

“The new products we are planning to release this year are very strong, starting this week with a major new product that we’re really excited about.”

Gizmodo had it right when they said, "Apple actually reveals a product, it's something that they're confident enough to support for years to come."

What they announce and release tomorrow will be compelling, polished and I expect, somewhat unexpected.

Daring Fireball: The Tablet

Daring Fireball: The Tablet

John Gruber says what we all are thinking or wish we had been thinking.


Here’s the thimbleful of information I have heard regarding The Tablet (none of which has changed in six months): The Tablet project is real, it has you-know-who’s considerable undivided attention, and everyone working on it has dropped off the map. I don’t know anyone who works at Apple who doubts these things; nor do I know anyone at Apple who knows a whit more. I don’t know anyone who’s seen the hardware or the software, nor even anyone who knows someone else who has seen the hardware or software.

Attribute to Daring Fireball

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