The iPod Nation

Apple has promised to fix a recently found iPhone security risks that would allow others to access information on a locked iPhone. Apple has said to have a fix on the way that will be available in September. Apple representative, Jennifer Bowcock stated “The minor iPhone security issue which surfaced this week is fixed in a software update which will be released in September.” The security leak lets someone gain access to a locked iPhone by pressing the emergency call button at the unlock screen and two taps on the home button. This allows the iPhone users private information to be accessed. With all the problems Apple has had recently hopefully this is one that can be fixed easily.

-Ray

[Source: macworld]

An alleged email from Apple CEO Steve Jobs sent to an iPhone customer seems to hint that Apple and AT&T are working on a way to tether iPhones to computers. This option is available for other smart phones as a $30 a month option. Tethering lets users connect their laptops to the internet via their mobile phones.

The email from the iPhone customers:

AT&T offers data plans for BlackBerry that include tethering for an additional $30 per month (a total of $60 per month for the BlackBerry+tethering plan). It seems ludicrous that the same thing is not offered with the iPhone. I understand the desire to prevent tethering with the current data plan, but I am willing to pay more money to allow tethering! With such an advanced device, why can I not do so?

From Steve Jobs:

We agree, and are discussing it with ATT.

Steve

Sent from my iPhone

-Ray

[Source: macrumors]

It was bound to happen sooner or later, Alabama resident Jessica Alena has filed a complaint she hopes will become a class-action complaint against Apple. She has claimed the “Defective iPhone 3G” has had slow performance and reliability after Apple claimed that their new iPhone 3G was faster than the original iPhone in their marketing campaigns. There have other complaints of slow 3G network connections from many iPhone 3G users around the world. We’ll see how far this goes or if this gets Apple off their butts and do something about it.

-Ray

[Source: arstechnica]

So you bought a brand new iPhone 3G, with its new look and faster speed it definitely is a better phone compared to the original iPhone. So what are you going to do with your OG iPhone? Well you can pass it along to a friend or family member and let them start a new AT&T contract with it so they can enjoy all the benefits of the iPhone. You can make a little extra cash on the side and sell it on eBay or Craigslist. Or you can just keep it, the original iPhone still has all the same features and functions but you just can’t text or make any phone calls. MacWorld did a great write-up and what you can do with your old iPhone, check it out below:

Pass it along AT&T would love for your nearest and dearest to purchase their own iPhone 3G as well. But, barring that, the company is more than happy to lock them into a new two-year contract for your old iPhone. You’ll learn the ins and out of handing off your iPhone to another in this PDF document from AT&T.

Before you give your iPhone to someone else, whether for free or for a fee (see below), you should wipe the data from it. If your old iPhone isn’t running the latest iPhone software, plug your iPhone into your computer, select it in iTunes’ Source list, and in the Summary tab click the Check for Update button. Choose to download and install the latest software.

After you’ve installed the software take iPhone in hand and tap Settings -> General -> Reset and tap Erase All Content and Settings. Under the 1.x iPhone software, invoking this setting erased the iPhone’s obvious data, but not everything. Under the 2.0 software, you get a much more thorough wipe. Note that wiping your iPhone’s data this way can take an hour or two.

Sell it You can pass along your iPhone and make a tidy sum at the same time. Check eBay and Craigslist and you’ll find that original 8GB iPhones are going for between $350 and $450. Examine those listings carefully and you’ll see that these phones are unlocked by one method or another.

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It looks like Apple wants to know what you think about their new iPhone 3G. They’re sending out customer-satisfaction surveys via the feedback agent Medallia. Some questions seen on the survey are whether your iPhone is your first Apple product or if you’re a Mac or Windows user (probably to use in their next Mac vs. PC commercial). With all the reports of slow 3G networks this survey is your chance to give Apple a piece of your mind, and hopefully they listen.

-Ray

[Source: wired]

Looks like another iPhone clone has hit the market, this one keeps the (I think) better look as the original iPhone. This iPhone clone even boasts about how superior it is compared to the other clones on the market:

Measuring in at 115×6×14mm, the M99i is slimmer than any iClone! In additon to its cool appearance, the M99i also has Wifi, Windows Mobile 6.0, bluetooth, camera, mp3, mp4, FM Radio and is Tri-band GSM so it will work with T-Mobile, non-850mhz ATT, and Cingular.

At $289.99 it’s a bit more than the 8GB iPhone 3Gbut hey it’s the best iPhone clone on the market! They’re available online at gadgetgreats.com

-Ray

[Source: macenstein]

The iPhone 3G sold very well in Japan just like it did in many other countries when it launched. Some reports said that the iPhone would flop in Japan because of the vast differences the iPhone had compared to mainstream phones in Japan. Looks like all that speculation about the iPhone not doing well in Japan turned out to be untrue. A bunch of iPhone magazines have recently sprung up in Japan. Tokyo newsstands have seen four iPhone related magazines within a month. Looks like the iPhone will do well in the land of the rising sun after all.

-Ray

[Source: macenstein]

Some who switch over from a PDA to an iPhone still prefer the feel of a touch pen or stylus over using their greasy fingers. With the two major products on the market being the Touch Stylus and Pogo iPhone Stylus which one is better for you? Macenstein did a thorough review of both the iPhone stylus types to make it easier for us the consumer to decide. Macenstein liked the look of the Japanese Touch Stylus but they said its flexible tip was too hard to use with the Pogo iPhone stylus being far easier and more accurate. Check out macenstein.com for the full review.

…click for the full review

-Ray

[Source: macrumors]

Many customers around the world have complained about slow network speeds with their new iPhone 3G’s, some blame the iPhone antenna and others the network itself. Wired did a study that showed the weakest and strongest 3G networks around the world and many networks were as fast as the manufacturers claimed. The Swedish tech site GP took an iPhone 3G to an antenna test chamber to find out for sure if the antenna was to blame. Tests showed that the antennas were working fine. So where is this faster iPhone we were promised Apple?

-Ray

[Source: topiphonenews]

These new mockups of the new Apple iPod nano hit the internet recently. It appears that Apple is going back to the long skinny style of previous nano’s. Many are upset about this but personally I kind of like it.

-Ray

[Source: gizmodo]