Get ready to upgrade your iOS device?..It is now available to download. Apple has officially released the iOS 5, the latest version of mobile operating system with over 200 features. If you own an iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPod touch or iPad you’ll love the upgrade.

If you’re Twitter addicts, the iOS 5 is now tightly integrated with Twitter and you can easily tweet your stuffs from Camera, Photos, Maps, Safari and YouTube. If you find it difficult to use the touch button to take picture, iOS 5 lets you shoot a photo by using the volume-up button. For iPad user, on the top of the features just mentioned, you’ll also love the redesigned music, the support of multitasking gestures and split keyboard.

To upgrade to iOS 5, make sure you’re using iTunes 10.5. Like any iOS upgrade, you can simply plug your iPhone or iPad to computer and upgrade it via iTunes. Alternatively, you can also download the firmware via the following download links and restore it from iTunes:

• iPhone 3GS
• iPhone 4
• iPhone 4 CDMA
• iPad
• iPad 2 WiFi
• iPad 2 3G GSM
• iPad 2 3G CDMA
• iPod touch 3G
• iPod touch 4G

What better way to end this speculations with an iPhone 5 rumor roundup video. Thank to Nowhereelse.fr.

Former Engadget editor Joshua T. is hearing that Apple’s upcoming iphone 5 will have a new tear drop design with a 3.7 inch screen. Joshua also notes that the home button is bigger and is to be used as a gesture area also?..According to Joshua:

Our sources say the new model (or at least one of the new designs in testing) looks “more like the iPod touch than the iPhone 4.” The phone will be thinner than the iPhone 4, and may have a “teardrop” shape which goes from thick to thin (something along the lines of the MacBook Air profile).

Our source says the company is doing very “interesting things” with bonded glass technology, and has been exploring designs where the earpiece and sensors are somehow behind the screen itself, making for a device where the display is actually edge-to-edge.

Our sources can’t confirm whether or not Apple’s working on its own version of cable-free juicing. There’s also a “swipe area” shown in the drawing which appears to be on the bottom and / or top of the device — that could very well be an NFC point, but that’s pure speculation on our part.

More information about iPhone 5 rumor here and here.

Apple has released an update for iTunes pushing the version to 10.2.2. There is nothing important for the update but with a number of bug fixes. According to the release note from Apple, iTunes 10.2.2 comes with the following bug fixes:

• Addresses an issue where iTunes may become unresponsive when syncing an iPad.
• Resolves an issue which may cause syncing photos with iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to take longer than necessary.
• Fixes a problem where video previews on the iTunes store
• may skip while playing.
• Addresses other issues that improve stability and performance.

For those who’re using jailbroken iPhone, as confirmed by musclenerd, it’s safe to upgrade to iTunes 10.2.2. There should be no problem for your jailbroken iPhone to sync with the updated iTunes.

Toshiba has announced SmartNAND, its next-generation 24-nanometer (nm) NAND flash product family. The SmartNAND series integrates leading-edge 24nm process NAND flash technology with a control chip that supports error correction code (ECC) and is available in densities ranging from 4 to 64 gigabyte (GB). Its advanced process combined with a faster controller and internal interface achieves faster read and write speeds and enhances overall performance. Optimized to suit design objectives, SmartNAND supports a range of read and write speeds including four read modes and two write modes.It could possibly be used by Apple for its next generation iPhone.

Samples of the new SmartNAND family are available in mid-April and mass production will begin in the second quarter of CY2011 (April to June). Mass production of the 64GB version doesn’t begin until Q3 2011 which is in line with recent rumors that estimate the iPhone 5 will be released this fall.

According to the new Commsec “iPad index”, Australia come in as the fifth best place to buy the Apple tablet. The index, which surveyed the price of the 16GB WiFi iPad 2 in 28 countries that sells the device, found Australia came in fifth behind the US, Canada, Mexico and Switzerland. They pay the equivalent of $US599.32, compared to $US499 in the States, although that doesn’t include sales tax (not all states in the US charge sales tax though).

Worse off than them are countries like Hungary and Denmark, who pay over $US700 for the entry level iPad. Of course, it’s relatively easy for iPad shoppers in Hungary to hop in the car and drive into another country to save a large chunk of cash on their purchase, a luxury they don’t necessarily have buying the device online and shipping it to Australia. More info about iPad 2 price here.

As you can see from these pictures, the screen of the new iPhone is expected to be larger than the iPhone 4′s. Moreover, the differences of the frame suggests that they have made some antenna modification consequently addressing the loss of signal. More information about iPhone 5 rumor here.

As for now, iPhone Dev-Team has releasing Untethered Jailbreak for iOS 4.3.1. This is a good news for those who accidentally upgrade or stuck on this iOS. This jailbreak has been made possible by the untether exploit found by i0n1c or Stefan Esser. Stefan then turned over the exploit to the Dev-Team who have been trusted with stable jailbreak solutions over the years. With the combined effort of Dev-Team and Stefan Esser we know have an iOS 4.3.1 untethered jailbreak solution for all iOS devices except the iPad 2.

The updated version of RedSn0w is available for both Mac and Windows users while the PwnageTool will work only on Mac. The jailbroken only compatible as listed below using this tool.

• iPhone3GS
• iPhone4 (GSM)
• iPod touch 3G
• iPod touch 4G
• iPad1
• AppleTV 2G (PwnageTool only for now)

The iPad 2 users will have to wait a bit longer since the bootrom exploit does not work on iPad 2 yet.

Stay away from this tools if you require Ultrasn0w unlocking (Ultrasn0w users)!

If you require a software based unlock for your iPhone then you must wait for a while. Ultrasn0w update will be released soon to support unlock on iOS 4.3. Also, you must be careful while updating to iOS 4.3.1. You need to use custom IPSW to prevent the baseband upgrade.

If you don’t care about an unlock and have been waiting to upgrade your iOS device to iOS 4.3.1 you can take the leap now as you have a stable jailbreak release.

You may download redsn0w 0.9.6rc9 here:

OS X redsn0w

Windows redsn0w

Pwnage Tool 4.3

I am constantly looking forward to the next apple product. So with all the rumors about the iPhone 5 being released three to four months later than the normal summer release.What I found was the most complete iPhone 5 rumor with full graphic information.

Steve Hemmerstoffer from nowhereelse.fr, has compiled all the rumors about the features of the upcoming iPhone 5 in a sleek infographic. The percentage shown in the image tells you the likelihood that these speculated features would actually appear on the next generation of iPhone.
Find more information about iPhone 5 here and here.

[Image Via Nowhereelse.fr]

Apple today announced that it will hold its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) June 6 through June 10 at San Francisco’s Moscone West. According to the press release, this year the conference will focus on the future of iOS and Mac OS.

“At this year’s conference we are going to unveil the future of iOS and Mac OS,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “If you are an iOS or Mac OS X software developer, this is the event that you do not want to miss.”

If you’re a mobile or Mac OS developer, here are the activities at WWDC 2011:

• more than 100 technical sessions presented by Apple engineers on a wide range of technology-specific topics for developing, deploying and integrating the latest iOS and Mac OS technologies;
• over 1,000 Apple engineers providing developers with code-level assistance, insight into optimal development techniques, and guidance on how they can make the most of iOS and Mac OS technologies in their apps;
• the opportunity to connect with thousands of fellow iPad®, iPhone® and Mac developers from around the world; and
• Apple Design Awards which recognize iPad, iPhone and Mac apps that demonstrate technical excellence, innovation and outstanding design.

So what about iPhone 5? Will Apple debut the next generation of iPhone during WWDC? We do not know about that. But base on its track record, Apple used to announce a new phone every June. Let’s wait and see. The ticket is now available for purchase at Apple's WWDC website.

As a rumors been around for a couple of months, iOS 5 is likely to be postponed till this fall and it’s said to be previewed at WWDC. Apple would revamp its MobileMe service as a cloud-based service for remote file and music storage. The upcoming iOS 5 is said to focus more on the cloud services. A number of new services may launch with this new version including a “music locker” service which could store your music remotely and a location service that lets you find friends and family members.

According to Techcrunch:

iOS 5 will launch in the fall and will be a major revamp of the OS.

It could well be previewed at WWDC, it just won’t be released then.

The iOS 5 launch is also likely to coincide with the release of a new type of iPad which we previously reported on.

The new iOS will be heavily built around the cloud, and we could see several new services launch from Apple that take advantage of this.

Yes, one of those is very likely a “music locker” service. There is also a fall launch aim for this, during Apple’s annual music-themed event.

But much of the cloud stuff will first be talked about at WWDC, Apple’s developer event which will take place in June.

One of the new cloud service elements is likely a location service that focuses on finding friends and family members.

So what about iPhone 5? If the Techcrunch’s source is right, it’s very likely the iPhone 5 will not come with iOS 5. Instead, an iOS 4.x version specifically designed for the new iPhone.

It is now being reported that a few Foxconn ninjas have with their own eyes seen a prototype iphone 5. They state the shape and style is the same as an iphone 4 but it has two key changes.

• Bigger screen possibly 4 inch with no changes made to the design just less bezel on the iphone edges.
• A metal back which makes sense as the very first iphone had a metal backing but then Apple started using plastic backing to improve network connection.

Do take note that if a metal back is used for future iphone’s it would not affect radio performance since Apple is using their new antennae technology. Our hunch on all this, the next generation iphone will have a new look with a bigger screen and aluminum/liquid metal back and you can’t forget about the spec updates such as more memory, faster processor.

iDealsChina has reportedly gotten their hands on design drawings for the next generation iPhone 5. Going along with earlier rumors the drawings show a larger screen going from edge to edge with a thinner bezel.

iDealsChina States:

We just got what appears to be mold engineering drawings for iPhone 5. These would be used by case designers to create plastic, TPU, aluminum, silicone and leather cases. A while back we hear rumors that iPhone 5 would have a curved back but these images show iPhone 5 with the same form factor as iPhone 4 but with an edge to edge screen.

The new update brings many new features and is compatible with iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPod Touch 3rd gen, iPod Touch 4th Gen, and the iPad. The two features in iOS 4.3 that we have been looking forward to the most are Personal Hotspot and iTunes Home Sharing. iOS 4.3 has been released by Apple, ahead of schedule. iOS 4.3 was supposed to be released on 11th March along with the iPad 2.

As i mentioned before, Jailbreakers and Unlockers should stay away from this upgrade at the moment until the dev-team releases updated tools.

New Features In iOS 4.3:

• Personal Hotspot- Share iPhone 4 cellular data connection with up to 5 devices (comination of up to 3 Wi-Fi, 3 Bluetooth, and 1 USB)
• New AirPlay Features – Play videos from the Photos app including the Camera Roll album, iTunes previews, enabled third-party apps, and websites on Apple TV.
• Faster Safari Performance with Apple Nitro JavaScript engine
• HD Video Out using the Apple Digital AV Adapter – View 720p HD videos from the Videos app, iPod app, Photos, YouTube, Safari, Keynote, and enabled third-party apps on an HDMI display
• New Settings
• Messages setting for number of times to repeat an alert
• iPad side switch settings to lock screen rotation or mute audio notifications and sound effects
• iTunes Home Sharing – Play music, movies and TV shows from a shared iTunes library on a Mac or PC (requires iTunes 10.2)
• Ping Features

-Push notifications for comments and follow requests
-Posts and Like songs directly from the Now Playing screen
-Parental controls

• Single tap conference call dialing with a pause to send a passcode
• Bug Fixes

During the iPad 2 event, Apple mentioned the iOS 4.3 will be available to all users on March 11. Our recommendation is to stay on iOS 4.2.1 a month after 4.3 is released as all its going to be is a headache.

BigBoss also pointed out the upcoming iOS update will come with an implementation of address space layout randomization (ASLR). Such implementation change will impact the way mobile substrate works. If you haven’t heard of mobile substrate, it is a code library that other tweaks depend on. So if mobile substrate doesn’t work with iOS 4.3, your favorite hacks like WinterBoard, BiteSMS, etc will not work either.

With 4.3 comes apple’s implementation of address space layout randomization (ASLR). In short, this will mess up the way mobile substrate works. You will need a new mobile substrate in order to use your favorite tweaks such as winterboard, sbsettings, bitesms, folder enhancer, etc. So you should definitely avoid 4.3 until an “official” jailbreak is released for it. Of course we will announce when that is right here.

Therefore, avoid upgrading to iOS 4.3 until a stable jailbreak solution is released.

As a rumors, Apple is revealing the iPad 2. The iPad 2 price is just the same as previous generation iPad which places it with a competitive edge over other tablets in the market. More specs of the thinner, faster processor.

What we are most amazed by is how Apple managed to decrease the iPad’s thickness, pack a twice as powerful A5 processor and still managed to give us 10 hours of battery life on this. With the addition of the FaceTime cameras this is going to make twice as much sales as the first generation iPad.


What's New:

• Dual Core A5 processor – upto two times faster than previous model
• Thinner by 33% – 8.8mm as compared to 13.4mm
• Enhanced graphics – new GPU nine times faster
• Two cameras – front and rear
• Built in Gyroscope like iPhone and iPod Touch for motion detectiion/gaming
• Battery life same as 10 hours – in spite of new processor and decreased thickness
• FaceTime ability to make video calls to iPhone 4, iPod Touch 4G and Macs

Moreover, the decreased thickness makes the iPhone 4 an inferiority complex. The iPhone 4 is 9.3mm thick as compared to iPad’s 8.8mm. This is almost as hot as the iPod Touch now. Plus, we must also mention that the iPad 2 is being launched in white color model as well.

The Price

The prices are exactly the same as previous generation iPads. The iPad, as reiterated by Apple, is offered at an unbelievable price as compared to its rivals in the market. The Motorola Xoom, for example is priced at $800(comparable to 32GB 3G model).

Both the iPad 2 and iOS 4.3 will be released on March 11th in the USA and 26 more countries on March 25th.

[Image Via Engadget]

FaceTime for Mac is now out of beta and FaceTime 1.0 has been released on the Mac App Store. It will ship with the new Macbook pros and owners of previous generation Macs can purchase it for $0.99. iPhone and iPod Touch users are already familiar with the ease of use when making FaceTime calls. We have been playing with the beta FaceTime for Mac and found it the easiest way to communicate.

FaceTime has already paved its way to iPhone 4, iPod Touch 4G and Macs. If you are into software tweaks you can even install it on your older iPad 1st gen and iPhone 3GS. In all probability we will see it on iPad 2 which is rumored to have two cameras just like the other iOS devices released in 2010. So far no word on a FaceTime app for Windows.

Facetime Features:

Simple to Get Started
• Setup is quick and easy – just enter your Apple ID.
• With just one click, you can make a video call to an iPhone 4, an iPod touch, or another Mac.

Easy-to-Organize Contacts
• Make calls using your existing Address Book contacts – you don’t have to enter your contacts from scratch.
• Add the people you call most often to your Favorites list.
• Quickly review your past calls with Recents.

High-Definition Video
• Receive HD video calls at up to 720p on supported, Intel-based Macs.*
• A Mac with a standard-definition camera delivers up to VGA-quality video for Mac-to-Mac calls.

Elegant Interface
• Window and playback controls fade away so the focus stays on your conversation.
• View transitions smoothly when an iPhone 4 or iPod touch user switches from front to rear cameras or from portrait to landscape views.
• FaceTime’s widescreen aspect ratio makes it easy for families and groups to participate in a call.
• Enjoy your video call full screen, using every inch of your beautiful Mac display.

Ring Anywhere, Any Time
• Incoming calls ring on your Mac, even if FaceTime isn’t running.
• If you have more than one Mac, incoming calls ring on every one so you can answer on the Mac that’s most convenient.

You can purchase FaceTime for Mac for $.99 from the Mac App Store by hitting link here.

With PressReader 2.2, the dailies won’t ever be old news. You can simply switch on the iPad application and indulge on today’s happenings. PressReader 2.2, upon receiving upgrades from its previous versions, makes reading the news an even easier experience. Navigating through the paper’s various sections is easy, as you scroll through from the front page to the Sports section. In truth, it’s even simpler to read compared to an actual newspaper. You can do away with turning the large pages, while you jump from one section to another.

Press Reader has several new features. Now it has a Library Shelf feature which appears like a newsstand. You have the option of picking from a wide variety of newspapers, giving you a clear picture of what’s happening all over the world. It automatically removes stored newspapers from the iPad’s database, to free up memory space. If you have a knack for storing old news, however, you can simply switch off the feature.


Press Reader 2.2 also features newspaper printing and quick messaging and news sharing on Facebook. Traditional folks who prefer the novelty of reading an actual newspaper can simply print all of the publications that they read regularly. Socially responsible folks, on the other hand, can alert their friends about certain reports via their social networking accounts.

Perhaps the best thing about this iPad application is it’s free. It is also compatible with the iPhone and the iPod Touch, running on at least iOS 3.1.2. You can download it through this via direct iTunes link.

Warner Bros is now experimenting by selling movies as standalone iOS apps, starting with Inception and The Dark Night. While the apps themselves are free to download, the actual movies available as in-app purchases.

Warner Bros. has played it smart by including bonus features, such as games, soundtracks, and integration with Twitter and Facebook to promote hit dialogues. The free versions are teasers which lure users to buy in full movie via an “in-app” purchase button. While “The Dark Knight” costs $9.99, Inception is priced higher at $11.99. Both the paid offerings include innovations such as the ability to watch the film in as many as 34 languages and the ability to clip sounds and customize ringtones. IMO, 10 bucks for a few ringtones and wallpapers surely sounds like an overkill.

Once you’ve paid for a movie, you can choose to either stream the movie to your iPad or download it to your iPad for later viewing. Both the apps are available in over 30 countries and provide an alternative to users in countries that do not have access to films for purchase via the iTunes Store. Warner Bros is already working on app editions for other movies to be launched throughout the year. Unfortunately, Apple’s DRM restrictions imply that users can’t transfer these movies to their Mac or DVD players, despite making a hefty in-app purchase.

Have a look a video of the Warner Bros ‘The Dark Knight’ app in action.

Its finally available for order, the long awaited iControlPad should be coming to us real soon. The only downside is its a bit expensive and bulky in our opinion.

The iControlPad uses Bluetooth to communicate with your mobile phone, so it can basically be used with any modern Smartphone – or even your PC! It offers various different Bluetooth protocols, including standard HID. This is to ensure that you can use the iControlPad with current and future Smartphone generations.

The iControlPad has exchangeable clamps to make it possible to use any Smartphone out there. Just grab the clamps that are designed to fit with your Smartphone and you’re ready to play. And if you ever buy a new phone: No need to throw your iControlPad away, just get a new set of clamps and that’s it!

Current side clamps support:
iPhone 3, iPhone 3G, iPhone, iPhone 3GS, iPhone4, iPod touch (some require padding), Motorola Backflip (needs padding), Lg Optimus S, Lg Ally, Blackberry Touch, Samsung Intercept (may require adjustment), HTC Dream, T-Mobile G1, Era G1.

Features:
● Supporting any phone/console/computer with Bluetooth.
● Digital Dpad, 2 Analogue nubs, 6 face buttons and 2 rear buttons.
● Clever side clamp system allowing it to attach to almost any phone
● Multiple BT protocols supported
● Should ‘just work’ on any Android app which supports a PC gamepad.
● Internal 1500maH battery can also charge your phone via USB when playing.
● Upgradeable firmware, new features can be added, restrictions can be bypassed.
● Delivery starts in February.

The first units will be shipped around the 16th of February, the units are arriving in batches of 1000 until the full 3000 have been produced. The PCBs are made and populated in Germany, the case, the final assembly and testing in England.

iControlpad with V1 sides, Battery, USB Charger, and Manual costs $74.99.

[Via iClarified]