Custom firmware images–Jailbreak and more through iTunes

Instead of dealing with all these jailbreaking tools, wouldn’t it be nice to build a custom image –pre-hacked and pre-loaded with software–and simply load it on your phone via iTunes? Thanks to the iPhone Dev Team, this will soon be a reality.

In what they are calling the “Pwnage Project“, you will be able to modify a stock .ipsw file. That includes pre-jailbreaking, pre-unlocking, pre-activation, and loading custom software. Then simply use iTunes to restore your custom ipsw to your device, as you would any other firmware. The only catch is you must first “Pwn” your device, using iPwner. iPwner is a tool you run just one time to enable the vulnerability on your phone. You can then use iTunes to load custom firmware to your hearts content (unless you restore a stock ipsw, in what case you need to run iPwner again).

There is no release date yet, but the Dev Team promises “both tools are undergoing intensive developing and soon will be ready for public consumption.”

The implications here could be huge. Between this and the SDK, it’s definitely a good time to be an iPhone/Touch owner.

Posted in Firmware, Jailbreak, Touch, Unlock, iPhone | 5 Comments »

Super Monkey Ball on the iPhone (VIDEO)

EA isn’t the only one showing off their new iPhone wares. Here’s what SEGA accomplished in just 2 weeks:

I’ve always been a fan of these simple platforming games (particularly marble madness-esque ones). From the way the SEGA rep talks about the controls, it sounds like he never played Super Monkey Ball on the Wii. While I didn’t particularly like the Wii title, the thought of it on the iPhone is much more appealing.

Posted in Apps, Games, Touch, iPhone | 18 Comments »

Spore on the iPhone (VIDEO)

In just 20 days, EA has progressed this far in bring Spore to the iPhone/Touch. Spore fan or not, it shows just how powerful the SDK (and the hardware) is. While I love the homebrew efforts thus far, it definitely won’t hurt the community to augment that with some AAA titles from big developers.

I just ask one thing: PLEASE don’t make the controls gimmicky. Yes, you’ve got multi-touch and multiple accelerometers–use them wisely. Certain Wii games have shown us what can happen when developers try to get too creative with their control schemes.

UPDATE: While it wasn’t specified in the video, this game WILL be released on the iPhone (not just a tech demo). Slated release is for September, along side other platforms.

Posted in Apps, Touch, iPhone | 4 Comments »

iPhone SDK released: the good, the bad, and the ugly

It’s finally official: the iPhone SDK is available for download at Apple.com (download link appears to be down atm). Here are the details you need to know…

The Good
-The SDK is free to anyone who wants to check it out.
-They will allow publishers to release their apps for FREE
-Developers can set price, get 70% of revenue
-Simple distribution via an Installer.app like interface
-Developers have access to most all hardware features

The Bad
-While the SDK is free, it will cost $99 to PUBLISH apps
-SDK only for Intel macs running Leopard

The Ugly
-iPod Touch users have to PAY for an update to run third-party apps! You got to be effin with me.
-Firmware 2.0, enabling third-party apps, not available until June.
-Apps will be distributed SOLEY through Apple. This may not be so bad given it allows devs to focus on code instead of payment processing and other technicalities, and Apple sound very open to what can be published. But it still gives Apple ultimate control. I doubt you will be downloading SNES emulators from the iTMS any time soon.

I’ve got to give Apple credit: this is way better than I expected. It sounds like they listened to what consumer want, and are doing all they can without completely opening pandoras box. They’ve gone as far as saying they will even allow VOIP applications–over wifi only–which is definitely a nod to the consumer instead of ATT. The $99 publishing/licensing fee will also let you test your apps on your own device, so that sounds very similar to Microsoft’s XNA business model.

If you want to watch the entire Software Roadmap presentation for yourself, you can do so here. (funny note: apple named the follow pic of Jobs “hero_bg20080306.jpg”… coincidence?)

What are your thoughts?

Posted in Apps, Firmware, Touch, iPhone | 1 Comment »

ZiPhone 2.5 released (1.1.4 jb/unlock), iPhone SDK March 6th

As promised, ZiPhone has been updated and released for firmware 1.1.4. Zibree recommends doing a RESTORE to 1.1.4 instead of update so old files don’t get left behind, gumming up the works. You can download for Mac or Windows here.

Also worth noting is that full Touch support still isn’t here. It still being worked on (pending Zibree getting his hands on a Touch). Jailbreaking should still work on 8GB Touches (yay for me).

And just so Josh doesn’t kill me: developers, mark your calendar for March 6th. Apple is holding a special SDK event, unveiling the “iPhone software roadmap.” There are still no other details, as Apple wants to keep the element of surprise. With all the suspense and mystery, this better be good! Apple tends to launch software day and date with these types of events, so you can expect developers (everyone?) to get their hands on the SDK on the 6th.

Posted in Jailbreak, Unlock | No Comments »

ContactFlow released - cover flow for contact

We’ve got cover flow for our album art and applications (thanks to Erica Sadun), so why not contacts? iPhone developer Fabien Foulon has applied the tried and true concept to your contact list. You’ll need to assign pictures to the contacts you want to show up, then tap their picture to give them a call. More info and download at the dev page.

Posted in Apps, iPhone | 1 Comment »

Firmware 1.1.4 released, ZiPhone support coming soon

Firmware 1.1.4 has been released, but you may want to hold off on upgrading if you are jailbroken. ZiPhone reportedly works, but Zibree warns further testing is needed, and adjustments need to be made. The firmware update appears to just be bug fixes, so you aren’t missing out on anything super cool.

Posted in Firmware, Jailbreak, Touch, Unlock, iPhone | 7 Comments »

Buy a 32GB Touch, get a free iPod Shuffle

In one of the strangest Amazon promotions I’ve seen in a while, when you buy a 32GB iPod Touch, you get a 1GB iPod Shuffle for free. I can’t imagine there are many people in the market for an iPod Touch AND a Shuffle, but for free, why not. Clip it on when you are doing something active and want to go ultra-portable, or perhaps just score some brownie points with the significant other for your thoughtful, random gift. Any way you slice it, it’s the best deal out there for a new 32GB Touch.

Edit: Thanks Josh!

Posted in Touch | 3 Comments »

Palm OS emulator on iPhone/Touch (not released)

The folks behind the Palm emulator of Windows Mobile have an experimental version of StyleTap running on an iPod Touch. And it looks pretty damn fast and usable. Don’t get your hopes up though, since it looks to be a big tease. They warn you in big bold letters: “This is an EXPERIMENTAL version – it is NOT a product, nor is its presence here a commitment of any kind, express or implied, that StyleTap Inc. will ever release an official version of StyleTap CrossPlatform for Apple iPhone or iPod Touch.” Cool none the less.

Posted in Apps, Emulators, Touch, iPhone | No Comments »

iPod Touch support coming soon to ZiPhone

Zibree has posted the following on his blog:

As I stated many times, ZiPhone was not even intended for
the iTouch. But you know…they are so similar…
The “problem” with 1.1.3 iTouch is that the bootloader
is a little different. Yesterday I had the time to disassemble it.
20 minutes later I found exactly what I expected and where I expected it to be.
Allow me some more tests to make you totally safe.
And expect news soon.

Stay tuned!
Namaste,
Zibri.

ZiPhone currently works on 8GB Touches, but others give an error because of the differences above. Luckily I’ve got an 8GB and have been happily jailbroken for some time. The rest of you, look out for official Touch support in ZiPhone soon.

Posted in Apps, Jailbreak, Touch | No Comments »