By Marshall Walker – Published November 16th 2011 – 00:21 in
If you’re considering jailbreaking your iPhone for the first time, you should know there is an iPhone 4S jailbreak in the works, but it’s not available to the general public yet, and it will be free. You should also know Apple is not a fan of jailbreaking, so it’s never going to be available as an app in the iTunes App Store.
Apple recently pulled a $9.99 app by RiliSoft because it tricked people into believing it could jailbreak the iPhone 4S and iPad 2. The app cleverly named “Jailbreak” is actually a game, but Apple didn’t like the way it tricked its users. You can see how the app’s description mislead people from the screen shot taken by GottaBeMobile posted below.
Get Settings Toggles on Your iOS Home Screen (No Jailbreak SBSettings)
Now you can set up shortcuts to your favorite iPhone Settings right on your iOS home screen without jailbreaking. One tap of the right icon will bring you directly to the Settings item you want to change without any more navigating through multiple menus. The solution shown here is not only free, but it does not require jailbreaking.
To begin, you must have iOS 5 installed on your device. These shortcuts are actually Web Clips delivered to your iPhone in a MobileConfig file. Some of the toggles will change the desired setting immediately, while others are not true toggles, but immediately open the correct Settings page. Jailbreakers familiar with the tweak SBSettings have enjoyed this functionality for some time.
Apple Still Working on iPhone 4S Battery Issues
Even after Apple released iOS 5.0.1 to address complaints about iPhone battery life issues, people are still experiencing unexpected battery drain. What originally seemed like a few isolated incidents on Friday, has grown into a pile of new complaints on the Apple support forums. Some iPhone 4S owners are claiming iOS 5.0.1 did nothing to fix their battery problems.
Apple responded to the new complaints by releasing a brief statement to AllThingsD.
“The recent iOS software update addressed many of the battery issues that some customers experienced on their iOS 5 devices. We continue to investigate a few remaining issues.”
The iPhone 5 Wasn’t a Figment of Our Imaginations?
Those always reliable “industry sources” must be feeling lonely since the Apple rumor mill was shutdown back in October. Good thing for them the iPhone 4S wasn’t interesting enough to hold our attention for longer than a month. So grab your supply of salt, and prepare yourself, because I predict a very long winter of new Apple rumors.
The latest comes from the Business Insider, who refuses let a great rumor die. According to their unnamed source, the iPhone 5 was very real, but it was abandoned 3 months before the iPhone 4S was announced. Their tipster didn’t say why the iPhone 5 was scrapped, but he did say Apple engineers thought “a new fully re-designed iPhone was going to be Apple’s next big announcement.” He also says he played with the prototype.
iPhone 4S Jailbreak: Don’t Update to iOS 5.0.1
Those looking forward to an untethered jailbreak solution on the iPhone 4S should heed the words of developer pod2g, who warns that the iOS 5.0.1 update should be avoided for now. The reason is because security exploits found in iOS 5 have been closed by Apple in iOS 5.0.1. These security flaws, publicized by security expert Charlie Miller, will simplify the untethered jailbreak process on the iPhone 4S.
If you’re concerned about the security flaws, there are no reports of any malicious software actually using these exploits to do harm. Regardless, after the iPhone 4S is fully jailbroken developers will patch iOS 5 on their own with updates available through the Cydia jailbreak app store. The point is that if you plan to jailbreak your iPhone 4S untethered in the near future, the iOS 5.0.1 update should be avoided until further information is available.
One More Reason Why Siri Won’t Work With the iPhone 4
Apple has made it clear that Siri will not be available on any other iOS devices besides the iPhone 4S. iFixit believes this has to due with the device’s unique proximity sensor. The iFixit team discovered whenever the screen of the iPhone 4S is activated the proximity sensor turns on.
The proximity sensor in other iPhone models is basically an infrared LED light that lets the device know when a user’s face is near the screen. This allows the iPhone to switch off its touch interface when someone is making a call. iFixit believes the sensor inside the iPhone 4S switches on constantly so users can easily access Siri.
AT&T Releases iPhone App for VoIP International Calls
Looking for a less expensive way to call overseas? AT&T now provides a solution in their own Call International iPhone app, available for free on the App Store. Calling from the US using the app requires no recurring monthly charge, contract commitment or prepaid balance. According to AT&T the rates offered when using Call International are their lowest available.
Contacts can be dialed directly from your iPhone Contacts list without entering any codes or PIN numbers to call. Calls are billed directly the credit card associated with your Call International account. This account can be set up directly within the Call International app on your iPhone. So what are the advantages of VoIP calling?
New Apple Store App Introduces ‘EasyTheft’ and Personal Pickup
Apple has launched version 2.0 of the Apple Store app which now includes EasyPay and Personal Pickup. EasyPay allows you to pay for items through the app, rather than having to deal with long lines or sales reps. The new feature has been dubbed “EasyTheft” since it makes shoplifting a lot easier. EasyPay will only be available for smaller items like iPhone cases and other accessories. So you won’t be walking out with a free laptop in the near future.
Personal Pickup also saves you time by allowing you to purchase items at a retail store while on the go. Items purchased on the app will be ready for pickup within an hour of the sale. This seems like a great time saver for business professionals. You can order an item while eating lunch, and pick it up on your way back to the office.
10 Tips to Get More Out of Siri on iPhone 4S
Basic commands to Siri are useful, but how can you take your personal assistant to the next level on the iPhone 4S? There are a variety of tips and tricks that will help Siri become more powerful and better at doing its job. Not only will these pointers speed up simple tasks, but they open up a whole new level of functionality with Siri.
Of course, you’ll need a data connection for Siri to work properly. We’ve noticed that Siri drops in accuracy dramatically when background noise is present, so plan accordingly. If you’re still using an older iOS device you may not have Siri, but you can try one of several Siri alternatives for the iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS. Here’s a list of 10 tips to get more out of Siri:
iPhone Gaming Accessory iControlPad Has Arrived
We’ve been watching the iControlPad since it was first announced as a prototype in 2008. Now thanks to ThinkGeek this gaming accessory for the iPhone is finally available! The iControlPad has gone through several redesigns since its conception but the final product remains a Bluetooth-connected physical control pad for gaming.
In fact, thanks to its Bluetooth connectivity the iControlPad is compatible with a wide variety of smartphones, tablets, consoles and computers. Adjustable brackets mean the iControlPad can be directly attached to a variety of mobile devices, and flash memory means the firmware of the accessory can be updated