Mastery of the iPod Starts Here
Posts tagged apple
New Firmware Downloads
Dec 14th
I realize the firmware download links havent been updated in a while so here are the links for iPod Touch (1G, 2G, and 3G) and iPhone (2G, 3G, and 3GS). Most of the files are directly from Apple’s servers.
3.0.1 Firmware Does Not Update Baseband Security
Jul 31st
After the tests undertaken by Andrew, we have just received confirmation via the IRC channel of Saurik that the new Firmware 3.0.1 does not update the Baseband for which Apple did not implement any new method of defense against the Jailbreak and dell’unlock . It follows that RedSn0w that PurpleRa1n should be able to unlock the new version of the operating system.
However we recommend not to do so, and wait for an update by the DevTeam and GeoHot that they need to add new tools to their Bundles. It holds your security and there is no particular reason to hurry because the changes in the new Firmware is practically zero.
Las Plagas Infects The App Store With ‘Resident Evil 4′
Jul 27th
Following the surprising early accidental release of Resident Evil 4 [App Store] in Japan a few weeks ago, iPhone owning Resident Evil fanatics have been anxiously anticipating its official release. The wait is over, but it will likely take a true Resident Evil fan to appreciate the mobile edition of the game (or, ironically, one who has never played the original).
An on-screen D-Pad controls your movement along with a array of buttons lining the right hand side of the screen that control all of your actions. Resident Evil 4 features a slight improvement to the control scheme in Resident Evil: Degeneration [App Store] that we reviewed previously. It seems like Leon moves a little bit faster, and double tapping on the D-Pad while aiming makes you take a step in that direction.
Since in a game like this controls are everything, I highly recommend giving Resident Evil: Degeneration Lite [App Store] a try before picking up Resident Evil 4. They take a lot of getting used to, and the inability to run and aim at the same time doesn’t translate particularly well to the virtual D-Pad either.
The thing that gets me about this version of the game is that the console and PC versions of Resident Evil 4 are such amazing games. In fact, RE 4 saw so much critical acclaim that it a “Reception” section summarizing its awards in the Resident Evil 4 Wikipedia article. Many publications listed it as the 2005 game of the year, and Resident Evil 4 even ranked number 1 on the “IGN Readers’ Top 99 Games Of All Time” list.
Unfortunately, the iPhone version of the game (ported from BREW) seems so watered down that it’s barely even recognizable as Resident Evil 4. All of the amazing plot elements and cut scenes are replaced by brief text introductions to each of the twelve levels, all of the voice overs are gone, and overall this just really feels like what you would expect a cell phone game to be– which needless to say does not do justice to the original at all.
AppBank posted the following gameplay video of the Japanese version:
[ Full HD version | Low Bandwidth version ]
If you’re interested in the series or enjoyed Resident Evil: Degeneration, chances are you will still have fun with Resident Evil 4 despite its shortfalls. If you’re brand new to the game, however, I’d recommend starting with one of the other console versions if you can, but then again, you can’t exactly play your GameCube while sitting on the bus.
App Store Link: Resident Evil 4, $7.99
A Closer Look at ‘Touch KO’
Jul 27th
We gave some quick impressions of Touch KO immediately after its release, but have since been able to spend some time to play through the game. As we mentioned before, the game offers an impressive looking boxing game for your iPhone.
Touch KO‘s multi-touch controls are surprisingly comfortable and an in-game tutorial walks you through the moves. Tapping either the left or right side of the screen punches with that arm, and different gestures like swiping towards the center lets loose a hook, while swiping upwards throws an uppercut. Holding your thumb on either side of the screen blocks with that arm, and tilting the iPhone makes you dodge. The controls are rather easy to pick up and contribute to a rather immersive experience once you get comfortable.
In fact, I’d say that Touch KO’s controls are one of the best aspects of the game. In contrast, while the main boxing competitor in the App Store, Iron Fist Boxing [$3.99], seems to have “deeper” controls, I was never able to get as comfortable with its four-quadrant portrait oriented system. Ironically, though, Touch KO’s control’s simplicity has been one of the criticisms of the game as there are no body shots or lower punches possible.
[ Full HD version | Low Bandwidth version ]
The game does have great controls, a high quality look and feel, and a lot of potential, but experienced gamers are finding the game to be too easy in its current form.
App Store Link: Touch KO, $2.99
Gameloft Live and Crystal SDK Offer New iPhone Social Networks
Jul 25th
We were pretty excited when we first heard that developers were beginning to offer various Xbox Live-like social networks. These networks promise to offer players the ability to follow online achievements, play against friends, chat and more. Over time, however, the number of networks has blossomed with many of the major developers offering their own version. Chillingo and Gameloft are the latest companies to announce/launch their network.
Just a couple of weeks ago, Chillingo announced CrystalSDK which is an open social network platform that promises “a host of innovative features”, though no specifics have been revealed. We asked Chillingo’s Chris Byatte how Crystal SDK is going to be different from existing networks. Byatte was unable to give details yet but said, “We’ve listened to player feedback and aim to bring new standards of usability plus we’ll be addressing the developer community with A1 support and feedback.”
Meanwhile, just tonight Gameloft released a version update to Uno [$4.99] which adds Push notifications as well as a much enhanced Gameloft Live feature which also offers friends, trophies, chat and personal messaging for players.
Gameloft has made no announcements on whether or not they would open up their network to other developers, but we’d suspect not.
Meanwhile, we’ve been reluctant to offer much of an in depth analysis of each system since we don’t feel they actually affect consumer decisions yet. At this stage, no one is going choose one game over another based on the social network they support. Here’s a list of the various options available. (Crystal SDK is not yet available, and Nmogco’s PlusPlus is not yet open to 3rd party developers.)
The decision lies in developer’s hands at the moment, though some we’ve spoken to have been reluctant to make the “wrong” decision at this early stage. Meanwhile, many other developers have already taken steps to adopt one of the various networks available.
iPhone 3GS Encryption Is ‘Useless’
Jul 24th
iPhone 3GS Encryption is ‘Useless’ for businesses according to Jonathan Zdziarski, a well known iPhone developer and hacker.
In an article by Wired.com, Zdziarski reveals that the iPhone encryption is so weak that it can be cracked in under 2 minutes with a freeware application.
“It is kind of like storing all your secret messages right next to the secret decoder ring,” said Zdziarski. “I don’t think any of us [developers] have ever seen encryption implemented so poorly before, which is why it’s hard to describe why it’s such a big threat to security.” An entire raw disk image of the phone can be made in about 45 minutes.
To demonstrate the phone’s weakness. Zdziarski established a screenshare with Wired.com and was easily able to bypass any encryption to access their data.
Since Apple’s encryption is so poor Zdziarski says its up to developers to add an extra level of security to their application.
“If they’re relying on Apple’s security, then their application is going to be terribly insecure,” he said. “Apple may be technically correct that [the iPhone 3GS] has an encryption piece in it, but it’s entirely useless toward security.”
New Flying Apps Display for Apple Stores
Jul 23rd
Apple has created a new flying apps window display which can be found at the Palo Alto Apple Store.
First posted by Jason Kincaid from TechCrunch, the video below shows a “giant wall of apps flying by, accompanied by a massive iPhone that briefly displays a handful of featured apps for a few seconds apiece.”
Take a look below…
Two ‘Doodle Jump’ Inspired Games: ‘A Doodle Flight’ and ’321 Jump!’
Jul 22nd
A Doodle Flight [$0.99 / Lite] from j2sighte adopts the nice hand drawn “doodle” art style and applies to a vertical shooter. The game offers both tilt and touch controls to navigate the 8 levels, each with their own boss enemy as well as weapon upgrades.
The game starts off pretty easy but later boss levels start throwing out a barrage of shots rRootage-style (Boss 4 video).
App Store Link: A Doodle Flight, $0.99, A Doodle Flight Lite, Free
Recorder 10 Provides iPhone Call Recording
Jul 22nd
Retronyms, makers of the popular iPhone apps FourTrack and Recorder, announced today that version 10 of Recorder has added the ability to record phone calls.
Recorder is one of the most popular recording apps on the iPhone, with over 300,000 sales, and it is the first app to provide call recording, a long-standing deficiency of the popular iPhone. This new call recording feature will be useful to many users, finally allowing them to keep an audio record of their meetings and interviews.
Because the iPhone SDK does not provide a means to record phone calls, Recorder’s call recording feature works through an external service connected to the telephone network. This means that the service is limited to outgoing calls originating and terminating in the US and that it requires a per minute charge.
Zach Saul, co-founder of the Retronyms, said, “Call recording is our most requested feature, and we’re really excited to be able to provide it. The only possible solution required a per-minute fee, but we think it will be a big benefit to many users.”
Call recording was not possible until Apple released a new in-app micropayment service as part of the iPhone 3.0 update, but using the updated OS, users can purchase call recording through their existing iTunes account.
Recorder 10 is available from the Apple App Store for $0.99.
Apple News Jailbroken iPhones Send Push Notifications to Random Strangers?
Jul 21st
Certain jailbroken iPhones may be sending your push notifications to complete strangers, says Till Schadde, founder of Equinux.
According to a Tech Crunch report, Schadde has discovered a bug that sends your AIM messages to random recipients without your knowledge or consent. The problem only seems to occur with jailbroken devices.
Schadde was sending a message from his desktop to his iPhone when he received a message back from a complete stranger. The recipient also forwarded him a screenshot of the notification he received.
On his Twitter feed Schadde posts that, there seems to be a brand new hack that reactivates push with the effect that received msg are broadcasted to strangers
We are looking into this matter and will post more information once it becomes available. If you have experienced this or know of a fix please share it in the comments.
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