iPhone on DiggFiled under: Cellphones
The iPhone 2.0.2 update is here and is supposed to fix a bunch of bugs that users have been seeing since iPhone 2.0 hit. Like Boy Genius said before, it's going to be targeting iPhone 3G users, but the changelog of "bug fixes" is vague enough to imply that everyone will see some benefit. Grab it now from iTunes.
The folks behind Palringo have swiftly delivered on a promise to add Push-to-Talk functionality to their multi-client IM app for the iPhone. Like their desktop version, the new update allows iPhone users to send vocal IM messages by holding down a contact button while speaking. When released, the audio recording will be delivered directly to the recipient.
Playback can be initiated automatically or manually depending on your preference, and if your chosen client does not support PTT, the message will be delivered as a link that the recipient can follow. Whether you are into PTT or not, it is a nice addition to an app that won't cost you a dime. [Comunicano via BGR]
When you're done riding the coattails of Olympian Michael Phelps take a look at what you missed this weekend here at Gizmodo:
• Leprechauns were drag racing with a 100% functioning miniature V8 Corvette engine.
• How did you watch Micheal Phelps win his record breaking 8th Olympic gold medal?
• Bono loves the sound of his voice too much: He accidentally leaked U2's next album over his home speaker system.
• The Galactic Empire, Death Star and all, was spotted invading San Francisco.
• iPhone 2.1 Beta 4 was revealed, but it lacked the highly anticipated Push Notification feature.
• Is that the Symbiote on Olympic beach volleyball player Kerri Walsh's shoulder?!
• Sorry folks, that alien structure in the Alps is just a medical facility concept. A human medical facility.
• Stephen Colbert is afraid of bears, but Apple's iPhone application kill switch doesn't phase him in the least.
• I still say this Lexus design concept looks like a bug from the cheesy Starship Troopers movie.
• It's ugly as sin, but this $25,000 DIY car kit gets a whopping 225 MPG.
Now get thee to the homepage and revel in the awesomeness of the best gadget blog on this great green earth.
Filed under: Digital Cameras, Peripherals
Until now to telescopic-zoom an image with your iPhone 3G involved a quick sprint in the general direction of your photo's subject: But now Brando have a version of their telescope add-on for the phone. The lens is a 6x zoom bolt-on, and comes with a transparent mounting system/iPhone case much as before. It's also still very awkward looking: You won't be sneaking up to many curtains to peep unnoticed with this in your mitts. Available now for $19. [Brando]
News is just out of a new way to jailbreak your iPhone, and this time the tool is specifically designed to work "quickly and easily, without requiring a full restore." Quickpwn has been released as a beta, intended to compliment the main PwnageTool. It works with iPhones and iPod's running 2.0.1 firmware, and operates very quickly without needing iTunes to rebuild/restore your device afterwards. This beta version is basically feature-complete, but lacks a "funky UI" (they're adding that soon) and is currently windows only (other OS's are "coming soon".) It's available here. Keep your eyes open for a complete version (though remember that even though it's development software, it's apparently "impossible for this to permanently damage your device.") [iPhone-Dev.org]
Stephen Colbert spoke, and the people listened: The kill switch that lets Apple remotely remove applications on your iPhone can be disabled with the push of a button. All you need is a jailbroken phone and the updated BossPrefs app found on Cydia. Simply choose "Disable Apple App Killswitch" in BossPrefs and Bob Barker that puppy into oblivion. This isn't the only way to get rid of the kill switch, but it's the easiest we've seen and can quickly be toggled on or off. Just be careful: if Apple wants to remove an app, they probably have a pretty good reason for doing so. [Thanks Alan, bryonbrock!!]
Sorry Gentiles, you'll want to step aside for this one.
Listen up bubbelahs, now that the shiksas and sheygets are gone let's kibbitz. Your diet? Not so great. Lucky for you, two new iPhone apps are designed with kosher-keepers in mind. iBlessing tells you the correct brachas for meal time, and ParveOMeter helps your milk and meat stay separate. So wipe that schmutz off your punim, get off your tuchas, and let me show you how they work.
iBlessing, a ported version of the Say-A-Blessing keychain, shows a plate filled with food—no traif, of course. Clicking on the meat, fruit, bread, wine, etc., brings up the blessing you should say over the item in question. The app has additional "bonus blessings" as well, for events like hand washing and the after meal grace. While iBlessing is supposed to recite the blessing out loud, that part hasn't worked for me yet.
The other app, ParveOMeter, counts down the amount of time until you can eat dairy after meat and vice versa. The milk to meat setting is customizable depending on how kosher you are (zero minutes to an hour), but the meat to milk timer keeps ticking for six whole hours. The app keeps you on track too, since there is no easy way to manually stop the timer. However, when the time is up you are rewarded with a large round of applause.
Both of these apps are free and available now, but remember: Don't use them on shabbos! [iBlessing, ParveOMeter]
Pandora, the internet radio station built around your tastes, will probably be going out of business soon. After getting slapped by the CRB with exorbitantly high royalty rates to continue playing music, founder Tim Westergren says the company is facing a "pull-the-plug" situation. There's one congressman trying to help Pandora and it's million plus users, but the service is bleeding money in the meantime and its future looks grim. I'll be very sad to see it go, since being reintroduced to it recently through their excellent iPhone app. What great idea do you have for us next, RIAA? [ReadWriteWeb]
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