Apple's next big media event will be held on October 4th, where freshly minted CEO Tim Cook is expected to unveil theiPhone 5. Sources close to the situation say Cook will be the main presenter at the event, with execs Phil Schiller, Scott Forstall and Eddy Cue playing supporting roles. This would mark the first time that Cook has actually led an Apple event, adding an extra wrinkle of significance to an already highly anticipated occasion. The site's sources went on to say that the next-gen iPhone will be available for purchase "within a few weeks" of the announcement, The exact date of its unveiling is still subject to change.

Sure, OS X Lion borrowed many of its design cues from Apple's iOS platform, but now users of jailbroken iPhone and iPod Touch devices may bring much of the desktop Mac's functionality onto their handset with Lion Ultimatum. In essence, this beta project is a theme for Dreamboard (which is required software), but it's rather far-reaching, with a functional file manager and Finder menus, a scrollable dock and draggable windows, along with Stacks, Launchpad, Mission Control and Dashboard. There's also a customizable lock screen that provides access to the dialer, email and messages. Even the keyboard can be modified to resemble the design of MacBook Pro or the traditional Apple Keyboard, thanks to integration with ColorKeyboard.

Install Instructions:

1) Open Cydia
2) Manage Sources
3) Edit/Add fnetdesigns.com/cydia/repo
4)Install the Theme Outlet (Found in the "Changes" section)
5)Go to homescreen and open Theme Outlet
6) Browse the the Theme and DL from there.
7) After selecting it in Dreamboard it will walk you through the steps to set it up.

***Do not forget to install the additional apps needed for the full experience***

Quicklock
CrazyDashboard
ArrangeStatusBar
CleanStatus

UPDATE: 9/20/11 The download site is down do to overload. I am also trying to find out where you can send donations to, from what i understand if you donate you will get a download link for the software. I will keep you posted.

UPDATE: 9/21/11 Here is a picture of the app downloaded from cydia. Still trying to contact the creator to get a trial.

At Verizon we've been testing our network for years, but our mission here is to demonstrate exactly how Verizon's 4G LTE is truly different. So, we put it to the test. See all the results here, and keep checking back for more. Have fun.

Judging from the clandestine screenshot you see above, it most certainly seems like that's the case. A helpful tipster sent us this tasty morsel, from AT&T's internal system, listing the "iPhone 4s White" beneath a handful of already familiar Apple handsets. Could it be? Is Cupertino actually planning on bringing a white version of its next iPhone out at launch? We're afraid only time will tell.

Not only is Apple shipping the most smartphones, it's also shipping the best smartphones -- if you believe the stats in J.D. Power and Associates' latest US customer satisfaction survey. It gave the iPhone a score of 838, versus HTC's handsets in second place with 801 and an industry average of 788. Sammy got a disappointing 777, but we guess it might have fared better if the Galaxy S II had been quicker to cross the Atlantic. Hapless RIM got shunted into fifth place, having come second in 2010.

J.D. Power and Associates Reports: The Right Blend of Design and Technology is Critical to Creating an Exceptional User Experience with Smartphones and Traditional Mobile Devices

Apple Ranks Highest in Customer Satisfaction among Smartphone Manufacturers, While Samsung Ranks Highest among Traditional Mobile Phone Manufacturers

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.: 8 September 2011 - Overall satisfaction with smartphones and traditional mobile phones is considerably higher for devices that are a specific size and weight and are equipped with the latest technological advancements, such as high-quality display screens, faster processing speeds, longer battery life and touch screen capabilities, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2011 U.S. Wireless Smartphone Customer Satisfaction StudySM-Volume 2 and the J.D. Power and Associates 2011 U.S. Wireless Traditional Mobile Phone Satisfaction StudySM-Volume 2, both released today.

Satisfaction with both smartphones and traditional or "feature" phones is greatly impacted by the physical design and dimensions of the device. For example, satisfaction ratings are highest (8.1 on a 10-point scale) when the weight of the smartphone device does not exceed 5 ounces. In comparison, satisfaction averages 7.6 for smartphone devices that are 5 ounces or heavier. The same scenario holds true for feature phones, for which satisfaction with the weight of the device peaks between 3 and 3.5 ounces, and drops considerably when the feature phone weighs 4 ounces or more.

The width and thickness of the smartphone device are also critical in maximizing the ownership experience, and echo the old adage that "thinner is better" holds true. Overall physical design satisfaction is highest (852 on a 1,000-point scale) for smartphones that are less than 0.45 inches wide. In comparison, satisfaction averages 783 for smartphones that are 0.65 inches wide or wider.

Technology advancements also impact the experience of mobile devices in a number of areas. For example, touch screen-only smartphones generate considerably higher satisfaction with ease of operation (817 points) than either QWERTY-only based devices or those that have both a touch screen and QWERTY functions (785 and 782 points, respectively).

In addition, faster processing speeds, higher computer chip bit rates and the most advanced display screens (such as Super AMOLED vs. older LCD-based screens) all add significantly to user satisfaction. Even the number of megapixels found in camera-enabled mobile devices influences the ownership experience. In general, the higher the number of megapixels, the higher the satisfaction with camera picture and video quality. However, devices with at least 5 megapixels achieve nearly as high a satisfaction score as those smartphones with 8 megapixels or more.

"It's not unexpected that satisfaction is higher for devices that have new technological advances or features," said Kirk Parsons, senior director of wireless services at J.D. Power and Associates. "Having the right combination of physical dimensions and operating functions and features for both smartphones and traditionally equipped devices is key to creating an exceptional ownership experience with each type of wireless device."

These two studies have been updated to measure customer satisfaction with traditional wireless handsets and smartphones among owners who have used their current mobile phone for less than one year by examining several key factors. In order of importance, the key factors of overall satisfaction with traditional wireless handsets are: performance (31%); ease of operation (24%); physical design (24%); and features (20%). For smartphones, the key factors are: performance (35%); ease of operation (24%); features (21%); and physical design (20%).

For a sixth consecutive time, Apple ranks highest among manufacturers of smartphones in customer satisfaction. Apple achieves a score of 838 and performs well in all factors, particularly in ease of operation and features. HTC (801) follows Apple in the smartphone rankings.

Samsung ranks highest in overall customer satisfaction with traditional handsets with a score of 718. Samsung performs well in three factors: performance, ease of operation and features. LG (717), Sanyo (716) and Sony Ericsson (709) follow Samsung in the traditional handset rankings.

The studies also find the following key wireless handset usage patterns:
• The price of a traditional wireless mobile phone continues to decline and averages $71 in 2011, compared with an average of $81 at the beginning of 2009. The decline is primarily due to discounts provided by handset providers and wireless service carriers to incentivize sales. Currently, 42 percent of owners report having received a free mobile phone when subscribing to a wireless service.

• Mobile applications continue to enhance the smartphone user experience. More than two-thirds of owners say they have downloaded games and social networking applications to their device. More than one-half (54%) say they have downloaded entertainment-oriented applications, while 52 percent indicate having downloaded travel software, such as maps and weather applications. This indicates that smartphone owners are continuing to integrate their device usage into both their business and personal lives.

• Customers are highly satisfied with 4G-capable devices. Satisfaction among customers using 4G-capable phones averages 819, compared with 786 among customers using phones with 3G capability. Owners of 4G devices are also more active in terms of calling, texting and browsing the Internet.

The 2011 U.S. Wireless Smartphone Customer Satisfaction Study-Volume 2 and the 2011 U.S. Wireless Traditional Mobile Phone Satisfaction Study-Volume 2 are based on experiences reported by 6,898 smartphone owners and 8,775 traditional mobile phone owners. Both studies were fielded between January and June 2011.

For more information on customer satisfaction with wireless service, wireless retail sales, cell phone handsets, customer care, prepaid wireless service and business wireless service, please visit JDPower.com.

Well, you can't say Cupertino isn't being consistent. Just like last time, Apple's gone and released a new beta of iOS 5, less than two weeks after the last one. Not much of interest pops out of build 9A5313E's release notes, but we'd presume it squashes a fair share of bugs. Hit up settings to begin the roughly 70MB OTA update, or test those browser downloading skills at the dev portal linked below. And while you're there, don't forget to snag updated versions of Xcode, iTunes, and an updated firmware for the second-generation AppleTV. Peep a screenshot of the OTA after the break and let us know how you fare in comments.

Apple updated iTunes to version 10.4.1. Apple initially released iTunes 10.4 to bring full screen support in Lion to its media software.

Version 10.4.1 of iTunes doesn’t bring much but the usual bug fixes. We have the full change log below…

• Fixes a problem where the media keys on some third-party keyboards work inconsistently with iTunes
• Addresses issues with adding artwork to songs and videos
• Resolves an issue which may cause iTunes to become unresponsive when purchasing an HD movie
• Fixes a problem where iTunes may take longer than expected to open after waking your Mac from sleep
• Addresses issues with VoiceOver support

Can confirm that it is safe for jailbroken devices.

Well folks... looks like we're finally getting some meat to all the iPhone 5/4S rumors that have been swirling around for months. We got some interesting news from a vigilant tipster today: beginning August 22nd, Telefonica will begin scaling back its current iPhone stock through September 12th. According to the source, this three week program is a move that "will of course prepare us for the launch of a new smart phone." While the date next month should sound familiar, we've heard recently that the launch will actually take place sometime in October. Either way, a move like this is usually a telling sign that points directly to a new model launch. Keep your eyes pinned here, and prepare yourself, as it appears Mr. Jobs may have something planned for the fall.

Earlier this year, Verizon CEO Dan Mead all but confirmed that an LTE Apple device would be making its way to Verizon. Eventually. And no 2011 Apple rumor spattering would be complete without at least a casual mention of the high-speed 4G network. Now, BGR claims to have received an internal iOS test build from a major carrier, revealing a property list file for LTE. This of course doesn't guarantee that Apple will be shipping an LTE iPhone flavor later this year, but that it at least remains a possibility. Still, an October iPhone launch would fall nicely in line with recent confirmation that AT&T will be releasing an LTE smartphone in "late 2011," and 4G compatibility could definitely explain Cupertino's holdup in announcing the iPhone 4's successor. So, will you be flying through the wireless web at lightning-fast speed later this year? Hopefully we need not wait much longer to find out.

Facebook has quietly changed something! Take a look at your URL address (the top box on your screen.) If you see "http" instead of "https" you DO NOT have a secure session & can be HACKED. Go to Account - Account Settings - Security (top left corner) - Secure Browsing - Check the box (Brows Facebook on a secure connection) - Save Changes. FB has automatically set it on the non-secure setting! Do your friends a huge favor, copy & re-post!

Have anything sitting in your voicemail that you'd prefer the rest of the world didn't hear? When's the last time you went about checking it, anyway? AT&T is now on a mission to save its carefree customers from themselves, and beginning today, all new subscribers will be required to set a voicemail password or affirmatively disable the security measure. Ma Bell's new policy is a reaction to the current unauthorized intrusion hubbub in the media, combined with the very real threat of caller ID spoofing. Shockingly, its current customers won't receive similar treatment until early next year, and only when they upgrade their handsets. Of course, you can easily secure your voicemail within the settings, and if you prefer the convenience of retrieving your messages without hassle, you'll still have that option

Ok. So let me clear up a few things before I get into any more details so everyone can know what's going on.

If you don't know by now, I'm rockin an iPhone 4. Yes, it's the best phone in the market, hands down. This post is not a debate of that topic. The problem came about a few weeks ago, when I got an email from AT&T saying:

"Did you know tethering your Smartphone to a computer requires a tethering plan? Pls call 866-679-7118 for details or visit att.com/dataplans"

Ok, so tethering is basically giving internet to your laptop, iPod, XBox, PS3 or any other device that can use the internet wirelessly. Thing is, AT&T provides this service for a fee, per phone, and it's limited to 4gig monthly. Being a web developer, I can really benefit from tethering but I could do without the extra bill. Other catch is, being a long time iPhone customer with AT&T, I have been grandfathered into an unlimited data plan for $30 monthly. Thats $30 a month for unlimited data (not available on new plans), compared to $25 monthly for 2 gigs and $15 for 200 mb and if you go over the data limit, they charge you $10 for an extra gig of data.

To me, it seems like those plans are not very friendly and don't give you alot of options. So I will stick with my unlimited plan. And also, it's very unsettling to me how they are able to know that you are tethering your device anyways. Some people say it's cause you use too much data.... well if I have an unlimited data plan, what is too much data? So if I accept that, then I can still argue, all the data is coming from the phone. How do they know otherwise? Well, they can possibly tell the browser you're using as well. Browsers sent their info when sending packets over the network. But still, I can fake the user agent of any browser and that is not a good enough reason.

The one way that I can think of, that they can legally see what I'm doing on my machine and that it is actually tethering, is that the MAC address of the other devices are passed with the packets and with this I think they can determine that other devices were used, tethered through the phone. This is the "fix" that I am suggesting with the instructions below. Beyond the MAC addresses, I would say they have to literally invade my privacy and

Now, by making some changes to your iPhone, you can "jailbreak" it. What this does is allow you to make changes to the phone's system that are not initially allowed by either AT&T or Apple. Maybe you like people to control your belongings even after you paid money to buy it from them, but I don't. I love technology and being able to "play around" with the things in the background of the system are very beneficial. It's the same with others though. Example is Microsoft's XBox... You can't even use the bluetooth devices you may have already paid alot of money for with the system due to the restrictions. However, I think you can "mod your XBox" to get this setup.

Anyways, for the real reason you're here... you want to find a way to get around AT&T punishing you for using your own, paid for internet data. Well below, I show you how by using MyWi and PocketProxy.

Steps

1. Get PocketProxy from the App Store now before they read this post and realize what good it will be used for (they did it with the netshare app - Google it)

2. Jailbreak you phone (if not already) and purchase and install MyWi

3. Once the first two steps are complete, start up MyWi and turn on wireless tethering.

4. Minimize this app (it should run in the background)

5. Open the PocketProxy app and start it

6. On the macnine you want to access the internet on, go to the browser and enter the proxy settings. If possible, change the proxy for the entire machine

PS. If you want to have PocketProxy run in the background, get the Backgrounder app and set it to run as if in the foreground. Then you can minimize the app once it's started and still browse at the same time.

PPS. Of course this can't exactly be verified by an AT&T employee but this should send all packets that are tethered through the proxy, thus any data on the other end should be hidden and only be passed using the iPhone's MAC address.

Thats it.

There's a war on unlimited data being fought as we speak, and Ma Bell  is leading the main charge. Just days after AT&T announced it would  begin throttling data speeds for the heaviest bandwidth hogs  grandfathered into the carrier's no-limit internet service, it's also  confirmed it's ready to crack the whip on illegal tethering as well. In  attempt to achieve "fairness for all of [its] customers," the carrier has  added a bit of force behind its March announcement, sending out    notices to anyone using their jailbroken iPhones as a mobile hotspot.  The gist? Cut it out or be scaled back to a tiered data plan. In a  statement originally given to 9to5mac, an AT&T spokesperson said:

Earlier this year, we began sending letters, emails, and text  messages to a small number of smartphone customers who use  their devices for tethering but aren't on our required tethering  plan. Our goal here is fairness for all of our customers. (This  impacts a only small percentage of our smartphone customer  base.)

The letters outline three choices:

1. Stop tethering and keep their current plan (including  grandfathered unlimited plan)
2. Proactively call AT&T or visit our stores and move to the required tethering plan 3. Do nothing and we'll go ahead and add the tethering plan on their behalf - after the dated noted in  their customer notification

AT&T  confirmed that this statement is indeed  true. Consider this the company's last warning -- your time to enjoy all-you-can-eat tethering is almost at an end. How soon the day of reckoning will come, however, likely depends on when you received the notification originally. And you thought you were being so sneaky...

If you’ve gotten AT&T’s “text of death” relating to your tethering usage, you’re probably utilizing free tethering through jailbreak apps like MyWi. Understandably, AT&T doesn’t want its users to have a free broadband connection through tethering hacks, and the carrier has started moving users over to its DataPro plan for $45 a month.

So, how is AT&T targeting unauthorized tethering on its network?

“Jailbroken iPhones typically use the same tethering technique as a standard iPhone, the one that’s already present in iOS. This method exposes tethering activity quite readily, because the iPhone, when in tethering mode, sends traffic through an alternate APN (AT&T access point/router) for the express purpose of identifying the traffic as tethered data. This makes it extremely easy for AT&T to identify whether or not an iOS device is utilizing tethering, and just how much of their data is consumed via tethering.

Some tethering applications for iOS make use of alternative methods and route tethered traffic through the phone’s normal data APN, but by and large, most jailbreakers stick with the stock application because it’s easy to use and doesn’t require any complicated setup. In fact, many iPhone users jailbreak for the sole purpose of avoiding AT&T’s tethering fees (for why, see next section). These are the people AT&T’s is going after.”

Because MyWi, the most popular tethering alternative for jailbreakers, uses the same APN as the standard tethering system for iOS, AT&T can see a jailbroken iPhone’s tethering activity very easily. AT&T has been contacting its list of unauthorized tethering users in waves, and there are no signs that the warnings from AT&T will stop anytime soon.

The people getting targeted by AT&T are obviously those with a grandfathered unlimited data plan. If you’re fortunate enough to still have an unlimited data for your iPhone, you can tether till your heart’s content through methods like MyWi and never have to worry about going over on your bill. AT&T doesn’t like that jailbreakers are able circumvent their $45 system for tethering.

There are other options for tethering in Cydia. PdaNet is an alternative to MyWi that has anew option to “hide” your tethering usage, assumedly redirecting you to the regular APN that the iPhone uses for data. If PdaNet does indeed mask your data from being sent through AT&T’s tethering APN, then AT&T should have no way of distinguishing unauthorized tethering data from regular data.

TetherMe is another popular tethering solution for jailbreakers that hasn’t gotten much attention in this whole AT&T debacle. From what we’re hearing, TetherMe users are reporting that they haven’t gotten contacted from AT&T about any sort of unauthorized tethering. However, this doesn’t mean that TetherMe users will not be contacted by AT&T soon.

As of right now, it seems that the updated version of PdaNet is your best bet for safe, free tethering on a jailbroken iPhone. Although AT&T does mainly use APNs to distinguish different types of data, your carrier could also be able to sniff data packets to see different types of traffic.

Just wanted to let my readers know that there well be some blog updates and changes. So if you happen to see things come and go thats why it is happening.

Thanks for reading.

MobileMe's impending demise just got one step closer, folks. Apple's updated iCloud.com to now sport an official login page with what we're assuming is Cupertino's rendition of a CNC-machined aluminumunibody badge. It looks like those of you rocking iOS 5 or 10.7.2 and who've also created an iCloud account are probably already busy frolicking through email, editing contacts and slinging calendar events all from the comfort of your browser. Those services already existed under its predecessor, but it looks as if Cupertino has spruced 'em up with fresh paint jobs. A screenshot from MacRumors also shows the addition of an iWork section, which we'd surmise means the previously siloed iWork beta now has a new place to call home. We couldn't get past the migration step with our trusty MobileMe account (disappointing proof is after the break), but you're more than welcome to tap the more coverage link and have a go yourself.

Oh, and if you're wondering how much it'll cost you to claim more than those 5GB that Apple's tossing in gratis, the folks over at Electronista have confirmed that an extra 10GB will cost $20 per year, while an extra 20GB runs $40 / year and an extra 50GB will demand $100 per annum.

They have released Mac OS X Lion, released new updates to their popular Mac lineups, and have also pushed out an update for iTunes. Most of the times when Apple releases a new update for iTunes it is safe for Jailbreakers to upgrade. There have been incidents in the past, however, that have broken certain things with Jailbroken iDevices upon updating to a new version of iTunes. This requires further investigation from the Dev-Team. Luckily the latest version of iTunes, which was released today (iTunes 10.4), has been confirmed Jailbreak Safe and will not break anything while being used with a Jailbroken iDevice. We will let you know if anything comes up, but at this time iTunes 10.4 is safe for Jailbreakers. Meaning you can feel free to upgrade to iTunes 10.4. In the future, however, remember to always wait for a Jailbreak Safe confirmation before upgrading.

DO NOT UPDATE!!! You will loose your jailbreak.

iOS 5’s on-device delta updates can’t come soon enough. Just a week and a half after releasingiOS 4.3.4, Apple has dropped iOS 4.3.5. Apple says that the new update fixes a security vulnerability with certificate validation.

The recently released iOS 4.3.4 focused on patching PDF vulnerabilities that some folks were using to jailbreak their devices, but could be exploited for more nefarious means, too.

As is the iOS update tradition of late, this patch comes in two different flavors: The 4.3.5 update applies to the iPad and iPad 2, the third- and fourth-generation iPod touch, the iPhone 3GS, and the iPhone 4 (GSM model); if you’re using a CDMA (Verizon) iPhone 4, you instead will upgrade to 4.2.10.

Under eight hours. That was the time it took to jailbreak beta 3 of iOS 5, which dropped back on July 11th and was unleashed later that day. Now beta 4 is out and, well, our stopwatches are ticking. A new beta of iTunes has also been included, though looking through the change log there's nothing particularly amazing about this release. Among other minutia, the Twitter app will now prompt you if it's unable to identify your location before you exit it, MobileMe local contacts are deleted instead of being merged, and iCloud file names are now case sensitive. Yes, we can hear you CamelCase lovers cheering.

Do not update your iTunes until it is confirmed that it is jailbreak friendly

Here's something mildly terrifying to chew on: researchers in Italy have developed a way to automatically harvest anything you type on your smartphone's touchscreen, using only a camera placed over your shoulder. The software, created by Federico Maggi and his team from the Politecnico di Milano, takes advantage of the magnified touchscreen keys you'll find on most iOS, Android and BlackBerry devices. Because these magnifications often pop up in predictable positions, the spying system can recognize and record them with relative ease, with the help of a camera aimed at a targeted display. And it's not like bobbing and weaving around will help evade its watchful eye, since the apparatus can instantly detect sudden movements and adjust its gaze accordingly. Researchers say their tool is capable of accurately recognizing up to 97 percent of all keystrokes and is fast enough to transmit copied passwords in "quasi real-time," which must be music to a lazy criminal's ears. Tiptoe past the break to see the beast in action and spend the rest of your life in an everlasting state of fear.

iOS 4.3.4 Jailbreak is still tethered so do not update at this time..

Apple has just pushed a new version of iOS, 4.3.4 (4.2.9 for the Verizon iPhone), and it looks to have "fixed" the PDF exploit that has been so notoriously exploited of late. In a summary of what's changed, Apple indicates that a fix has been applied that will prevent "arbitrary code execution" when viewing a "maliciously crafted PDF" -- business speak for "we broke your jailbreak, son." And, sure enough, you can see what happens after the break when trying to apply the latest. At this point we're not seeing any other updates or improvements but, really, now that you can view those malicious PDFs without fear on your iPhone or iPad 2, what more do you need?

Keep in mind that the jailbreak is tethered for now, in other words, if  your  device loses power or restarts then you would have to boot it into  the  jailbroken state again. No matter how annoying it may sound, but  its better  than having no jailbreak at all.

I will Post an update when iOS 4.3.4 becomes Untthered

TinyUmbrella has reached the latest version 5, and is available for free download.

This version works on both operating systems, Microsoft Windows and Mac OX S.

TinyUmbrella is a tool that is able to allow users to downgrade their iOS version on iPhone 4, 3GS, iPad, iPad 2, iPod Touch Apple TV 2G by “signing” an older version of a firmware (SHSH blobs) and also allowing to build a custom .ipsw using these blobs.

This backup SHSH Blobs process can be also done using iFaith (no iPad 2 support yet), as a recovery tool released by iH8Sn0w.

Saving SHSH Blobs might be a smart idea prior to jailbreak a new iOS and probably indispensable for some beta versions, or with some unsure methods like jailbreaking iPad 2 on iOS 4.3.3. So, we are here to present a a way to backup a firmware running on your iPhone 4, 3GS, iPad, iPad 2, iPod Touch or Apple TV 2G.

How to save your SHSH Blobs using TinyUmbrella 5:

First of all, you’ll need to download TinyUmbrella 5 for Windows or Mac OS X, depending under what OS you’re running. Put the software to your desktop, and allow access as administrator.

Be sure you have closed iTunes before to connect your device to computer.

- Start TinyUmbrella 5 from your dektop

- Connect your device (iPhone 4, 3GS, iPad, iPad 2, iPod Touch or Apple TV 2G) to computer via USB. Wait for TinyUmbrella to recognize your device.

- After you’ve been detected by TinyUmbrella, navigate in the application on your iOS device and point to “Save SHSH”

- Select “Save SHSH”, hit it, and save it to your desktop. That’s all.

Download TinyUmbrella

How To Backup/Save The iPad 2 iOS 4.3.3 SHSH Blobs Using TinyUmbrella 5 - Easy Tutorial

Hurry and backup your SHSH before iOS 5 is Released so you can restore you Device

See How Here

The latest creation from modder extraordinaire Benjamin J. Heckendorn? This mashup of an Xbox 360,Maker Faire-provided Arduino board and a Sony CD changer lets gamers play their entire collection without ever needing to leave the couch again. The latest episode of The Ben Heck Show takes viewers through the build process in a bit under 19 minutes, but leaves the device still needing a bit of polish in the end. Sponsor element14 is offering motivated viewers a chance to with this and finish it off properly as they see fit, removing the hassle of L.A. Noire disc swaps once and for all without buying a PS3. The video, and press release with details on how to win the as-yet unfinished project for yourself, can be found after the break.

Modding Guru Pairs Xbox 360 and CD Disc Changer to Create the Ultimate "Lazy Man's" Gaming Tool in element14's "The Ben Heck Show"

Show commemorates element14's two-year birthday and gives viewers the opportunity to win and mod Ben's latest project

CHICAGO, July 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- element14, the first collaborative community and electronics store for design engineers and electronics enthusiasts, and modding guru Benjamin J. Heckendorn, a.k.a. Ben Heck, create the ultimate "lazy man's" gaming tool on the latest episode of "The Ben Heck Show." The newest modding feat – an automatic video game disc changer – gives gaming junkies access to multiple discs at one time, resulting in uninterrupted game play.

"Let's face it – everyone calls us video gamers lazy. Not true, of course. I'm sure it's just a 'coincidence' that this particular build has been one of the more popular requests we've gotten for the show," said Ben. "Couch potatoes unite!"

The episode follows Ben's mechanically and electronically intricate build process, focusing on replacing the DVD drive in the Xbox 360™ with the changer's CD player and disc carousel and configuring the casing and components to ensure discs load properly into the player. Ben also spends a significant amount of time on programming, replacing the existing electronics to streamline the switches that control the CD cycle, as well as sensors that allow for the disc changer control.

"Modders and gaming enthusiasts alike will enjoy this episode, as it displays Ben's signature mix of ingenuity and practicality," said Kevin Yapp, chief marketing officer, Premier Farnell. "This episode also commemorates element14's second birthday, and I'd like to thank the viewers and fans of 'The Ben Heck Show' for helping to make the element14 community such a successful collaborative resource."

Another unique aspect of this episode is that Ben leaves the project unfinished, allowing viewers to enter for a chance to win the automatic video game changer to "mod Ben's mod" and finish the project to their own liking.

In honor of element14's two-year anniversary, 214 prizes will be awarded to new and existing community members during July. Show fans are invited to learn how they can win a Fluke Multimeter and other great giveaways.

About "The Ben Heck Show"

"The Ben Heck Show" is a bi-weekly online television series aired in English that's dedicated to the science and art of system and hardware modding with a global audience of design engineers, students and electronic enthusiasts. Sponsored exclusively by element14, each episode spotlights Ben's mods of popular electronic devices while educating viewers on the underlying technology powering each project.

About element14

Launched in June 2009, element14 is the first information portal, collaborative community and electronics store specifically built for electronic design engineers. The community recently unveiled its element14 knode, a unique automated platform that enables engineers to quickly research, design, develop and prototype in a single, intelligent environment. element14 is an innovative offering from Premier Farnell plc (LSE:pfl), FTSE 250, a leader in multi-channel electronics distribution trading throughout Europe (Farnell), the Americas (Newark) and Asia Pacific (element14). The company had group sales of 990.8m pounds Sterling and underlying profits of 93.3m pounds last year.

SOURCE element14
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RELATED LINKS
http://www.element14.com

iH8Sn0w has released a new version of Sn0wBreeze for developers to jailbreak iOS 5.0b3.
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sn0wbreeze v2.8b4 -- For iOS 5.0 b3(9A5259f)
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* Intended only for developers (as usual).
* Hacktivation is disabled (again).
* MAKE SURE YOU UPDATE TO iTunes 10.5 BETA 3!
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Supported Devices/Tethered?
---------------------------------------------
iPhone 3G[S] (old bootrom) [UNTETHERED]
iPhone 3G[S] (new bootrom) [TETHERED]
iPhone 4 (GSM) [TETHERED]
iPhone 4 (CDMA) [TETHERED]
iPod Touch 3G [TETHERED]
iPod Touch 4 [TETHERED]
iPad 1G [TETHERED]
---------------------------------------------
Those wondering, the jailbreakme exploit
cannot be integrated into applications
such as PwnageTool/redsn0w/sn0wbreeze.
---------------------------------------------
Download --> http://is.gd/sb28b4
---------------------------------------------

Sn0wBreeze is a Windows application that creates a custom ipsw similar to PwnageTool. It will not update your baseband; however, UltraSn0w has not yet been updated for iOS 5.

Use PDF Patch 2 Instead see Here

If you’ve been keeping a close eye to the news over the last few days, you’re probably aware of JailbreakMe 3.0, a simple untethered jailbreak that takes advantage of a PDF exploit in Mobile Safari. The wizards in the jailbreak community have engineered a fix that manages to preserve the jailbreak, at the same time as it stops unsuspecting users from launching a harmful PDF and having their devices taken over.

This tweak is simple to apply and requires nothing more than an Internet connection. Just launch Cydia, search for “PDF Patcher 2″ and install the first (and, as of the time of this writing, only) result. The only thing you’ll need is a jailbroken iOS 4.3.3 device.

JailbreakMe 3.0 was first unintentionally leaked over the weekend and has since taken the jailbreaking community by storm, since it’s the first untethered jailbreaking solution for the iPad 2, although it also works with any iPod touch or iPhone. Unlike other tethered solutions, JailbreakMe doesn’t require the device to be plugged in, in order to be booted into a jailbroken state. The official version was then released to the public a few hours ago.

In order to mitigate this issue, Apple is said to be working around the clock to release iOS 4.3.4, a final update for iOS 4 before the final version of iOS 5 drops this fall. While the latter is a great priority for Apple, the company feels that a fix for the PDF exploit just can’t wait, since many customers would otherwise be left at risk. It’s important to remember that although the vulnerability is used by a very well-known jailbreaking tool, it can also be used to compromise the security of many users. Yet, it’s advisable that you skip iOS 4.3.4 and install PDF Patcher instead, since it has the same effect, yet it preserves your jailbreak.

Similarly to previous versions of JailbreakMe, this new version requires little to none iOS skills, or a computer connection. Those intending to jailbreak their devices simply need to launch Mobile Safari and point it to JailbreakMe.com. Within a few minutes, the device will be fully jailbroken.

You can now be confident that you’ll be safe from this nasty exploit and still maintain your jailbreak. With this fix, you can skip iOS 4.3.4 altogether, if it indeed becomes available.