Mobile Phone News

Filed under: Handsets, Software, Apple, OS X

According to iPhone Atlas and iPhone hacker-extraordinaire Jonathan Zdziarski, Apple has readied a blacklisting system which allows the company to remotely disable applications on your device. Apparently, the new 2.x firmware contains a URL which points to a page containing a list of “unauthorized” apps — a move which suggests that the device makes occasional contact with Apple’s servers to see if anything is amiss on your phone. In Jonathan’s words:

“This suggests that the iPhone calls home once in a while to find out what applications it should turn off. At the moment, no apps have been blacklisted, but by all appearances, this has been added to disable applications that the user has already downloaded and paid for, if Apple so chooses to shut them down.

I discovered this Makea forensic examination of an iPhone 3G. It appears to be tucked away in a configuration file deep inside CoreLocation.”

at this time honestly, we don’t expect the folks in Cupertino to suddenly start turning off apps that you’ve paid for and downloaded, but if Apple is indeed monitoring iPhones or touches (even passively) for applications it doesn’t want or like, it signals a problem deeper than a company clearly wanting to sign-off on software for the device. Even on platforms like Symbian — which calls for apps to be signed and traceable — the suggestion that a process of the OS would actively monitor, report on, and possibly deactivate your device’s software is unreasonable, and clearly presents an issue that the company will have to deal with sooner or later. Oh, and Apple — we’re not plan to buy the “for your security” angle, so don’t even bother.

[Via Mac unverified information]

Read - iPhone can phone home and kill apps?
Read - Apple’s URL with “unathorized applications” string

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Tags: Apple Os X, Atlas, Blacklisting, Configuration File, Cupertino, Firmware, Forensic Examination, Hacker, iphone, Iphones, Jonathan, Jonathan Zdziarski, Mac Rumors, Nbsp, Os X, Platforms, Servers, Software Apple, Suggestion, Symbian

Filed under: Handsets, Software, Apple, OS X

So yesterday we posted a link to a version of the 2.0 iPhone firmware which was supposedly the release version of the new system software. After getting weirded out by some buggy behavior, then discovering that there were number differences between our version and the version shipping with new iPhone 3Gs, we got a little suspicious. Today, we noticed that the file which Apple made available for upgraders via iTunes sported a slimmer file size and separate designation (1,1 as opposed to the 1,2 of the previous iteration). The new version (supposedly the “official” version) is at this time available from Apple’s servers — so if you had any misgivings about that initial update, you can snag this and get a do-over. We’ve updated and restored on our phone, and we’ll be honest — it does seem a little bit snappier. Hit the read link for the file, and let us know if you notice any differences.

[Via MacRumors]

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Tags: Apple Os X, Buggy, Designation, Firmware Download, iphone, Iteration, Itunes, Little Bit, Misgivings, Nbsp, Os X, Servers, Shipping, Software Apple, System Software

Filed under: Software, Apple, OS X

So we can’t help but notice that Apple still hasn’t officially released iPhone software 2.0 for first-gen iPhones, even though most self-respecting gadget freaks have pulled it from the direct download links that popped up earlier. Since the file was hosted and available on Apple’s servers around the time it was expected for release, it seemed safe to assume that it was legit — and indeed, it (for the most part) works fine and plays well with the newly-live App Store. But a few of us in this place have had persistent problems on our first-gen iPhones: interface lag, crashing apps, hard resets, you name it. On top of that, we’re hearing whispers that the .ipsw in question was meant only for 3G phones and not first-gen units — and bizarrely, the build number of what we’ve got is 5A347, while our launch iPhone 3G is running build 5A345 on them. So until Apple stops being, well, Apple, and clears this all up, we’re putting it to you: how are things going? Any problems, or smooth sailing? Happy you took the early plunge? Let us know in comments!

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Tags: 3g Phones, Apple Os X, Apps, Gadget Freaks, Interface, iphone, Iphones, Launch, Nbsp, Os X, Persistent Problems, Plays, Plunge, Running, Servers, Smooth Sailing, Software Apple, Whispers