Apple’s iPhone wins against hackers
Rom Feria
Apple stated that hacked iPhones might be rendered unusable or bricked when the new firmware is released.
True to its claims, the new firmware, version 1.1.1, was released yesterday and with it came the following features:
iTunes WiFi Music Store
This new feature was announced when the iPod Touch was released. What this gives users is an
alternative access to the iTunes music store and buy music and directly download it straight to the iPhone. Sync the phone with your computer and the new tracks gets uploaded to your main iTunes database. Cool, huh?
Louder speakerphone and receiver volume
I wonder how much louder it gets. Whilst I do not normally use the speakerphone, I’d be more interested in how loud videos and podcasts could be.
Home button double-click shortcut
This is a feature of the iPod Touch and now it is with the iPhone. A welcome addition, I must say. Just double-click (or more appropriately double tap) and it gets you to your pre-configured setting, e.g., music controls
Space bar double-tap
The keyboard becomes more intelligent. Not only can it give you automatic apostrophes and auto-correction, now it can give you automatic punctuation (period) or space.
Mail attachment view orientation
Whilst I have not used this yet since I keep my mailbox to a minimum. Having the capability of viewing Mail attachments in portrait or landscape is sure is great.
Support for TV Out
Another way for Apple to milk money from its customers. The adapter to interface the iPhone with your TV is another expense but hey, it’d be great to just carry one device and have video display on a wide-screen TV, right?
These are just half of what the new firmware provides iPhone users. The next question is, are these new features compelling enough to get you to upgrade?
If you have a pristine iPhone, i.e., activated using the normal AT&T procedure, then chances are you will be able to get these new features without problems. However, if you have a hacked version, the recommendation is to stay away... for now.
Unlocked iPhones can have its firmware upgraded and the FUD that Apple was spreading (bricking the phone) is not entirely true, at least for a majority of those who upgraded. However, after the firmware upgrade, the phone becomes locked again. Re-activating it requires a valid AT&T SIM and no amount of hacking can activate it. Whilst the phone isn’t bricked, it is unusable.
If you have an unlocked iPhone running firmware 1.0.2, the recommendation is to wait. Frankly, the new features aren’t enough, at least for me, to want to upgrade. If you are planning to buy an iPhone and hoping to get it unlocked, well, better get one now until the new firmware trickles down to the brand-new units. If you get a new iPhone with factory-installed firmware version 1.1.1, then you won’t be able to activate and unlock it. :)
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