Confirmed: Google broke App Store rules with iPhone app
Okay, any talk that consistency in Apple’s approval process for the App Store has improved definitely has to be put on hold at this point; first we had that BdEmailer situation that duplicates functionality (albeit shoddily) of the iPhone’s own email capabilities, and now we have official confirmation that Google did a no-no when it slipped its voice-powered search through the checkpoint. The problem is that enabling the automatic voice detection requires use of an undocumented API call for the proximity sensor that Apple neither guarantees nor approves use of, meaning firmware updates can break it at will. In and of itself, that’s not a huge indiscretion on Google’s part since they’re probably committed to keeping it up-to-date, but the real issue is that this violates an explicit rule of the App Store that bans the use of undocumented calls. Apple, guys, seriously: if you want to be jerks about what gets through and what doesn’t, fine — but at least do it consistently so it doesn’t look like you’re favoring companies run by members of your own executive board (or in the case of BdEmailer, companies that are doing a bang-up job of making your own products look better). Read
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HDCP Restrictions Rolled Back on New MacBooks
Black Friday Mac discounts underway
Student Writes to Steve Jobs, Gets Free Final Cut Studio 2
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Second Generation iPod touch Faster than iPhone
Handheld Games Corp’s CEO Thomas Fessler has reported toTouch Arcade that performance of their 3D TouchSports Tennis game [App Store, $4.99] is noticeably different across models. TouchSports Tennis delivers some impressive 3D rendering (video) and required optimization specifically to run consistently on every device.
Our first step to increase fps performance was to introduce hardware dependent levels of detail. Where we can easily display two 1500 polygon tennis players with 32 bones each on the iPod touch 2G and maintain fast and fluid game play, the original iPod touch just chokes, and in some instances so do the iPhones. To speed up the touch, we reduced the players to 800 polygons in farther away moments of gameplay, and are now using 1000 polygon models for close ups, bringing the original iPod touch game play performance level close to that of the iPhone 3G. We’ve taken this approach across the board with great results.
The most clear difference is that fact that the iPod Touch’s processor was quietly boosted to 532MHz (up from 412MHz) with the 2nd generation model introduced in September. Meanwhile, the iPhone 3G, Original iPhone and 1st Generation iPod Touch continue to run at the original 412MHz. Though not the intended purpose, this video from Handheld Games Corp shows that the app load time of the 2nd Generation iPod Touch is notably faster than the 1st Generation model.
It seems that there are additional factors, however, as there are performance differences even found between the models that run at the same speed. The models rank in the following order (fastest to slowest) for 3D rendering, with the 2nd Generation iPod Touch being the fastest “by far”.
#1. iPod Touch 2nd Generation
#2. iPhone 3G
#3. iPhone (original)
#4. iPod Touch 1st Generation
Due to the heavy 3D nature of his game, Fessler speculates the GPU speeds could have been tweaked as well, but there is no hard evidence of this at this time. Due to these findings, Fessler even says he would not recommend anyone interested in gaming to buy a used 1st generation iPod Touch.
Our in-depth look at the iPhone’s internals, “Under the Hood: The iPhone’s Gaming Mettle,” has been updated to reflect this new information.
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How to: Enable Street View on a iPod Touch v2.2
Apple has a history of crippling the iPod touch firmware in order to artificially distinguish from the more profitable iPhone, starting with the company’s removal of the ability to add Calendar events in early iPod touch firmware versions, but the iPod touch modding community has always been quick to correct Apple’s faux-oversights.
1. get this file via ssh: /System/Library/CoreServices/SpringBoard.app/N45AP.plist
2. convert to xml at http://iappcat.com/plist/bin2xml
3. add
underneath
4. save then using that website again reconvert to binary Hopefully someone can patch the frameworks or springboard which wouldnt require this to be done! Anyway if you’re desperate to try it out, thats all that needs to be done theres nothing wrong with stability or anything so you’re not going break anything permanately trying this out.
5. rename original file N45AP.old
6. copy new N45AP.plist in (make sure permissions are 644)
7. reboot ipod
all new Maps features work however you get a searching for service (replaces the word ipod in the top left) and waiting for activation message that pops up occassionally also music slot in prefs disappears
enjoy
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iPhone 2.2 Pwned!
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Apple approves third-party email client for the App Store, violates its own policies
According to the release, the program is the “the first wide email iPhone app that supports client SMTP.” That means, in essence, that it duplicates an exact function of Apple’s Mail application on the iPhone and touch. That’s kind of a huge deal, because up until this point we’ve been led to believe that this duplication of functionality is one of the company’s red flags when it comes to approval. Now mind you, we’re not complaining. The idea of having more apps to choose from for doing things like sending email is a great idea, but Apple… what the hell is going on? You refused MailWrangler and Podcaster for similar reasons, yet BdEmailer passes through your review process, SMTP functionality intact? This means one of two things as far as we can tell — either you’ve relaxed your policies on duplicate functionality, or you’ve gotten incredibly lazy when it comes to approving applications. We’re inclined to believe it’s the latter, as BdEmailer has a fair share of bugs that need working out, but really, people need some clarification here on what will and won’t pass — and moving the goalpost all the time isn’t going to help. Read
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iPhone 2.2 firmware update available now
It’s here. Google Street View and over the air Podcast downloads from iTunes. Yup, public transit and walking directions too and the ability to share your location via email. Bug fixes, Safari enhancements, the ability to toggle auto-text correction, and plenty more… just like we heard in the pre-rumor run-up. Now get outta here, your iTunes update awaits. Read
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iPhone firmware 2.2 is coming tomorrow?
German publication Spiegel.de reports an newly announced iPhone vulnerability that can force a (potentially expensive) phone call to be made simply by visiting a webpage in Safari. The vulnerability was to be announced in ComputerBild on Monday but was detailed today in a press release from the Fraunhofer Institute for Secure Information Technology (SIT). A video of the exploit is also available.
SIT reports that they notified Apple of the issue a month ago and that a fix will become available on November 21st through a firmware upgrade.
This seems to confirm an earlier report that we would see iPhone Firmware 2.2 released on that date. The iPhone 2.2 firmware contains a number of small new features we have previously detailed.
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