iPhone Dev Team releasing 3G/3.0 unlock Friday

The iPhone-Dev Team - developers of successive successful iPhone software-based unlocks that free up the iPhone for any carrier, is releasing the new version of its yellowsnow software, now called ultrasnow. Ultrasnow will unlock all 3G iPhones running 3.0 software - but of course not the iPhone 3G-S.

And on that note, if you are planning to buy-out your O2 contract you have until 18 June to let them know - or you will not get your new phone on launch day.

The Dev team say the 'jailbreak' - that lets you install 'unsigned' apps not available in Apple's app store - for the new 3.0 iPhone operating system update will be released today. Among other things jailbreaking your phone means you can download an application that will enable you to use tethering (iPhone as a modem for your laptop) without paying O2 £15 for the privilege. If you Jailbreak or Unlock your 3G iPhone you will not be able to update to the next software release until an unlock has again been developed.

iPhone 3Gs graphics power outperforms PSP

Michael Schade, CEO of Fishlabs, an iPhone and mobile games developer, said the iPhone 3G S's processor, and support for the more powerful programming features of OpenGL ES 2.0 API, pushes the machine's 3D graphics capabilities beyond that of the PSP. But it will take a little while before we see the improved graphics:

Simply put, making games look outstanding takes time and money and new PSP games cost £25 and each game sold goes a long way toward recouping development costs. Longer, at least, than a £3 game on the App Store would.

Some AT&T iPhone 3Gs's have working MMS and tethering

AT&T in the US were not meant to be offering tethering and MMS at launch for 'system upgrade' reasons.

From Engadget

Update: Turns out the secret to enabling MMS and tethering lies buried in the carrier settings file, which happens to be the same black magic employed to roll out 3G MicroCell support a while back. Customer devices are at AT&T 4.0, but there's an AT&T 5.0 profile floating around the interwebs that turns the features on -- it's just a matter of finding it, installing it, and making sure that your account is provisioned for multimedia messaging. Thanks, everyone!

Video: 3Gspeed launch TV commercial

Commercial for the new iPhone 3Gspeed launch.

Rubbing salt into my O2 inflicted iPhone 3GS wounds

I received this email from Apple this morning inviting me to purchase the iPhone 3GS from my nearest Apple Store next week, which was a bit like rubbing salt into the wounds.

iPhone 3GS first unboxing pics - from China of course

[Update 12:13 BST 13 June] MacRumors has updated its post on what were thought to be the first unboxing pics. The site's been asked to pull the pics.

Update: The original images have been pulled and we've been nicely asked to remove them for now.

The chinese version of Engadget has posted the first iPhone 3G S unboxing pictures, and naturally the originate from the workshop of the world - China. I want at 3GS now but O2 won't let me upgrade without having to shell out a small fortune - arghhhhhhh

O2 MMS service for iPhone turned on then turned off

Not sure what's going on with O2's MMS for iPhone. A friend of mine who updated to 3.0 today tried activating by sending a text to 1010 and got the reply that it wasn't up and running yet, although I am still able to use the service, which I set up yesterday - see screenshot. The weird and wonderful world of O2

Free texts feature built into AIM beta instant messenger - will O2 let it onto UK iPhones?

I received an email from Apple last night inviting me to take part in their push notification testing. I installed the AIM beta application.

As it happens I don't do much Instant Messaging so probably not the best beta tester Apple could have picked, but the most exciting thing I've noticed in a cursory look around is the fact that you can send an IM to anyone in your contacts list and it will convert it into a SMS text - and the reply from the recipient is sent as an SMS text that is converted back into an IM.

This means that you get free texts (not that I do that much texting either). However, this feature of the app may only work in North America at the moment.

If there is anyone out there that wants to test whether this feature works in the UK leave me a comment with your AIM name and I'll add you to my budddy list and send you an IM.

Unfortunately I can't see the jerks at O2 letting this feature onto the iPhone in the UK... but who knows?

Find My iPhone up and running... cool

If only I could find another network carrier...

Up and running on iPhone 3.0

I don't think I'm going to be upgrading to iPhone3GS but I am now running the 3.0 software as Apple released the pre-release to developers (GM - Gold Master) last night, so that's cheered me up a bit. A great trouble-free install it was too. Thanks Apple, f**k you O2.

Platinum Priority List confusion from O2 as iPhone customers fume

Get more when you stay with us

As an O2 Priority List platinum customer, if you're on an 18- or 24-month contract you can get a new phone six months early, or you can choose from:

* One of our 30-day or 12-month simplicity tariffs, which offer the most minutes and texts from £10 a month, or
* A credit on your bill if you don't need a new phone

And when you do renew, you can take your pick of the same offers that our new customers get. We call it Fair Deal.

Nothing here about how much you have to spend before you become eligible for the 'priority' treatment, but then again being underhand seems to be a company trait as far as O2 goes. And they call it 'Fair Deal'.

Some, Steve Alder at O2 to be precise, have said iPhone customers want to be treated differently to everyone else, but going by the above it is O2 that seems to be discriminating against their iPhone customers after luring us in with the in-contract deals on the 3G handset.

Apple - free the iPhone from carrier exclusivity

Another petition - this time against exclusivity.

We the undersigned petition Apple Inc. to Apple, ditch @O2 and find a fairer network for iPhone in the UK #O2fail

O2 are taking the biscuit with their current iPhone 3Gs upgrade pricing and policy. They have rubbish network coverage anyway, in my opinion, and Apple need to realise that they've stuck it to their beloved parent company BT, who frankly are a treasure, even if their monopoly on telephone lines is making Tiscali brick it daily. Look, just go with Orange or Vodaphone as well. Bring the competition back so we can find a fair deal. #o2fail

http://twitition.com/q76uj