As promised, Apple has released the iPhone 2.1 Firmware Update today. This updates comes with many new bug fixes and enhancements. Some of which include Improved Calls, Application Stability and also Enhanced Security among others !

Interestingly this time Apple has provided a sorf of Official Changelog ! Check it out :

Download the iPhone 2.1 Firmware via iTunes 8 OR Follow this Direct Link to Download the Update.

iPhone 2.1 (2G): iPhone1,1_2.1_5F136_Restore.ipsw
iPhone 2.1 (3G): iPhone1,2_2.1_5F136_Restore.ipsw

The iPhone 3G reportedly was facing many Network Issues, mainly the bad 3G reception and frequent call drops as mentioned in the previous posts. Rumors were all around the net about Apple promising to issue a Software Fix for this. Well it seems they’ve indeed issued a fix, but as usual they’ve provided no Detailed Change Log and only mentioned Bug Fixes in the Changes list.

The 2.0.2 Firmware was launched for both the iPhone 2G, iPhone 3G and iPod Touch.

Unofficial ChangeLog is as Follows :

• No new settings appear to have been included.
• Some users report faster browsing, though this may be due to cleared cache.
• Typing lag may be reduced.
• Apps don’t require updates; NetShare still works.
• Transition from music list to Coverflow has changed.

Note that there are also reports of Few Applications not Working after the Firmware Update. The list of Apps reported to have problems are :

• Remote
• NYTimes
• Mobile News
• Ambience
• Box Ofice
• Wiki Me
• Shazam
• City Transit

Currently the only Direct Link available is for the iPhone. Will add iPod Touch 2.0.2 Link later. Till then download using iTunes. NOTE that this will void any hacks you’ve performed, will nullify the Jail Break and Lock your iPhone (if Unlocked via PwnageTool) !

Direct Link for iPhone 2.0.2 Firmware : Click Here

Transferring Files overs SSH, managing File Permissions and Executing Commands via Putty till now was only possible if you had a Wifi Router. Many people who didn’t have any Wifi Router couldn’t install or use many 3rd Party Unofficial Applications.

Follow this Simple Guide on connecting to iPhone via SSH using WinSCP !

Requirements :

• iPhone with OpenSSH Installed (install this via Cydia or Installer)
• iPhone Tunnel Suite : Click Here

Things you need to do :

1. Connect iPhone to PC via USB. (Make sure iTunes recognizes it)

2. Open iPhone Tunnel Suite which you downloaded.

3. Now Click on iPhone Tunnel and a Launcher will open up.

4. Leave the Launcher (command prompt) window open.

5. Open WinSCP now. And enter Details as :

IP Address: 127.0.0.1
User: root
Pass: alpine 
Protocols as SCP.

6. Click Connect and you’ll be shown the iPhone’s Root System !

There were always speculations of the iPhone having something called as a Kill Switch using which Apple can remotely Kill any thing on your iPhone but its never been made official by any Apple Executive, that is until now !

Recently in an interview to Walls Street Journal, Apple CEO, Steve Jobs admitted to iPhones having a mechanism that allows the device to contact Apple website and delete the software that the company deems harmful.

Jobs told to WSJ, “”Hopefully we never have to pull that lever, but we would be irresponsible not to have a lever like that to pull.”

Apple using this Kill Switch or Lever, can remove any software on the iPhone which they think is malicious. However if Apple wanted they could’ve pulled this switch long back in the days where Unofficial 3rd Party Apps were common.

So don’t worry about the Cracked Applications that you’ve installed, Apple might pull this switch only if something like the “I am Rich” application misses out on Apples selection process and gets into your iPhone and is capable of causing damage.

[Wall Street Journal]

Various reports and forum discussions have suggested that the new iPhone 3G seems to have serious Network Issues. These include frequent call drops and unstable 3G Signals. Reportedly the iPhone 3G fails to maintain the 3G connection even when in 1 place and keeps switching between 3G and EDGE !

Here’s what 1 User had to say :

Sitting in place you can watch the bars on your iPhone 3G fluctuate up and down…3G to Edge and back again.  Furthermore, AT&T;’s 3G signal seemingly fails to remain connected when you are inside a building without copious amounts of windows.  Go to the bathroom at work?  Lose the 3G.  Step inside my home?  Lose the 3G.  I know that this is an issue with the handset because even when I switch the 3G off in my home and am fully on Edge I still get a horrible signal.  Outside? Full bars.  Inside?  Anywhere from a max of 3 bars to complete No Service.

Whats interesting is that these problems are due to an immature chipset and radio protocol stack and thus cannot be fixed via Firmware Updates. Apple will have to recall all these iPhone 3G’s inorder to fix this problem.

[via - ilounge]

As posted earlier Vodafone and Airtel are all set to launch the iPhone 3G on 22nd August. But the prices were not known then.

Just today, many sites seem to have the Official Pricing Details available.

According to them iPhone 3G 8Gb will be available for Rs. 31,000 and the iPhone 3G 16Gb for Rs.37,000 !

Here’s what Tech2.com says :

Well, that’s about to change now as we’ve received official pricing for the most-awaited phone.

The 8 GB version of the iPhone 3G will cost Rs. 31,000, while the 16 GB version will cost between Rs. 36,000 and Rs. 37,000.

These prices are not inclusive of the plan these phones will come bundled with.

Customers buying the iPhone will have a choice of plans to choose from, so stay online with us to get those details soon.

Apple once again seems to have done unjustice to its Indian users and set a sky high price for their iPhones ! Note that even with a price tag of 31 thousand, the iPhone will be subsidized and will still be Locked under a 1 yr or 2 yr Contract !

Apple released a new update to its iPhone/iPhone 3G/iPod Touch lineup this Monday (i.e. 4th August) The Firmware version 2.0.1 is update to the previously released 2.0 Firmware.

The new Firmware fixes some Bugs and improves on Security.

The Changelog is as Follows :

• You can now drag an app icon across multiple pages in one motion, rather than having to drag it, drop it, pick it up again and drag it over to next page, and repeat.
• Contacts are now more responsive.
• After installing 2.0.1, each successive backup is much faster.
• Apple may have changed the calibration of the iPhone’s reception “bars” while connected to a 3G network to reflect a stronger signal than before.
• Keypad loads quicker.
• Screen rotation in Safari appears to be smoother.

Download the firmware from the following links :

• iPhone 2G 2.0.1 Download : Click >Here<
• iPhone 3G 2.0.1 Download : Click >Here<

Some of you might already be aware that a Taiwanese Company called Foxconn is responsible for the assembly of Apples iPhone. But not many people know the amount of iPhones being produced as Apple rarely makes its production reports public.

With the recent improvements and introduction of features such as MobileMe, Push EMail and App Store the demand for iPhone has sky rocketed ! The iPhone 3G sold 1 Million pieces in the first 72 Hrs when it was launched on July 11th !

If a source inside Apple is to be believed, Foxconn is going to increase its iPhone Production to nearly 800,000 iPhone 3G’s a week thats about 40 Million iPhones a Year ! But with quantity, Foxconn seems to have ignored Quality with the recent reports of iPhone 3G’s with cracked casings and uneven brightness among screens.

Till the end of this year, Apple plans to Launch iPhones in over 50 more Countries. Hope they don’t compromise in quality while trying to cope up with the user demand…..

[Read-AppleInsider]

iPhone no doubt has opened up a whole new area for Software Developers. The iPhone as a software platform provides tremendous potential for the Developers to earn good money mainly because of the Application Distribution System deviced by Apple called the App Store !

A Part-Time iPhone Developer has revealed that she makes upto 1800$ per day !

Eliza Block, the Developer of a Crossword Puzzle game called “2 Across” found out that she’d made close to 1800$ on Wednesday and the earnings were similar on following days.

She was the sole developer for the application and was pretty ecstatic on seeing the earnings. She shared her detailed reports with 9to5mac.com . Take a look at the reports below :

Click to Enlarge

And now with the launch of iPhone 3G, Apple is said to have captured 1% of World Mobile Market ! Becoming an iPhone Developer might just become a Career Option for some people now !

To download the 2 Across Application Click >Here<

Use this Guide to Unlock/JailBreak your 2G iPhone with Firmware 2.0.  (Note : This wont work with 3G iPhone)

Tools needed for Unlock :

1. iPhone 2.0 Firmware : Download >HERE< OR iPhone 2.0.1 Firmware : Download >HERE<
2. WinPwn 2.0.0.4 : Download >HERE<
3. 3.9 BL (Bootloader) : Download >HERE<
4. 4.6 BL : Download >HERE<
5. .Net Framework 2.0 : Download >HERE< (Only needed on Windows XP)

How to install and Unlock 2.0/2.0.1 :

1. Install WinPwn

2. Click on Browse IPSW and open the “iPhone1,1_2.0_5A347_Restore.ipsw” file that you downloaded.

3. The firmware will be checked if its ok and compatible.

4. After thats done, click on the IPSW Builder

5. In here select Only Installer and YouTube ! DO NOT select Cydia as there are some bugs in Winpwn 2.0.0.4 at the moment !

6. Go to the Custom Images tab and Select one from the “Search Online” Option that you like. If you want the Default Logos then don’t change any options here.

7. Now go to the Advanced Tab. Here Select “Activate iPhone“, “Enable BaseBand Update“, “NeuterBootloader 3.9/4.6“, “Unlock Baseband” and “AutoDelete BootNeuter.app”

8. Next Click on the Bootloader 3.9 File Button and choose the BL-39.bin file that you downloaded. Do the same for the 4.6 Bootloader file by selecting BL-46.bin.

9. Click the Build .ipsw Button at the Bottom.Me sure you save it in the Default Location only ! DO NOT change the Location where its save but note down the location so that you can select it later from iTunes !

10. After the ipsw is created you will get the confirmation messege.

11. Now from the main Winpwn screen choose iPwner Button and select the file that you saved on your Desktop.

12. You’ll get the messege saying “iTunes has been Pwned!”

13. Next you have to put your iPhone in DFU Mode. To do that Keep Holding Power and Home Button until the iPhone restarts and then leave the Power Button but keep the Home Button Pressed. Make sure that while doing this your iPhone is connected to your PC.  If you still find it hard to put it in DFU Mode, check out this Video : http://youtube.com/?v=K0oS79cErHM

14. iTunes will now say that iPhone in Recovery Mode has been found. Click Ok and you’ll get an Restore Button in iTunes.

15. Press Shift + that Restore Button and you’ll get a Dialog Box to browse for that Firmware File.

16. Now just select the File that your saved on your Desktop and click Open.

17. iPhone will start the Process and when Done you’ll be on 2.0.1 Activated and Unlocked !

Note : Make sure you’re connected to the Internet while you do all this !

Do check out the Official Winpwn Site for an updated and bug free version of Winpwn at http://winpwn.com/