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Just a few weeks ago, a brand new iPhone user got a surprise when they loaded up their 3G and found three pictures already loaded in the camera roll. The blurriness and randomness of the photos made the snappings seem accidental, a one-time mistake that wouldn’t be happening again.

Well now a a few new pictures have surfaced, and while not so much a mistake as pre-meditated picture-taking, the MacRumors Forums shows pictures of a factory worker that came with the iPhone’s onboard camera roll.

I can’t imagine this is good exposure for the factory worker or her job security, but the big smile and peace sign have us convinced that she was just trying to export a little extra good-will.

DataCase v1.0 | Published by Veiosoft, LLC | Via App Store | $6.99 | Released: 8-11-08

Overview

DataCase helps you make USB drives things of the past by flexing the power of your iPhone or iPod Touch, using it as a wireless portable storage device. It’s simple, quick and convenient, although slightly overpriced.

Functionality

With DataCase, the next time you need to quickly move a large file between computers you can whip out your iPhone from your utility belt, in superhero fashion, launch the app and simply drop files into the drive, which will appear in your computer’s finder or desktop browser. No cables, no keychain drives, no nonsense.

To work, your phone or iPod needs to be connected to the same wireless network as your computer, but once connected can easily be accessed by Mac OS or Windows users (check out DataCase’s simplicity in these quick video walkthroughs). Continue Reading

You may remember Proximi and their MagicPad app we reviewed last month. You might have even seen their user-interface video for system-wide copy & paste. And while all of that was cool and just dandy, the fact remained that copy & paste only remained inside MagicPad itself.

But at iPhoneDevCamp2 just a couple weeks ago, the Proximi team met Zac White, a student at the University of Oklahoma, and all of that changed. Using Zac’s “100% SDK kosher” technique that allows app-to-app copy & paste and Proximi’s user-interface guidelines, OpenClip was born, bringing serious usability to the long-awaited feature-set.

But OpenClip, an open-source, non-profit, collaborative-project, represents a serious call-to-action for iPhone developers. With 6 applications pledging support at launch, developers will need to implement the copy / paste framework into their apps before they’re able to interact with others. In summary: community adoption will be key.

OpenClip could easily see widespread support, especially since Apple has publicly declared the feature to be low on their list of priorities. Regardless, OpenClip actually hopes to become obsolete in the future, realizing that true system-wide copy & paste is not possible without Apple being part of the solution.

Nonetheless, exciting strides are being made, and we’ll keep you up-to-date as more applications jump on board the initiative.

“After being plugged in for somewhere between 5-10 minutes I heard a sizzling sound. I looked down on the iPod just in time to see it explode open and start shooting sparks and spewing smoke,” recalls an iPod Nano user on the Consumerist.

Although the problem, albeit a rare occurrence according to Apple (see below), seems to be affecting iPod Nanos worldwide, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) has launched an investigation into the matter. Their website states, “There have been multiple cases of overheating and fire damage, in particular during recharging, so please use caution.” The METI goes on to stay that Apple has already recorded 14 such instances in Japan alone.

Apple responded to the METI with a statement earlier today, confirming that “in very rare cases,” the batteries in 1st generation iPod Nanos (sold between September 2005 and December 2006), can overheat and cause fire damage. Though no serious injuries have resulted to date and “less than 0.001 percent of first generation iPod nano units” are affected, Apple urges worried consumers to contact Apple Care reps for a replacement.

Where? v1.0.1 | Published by uLocate Communications | Via App Store | Free | Released: 6-29-08

Overview

Where? is the review. Look no further. It’s here. Really.

OK, sorry… Where? was one of the first LBS (location based service) apps released with the App Store back in June. It’s had a significant update with version 1.0.1. You’ll be surprised at how versatile the app is. The horizontally-scrolling menu at the bottom of its screen can help you find all sorts of things - ranging from the nearest Starbucks to reviews on local restaurants. Where? really tries to help you find Whatever you’re looking for (and maybe that would be a better app name?).

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Simplify Media v1.1 | Published by Simplify Media, Inc. | Via App Store | Free | Released: 8-5-08

Overview

Simplify Media streams your music library directly to your mobile device, conserving precious storage space and giving you on-demand access to your tunes. That is, unless the music is purchased from the iTunes store.

Functionality

This app is easy and straightforward: create an account, then use it to access your library wirelessly from your mobile device.

If you’re a closet Alanis Morissette fan and can’t jeopardize your reputation by storing her songs on your iPhone, Simplify Media is here for you. Just keep her stuff in your computer’s music library and stream it to your phone whenever you feel like belting out “Hands Clean” in the car. Now you can be a closet fan and covert listener!

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Earlier today we reported on QuickPwn, a snappy rendition of the PwnageTool that gives you the jailbreak you want without the restore you don’t.

Already, another timely update on the Dev Team blog announces the release of the GUI version, from developer poorlad, which you can get HERE.

Meanwhile, the infamous Zibri (creator of ZiPhone) has announced his own jailbreak solution is in the works. From his blog:

Developing…
Next generation of ZiPhone is in the works.
It will be as simple as Apple would have done it.
A simple one click program.
A 5 seconds run.
Stay tuned.

A clear challenge to PwnageTool and the new QuickPwn?

Check below for the entirety of the Dev Team’s post discussed above:
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