Archive for July, 2008

UPDATE #2 (8/1)

Well folks, in another weird turn of events, Nullriver’s NetShare app appeared yet again earlier this afternoon in iTunes and was available for download (where yours truly was able to pick-up a copy).

Several hours later, however, NetShare went missing. . . YET AGAIN.

From the developer’s site:

Apple has taken it down again, with no explanation yet again. Update: NetShare is now back up and available from the AppStore! We’re not quite sure why Apple took down the NetShare application yet, we’ve received no communication from Apple thus far. NetShare did not violate any of the Developer or AppStore agreements. We’re hoping we’ll get some feedback from Apple today. Sorry to all the folks that couldn’t get it in time. We’ll do our best to try to get the application back onto the AppStore if at all possible. At the very least, we hope Apple will allow it to be used in countries where the provider does permit tethering.

We’ll keep you posted on the latest as we unravel Apple’s reasoning behind Netshare being pulled, relisted, and pulled again…
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UPDATE #1 (8/1)

Maksim Rogov at Nullriver got in touch with us about the situation, saying:

We’re trying to get a hold of Apple right now. Until we hear from Apple, its hard to say what the real reason is, because, if it was AT&T, well, AT&T is not the iPhone service provider outside the US.

We were also directed to the NullRiver Website for additional information. Thanks to Maksim and the NullRiver team for taking time out of their busy schedules to give us an update.
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Nullriver, Inc. released NetShare onto the iTunes App Store earlier this evening. Priced at $9.99, NetShare basically allows you to share an iPhone’s 3G / EDGE internet connection with other devices such as your laptop. The application was live for less than an hour before being pulled by the powers that be (read: Apple).

It is unclear as to how the application made it through Apple’s stringent review process in the first place, as it violates AT&T’s terms and conditions.

The few lucky ones who bought the application during its short span of availability are reporting that NetShare works like a charm.

With the imminent release of WinPwn v2.5 just around the corner, developer cmw has posted some behind-the-scenes teaser screenies of his upcoming version.

While his site has promised a “Wizard Mode” for the next release, here we finally get to see the new GUI in action.

WinPwn 2.5 should also sport a partition resizer, auto-updater, DFU mode helper, auto-finder for .IPSW (pictured below) and possibly some other bells & whistles yet to be disclosed. All in all, version 2.5 should lend to an easier, more efficient, and prettier jailbreaking experience for Windows users.

And when will v2.5 actually be available for consumption? Well, in talking with cmw, it appears that “if all goes well” eager jailbreakers could be using his latest creation early next week. Let’s keep our fingers crossed. . .

iDB Datamaster v1.0.2 | Published by Evince Technologies, Inc. | Via App Store | $12.99 | Released: 7-23-08

Overview

A handheld personal manager that allows users to manage and encrypt sensitive information, like account numbers, credit card information, passwords, even a diary and to-do list, all for on-the-go reference and usage. It can also be wirelessly accessed for back up and restore procedures.

Functionality

iDB Datamaster does not aim to be your complete mobile database solution. What it does offer is a method for carrying sensitive and important personal information in a safe, password-protected environment.
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Customize v2.1.1 | Published by SpicyChicken | Via built-in Production Cydia Repo | Free

Overview

SpicyChicken has been working hard to get one of our favorite apps ready for the 2.0 software.  Customize lets you do exactly what the name implies. . . ‘Customize’ anything and everything dealing with the appearance and sound of your iPhone.

Some of the customizable options include:

Here we’ll walk you through changing an entire theme all at one time, as well as applying just individual parts of a theme.
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Sketches v1.2 | Published by LateNiteSoft S.L. | Via App Store | $5.99 | Released: 7-30-08

Overview

From the iTunes’ page: “Jot down your notes, scribble your thoughts and annotate your pictures using only your fingers and your imagination! Illustrate your ideas with simple but colorful diagrams, notes and sketches. Place shapes using multi-touch gestures, zoom in for those accurate little details, save your creations in your personal corkboard or send them to others. Use Sketches for business, creativity or simply share it as a pastime with your friends.”

Sketches is not the first drawing app for the iPhone, nor will it be the last. So is there anything that sets this one apart from the others? Or will it leave us still searching for that needle in the haystack?
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A new version of iTunes (with complimentary and mandatory ‘Quicktime’) has just been released: 7.7.1. You can just click ‘Help’ on the top iTunes nav-bar, select check for updates, and you’ll be prompted to download the latest & greatest, which weighs in at just over 70MB.

Details of the upgrade simply state: “iTunes 7.7.1 includes fixes to improve stability and performance.”

Short and sweet. Is it too much to hope for a shorter and sweeter iPhone sync as well?

- appears syncing time is (unfortunately) unchanged
- masking of app icons in iTunes is now functioning properly (rounded corners)
- ‘Get Info’ on apps now displays the correct version

The much anticipated iPhoneDevCamp 2 is taking place this weekend, August 1-3, at Adobe System’s office in San Francisco.

While the conference, a not-for-profit gathering, seems to innocently promote the sharing, understanding, and advancement of iPhone Development, Apple’s NDA may stipulate otherwise.

Organizers were hopeful that Apple would lift its Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), “shortly after the public launch of the App Store.” But with just two days remaining until the kick-off of iPhoneDevCamp 2, Apple’s looming Software Development Kit (SDK) NDA remains just as enforceable as ever.

According to the iPhoneDevCamp 2 site, “Attendees will include Cocoa Touch developers, web developers, UI designers, and testers, all working together over the weekend.” Just how event goers will accomplish this, while adhering to Apple’s strict gag order, is yet to be seen.
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