Is Google Looking to take on Wireless Carriers?

Although Google originally started off as just a search engine, it hasn’t been afraid to try its hand in other markets. We’ve seen the Mountain View company produce desktop and cell phone software, and seemingly everything in between.

Well it appears like software wasn’t enough to satisfy the mighty search giant, as now the company is looking into the cell phone carrier market. BGR passes on a report from cellular-news that claims Google is testing an MVNO service in Spain…
MVNO stands for Mobile Virtual Network Operator, and it’s essentially a carrier that leases bandwidth from larger networks. This is often done with pre-paid operators. Tracfone and Virgin Mobile, for example, are major MVNO carriers here in the U.S.

From the looks of things, Google is pretty far along in its testing. As you can see in the above photo, the company is already producing Google-branded SIM cards. And Google Es shows up in the carrier field of this Nexus S handset.
Of course, Google is no stranger to service providing. The company has been testing a fiber-to-the-home ISP service for over a year now. Mix in services like Google Talk and the new Google Wallet program, and things could start to get real interesting.

Apple has also been rumored to be investigating the MVNO space, but no evidence has turned up of that fact. Regardless, it looks like we could have another field for the two companies to battle on, which would ultimately be a win for us as consumers.

What’s your take on the idea of a Google or Apple-run carrier?

Samsung Uses Apple Apps Icons to Decorate New Company Store

The legal battles between Apple and Samsung have gone ugly, and it seems this is just the beginning. But if Samsung wants to make a strong case for itself in court, the company would better get its act together.

The picture above was taken in a new Samsung company store in Centro Sicilia, Italy. As you can see, the new store decors includes icons of Apple’s own Safari and App Store apps…
Quite embarrassing, to say the least!

Looks like someone just lost his/her job at Samsung.

iTattoo Cases Make Your iPhone’s Apple Logo Stand Out

We’ve seen some pretty odd iPhone cases over the years here at iDB. There was the lego case, and the one shaped like a hand. There was even one that allowed you to store your um, smoking equipment.

But we’ve also seen our fair share of cool cases as well, and this next one certainly falls in that category. CultofMac points to an interesting line of see-through snap-on iPhone cases called the iTattoo…
It’s not hard to see where the name came from. These transparent covers feature illustrations that include the Apple logo on the back of the iPhone. It’s as if the logo were apart of the artwork, and we have to admit it looks pretty cool
Designed by CEMENT PRODUCE, the case is compatible with the iPhone 4 (it doesn’t specify if it works with the Verizon version) and is available in 6 different styles: Highway, Dress it, It is iPhone, Main Dish, Don’t feed birds, and Keyboard.

The iTattoos don’t come cheap though. The case alone will cost you $48, and if you live in the U.S., shipping will run another $27 bucks. For the not-so-math-friendly, that’s nearly $80 for a case that doesn’t do anything but look pretty.

What do you think of the iTattoo?

Apple Working With Quad-Core Processors for Next-Generation iDevices?

Even with all of the confusion surrounding Apple’s iPhone announcement this year, there are two things we know for certain. The device is going to include a faster processor (presumably the A5 found in the iPad 2), and a better camera.

While we don’t know much about the camera just yet, we do have a pretty good idea of what the A5 is capable of. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Apple tout the next iPhone as the fastest in the industry. And they’re already working on making it faster….
Ars Technica spotlights some interesting code, found within Xcode, that suggests Apple is already experimenting with quad-core processors. The utility, which developers use to make apps for iOS and Mac OS, shows support for a quad-core processor.

Ars Technica explains:

“Last, and most probable in our opinion, is that Apple is using the Marvell chip in prototypes of future iOS device designs (or even an ARM-based MacBook Air that is rumored to exist somewhere inside One Infinite Loop) for testing purposes. An Armada XP-powered prototype logic board would allow iOS or Mac OS X software engineers to experiment with performance tuning and other optimizations, while Apple’s hardware design team — comprised largely of former PA Semi and Intrinsity engineers — could continue working on a possible quad-core ARM design to be manufactured somewhere down the road.”

Android manufacturers are already rumored to be working on quad-core processor devices, so it’s nice to know that Apple isn’t asleep at the wheel. The ARM-based MacBook Air, however, is intriguing, as it could be the next step in iOS-Mac OS convergence.

AT&T CEO: iPhone Competition Among Carriers is “Overblown”

AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson recently responded to the rumor that Sprint would be getting the iPhone next month. During the Goldman Sachs Communacopia conference, Stephenson described the effect of carriers adding the iPhone as being “always overblown” by the media.

AT&T feels that the iPhone’s availability on more carriers does nothing, and will continue to do nothing, to the company’s relevancy among its competition. Stephenson said that, “I’m very confident that we’ll do very well with” the new iPhone…
“Anytime there’s another competitor launching Apple’s hit device, the expectations for what would happen to the carrier that had it before is overblown,” he continued, “The competitive dynamic will be no different than the last time.”

Stephenson also said that the iPhone 4 and 3GS are AT&T’s top-selling handsets. Only 40% of AT&T’s smartphone sales come from Blackberry and Android handsets. AT&T holds that its GSM iPhone is the only true “world phone,” as CDMA coverage is only available in the US. Verizon has claimed that the iPhone 5 will have dual-mode baseband support for operating overseas.

Stephenson also said that AT&T’s HSPA+ network provides “much faster network capability,” and that rival “iPhones will likely be 3G-only.”

The iPhone isn’t the only thing that AT&T has to offer, with Stephenson making the comments that Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 was a “significant and meaningful player,” and that RIM is still “viable.”

The iPhone’s incredible retention rate compared to the competition says otherwise.

Apple Plans to Loan iPads to Retail Employees

According to Cnet, Apple is about to launch a pilot program in which they will loan iPads to their retail employees. The loan program will initially start in Apple’s San Francisco flagship store, and might extend to other cities.

Employees will be able to check out an iPad for a week, just like they would be able to check out a book from a library. The goal, of course, is to have Apple employees become even more familiar with the device so they can provide an even higher level of customer service…
The future program, which one source described as a “pilot,” is designed to let employees borrow from a stock of loaner devices. Employees can then use the device freely for one week before having to return it to the store, allowing for others to use it.

That’s a pretty nice perk. Still, I wouldn’t want to share an iPad with 50 other people.

Sprint to Cap Its Unlimited Tethering Plan Ahead of iPhone 5 Launch

It was only five days ago that I predicted Sprint would have to put an end to its unlimited data plans, and it seems that it started faster than i thought. Following Verizon and AT&T’s lead, a leaked internal document reveals that Sprint will start capping their unlimited tethering data plan to 5GB/month, starting October 2nd.

In views of all the recent hints at Sprint getting the iPhone, this move was most likely made to prevent future iPhone users to go over the top while using their device as a mobile hotspot…
All smartphones on Sprint will keep their unlimited data plans though. The only difference is that they won’t be able to use the $30/month tethering add-on for more than 5GB/month. So technically, it’s still unlimited data, you’ll just be capped at 5GB. It’s unclear what happens once you reach the 5GB but we can assume your data speed will get throttled.

Should Sprint get the iPhone next month, I assume they will eventually drop their unlimited data plans all together within the next few months. But first, they’ll make sure to reel in as many new iPhone users as possible, just like Verizon did when they first got the iPhone.

LockSecondsIndicator: Add Seconds to Your Lockscreen

LockSecondsIndicator isn’t the first tweak that adds seconds to your lockscreen clock, but it just might be the best.

A while back, I reviewed a similar tweak entitled ClockSeconds. That tweak attempted to do something similar, but it had its fair share of issues.

Does LockSecondsIndicator fair any better? Look inside for the video evidence.
Unlike its precursors, LockSecondsIndicator succeds because the seconds actually refresh and update in real time. With the previously mentioned tweak, you had to put your iPhone to sleep in order to refresh the seconds. As you can probably imagine, that got old after the first few times.

Neither tweak is going to blow you out of the water, but if you’ve been looking for this simple functionality, LockSecondsIndicator is a good choice. There’s also the do it all paid tweak called Springtomize, which includes this function, along with a bevy of other customizations.

If your iPhone is jailbroken, feel free to hop on Cydia, and download this tweak from the BigBoss repo. Let me know what you think if you decide to give it a whirl.

MyTube: Yet Another Way to Download YouTube Videos on the iPhone

There’s a plethora of jailbreak tweaks and apps that allow you to download YouTube videos directly to your iOS device, and MyTube is the latest app to join the party.

Free on Cydia’s BigBoss repo, MyTube is a standalone jailbreak app that allows you to stream, download, store, search, and share all of your favorite YouTube Videos.
Right off the top of my head, I can think of two jailbreak apps or tweaks that perform similar functions — MxTube, and YourTube.

In terms of similarities, MyTube shares more in common with MxTube, being that it is a standalone app. YourTube excels, because it is neatly integrated into the stock YouTube app, thus eliminating the need for a separate app.

All three of the apps aim to accomplish similar goals, and they all primarily revolve around downloading YouTube videos for offline viewing.

What I particularly like about MyTube, is that it’s free, and it features decent Facebook and Twitter sharing options. I’m not a big fan of the ads littering the bottom of the console, but I realize that’s a tradeoff for this app being free.

If you’re really serious about downloading YouTube videos to your iPhone, YourTube is your best bet. If you’re a casual downloader, then either MxTube or MyTube should meet your needs.

With so many options available, be sure to let us know which one of the three that you prefer in the comments below.

Great Deal: Snapseed Photo Editor is Free for a Limited Time

What’s better than an expensive app going on sale? An expensive app going free. That’s exactly what has happened with the popular photo editing app Snapseed. The utility is normally $4.99, but is currently available for free.

The software, made by Nik Software, was named iTunes App of the Week last month, and has a rating of 4.5 stars out of nearly 700 ratings. Want to see what Snapseed can do? Hit the jump to find out more about the app…
From Snapseed’s App Store description:

“Snapseed makes any photograph extraordinary and puts a fun high-quality photo experience right at your fingertips. Now anyone can enhance, transform, and share their photos with ease using incredibly advanced features from the leader in digital photography software!

Benefits:

- Easily browse and adjust your photos with a single tap using Auto Correct

- Tweak your photo to perfection with Tune Image

- Use Selective Adjust to enhance specific objects or areas in your photos

- Experiment with fun and innovative features like Drama, Vintage, Grunge, and Center Focus

- Add Borders for incredible finishing touches

- Email your creations or share them on Facebook and Flickr”

Snapseed is universal, so it works on the iPhone, iPad, and the iPod touch. The sale started yesterday, and will be going on through the 23rd (Friday). So you might want to head over to the App Store ASAP so you don’t miss it.

What do you think? Deal or no deal?

Let this iPhone Dock and Handset Take You Back in Time

CultofMac points to a rather interesting new iPhone dock by the Old Time Computer outfit. The company loves to mash up old fashioned woodwork and cutting edge technology, and it might just have a hit on its hands with this classic iPhone accessory.

The handmade wooden dock not only looks gorgeous, but it also keeps your iDevice charged with a built-in USB cable. Perhaps the coolest part, though, is that it comes with an old-fashioned handset, capable of connecting to your iPhone via bluetooth…
The artist behind the vintage dock goes by the name of woodguy32. The graphic-designer-turned-carpenter has produced hundreds of custom-enclosures, for everything from the iPad to the iMac. He even builds hot rods made almost entirely out of wood.

The dock consists of a small block of wood, with some metal accents to give it that old-fashion feel. An Apple 30-pin USB cable is pulled through an opening at the bottom of the dock to keep your iPhone charged. The included bluetooth handset works up to 30 feet away.

The app in the picture above isn’t made specifically for the product, but as you can see it matches quite nicely. There are several rotary dialer apps in the App Store, but if you want the one shown in the photo, you can download it here. It’s free.

The wooden dock is available over at Etsy.com for $72 (+$15 for shipping). But it says please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery, so I’m assuming these things aren’t being mass-produced. I wouldn’t want one myself, but with Christmas coming up it might make a cool novelty gift.

What do you think of this unique iPhone dock?

New Mobius Case Lets You Charge Your iPhone with Solar Energy

What’s cooler than an iPhone case that recharges your battery? How about an iPhone case that recharges your iPhone’s battery with the sun.

Etón has released the Mobius NSP300B Rechargeable Battery Case for the iPhone 4. Featuring a 1800 mAh rechargeable lithium ion battery, the NSP300B sports a solar pack that will charge your iPhone with the energy it draws from sunlight.
Originally previewed at CES, Etón’s latest creation is definitely unique. The case itself actually looks pretty good. It weighs in at 3.4 ounces and includes a Micro USB cable.
The power pack features a fancy LED indicator that displays the amount of charge that’s been collected on the solar panel. There’s a stand by switch that allows you to collect solar energy without actually drawing from the case’s charge.

Etón claims that its case will give 25 minutes of talk time, 20 minutes of 3G data usage, 35 minutes of video playback, or 145 minutes of audio playback on one hour of solar charge. A fully charged case will provide 5 hours of talk time, 8 hours of 3G data usage and video playback, or 32 hours of audio playback.

You can pick up the Mobius NSP300B for $78 on Amazon.

What do you think of this particular case? Useful? Or do you prefer the darkness?

Tim Cook to Unveil iPhone 5 on October 4th

AllThingsD is reporting that Apple has scheduled its next media event for Tuesday, October 4th. Reportedly, new CEO Tim Cook will be the star of the show, and Apple will unveil the “next iteration” of the iPhone.

Rumors have been circulating that Apple would announce the next gen iPhone in late-September with an early-October release, but that appears to not be the case. AllThingsD was the source that originally started the October date rumor for the iPhone 5, and now the publication is backing up its claim with a specific date…
“While Apple could certainly change its plans anytime, sources said that the October 4 date has been selected by the company to showcase the iPhone 5. Sources added that the plan is now to make the new device available for purchase within a few weeks after the announcement.

And while the iPhone 5 is a much anticipated handset, the event itself has a lot more importance for Apple than many previous ones.”

Many of us hoped that this iPhone announcement would be Steve Jobs’ swan song on stage in front of the media, but October looks to be all about Apple’s new CEO, Tim Cook. This next event will be the first time that the public gets “a first lengthy impression” of him, and this iPhone announcement will allegedly ”set the tone” for his new role at Apple. Cook is set to “preside” over the iPhone 5 rollout.

AllThingsD does speculate that Steve Jobs could come on stage for “One More Thing…” if his health permits:

“What will be interesting to see, of course, is if Jobs himself will also make an appearance, which is something that is likely to be determined by his health in a decision that will made very close to the event.

And while putting Jobs onstage with Cook could diminish the new leader’s first public effort, what better “one more thing” than Jobs himself making a cameo appearance?”

The iPhone 5 is expected to have an A5 processor, 8 megapixel camera, updated display, and differing form factor. There are still rumors suggesting that a cheaper iPhone model will also be introduced that’s based on the iPhone 4.

If Apple is in fact ready to hold an event on October 4th, then media invites should be sent out as early as next Monday.

Take All of Your iOS Devices with You With AyeGear

With the holidays quickly approaching, you might find yourself scrambling for gift ideas. But what do you get for the person that has everything? How about a jacket that will allow them to carry everything?

Enter AyeGear, the must-have overcoat for the technology-laden traveler. Not only does the jacket protect you from the elements, it also houses 18 pockets that will hold everything from your iPad to your iPod touch…
The pockets vary in size and features to accommodate a wide range of gadgets. Some of them can be zipped closed, and some of them have touch-friendly windows to allow you to access touch screen devices without needing to remove them.

Joe White of AppAdvice saw the AyeGear in action at this year’s MyGreatFest convention:

“I saw an AyeGear in person yesterday, at MyGreatFest, and it’s impressive. First, you wouldn’t think it’s packed out with pockets or is housing iOS devices, because when I saw the jacket’s creator, he looked just like he was wearing any normal body-warmer. “

The jacket’s storage capabilities don’t stop with iDevices either. The AyeGear has a pocket big enough to store your MacBook Air, and there is even smaller compartments for things like cables and adapters.

While I like the idea of being able to leave the laptop bag at home, I can’t imagine walking around with several gadgets hanging from my jacket. But if the AyeGear appeals to you, you can snag one from its website for just under $100.

What do you think of the AyeGear?

College Students with iPads Do Better in School

A recent university study shows that the iPad helps students succeed in school. Unsurprisingly, the research found that iPad-equipped students not only excel in everyday learning of material, but that students with iPads also do better on tests.

Unfortunately, research has still not discovered how an iPad can write your term paper for you…
Results from Abilene Christian University show that the iPad helps students learn more effectively.

The results were shared with TUAW:

“In one study, students who annotated text on their iPads scored 25% higher on questions regarding information transfer than their paper-based peers. In a separate project covering iPad usage patterns, two researchers studying ACU’s first all-digital class discovered that the iPad promotes “learning moments” and helps students make more efficient use of their time. Grad students working in an online program reported a 95% satisfaction rate for online iPad-based coursework. As far as the ACU studies are concerned, the iPad in education is a success story.”

Apple has touted the iPad as a learning tool in commercials and promotion materials, with a vibrant section of the App Store dedicated to educational apps that help students and teachers alike. Apple’s iWork productivity for iOS has also been lauded as a huge draw for students to compose documents, spreadsheets and presentations on the iPad.

The iPad’s long battery life and plethora of helpful reference and productivity apps make it the optimal companion for the busy college student.

We’re curious to hear how you’re using the iPad in school. Do you rely on the device daily for creating documents and completing assignments for school, or do you mostly use it for content consumption? What apps do you use? Sound off in the comments below!

Warning: Skype for iOS Has a Vulnerability that Allows Hackers to Steal Your Data

If you’re using Skype for iOS version 3.0.1 or older, you might want to think twice before opening messages from people you don’t know. According to a security expert, a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability exists in the Chat section of Skype for iOS for both iPhone and iPod touch.

Apparently, Skype fails to properly encode the “full name” of the sender of an incoming chat message user, allowing the sender to add malicious JavaScript code that can be executed as the message is opened…
When the code is ran, the attacker can have access and download all the information that the Skype app can access on your device, including your address book.
Skype is aware of this vulnerability and is currently working on issuing a fix. They issues the following statement:

We are working hard to fix this reported issue in our next planned release which we hope to roll out imminently. In the meantime we always recommend people exercise caution in only accepting friend requests from people they know and practice common sense internet security as always.

In the meanwhile, you should make sure you trust the sender before opening incoming chat messages that look shady.

T-Mobile: We’re Not Getting the iPhone 5 This Year

A leaked internal document from T-Mobile says that the carrier will not offer the iPhone 5 on its network this year. Previous rumors have suggested that Apple would open up iPhone availability on all US carriers with the iPhone 5 launch this Fall, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.

T-Mobile’s Chief Marketing Officer Cole Broadman has said that T-Mobile will not “get the iPhone 5 this year.” Should T-Mobile customers be concerned?
The leak document, obtained by Tmo News, details that T-Mobile will be introducing two other smartphones this Fall to stimulate customer interest. The authenticity of this alleged document cannot be verified, so we’re labeling this as “rumor” until more information is given. We’re still holding out hope for a T-Mobile iPhone.

If you remember, prototype iPhone units running on T-Mobile’s network were uncovered earlier this year.

T-Mobile’s CMO only mentioned the iPhone 5 specifically, so that doesn’t mean that the rumored iPhone ’4S’ varient won’t be offered. Apple could have struck a deal with AT&T and Verizon for exclusive rights to the iPhone 5 initially, with Sprint and T-Mobile slated to get the flagship device sometime next year.

Sprint is still on track to offer the iPhone this Fall, but the exact details of that rumored Apple partnership remain unknown.

If T-Mobile didn’t offer the iPhone 5 at launch, would you not hesitate to buy the device on another carrier? Do you think the lack of iPhone availability on T-Mobile will continue to hurt the carrier moving forward? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

White iPod Touch Coming in October with Small Changes

Apple is expected to hold its next iPhone/iPod event in the next few weeks, and a new report claims that the Cupertino company will release a white iPod touch with minor improvements alongside new iPhone hardware.

Most of the rumors have been focused on the upcoming iPhone, with dozens of part and case leaks pointing towards similar designs. On the iPod front, not much has been said, until now…
MacRumors reports:

“MacRumors has received information indicating that the next iPod touch revision will be a very minor change, with the primary addition being the introduction of a new white model. Only minor changes are expected for the existing hardware, with the addition of an oleophobic coating for the display and a revised ambient light sensor seemingly being the main differences. Otherwise, we expect the models to be nearly identical to the current fourth-generation iPod touch model.”

This is an interesting claim for multiple reasons. Earlier reports said that Apple would refresh the iPod touch with 3G capabilities. Instead of introducing a lower-tier iPhone, it was believed that Apple would create a data-reliant 3G iPod touch for the prepaid market.

Other reports said that the iPod was dying, and that Apple was looking to phase out the product line altogether. That is clearly not the case, as the iPod touch is assuredly going to undergo more changes before it fossilizes in Apple’s line of mobile products.

We’re not sure why Apple would simply refresh the iPod touch with a new color and minor improvements next month. Why not shake things up with something like a pay as you go 3G contract? Perhaps there is something bigger planned for the iPod touch in 2012.

The Tim Cook Effect

As we inch closer to Apple’s expected announcement, it seems like everyone is scrambling to make their last minute predictions. What will the iPhone 5 look like? Is Apple really going to release a lower end model of its popular smartphone?

While most folks seem convinced that we’ll see two new versions of the iPhone this Fall, there are some skeptics. How can Apple offer a low-cost version of its exclusive handset? Wouldn’t it have to sacrifice quality? Not necessarily…
All of the information we’ve heard so far suggests that Apple is planning on rereleasing the iPhone 4 this year. And although the device is expected to be priced much less than its predecessor, it sounds like it will be a better handset.

But how could this be? How could Apple add a dual core processor to a phone that’s currently selling for $199 (on contract), and then reduce the price? You don’t have to look much further than the company’s tablet for that answer.

When Apple announced the original iPad, people were ready to pay $1000 for it. In fact, they were shocked when Steve Jobs unveiled its starting price of $499. Then in 2011 Apple made the tablet thinner and faster, and still continued to offer it for less than $500.

It can do this because of its major supply chain presence. No other company has Apple’s cash flow. And no other device-maker orders components like it does. But most importantly, no one else has Tim Cook.

Before he was appointed CEO, Cook was the best COO (Chief Operating Officer) in the business. He negotiated supplier deals, and made sure devices got where they needed to be, all while keeping costs down and without sacrificing quality.

The competition is still scratching its heads trying to figure out how Apple has managed to produce its iPad at such a low cost. Tablet-makers are struggling to make a 10″ tablet under $500, let alone sell one.

I’m guessing we’ll soon see Apple’s ability to manipulate supply costs spill over into its handsets. Can you imagine a low-cost iPhone 4 with an A5 processor and 5mp camera? It would be a category killer. And that’s the Tim Cook effect.

MyWi Updated With Support for iOS 5

Jailbreak developers are beginning to update their tweaks and apps with iOS 5 compatibility. We told you about BiteSMS getting updated for iOS 5 yesterday, and now another staple jailbreak app has been updated for Apple’s highly anticipated mobile software.

Popular tethering app MyWi has been updated by Intelliborn to version 5.0. With iOS 5 compatibility, this new version of MyWi also features some improvements and bug fixes…
“MyWi™ 5.0 has been rebuilt from scratch to bring iPhone WiFi tethering support to iOS 4 & 5! Will work with all jailbroken iPhones (including 2G/3G/3GS/4) and iPad on 3.1.2 or later.

■iOS 5.0 Support!
■Faster performance
■Lower battery consumption
MyWi allows you to create WiFi hotspots via your iPhone or iPad’s 3G connection. The app has been known to get users in trouble on AT&T, so be careful when using this app to unofficially tether to other devices.

MyWi 5.0 is available in Cydia for $19.99. Users on version 4.x can upgrade for free, while 3.x users will need to pay $9.99.

BiteSMS Beta for iOS 5 Now Available

BiteSMS is without a doubt my favorite jailbreak app. I use it several times a day to write and read text messages. Up until now, you couldn’t run BiteSMS on a jailbroken iPhone running iOS 5 beta, but due to the overwhelming demand, the BiteSMS team has decided to release an iOS-compatible version of the app.

Because it is in its early beta development, you can expect BiteSMS to have quite a few bugs, but the die hard BiteSMS fan that you are will most likely see past those issues and focus on the exciting new features…
Among those new features, there is a deep integration with Notification Center and iMessages. The Quick Compose and Quick Reply popups got a nice facelift, as you can see in the image above.

From the BiteSMS forums:

Due to the overwhelming number of emails from users wanting to be private beta testers, we have decided to release this iOS 5 compliant version via a public beta repos.

This is a very early beta release, so at this stage please don’t email us bug reports as we most likely know about them. This is not a normal beta, it’s more that users running iOS 5 would no doubt prefer something as opposed to nothing!!!

Saying that, it’s a pretty stable release and we hope you like the new look Quick Compose and Quick Reply plus the deep integration with the Apple Notification Centre. Also iMessage works seamlessly inside biteSMS.

To install this beta version of BiteSMS, you must be on iOS 5 beta and add the following source: http://test-cydia.bitesms.com/.

Note that you must do a tethered reboot after installing the app.

It sure is looking good, isn’t it?

Gesturizer: Launch Apps and Actions Using Gestures

Is your selection of Activator gestures wearing a little thin? Looking to add an infinite amount of app-launching gestures to your jailbroken iPhone?

If that sounds all too familiar, then Gesturizer could be just what you need. This jailbreak tweak allows you to launch apps and perform actions, using custom hand-drawn gestures. Check out our full video demonstration inside;
Once installed, Gesturizer places a new settings panel in your Settings app. Within, you will find two sample gesture profiles, and an option to add additional gestures.

Gestures, or glyphs as they’re called in Gesturizer, can consist of any hand-drawn symbol or character.

Once you have your glyph established for your particular gesture, simply perform the gesture on the top half of the App Switcher window; doing so immediately launches the Activator action or URL that you configured in the settings panel.

At $2.99, Gesturizer isn’t cheap, but if you’re a heavy Activator user, and you’re running low on options, it may be the solution for you.

Gesturizer can be downloaded from Cydia’s BigBoss repo, and it’s compatible with both the iPhone and the iPad.

Have you taken it for a spin? If so, how’d you like it?

iCloud to be Reset on September 22, iOS 5 GM Coming Soon?

All eyes are on Apple this week, as the entire tech industry awaits the company’s iPhone 5 announcement. Although Tim Cook and company haven’t officially said anything yet, there’s a lot of evidence piling up that suggests it’s close.

Besides the new smartphone, there are a few other highly anticipated announcements that Apple is expected to make in the coming weeks. There’s iCloud, Apple’s painless sync and storage service, and of course the major update for iOS — iOS 5…
It’s been 18 days since Apple seeded Beta 7 of the new software, so we’d be remiss not to expect the next release shortly. MacRumors helped shine some light on the subject last night, by announcing the latest word from Apple to developers:

“On Thursday, September 22, the iCloud Backup data will be reset. Backing up to iCloud or restoring from an iCloud backup will be unavailable from 9 AM PDT – 5 PM PDT. If you attempt a backup or restore during this time, you will receive an alert that the backup or restore was not successful. After this reset, you will be unable to restore from any backup created prior to September 22. A ful backup will happen automatically the next time your device backs up to iCloud.”

As Mark Gurman of 9to5Mac points out, the iCloud reset date lines up well with the rumors of an iOS 5 GM seed on September 23rd. Game Center was reset the day before iOS 4.1 was released, so it isn’t crazy to think a GM build isn’t too far off.

Of course the other part of that rumor suggested that iOS 5 Beta 8 would be dropping last Friday (which didn’t happen), so you can’t take that report too seriously. But with the purported iPhone 5 launch date inching closer, expect this to be an exciting week.

Lexus Dealership in Florida Uses Jailbroken iPads for Waiting Customers

Where’s the last place you would expect to find a jailbroken iDevice? A Lexus dealership in Orlando, Florida uses jailbroken iPad stations for customers to use while they wait…
While we’re unaware as to why the employees at this particular Lexus dealership chose to jailbreak their iPads, it’s neat to see the shots of Cydia running on the iPad ‘Stations’ in the dealership’s waiting room.

A ModMyi reader sent in these pics:

“MMi member Auntuell Mills passed us a few pictures reminding us of that exact fact. Mills was at an Orland Lexus dealership and noticed the following little program installed on the iPads being used at the dealership’s “iPad Stations.”
We wonder why Lexus employees chose to jailbreak these iDevices, and if it has something to do with a particular tweak or jailbreak app they found useful. Nevertheless, it’s cool to see real life examples of jailbreaking like this.

Have you found any odd examples of jailbroken iDevices? A local business? Restaurant? We’d love to see more examples like this one!

Belkin Offering Massive 50% Off Everything Sale this Month

Looking to pick up a new case or car charger for that iDevice of yours? Then you might want to head over to Belkin.com. The well-known Apple accessory manufacturer/router-maker is currently hosting a fire sale.

From now through September 30th, you can get anything you want off of Belkin’s website at half price. That’s right. Routers, laptop bags, and all of your favorite iOS accessories are 50% off for the next two weeks. Read on for details…
Gizmodo announced the blowout sale on Friday, and mistakenly reported it as a one day event. The stunt crashed Belkin’s servers in no time, and the site was inaccessible for nearly an hour. Apparently it couldn’t handle the extra 100,000 visitors.

To receive the massive discount, just use the coupon code FB50 during checkout. At the time of this writing, there were a few items out of stock, but for the most part it appears they still have tons of inventory. We’re guessing that won’t last very long.

Do you plan on ordering anything?

White iPhone 4S Pops Up in AT&T’s Retail Software

Hold on to your hats folks, Engadget just dropped a bombshell. The tech blog just published a photo it received from a tipster that appears to be of a screen from AT&T’s internal retail software.

The screenshot looks like it was taken from the carrier’s trouble ticket system, a place where reps can pass issues on to tech support. What’s so interesting about the pic? It seemingly outs a new Apple device — the iPhone 4S…
The timing of the snapshot is intriguing, considering that just a few days ago The New York Times confirmed that Apple will be unveiling two new devices this Fall. The 4S is expected to be the low-end model, as essentially a rebuilt iPhone 4.

Enter the skepticism. For starters, the name looks a little off. With previous iPhone models, Apple has capitalized letters in its name. It’s the iPhone “3G and 3GS,” not the iPhone “3g and 3gs.” The pic also falls in that “Why’s it so blurry?” category.

The spacing in the iPhone 4s label also looks a bit off, and there is no mention of its storage size like the other models. All things considered, we’re calling fake on this one. Here’s hoping Apple breaks the silence next week, the suspense is killing us.

What do you think? Real or fake?

Use Your iPhone to Control a Tiny Ball with Sphero

Using the iPhone to remotely control cars and other vehicles was once limited to hackers and hobbyist. But ever since Parrot introduced the AR.Drone, we’ve seen several RC accessories hit the iOS scene.

It seems like remote control helicopters are all the rage with accessory-makers this Fall, but Orbotix has something else in mind. They want you to use your iDevice to control a Fushigi-looking robotic sphere…
The baseball-sized sphere, the Sphero, connects to your iDevice via bluetooth. The accessory will come with its own charging stand, which will recharge the Sphero via wireless induction. Users will be able to interact with the Sphero through custom apps.

That’s what sets this remote control accessory apart from the others, the apps. The company has put together some neat games that involve the bluetooth ball, like Sphero Golf. On top of that, the API is available so other developers can join in on the fun.
The Sphero is currently available for pre-order at $129.99, and Orbotix plans to start shipping before the holidays. Although it’s a bit high-priced, they might really be on to something. This is definitely one of the coolest accessories we’ve seen.