Apple is Cracking Down Unauthorized Devices Running iOS 5 Betas

iOS fans are about to be given a treat this upcoming fall when Apple finally launches their much awaited upgrade to their mobile OS, the iOS 5. Back in last June's WWDC, Apple previewed iOS 5 during their keynote presentation where the company highlighted its many new features. Currently, the iOS 5 is under its 4th beta release and like all firmware betas, it is only available to those who have enrolled an account in Apple's Developer Center. Apparently, many people are too eager to get their hands on the iOS 5 that they somehow find ways to install and activate iOS 5 even without a developer account. Well, according to Apple, your days of unauthorized firmware usage might be numbered.
According to a report by AppleInsider, the Cupertino company is now cracking down on developers who have been discovered selling their iOS 5 beta slots. In case you don't know, before you can activate the iOS 5 you will be brought to set-up wizard where the system will check for your developer's UDID. So even if you somehow got your hands to IPSW of iOS 5 without a developer's account, your device will be rendered useless unless you downgrade. Somehow some developers found a way to make a profit out of this setup by selling their iOS 5 beta slots which allows installation of the said firmware to non-developer iDevices.

So Apple is now reportedly warning those developers and letting them know that the company has discovered their illicit activities and is on to them. Furthermore, the fruit company has also started closing several developer accounts that are found to be guilty of selling their device slots. And those UDIDs that are associated to those accounts in violation have also been flagged by Apple, which means they will be left with an unusable device. According to the report:

Once Apple locks your iOS device, the phone will enter the initial setup mode asking you to connect to a WiFi network. And nothing happens more than that.
There's a reason why iOS betas are only exclusive to developers. Early iOS builds have the potential for many bugs and you can't expect stability from them. That is why they are recommended only to those who knows what they are doing. It is never meant to be used in a non-developer iOS device. In addition to that, if that's not obvious enough, selling your developer iOS 5 device slots to an unauthorized, non-developer device is a direct violation of the iOS Developer Program rules.

If you are someone who's currently running the iOS 5 without a developer's account, then it might be a good idea to downgrade to the latest iOS 4 version, the iOS 4.3.5. Or if you want the latest untethered jailbreak, then you might want to settle with iOS 4.3.3. Or if you want to continue using iOS 5 without all the illegalities, then why don't you sign-up for an account over at Apple's iOS Dev Center? Aside from the $99 annual fee, there are no other requirements for you to fulfill. It is definitely a worthy investment for any Apple enthusiast.

Or you know, you could just wait for iOS 5 to be launched this coming fall. As we have reported yesterday, Apple has already started approving apps for iOS 5, so for it to be released next month is not really that far off.

Forbes Ranks Apple as World’s Fifth Most Innovative Company

Apple has received numerous awards throughout the years for its incredible success in the tech industry, and now Apple has received recognition once again from Forbes.

Forbes Magazine has compiled a list of the world’s most innovative companies based on what it calls “the five skills of disruptive innovators.”
“Questioning allows innovators to challenge the status quo and consider new possibilities;

Observing helps innovators detect small details—in the activities of customers, suppliers and other companies—that suggest new ways of doing things

Networking permits innovators to gain radically different perspectives from individuals with diverse backgrounds;

Experimenting prompts innovators to relentlessly try out new experiences, take things apart and test new ideas;

Associational thinking—drawing connections among questions, problems or ideas from unrelated fields—is triggered by questioning, observing, networking and experimenting and is the catalyst for creative ideas.”

In this list, Cupertino based Apple ranked fifth. Google also made the list, but surprisingly it ranked seventh. Microsoft was found near the bottom of the list, ranking 86th.

Some notable mentions:

Forbes’ World’s Most Innovative Companies:
1. Salesforce.com
2. Amazon.com
3. Intuitive Surgical
4. Tencent Holdings
5. Apple
6. Hindustan Unilever
7. Google
8. Natura Cosméticos
9. Bharat Heavy Electricals
10. Monsanto
…
20. Nintendo
…
54. Adobe Systems
…
56. HTC Corp
…
77. Oracle
…
84. Intuit
…
86. Microsoft

Do you agree with this list? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

Vongae Releases iPhone App With Discounted International Calling, 15 Minutes Free For Early Adopters

Vonage has released an interesting application in the App Store that offers incredibly cheap rates on voice calling with access to over 100 countries for international calling. The app, called Time to Call, works like popular VoIP services (Skype) to deliver pay per calls and discounted rates for iPhone users.

With Time to Call, you’ll be able to talk internationally for 15 minutes at no charge, and then be charged $1.99 for each 15 minute international call after the first.
Vonage is offering the free 15 minutes of calling to early adopters, so be sure to get the app now if you’re interested. Features include:

■Pay per call and talk for up to 15 minutes to 100 countries for $1.99 or less (excluding applicable taxes)
■For an additional 90+ countries, talk up to 15-minutes for $2.99 to $9.99 (excluding applicable taxes)
■Bill directly to your iTunes account
■Works on Wi-Fi® worldwide
■Also for use on high quality 3G networks in the U.S. and Canada
■Special bonus! For a limited time, unused minutes can be used for additional calls
■No need to be a Vonage home customer
Vonage actually offers a web tool to view the different calling plans and find what’s right for you. It doesn’t matter what iDevice you use with the app, because the service works through Wi-Fi. All billing will be sent to your iTunes account.

Internationally, a landline call through Skype costs 2 cents per minute, while a call to a mobile handset costs 27 cents per minute on a pay-as-you-go plan. This Vonage solution could be seen as a more attractive service for travelers, due to the fact that it doesn’t require a subscription or separate billing process.

What do you think of Vonage’s Time to Call app? Useful to you?

The Worst iPhone Case Ever

We’ve seen our fair share of weird and creepy iPhone accessories, but this one might reach a new height. Coming from Japan, let me introduce you to the Hand Case.

We don’t know much about this case. I can’t tell you where you can get it or how much it costs, but that shouldn’t be too much of an issue as I doubt you’d be interested in buying it anyway…

Now if you’re looking for a real case, we have plenty in our iDB Store. Make sure to check them out!