How badly have you wanted a custom map on your iPhone for easy navigation? While the Google Earth for the iPhone and iPod touch launched a year ago in October 2008, has been one of the most popular and one of the most downloaded applications in the App Store, its back just a year later with an updated version 2.0.
Google Earth version 2.0 unveiled this week has been updated and loaded with some exciting new features. This includes the capability to view maps that you create on your desktop computer right from your iPhone; explore the app in new languages apart from improved icon selection and performance. The new Google Earth 2.0 for iPhone: View your maps on the move
The updated Google Earth 2.0 for iPhone allows you to create and view your own maps as well. You can view the same maps created by you or others firstly, by logging in directly to your Google Maps account; and then using the My Maps interface. Then, all you have to do is click "Save to My Maps" and open Earth on the iPhone. Thereafter, log in with the same account information, and you have your same collection of My Maps right in your pocket.
Interestingly, this version of Google Earth can make your ‘search on the move’ for new localities or location exciting as you can not only search for the places you are contemplating to visit, but also places where famous people have traveled or frequently visit. The maps can be created using the desktop version of Google Earth. You can read the tracks directly out of your GPS device, save the resulting tracks as a KML file, and then import into My Maps in Google Maps.
Browse businesses, photos, and places with the updated Google Earth 2.0
What makes the updated Google Earth 2.0 the most sought after app in recent times? Apart from experiencing the thrill of browsing world information from your iPhone, it allows you the opportunity to view photos, read Wikipedia articles and know and discover different places around the world.
And to make things more exciting, the new version comes with icons on the map, which when touched gives out a small glow under your finger to let you know which icon you have chosen. And if your finger touches more than one icon, you’ll be provided with a list of all icons to select from.
New languages in Google Earth 2.0
And to add to the popularity of the already popular app is the addition and availability of new languages in this release, bringing the total to 31 languages from the earlier18 in the 2008 version. Now you can access Google Earth in English (U.S), English (UK), French (France), German, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Danish, Swedish, Finnish, Norwegian, Korean, Japanese, Russian, Polish, Turkish, Ukrainian, Arabic, Thai, Czech, Greek, Hebrew, Indonesian, Malaysian, Romanian, Slovak, and Croatian.
This will for sure make Google Earth a universal iPhone app. After all Google Earth remains an entertaining and even an educational app to keep on your iPhone. Share your comments about your experiences with the updated Google earth 2.0 for the iPhone. Has it made your life easier?
Seems virus attacks on jailbroken iPhones are on the roll as new exploits are emerging one after another. After a few days of respite from the ‘ikee’ virus, the latest to pose a threat is a virus/exploit called iPhone/Privacy. This is an exploit that almost hits the same iPhone security cover, but a little more aggressive and so much more dangerous.
This virus attacks the jailbreak iphone similarly as the ikee virus. However, Intego – a Mac Security software development company, which has revealed the virus, has noted that iPhone/Privacy scans the neighborhood for jailbroken iPhones which have SSH installed on them with the default "alpine" password. And once the virus is able to locate a vulnerable iPhone, it is attacked to dig out almost every data stored in them by the owner in the device. Exploit for jailbreak iphone - It all started one day….
First, broke the news of a Dutch hacker who threatened to abuse users with unlocked handsets unless they pay a price of €5. However, the hacker later had a change of heart and withdrew his demands with a warning for iPhone users with unlocked and jailbroken devices, to change their root password or else face the consequences.
Followed closely in its heels is the ‘ikee’ virus that rickrolled jailbroken iPhone users and threatened device users with messages that beamed out of their touchscreen - "ikee is never going to give you up” accompanied by a stoic looking image of the 80’s Australian singer Rick Astley. The notable factor about ‘ikee’ was that it made its presence well-known as you can see your jailbroken iPhone change its background automatically – letting you know for sure then that ikee virus has infected your jailbreak iphone.
In the meantime, the Australian hacker who had 'rickrolled' jailbroken iPhones with the 'iKee' virus has been identified. He is Ashley Towns, a 21 year old student from Wollongong, Australia. Ashley defends himself saying that he had created ‘ikee’ virus purely as a prank and to make people aware of security loops.
iPhone/Privacy virus – How it works
The alarming part about the recently evident iPhone/Privacy virus is that here, the iPhone owner does not even get an inkling that their privacy has been compromised. It is so because, unlike the ‘ikee’ virus which leaves messages; here the worm leaves no traces behind after the attack.
Once any jailbroken iphone without a changed root password is accessed by this new exploit, it may attack not just the stored data relating to our personal lives, but also a lot of stored confidential business information. Therefore, if you have recently had a jailbreak iphone or contemplating one, make sure that your iPhone is not susceptible to this worm – by changing your password immediately.
The Intego blog notes also adds that this virus (tool) not only allows a hacker to unknowingly copy a treasure trove of user data from a compromised iPhone: e-mail, contacts, SMSs, calendars, photos, music files, videos; but also data recorded by any iPhone app.
So, one thing that has to be noted is that if you contemplate to jailbreak iphone, you have to make sure that you know and understand the different technicalities associated with it or else opt for technical support. You may log on to easyiphoneunlocking.com for round-the-clock support and service in iphone unlocking and jailbreak iphone.
Celebration time for Apple iPhone again as the recently released data (image below) by research firm Gartner on Thursday showed that the iPhone has captured an overwhelming 17.1 percent share of the worldwide smartphone market in the three-month period ending in September, 2009.
This is indeed a remarkable feat to be accomplished by Apple iPhone in less than two and a half years of being in the smartphone market. It also goes on to show that almost a fifth of the total global smartphone market is now ruled by Apple iPhone; boosted by nearly 50 percent year-over-year growth in sales in the third quarter of 2009. Apple iPhone share slated to grow over the years
A research from Gartner has revealed Apple Inc. as the third-largest smartphone company, close on the heels of Nokia and Research in Motion. The report also shows that Apple in the last quarter (September) has shipped an estimated 7.04 million iPhones, which is up from just 4.72 million phones and a 12.9 percent share during the same quarter a year ago. This is a representation of a 49.2 percent year-over-year increase in sales.
Analysts are optimistic that Apple’s share will grow to generate even higher sales in the fourth quarter. It is also anticipated that Apple’s expansion into China, apart from addition of new carriers in several countries will help increase iPhone sales.
Apple gives tough competition to Nokia and RIM
This is indeed an interesting statistics considering the fact that market leader Nokia took a 39.3 percent slice of the market, shipping 16.16 million smartphones i.e. up from 15.47 million in the third quarter of 2008. However, in the previous year, in 2008 Nokia managed 42.3 percent of sales, and therefore. Gartner considers the 2009 sales percentage to be Nokia’s lowest ever market share.
On the other hand, RIM shipped an estimated 8.52 million handsets during the third quarter, earning it 20.8 percent of sales. This is an encouraging growth in share up from 15.9 percent in the same quarter in 2008, when it shipped 5.8 million smartphones. So, RIM has an increase of 46.9 percent.
Android sales picking up momentum – Gartner report
The study from Gartner has also indicated a build-up of momentum from Android – with a global share of 3.5 percent, as the research firm tracked its way up the mobile operating system market. So, lets wait and watch out, as companies compete for their share of the smartphone market pie. After all, it’s the customers who are going to benefit from such healthy competition.
Following close on the heels of the PwnageTool 3.1.4 last month, which proved to be revolutionary in offering jailbreak support for the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS; the iphone dev team has come up with the update for 3.1.x IPSWs in an attempt to fix missing carrier logo. In this update the dev team has updated UltraSn0w from 0.91 to 0.92 to fix the missing carrier logo.
The problem appeared when users who unlocked using PwnageTool-UltraSn0w combine observed the disappearance of the carrier logo. Also, at the same time, those relying heavily on ultrasn0w to unlock their phones with an unsupported carrier had high chances of losing their ability to unlock employing the tool. Dev team new update fixes the ‘aesthetic bug’
However, according to the dev team, this was in fact just an ‘aesthetic bug’; as the core functionality of UltraSn0w was not distorted in any way. In a short update on the iphone dev team blog published on November 9, 2009; it has been mentioned that an ultrasn0w update that fixes an issue for those running firmware 3.1.2 with the 04.26 baseband has been released. That particular combination was responsible for a missing carrier name in the upper left-hand corner of your home screen.
There is clear mention in the dev team blog post that this ultrasn0w update from 0.91 to 0.92 will fix that problem - which was an important concern for roaming. Finally, there is a request to see the available update if you have http://repo666.ultrasn0w.com as a Cydia source.
A latest report has revealed that the carrier logo has been fixed for at least 25 countries - Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Bahamas, Canada, Costa Rica, Chile, China, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, India, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Kuwait, Malaysia, The Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, Pakistan, Poland, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Trinidad, UK and USA.
The bottomline is that ultrasn0w is meant to be the unlock for the 04.26.08 baseband. However, if you are on the 05.11.07 baseband you can jailbreak iphone using the blacksn0w unlock. Again, iPhone 2G users can jailbreak iphone using blackra1n or pwnagetool. It cannot use ultrasn0w for jailbreaking since 2G has a different baseband.
For more information or your iphone unlocking and jailbreak iphone needs, you may log on to easyiphoneunlocking.com for instant service and round-the-clock support.
Has it lately happened to you that you woke up in the morning and found your iPhone home screen background a bit modified than the one you had and could last recall? Well, it might come to you as a shocker, but it has been happening with some users with jailbreak iphones.
It has so happened that an Australian hacker nicknamed ‘ikee’ has been flooding the devices of jailbroken iPhone users who have installed SSH with the first iPhone virus. Aren’t you sure, your jailbroken iPhone has been hacked or not?
Well, ‘ikee’ however, makes its presence prominent as you can see your jailbroken iPhone change its background automatically to that of Rick Astley (some 80’s singer) with the words "ikee is never going to give you up. You know for sure then that ikee virus has infected your jailbreak iPhone. So, is jailbreaking of iPhone a risk? Jailbreaking is no risk, unchanged password is….
Coming to your query of jailbreak iphone being at risk; NO. Users with locked Apple iPhones and those with jailbroken iPhone in general are not at risk from ‘ikee’ since this exploit affects only those jailbroken iPhones which have installed SSH. Well, do not be taken aback.
SSH access is indispensable for accessing your iPhone’s file system. It also opens up root access to your iPhone with the default password “alpine”. However, this news cannot be considered a failure on Apple’s part as it simply means that jailbreakers require being more conscious of the security holes they’re opening up with unauthorized software. So, the first thing you should do on SSH installation after jailbreaking is change the root password with a password of your choice.
How it happens…
If you are still not very clear about it, here is a bit of clarification – SSH on jailbroken iPhones, can be installed with a package from Cydia that lets you to connect to your phone and make changes to the file system. This is done by logging into the root user with the password ‘alpine’. However, it is always recommended that you change ‘alpine’ to the password of your choice.
But, you have to know one thing; this hack ‘ikee’ can only affect devices which have not changed the default ‘root’ password – and not otherwise. Here’s what ‘ikee’ in an interview writes:
...The code itself is set to firstly scan the 3G IP range the phone is on, then Optus/Vodafone/Telstra's IP Ranges (I think the reason Optus got hit so hard is because the other 2 are NAT'd) then a random 20 IP ranges. I'm guessing a few phones hit a range that another vulnerable phone was on.Basically, once your phone is infected, the worm starts looking for other iPhones on the cellular network that use the root:alpine combination. Once it finds another vulnerable iPhone, it installs itself and begins the process again... and again... and again.
Well, this sounds terrible, and most users who are caught off-guard are those who jailbreak iphone without proper knowledge and technical support. You can opt for safe iphone unlocking and jailbreaking with round-the-clock services from easyiphoneunlocking.com.
The Apple iPhone supports tethering since the release of iPhone OS 3.0, but in many countries this awesome feature is blocked by the phone companies. The video below shows an easy and fast way to enable tethering on your iPhone running iPhone OS 3.1.2 so you can gain internet access for another device, e.g. a notebook. The only thing you need is a jailbroken iPhone.
Blacksn0w arrives on 3 November, 2009 a day earlier than promised. Seems Geohot couldn’t contain the excitement; and how could he, as thousands of Geohot fans wait with great anticipation the launch of iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS unlock tool – Blacksn0w. Wonder, if the dev team is feeling jealous of someone else stealing the thunder and appreciation (err moolah…err donation).
George Hotz, aka Geohot had earlier announced that Blacksn0w is the unlocking tool for the iPhone 3.1.2 baseband 05.11.07; and with the help of this new Blackra1n RC3 jail breaking tool, iPhone users can update to unlock their baseband in iPhone OS 3.1.2 and 'hacktivate' it.
Befriending Blacksn0w…
It is very important to know and befriend a tool to utilize its full potential in a positive manner. Studies have shown that Blacksn0w caters to iPhone owners with 3.1.2 firmware and 04.26 baseband, who can now without any problems unlock their iPhone to the latest baseband. However, the most effective part of unlocking the baseband version is that it makes the iPhone compatible with any mobile carrier.
Geohot have further clarified that users updating to 05.11.07 baseband might not get to see anything substantially new on their jailbreak iphone. Yet, caution has to be taken since the baseband once updated, cannot be downgraded to prior versions. Blacksn0w is applicable via Blackra1n – the application that jailbreaks iPhone devices faster than other tool.
Once your iPhone is jailbroken, you can tap the Blackra1n icon and install Cydia, Rock and Blacksn0w packages. This unlock is available for free and will work only for 3GS. If you need any assistance and knowledge support on iphone unlocking and jailbreak iphone, you may check out easyiphoneunlocking.com for reliable services. Note: Blacksn0w is also available on Cydia, add blackra1n.com as repo requires firmware >= 3.1 and baseband 05.11.07
How badly have you wanted a custom map on your 
