AT&T Allowing Mobile Hotspot for iOS 4.3 Users

 

The Verizon iPhone has one amazing distinguishing feature over the AT&T iPhone and that is the 5 person Mobile HotSpot. Any WiFi capable device will be able to connect to the iPhone and share the data connection. AT&T has not said any word on whether or not they will be allowing this feature, but in iOS 4.3 beta this feature just works. Users have been reporting it works directly with their current tethering plan, and the fee's for the AT&T mobile hotspot on other phones are exactly like the AT&T iPhone tethering plan. Hopefully this will be accessible on the AT&T network when iOS 4.3 is released.

Apple Patent Showing "Smart Bezel"

Apple has been publishing a lot of new patents, from a 'Magic Mouse with display', to 'Cover Flow-like spiral interface' but nothing like the latest 'Smart bezel'. The patent details the bezel all the way around the device will be touch sensitive and contain touch sensors, pressure sensors, light emitters, haptic actuators, and accelerometers. With all these in the bezel you wouldn't need to have settings for volume control or brightness and much more. Also the patent seems to describe ways to use the bezel for locking/unlock a device, toggle a device on and off, and toggle silent/load function. This could actually get rid of the lock/unlock button and home button and create the button-less iPad. This could also make its way onto Apple's MacBooks/Macbook Pro's. It is obvious that Apple is looking for an alternate input method to push their technology further in the tablet market.

Apple LED TV Coming?

Rumors are going around that Apple is working on an actual Apple Television, not to be confused with the Apple TV. Apple posted a new job listing seeking people to work on a next-generation power supply technology. 

Apple states that this job position - "primarily involves high-density offline power supply's development for Apple's next generation Macintosh platforms spanning from notebook computers, desktop computers, servers, standalone displays and TV." Yes that's right, TV! Notice how Apple separated "TV" from "standalone displays". Apple did not even mention their little streaming accessory, the Apple TV. What will be the price point of a large LED TV from Apple is hard to say. Apple's current 27-inch LED Cinema Display is priced at $999.

App Store Reaches 10 Billion App Downloads!

 

Today is a day that will go down in history. The App store has reached 10 Billion downloads! This is more apps downloaded than people on this earth! Congratulations Apple, but what is next? 20 Billion? 50 Billion? 100 Billion? I hope we can get a bit of rest before you smash through those barriers. 

The person who downloads the 10 Billionth app will win a $10,000 iTunes voucher but we still have to wait to find out who it is, maybe it will be you. Personally, if won I would sell the voucher for $9,000 and go crazy in the actual Apple store. Probably won't but who knows...

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Apple Restricting Access To iPhone 4 With Special Screws

We all had fun changing out our iPhone 4's back to white and other sorts of various colors and materials, but now it looks like Apple isn't so happy with you having access to your iPhone 4's insides and has started to ship iPhone 4's with new and specialized five-point 'Pentalobe' screws. These screws look like Torx screws but have rounded edges and are more difficult to open not to mention you will have a hard time finding the right tool. Before all this, Apple shipped the iPhone 4 with simple Phillips screws and just recently started to change to regular Torx screws. Until today, if you were to get your iPhone 4 repaired, Apple would change and upgrade your screws from old to new without even asking or telling you. It seems as though now Apple will start using their Pentalobe screws instead of Torx screws. 

First Steps Taken to Hacking iPod Nano

When Steve Jobs announced the brand new iPod nano in September with an interface that looked like iOS, everyone was thinking how long or how easy it would be to hack and put custom apps onto the new nano. And the first steps have been taken towards making this a reality as on a flight home, James Whelton booted up an iPod nano with a modified SpringBoard plist file that "removed" an app from the screens and replaced it with a blank space. Now you might be thinking, is that it. Well yes it is, but don't get to sad, as this could be the first step on the long road that leads to even more hacking, jailbreaking and installing custom apps that we dreamed of when steve announced it in september. See the demo video below.

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