Apple has announced the release of iOS 4.0.2 and 3.2.2 for iOS-driven iPod touch and iPhone units. This update seals a PDF security hole that could enable the hijacking of either type of device. The only practical application in the field at the time of writing was disrupting Apple’s device security through a process commonly known as “jailbreaking”. By sealing this security breach, Apple has effectively cut off the ability jailbreak for owners to their handsets should they upgrade.
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You’ll see a lot of stories over the next few days that will start with the line “Steve Jobs must be furious…”, all reporting the emergence of Flash on Apple’s protected iOS platform. Don’t kid yourself, Steve is cool as a cucumber right now; Jailbreakers and Flash porters are playing right into his hands.
The Jailbreakme vulnerability was exploited today to enable the installation of a new rogue application called Frash; it’s porting over a core library from the Android platform to give the iPhone and iPod touch rudimentary Flash capabilities. Tinkerers and hackers throughout the technowebs are going just slightly bonkers over this development, revelling in what they believe is the Aphid in Steve’s Walled Garden™.
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In a stunning display of “you couldn’t have announced this last week?” RIM has announced the BlackBerry Torch – a sliding BlackBerry touchpad smartphone WITH a hardware keyboard.
It’s safe to say that this would have given some iPhone 4 buyers some pause, so it’s strange that they couldn’t get the news out the door, oh say five days earlier. Yes, I said touchpad – it’s unclear right now whether the screen is a touchscreen (there are a lot of reports saying yes) but it’s also got a touchpad at the bottom… talk about your kitchen sink design!
Still, the phone looks pretty cool. It’s GSM/HSPA and it’ll roll out on Telus and Rogers (and Bell, apparently – but I’m not dead sure on it.)
It’s rolling fast too – August 12 on AT&T in the US at $199.99 on a two year agreement.
Here’s the big bomb: it comes with BlackBerry 6. Honestly RIM? You had 6 in the wings and you waited until FOUR DAYS after the Canadian iPhone launch to tell us? Do you have any idea how infuriating that is? Still, glad to see you got it out the door, it was sorely needed.
The Torch comes with BB6, a webkit browser (finally!), a 5MP camera, Bluetooth, Wifi (including wireless N – I would imagine 2.4GHz), GPS, and 512MB RAM.
I’m concerned about the screen size – at 3.2″ and 360×480, it looks positively cramped in comparison to the 3.5″ iPhone screen and the massive 4.0″ EVO. We’ll have to wait and see if BlackBerry 6 optimizes the use of space on the screen, this may be a total non-issue.
I’m happy to see RIM get BB6 out the door, and I’m happy to see the Torch. It looks like a great phone, and will hopefully attract the following it deserves.
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I’m a BlackBerry fan. Growing up just outside of Waterloo, Ontario and going to UW as a young guy, it’s hard not have a soft spot in my heart for Research in Motion. I can remember selling an original BlackBerry 957 to Karen Redman, Liberal MP for KW going back nearly a decade ago – and I still have my 950 and 957 hanging around somewhere.
