With the iPad and iPhone’s increasing popularity in enterprise environments, Apple might finally be ready to take serious steps to beef up iOS device security: a new patent titled “Systems and Methods for Identifying Unauthorized Users of an Electronic Device” describe future iPhones and iPads that could bond with its owner and initiative security measures if an unknown person was trying to access it.

According to the patent, future iOS devices cold use voice print analysis, face analysis and even the rhythm of a user’s heartbeat to determine whether or not the current user was the one that device has been paired to. It would also be able to detect suspicious activity like hacking attempts, or “particular activities that [indicate] suspicious behavior.” Presumably, that could be anything, from the order in which apps are launched to the speed and staccato of a user’s typing.

If an unauthorized user was detected, the iOS device in question could then go into lockdown mode, taking a FaceTime snapshot of the user’s face while simultaneously logging all keystrokes and phone calls made, as well as the GPS location of the device at the time of the unauthorized entry. Furthermore, a warning could be pushed into the cloud to the user’s authorized owner, as well as the automatic uploading of sensitive data and then a complete, spontaneous device wipe.

It’s an interesting patent, and it would certainly go a long way to satisfying the security misgivings many corporations have about iOS devices. Unfortunately, Apple patents just as often as not flow forth from Cupertino like corporate fever dreams; until we actually see these features in action on a real-world device, there’s no telling how serious Apple is taking this parent.

[via Ars Technica]

httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WE7LY5lq9mc&

Today, I was burned by this Qrank question: “Apple has delayed the launch of the white iPhone 4. Why?” I answered because of a manufacturing defect in the hardware, but the answer Qrank wanted was that Apple was unhappy with the color. I suppose both are true, but only as much as the iPhone 4’s ivory veneer (and its reportedly associated light leak) counts as a “color” and not a “hardware defect.”

Either way, 9to5Mac just posted this great video of a white iPhone 4 unboxing, the origins and appropriation of the elusive handset still being unknown.

It certainly seems to be legitimate and not just a skinjob, but it raises maddening questions about the imminency of the white iPhone 4’s launch: if the videographer had chosen to film the white iPhone 4 in the dark, we’d be able to tell if Apple had fixed its production problems related to light seepage in the white iPhone 4, and therefore be able to predict whether or not this would be hitting AT&T Apple.com soon. In the meantime, we just have to speculate, and hope that this is just the first of a veritable deluge of white iPhone 4 unboxings that you and I will experience sooner rather than later.

Once the most profitable cell phone company in the world, and still the largest, Finnish telecommunications giant Nokia has seemed so utterly unprepared for combating the game-changing iPhone that their corporate confusion could only be matched by someone flipping the gravity switch to the off position in the middle of a basketball game.

It’s no wonder that Nokia is trying to copy Apple’s success, but as these recently leaked shots of their upcoming N9 prestige phone is anything to go by, their strategy seems to be to petulantly ignore Apple’s revolutionary advances in the smartphone arena while rather lamely aping the brushed aluminum and black chiclet aesthetic of the MacBook line.

The result is a confused mishmash: a smartphone that wants to be a MacBook when what Nokia needs is a handset that makes the iPhone want to be more of a Nokia. Come on, Nokia: once upon a time, you made the best phones on Earth. You can do better than this.

Figuring out which Mac you want to drop your moist wad of bills upon just became a little easier thanks to a new addition to the online Apple store called Compare Macs.

The feature offers a tri-paned juxtaposition of the hardware, software, storage, environmental impact, communications and display of any OS X machine sold by Apple online. The option becomes available in the top menu bar once you select a Mac.

Although there’s nothing particularly revolutionary about the feature, as usual, Apple has managed to execute the new option with such perfection that the HTML5 seems to shiver. Each genre of juxtaposition — Hardware, Software, Technical Specifications, And Configuration Summary — is delineated into specific sections that collapse as you scroll down the page, with each point of comparison flushly horizontal with its comparable brethren. The pie charts under the Environmental Status Report section are particularly well rendered, using different patinas of oak and walnut to attractively convey the green-friendliness of each model.

In truth, Apple’s computer line-up is so well branded that it’s usually pretty clear what performance you’ll get from each computer simply according to where the line model falls within Apple’s spectrum of products. But that’s besides the point: ultimately, “Compare Macs” is just another example of the exemplary interface polish that Apple is known for whether in software, hardware or HTML.

Remote control of your Macintosh allows you to access a distant computer across a network or the Internet. The screen of the remote Mac appears locally, and you use your mouse and keyboard to control the distant system.  This capability can be helpful for tech support, system administration, finding missing information or more informed parenting (to the chagrin of many offspring).

With the Mac’s increasing popularity there are now an increasing number of options available for Mac Remote Control, many of which are free.  Choices include Apple’s built in Screen Sharing and Remote Desktop software, web based services like LogMeIn and GoToMyPC, and old standards like VNC.

Desperate for a real keyboard on your iPhone?  Indian industrial designer Altamash Jiwani was too, and created a prototype of a snap-on sliding QWERTY keyboard for the iPhone 4:

[The] keyboard offers a QWERTY slider tactile keyboard and a stylish impact case to protect your Iphone from bumps and bruises along with access to all the switches and jacks on your Iphone. Just fit your Iphone in the case while connecting the QWERTY keyboard’s port to the dock connector of your Iphone.

Design also incorporates a finger rest at the lower end bottom of the case to get a comfortable hold while typing. If you don’t open the slider, you still have access to whole Iphone screen and the QWERTY keyboard for quickly typing something.

Jiwani put significant thought into choosing among three possible form factors: a flip keyboard, an elongated iPhone frame, or a sliding keyboard.  He documented the design process on his blog.

Facebook has introduced a new feature called Places and like everything Facebook seems to do lately it leaves us all feeling a little more paranoid and less secure than we did before. The thought of your friends checking you in at your therapist may not be something you want everyone to know. You might like going to the therapist, but you may not want anyone knowing how often you spend your time there talking about your iPhone addiction. So, if you’re anxious to find out how to turn off Facebook Places, read on.

Like prison cakes, iOS updates tend to have secret files baked into the firmware, each capable of sawing through the bars of Apple’s own internal clampdown to free details on upcoming products. The latest beta of iOS 4.1 is no exception, offering a tantalizing first glimpse of three upcoming iOS devices.

The first two tipped products aren’t particularly surprising: a reference to an iPod 4,1 is clearly pointing towards next month’s updated iPod Touch, which is likely to boast an A4 CPU, FaceTime support and a Retina Display.

Similarly, once you know that iProd 1,1 was the internal Apple coding reference to the first-gen iPad, iProd 2,1 is easy to peg as a second-gen iPad. What’s curious here, though, is the fact that Apple’s officially programming support for a second generation iPad at all into iOS 4.1. If Apple sticks to a yearly product update for the iPad, we’re eight months away from an update to the tablet; does the reference to iProd 2,1 in an iOS update scheduled for next month indicate a surprising hardware refresh for the iPad line later this year, possibly fixing the begrudged lack of FaceTime support?

The final reference, though, is the most intriguing: an unknown device described as “unknownHardware” tagged with a unique Apple product ID of 20547. Smart money is this being an iOS-driven update to the AppleTV, although we’ve all been surprised by Apple before. Only September’s annual iPod event will give us partial answers.

We all hate chores. Whether it’s taking out the trash, washing the dishes or any other number of horrifyingly dull tasks. Game developer Rexbox aims to inject some fun into these mundane tasks with the release of EpicWin for iPhone, which turns your to-do list into a game.

Brandon Smith is in jail accused of ripping off Bill Jordan’s pinky while snagging his iPad outside a Denver Apple store. Smith is also now accused of putting out a hit on Jordan from jail to stop the trial.

Smith spoke to CBS about the whole mess the day before his appearance in court. (Yes, CoM has gone all iCrime central this week with the news of Apple-related mayhem. Once you get started, it’s hard to stop).

Smith has still not confessed to the crime — either the iPad theft or the murder plot — but did say:

“I’m sorry for whatever, and for him losing his finger. That’s awful from just a theft. That’s a bad theft gone wrong, you know what I’m saying.” And adds that if he could give him his own finger he would.

Smith, who just turned 21, says he was jacked up on drugs (speed and heroin) at the time of the crime and while he admits to desiring Apple’s latest device, he still will not say he committed the crime.

“I wanted one but I’m not going to say that I ripped one off and everything.”  Smith also denies writing the hit letter, saying his cellmate did it. Smith’s brother turned him in after seeing the video surveillance footage on crime stoppers.

Ugh. Maybe he should think about changing lawyers for a more coherent strategy (is he apologizing to the victim for the crime or not?) before appearing in court today.

Via CBS

We start with another MacBook Pro deal. This one, a bundle from Expercom, includes a 2.66GHz Core i7 machine with a 27-inch screen, 8GB of memory and three-years of AppleCare for $2,967. How do you hold your Apple device; in a case, in your car, in a bag, or near your face? Before we get too Dr. Seussian, let’s just say we have all manner of ways to protect your iPad or iPhone.

Along the way, we’ll also check out the latest batch of App Store iPhone freebies, including the puzzle game “Aqua Globs,” as well as the Squaretrade warranty program.

As always, details on these and many other items are available at CoM’s “Daily Deals” page right after the jump.

Swiss folk hero William Tell and his apple sharpshooting get a 2.0 update with this game using Apple iPhones.

The brainchild of artist johannes-p-osterhoff, who we last saw adbust an iPad ad with porn, the game is pretty simple.

Each player straps an iDevice on their head (osterhoff, who prefers a creative lowercase, seriously, crafted the sturdy holders) and your opponent tries to hit your Apple device (or logo if you’re wearing a shirt) with a soft ball. Whoever hits the most times, wins.

Research in Motion reportedly is shopping for a mobile ad platform to help the BlackBerry maker better compete with Apple’s iAds and Google’s AdMob. The only hitch: the company that tops RIM’s list of candidates — Millennial Media — just isn’t that interested in being acquired.

Millennial Media CEO Paul Palmieri told the Wall Street Journal the company wants to launch an initial public offering and remain independent. If snatched-up by RIM, Palmieri’s company would lose all the opportunity to serve ads to the lucrative iPhone, iPad and other iOS devices protected by Apple’s iOS developer agreement. The agreement, initially aimed at Google, denies ad network access, unless approved by Cupertino. Since Apple has its own ad network – iAd – its unlikely Millennial would get another bite of the Apple.

Ok, here at CoM we know Apple makes must-have technology. We really do get it. But c’mon people: don’t get yourself thrown in jail to prove Apple makes coveted gadgets that people will sometimes maim other people to get.

Case in point: Tyanthony Devon Dunbar, 28, now sits in jail slapped on an attempted murder charge after allegedly shooting his 26-year-old cousin Antonio Maurice Harley following a morning scuffle (no, not shuffle) involving an iPod. The incident took place in Colleton, South Carolina; the report doesn’t mention what kind of iPod it was.

Does anyone ever get into this much trouble over a Zune or a Blackberry?

Via Post and News

Facebook just dropped version 3.2 of their iOS app onto iTunes, bringing an interesting new feature to the mix that seems like a direct challenge to the likes of foursquare’s location-based dominance: Places, a feature which lets you “check-in” to your current location and share it with friends.

Other new features in the update include the ability to set privacy of individual status updates, see all the recipients on any inbox messages, and even upload photos and videos in the background taking advantage of iOS4’s nifty multitasking abilities.

Facebook for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad is available free for download, and the 3.2 update should have rolled out to App Store users internationally. Just hit refresh.

If you’re a true Star Wars fan interested in supporting the franchise, on one hand, you could get yourself a Motorola Droid 2, which passes on a small sliver of a royalty to LucasFilm with every handset sold thanks to George Lucas’ trademark on “droid.”

On the other hand, that would stick you with using Android, and luminous beings are we. So fly your geeky colors proud and true by instead purchasing this official $30 R2-D2 iPhone case. It won’t snuggle your iPhone 4, but it’ll shell your iPhone 3G or 3GS like an astromech, making it very much the droid you’ve been looking for.

It’s becoming a trend with iPhone 4 pre-sales: huge demand equals overwhelmed sites. It was no different in Korea, where consumers deluged carrier KT’s website. Before the site went down ,the carrier (and its 2900 retail locations) Wednesday pre-sold 130,000 iPhone 4s in 13 hours – or 10,000 Apple handsets per hour.

The 130,000 figure pales in comparison to the 600,000 first-day U.S. pre-orders, but is a dramatic increase over initial demand of Apple’s previous handset, the iPhone 3GS. When the 3GS launched in 2009, KT accepted 14,500 pre-orders on that first day.

If you’ve ever hit Craigslist or eBay looking for an iPhone, you’re probably used to seeing ads for new, unlocked iPhones from mystery dealers. You might see less of them for the time being, though: London detectives have arrested nine members of an international iPhone resale ring.

The suspects in question are alleged to have taken advantage of the UK’s extremely subsidized iPhone rates to purchase thousands of new handsets through a middleman boasting a fraudulent credit card or identity. They would then sell those iPhones internationally for a healthy profit, sticking local British iPhone carriers with the tab.

That’s not all: the same criminals stole over £1.2 million in July from wireless carrier O2 by hooking up SIM cards to automated dialers to call premium phone lines in their control which charged ten pounds a minute. They then simply abandoned the contracts by disappearing without a trace.

It was that latter crime that actually prompted the City of London detectives’ month-long investigation, which ultimately netted them nine collars. At one home, they also confiscated over £15,000-worth of iPhones still in their boxes.

[via Apple Insider]

Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires is being rocked by a crime wave according to recent reports, including a shootout at an Apple reseller where one alleged thief was killed by police.

The story comes to us from CoM reader Stefano Cavallaro in Argentina who tells us that after a pair of thieves attempted to raid Apple reseller Mac Station, in the city’s chic Palermo neighborhood where expensive iGadgets must have seemed an easy target, a  police officer opened fire to stop them.

“There was a police officer outside the Apple store (when two armed robbers attempted to steal from the store)…The thieves and police started to shoot and one thief was gunned down while the other got away on a motorcycle…The police officer was not shot and did not sustain any injuries.”

A local internet news source confirms the story, saying that the police are still searching for the accomplice. This isn’t the first time an Apple store robbery gone wrong has lead to gunshots — in 2009 an Apple employee was shot during an armed robbery in Virginia — but it may be the first time a person has been killed attempting to steal Apple’s must-have electronic devices.

It was a busy day for police in Argentina’s capital who also had to deal with the shooting of a policeman, a hostage situation and a kidnapping.

Recall last week’s reports of hard-to-find iPhone 4s? Well, both Apple’s handset and tablet may soon be seen in a store near you as production begins to ramp up to meet demand, analysts said Wednesday.

It’s likely Apple will sell 14 million iPhone 4 handsets during the current September quarter, with 15 million more by the end of 2010, according to Rodman and Renshaw analyst Ashok Kumar. While its unclear what has allowed production to increase, in the case of the iPad, it appears one of Apple’s suppliers gets the credit.

It just farts. According to Wired, Phillip Shoemaker — the director of applications technology at Apple, and the honcho responsible for maintaining a puritanical standard of quality in the App Store library — has a side job: selling a series of flatulence, evacuation and micturating simulators on the App Store through his company, Gray Noodle.

One such app is called iWiz. “Simulate the experience of urinating for a long time,” the app description reads. “Convince your friends that you’ll never stop.”

OPlayer, from olimsoft, is an iOS application for both iPhone/iPod Touch and iPad, that claims to boost your device’s media capabilities by allowing playback of a huge list of audio and video file formats.

The list of supported formats is pretty impressive, and will save you a great deal of effort if you often find yourself having to convert movies to watch on your device while you’re on the move. A fairly big video file can take a while to convert and it’s not the most exciting of tasks. But with OPlayer conversion isn’t needed – simply transfer your media to your device.

The full list of supported formats includes MP3, WMA, RM, AAC, WMV, AVI, MKV, RMVB, XVID, MP4, MOV, 3GP and MPG.

You can transfer files to your device using the File Sharing feature within iTunes or you can download them using the built-in browser from your computer, from the internet or from an FTP server. It’s also possible to stream media to your device over Wi-Fi and 3G.

The release of OPlayer, and of CineXPlayer last week, in to the App Store certainly suggests that Apple is relaxing some of its restrictions on app approvals, most likely in a bid to discourage users from jailbreaking their devices. Will this open the doors for other third-party media players?

Get OPlayer for your iPhone & iPod Touch from the App Store here, or get the HD version for your iPad here.

We start off with two deals for your iPhone: The iTunes App Store has cut Gameloft’s NFL 2011 for the iPhone and iPod touch to $0.99 – a $4 price drop. Next is another $1 iPhone 4 case – this time from a rubber skin from TPU. We wrap up our spotlight deals with another Expercom iMac bundle – get a 3.2GHz Core i3 iMac with 27-inch screen and 8GB of memory – plus three years of AppleCare for $1,879.

Along the way, we’ll check out more iPhone accessories, Mac software and storage options for your favorite Apple devices. As always, details on these and many other items can be found at CoM’s “Daily Deals” page right after the jump.

According a recent study of US national health data,  your average teen today doesn’t hear as well as their Gen-X counterparts.

Teenagers with hearing loss (and we mean not just ignoring your parents) grew by a third between between 1988-1994 and 2005-2006. Back when Guns n’ Roses were in heavy rotation on teen Walkmans, 15% of 12-19 year-olds suffered some kind of hearing impairment, now that percentage is 19.5%.

But for once, iPods are not found to blame. A team who studied data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and published findings in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that music may not be the only thing that can be damaging kids ears.

Other salient factors include diet and nutrition and environmental factors such as exposure to toxins. Poverty also plays a role, researchers found that kids in lower-income families without adequate nutrition may have problems in auditory system development.

The iPod has been accused of hearing loss off and on since its 2001 debut. This probably won’t be the first or last time it is implicated in hearing loss or impairment.

Rock on?

Via Time

httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bulLBD18uI8&feature=player_embedded

Recently vacated Mac avatar and sloe-eyed hipster hunk Justin Long popped up on Jimmy Kimmel Live the other night, and let’s just say he’s probably glad his “Get A Mac” gig has ended, because otherwise he might have gotten into some serious trouble pulling out that jailbroken iPhone.

But that’s not really the most interesting thing about his appearance. I got to tell you, I love this clip: I’ve always despised Justin Long, but this anecdote is funny enough that I’m seriously starting to think I just hated him because he was beautiful. And a lackluster thespianr, but whatever. Who knew he was so funny?

[via 9to5Mac]