WiFi is included for downloading apps and browsing the web, and it all hooks up to your monitor or TV using an HDMI port (cable not included). It’s an interesting device for $74.

Find it at All Express

Looking for a good UI? As it stands, Android’s tablet UI isn’t very much to look at. Essentially, you have a larger smartphone home screen which, I understand, is fine for some. But in the spirit of Android and the wonderful options she provides, a new home screen replacement is looking to make Android beautiful again, with the Kickstarter funded Chameleon launcher.

Chameleon is a home screen replacement only for Android tablets and features big and beautiful full featured widgets that are “designed to fit your lifestyle.” Similar to HTC’s Scenes, Chameleon gives user the ability to set, and customize home screens according to the time of day, or location. A user can set a work homescreen triggered by GPS location or connected WiFi network. When returning home, a new homescreen will be displayed, giving you easy access to social networks and leisurely content. Sounds neat, right? You can see more in their Kickstarter video below.

Currently, Chameleon has 100 backers on Kickstarter with only $1,000 pledged of their $50,000 goal (wow) and 29 days left to go. Those that back with $5 can get early access to the launcher in August, that’s a full month before it lands in the Google Play Store. Anyone thinking Chameleon could be the tablet home screen for them?

Minor AirPlay issues are addressed and reliability of HDR photography taken using the lock screen shortcut is now improved. The firmware update also squashed another issue with syncing Safari bookmarks and Reading List.

Note to jailbreakers: don’t update.

According to release notes accompanying the update, it contains the obligatory improvements and bug fixes, including:

• Improves reliability of using HDR option for photos taken using the Lock Screen shortcut
• Addresses bugs that could prevent the new iPad from switching between 2G and 3G networks
• Fixes bugs that affected AirPlay video playback in some circumstances
• Improved reliability for syncing Safari bookmarks and Reading List
• Fixes an issue where ‘Unable to purchase’ alert could be displayed after successful purchase

You can install the update by connecting your device to iTunes via a USB cable and hitting the Check for Updates button in the Info section of your device information pane.

Alternatively, go to the Settings app on your device and choose Software Update in the General section.

AT&T’s unlocking service, which came into effect earlier this month, involves restoring via iTunes – meaning those with jailbroken devices could lose out on a jailbreak depending on their device and firmware version.

Fortunately, with the aid of the ever-reliable Redsn0w, those of you looking to unlock your device can be spared the loss of your untethered jailbreak, especially if you are on iOS 5.0.1, by following a few simple steps. We’ve pieced together a short guide detailing these steps in order to help you quickly and effectively get your iPhone unlocked. Before you start, make sure you have already filed a request to AT&T to get your phone unlocked (first four steps here) before following the instructions below:

Step 1: Download Redsn0w for OS X or Windows and run (Windows users will need to run as Administrator).

Step 2: Once you see the pane on your screen, select the Jailbreak option. Don’t worry, we won’t actually be jailbreaking here.

Step 3: Follow the steps on screen to slip your device into DFU mode. Those of you having jailbroken a few times in the past should be in fairly familiar territory here.

Step 4: At the next screen, un-check the Install Cydia option, and select Deactivate.

RedSn0w will then work its magic on your iPhone. Your device will have lines of codes running on the screen, which is normal.

Step 5: Connect your device via iTunes, and your device will need to activate as it did when you first purchased it. It’s important to remember that you should not connect via Wi-Fi – stick with the USB sync cable only. If your unlock is ready, your device will be unlocked upon activation – without the need to restore.

The days when an Apple firmware could be downgraded by simply downloading and overwriting seem long gone. Apple tries extremely hard to prevent the jailbreak community from thriving, but thankfully, the Dev Teams involved remain resilient, and many of the key players in the jailbreak game are currently working towards a full jailbreak for the new iPad and the iOS 5.1 firmware.

So, those of you unsure as to whether you would lose your jailbreak by unlocking, fret no more. Most of those having inquired to AT&T so far have been advised the wait is around three days, although a handful have been told the wait up to a week for the process to run its course.

Unlocking the iPhone 4S, and the iPhone 4 just got easier thanks to the SAM package unlock.

Check inside for our full tutorial that shows how to unlock any iPhone on iOS 5 or higher (running any baseband) using the SAM jailbreak package…

Your iPhone must be jailbroken on iOS 5 or higher. Baseband is irrelevant. Keep your current SIM in your iPhone until instructed to remove it in step 4.

Step 1: Add the following repo to your Cydia sources: repo.bingner.com and then install SAM.

Step 2: Open SAM, go to Utilities, and tap Deactivate.

Step 3: Go back to the SAM main menu, and tap More Information. Under SIM Details copy your IMSI number.

Step 4: Remove your SIM, and replace it with the SIM you wish to use (i.e. T-Mobile).

Step 5: With SAM enabled, tap Method, and select By Country and Carrier. Go back a menu, and select the correct country and then the correct carrier for your SIM card.

Step 6: Go back to More Information, and tap Spoof Real SIM to SAM. Next under SAM Details, delete the current IMSI number, and replace it with the one you copied in step 3.

Step 7: On the SAM main menu go to Utilities, and tap Attempt Activation. Your device should respring if done correctly.

Step 8: Open SAM and disable SAM. Close SAM.

Step 9: Open iTunes and plug in your device to your computer. You may have to unplug it and plug it in a few times. Be patient. You should receive a message stating that it failed to activate your device, but that’s a good thing, click ok. Be patient, and eventually you will see the carrier logo for your new SIM.

Note: From here on out you can freely switch between your original SIM and your new SIM. All you need to do is plug in the device and repeat step 9 to activate your desired SIM.

How to save your Activation Ticket to preserve your unlock

For the record, MuscleNerd has stated that he recommends saving off your Activation Ticket for each SIM that you use, as they might come in handy in the future. These can be found at: /var/Root/ibrary/Lockdown and you can access this easily with iFile or via SSH.

[Source] Redmondpie

A few days ago we heard that the Time Warner Cable TV application was going to receive a pretty hefty update to include live streaming support for Ice Cream Sandwich devices. Well, the app was updated, but the folks who own rooted devices found that the application does not allow them to stream the live TV that they were hoping for. This shouldn’t necessarily surprise anyone, as most media-centric apps these days block content from rooted users, including Google’s own Movies store.

We have seen a user submitted tip that if you wipe the application’s data in your app settings menu, that could clear up the issue. This did not work for us.

Update: We knew it wouldn’t take too long for a developer to take all of these root device restrictions and throw them out the window. He has released a build of the newest TWC app that has a build.prop fix and removes root access restrictions. You can download the APK and load it as you would any other third party app. Much love B00sted!

[Source] XDA

So long as you’ve saved the SHSH blobs of the firmware you wish to downgrade to (Cydia’s homepage will notify you – as shown below), then you can quickly remove yourself from what is fast becoming a fiasco of an iOS 5 release.

Important Note: Before you begin, keep in mind that the iPhone 4S cannot be downgraded to an earlier version of iOS, unless Apple is signing that particular firmware version to which you’re downgrading to. Only the iPhone 4, 3GS, iPad 1 and the iPod touch users can downgrade back to both iOS 5.0.1 (custom firmware only) and iOS 4.x as long as they have SHSH blobs and APTicket saved for the firmware they are downgrading to. iPad 2 users can only downgrade back to iOS 4.x as long as they have saved SHSH blobs for it. You cannot save SHSH blobs once Apple has stopped signing the firmware you want to downgrade to.

All set? Let’s begin:

For downgrading to iOS 5.0.1/5.0 custom firmware using iFaith

As mentioned above, if you have both APTicket+SHSH blobs saved for iOS 5.0.1 or 5.0, you can downgrade your device to a custom iOS firmware. This however wont work on iPhone 4S and iPad 2. Only iPhone 4, 3GS, iPad 1, and iPod touch users can downgrade to iOS 5.x custom firmware using this method.

Step 1: Simply download the latest version of iFaith for Windows from Here, official stock iOS 5.0.1 firmware for your device from Here

Step 2: Build a signed firmware file by clicking on ‘Build *signed* IPSW w/Blobs’.

Step 3: Browse for the SHSH blobs file that you previously saved for your current device to downgrade back to the old 5.0.1/5.0 firmware. Next, iFaith will ask you to select the stock firmware of which you want it to create custom firmware file from. Once done, iFaith will have a new custom firmware file for you waiting on the desktop with SHSH blobs incorporated for the firmware you are downgrading to.

Step 4: Next, enter DFU mode using iFaith and then simply use iTunes to restore to this custom firmware file.

That’s it! you are done.

Additionally, as you may already be aware, the jailbreak is Tethered, meaning you will need to connect your device to a computer to boot tethered each time it is switched off for whatever reason.

Of course, it’s not as exciting as the fully-untethered jailbreak with all the bells and whistles; but we reckon that it’s better than no jailbreak at all!

As usual, we’ve got the tutorial to help you in your quest to jailbreak your iOS 5.1 device.

NOTE:

As already mentioned, this jailbreak does not work on the iPad 2 or iPhone 4S.
If you unlock with GEVEY or Ultrasn0w, DO NOT update to the stock iOS 5.1 firmware. Skip to the latter part of this guide for more info.
You will be booting tethered quite a bit, so if you don’t think you can deal with constantly connecting and rebooting, wait for an untethered or downgrade to iOS 5.0.1/4.x.

With the formalities complete, let’s start the show!

How to jailbreak iOS 5.1 using Redsn0w

Step 1: Download the latest version of iTunes (10.6)

Step 2: Open up iTunes, and back up your device.

Step 3: Upgrade your firmware to iOS 5.1. [if needed]

Step 4: Download the latest version of Redsn0w Here

Step 5: Start Redsn0w, select “Jailbreak” then “Install Cydia”. Follow the steps to place your device into DFU mode.

Step 6: Now we move on to the process where you will need to repeat every time your device is switched off. This is called tethered boot. Launch Redsn0w, select “Extras”, then”Just Boot” in order to boot your device tethered.

For those who love and can’t live without their jailbreak, the update of iMovie is bitter sweet. Yes, the app now benefits from a great deal more functionality and an improved user interface, but it also comes with  a requirement that iOS 5.1 be installed, meaning jailbroken users who wish to keep their untethered jailbreak on iOS 5.0.1 couldn’t download it – until now. It seems that the App Store makes a quick reference check against a .plist entry saved in the CoreServices directory of the device to determine what version of iOS is installed. If it the check returns a value less than the minimum version required, an alert is displayed advising that it requires a specific iOS version.

For those users who are jailbroken, it is a simple case of using a program such as iFile, or SSHing into the device and changing the version string in the SystemVersion.plist, this in turn fools the OS into believing iOS 5.1 is installed, allowing the download of iMovie. A quick step by step is listed below.

NOTE: The following instructions requires your iOS device to be jailbroken.

Step 1: Open up the iFile application on the device to gain access to the file structure. Alternatively, users can SSH into the jailbroken device using a program such as FileZilla or CyberDuck.

Step 2: Navigate to the following directory – ‘/System/Library/CoreServices‘.

Step 3: At the very bottom of the CoreServices directory there will be a file called ‘SystemVersion.plist‘. Open up this file up by selecting it and then tapping on ‘Text Viewer‘.

Step 4: At the bottom of the file is a line of text which reads ‘<string>5.0.1</string>‘. Edit the file using iFile, or a standard text editing package and amend the ’5.0.1′ to say ’5.1′. Note: If you are running an earlier version of iOS, the version number contained within the string tags will reflect that version.

Step 5: Save the file, exit iFile and then respring the device.

Step 6: Head over to the App Store, download the iMovie application and enjoy that cinematic goodness.

That should keep all you jailbroken iMovie lovers happy until the development teams can work their magic on the new iOS 5.1.

Apple may be on the end of bad press regarding its manufacturing processes of late, but it is set to bring thousands of new jobs to the United states and more specifically, in Austin, Texas.

The state announced today that Apple plans to invest $304 million to bring around 3,600 jobs to the area as part of the expansion of its existing facilities there.

The news will possibly go some way to improving the iPad maker’s reputation, with news of poor working conditions in Chinese factories causing more than a few headaches for those in Cupertino…

“The new campus will more than double the size of Apple’s workforce in Texas over the next decade, supporting the company’s growing operations in the Americas with expanded customer support, sales and accounting functions for the region. In exchange for Apple’s commitment to create these new jobs in Texas, the state has offered Apple an investment of $21 million over ten years through the Texas Enterprise Fund (TEF).”

Apple’s work in Texas mainly revolves around customer support and similar administration-related business, though chip design and other tech-based work does go on in the state also.
[MacRumors]