Here is some good news and possibly some bad news for iPhone 3G users. According to @MuscleNerd’s tweet, the Ultrasn0w unlock for baseband 06.15 will be permanent.

Because there’s no 4.3 beta for iPhone3G, it’s effectively unlocked for life via the 06.15 ultrasn0w unlock

However, here is the bad news. This means that iPhone 3G users will not get the iOS 4.3 update and will possibly be locked out of any future updates coming from Apple too.

The iPhone 3G was launched around 3 years ago, so it makes sense for Apple to remove support for the device considering that they might launch the iPhone 5 this year.

So have fun with your unlocked for life iPhone 3G but don’t expect any new goodies from Apple.

The Google Nexus S is the only device to be running on Android 2.3 officially. However, thanks to the modding community most of the popular phones out there including the Nokia N900, Droid Incredible and the Motorola Droid have got their Android 2.3 based Custom ROM.

Now, a guy with the nickname nickpack - and his team have managed to get Android 2.3 up and running on the iPhone 3G. The project is also compatible with iDroid project, which will allow users to dual-boot Android 2.3 Gingerbread and iOS on their iPhone 3G.

Here is a link to a video of Android 2.3 Gingerbread running on iPhone 3G. From the video, it is clearly visible that Gingerbread is running a bit sluggish on the handset. The developers behind this project have not mention any release date of this mod.

They also did not mention anything on what works   and what does not work on this unofficial port of Android 2.3 Gingerbread on iPhone 3G. Hopefully, the final version of Android 2.3 Gingerbread on the iPhone 3G will run pretty smoothly.

The dev team has released a new unlocking tool for the iPhone to unlock iPhone 3G and 3GS. PwnageTool 4.1.3 unlocks iPhone devices with baseband later than 05.13.04. The new hack for the AT+XMPP exploit requires users to upgrade to baseband 06.15.00 before attempting an unlock.

PwnageTool 4.1.3 will unlock devices which includes iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS and the 3G based iPad. However, iPad users will have to download firmware 3.2.2 to upgrade their baseband.

Certainly don’t update to 06.15 if you don’t need to!  Only do this if you need the unlock and you’re stuck on 05.14 or 05.15, and you’re willing to assume the above risks.

An unlock for iPhone 4 is not yet available, however, this should be available in the next few weeks. Please note that there is no way to come back down from 06.15, and there’s no hiding the baseband version from Apple.  So this will void your warranty so make your decisions very carefully.

This PwnageTool also contains a 4.2.1 bundle for iPhone3G owners…for all else, it’s still only 4.1.  If you have an iPhone3GS with an old bootrom, the new redsn0w will handle 4.2.1 for you (in fact it covers 4.2.1 for all devices, even though some of them are still tethered at 4.2.1 until @comex can work some untethering magic).  iPhone3GS users with old bootroms who want to go to 4.2.1 should not use this PwnageTool!  Update to stock 4.2.1 first, then use the upcoming redsn0w to update your baseband.

Download PwnageTool 4.1.3 and read all the instructions here. Please note that you will have to jailbreak iPhone in order to use it, you can jailbreak iOS 4.2.1 before you unlock your device.

Currently the unlock is only available for Mac users, but a Windows unlock should be on its way soon.

Yesterday, Apple released the highly anticipated iOS 4.2.1 for the iPod Touch, iPhone and the iPad. The iOS4.2 update is a minor one for the iPod Touch and the iPhone but it brings a bucket load of changes for the iPad. With the iOS 4.2.1 update, the iPad gets AirPlay, AirPrint, Game Center and Multi-tasking etcetera.

Today, the iPhone Dev Team has released an updated version of Redsn0w which is capable of jailbreaking users’ iTouch device running on iOS 4.2. The only downside is that the jailbreak is a tethered one which means that users need to jailbreak their iTouch device again when they restart it. However, for the iPhone 3GS (older boot rom), iPhone 3G and the iPod Touch 2G (Non-MC) this jailbreak is an untethered one.

Here are the steps to jailbreak your iTouch device using Redsn0w 0.9.6b4 :

Step 1: First and foremost, users need to update their iTouch device to iOS 4.2.1 using iTunes 10.1. They also need to download Redsn0w from here. You can also directly download iOS 4.2.1 IPSW.

Step 2: After that, users need to fire up Redsn0w and point it to the iOS 4.2.1 IPSW file. Once the IPSW file has been successfully identified by Redsn0w, users need to click on the Next’ button to proceed.

Step 3: Users then need to select the Install Cydia’ option along with any other feature they would like to use.

Before proceeding with the next step, users need to make sure that their iTouch device is switched off and plugged in to the computer.

Step 4: Now, in the next step users need to hold the Power’ button and whilst holding the power button, they need to hold the Home’ button. After around 10 seconds, users need to release the Power’ button whilst still pressing the Home’ button.

Step 5: After this, Redsn0w will work its magic and will jailbreak your iTouch device running iOS4.2.1.

This step is only for iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS (newer boot rom), iPod Touch 4G, 3G, 2G and iPad owners.

Step 6: Since this Redsn0w jailbreak is a tethered one for the above said iTouch devices, users need to use the Just boot tethered right now’ option in Redsn0w every time they restart their iTouch device.

That’s it folks! You have now managed to successfully jailbreak your iTouch device running on iOS4.2.1.

(Source)

Skype has now launched a 3G VoIP application for the iPhone. VoIP is Voice over Internet Protocol. It is a big advance in the telecommunication industry. This technology combines voice and image in a single line. VoIP provides excellent quality of service. There are many points which give an edge to VoIP over traditional telephone service.

VoIP can lower your telephone bills. Calling plans offered by VoIP service Providers are variable. Some charge per minute, others give unlimited long distance local and domestic calls. Simple calling plans are always a better choice. Plans charging per minute may be attractive but the bills are totally unpredictable. Unlimited calling plans have a more predictable billing system. VoIP has the quality of being fast, easy and uninterrupted.

Signing up for VoIP is quite easy. All it needs to run is a high speed internet connection. It can be accessed sitting anywhere in the world. Other features of VoIP are:

• Unlimited extensions
• Conferencing
• Call blocking
• Caller ID
• Customized audio menus and professional greetings
• Click to Call buttons
• Call transferring
• Voice mail services
• Call routing
• Call forwarding

In addition to these, features like virtual numbers, telecommuting, personal phone numbers, Mobile PBX, private faxes, unified communication, connecting multiple locations through voice are also included.

Skype 2.0 VoIP is now on the iPhone with the capability of making calls over 3G. Initially the users could only use VoIP application over WiFi. People were wondering when they will see a 3G VoIP app from Skype. The wait is over, since Apple lifted restrictions on iPhone VoIP applications that run over a 3G network. Developer agreements were amended by Apple to enable VoIP apps for the iPhone 3G in the Apps Store. Previously users could only use VoIP applications over WiFi. VoIP 3G iPhone applications are being offered by VoIP providers such as Fring and iCall.

The company delayed the launching of 3G VoIP applications in order to improve the quality of audio prior to releasing the new version. This application provides high audio quality even with low band-width. This gives an advantage in low band-width situations. One of the new attractive features is the call quality meter or the call quality indicator. It has a grading system consisting of colors. The call quality meter changes colors to red, yellow and green depending on the coverage, with red showing less coverage and green indicating good coverage. Start up time has also been improved in this version and the access has been made easy and fast from iPhone home screen’s dial pad.

As always, folks have great expectations for this new application from Skype. However, Skype will have to work on keeping the prices within affordable limits. They are planning to charge for Skype to Skype calls next year, although the prices will be minimal. Skype is expected to give a good value for its paid products.

This guest post is written by Zach. He is a writer and his area of interest is internet phone technology. He has eight years of experience in VoIP industry and is currently working with Axvoice internet phone service providers.

The iPhone Dev Team has finally released PwnageTool 4.1. The application uses Geohot’s boot rom exploit to build custom IPSW/firmware files for most of the iTouch devices out there. By creating custom firmwares, users can update their iTouch device to the latest firmware without upgrading their baseband. This will help them in preserving their unlock and update to the latest iOS as well.

As of now, PwnageTool 4.1 supports the iPhone 3G, 3GS (Old as well as new boot roms) running on iOS 4.1 and the iPhone 4 running on iOS4.1 as well. The Apple iPad running on iOS 3.2.2 and Apple TV 2G running iOS 4.1 are supported as well. The iPod Touch 3G and iPod Touch 4G running iOS 4.1 are supported as well.

At the moment, PwnageTool 4.1 is available only for Mac. Users can read more about PwnageTool 4.1 here.

(Source)

Apple has released a new update to iOS 4 with a minor revision of iOS 4.0.1, the new update for the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G, iPhone 4 and iPod Touch tweaks the signal indicator which displays the signal strength.

The iOS 4.0.1 update is not the same as the iOS 4.1 beta released yesterday and does not improve the signal strength but only changes the way the signal bars are displayed. According to Apple, the algorithm they had earlier displayed additional bars which is why people had seen the drop in signal bars.

However, this just looks like a cover-up and may just resolve the display issue and not the actual call dropping aka Death Grip issue which has been plaguing a lot of users. To upgrade to iOS 4.0.1, plug in your phone or iPod touch to your PC and click on the "Check for Updates" button in iTunes. Did you update to iOS 4.0.1 and see the call drop issue vanishing or did it just fix the display?

Note: If you have jailbroken your iPhone on iOS4, do not update to iOS 4.0.1 yet as it will render the iOS 4 jailbreak useless, also there is really no reason to update to iOS 4.0.1 as it just fixes the signal bar rendering and nothing else.

Apple has just released the iOS 4.1 beta update for iPhone and iPod Touch users. The new iOS4.1 update aims at fixing the signal woes the iPhone 4 has been facing. In addition to this, the iOS 4.1 update also changes the wrong signal calculation algorithm being used in iOS 4 and adds in new Gaming modules.

However, the problem with iOS 4.1 is that iOS 4.1 jailbreak is only for iPhone 3G and iPod Touch 2G (Non-MC) models. So if you have updated to iOS 4.1 and now want to downgrade to iOS 4, then follow the steps given below. Read this if you are looking to downgrade from iOS 4 to iOS 3.1.3 or iOS 3.1.2.

How To Downgrade iOS 4.1 to iOS 4, iOS 3.1.3 or iOS 3.1.2

Step 1: First of all to downgrade from iOS 4.1 to iOS 4 you need the firmware (IPSW) file. After you have got hold of the required IPSW file, you need to put your iPhone/iPod Touch in DFU mode. Keep in mind that DFU mode is different than recovery mode.

Step 2: To put your iPhone/iPod Touch into DFU mode, first make sure that iTunes is running on your PC. After that switch off your iPhone/iPod Touch and press the Power and Home button on the device together to put your device in DFU mode.

Now connect your iPhone/iPod Touch to your PC using the USB cable. After 10 seconds or so, release the power button whilst holding the Home button. At this point, iTunes should recognize a new USB device, which will be identified as your device after a few seconds. If you have successfully put your phone in DFU mode, then your device screen will display a totally black screen.

Skip to step 4 if you own a iPhone 3G/iPod Touch 2G (Non-MC)

Step 3: This step is only iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and iPod Touch 3G/2G (MC) owners. Now Users need to use the SHSH blobs of the iOS4 firmware. If you don’t have an SHSH blob of the iOS 4/iOS 3.1.3/iOS 3.1.2 firmware, then you are out of luck. Read this tutorial on how to make a backup of iOS4 SHSH Blobs.

Now users need to edit the hostsfile on their PC by going to c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc\. Open this hostsfile in Notepad and add the line below to the end of the document:

74.208.105.171 gs.apple.com

Now save the file and you are done. Keep in mind that you need to open the hostsfile in administrator mode to make changes to it.

Step 4: Now users need to restore the firmware they downloaded in Step 1 to their iPhone/iPod Touch. To do so, press the Alt key and click on the Restoreoption in iTunes. iTunes will then prompt you to point it to the IPSW file. Select the iOS 4 iPSW file and click on Open.

After this iTunes will do all the work for you. While restoring to the iOS 4 firmware, iTunes might throw in a 1011, 1013 or 1015 error. Just ignore these errors. At the end of the process, the firmware has been successfully restored to your iPhone/iPod Touch device.

5) Now all you need to do is to make your device exit from the Recovery Mode. To do so, users need to download a program called RecBoot. Run that program and just select the Exit Recovery Modeoption and you are done. Your iPhone/iPod Touch will restart on its own and it will now be running on iOS 4.

(Source)

As of now only iPod Touch, iPhone 3G, and iPhone 3GS can be jailbreak’d using sn0wbreeze. iPhone 3GS on the newer bootroms still cannot be jailbroken. However, iH8sn0w has successfully been able to jailbreak iPhone 3GS based on newer bootroms using Sn0wbreeze. Sadly, this pwning method is only possible if users already have iOS 3.1.2 SHSH blobs saved.

iH8sn0w has written a very detailed and complex tutorial on how to pawn iOS 4 on the newer bootrom based iPhone 3GS. Here is the link to the full tutorial. On a personal note, I would suggest newbie’s to stay away from trying the above method. Only experienced users should try the above method.

iH8sn0w will release a new update of this hack tomorrow for newer bootroms based iPhone 3GS, which will not require 3.1.2 SHSH blobs. Sadly, users must be running on iOS 3.1.2 to use this hack.

Update: Jailbreak for iPhone 3GS, iPod Touch 3G and iPod 2G running iOS 4 is now available. You will find more information on it here and here.

Apparently, the death grip was not the culprit behind the poor network reception of the Apple iPhone 4. Apple has written an official letter to all the iPhone 4 owners with regard to the poor signal strength. The letter says that Upon investigationthe engineers at Apple found that the formulaused to calculate the network strength was wrong.

In many circumstances, the wrong formula, used to display 2 more bars of signal than the actual network strength. To fix this issue, Apple is going to adopt AT&T’s network strength calculation formula. Along with this, Apple is also going to make the network bar 1, 2 and 3 taller so that users can easily see them. Apple is going to release a free software update to fix this issue.

The software update will be available within a few weeks and will use the new network signal formula. This software update will also be compatible with the iPhone 3GS, and the iPhone 3G. Reader’s can read the full letter from Apple here.