Passengers could soon be using their mobile phones on planes flying through European airspace.
Plans have been developed across EU countries to introduce technology which permits mobile calls without risk of interference with aircraft systems.
Regulators around Europe are calling for consultation on the potential introduction of the technology.
Outside developers will be allowed to create programs for the iPhone, changing a policy that had angered many.
Blocking outsiders from making programs that would run easily on the iPhone has been one of a series of restrictions that have annoyed users, even leading to some lawsuits.
Jobs, in comments on Apple’s Web site, said a kit for developers still will not be available until February, as the company works out how to open up the phone without exposing it to malicious programs.
iPhone Dev Team releases AnySim 1.1 today, a free unlocking app that enables iPhones with both firmware version 1.02 and 1.1.1 to operate on any GSM network.
The hack only works with “virgin” iPhones right now, and unlocking a 1.0.2 phone and updating to 1.1.1 will result in a bricked device, but the team says they’ll be releasing a “revirginizer” for locked 1.1.1 phones soon. As always, hack at your own risk — and don’t expect future updates to go smoothly.
Instructions for applying this release are as follows:
Click for more on iPhone dev team releases free 1.1.1 unlock »
The controversy over iPhone rages on, as it is now facing a class action lawsuit over its proprietary and forceful relationship with AT&T.
Lawyers filed the suit asking for $1.2 billion in damages because the phone is specifically locked to only allow one service provider. It is brought against Apple on behalf of Washington resident Paul Holman and Lucy Rivello, from California.
Click for more on Apple hit with $1+ billion lawsuit over iPhone bricking »
The Voyager, made by LG and offered exclusively by Verizon Wireless, has a large touch screen that slides open to reveal a full keypad.
Click for more on Verizon Adds iPhone Lookalike In Challenge To Apple »
AT&T claims to respect its subscribers’ right to voice their opinions and says that the contract is aimed at stopping the exploitation of children, and other tangible wrongs.
As we discussed here in the last 24 hours, AT&T’s Terms of Service has very broad language giving them the right to terminate the account of any AT&T Internet service customer who criticizes the company.
Click for more on AT&T disconnecting critical users? Probably not »
The new ToS that attempts to give AT&T the right to disconnect its own customers who criticize the company on blogs or in other online settings.
AT&T has rolled out new Terms of Service for its DSL service that leave plenty of room for interpretation.
Click for more on AT&T threatens to disconnect subscribers who criticize the company »
Palm posted disappointing financial results Monday, swinging to a loss for the first time since 2003.
During the company’s first fiscal quarter of 2008, which ended August 31, Palm recorded a net loss of $800,000, compared with net income of $16.5 million last year. Smart phone revenue was up 21 percent, but overall revenue was up just 1 percent from $356 million last year to $361 million this year.
Click for more on Palm posts loss for first time in 4 years »
Nokia has responded instantly to the iPhone update-bricking fiasco by running a series of flyposter ads pointing out its own hardware and software is open.
While this is to be applauded, it’d be better if companies like this opened their products because they truly believed in openness, rather than to beat the competition over the head. After all, Apple itself used open source with OS X (kernel, web browser) mainly because they knew it would irritate Microsoft. Since that initial blow, they’ve been a lot less eager to promote open source.
It won’t downgrade the firmware, meaning so far you can’t re-unlock an iPhone that’s been 1.1.1, but it’s still 1.0.2 in all its third-party application glory.
The iPhone Dev Team folks are working on a way to downgrade the new firmware to let people unlock their phones again, but for now AT&T users sitting pretty, and non-AT&T folks can at least do the WiFi thing.
