Hong Kong Phooey

Source - Engadget

Source - ipodtouchmaster

Source - ilikemonkeys2

Woot, it is finally released but is it legal? That’s the question been raised around the iPhone Development Team and all over related forums.  This jailbreak, available for Windows and Mac, allows for the installation of third-party applications, requires that your iPhone be jailbroken to v.1.1.1 or v.1.1.2.  For detail instructions on how to jailbreak, head over to cre.ations.net.

Source - iPhone Atlas

My new entry over at CNET Asia Community Blog is up. This week’s entry, “iPod Touch Software Upgrade Woes”. Click here for the read.

Just got off the phone with the Apple Hong Kong Hotline Rep. Bad news. Those here in Hong Kong would not be able to get the applications upgrade as announced earlier at the MacWorld Expo for their iPod Touch. (see my previous post on Mail, Maps and other Applications Coming to iPod Touch). Unless you have an account with the US, UK or Japan or any iTune Music Store, you would not be able to purchase the upgrade. Now this really sucks for those who bought them in town. However, the Apple Hotline Rep did mentioned that the iPod Touch on sale here hereonafter will have the latest firmware and the applications installed.

My take on this, revert it back to v.1.1.1 and jailbreak for the apps if you have bought it before the MacBook Expo. What was Apple thinking. Besides, they should have long opened the local iTune Music Store.

This highlight video covered all the main points at Steve Job’s Keynote Address at the MacWorld Expo 2008, which included the MacBook Air, iPhone and iPod new firware and Apple TV2.

Source - Insidemac

See the following press release for details (check my highlights).

Apple Announces Major Software Upgrade for iPod touch

MACWORLD SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Apple(R) today announced a major software upgrade for the iPod(R) touch, making the best iPod into even more — the world’s best Wi-Fi mobile device. iPod touch customers already have the most advanced mobile web browser in the world with Safari(TM), and now Apple is adding five more great mobile applications — Mail, Maps, Stocks, Weather and Notes. The iPod touch software upgrade also includes new features such as Web Clips, a customizable home screen and beginning today, the ability to watch iTunes(R) Movie Rentals. New iPod touch products shipping from the factory will include the software upgrade and existing iPod touch customers can get the software upgrade for $19.99 by purchasing and downloading it from iTunes (http://www.itunes.com).
Read more »

Looks awefully cool, but frames per second, hmm… forget it.

Source - 182Switch182

[3 December] Two weeks ago, I blogged about the the icombi AP21 Bluetooth dongle from Infinxx that can pair off your stereo headphones with your iPhone for both calls and listening to music and podcast at the same time. This week, I want to introduce to those of you in Hong Kong, a great promotion deal from Plantronics, the Voyager 855AIQ iPod limited edition which comes with the Plantronics Voyager 855 stereo/mono headphones and the icombi AP21 Bluetooth dongle for just HK$1,288. You can get it now at shop.esd.life online shop (subsidiary of Hutchison Whampao), link here. Too bad the site is in Chinese. For overseas customers, they do have an English site catering for them, link here, but the iPod limited edition was not listed on it. You can try calling them at their hotline, TEL: (852)3151 2288 if you want to find out more.

For a full video and written review, please click here for the review over at CNET. Meanwhile you can watch the following unboxing video by Saber514 on YouTube.

[Updated: 11 December] Just got the Plantronics Voyager 855AIQ Bluetooth headset and will post the unboxing pics later tonight or tomorrow, so check back.

As reported by engadget, the new firmware will be launching together with the iPhone release in UK this coming Friday.  Whether the firmware will be a general release, no body knows yet, but a  good chance.  So double check and make sure auto-update is not turned on.  From engadget, “Besides support for French and German keyboard layouts and characters, the other notable change is the shuttering of the TIFF exploit used to jailbreak and then install (and unlock) third party applications on the 1.1.1 iPhone and iPod touch.”

If you own an iPhone or iPod Touch, you don’t want to miss this.  Jessica Hupp of Virtual Hosting posted a complete listing of the top 100 applications, tools and guides for the iPhone.  Check out what you missed and what you be needing.  A very comprehensive list indeed, link here.

Here are the extract -

Apps

Whether you want to play games, get organized, or find your way around town, these apps are some slick offerings.

1. Navizon Virtual GPS: If you’re directionally challenged, get this virtual positioning system for the iPhone.
2. Network Test: Network Test makes it easy to run a quick speed test on your iPhone’s network connection.
3. iSubwayMaps: Get NYC subway maps on your iPhone with this app.
4. TextEdit: For a basic iPhone word processor, check out TUAW’s TextEdit.
5. iPhoneGold: 100 Free iPhone Games: For serious iPhone gamers, check out this resource for all of the games you might want to play.
6. TipCalc: This app calculates your tip and total, and even offers the option to split the total between a specified number.
7. iPhone Colloquy: This IRC client is made for the iPhone……..

Source - via Gear Diary

Check out the latest version of the Pocket Player v 3.5 released by Conduits Technologies.  This player gives you that iPod player “touch” and “feel” and it is looking really good, think I’m gonna check it out and try it on my HTC Touch.  If you’re interested, check out the details over at pocketnow.com.

A great article by a buddy of mine, Spike from Hongkie Town Redux, writes an article for BC Magazine every month and this month’s article is on Apple.  A good read especially for someone like me, who never was a great fan of Apple, but who lately been caught on with the iPhone and iPod Touch.

Click here for the full read.  You never know, you might learn a word or two from reading it.