Switched http://www.switched.com Switched http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif Switched http://www.switched.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Phillip Shoemaker, Apple's App Store Director, Shilling Fart Apps]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/19/phillip-shoemaker-apples-app-store-director-shilling-fart-app/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/19/phillip-shoemaker-apples-app-store-director-shilling-fart-app/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/19/phillip-shoemaker-apples-app-store-director-shilling-fart-app/#commentsFiled under:

Animal Farts AppApple famously adheres to a strict policy concerning the content in its App Store. The app censors frequently nix racy and suggestive apps and, sometimes too, offerings that appear completely innocuous. While cartoon breasts and hints of homosexuality seemingly compromise Apple's purity, the App Store houses hundreds of sophomoric -- yet apparently unoffensive -- selections that simulate bodily functions. Fart apps, in particular, number in the hundreds, with some titles even challenging one another to simulated flatulence supremacy.

According to Wired, several of these juvenile apps demand media attention. The issue at hand, specifically concerning titles 'Animal Farts' and 'iWiz,' derives from developer Gray Noodle, a company which reportedly employs Phillip Shoemaker. Shoemaker just so happens to serve as Apple's "director of applications technology" and as a decisive App Store policymaker. Since Wired ran its farting Shoemaker exposé, Apple's app zapper has reportedly embarked on a whitewash campaign, removing any reference to Gray Noodle from his various social networking accounts. The Wired folks, though, certainly know how to access archived webpages.

Continue reading Phillip Shoemaker, Apple's App Store Director, Shilling Fart Apps

SwitchedPhillip Shoemaker, Apple's App Store Director, Shilling Fart Apps originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AnimalFartsAppStoreAppStoreApprovalAppStoreApprovalProcessFartApplicationsFartAppsGrayNoodlePhillipShoemakertopThu, 19 Aug 2010 09:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Facebook Places Shares Where You Are]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/18/facebook-places-shares-where-you-are/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/18/facebook-places-shares-where-you-are/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/18/facebook-places-shares-where-you-are/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Facebook Places
Share
Since March, at least, we've known that Facebook Places has been coming. We also knew that, despite its built-in audience, Facebook would have to offer more functionality than established location-based services like Foursquare if it hoped to succeed. Finally, after months of testing, Zuckerberg and crew have taken the cover off Places, and entered a brand new realm of usage. You'll be able to start checking out the new tools tonight (Wednesday) by visiting the mobile Facebook page on your smartphone or updating the official iPhone app.

Places, much like Foursquare, lets you check in from various locations while you're out and about. Checking in is connected to pages for those places (whether it be a restaurant or a park) that track recent activity at their respective locations. In addition to simply announcing that you're at a location, you can see if any of your other friends have checked in from there, or tag the friends who are currently there with you. The functionality of tagging is almost exactly like mentions on Twitter ('@' prefix and all), but, as with Facebook's photos, users have the option to untag themselves or prevent themselves from being tagged altogether.

Gallery: Facebook Places

Places logoTagging friends

Continue reading Facebook Places Shares Where You Are

SwitchedFacebook Places Shares Where You Are originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 21:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebookFacebookPlacesgeolocationgeotaggingLocationBasedServicesplacestopWed, 18 Aug 2010 21:09:00 EST<![CDATA[Shopkick Wants to Reward You For, and Track, Your Shopping Habits]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/18/shopkick-wants-to-reward-you-for-and-track-your-shopping-habit/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/18/shopkick-wants-to-reward-you-for-and-track-your-shopping-habit/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/18/shopkick-wants-to-reward-you-for-and-track-your-shopping-habit/#commentsFiled under: ,

Shopkick
Advertisers and retailers have been looking for new and unique ways to leverage the recent influx of GPS-enabled smartphones in attracting customers and gathering important information about their shopping behaviors. Foursquare introduced some new ideas, but retailers wanted to take it a step further. Enter Shopkick. The new app turns shopping (and violating your privacy) into a game that, retailers hope, will encourage customers to wander into stores, and explore their shelves. Unlike Foursquare, Shopkick doesn't just tell your friends when you check it, but it also lets the retailers know when you enter a store. This allows businesses to build a powerful and rich database of customer behavior, and also to see how their offers and rewards influence movement.

If you're okay with a slight violation of privacy and being tracked like you're on a watch list, joining Shopkick is easy. Simply download the app (iPhone only at the moment, but an Android version is in the works), and grant it permission to access your location. In no time at all, Shopkick will alert you when you're near a store and reward you "Kickbucks" for visiting retailers or for scanning items on the shelves. There are also a series of achievements and bonuses to earn that are designed to keep users engaged; although, in our brief hands-on, they were just annoying. The bulk of the rewards are handed out for visiting shops, but some points can be accrued without ever leaving your couch. Simply looking at the entries for businesses in your neighborhood can earn you Kickbucks, which can be redeemed for gift cards or Facebook credits. (However, the number of "Kickbucks" needed to earn even a $2 gift certificate ensures that only the most extreme shopaholics will benefit from the system.)

Continue reading Shopkick Wants to Reward You For, and Track, Your Shopping Habits

SwitchedShopkick Wants to Reward You For, and Track, Your Shopping Habits originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 08:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appsbest buyBestBuyfoursquareGpsTrackinglocationlocation based servicesLocationBasedServicesmacysmarketingmobilemobile appsMobileAppsmososoprivacyrewardsshopkickshoppingtopWed, 18 Aug 2010 08:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Barnes & Noble Updates Nook App for iPhone, iPad and PC]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/17/barnes-and-noble-updates-nook-app-for-iphone-ipad-and-pc/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/17/barnes-and-noble-updates-nook-app-for-iphone-ipad-and-pc/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/17/barnes-and-noble-updates-nook-app-for-iphone-ipad-and-pc/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Barnes & Noble revamps, re-brands Nook apps.

Earlier this summer, Barnes & Noble slashed the price of its e-reader, and last month announced a Nook desktop app geared toward students. Now the big-box bookseller is re-branding and revamping the iPhone, iPad and PC versions of its Nook apps as part of the continuing e-reader war. According to Engadget, the formerly titled Barnes & Noble e-reader products now sport the 'Nook' brand name and logo. During the overhaul, the iPhone and iPad apps received the most new features -- including customizable themes, day and night reading settings, and loads of font and brightness options for the viewer's pleasure. As for unique features on each device, the Nook app for iPhone 4 now supports the Retina Display, and iPad users can rate titles within the app. The Nook app for PC was slightly neglected, with its biggest change being the ability to access the B&N eBookstore as well as shared content. Not that it matters too much, since most people will use Nook software on mobile devices, rather than PCs -- you know, since the Internet is dying, anyway. [From: Barnes & Noble, via: Engadget]

SwitchedBarnes & Noble Updates Nook App for iPhone, iPad and PC originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 18:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appappsAppStoreBarnesAndNoblebookbookseBookeReaderipadiphonenookpctopTue, 17 Aug 2010 18:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Delta Booking Flights Through Facebook, iPhone App Coming Soon]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/13/delta-now-accepting-ticket-orders-through-facebook/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/13/delta-now-accepting-ticket-orders-through-facebook/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/13/delta-now-accepting-ticket-orders-through-facebook/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Delta Ticket WindowStarting today, you'll be able tag where you've been (or where you will be going), update your friends on your travel plans, and actually purchase your tickets all in the same place -- as long as you plan to fly Delta. The airline has opened an online Ticket Window, which lets customers purchase tickets through Facebook. Delta is the first airline to offer such a service through the social network, which is shocking since the larger airlines have been slower to adopt social marketing tools than have budget-oriented competitors like Southwest and JetBlue.

Delta will be making other improvements to its digital presence. The airline will launch a revamped website, and expand the Ticket Window widget to other sites -- namely by embedding it in banner ads, thus allowing you to book flights without interrupting your browsing experience. Most interesting, though, is the planned release of an iPhone app that will let customers check in, track their flight status and even use the app as an electronic boarding pass. The idea of never again having to fight with an airport kiosk or an employee at the check-in counter is certainly enough to catch our attention. [From: Huffington Post]

SwitchedDelta Booking Flights Through Facebook, iPhone App Coming Soon originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airlineairlinesdeltafacebookSocialMarketingsocialnetworkingTicketWindowtoptravelFri, 13 Aug 2010 06:30:00 EST<![CDATA[SoBi Social Bike Sharing System Saves Money, Gas, Earth]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/12/sobi-social-bike-sharing-system-saves-money-gas-earth/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/12/sobi-social-bike-sharing-system-saves-money-gas-earth/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/12/sobi-social-bike-sharing-system-saves-money-gas-earth/#commentsFiled under: ,

SoBi Social Bike System

SoBi, or Social Bikes, is a new bike-sharing system being developed by urban planner and bike advocate Ryan Rzepecki. SoBi uses some of the concepts and technologies behind mobile social networking to connect cyclists with bikes -- and each other -- in ways that actually save money over traditional bike-sharing systems.

Where traditional bike share systems require special docks placed at regular intervals, and sometimes special bikes, SoBi can use existing bike racks and be outfitted to almost any bike. This could reduce start-up costs from around $4,000 per bike to under $1,000. This is accomplished using a special lock-box, which is mounted to the back of the bike and is equipped with a cellular modem and a GPS receiver. The box communicates with a central server, reporting its location and whether or not it's available. A user can find an available bike by using a mobile GPS app to both locate it and unlock the box. Once in motion, the system will track movement, report data (such as calories burned and carbon offset), and locate other friends using the system.

Gallery: SoBi: Social Bike Sharing System

Continue reading SoBi Social Bike Sharing System Saves Money, Gas, Earth

SwitchedSoBi Social Bike Sharing System Saves Money, Gas, Earth originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bicyclecyclinggreentechiphoneNewYorkCitynycPepsiRefreshProjectPublicTransportationsobiSocialBicyclesSocialNetworkingtoptransportationThu, 12 Aug 2010 16:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple Plugs iOS PDF Hole With 4.0.2. Update]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/11/apple-plugs-ios-pdf-hole/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/11/apple-plugs-ios-pdf-hole/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/11/apple-plugs-ios-pdf-hole/#commentsFiled under: , ,

iPhone Update Alert
It was only about a week ago that the Web-based JailbreakMe iPhone hack started setting off security alarm bells across the Internet. So, color us shocked that Apple, not usually known for its swift release of security patches, released iOS 4.0.2 for the iPhone and 3.2.2 for the iPad today, sealing up that bug for good. Disabling the exploit used by JailbreakMe is the only change to this version of iOS -- effectively killing this jailbreak method -- so don't expect any other improvements to your iDevice experience. [From: Engadget and Redmond Pie]

SwitchedApple Plugs iOS PDF Hole With 4.0.2. Update originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 16:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleiosios 4Ios4jailbreakjailbreakmepdfsecuritytopWed, 11 Aug 2010 16:11:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone Users Have More Sex Partners, OKCupid Survey Finds]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/11/iphone-users-have-more-sex-partners-okcupid-survey-finds/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/11/iphone-users-have-more-sex-partners-okcupid-survey-finds/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/11/iphone-users-have-more-sex-partners-okcupid-survey-finds/#commentsFiled under: , ,

OKCupid Smartphone Graph
We all know that iPhone users struggle to place or receive calls on their smartphones -- except, apparently, when said calls are of the 'booty' variety. According to a recent survey from OKCupid, iPhone owners, on average, have more sex partners than either Android or BlackBerry owners. In a survey of 9,785 smartphone users, OKCupid's team of statisticians found that the typical male iPhone keeper has bedded ten unique people by the age of 30, while your everyday iFemale claims to have conquered 12.3 different Justin Long look-alikes. Male BlackBerry users, by comparison, say they've slept with an average of 8.1 different people by the age of 30, with female BB-ers laying claim to laying 8.8. Last and, well, least, are Android users, who report having done the deed with roughly six unique individuals (6.0 for males, 6.1 for females -- curiously Android-genous).

Of course, these sex-tistics only apply to 30-year-old users, so you could reasonably speculate that older BlackBerry patrons would see a spike once they cash in on those swanky stock options, or that iPhone clients may experience a lag once their trust funds run dry. (We kid.) OKCupid, though, managed to piece together stats from users ranging in age from 18 to 40, and the same sexual discrepancies seem to persist across the full sample.

Continue reading iPhone Users Have More Sex Partners, OKCupid Survey Finds

SwitchediPhone Users Have More Sex Partners, OKCupid Survey Finds originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidBlackBerrydatingDatingSitesiphoneIphone4okcupidpromiscuityPromiscuoussexSexPartnerssexualsmartphonetopWed, 11 Aug 2010 10:20:00 EST<![CDATA[LiveRider Turns Your iPhone Into a Serious Bike Computer]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/08/liverider-turns-your-iphone-into-a-serious-bike-computer/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/08/liverider-turns-your-iphone-into-a-serious-bike-computer/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/08/liverider-turns-your-iphone-into-a-serious-bike-computer/#commentsFiled under: ,

LiveRider iPhone Kit
As both a nerd and someone who is physically active, there are few things your writer loves more than combining a love for gadgets, stats and sweat. The $99.99 LiveRider iPhone kit turns your iPhone into a serious bike computer. Sure there are countless apps that can track your speed or map your route using GPS, but serious cyclists want more (and more accurate) info at their fingertips. LiveRider has two different hardware components: a wireless frame-mounted sensor that measures both speed and cadence, and a combination shock-absorbing mount/wireless receiver that pulls data into your iPhone or iPod touch. The companion app puts all this info at your fingertips, as well as data from the iPhone's GPS and tilt sensor measuring inclination and mapping your route. You can even use a chase mode to race towards a goal or attempt to beat your previous best time.

New Potato Technologies, the manufacturer, says the LiveRider system is compatible with all versions of the iPhone and iPod touch. Finding a quality handlebar mount for an iPhone is hard enough, so the potential of a quality shock absorbing mount that actually adds features to the phone has at least a few at the Switched offices salivating. [From: New Potato Technologies, Via: OhGizmo!]

SwitchedLiveRider Turns Your iPhone Into a Serious Bike Computer originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 08 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dish Network AppIn an effort to combat other satellite companies and cable providers, Dish Network Corp. will begin streaming live content to subscribers' smartphones and mobile devices next month, without extra charge. Currently, Dish's mobile apps only allow a subscriber to browse shows, set them to record and use their cellular device as a remote control. With the new app installed, however, a subscriber will be able to remotely change channels and watch live TV, as well as view whatever content is stored on their DVR. Fortunately, if you already subscribe to Dish, you likely have a Slingbox or HD DVR, so you'll only have to download the free app available on the iPad, iPhone, iPod touch and BlackBerry once it becomes available in September (Android phones will get the app in October). [From: AP, via: Yahoo! News and Engadget]

SwitchedDish Network to Stream Live TV to Its Free Mobile Apps in September originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 08 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidappblackberrydishdishnetworkdvripadiphoneipodtouchmoviesremoteslingboxsmartphonestreamingstreamingvideotoptvSun, 08 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone's 'Try Before You Buy' a Big Disappointment]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/06/iphones-try-before-you-buy-a-big-disappointment/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/06/iphones-try-before-you-buy-a-big-disappointment/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/06/iphones-try-before-you-buy-a-big-disappointment/#commentsFiled under: ,

Try Before You Buy When we opened the iPhone App Store on Thursday we got a little excited. It seemed like Apple had finally answered the wishes of many in the iPhone owning crowd -- a chance to give apps a whirl before plunking down your hard-earned cash. Sadly, things are not always as they seem, and, when we opened the new "Try Before You Buy" section of the App Store, we were seriously disappointed. Rather than offering you a chance to play around with the app of your choosing, "Try Before You Buy" merely collects the "lite" and "free" versions of apps that were already available. Sure, we suppose it's nice to have all the demo versions of for-pay apps in one place, but we were really hoping for something more. Something a little more "magical" maybe. [From: Engadget]

SwitchediPhone's 'Try Before You Buy' a Big Disappointment originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 16:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple app storeAppleAppStoreAppStoreiphonetoptrybeforeyoubuyFri, 06 Aug 2010 16:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Turn Your iPhone Into Japanese Food]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/04/turn-your-iphone-into-japanese-food/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/04/turn-your-iphone-into-japanese-food/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/04/turn-your-iphone-into-japanese-food/#commentsFiled under: ,

Japanese Food iPhone Cases
You know how some people collect those plastic sushi replicas that Japanese restaurants place in their windows (also collected: fridge magnets)? Now you can udon your iPhone with cases that come in tasty (kind of) flavors like Bento, Sunny Side Up Egg with Bacon, Tonkatsu or Yakisoba, and are each available for pre-order at $43.20. Yes, these actually exist. [From: Serious Eats]

SwitchedTurn Your iPhone Into Japanese Food originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 04 Aug 2010 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessoriesbaconbentobiginjapaniphoneiphone casesIphoneCaseIphoneCasesjapanjapaneseJapaneseFoodOnlyInJapansushitonkatsutopweirdyakisobaWed, 04 Aug 2010 14:20:00 EST<![CDATA[JailbreakMe Leads to iPhone Security Fears]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/04/jailbreakme-leads-to-iphone-security-fears/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/04/jailbreakme-leads-to-iphone-security-fears/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/04/jailbreakme-leads-to-iphone-security-fears/#commentsFiled under: , ,

JailbreakMe.com
Some news outlets have gotten a little hot and bothered over the latest jailbreak app for the iPhone 4. JailbreakMe.com, which was posted this weekend by the iPhone Dev Team, allows you to circumvent Apple's lock on the device and run unapproved apps and code -- just like every jailbreak before it. What makes JailbreakMe unique is that, rather than requiring you to connect to a PC and load a modified operating system to the device over USB, it jailbreaks your iPhone via the Web. The site uses a vulnerability in the PDF viewer built in to Safari to gain access to the inner-workings of iOS and disable the blocks against unsigned code.

The hoopla has been over how this vulnerability could be exploited by more nefarious individuals to do harm to your phone or steal your personal data. But the truth is, every jailbreak exploits a vulnerability that could potentially be used for both good and evil. That is simply how jailbreaking works. The Safari/PDF exploit is hardly the only security flaw in iOS or Safari. Security firm F-Secure discovered exactly how the flaw worked, but it's important to note that there is no reason to fear this hole more than any other. If you want to make sure you're safe from it our pals at Engadget suggests being careful around PDFs and installing an app that warns you before you open a PDF and allows you to decline opening it. Of course, it's only available from Cydia, the app super store you can only access from a jailbroken phone. [From: Engadget]

SwitchedJailbreakMe Leads to iPhone Security Fears originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 04 Aug 2010 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applecydiaiosios4iphone 4Iphone4jailbreakjailbreakingjailbreakme.compdfsecuritytopWed, 04 Aug 2010 06:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Jailbreak Your iPhone 4 With 'JailbreakMe' Tool]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/02/jailbreak-your-iphone-4-with-jailbreakme-tool/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/02/jailbreak-your-iphone-4-with-jailbreakme-tool/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/02/jailbreak-your-iphone-4-with-jailbreakme-tool/#commentsFiled under: ,

'jailbreak me' screenshotiPhone 4 users finally have an easy way to jailbreak their new smartphones -- a new browser-based tool, released just a few days after the Library of Congress officially declared jailbreaking totally cool. According to Engadget, JailbreakMe works on any Apple phone (except for the original), including the new iPhone 4, iPad and all iPhone 3GS models running iOS4. Developer Comex originally posted a link to the site hosting Jailbreakme, but it was quickly overloaded with traffic. The Next Web, though, soon discovered that ModMyl is hosting a mirror of the tool, so you might want to click here if you run into problems over at Comex.

Several users initially reported having MMS and FaceTime problems (as jailbreaking is not a flawless process), but the Cydia app directory will reportedly restore MMS and videochat capabilities to iPhone 4s that have already been jailbroken. (Redmond Pie has a step-by-step guide.) If you haven't already taken an axe to your phone, Comex has reportedly smoothed out that kink with the newest update. [From: TheNextWeb and Engadget]

SwitchedJailbreak Your iPhone 4 With 'JailbreakMe' Tool originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 02 Aug 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cellphonescomexCydiaIOSiOS 4Ios4ipadiphoneiphone 3giphone 3gsiphone 4Iphone3gIphone3gSIphone4jailbreakJailBreak iPhonejailbreakingJailbreakIphonejailbreakmesmartphonestopMon, 02 Aug 2010 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Jailbreak Matrix Makes Navigating iPhone Underworld Easy]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/08/01/jailbreak-matrix-makes-navigating-iphone-underworld-easy/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/01/jailbreak-matrix-makes-navigating-iphone-underworld-easy/http://www.switched.com/2010/08/01/jailbreak-matrix-makes-navigating-iphone-underworld-easy/#commentsFiled under: , ,

jailbreak matrix
If you love your iPhone but hate Apple's often draconian and seemingly arbitrary restrictions on what apps you can install, then you've likely at least thought about the prospect of jailbreaking. Yet, knowing whether or not your device is even jailbreakable, much less picking the proper tool and finding the right firmware to download, is about as difficult to comprehend as string theory. Someone finally took pity on us poor iPhoneites and put together the iPhone Jailbreak Matrix guide.

The handy color-coded grid breaks down your device's jailbreakability (yes, that is a word, starting today) and unlockability by operating system, and provides the appropriate software and directions you need. The Jailbreak Matrix leaves no stone unturned, so take a break from 'StarCraft II,' hit the source link and dive into the wonderful world of Cydia. [From: Jailbreak Matrix, Via: Lifehacker]

SwitchedJailbreak Matrix Makes Navigating iPhone Underworld Easy originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 01 Aug 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applecellphonesipadiphoneipod touchIpodTouchjailbreakjailbreakingjailbrokenjailbroken iphoneJailbrokenIphonesmartphonestopSun, 01 Aug 2010 14:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Kindle App for Your iPhone and iPad Gets Dictionary, Search]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/07/30/kindle-app-for-your-iphone-and-ipad-gets-dictionary-search/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/30/kindle-app-for-your-iphone-and-ipad-gets-dictionary-search/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/30/kindle-app-for-your-iphone-and-ipad-gets-dictionary-search/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

new kindle dictionaryEarlier this week, we reported that Amazon was upping its game with even cheaper versions of the Kindle, but it has also updated the Kindle app on the iPad/iPhone/iPod touch, adding a couple of unremarkable yet needed features.

The Kindle app now has a search function, which was inexplicably absent before. It's also able to look up words and phrases through Wikipedia and Google, but not within the app itself. (It just moves into Safari, but with fast-app-switching celerity.) We very much enjoy the included 250,000-word dictionary, which takes a minute to download, and runs within the software, so that readers don't have to lose their places. That's great news for us, since we still have not grown accustomed to the Kindle app's bizarre line/page numbering system. [From: iTunes, via: Wired]

SwitchedKindle App for Your iPhone and iPad Gets Dictionary, Search originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonAmazonKindledictionaryipadiphoneIpodTouchkindleKindleAppKindleForIphonetopFri, 30 Jul 2010 13:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Mobile Apps Could Be Exposing Your Personal Data]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/07/29/mobile-apps-could-be-exposing-your-personal-data/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/29/mobile-apps-could-be-exposing-your-personal-data/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/29/mobile-apps-could-be-exposing-your-personal-data/#commentsFiled under: , ,

App Genome Project
Lookout, a mobile security company, embarked on an absolutely massive study that examined the code of some 300,000 Android and iPhone apps. Dubbed the App Genome Project, it looked at a large cross-section of mobile apps and found that an unsettling number of them were accessing your personal information, and sometimes without alerting you. According to Lookout, 33-percent of iPhone and 29-percent of Android apps accessed the phone's location data, while 14-percent and 8-percent of iPhone and Android apps (respectively) were accessing contacts stored on the device.

Making these numbers even more worrisome is the fact that 47-percent of Android apps and 23-percent of iPhone apps included third-party code that could easily expose personal information or contain security flaws, even without the developer's knowledge. This reusable code (often from advertising or analytics networks) is also very difficult to patch and can cause trouble for numerous programs. Revelations like these highlight the growing importance of mobile security, which is, of course, the very business that Lookout is in. The company sells mobile malware scanning and data backup tools, so it certainly has something to gain from a little bit of paranoia. But as they say, just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you. [From: Lookout, via: New York Times and Venture Beat]

SwitchedMobile Apps Could Be Exposing Your Personal Data originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid appandroid appsAndroidAppAndroidAppsapp genome projectAppGenomeProjectappscell phonesCellPhonesiphone appiPhone AppsIphoneAppIphoneAppslookoutmobile securityMobileSecurityprivacysecuritytopThu, 29 Jul 2010 09:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Citibank iPhone App Users Exposed to Security Threat]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/07/27/citibank-iphone-app-users-exposed-to-security-threat/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/27/citibank-iphone-app-users-exposed-to-security-threat/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/27/citibank-iphone-app-users-exposed-to-security-threat/#commentsFiled under: ,

Citibank iPhone app had security flaw.As mobile banking becomes more popular, security threats will grow -- unless banking institutions keep a close watch on their customers' personal information. According to The Wall Street Journal, users of Citibank's iPhone application were recently exposed to a security threat because a previous version of the app had stored personal information -- including account numbers, bill payments and security access codes -- in hidden files on users' smartphones (or computers). Customers were notified of the potential threat as soon as it was discovered early last week, and Citibank quickly released an updated version of the app, closing the gap and deleting the hidden files. Citigroup, Inc. claims it hadn't noticed the glitch, despite having performed multiple security tests since its release more than a year ago. The company further claimed that hackers might not have been able to remotely steal the stored information.

Despite Citibank's swift response, we're disturbed that such sensitive information could be potentially exposed to hackers. Apps are evolving at a rapid pace, which is great, as long as shortcuts aren't taken in the process. After all, it's one thing if there's a glitch in a Flash game we've downloaded, but an app that manages our finances had better be air-tight. [From: The Wall Street Journal]

SwitchedCitibank iPhone App Users Exposed to Security Threat originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 08:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ApplebankingbankscellphonecitibankcitigrouphackidentitytheftiphoneiphoneappmoneysecuritysmartphonetopTue, 27 Jul 2010 08:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose Your Own iAdventure With New 'U-Venture' iPhone and iPad App]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/07/27/choose-your-own-iadventure-with-new-u-venture-iphone-and-ipad/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/27/choose-your-own-iadventure-with-new-u-venture-iphone-and-ipad/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/27/choose-your-own-iadventure-with-new-u-venture-iphone-and-ipad/#commentsFiled under:

U-Ventures
When we were wee-little bloggers, nothing piqued our interest in books more than the Choose Your Own Adventure series. In retrospect, the series (which was launched in 1979) and its interactive storylines presaged the role-playing video games that would later engross millions. Having changed publishers' hands over the years, Choose Your Own Adventure has found a still newer venue -- albeit under a different name -- on the iPhone.

One of the genre's pioneering authors, 79-year-old Edward Packard, has joined forces with Simon & Schuster to claim his rightful place, alongside the game developers he surely inspired, in Apple's App Store. Under the title "U-Ventures," his first revamped story, "Return to the Cave of Time," is already available for both the iPhone and iPad, and can be had for a mere $3.99. We not only recommend it to nostalgic nerds, but also to those parents who, on those long summer road trips, struggle to find backseat diversions for their brood. [From: New York Times]

SwitchedChoose Your Own iAdventure With New 'U-Venture' iPhone and iPad App originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appstorebookschooseyourownadventureebooksedward packardEdwardPackardereadersipadiphonekidsnostalgiarpgtopuventureTue, 27 Jul 2010 06:30:00 EST<![CDATA[iPhone App Reads Your E-Mails to Allow for Smoother Driving]]>http://www.switched.com/2010/07/25/iphone-app-reads-your-e-mails-to-allow-for-smoother-driving/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/25/iphone-app-reads-your-e-mails-to-allow-for-smoother-driving/http://www.switched.com/2010/07/25/iphone-app-reads-your-e-mails-to-allow-for-smoother-driving/#commentsFiled under: ,

Text'n Drive

As mobile technology grows, it seems, so do the dangers of driving. First, we got talking while driving, which, though irritating, rarely results in more than an exceptionally slow driver. Then, we started seeing the evidence of texting while driving -- the swerving, the stoplight-running, etc. Well, now, with the smartphone, we have to deal with those bewildering types who have the gall to read and write e-mails while behind the wheel. Thankfully, one iPhone app has come to the rescue.

'Text'n Drive,' currently available at the App Store, promises to read these sociopathic drivers their incoming e-mails aloud, thus saving the rest of us from an untimely demise. (Contrary to its name, 'Text'n Drive' doesn't presently work with text messages. CEO Danield Robichaud says they're working on it.) The app has been successfully tested with the major e-mail clients, including Gmail, AOL, Hotmail and MobileMe. For free, the "lite" version will do its duty, but only for the first 45 words of any given e-mail. If you're willing to pony up $20, though, you can get your hands on the "Pro" version, which will read 500 words, and take dictation from you, too. If you ask us, $20 is a small price to pay for public safety. But then, again, so is putting down the damn iPhone for 15 minutes. [From: PCWorld]

SwitchediPhone App Reads Your E-Mails to Allow for Smoother Driving originally appeared on Switched on Sun, 25 Jul 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appstoredwte-mailiphonesmartphonetextingwhiledrivingtextndrivetextndrivelitetextndriveprotopSun, 25 Jul 2010 17:00:00 EST