Fring VoIP For iPhone & iPod Touch Supports Skype

Fring has released the iPhone version of their service today as a free download in the App Store.

• VoIP (Voice) Calls over WiFi
• Instant Messaging
• Integrated dynamic contact list 
with real-time contact availability
• SIP integration
• Multiple Connection types

Apple Releases 10.5.5 Update For Leopard

Apple released Leopard Update 10.5.5 today and here is a list of buy fixes :

• Includes recent Apple security updates.
• Addresses stability issues with video playback, processor core idling, and remote disc sharing for MacBook Air.
• Addresses an issue in which some Macs could unexpectedly power on at the same time each day.
• Resolves a stability issue in TextEdit that could be found when accessing the color palette.
• Improves Spotlight indexing performance.
• Fixes an issue in which contacts might not sync properly with PalmOS-based devices.
• Improves iPhone sync reliability with iCal and Address Book.
• Includes improvements to Active Directory (see this article for more information).
• Improves Speech Dictionary.
• Fixes Kerberos authentication issues for Mac OS X 10.5 clients that connect to certain Samba servers, such as Mac OS X Server version 10.4.
• Includes extensive graphics enhancements.

Address Book

• Addresses stability issues that may occur when creating a Smart Group.
• Resolves a printing issue with address cards containing information that spans more than one page.

Disk Utility and Directory Utility

• Improves reliability when rebuilding a software mirror RAID volume in Disk Utility.
• Improves reliability of server status displayed in Directory Utility.

iCal

• Updates iCal to more accurately handle repeating events.
• Improves performance when choosing meeting attendees.
• Resolves an issue in which the “Refresh All” option may be dimmed (“grayed out”) in the contextual menu for certain calendars.
• Fixes issues with read-only calendars.
• Addresses an issue that prevents an invitee from moving an event to a different calendar.
• Resolves an issue with syncing published calendars.

Mail

• Addresses performance issues related to displaying IMAP messages.
• Resolves an issue with SMTP settings for AIM, Compuserve, Hanmail, Yahoo!, and Time Warner Road Runner email accounts.
• Addresses stability issues that may occur when dragging a file to the Mail icon in the Dock.
• Addresses an issue with the “Organized by Thread” view in which the date does not appear when the thread is collapsed.
• Resolves an issue in which RSS feeds could temporarily disappear from the sidebar.
• Improves Mail robustness when sending messages.
• Improves reliability when saving drafts that have attachments.

MobileMe

• Improves overall sync reliability.
• Improves Back to My Mac reliability.

Time Machine

• Improves Time Machine reliability with Time Capsule.
• Addresses performance issues that may affect initial and in-progress backups.
• Fixes an issue in which an incorrect alert message could appear stating that a backup volume does not have enough free space.
• Time Machine can now back up iPhone backups that are on your Mac, as well as other items in (~/Library/Application Support).

Air Sharing iPhone App

There is a great free app in the iTunes App Store called Air Sharing.  This app allows you to mount your iPhone / iPod Touch as a wireless drive on your Mac,Windows or Linux computer and drag and drop files with ease.

This is a great way to transfer your files.  Air Sharing will allow you to view  documents in common formats.  I loaded some PDF,MS Word,Xcel,JPG files and they opened just fine.

iTunes 8 Visualizer View Options

iTunes 8

When the visualizer screen is open push the ” ? ” key.  This will bring up a list of the following options.

• ? — Toggle help screen
• M — Change mode
• P — Change palette
• I — Display track info
• C — Toggle auto-cycle (on by default)
• F — Toggle Freeze mode
• N — Toggle Nebula mode
• L — Toggle Camera Lock

PwnageTool & QuickPwn Now Available For iPhone Firmware 2.1

The iPhone Dev Team released new versions of PwnageTool & QuickPwn this morning.  The PwnageTool will allow you to unlock and jailbreak your 1st Gen iPhone/iPod Touch and run the newest firmware 2.1.  If you have the iPhone 3G these tools will allow you to jailbreak only (for now).

(Mac OS X)

The install is pretty straight forward.  Before you run Pwnage you must download the lates 2.1firmware from Apple.  You will also need the bootloader files BL-39.bin & BL-46bin.  PwnageTool will then create a new custom firmware.

To install your new custom firmware you must put your iPhone into DFU mode.  If your iPhone has not been Pwned use the PwnageTool to boot the phone in DFU mode.  If your iPhone has been Pwned you can boot into DFU mode by connecting your iPhone via USB connector and power it down.  Power your phone back up but hold the home button down until you see the Connect To iTunes screen or the Angry Steve Jobs screen.  iTunes will detect a iPhone/iPod in restore mode.  While clicking on the option button hold down “Option“  This will allow you to choose the Custom_Firmware_ 2.1.

iPhone 3G Tips & Fixes

Debug Console

If your Safari browser is showing the “Debug Console” log you can turn it off by going to Settings / Safari / Developer / Turn Off Debug Console

Better Battery Life

If you treat the 3G network like WiFi you can greatly increase the battery life of your phone. When your not browsing the web or downloading documents turn the 3G off.   Settings / General / Network / Turn 3G On/Off

Import Contacts From Sim Card

The easy way to import your contacts.  Works with T-Mobile, Cingular & AT&T sims.

Settings / Mail Contacts & Calenders / Import Contacts From Sim

Is your MAC safe ?

       The Applescript.THT Trojan Horse is a piece of malware that is currently being distributed through iChat and Limewire. (Mac OS X 10.4 & Mac OS X 10.5)  It is currently being distributed as a compiled Applescript ASthtv05 (60kb size) and a app called AStht_v06 (3.1mb).  You must download one of these to become infected.  Once running the Trojan can be found in the Library/Caches folder and add itself to the System Login Items and will turn on File Sharing, Web Sharing and Remote access.   What does this mean to you ?  Essentially someone can turn on your iSight camera and take pictures, log keystrokes, send and receive files, take screen shots….you get the point !?!   Hackers are taking advantage of Apple Remote Desktop Agent security hole.   The ARDAgent accepts commands from Applescript the (scripting language in OS X)  The script will allow any user to install programs on the root level of the operating system regardless of their access privileges.  

I think the moral of the story is we as MAC users need to start being aware that viruses do exist and as the popularity grows so will the threat. 

Garmin Nuvi 360 Now Works With iPhone !

Nuvi 360 : GPS SW Version 2.60 / Bluetooth Software Version 2.21

I am extremely happy to report that the Garmin Nuvi 360 now works with iPhone !  This is great timing as the new hands free law just went into effect on July 1 here in California.

To Pair

1. Enable Bluetooth on your Garmin Nuvi 360 (or any Garmin model with Bluetooth)  Settings/Bluetooth/Enable

2. Enable Bluetooth on iPhone.  Settings/General/Bluetooth/On

3.  The Nuvi will display a passcode #1234.  Enter the passcode into the iPhone.

I tested it for the better part of the day yesterday with minimal drop outs.

Garageband – Make Your Own Custom Ringtones for iPhone. FREE !

Requires iLife 08

1. Import a song into Garageband. * This can be a song from your iTunes library, CD, or something you composed in garageband.

2.  Use the audio region editor to set your starting and ending point.  * A ringtone can be a maximum of 40 seconds.  If you don’t know how to use the arrange feature check out this tutorial http://www.apple.com/ilife/garageband/#arrangements

3.  When you have your ringtone the way you like it go to the top menu and select “Share/Send Ringtone to iTunes”  The new Ringtone will now show up in your Ringtones Library inside iTunes.  Just connect your iphone and drag it to your phone.

Creating Multiple User Libraries in iTunes

1. Open iTunes

2. While iTunes icon is bouncing in the dock immediately press “Option”   This will allow you to create multiple music libraries.   Great for using multiple music libraries backed up on multiple external hard drives.