We told you a couple of days ago about a handy little app that allows users to download iOS firmware files direct from the web, as well as listing what apps are required in order to jailbreak and unlock each one. The only issue was ipswDownloader was OS X only. Thanks to one individual, that's no-longer the case.
This whole sordid affair started when I was (un)fortunate enough to spy a blog post at TheAtlantic by Alexis Madrigal, the site's Senior Editor. In his lengthy post Alexis (you don't mind if I call you Alexis do you?) waxed lyrical about the impending apocalypse thanks to a piece of software called Lantern. This OS X application allows a user - obviously malicious - to gain access to an iOS device and browse all the data it's been collecting on its unwitting user. Such scary information includes the photos you've taken, where they were taken (thanks to the location information stored inside it. Yes, that's the information you told it to save when you first opened the Camera app) and your SMS history. Your Safari browsing history is also available.
In a move that surely shocks nobody, Apple is now being sued by two customers who claim their iPhones and iPads have been tracking their movements as reported recently. They claim an invasion of privacy has taken place and have sought legal action.
While Apple is yet to officially respond to iPhone location tracking saga, but despite being on a leave of absence from Apple, CEO Steve Jobs apparently has responded.
What we like at Redmond Pie is nice simple apps that do one thing and do it well. Fitting firmly into that category has to be ipswDownloader - an OS X app built with the sole purpose of downloading the IPSW firmware files Apple releases for iOS.
Two weeks ago we told you about CutYourSIM, a company offering permanent iPhone unlocks without the need for jailbreaking. We told of our concern about just how the unlocks were being carried out and now, unsurprisingly, the company has withdrawn the service.
The famed Apple critic John Gruber of Daring Fireball believes that the much talked about tracking down of user’s location data on the iPhone is likely an oversight or a bug, which is mostly likely going to be fixed in the next iOS 4.3.3 / 4.4 update.
Apple has just released iOS 4.3.2 update for iPhone 4 (iOS 4.2.7 for Verizon iPhone 4), iPhone 3GS, iPad 2, iPad, and iPod touch 4G/3G. This is just a minor update to fix bugs, DNS issues, fix document viewer, FaceTime issues, vulnerabilities and some battery life woes on all iOS devices.
Pieceable today launched the Pieceable Viewer, a way to use imbedded iOS apps from a web page. Using Flash to run, the viewer can replicate iOS functions and bring apps to the web browser.
If you're forever a version or two of iOS behind because you need to wait for a carrier unlock to become available, then CutYourSim and other similar sites offering the same service could be for you.
