xSellize: xNews

Today we are happy to release a new version of Seas0nPass that simplifies the installation of older firmware versions. This process called 'stitching' allows Seas0nPass to utilize previously saved firmware signatures to jailbreak and restore an AppleTV version that Apple may no longer be signing.

What are signatures? Why do I need them?

Firmware signatures are required to install a particular firmware version onto iOS devices like the AppleTV. When installing the latest version, these signatures will be created in real-time during the iTunes restore process.

However, from time to time some firmware versions will stop being 'signed' by Apple, which will prevent them from being installed. Backing up your firmware signatures allows you to retain the ability to install an older firmware version in the future, should the need ever arise.
Firmware signatures are unique to each AppleTV and firmware version.

How do I backup my firmware signatures?
Details on backing up firmware signatures using TinyUmbrella or aTV Flash (black) can be found here.


How do I use Seas0nPass to install an older version?


If you have used TinyUmbrella or aTV Flash (black) to previously save your AppleTV's firmware signatures you can use Seas0nPass to downgrade to an older version by following the steps below.

Connect AppleTV via USB
Launch Seas0nPass
Right-click the 'Create IPSW' button and select your desired version.
Seas0nPass will handle fetching saved signatures and restoring the firmware automatically.



Seas0nPass is telling me that my AppleTV is not eligible. What does that mean?

If you're receiving a 'not eligible' message, this means Apple is no longer signing that particular version, and Seas0nPass was unable to locate any saved signatures for that device/firmware combination.

How do I get it?
As always, Seas0nPass is available as a free download from Seas0nPass.com.

Troubleshooting tips can be found here.
Enjoy :-)

via firecore

With Apple expected to unveil its next-generation iPad in early March, a new rumor suggests that the device will launch in Germany only a few weeks later, on March 23.

Following up on a report from earlier Tuesday that suggested the so-called "iPad 3" will launch in Germany in April, iFun.de chimed in to dispute that date. Instead, the German-language site has heard that Apple's next iPad will launch in their country on March 23.

Last year, Apple announced the iPad 2 on March 2, and the device became available in the U.S. just over a week later, on March 11. The international launch came a few weeks later, on March 25, to 25 additional countries including Germany.

This year, Apple is expected to unveil its third-generation iPad at a media event on March 7. If that date is accurate and Apple employs the same launch timeframe as 2011, the device would go on sale in the U.S. on Friday, March 16, while international availability would begin on Friday, March 30.

Though the April launch for the next iPad in Germany was disputed, a number of other details were contained in the original report. It said that the "iPad 3" will feature Siri voice control and a 1080p camera with image stabilization, both powered by a dual-core "A5X" processor.

The third-generation iPad is also expected to feature a high-resolution Retina Display. The pixel-dense screen is rumored to have a resolution of 2,048-by-1,536 pixels, which is 260 pixels per inch, and twice the resolution of the current iPad 2 screen.

via AppleInsider

Chip maker Qualcomm today took the wraps off its new piece of silicon, a fifth iteration of their Gobi reference platform. It packs in a comprehensive support for TD-SCDMA, TD-LTE, LTE on FDD and TDD networks worldwide and has embedded GPS capability. Of course, it also supports the usual HSPA+ and EV-DO for backwards compatibility. Such a powerful combo in theory allows Gobi products to connect to the faster LTE network locally and stay connected to the Internet globally on 3G networks worldwide.

Now, Qualcomm notes in a press release (included after the break) that the chip is designed to work with Windows 8 and Android devices plus x86 and Qualcomm’s own dual- and quad-core Snapdragon system-on-a-chip solutions. For all we know, this could be the chip inside the iPad 3. Also, it could appear in a future iPhone at some point. The yet-to-be-announced iPhone 5 or 4G iPad running this new gobi chip would theoretically enable Apple to tap a single hardware in targeting a variety of carriers who often use different and incompatible radio technologies.

This includes the world’s biggest carrier China Mobile whose infrastructure is built around TD-LTE radio technology. Put simply, the new Gobi chip could allow for true world-phone compatibility. It’s worth noting that almost every 3G iOS device since the Verizon iPhone utilizes Qualcomm’s Gobi platform, the only exception being the the AT&T iPad which still runs an older Infineon chip. One thing is certain: Apple has yet to ship its first 4G LTE mobile device.

4G TD-LTE is not to be confused with 4G LTE as these two radio technologies are incompatible and TD-LTE is predominantly used in Asia. China Mobile’s third-generation TD-SCDMA network also doesn’t support current iPhones as TD-SCDMA radio technology is incompatible with CDMA used by Verizon Wireless in the United States. The fifth-gen Gobi chip would solve all those incompatibilities in one fell swoop. And as Apple doubled its addressable market in China by bringing the iPhone 4S on March 9 to the 130 million China Telecom subscribers, the company would be foolish to ignore the 655 million China Mobile customers.
Qualcomm Announces Fifth Generation Embedded Data Connectivity Reference Platform

Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) today announced its fifth generation Gobi™ embedded data connectivity reference platform for mobile devices, including thin form factor laptops, tablets and convertibles. Based on Qualcomm’s Gobi 4G LTE wireless baseband modems, the MDM9615™ and MDM9215™, the technology delivers fast LTE connectivity on FDD and TDD networks worldwide, with backwards compatibility to both HSPA+ and EV-DO networks. This will allow support for regional LTE frequencies with backwards compatibility to existing 2G/3G technologies, allowing Gobi 4G LTE devices to connect to the faster LTE network locally and stay connected to the Internet globally on 3G networks worldwide. The reference platform will support leading operating systems, such as Windows 8 and Android, with a broadband interface with carrier selection. It is also designed to support these leading operating systems on multiple processing platforms, including our Snapdragon™ dual-core and quad-core processors and x86 platforms.

Embedded modules based on the Gobi fifth generation reference platform will initially be available from Huawei, Novatel Wireless, Option, Sierra Wireless and ZTE in several form factors and regional configurations, making them a compelling 4G LTE solution for a variety of connected mobile devices.

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Qualcomm’s latest Gobi 4G LTE connectivity reference platform includes embedded GPS capability and features an application programming interface (API) with LTE extensions, which is compatible with leading connectivity standards, including CDMA2000® 1xEV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B, HSPA+, dual-carrier HSPA+, TD-SCDMA and LTE, with integrated backwards compatibility to HSPA and EV-DO. The API provides a common software interface for developing connection managers, GPS applications and other manageability or security solutions that help connect, locate and manage a broad range of 3G/4G devices, regardless of wireless technology and operating system. This interface will help streamline product development efforts, spur application development among third-party software developers, and deliver greater flexibility to device manufacturers.

“As one of the most widely used business PCs in the world, Dell Latitude brand laptops need to support a broad range of technology so our customers can connect virtually anywhere and at any time, and Qualcomm’s Gobi platform helps us achieve this,” said Kirk Schell, executive director and general manager of Dell’s Business Client Product Group. “As mobile broadband technologies evolve, Qualcomm’s Gobi technology is an option our customers frequently select to stay connected no matter what kind of network they are on thanks to its multi-mode capabilities.”

“Qualcomm’s Gobi platform has proven to be a compelling wireless solution for embedded mobile broadband connectivity, adding to the performance, security and reliability of our ThinkPad laptops,” said Dilip Bhatia, vice president and general manager, ThinkPad, Lenovo. “We look forward to giving our customers an even faster mobile Internet experience with Gobi 4G LTE technology.”

“Huawei’s mobile broadband modules and data cards are used by OEMs and consumers worldwide, so support for multi-mode operation is a key feature of our products,” said He Jinjun, director of Device Module Business, Huawei. “Qualcomm’s fifth generation Gobi reference platform will give our LTE devices the multi-mode support they need to remain connected virtually anywhere.”

“Our Expedite Module portfolio contains multiple products offering LTE support based on Qualcomm’s Gobi technology,” said Rob Hadley, chief marketing officer, Novatel Wireless. “We look forward to offering our OEM customers new embedded modules using next-generation technology targeting devices such as notebooks, netbooks and tablets.

“At Option, we have a long standing relationship with Qualcomm in providing innovative 3G, 4G LTE and WLAN connectivity solutions with enhanced performance, functionality and usability,” said Bernard Schaballie, general manager, embedded solutions, Option. “Qualcomm’s Gobi technology has been a key enabler and we look forward to using its fifth generation Gobi reference platform in our new GTM801 LGA module family.”

“Sierra Wireless has offered wireless modules with LTE support since 2010, and Qualcomm Gobi technology has been important to the success of our LTE module program,” said Dan Schieler, senior vice president and general manager, Mobile Computing for Sierra Wireless. “Our LTE modules give OEMs the ability to embed support for the latest mobile broadband technology in a variety of connected devices, and the fifth generation Gobi reference platform will help ensure these connections provide a fast, consistent user experience.”

“Qualcomm’s Gobi technology has been used in many of our mobile broadband USB modems and mobile hotspots for some time now,” said Dr. Liu ShuLiang, data product planning director, ZTE. “LTE will give mobile consumers the fast data rates and reliable connections they need to make their mobile computing experience a productive one. We look forward to delivering fast LTE USB modems based on the Gobi technology.”

As one of the largest providers of wireless chipset and software technology in the industry, Qualcomm has a diverse chipset and software product portfolio spanning multiple device classes. System designers now have the flexibility to choose from multiple embedded Gobi solutions, ranging from 3G through high-speed, multi-operator 4G LTE. Qualcomm also offers its family of Snapdragon all-in-one processors with the option for integrated multimode 3G/4G, dual-band Wi-Fi®, Bluetooth, FM radio connectivity and differing numbers of CPU cores for the most power-efficient designs.

via 9to5MaC

Apple has removed a scam Pokemon app from the App Store.

Called Pokemon Yellow, the game was developed by House of Anime, rather than Nintendo, and appeared in the App Store over the weekend. Priced at $0.99, it quickly rose as high as number two on the App Store's paid apps chart. However, the game is not licensed by Nintendo, and House of Anime did not have the rights to use the Pokemon brand.

Ars Technica brought the fake game to light, and Apple has since removed it from the App Store, Ars said.

Neither Apple nor Nintendo immediately responded to a request for comment on the matter.

The developer claimed in the app's description that the game was "just like the original," however user reviews revealed that the app was a scam that crashed after the home screen. House of Anime even apologized for the performance issues, but it has not responded to the fact that the game is a fake.

After some sniffing around, Ars also found that the app was actually an aggregation of Pokemon news feeds and YouTube videos, rather than an actual game.

Apple has dealt with several App Store controversies in the past. Last fall, after objections from various activist groups in France, Apple yanked an app called "Jew or not Jew" that identified whether or not French celebrities and politicians are Jewish.

That wasn't the only app Apple removed last year. The company also nixed an app that was anti-Israel and another so-called "gay cure" app.
Via PCmag

The iPhone 5 is rumored to be released on the September or October release schedule this 2012. This would be similar to what occurred with the iPhone 4S. This comes from the Japanese news site Macotakara:

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The iPhone 4S was the first phone to follow such a release cycle. Previous generations of the devices would follow a summer cycle, with the devices releasing during the month of June or July. However, when the iPhone 4S moved to the fall release cycle, it resulted in record breaking sales for the iPhone and an excellent quarter for Apple. Maybe that is what is making Apple stick to such a release cycle?

via iMore

The iPad 3 rumors just keep growing and getting juicier. A photo has surfaced on the WeiPhone forums showing a potential prototype for an iPad 3 logic board. What's special? The A5X chip that is shown, not the expected A6. The production date according to code "1146" means the chip was produced sometime in November 2011. The A5X chip model number is "S5L8945X," which matches an iPad 3 iBoot log that was released by BGR a couple weeks back

This is not too far fetched to believe. The iPad 3 could indeed have an A5X chip after all, which would be a dual core processor with an updated clock speed and an updated graphics card as well. However, this does not mean the A6 is still out of the game. The A6 could still be under production and testing and released in a later gen model of the iPad or the iPhone 5.

Of course, this is all rumor and nothing will be known until Apple's announcement in March comes around and validates what we want to know.

via iMore

Notification Center is great, but it’s even more fun once it has been customized. Though we’ve seen countless widgets and even tweaks that let you change Notification Center’s background color, one upcoming tweak promises to add a little more sparkle to everyone’s favorite iOS 5 feature.

The upcoming tweak is called WeeRoll, and – once available – will allow users to add more than a dozen animations to Notification Center. WeeRoll should soon be available to download in the Cydia Store for $0.99, via the ModMyi repository. If you enjoy spicing up Notification Center on your jailbroken iOS device, this is a tweak you don’t want to miss.

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via AppAdvice

Take a picture without saving it with QuickSnap. This tweak allows you to take a picture without an automatic backup in the picture library, it can be useful if you need to take a picture in the desire to keep a few moments to write an address or phone number for example.
You can copy and paste this picture taken QuickSnap in writing a mail for example without any trace in your library pictures.
Following the installation of QuickSnap from Cydia on your iDevice, start the application from its icon on your springboard.
When you exit the application QuickSnap, the photo taken recently is not saved, and therefore will not be in your photo stream iOS 5x.

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via iphonix.fr

The Dream Team, consisting of p0sixninja, MuscleNerd, planetbeing, and pod2g, were the key developers among others who worked to release the A5 ‘Absinthe’ jailbreak last month. All of these developers work hard to find exploits in Apple’s devices to give us the necessary goods.

According to a tweet from p0sixninja, the Dream Team will be presenting at the Hack In The Box security conference, to be recognized for their jailbreaking efforts…



The Hack In The Box conference is taking place from May 21st – 25th in Amsterdam. The conference focuses on attack and defense security methods used. The event is officially described as…

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It’s great seeing hackers in the jailbreak community being recognized for their hard work. Hopefully, for those who can’t make the conference, the Dream Team’s presentation will be live streamed.

Will you be attending Hack In The Box in May?

via iDB

Instead of waiting for free ultrasn0w unlock for your iPhone 4S, it is recommended that you buy R-SIM (SIM interposer) to unlock iPhone 4S basebands on iOS 5.0 and iOS 5.0.1. Just like TPSIM unlock, R-SIM is another Turbo SIM Card that unlocks the device and allow you to use it on any compatible GSM network around the world. R-Sim card is NOT compatible with 3G network at this time. GPRS works flawlessly, however.



With R-SIM (Rebel SIM), there is no need to jailbreak your iPhone 4S device or change the normal SIM card. No need to cut the SIM card. Just insert the SIM card and insert the R-SIM in your iPhone (As shown in video demo). Then select your country and carrier. With R-SIM purchase, you’ll get modified steel custom SIM tray so that you DO NOT need to cut your SIM second time. The supplier has posted a video detailing step to unlock iPhone 4s with rebel SIM card. It is worth noting that this piggyback doohickey doesn’t require dialing 112 (after the first time initialization).

(Enter 112 Mode) Manual Mode
Step 1: Power on your iPhone 4S and place the R-Sim SIM tray together with the R-Sim interposer and unofficial SIM into your phone.
Step 2: Wait till the phone symbol turned from light green to green
Step 3: Enter the phone setting menu to check the STK applications menu like below (Settings => Phone => SIM Applications.)



Step 4: Click “Country & Operators” option and then select your carrier operator. The card will show the operator as AT&T by default. If your service provider is AT&T, then you choose MODE 1 AT&T. Your phone service provider will appear on the top of the screen. (See picture below).



Step 5: Click the return (the left arrow on top) back to the previous screen (SIM Applications)
Step 6: Click the first one “ENTER 112 Mode” and back to the main menu.
Step 7: Wait for the Message Window to prompt then click “Accept”. Wait for 3-5 seconds then dial 112. After connected, do not hang up. Slowly take out the SIM card, and then push the SIM card back to the iPhone again. Wait for the iPhone to hang-up itself or hang-up after you see the “no service” on top left screen.
Step 8: Wait for the searching your phone service provider. If the top left shows the message “No Service”, keep waiting until the phone service provider’s name shows up. Then the manual setup is completed. You can use your iPhone now. (If you turn off your iPhone or your battery drains out completely, you would need to repeat all the steps again).

*Auto mode
Step 1: Follow (Step 1 to Step 3), as listed above
Step 2: Select the operator then choose “*Auto Mode”. Turn off your iPhone 4S.



Step 3: Turn on iPhone and wait for the Unlock iPhone Message Window prompt. Then click “ACCEPT”, then wait 5 seconds (you can count to 5), Dial 112. When calling 112, pull out the SIM card. Click “Yes” when messages pop up, then put SIM card in, and then end this call.
Step 4: Then just wait about 1 minute, iPhone unlocks succeed!!!




Important points:

This doesn’t work to unlock iPhone 4 on any baseband. Only iPhone 4S is supported.
In case your iPhone 4S doesn’t locate your carrier service provider after searching, you can dial any phone number (for instance, call your friend), after connected, wait until it hangs up itself.
If your carrier provider is not listed under “Country&operators”, you can enter “MCC MNC” under “Edit Mode” to unlock your iPhone. The Phone Service Providers’ Codes can be obtained through R-SIM supplier via email.
The AT&T iPhone 4S requires jailbreaking. If AT&T SIM is inserted it disables APN setting, so you have to jailbreak it and install the “tetherme” then it will backup the APN setting in “Settings->General->Network->Cellular Data Network”.

R-SIM (Rebel SIM) iPhone 4S Unlock Supports:

As advertised, this Turbo SIM Card works well with 3G, EDGE and supports MMS, FaceTime as well. It supports all Network SIM Cards 2G, 3G, WCDMA and claims to unlock iPhone 4S on iOS 5.0 and iOS 5.0.1 firmware. It unlocks ALL worldwide networks (including USA AT&T). The best part of this hardware unlock is that it doesn’t void your warranty since it doesn’t require any sort of hardware alteration or modification.
iPhone 4S Supported Basebands with R-SIM

1.0.11 iOS 5.0 (Build 9A334)
1.0.13 iOS 5.0.1 (Build 9A405)
1.0.14 iOS 5.0.1 (Build 9A406)

How to Purchase R-SIM Unlock

R-SIM iPhone 4S Unlock developed by REBEL Alpha X-SIM is available at EachSupplier or qyg-online for $ 57.99. Shipping is free, and the site says you can obtain within two weeks. The retail packaging of R-SIM is black apple (as shown in image above) not the green one, as shown in the video.

We haven’t pre-ordered or tested R-SIM yet and we cannot guarantee that it will unlock your iPhone 4S on iOS 5.0 or iOS 5.0.1 on baseband 1.0.14, 1.0.13, 1.0.11. However, Eachsupplier site has tested it successfully (video proof). We would still advice iPhone unlockers to wait for few positive reviews to come-in, before purchasing Rebel Turbo SIM unlock.

Some nice news for original iPhone 4 owners has come in today! A class action suit that was filed against Apple in the United States regarding the antenna issues has reached a settlement. Those who are US residents who have purchased an iPhone 4 are entitled to 15 dollars cash or an Apple branded bumper case.

The class action suit was created by combining 18 separate lawsuits against Apple into one.

In order to take advantage of the settlement, iPhone 4 users who are US residents will need to go to the official settlement website, www.iPhone4Settlement.com (right now it leads to no where, but it will be up in the coming weeks) where you can file a claim. Emails will also be sent alerting the 25 million members part of the class action suit before April 30, 2012. The claim period is open for 120 days.

This probably comes as good news for iPhone 4 users who were unable to take advantage of the Free Bumper Offer that was available from Apple about a month after the released of the highly anticipated iPhone 4.

So, if you are an original iPhone 4 owner who is eligible for the claim, what will you choose, a new bumper or fifteen bucks?

via CNet

Apple's fast access Camera shortcut is rumored to become even faster in the iOS 5.1 update, according to Blog Do iPhone.

Currently, to quickly access the Camera on your iPhone, you must double tap the home button on lock screen and press the camera button that appears. This requires you to make three actions to access your camera quickly. However, as rumored by Blog Do iPhone, iOS 5.1 will change the access to a gesture, a slide up to reveal an embedded camera. This results in fast loading and quick access in comparison to the old method, which would require after making the multiple actions in waiting for a separate app to load.

Blog Do iPhone is only showing photos of this possible new interface, making it difficult to tell how well it is implemented in iOS 5.1, if it is indeed implemented.

iOS 5.1 is currently available as a developer's beta, rumored to be released the same time as the iPad 3.

via Blog Do iPhone

That’s right, folks, today we present to you yet another Cydia tweak regarding Apple’s voice-recognition software.

Spire, the best Siri port available for older iOS devices, has been quite a hit amongst those wielding jailbroken devices. However, there is a moderate amount of configuration required in order to get things up and running – namely getting hold of the required authentication data from a real iPhone 4S.

Of course, if you cannot access said files from a specimen of the fruit company’s latest smartphone, there are alternatives out there vying for the Siri crown. That said, nothing truly compares to the real thing, and this latest tweak, called AssistantConnect4S, allows iPhone 4S users to send their authentication info to non-iPhone 4S devices quickly and simply via email.

AssistantConnect4S enables the recipient to then use Siri natively without having to rely on a proxy server to handle requests. The developer recommends only sending the data to 5 other devices, probably in order to avoid detection or blacklisting.

This comes just a day after Apple began purging Siri use on proxy servers, and although the reliable Cydia developers supplied a fix almost as quickly as the action was discovered, it did show the Cupertino-based company isn’t taking too kindly to unauthorized use.

Once your device has the legit authentication, you’re free to use Siri in full, and as intended. Although Apple declared its newest smartphone as the only device on the roster capable of handling Siri, such claims fell on deaf ears, and now many jailbreak fans are setting reminders, searching for restaurants, and sending SMS using only their voices.


If you want to try AssistantConnect4S, it’s available right now for free over at the BigBoss repo. Note, when you first use the tweak, you’ll need to open AssistantConnect4S and reboot your iPhone 4S. Once rebooted, open up AssistantConnect4S and activate Siri.

If you wish to share authentication data from an older device, simply download AssistantConnect instead – also available over at the BigBoss repo.

You will obviously need to jailbreak your device to install this tweak. For jailbreaking iPhone 4S and iPad 2, you can simply follow our step by step guide posted here to jailbreak iOS 5.0.1 using Absinthe on Windows or Mac. For those of you with iPhone 4, 3GS, iPad 1, and iPod touches can use Redsn0w or Sn0wbreeze to untether jailbreak on iOS 5.0.1.

Be sure to check out our iPhone Apps Gallery and iPad Apps Gallery to explore more apps for your iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

You can follow us on Twitter, add us to your circle on Google+ or like our Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google, Apple and the web.

[via Redmond Pie]

Promises update to iOS after Congress asks about apps that grab address book without permission.
Shortly after two U.S. Congressmen asked Apple to answer questions about iPhone and iPad apps that ****** users' contact lists without permission, the Cupertino, Calif. company promised it will address the issue with a future software update.

Earlier today, Reps. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.) sent a letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook asking him about iOS apps that have harvested users' address book information without permission.

Waxman and Butterfield cited reports that Path, which sells an iOS online journal app, was grabbing users' address books and uploading them to its servers. After the allegations went viral, Path's CEO apologized and said the company deleted the collected address books from its servers.

"We now understand that the way we had designed our 'Add Friends' feature was wrong," acknowledged Path CEO Dave Morin in a Feb. 8 mea culpa. "We are deeply sorry if you were uncomfortable with how our application used your phone contacts."
In the letter to Cook, Waxman and Butterfield, who are the top Democrats on two House committees, asked, "Whether Apple's iOS app developer policies and practices may fall short when it comes to protecting the information of iPhone users and their contacts."

Waxman and Butterfield also sent a copy of the letter to Morin.

The legislators wanted answers to nine questions, including one about Apple's earlier decision to require developers to disclose use of location data in their iOS apps.

"You have built into your devices the ability to turn off in one place the transmission of location information entirely or on an app-by-app basis," their letter stated. "Please explain why you have not done the same for address book information."

In a statement issued to some media outlets, including the AllThingsD blog and the Reuters news service, Apple responded to that question.

"Apps that collect or transmit a user's contact data without their prior permission are in violation of our guidelines," an Apple spokesman told AllThingsD and Reuters. "We're working to make this even better for our customers, and as we have done with location services, any app wishing to access contact data will require explicit user approval in a future software release."

Apple did not immediately confirm the statement's accuracy.

In December, Apple reacted to controversy that third-party software was surreptitiously collecting a glut of information from iPhone users by promising it would provide an iOS update to remove the Carrier IQ code from all its smartphones.

At the time, a company spokeswoman said, "With any diagnostic data sent to Apple, customers must actively opt-in to share this information."

Apple's iOS App Store guidelines forbid programs from "transmit[ting] data about a user without obtaining the user's prior permission and providing the user with access to information about how and where the data will be used."

Those rules also ban apps "that require users to share personal information, such as email address and date of birth, in order to function."

Apple has not updated those guidelines to specifically mention address books, although they have long prohibited apps that "do not notify and obtain user consent before collecting, transmitting, or using location data."
Via ComputerWorld

If you have an iPhone 4 and you have been dying to try out Siri, then Sara Dictation has just come to your rescue. Sara Dictation is a tweak that you need to Jailbreak your iPhone in order to use, but its worth it.

Sara dictation also supports several languages, which is a feature that other Siri copies don't have. Sara does have some issues, like the fact that the dictation key that represent Sara on your keyboard is not in the correct retina format therefore it messes with your space bar a little. Issues like these will soon be solved with an upcoming update.

If you want to add Sara to your iPhone 4 the first thing you need to do is Jailbreak your iPhone and then you need to add the source http://isoftjsc.com. Once you have followed those steps download Sara and enjoy your iPhone 4 in a whole new way

via Macciti