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DingleBerry 4.0 cancelled, open-sourced in search of PlayBook OS 2.0 root exploit (updated: ok, maybe it's not cancelled)
DingleBerry arrived with an awesome name and even better functionality: the ability to root a BlackBerry PlayBook. For the moment, however, it seems the utility is little more than dust in the wind. We've received news that development of the famed exploit has been halted. If it's any solace to super users, the project may find new vigor, because the source code for DingleBerry 3.3.3 is now available for all to improve upon. Perhaps the cat and mouse game with RIM's security team was simply too burdensome for DingleBerry developers, as PlayBook OS 2.0 has remained impervious to root exploits. Whatever the case may be, if you'd like to take a swing at a new root method, be sure to hit up the source below.[Thanks, Joao]Update: DingleBerry dev Chris Wade reached out to us to clarify that version 4.0 is not cancelled -- regardless of what the official changelog says. Where exactly the confusion comes from we're not entirely sure, but we've been told the project was open sourced so that others, perhaps those with more free time on their hands, could take a crack at the PlayBook OS and not because it's dead.
MyWi gets friendlier with iOS 5, brings faster connection speeds and improved reliability
Why shell out cash for those extra tethering fees when you've got MyWi, right? Well, you'll be happy to know the $19.99 jailbreak app has gone through a major revamp. MyWi v5.5 brings along a "total rewrite" for folks on iOS 5, while also promising a speedier connection, faster hotspot load times as well as improved overall reliability. Additionally, the overhauled application adds a couple of new features, including an upgrade to MyWi On Demand, which now uses Bluetooth to trigger hotspot mode. MyWi version 5.5 is up for grabs now via the App Cydia store, though you may need to keep it a secret from your carrier.
Verizon iPad running with AT&T SIM installed
Over at the MacRumors forums, reader jsnuff1 has confirmed that the new Verizon iPad works with AT&T's 3G network. The Verizon iPad has a built-in GSM SIM slot and supports connections on the same 850/900/1800/1900 MHz bands as the AT&T unit. What jsnuff1 did was to slot in an iPhone microSIM, using the standard AT&T APN carrier settings hack, and then test the unit using AT&T's 3G service. You can use this approach for both standard AT&T iPhone accounts as well as the Pay-as-You-Go ones discussed in this TUAW post. If you take this approach, do not expect to use AT&T's LTE network. Real 4G service (i.e. not FauxG) runs on 700 and 2100 MHz for AT&T. The Verizon model supports only 700 MHz. The opposite approach will not work. To the best of my understanding, Verizon CDMA does not use a transferable SIM, so you cannot move a Verizon account onto an AT&T iPad. In the end, what this means is greater flexibility. When you move outside a Verizon coverage area, you can swap in an AT&T SIM and get 3G data service at least, or share that service without tethering but with a little bit of paperclip work and SIM swaps when on vacation.
Galaxy Note LTE gains access to T-Mobile's HSPA+ network with custom radio
To all T-Mobile users that've privately longed to wield the Galaxy Note, yet've remained deterred by its nasty EDGE speed limitation, we've just one thing to say: welcome to flavor country. A new workaround designed specifically for AT&T's LTE variant of the monolithic smartphone (and ostensibly, Canadian versions, but not the international model), has successfully enabled HSPA+ support for AWS networks. Just like the Galaxy S II Skyrocket hack, the process is fairly straightforward; users must simply enter a SIM unlock code and then flash one of three radio files to the handset -- feel free to experiment and pick the most reliable of the bunch. While all functions are said to work properly, your phone's battery life may take a hit, as reports indicate that signal strength isn't quite up to par. For those wanting to proceed, just be sure to obtain a stock copy of your phone's radio file before diving in -- otherwise, once the new baseband's in place, you'll be unable to access Ma Bell's LTE network. Isn't compromise the greatest?
Inception brings root privileges, rush of adrenaline to Nokia N9 community
So, here's the thing: Aegis, the security framework on the Nokia N9, has been busted wide open -- thanks to an exploit known as Inception. Much like root access on Android, the software allows developers to write apps (and users to install apps) that take full advantage of the N9's capabilities. Naturally, exploits such as these aren't for everyone -- in particular, Inception requires a familiarity with the command terminal -- but if you've ever wanted to load custom kernel modules, activate disabled hardware features or apply community-provided upgrades, a quick and relatively painless method is now here. A few words of caution: users mustn't upgrade their firmware beyond PR1.2 without first confirming that Inception is compatible, and because the exploit allows applications to gain full access to the phone, users should only install apps from trusted sources. Want to know more? Just follow the rabbit hole in the source below.
Windows Mobile takes up roost in Windows Phone, thanks to WML project (video)
Whether you're looking for a good laugh or a simple trip down memory lane, seeing Windows Mobile 6.1 hobble around like a grumpy old man within Windows Phone might just satisfy both those urges. The technical stunt comes courtesy of the Dark Forces Team, which is now previewing a bit of hackery known as WML (Windows Mobile Loader?). While details of the project have yet to be made public, a video posted to YouTube clearly shows the elderly OS accessible from within Windows Phone on an HTC Gold (HD7). Support for Windows Mobile 6.5 is also in the works, but for the moment, just take a peep at the most important visual treat in the above clip.
Doodle Defense game uses Kinect to turn white boards into displays, dry-erase markers into weapons
Tower defense games have been done in damn near every way possible: on consoles, mobile apps, and online flash-based games. However, there's a new Kickstarter project, called Doodle Defense, that's putting a new spin on that simple gaming idea using some open source algorithms, a whiteboard, computer, Kinect and a projector. The game works by projecting the battlefield and bad guys on the whiteboard, while users can draw in obstacles using a black marker and towers of varied attack abilities in red, green, and blue. Kinect tracks where your drawings are onscreen, and reroutes the invaders accordingly, while also keeping track of how much ink you have left to use. Check out the video after the break to see the game in action, and if you want to pitch in to the inventor port Doodle Defense to the iPad, hit the source link below.
Refresh Roundup: week of February 6th, 2012
Your smartphone and / or tablet is just begging for an update. From time to time, these mobile devices are blessed with maintenance refreshes, bug fixes, custom ROMs and anything in between, and so many of them are floating around that it's easy for a sizable chunk to get lost in the mix. To make sure they don't escape without notice, we've gathered every possible update, hack, and other miscellaneous tomfoolery we could find during the last week and crammed them into one convenient roundup. If you find something available for your device, please give us a shout at tips at engadget dawt com and let us know. Enjoy!
Mobile Miscellany: week of February 6th, 2012
Not all mobile news is destined for the front page, but if you're like us and really want to know what's going on, then you've come to the right place. This week, we've learned that T-Mobile is offering some of its best phones free after rebate (today only), and we've also spotted a new power management feature that seems destined for BlackBerry 7.1 OS. These stories and more await after the break. So buy the ticket and take the ride. Let's explore the "best of the rest" for this week of February 6th, 2012.
APK puts Windows 95, 98 and XP, plus Linux on the EVO 3D
And here you thought Microsoft bringing Windows 8 to ARM was big news. Turns out, a member of the xda-developers forum has managed to make an APK that puts a variety of Redmond's x86 operating systems on the HTC EVO 3D and its 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon silicon -- Windows 95, 98, XP and even your favorite flavor of Linux are all available for the three dee-equipped handset. All you need to do is install the Bochs Pentium emulator APK and the OS disk image of your choice, modify a couple files, and you'll be doing yesteryear's desktop computing on a handheld in no time. Feeling nostalgic? Detailed instructions how to do it yourself and the necessary files can be found at the source link below, but all we want to know is: does it do the blue screen of death or the force close dance when things go awry?
Nook Tablet gets easy root shortcut via SD card (video)
As the (admittedly niche) battle for root access wages on between the Nook Tablet creators and its end users, a new shortcut's been discovered for unlocking the Android-based slab -- and you'll need an SD card to do the business. The new technique, courtesy of xda-developers forum member Indirect, works on all tablets up to version 1.4.1, requiring the installation of some key files onto the card and a reboot to unleash the might of Google's Android Market. Those interested in a Google app hook-up for their Nook should check the video below and visit the source for those all-important files.
The Love Box is an analog video mixer, house of mirrors for your iPhone (video)
There's something romantic about hacking the iPhone, especially when it means finding ways to personalize the massively popular handset. Apps like Instagram may help you realize artistic talent, but software just doesn't get those creative juices flowing like an old-fashioned piece of hardware can. Despite its taboo-sounding name, The Love Box isn't an adult toy in the traditional sense, instead serving as an analog video (and stills) mixer for your iPhone 4 or 4S. Consisting of a wooden box and an angled sliding mirror, the homegrown contraption lets you simultaneously capture the action in front of and behind you in a single image. It was originally designed in Barcelona to capture two people conversing for a documentary called "The Love Box Conversations," hence the name. The "lowest-tech accessory for the highest-tech phone" is available now as part of a very limited initial run of 100 units, and can be yours for €57.63 (about $77.50) if you hit up the source link below.
Open source controller framework lets you add the finishing touch
There are plenty of off-the-shelf controllers out there, but what if you fancy something a little more... you? How about fully customized, with a good seasoning of affordability and style? Design student Alex S has built a framework to help you build just that. The units shown above are for DJ-based programs, but you can create interfaces for any software that takes HID or MIDI input, and as they're modular, create endless ultra-custom set-ups. Keen to dismantle any technical barriers, Alex created a step-by-step Instructable, but you'll still need to get your hands dirty with Arduino and some circuitry. The whole project is open source, and while it's a step up from Lego, until we can just print these things, it seems like a great option to us.
Vita gets more Remote Play titles with hacked PS3 firmware
Several YouTube videos have popped up, showcasing PlayStation 3 titles being played via the PlayStation Vita's Remote Play function -- titles usually not supported by the feature. Officially, the Vita is currently restricted to a handful of titles, but a hacked version of PS3 firmware 3.55 (reportedly susceptible to the infamous PS3 "jailbreak" hack) allows users to play many more titles.The Vita appears as a "mobile phone" in this configuration, and offers up a wider variety of choices than the normal Vita Remote Play. The videos in question, uploaded by YouTube users homer49, feature Batman: Arkham Asylum, Battlefield 3 (shown above), Alice: Madness Returns, Mortal Kombat and Red Dead Redemption. The games display a hefty amount of input lag.Sony still plans to expand the official Remote Play library going forward. The company previously showed Killzone 3 running via Remote Play at the Tokyo Game Show and stated that developers would soon receive tools to help implement Remote Play on upcoming and previously released titles.
Whited00r lets you install iOS 5 look-alike on old-gen iPhones and iPod Touches
If you're still rockin' an ancient iPhone or iPod Touch and are fed up with friends teasing you at every chance with their new-style multitasking and reminder features, we've got some good news for you. A new software, dubbed Whited00r, will let you install portions of iOS 5 on the first two generations of the iPod Touch, iPhone 3G and even your O.G. iPhone. Whited00r accomplishes this by simply acting as a custom firmware -- à la CyanogenMod 9 on Android handsets. There are, however, a few traits that devs haven't been able to mimic, which include core services like the App Store (though, you can install apps via iTunes on your home machine), Notification Center and iCloud. So, for those of you clinging to your outdated hardware while you wait for the "next big thing," you can at least freshen up its features (at your own risk) with a coat of whitewash at the source below.
Android-style FaceUnlock ported to iOS (video)
Just because it's CES doesn't mean that other amazing innovations aren't going on elsewhere. We've spotted this video of an app being built (from scratch) for iOS that duplicates the FaceUnlock technology we know and love on Android 4.0. Simply stick your face in view of the camera and it'll start identifying your fizzog -- with live detection and rejection all demoed in the clip we've got after the break. From the video, it's promised to make a trip to the App Store soon, hopefully without earning the ire of the retail guardians of Cupertino.
Hackers planning homespun anti-censorship satellite internet
SOPA is making ordinary, decent internet users mad as hell, and they're not gonna take it anymore. Hacker attendees of Berlin's Chaos Communication Congress are cooking up a plan to launch a series of homemade satellites as the backbone of an "uncensorable (sic) internet in space." Like all good ideas, there's a few hurdles to overcome first: objects in lower-Earth orbit circle the earth every 90 minutes, useless for a broadband satellite that needs to remain geostationary. Instead, a terrestrial network of base stations will have to be installed in order to remain in constant contact as it spins past, at the cost of €100 ($130) per unit. The conference also stated a desire to get an amateur astronaut onto the moon within 23 years, which we'd love to see, assuming there's still a rocket fuel store on eBay.
CyanogenMod 9 may feature a 4G LTE toggle switch for the Verizon Galaxy Nexus
We were slightly disappointed when we discovered the Verizon-branded Samsung Galaxy Nexus didn't come with an easily-accessible LTE toggle switch, but we had a feeling it wouldn't be long before the development community came in with an acceptable solution. Thanks to Gregory Sarrica, we may be seeing a fast toggle button for the next-gen internet connectivity included in a future build of CyanogenMod 9. According to Gregory, it's getting tested right now and still needs to be reviewed before it gets accepted into the build, but he hopes it'll show up in builds as early as next week. There's no guarantees yet, of course, but he's provided us with video evidence of the new functionality to whet our appetites for now.[Thanks, @gsarrica]
Mimo Magic Touch screen combined with WP7 emulator to make impromptu Windows Phone tablet
When Mimo's Magic Touch monitor came out it was pitched as just that: a secondary, USB-powered display. But Windows Phone developer Social Ebola immediately eyed it as a potential programming tool. In a video demo, you can watch him drag and drop an emulator onto the Mimo display, and use it as the WP7 tablet we always wanted. As you can see, the emulator doesn't fit the Magic Touch's 10-inch screen perfectly, but gestures like scrolling and pinch to zoom seem buttery smooth from where we're sitting. Self-explanatory, yes, but oh-so mesmerizing. Have a look for yourself, just past the break.
iOS apps shown running on Apple TV at 720p in new video demo
We've seen a jailbroken Apple TV running iOS apps but admittedly, the last demo we were treated to was brief, dimly lit and light on commentary. Now, the developers behind the Apple TV MobileX project are back with a longer, more explanatory video, and this time you can see apps like Facebook, YouTube, Safari and Maps running at 720p resolution. As you can see, the hack generally runs smoothly, though the dev narrating the video is quick to admit that certain apps such as Safari are sluggish due to the fact that he's using VNC instead of a direct input method like a remote or mouse and keyboard. Curious? We've got video of the setup just past the break.
