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Sony Ericsson's Android bootloader unlocking site goes live, modders rejoice
As promised, Sony Ericsson has just flipped the switch for its Android bootloader unlocking service, meaning those with an unbranded Xperia device from 2011 and onwards -- Play, Arc, Neo, and Pro so far -- will be able to try out custom ROMs and other dirty mods with ease. All that's required here is your phone's IMEI number, which in return gives you the unlocking key to go with the Android SDK's fastboot program -- all will be clear once you've read the instructions at the source link. But remember: SE does warn that this service may void your warranty if all goes pear-shaped, so just be careful, won't ya?
Websites now offering hack-free iPhone unlocking
Over the past few weeks several websites have popped up that allow iPhone owners to unlock their phones without a jailbreak or hack... for a substantial fee. The sites CutYourSim and Negri Electronics are advertising "permanent" iPhone unlocks, while the sites UnlockBase and GSMPhoneSource are offering "unlock" services. Prices for unlocking your iPhone range from between US$170 and $180. What's interesting about these unlock approaches is that they don't require any hacks or jailbreaks; per iPhone jailbreak hacker MuscleNerd, they appear to directly access Apple's database and add IMEI device identifiers to it, which then tells iTunes to unlock the iPhone the next time it is plugged in. CutYourSim even states that unlocking through them will not affect the warranty status of your iPhone, as this is an "official iPhone unlock." Readers who choose to go down this route should be extremely careful, however. Though two of the sites advertise the unlock as permanent, it is possible Apple can tell which IMEI device identifiers were unlocked using these third-party websites. If it can, it's possible Apple could choose to relock the phones. Also, if these websites actually have access to Apple's databases, I expect the sites to be shut down within the next few days. Something tells me Apple Legal isn't going to take kindly to this. [via MacRumors]
Sony Ericsson will let you unlock the bootloader on new Xperia Android phones -- subject to conditions
While one group of Android phone makers is swinging towards locking their hardware down, Sony Ericsson is resolutely headed in the other direction. The Swedo-Japanese consortium has just announced it will provide a secure and legal way for eager Android hackers to gain full control of the bootloader on some of its upcoming 2011 Xperia line of phones. All four models are covered, the Xperia Play, Neo, Pro, and Arc, however you have to make sure you buy a handset that isn't SIM-locked to a carrier and then there are territorial considerations to take into account. Warranties may still be voided by fooling around with your Xperia's software (again, depends on individual handsets and markets) and SE warns gravely of the potential for "physical injuries or material damage" if you freak your Android into overheating or worse. So proceed with caution, but know that Sony Ericsson is by your side*. * Subject to terms and conditions, repair charges may be incurred, Android upgrades are promised but never guaranteed.
Gevey SIM provides janky but jailbreak-free unlock for iPhone 4 on iOS 4.3
If you've updated your iPhone 4 to iOS 4.2.1 or above, you might be aware that there is currently no unlocking software available for the accompanying basebands. Naturally, we'd imagine the Dev-Team will soon provide a remedy for this lack of freedom, but for now, Gevey has you covered... somewhat. For $70, this imposter SIM promises to unlock, without the need to jailbreak, all the current basebands found embedded within 4.0 - 4.3. In the video after the break, it appears multiple -- and frankly, just plain inconvenient -- steps are required to get the kit working on your iPhone. What's more, apparently you'll need to do all of this again if you switch off the phone. Oh, and we should mention this involves snipping off a corner on your SIM card, and carriers tend not to like that. Our recommendation regarding this contraption? If you're absolutely in the need of a carrier unlock and have the cash, proceed with caution. Otherwise, patience is your answer.
Motorola will upgrade your Xoom to 4G LTE -- even if you've rooted it
Happy news for Android tinkerers everywhere -- Motorola has officially confirmed it will attempt to perform its 4G upgrade on all Verizon Wireless-riding Xoom tablets it receives from users, whether they've been rooted, repainted, or accessorized with fluffy dice. Naturally, the company can't guarantee successful software updates on devices that have had their OS tweaked, so it asks users to be kind and rewind to the original firmware state. For those unwilling to stretch that far back, Moto will still give it a shot and says that it'll install the 4G LTE modem at a minimum. What a refreshingly open-minded attitude. Now if Moto could give us an open-minded bootloader on its phones as well, we'd be all set.
Apple adds pattern locking to an iPhone app that you can't have?
The nine-dot pattern lock option is one of those uniquely Android things -- it's been there ever since the G1, and even if you don't personally use it, odds are good that you recognize it. So when we see it on an iPhone -- apparently on an app used by Apple internally -- you can appreciate why we're going to do a double take. What you're looking at here is one of several screens obtained by 9 to 5 Mac, allegedly showing a version of Apple's employee-only AppleConnect app with support for pattern locking to keep prying eyes out. It seems that the app enforces some minimum gesture length to constitute a secure lock -- and considering some of the forensic science going on there, we bet it's gotta be pretty long. Of course, none of these means we'll see the feature show up in an actual iOS build, but the site says that the company's testing the mechanism in other internal tools... and if nothing else, Apple seems to be acknowledging that lock patterns aren't a terrible idea. [Thanks, Jacob]
Motorola bucks its own trend, leaves Xoom bootloader unlockable
Pretty much everything coming out of Moto these days is saddled with a tightly-locked bootloader paired with one tamper-resistant scheme or another, making custom kernels -- the lifeblood of the phone hacking community -- tricky at best, nigh impossible at worst. Of course, there was a glimmer of hope last month when the company said that it was working on a solution that'd cater to the developer community, and it looks like the Xoom might be bearing some of that fruit: the bootloader can be unlocked and relocked at will. Now, we're thinking that Moto might've loosened the reigns a bit here simply because the Xoom is running a completely bone-stock build of Android and, as Honeycomb's launch device, Google might be showing some influence behind the scenes (the Nexus One and Nexus S both have unlockable bootloaders, for instance)... but it's a good sign. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Telus to start unlocking phones for $50
Mirroring an iPhone program kicked off by Rogers and subsidiary Fido not long ago, Canada's Telus Mobility is going to start offering to unlock "most" of its branded iDEN and HSPA devices for CAD $50 (about $50) -- the only catch is that you will have had to own the device for at least 90 days before pulling the trigger. For the record, T-Mobile USA has a storied reputation for doing this gratis if you ask nicely -- but businesses are businesses, and a new revenue stream is a new revenue stream. The move makes it easy for you to use a foreign SIM if you're traveling internationally, or -- if you're willing to eat an ETF -- take the phone to another domestic carrier well before your contract (which may be as long as three years in Canada) expires. Follow the break for the release.
Nokia Bubbles lets you intelligently unlock your N8 in a pop
The humble unlock screen gets ever fancier, and Nokia Bubbles is one of the fanciest we've seen yet. Like a variety of aftermarket lock screens it enables you to control your media player or initiate calls before you even unlock your handset, but does so in an interesting way. You just grab the bubble for what you want and drop it on what you want to do. A simple unlock entails dragging the key onto the lock, and if you have a missed call you can grab that person's bubble and drag it to a phone to call them right back. Grab the music bubble to go straight to the music player and, well, you get the picture. Okay, so it's not quite as much fun as playing Puzzle Bobble, but it is ever so slightly more useful. Check it out in the video below, or go ahead and give it a download if you're on Symbian. [Thanks, pyry]
RIFT pre-orders rewarded with exclusive Team Fortress 2 unlocks
Through regular closed beta events and frequent information reveals, Trion Worlds has really been pushing the word out on its upcoming fantasy MMO RIFT. The game's marketing campaign has taken a bit of an unexpected turn today with the announcement of a promotional partnership between the upcoming MMO and Valve's Team Fortress 2. Steam users who pre-order RIFT during the month of February or who have already purchased the game through Steam, will be given two limited-edition weapons in Team Fortress 2. The "Sharpened Volcano Fragment" and "Sun-on-a-stick" are exclusive melee weapons available only to RIFT pre-order customers. In return, Valve is adding a new achievement to Team Fortress 2 that unlocks an exclusive item in RIFT. The Riftwalker achievement will grant TF2 players a code, which can be redeemed through the RIFT account management page. An exclusive headcrab-based headpiece, the "Well Spun Hat," will then be delivered in-game during RIFT's headstart period for pre-order customers on February 24th. This unusual promotion has left many of us here at Massively scratching our heads in confusion, but with the popularity of Valve's Team Fortress 2, it could prove to be a very successful move.
Windows Phone 7 jailbreak devs 'genuinely excited' by Microsoft's roadmap
Microsoft's been playing it really cool with the nascent Windows Phone 7 hacker community so far, which is winning them friends in all sorts of important places -- not the least of which is the ChevronWP7 team itself. The first guys to split the platform open for homebrew apps were recently invited up to Redmond for a powwow with the guys in charge, and it seems the meetings were fruitful to say the least; though much of what they saw was under NDA, they say they're "genuinely excited" by what Microsoft has in the works. Furthermore, Microsoft was kind enough to give the team a heads-up that an upcoming platform update would break the existing ChevronWP7 tool, though they say they're "collaborating with Microsoft on an interim solution that will continue to support homebrew developments after the update." Considering that they've already reached out to jailbreaker extraordinaire Geohot as well, it's clear that Microsoft doesn't believe this is a black-and-white situation -- the ChevronWP7 guys seem to think homebrew has a place somewhere in the platform's future, it just remains to be seen how that's going to play out.
How to keep your unlocked HTC WP7 device from re-locking after every sync
Okay, so the WP7 hacking community may not be quite as active as that working tirelessly to keep every facet of Android devices splayed to the breeze, but that's not to say there isn't a skilled group of tinkerers doing their best on Microsoft's best. ChevronWP7 is a clear example of that, and though it's been officially pulled it is still quite certainly being used. Now its functionality has been extended with a second hack that enables you to use Zune to sync your HTC handset without it getting all locked up tight again. You can find all the details on the other end of the source link below, but we'll go ahead and warn you that as soon as the next WP7 version drops this particular unlock will be disabled. Then it'll be on to the next one.
T-Mobile Netherlands starts offering free iPhone unlocks
We know exactly what Canada's Rogers is thinking right now: "c'mon, T-Mobile, you guys are leaving money on the table!" Though Rogers and its Fido subsidiary are charging CAD $50 to unlock an iPhone, T-Mobile's Dutch division is now willing to do it gratis, citing the fact that multiple Dutch carriers now offer the iPhone and they no longer feel the need to keep it SIM-locked. Refreshing attitude, isn't it? As of January 12th, newly-activated iPhones on T-Mobile Netherlands are unlocked automatically; existing customers can call into customer service to get an unlock now, or wait until February for a do-it-yourself method. Of course, the irony is that when a carrier treats you that well, you don't really want to leave -- but this'll be a great option for folks that do a lot of roaming and don't care to go the ultrasn0w route. [Thanks, Gijs]
Visualized: the glamorous lifestyles of WP7 jailbreakers (update: Geohot crashes the party)
To be a jailbreaker means different things depending on the device that you're busy hacking preinstalled walls from. If you're fiddling with consoles, a legal team would come highly recommended, but if you're tweaking mobile code, at least Windows Phone mobile code, you're in for a much sweeter ride. The ChevronWP7 guys that brought us the first jailbreak of Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 are currently in Redmond having a sitdown and a frank exchange of views with WP7 dev experience director Brandon Watson, and the amicable nature of their discourse has been evidenced by the image above. Microsoft is clearly taking a light-hearted and community-friendly approach to handling the (now inevitable) efforts at disabling limitations to its software and we can only congratulate its mobile team for doing so. [Thanks, Tasos] Update: Looks like Microsoft's softie approach really is working. Shortly after the jolly news, notorious hacker Geohot announced on his website that he's going to treat himself to a WP7 device; but before long, Redmond's already reached out to offer him a free handset. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
HTC 7 Pro now available on O2 Germany, €22 monthly or €599 up front
Not that we had any reason to doubt O2 Germany's Twitter account, but a formal press release does help ease our few concerns. The HTC 7 Pro is now official on the European carrier for the asking price of €29 down and 24 months of €22.50. If you want to rip the proverbial band-aid off faster, it's also available for a €599 flat fee -- both of those without SIM lock. The rest of the world? We imagine it's just a matter of time before HTC offers this through its other channels.
Research shocker! Keyless car entry systems can be hacked easily, elegantly
We know you are vigilant enough not to trust your car's security to a wireless system, but plenty of other folks like the convenience of putting away the metallic keys and getting into their vehicles with a bit of Bond-like swagger. Professor Srdjan Capkun of ETH Zurich found himself perched on the fence between these two groups when he recently purchased a vehicle with a keyless entry system, so he did what any good researcher would: he tried to bypass its security measures. In total, he and his team tested 10 models from eight car makers and their results were pretty conclusive: each of the tested vehicles was broken into and driven away using a very simple and elegant method. Keyless entry systems typically work by sending a low-powered signal from the car to your key fob, with the two working only when they're near each other, but the wily Zurich profs were able to intercept and extend that signal via antennas acting as repeaters, resulting in your key activating your car even when it's nowhere near it. The signal-repeating antennae have to be pretty close to both the key and the car, but that's why heist movies stress the importance of teamwork. Hit the source link for all the chilling details.
Remote HD brings AirPlay to older Apple TVs
Well, we did not see that coming. Although there's been a flurry of development around the AirPlay service for iOS 4.2 devices, iTunes and the current iOS-based Apple TV model, expectations for ever seeing the instant-play capability on the older Mac OS X-based Apple TV models were quite low. Of course, where official support is not forthcoming, enter the legions of eager hackers. The team at FireCore (producers of the aTV Flash unlock & enhancement suite for both original and new Apple TVs) have relayed the news today that the Remote HD iPhone app (US$3.99), when paired with an unlocked first-gen Apple TV, enables AirPlay video playback from iOS 4.2 devices to the older ATV models. Audio-only streaming isn't in this build, but is coming soon. You can unlock your Apple TV 1st-gen using the open-source atvusb creator, or with the $40 full-featured aTV Flash product. It's not clear exactly how the Remote HD device-side plug-in is performing this fancy trick, but we'll try to get word from them and expand upon it soon. Meanwhile, if you've got an unlocked original ATV, check it out! Thanks to Pratik & Tomek for the tip.
Bad Company 2's Operation Hastings map unlocked for PS3 and Xbox 360 players
Although PS3 and Xbox 360 players didn't quite measure up to the challenge, DICE has unlocked the final map of the Battlefield Vietnam expansion, Operation Hastings, for everyone. PC players were able to get up to the requisite 69 million team actions in a matter of days, far outpacing console players (with 34 and 46 million actions, respectively). The sudden change of plans is apparently to "start this new year with a big of a bang as we ended it." Well, what are you waiting for? Time to start playing that map you all (sort of) worked for! [Thanks, Zach!]
AMD Radeon HD 6950 can be turned into an HD 6970 using a BIOS hack
Ah, the joy of getting something for nothing -- that's what this time of year is all about, right? The techPowerUp! guys seem to think so, and they've got the perfect gift for all you thrifty PC gaming enthusiasts: a BIOS flash for the Radeon HD 6950 that unlocks the full potential of its hardware (in other words, it turns it into an HD 6970). We already knew the two retail SKUs were built on the same Cayman core, but this hack confirms that all the 6950's performance handicaps have been enacted in software rather than hardware, leaving you all to flip a switch, click a few confirmatory dialogs, and get your game on. You should be aware that the retail 6970 card uses an 8-pin and a 6-pin connector for its auxiliary power whereas the 6950 only has a pair of 6-pin intakes, which might cause trouble under extreme loads, and there's also the fact that you'll most likely be hacking your warranty away together with your GPU's limitations. But hey, you can't make eggnog without cracking a few eggs.
Samsung launches improved network config tool for unlocked Windows Phone 7 handsets
Out of the box, many Windows Phone 7 devices aren't really equipped to deal with the reality that you might want to use a network other than the one the phone launched on. The oversight sort of makes sense since Microsoft's launches have been closely tied to carriers so far -- but it's still an oversight that needs to be fixed on the double. Indeed, they're working on a fix -- probably to be included in future firmware revisions, we'd guess -- but in the meantime, Samsung has followed HTC's and LG's suit by releasing an app that keeps your MMS functional when you insert a third-party SIM. The version that Sammy had let loose previously apparently didn't work too well, but an update this week promises to handle its business a little better -- though as you might expect, it explicitly warns you that it may not work if you're on a contract (and presumably locked) phone.
