A new report from reputable sources says that Apple will finally deliver a multi-tasking manager for the iPhone in OS 4.0.

According to AppleInsider, “people with a proven track record in predicting Apple’s technological advances” say that the company has developed a “full-on solution” to multitasking for the iPhone OS.

From a user-facing perspective, Apple plans to deliver a multi-tasking manager that leverages interface technology already bundled with its Mac OS X operating system, according to those same people. Read more…

App Store clutter remains an ongoing issue. In addition to “business card” applications that offer little or no functionality beyond a simple web page^[1], there are lite editions, demo editions, full editions, and even in the case of Tweetie 2, completely new applications providing upgraded functionality.

Each of those applications must be registered with a unique app identifier, each one takes up a separate slot when installed on your iPhone’s home screen, each application occupies a separate App Store listing, complete with its own screen shots, marketing material, reviews, and so forth. Each one must be managed by you in iTunes, where you must decide which to sync, which to keep, and so forth. Read more…

A new corporate job listing implies Apple’s iPhone OS could become the interface for new hardware beyond the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch in the future.

Last week, Apple revealed it is looking to hire an engineering manager to work at its corporate headquarters in Cupertino, Calif. The full-time job would lead a team responsible for the architecture, firmware, core drivers and bring-up of new hardware based on the iPhone OS.

“The Core Platform team within Apple’s Core OS organization is looking for a talented and inspired manager to lead a team focused on bring-up of iPhone OS on new platforms,” the job listing reads.
Read more…

Having Google as the default search engine on the iPhone is rumored to earn Apple more than $100 million per year in a revenue sharing deal between the two companies, a new report alleges.

Downplaying rumors that Apple could be working on its own search engine, Silicon Alley Insider cited an anonymous source Thursday as stating that the iPhone maker has no intention of getting into the business that Google dominates. That same source claimed that Apple earns more than $100 million a year in a revenue sharing deal with Google. Read more…

Released last Tuesday, iPhone OS 3.1.3 was a minor update, bringing a battery reporting fix, fixing an issue where third-party applications would not launch, and patching a number of security holes. In its first six days of release, an estimated 14 percent of users opted to upgrade, mobile ad group Medialets reported Monday.

As of Feb. 6, most iPhone users — 72.3 percent — were still running iPhone OS 3.1.2, while 3.1.1 has 0.8 percent of users, and 3.1.0 has 4.6 percent. About 13 percent of total users are running a version prior to 3.1.2. Read more…

The iPhone Dev-Team has released PwnageTool 3.1.5 for Mac OS X which lets some iPhones upgrade safely to the 3.1.3 firmware.

Using PwnageTool to upgrade will preserve your jailbreak and ultrasn0w unlock. If you are using the blacksn0w unlock at baseband 05.11.07 you will need to stay at 3.1.2.

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iPhone 3GS users (regardless of unlock) should stay away from this and all 3.1.3 jailbreak tools unless you know you have your “SHSH hashes” backed up via Cydia. That’s because if you make a mistake you may find yourself stuck at official 3.1.3 with no way to jailbreak or come back down to 3.1.2 to jailbreak. Read more…

The content of Fingerworks.com has been removed this week after remaining online for nearly 5 years after the acquisition of the company by Apple. The removal seems to correspond with the impending announcement of an Apple tablet later this month. One possible explanation is that Apple will finally be implementing many of the same advanced multi-touch keyboard gestures that were originally pioneered by Fingerworks.

Up until last week, Fingerworks.com retained photographs and details about their multi-touch keyboards and gesture pads they released for Macs years ago. In fact an old press release describes the benefits of their Multi-Touch system in a combination keyboard/touchpad: Read more…

MuscleNerd is reporting that he has recovered the long lost source code to redsn0w and may update it to support 3.1.2.

yay, managed to recover the long lost source code to redsn0w ..will port it to 3.1.2FW if there’s any interest (mac+win+linux)

Redsn0w is an easy to use, multi-platform, multi-device jailbreaking and unlocking tool for the iPhone 2G (original iPhone), the iPhone 3G/3GS and also the iPod touch (first and second generation). It is available for Linux, Mac OS X and Windows but has not been updated for the latest firmware.

*Update: Looks like Redsn0w will be updated and get a new boot logo feature. Take a look at the screenshot below…

*Update 2: Seems PwnageTool will be ported to Windows and Linux as well.

Via iclarified.com

A few days ago, the BTStack keyboard package was released to Cydia. This package, which we posted about recently, allows owners of jailbroken iPhones to use a Bluetooth keyboard with their iPhone 3G or 3GS, or 2nd generation or later iPod touch. The package is available for US$5.00 from Cydia.

Since the iPhone was first introduced, there have been efforts to bring support for external accessories. The iPhone 3.0 external accessory framework allowing accessories that connect to the universal dock connector or use Bluetooth has been closed, and only a few companies have developed accessories using the framework. The BTStack project by Matthias Ringwald offers a more complete and open Bluetooth stack for jailbroken iPhones. The stack has even been used with an iPhone and a Wii Remote over Bluetooth. Read more…

A major US defense contractor announced an iPhone app yesterday that it would make available to support troops in the field. One Force Tracker is an app developed by Raytheon that uses the phone’s GPS to track friendly and unfriendly forces, show their positions on real time maps and provide secure communications. Raytheon – otherwise known as the world’s largest producer of guided missiles – noted that the app can also be used by first responders like police, firemen, and emergency medical technicians.
Read more…