iOS 5 jailbroken

See those Cydia and iSSH icons? How about the Reminders and Newstand apps, see those? What you’re looking at is the harmonious coexistence of hacks and Apple’s virgin iOS 5 beta release running on a 4th generation iPod touch. In other words, MuscleNerd and Co are letting us know that iOS 5 presents few surprises so far when its comes to closing the existing holes exploited by the tethered limera1n jailbreak.

Update: It’s worth mentioning that limera1n is a bootrom exploit that Apple can’t patch on the iPod touch through firmware alone. The real test of the Dev Team’s wits will be an untethered jailbreak for the iPad 2.

Halo 4 Announced (Video)

As well as showing off the new Kinect Star Wars at yesterdays E3 Microsoft also announced a number of other games that will be coming to the Xbox 360, one of those is the fourth installment in the Halo saga, Halo 4.

The previous Halo games were produced by Bungie for Microsoft, but the two companies have now parted company and Halo 4 is being produced by 343 Industries for Microsoft.

It looks like we will have to wait until next year to get our hands on Halo 4, it is due to be released for the Holiday of 2012, so we presume that means before Christmas of 2012.

Dust 514 Persistent Shooter, Connects With EVE Online, E3 Trailer (video)

At E3 EVE Online developer CCP Games has showcased new footage of their new first person persistent shooter game Dust 514 they are currently developing that will be linked with the MMOPG game EVE Online.

Dust 514 is an upcoming console-based MMOFPS and will be the first developed by CCP Games since the launch of EVE Online, and will feature users fighting ground battles in wars on planets in within the EVE Online gaming universe. Watch the video after the break to see gameplay and the E3 demo.

All the battles within Dust 514 will determine who controls various planets in the EVE universe, and users in DUST 514 will be able to interact with gamers within the EVE universe by providing mercenary assistance when required. All for a fee of course.

 

Gears of War limited edition Xbox 360 paints the town crimson, coming September 20th for $400

The E3 2011 announcements from Microsoft just keep on coming, though this one’s a little more superficial than the rest. An Xbox 360 console, specially refashioned with a set of blood-red Gears of War 3 visuals, is set to launch on September 20th, equipped with a 320GB hard drive, two matching wireless controllers, and the obligatory copy of its headline game (plus some DLC goodies). The whole bundle will set buyers back $400, but if you already have a 360 of your own and just want one of those snazzy-looking crimson controllers, your wait and expense will be significantly reduced — you’ll be able to buy the GOW3 control pads for $60 on August 11th. See a closeup of it after the break.

Joystiq

Photographer Caras Ionut #Photography

Xbox 360 Wireless Speed Wheel will arrive in early October for $60, give you something to hold on to

Microsoft’s Kinect motion controls may be infiltrating all sorts of games at this year’s E3, but the Xbox maker isn’t neglecting those in need of a more tangible control scheme. A new Wireless Speed Wheel has just been revealed, with a reasonable $60 price tag and an early October launch date. As you see above, it’s technically three-fourthsof a wheel, but that does allow for extra green bands of lights to be applied and, slightly more importantly, a set of directional and action buttons to be added to the handles of this steering implement. There’s a rumble pack inside for force feedback and a pair of trigger buttons on the underside for smashing the gas or dabbing the brakes. Another image after the break.

Sony's 24-inch 'PlayStation' 3D display first hands-on!

We knew you were dying to know what Sony was planning with those stereoscopic multiplayer display patents last year, so we took a look at Sony’s new PlayStation-branded 3D display, just for you. True to its schtick, the stereoscopic display simultaneously displays two separate full screen images, hidden behind the smoke and mirrors of active shutter 3D technology — while suffering only a minimal amount of ghosting. The dual-full-screen trick will only work with PlayStation 3 games specifically programmed to make use of the feature, and although none have been announced yet, we wouldn’t be surprised if pack-in title Resistance 3 is compatible. Staff couldn’t say if the games featured in the demo video, Motorstorm Apocalypse and Wipeout, would be updated to support this feature. While the demo units we saw performed their trick reasonably well, visible ghosting and flat, muted colors give us some reservations about that competitive $499 price tag.

Acer announces redesigned Aspire TimelineX Series laptops, prices start at $599

If Acer’s current Aspire TimelineX notebooks look a little too dull for your tastes, have a peek at that industrial-looking number in the picture above. The company just redesigned its line of skinny laptops, and refreshed them with Sandy Bridge processors while it was at it. The 13.1-inch 3830T, 14-inch 4830T, and 15.6-inch 5830T all have that two-tone aluminum design (also available in black), along with USB 3.0, a choice of Core i3 and Core i5 CPUs, and Acer’s clear.fi software for sharing media among DLNA devices. The 14- and 15.6-inch versions have onboard optical drives and number pads, and, on select models, you can choose a discrete NVIDIA GeForce GT520M or GT540M card. However, the screen resolution is going to be 1366 x 768 regardless of which you pick. The 3830T, 4830T, and 5830T are available now, starting at $799, $699, and $599, respectively, and you can find specs for a handful of models after the break.

Apple iOS 5 hands-on preview

iOS 5 won’t be ready for the masses until this Fall, but lucky developers — and eager tech bloggers — are able to get in on the action right now. We just got done downloading the 730MB BETA, and have decided to turn our iPhone 4 and iPad 2 into guinea pigs for all the newness. Apple says that there are over 200 new features baked into the updated OS, and we’ve run through the biggies from Notification Center to Twitter to that oh-so-convenient split keyboard for you — all you need to do is click after the break.

Sony's PlayStation Vita official: $249 for WiFi, $299 for 3G

Details about Sony’s new handheld have been trickling out for months in the form of spec sheets and fantastic footage of its quad core capabilities. But we didn’t know how much it would cost or when we could get our grubby paws on one, and now we know: $249 for WiFi, or $299 for the 3G model, which Sony’s Kaz Hirai confirmed will be available exclusively through AT&T, with both models shipping worldwide toward the end of 2011. Prices are (Prices are 24,980 and 29,980 yen in Japan, euro 249 and euro 299 in Europe.)

The device, also known as the PSVita, also offers six-axis motion sensors, dual analog controls (proper ones, with thumbsticks), front- and rear-facing cameras, an OLED touchscreen, and a touchpad on the back too. The company showed off a number of top-tier titles, including Uncharted: Golden Abyss, a hack-and-slash RPG called Ruin, a new ModNation Racers, LittleBigPlanet, and Street Fighter x Tekken, each showing off plenty of motion and touch interactivity to make it really feel like the next generation in gaming. They’re all looking quite good, and honestly a bit more advanced than what the 3DS has delivered so far — for the same money.

Sony introduces PlayStation-brand 3D monitor and 3D glasses, bundle available for $499

Jack Tretton just announced PS3 gamers can get into the 3D game for much less this fall when the company launches a 24-inch monitor and active shutter LCD glasses under the PlayStation brand. $499 gets the monitor, a pair of glasses, an HDMI cable and a copy of Resistance, while additional pairs of glasses — which are compatible with TVs from other manufacturers and can be used to give two split-screen gamers their own full screen view — are $69. That’s a competitive package to be sure, but many will likely still need to be convinced slipping on the specs is worthwhile, and competitors like Vizio are slipping passive 3D glasses TVs in with similar price points and similar features.

Update: Sony has issued a press release (included after the break) with full specs: it’s a 1080p edge LED lit LCD with two HDMI inputs, stereo speakers, an integrated subwoofer and claims to be the first display at this size with “quad speed frame sequential display technology”. The glasses charge via USB and will be available at the same time as the screen this fall.

Sony's PS3 claims the lead in Netflix streaming, adds VOD from Best Buy's CinemaNow

Sony planned the PlayStation 3 from the start as a movie playing powerhouse, but it may not have predicted so many would end up using it for Netflix streaming. CEO Jack Tretton just hit the stage at the company’s E3 keynote to announce it is the leading Netflix streamer, accounting for 30% of the video watched on the service. While this is somewhat surprising maybe it shouldn’t be — consoles far outpace other TV connected streamers in install base, and between the Xbox 360, Wii, and Sony’s box, the PS3 is the only one that lets you watch without an additional subscription and in HD. Also announced is a new partnership bringing video on-demand movies from the Best Buy-owned CinemaNow service. With any luck, the retail giant will add a subscription element or partner with Redbox and make this interesting, but until then it’s just another footnote on the list of providers currently offered on the PS3.

Mozilla's Webian Shell interface will cloak your OS in a browser (video)

With Google’s fleet of Chromebooks making their way to market, Mozilla Labs has decided to release a similarly browser-based desktop interface, known as the Webian Shell. As of now, the prototype app consists of a screen-encompassing web browser, which essentially replaces your desktop interface. There’s an address bar running across the top of the screen, a clock in the bottom right corner, and a tab button for all your web apps. Developed as part of the company’s Mozilla Chromeless project, the tool was written entirely in HTML, CSS and JavaScript and, unlike Chrome OS, is designed to run on top of existing operating systems, rather than replace them. For now, the Shell is still in an early phase of development, looks pretty spartan and can’t control a system’s hardware. Mozilla, however, says it has plans to incorporate multiple home screens, split screen views and an on-screen keyboard, among other features. Windows, Linux and Mac OS X users can download the Shell now, from the source link. Otherwise, you can just head past the break to see a brief demo video.

Nyko cures Kinect's farsightedness, brings bountiful battery life and alarm clock capability to the 3DS

E3 2011 is upon us, and you know what that means, a heaping helping of new gaming gear from Nyko. Zoom for Kinect is a set of clip-on specs that lets you get 40 percent closer to the sensor bar with no loss of function — so the studio apartment set can get in on the gesture gaming craze. Nyko’s Play Clock is a charging dock for Nintendo’s 3DS that doubles as an alarm clock, because you always wanted to turn your 3DS into an alarm clock. Nintendo’s new handheld could definitely use some longer battery life, however, so the company’s also rolling out three new extended battery packs for the 3DS. There’s the Shock n’ Rock that brings thrice the juice, “added vibration feedback,” and four speakers to your personal gaming party, while the Power Grip is an ergonomic external battery that also triples the 3DS’ battery life. Lastly, the Game Boost battery simply snaps on for an extra hour or two of gameplay. Prices and availability remain unsaid, but there’s eye candy in the gallery below and PR’s after the break.

Huawei teases MediaPad, gives its other tablets a complex

Huawei stopped just short of using the word “magical” when it sent out a note teasing its forthcoming MediaPad tablet (it’s probably for the best, we’re told some other company has that market cornered). The Shenzhen-based manufacturer did promise a device “guaranteed to transform” your entertainment experience, however — hyperbole that’s not particularly surprising for a company with a propensity for spicing up public statements with quotes from our 16th president. Not a heck of a lot to announce in the spec department, aside from this being Huawei’s “smartest” and smallest tablet — and certainly it does seem pint-sized in the above shot, or else that’s a watch face worthy of Flavor Flav. We’ll know more when the company webcasts the official announcement on June 20th, ahead of Singapore’s CommunicAsia conference. In the meantime, how about an old fashioned Honeycomb upgrade, to keep the S7 Pro’s spirits high?

Apple announces iTunes in the Cloud, iTunes Match

Apple has just announced its long-awaited cloud-based music service: iTunes in the Cloud. While not a streaming music service as some had speculated, it will let you download any music you’ve purchased to all of your devices at no additional charge — something Steve Jobs notes is a first for the music industry. All new music you purchase can also automatically be downloaded and pushed to up to ten different devices — and, as with the other apps that make up the broader iCloud service, it’s completely free, with a beta version available today (in the US only, unfortunately).

What’s more, Apple has also announced a complementary iTunes Match service that will let you put your existing collection of ripped CDs in the cloud. That’s done by scanning your library and matching songs to the versions Apple already has (a DRM-free 256kbps AAC file), rather than uploading everything — a process Apple notes takes “minutes,” not “weeks” — although songs willbe uploaded in cases where there is no match. It will run you $24.99 a year (for up to 25,000 songs, apparently), and promises to give you all of the “same benefits as music purchased from iTunes” when it launches sometime this fall.

Apple

iCloud unveiled at WWDC, free for all 9 cloud apps, MobileMe RIP

Apple tipped its hat early, but now we have the details from the man himself. “iCloud stores your content in the cloud and wirelessly pushes it to all your device. It automatically uploads it, stores it, and pushes it to all your devices.” And by “automatically,” he means it: in addition to every day content, such as purchased music, iBooks, photos and videos, device settings, and app data that will be automatically backed up over WiFi, Documents in the Cloud will effortlessly sync Pages, Numbers, and Keynote data between all of your iOS devices. There will be no advertising (contrary to previous rumors), and calendar, mail, and contact sync is free (for up to five gigs). Also in store is the new Photo Stream cloud feature, which is essentially a gallery in Photos that exists on all of your iOS devices, Apple TV, your OS X and even your Windows PCs, and syncs through the cloud. Take a picture on your iPhone and it appears on your laptop and your iPad, and it’s stored in the cloud for thirty days. And no, your Photo Stream pics do not count towards your 5GB total. iCloud will be released concurrent with iOS 5 this fall.

If that isn’t enough, Apple has announced iTunes Match, a $25 per year service that scans your iTunes library library and populates your iTunes in the Cloud account with any of your previously bought and ripped music — in handy 256Kbps AAC, DRM-free files (as long as the titles already appear in the iTunes store).

Last but not least, MobileMe is no more. If you’re a current member, you can still access everything as usual through June 30, 2012 (according to Apple), but there will be no new enrollments. And if your subscription has auto-renewed recently? Well, we’ve received plenty of tips from readers who have received refunds this morning. So at the very least you have that to look forward too!

 

 

Apple's iOS 5: all the details (video)

Scott Forstall has just taken the WWDC 2011 stage and details about the changes and improvements in iOS 5 are flowing thick and fast. Keep one tab in your browser locked to this post as we update it with all the new features, and throw another one open for our liveblog where you’ll get to see and read the very latest as it happens.

We’ve now put together the full list of highlights from the WWDC presentation, which you’ll find after the break. iOS 5 will be made available this fall, with compatibility promised for the iPhone 4 and 3GS, iPad 1 and 2, and iPod touch 3rd and 4th generation.

Apple iOS 5 adds instant camera access from lock screen and shutter release to volume-up button

Apple’s just announced that iOS 5-enabled iPhones (and likely iPads and iPods, too) are getting a camera shortcut on the lock screen and a shutter button in the form of the volume up key — a feature that got Camera+ temporarily banned from the App Store last year on the grounds that it used unauthorized APIs. Also new to iOS: the ability to tap and hold to lock focus and exposure on a subject. Rounding out the list, Apple also added an optional grid to help frame photos, and a new photo editor with a basic feature set that includes cropping, rotating, red-eye reduction, auto-enhance features, and the ability to create albums on the device.

 

 

Apple brings deep Twitter integration to iOS

Apple’s just announced that it’s bringing deep Twitter integration to all of its iOS-based devices, and to many of its own apps, including Camera, Photos, Safari and Maps. That integration also, of course, extends to Contacts, where you’ll be able to link your contacts to their Twitter handle and keep their information updated accordingly, much like Android. You’ll also only have to sign into Twitter once (in Settings), and then simply share those credentials with any app that requests them.