How Old Google Thinks You Are (And How To Be Anonymous)

You know Google, right? Yeah, that big internet company that delivers the best online advertising service in the world. Well turns out they're good at it because they're even better at monitoring you and everything you do online.  They use cookies to monitor your web usage to see what sites you visit. That way they know what ads to show you based on what you may be interested in. 

This is copied from straight from my Ads Preferences section in my Google account:

Your demographics

We infer your age and gender based on the websites you've visited.

Age: 25-34

Gender: Male

Looks like Google is doing a pretty good job (and I'm acting my age when on a computer). Some people may "Hey! That's invasion of privacy!" Well, in all fairness, Google is not the first company to use cookies to monitor you. You know that other service called Facebook? Well let's just say they LOVE it when you use their site and then go around the internet looking at other sites. It's how they make money. That's how a lot of online services make money.

Now before you go running into your parents basement, shutting off the power to your house and start wearing a tin foil hat there are a few things you can do to prevent all this snooping.

1. You Can Opt-Out: If you go to Google's Privacy Preferences in your account you can Opt-Out. To add more piece of mind you can install the Google Chrome plug-in that will keep you opted-out of interest-based ads from all NAI member companies. 
2. Block All the Big Brothers: Use the "Choose All Companies" feature to opt out from all currently participating companies in one step. HERE

If neither one of those options let you sleep better at night, then download Tor. Tor is free software and an open network that helps you defend against a form of network surveillance that threatens personal freedom and privacy, confidential business activities and relationships, and state security known as traffic analysis.


If you have any other tips, leave them in the comments.

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Grooveshark : Does It Have Byte?

Pandora, Slacker, Spotify, Google Music...these are just a few of your many options out there to stream music to your ears wherever there is an internet connection. Grooveshark is just another player to add to that list of services...or is it?

I've been an avid user of Pandora with some Slacker thrown in there for good measure. The second I received an invite I registered for Google Music and Spotify. Google Music I used once just to test it out and haven't used it since (primarily because there isn't an iPhone app yet). Spotify I've used many times just for the pure fact that it was exclusive for a while in the U.S. and I was part of a select few of my friends who had access; which allowed me bragging rights.

I started using Grooveshark about a month ago just because I heard through the grapevine that it had a wide selection and a lot of people were wondering why it hasn't been shutdown because its use of every user's uploaded music amongst the public selection. Meaning: you upload your music, I can listen to it. This is great because then there is a vast selection of music on Grooveshark that isn't readily available on other services, but it's not so great for duplicate entries and bad music quality. Grooveshark isn't too clean when it comes to metadata since it's mostly run by the users and not governed by the creators. Don't get me wrong, there is tons of information flowing into Grooveshark's servers all the time and it would almost be near impossible to keep it all perfect, but when they don't have their #1 song's album cover art I start to wonder...

Now for listening on the go, they require you to register for their service and pay for mobile listening - but don't worry you can get a 14-day trial to test out all the glory that is Grooveshark.

PROS:

• Pick a song, listen to it.
• Upload your own music.
• Download any song for listening without an internet connection.
• Start listening to music without having to register at all.
• Social media integration.
• Take surveys to gain credit towards a Plus account (great for college students!)
• Listen in browser or via Boxee app, Android app, iPhone app (jailbroken only - kinda a con)

CONS:

•  Some music won't play on mobile app.
• Metadata isn't always correct. Missing album artwork.
• Radio stations aren't always correct (back to metadata being wrong).
• iPhone app crashes quite a bit.
• Not as streamlined and fluid listening (takes a few seconds between each song to buffer if internet isn't blazing fast).

Overall, I like Grooveshark and I want to love Grooveshark, but I can't because of a few hangups that come along with this unique music service. Hopefully they remove these tiny speedbumps because then they'd be the perfect service with limitless possibilities...or I would at least be able to an awesome Dubstep radio station that wouldn't randomly throw crappy punk bands in the mix.

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Posted in: featured,grooveshark,music,stream

Upgrade Your Home Office This Weekend

Chances are you're reading this article right now at your desk (others may be reading from their mobile devices, but this can still apply to you!), and your desk may or may not be cluttered (mine is - BUT I'M WORKING ON IT). The folks at Lifehacker are always showcasing their readers' desks and providing unique ideas to spruce up your desk and provide a clean and refreshing work environment for us "users". Here is an article provided by them that gives an overall look at many ways you can make your workspace a"funspace"; or at least a clean workspace. If you have a neat setup, I'd love to see what you got. Post it in the comments or email it to me to put up.

Click to go to Lifehacker's article

(via Upgrade Your Home Office This Weekend @ Lifehacker)

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Posted in: DIY,lifehacker,office,workspace

iOS 4.1 - 4.3.2 Jailbreak methods Summarized

I know many of you out there are thinking "Man, I love having a jailbroken iPhone/iPod/iPad but I hate having to keep updating it and then re-jailbreaking it over and over." So we often just sit and wait on one iOS through a few updates and then update to the latest one and jailbreak. I'm currently on 4.2.1 (jailbroken) on my iPhone 4 and 4.3.2 is out (with 4.3.3 on the horizon).

So I did a little searching and found that a great figure in the jailbreaking scene has summarized up many different methods to jailbreak the last few iOS updates, and that great figure goes by the name GeoHot. Here's his list with the corresponding iOS firmwares with the tutorial of how to jailbreak them on each computer OS. Enjoy...

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Posted in: apple,hack,ios,iphone,jailbreak

Now This is the Droid We're Looking For | Popular Science

Now This is the Droid We're Looking For | Popular Science

PopSci reader Brian De Vitis's R2-D2 cooler, converted into the ultimate mobile gaming 'droid with eight consoles, a projector and a sound system.
Read more @ source...

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Posted in: DIY,gaming

It Doesn't Get Much Gnarlier Than a Bullet-Time Surfing Video Shot With 52 Cameras [Video]

It Doesn't Get Much Gnarlier Than a Bullet-Time Surfing Video Shot With 52 Cameras [Video]: "

After ten years of bullet-time, you'd think the effect would be completely played out. But you haven't seen crazy surfing shot in bullet-time with 52 Canon Rebel T2is. More »"

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Posted in: canon,photography

How to Create a Portable Hackintosh on a USB Thumb Drive [Hackintosh]

How to Create a Portable Hackintosh on a USB Thumb Drive [Hackintosh]: "

There are tons of awesome live, bootable Linux systems, but what if you need to run OS X? Reader Will shows us how to put a portable version of OS X on a thumb drive and boot it on (most) Intel computers. More »"

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Posted in: hack,mac

KinEmote: Kinect gesture control for Boxee and XBMC media centers now available (video)

KinEmote: Kinect gesture control for Boxee and XBMC media centers now available (video): "

We've seen plenty of Kinect hacks over the last few weeks -- trouble is, beyond the initial wow factor they're just not very useful on a daily basis. That situation just changed, however, with the release of KinEmote, a free public beta that lets Windows users navigate XBMC and Boxee menus using nothing but hand gestures. Better yet, the software is built around OpenNI and NITE middleware from PrimeSense, the company behind the Project Natal reference gear. It certainly looks impressive in the video after the break. Good enough that we suspect many of you will hit up the source link below instead of finishing up your last minute holiday shopping -- hey, Santa can wait, this is progress!
Continue reading KinEmote: Kinect gesture control for Boxee and XBMC media centers now available (video)

KinEmote: Kinect gesture control for Boxee and XBMC media centers now available (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Dec 2010 01:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds."

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Posted in: boxee,gaming,hack,kinect

AirPlay video streaming from iOS devices hacked into Macs (video)

AirPlay video streaming from iOS devices hacked into Macs (video): "

Hey Mac home theater users, listen up -- your AirPlay wishes have come true. TUAW's very own Erica Sadun has developed a free (ad supported) 0.01 AirPlayer alpha hack that lets your Mac play host to AirPlay video streamed off of iOS devices. Right, just like an Apple TV and without requiring a Jailbreak. But as long as you're skirting official support anyway, why not install the free AirVideoEnabler app onto your jailbroken iPod touch, iPad, or iPhone to stream video from even more applications than Apple currently allows. Works for us. Everyone else can check the video after the break.
Continue reading AirPlay video streaming from iOS devices hacked into Macs (video)

AirPlay video streaming from iOS devices hacked into Macs (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 02:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds."

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Posted in: hack,ios,iphone,mac

Drop Your Cell Phone Minute Plan, Start Using Google Voice

Many have wondered Google's end game when it comes to their Google Voice (GV) venture, and how will it integrate itself with all of their many other services, such as the Android mobile phone platform, Google Docs, Gmail, their Google Apps suite, and finally their core business, search. I myself have contimplated this very subject many times, all with different conclusions spawning from what new product or service was released that given week.

However, recently my thoughts have been focused more on GV and how it will incorporate and embed itself further into their mobile phone platform all in the next few years. The instigation of this theory was brought upon by several factors; including those of comments by executives by several of the major cell phone carriers regarding the disolution of voice minute plans, the recent purchase by Google of Internet based phone service provider Gizmo5, Google's further integration of the GV application not only on their own mobile platform, but also every other mobile device and even the web. All of these tea leaves lead to one given conclusion. Google plans to be one of the first major Voice over Internet Providers (VoIP) to help consumers do away with their cell phone voice minutes plans.

Within the next 2-5 years, cell phone carriers will transtion the majority of its customers to strictly data based plans, doing away with numerical based voice minute pricing. These variable plans will be replaced with varibale data plan pricing, which currently is a flat fee with a few carriers, such as AT&T, with their $30 a month "unlimited" data plan for the iPhone. Basically, consumers will not have to worry anymore about how many minutes they use on their cell phone, but instead, how much data, or Internet traffic they are utilizing between their phone calls, email reading, facebook posting, and overall Internet usage on their mobile device.

It is not by chance that Google has entered the voice market at this time. Specifically, cell phone carriers are currently releasing the infrastrcuture to support Internet speeds faster than the standard home Internet connection, like DSL and cable, but to mobile phones and devices. Internet data over a cell phone tower will soon become faster to your mobile device than the average American connecting to their Wifi network at home or at Starbucks. By accomplishing this great feat of providing massive broadband speeds over the cell phone network, VoIP service providers, such as Vonage, RingCentral, and Google Voice will soon be able to offer unlimited voice plans over mobile phone data networks, bringing down the overall cost of connecting a voice call. In a nutshell, voice calls have morphed over the ages from fixed circuits which need to be switched manually by local operators, to Internet based data, traveling around the world in milliseconds. Voice calls will soon be stereo quality and even accompanied with high resolution video, all through your mobile device.

How far off is this technology? Well, it depends on Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T, and their promises to roll out their WiMax and LTE networks nationwide before the end of this year. Once these networks are rolled out, VoIP providers will be able to provide these same great services over mobile phones, and not use the consumers voice minute plan.

Text (txt) message plans will also be a thing of the past in the very near future, as services such as GV offer free txt messaging via the Internet and data based mobile plans.

In summary, the rapidly increasing speed of data over cell phone towers is bringing with it a massive change in how the consumer pays and monitors their cell phone bill. Very quickly the consumer will need to learn the difference between a megabyte of data, and how it equates to ten minutes of a phone conversation to a friend anywhere in the world, as the cell phone company's will not be tracking their minutes, but yet their data usage.

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Posted in: 4g,android,cell phone minutes,data plan,gizmo5,google,google apps,google voice,gv,iphone,ring central,vonage

Transformers 2...Too "Hot" for Theaters?

As I'm sure you know, Transformers 2 came out at midnight last night. So, my friends and I all went to the same theater (Edwards Theater) while a few others went to another theater because it sold out before we could all get tickets to the same place. Apparently, the effects in this movie were so "explosive" that it caused the film to BURN about 3/4 into the movie. Yep, I paid $12 / ticket to have Michael Bay not only destroy his sets but also the actual film he deployed his movie on! This wasn't just a fluke either, my buddies over at the other theater reported the same thing about the same time. At the end of the night we heard that it happened in other theaters from people around us! (Did it happen nationwide??)

So, when this burnout happened the whole place started booing and people started leaving to get their money back. I stuck around and the problem was fixed in about 10-15 minutes. When the movie ended, we (the whole theater) got in line to get free movie tickets for the inconvenience.

As for a movie review, I think the projector speaks for itself on how "hot" this movie really is.


Here's an article I found on how the graphics blew up some computers in the production process:
http://scifiwire.com/2009/06/how-the-giant-robot-fx-in.php

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Posted in: movies,transformers

Rock Band: Green Day

Green Day just confirmed on KROQ 106.7 that they are making a special Rock Band: Green Day and Billie Joe said it might be out at the end of this year.

Here's to hopes that this is true because this has been a long time coming and there are MANY people who want this to happen.I know I'm one of them.

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Posted in: gaming,green day,music,rock band

Qik: Live Stream From Your Cell

Qik.com is taking YouTubers to the next level. They have developed an application that can record video using your cell phone and then put it up automatically on the internet for the world to see. But what if "automatic upload" isn't fast enough for you. Well, then how about LIVE video? Does that make you happy? It should! Qik does just that and more.

You don't have to worry about taking up space on your phone when you record because it automatically uploads it to your profile (similar to YouTube) and the world can see what you just saw within a few seconds (there's a few seconds delay, but what'd you expect?) Then if that wasn't enough for you you can link Qik to other Social Networks like Twitter, Blogger, YouTube, Pownce, Seesmic, Mogulus, and Justin.tv. And don't worry, you can set some videos to private so only you and your friends can see.

This application works for a long list of cell phones (and of course the iPhone). They are currently working on developing Qik for more cell phones, so if your phone isn't compatible with their application right now, then GET A NEW PHONE! Seriously, this is awesome. Go signup so you'll know when you can get the application as soon as it's available for your phone. NOW! And while you're at it check out the Ones & Zeroes qik group profile. You can view my profile by clicking here or by clicking on my name in the video above.

Oh and "that guy" I refered to in the video is Robert Scoble. Right now he has 800+ Qik videos. Check him out.

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Posted in: cell,iphone,live,phone,qik,stream,video,youtube

G-off Loves Apple

So early this morning at around 2:52 AM I came to the conclusion that my iPhone was as worthless as a brick. That's right folks, my iPhone was "bricked" (all it would do was show the Apple logo and stay frozen) after I had just tried to update it to the 2.0.1 firmware at around midnight. I was hit with an Error #1604 (It was partially my fault).

I stayed up scouring the internet for ways to fix it, and every method failed.
The whole day I was panicking because I was iPhone-less. So I called the nearest Apple store and told them the situation - they informed me that their "Genius Bar" was booked until around noon tomorrow. I needed my phone fixed ASAP so I went down there after work and placed my name on the standby list. Within 45 mins I was being helped (that's quick for how busy they were) and because even the Geniuses there couldn't fix it, Apple gave me a brand new iPhone (not 3G, but one just like my old one).

HOW AWESOME IS THAT!?!?

Every time I've gone into an Apple store with some problem; they've fixed it or replaced whatever was the problem - FOR FREE!.
One time my iPhone headphones broke - they replaced them...of course.

...Apple rules...

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Posted in: apple,brick,Genius Bar,iphone,service

iPhone 2.0.1 Firmware Jailbroken

Alright, so you can tell already that here at Ones & Zeroes we're big fans of the iPhone. Primarily because we both own iPhones :)

So for those of you that want to keep updating your iPhone and keep it Jailbroken (able to install 3rd party applications that aren't available on the Official App Store) then here is an in-depth tutorial from iClarified.

There you will find how to do it and all the necessary files (the Bootloaders, the 2.0.1 firmware, and Pwnage 2.0.2 application)

Happy Hacking!

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Posted in: 2.0.1,bootloader,hack,how to,iphone,jailbreak,pwnage,tutorial

iPhone 2.0 Jaillbroken!!

OH HAPPY DAY!

Important: If you are going to follow this guide, then read EVERYTHING first, we take no responsibility if you mess up your phone.

Alright, so the PWNage 2.0 tool made by the iPhone Dev Team has been developed for a while, but now it is officially available to the PUBLIC! Which is good news for us jailbroken iPhone users (jailbroken means you can install any iPhone compatible program onto it, not just from the App Store). So now you can enjoy the App Store and enjoy Community Apps (applications made by the general public and by some well known hackers)! The possibilities are endless!! They put up the tool on Saturday and have already released an update (2.0.1) You can get it here. (Side note: only MAC users can use it now - Windows users will have to wait or try this)

When they first put it up on their site for download, they got flooded with downloads and their servers went down (supply and demand). But no worries that's all been fixed.

It's pretty simple to operate this program to jailbreak your iPhone. For a detailed guide to jailbreak click here. (Side note: for people who already have an activated working iphone on AT&T make sure to uncheck "Activate phone" in the Bootneuter section. Or else your phone won't make calls. If you accidently did it, no worries, it can be reversed.)

HAVE FUN!

(any questions? please feel free to ask.)

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Posted in: 2.0,apps,dev,hack,iphone,jailbreak,pwnage

The Plantronics Discovery 925 Bluetooth Headset - Yes, it's amazing!

If you live in California you're aware of the new "hands-free" law which went into effect July 1. Now under this new legislation, California drivers must use a hands-free device to use their cell phone while driving.

Over the years I have purchased and used my fair share of head-sets, ranging from corded, boomed, and Blue tooth. However, without fail each one of them had their flaws and just was not a sufficient substitute for speaking on the hand-set. Either people couldn't hear me over the roar of the wind and freeway traffic, or I couldn't hear them. The headsets ranged in price from $20-$125, and were all brand-names.

Enter, The Plantronics Discovery 925 Bluetooth Headset, it is everything I've been looking for, and MORE.

1: SOUND QUALITY: Usually when you're on a headset, people know it. Either the headset picks up more background noise, or the caller sounds "distant" from the microphone. Considering that this headset is so small, and barely has any boom, I thought for sure it would pick up background noise like crazy, and make my voice sound distant, but it was the complete opposite. Honestly, my voice and call quality sounded better than holding the hand-set. In the past, I was never able to hear myself speak when talking through a headset, whereas with the Plantronics 925, you can hear yourself come through the microphone loud and clear.

2. BATTERY LIFE: Plantronics has really thought of everything here when it comes to producing a quality headset. As you can see in the picture above, the really nice black leather carrying case also doubles up as a charger. So, if you use all the battery power in the headset, simply plug it into the carrying case/charger, and it will give it a NEW full-charge. Personally, I just put the headset in the carrying case/charger every time I'm not using it, so I have yet to run into any battery problems. Then, when I get home at night, I plug the bottom of the carrying case/charger into my computer USB port or wall outlet, and it charges overnight. I'm sure it would last several days to a week without recharging, but I usually charge all my other peripherals overnight anyways, so its not an issue.

3. COMFORT/STYLE: Since this headset is an in-ear device, you have to not mind having something in your ear while talking. Personally I like this better than the over-the-ear devices, due to the less amount of moving parts and form-factor. Plus, I think I get better sound quality by having it in-ear, instead of a small speaker sitting on the outside of my ear. Plus, I've owned 3-4 Motorola headsets that go over the ear, and after a few weeks to a month it started sitting on my ear weird, and the little flap started becoming less sturdy. If your ear is a funky shape, Plantronics gives you 3 extra different looking cushions, to ensure that it fits nicely and securely in your ear.

4. PRICE: The MSRP of this headset is $149.00, OUCH! However, there are a lot of retailers out there that sell it at almost half the price. For example, NewEgg.com, which is where I purchased mine from (received it in 2 days), sells the headset for $79.99--worth every penny!

In conclusion, if you are thinking of purchasing a headset, and are willing to spend up to $100 for a great quality device, you should seriously consider the Plantronics 925.

UPDATE: I've noticed that it works great for talking, but sometimes when I try to use the Visual Voice-Mail feature on my iPhone, it sometimes doesn't pick-up the connection, because technically it is not a voice-call. However, I'm sure the next iPhone firmware update will fix this.

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Posted in: bluetooth

Documistic.com: Marketing Made Easy

Documistic automates the management and distribution of a company's marketing campaign - making the Marketing Manager's job EASIER! What you do is upload all your templates for your employees to have immediate access to your flyers and postcards that you use everyday in your marketing, and let them have easy access to customize the personal info on the templates to fit their needs. It even offers the service of sending out the flyers for you!

Here's a visualization provided on the website of how the system works:

Great part is, it's a SAAS (Software-As-A-Service) platform that's run on the site, so that means no software to download and install.

So if you're a Marketing Manager (or someone who handles this stuff), Documistic will take out the mundane tasks of collaborating and let you get to focus on the rest of your job.

(I am a current employee of documistic. This is not a way of advertising for the company, but I am merely presenting it as an interesting, new idea to some out there. It definitely was new and interesting to me when I found out about it.)

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Posted in: campaign,distribution,documistic,flyers,manager,marketing,postcards,saas

African Playstation War

"Toward Freedom", a site dedicated to advancing human rights, released an investigative report on how Sony could have added fuel to a 10-year conflict in Africa's Democratic Republic of Congo. Sony's huge manufacturing needs required a rare metal called coltan. Coltan becomes a bluish-gray powder called tantalum after it has been refined. Tantalum can withstand extreme heat, so manufacturers use it to make electric capacitors. You and I both know that Sony and other manufacturers needed a lot of electric capacitors so the need for tantalum sky rocketed. In 1999, tantalum cost $49 / pound. In 2 years, it shot up to $275 / pound.

Researcher David Barouski commented:

[The] PlayStation 2 launch... was a big part of the huge increase in demand for coltan... SONY and other companies like it, have the benefit of plausible deniability because the coltan ore trades hands so many times from when it is mined to when SONY gets a processed product, that a company often has no idea where the original coltan ore came from, and frankly don’t care to know. But statistical analysis shows it to be nearly inconceivable that SONY made all its PlayStations without using Congolese coltan.

Now how does this tie to the war? This huge demand for coltan by Sony and other personal electronics manufacturers led Rwandan troops and Western companies to exploit the people and mineral resources of Congo, with prisoners-of-war and children often forced to work in mines. The Rwandans were shooting it out for the mines, which contained deposits of cobalt, uranium, gold and, of course, coltan. The estimates of the war’s dead range from hundreds of thousands to several million.

Sony ensures us that they are now taking steps to make sure that they do not use coltan illegally mined from Congo.

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Posted in: child labor,coltan,playstation,ps2,sony,tantalum,war

iPhone 2.0 Firmware Early???

That's right, folks. Someone has found the early release of the iPhone 2.0 firmware. Right here ( iPhone1,2_2.0_5A347_Restore.ipsw) People are actually using this as we speak and are downloading apps from the App Store!

Now before you do install this on your iPhone, you need to know that it's not the official release. You can either install it now and be the "cool" kid on your block by getting your grubby hands on it first, or you can wait patiently for the official release coming soon. Also this firmware upgrade will delete all your personal data before it updates itself (dont worry it'll make a backup of your data, but make sure you have enough room on your computer to hold all of). And if you have a "unlocked" iPhone, it will become "locked" -at least until the hacking community fixes that :) Now a bit of warning, Apple has something to say about firmware updates.

"Normally if you choose to update, the iPhone or iPod touch software is updated but your settings and media are not affected. If your device currently has a software version prior to 2.0 (1.x) and you are updating to software version 2.0 or later, all data on your device will be erased in order to perform install the new software. In this case, iTunes will offer to create a one-time media backup of your device depending on what content is on your device and what content is stored in the iTunes Library you are connected to. You should ensure that you have enough free space on your Mac or PC to accommodate a backup that matches the capacity of your iPhone or iPod touch (4 GB, 8 GB, 16 GB, or 32 GB) if you proceed with the this backup."

So that being said, to install this on your iPhone you will have to do it manually in iTunes version 7.7 by pressing the Option key (Shift if you're using Windows) when pressing the "Check for Update". Then select the .ipsw file manually. (If your download is a ".zip" file, rename it to ".ipsw" beforehand).

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Posted in: 2.0,apple,download,early,firmware,iphone,link,release,software,update