The two big teams claiming iPhone software SIM unlock solutions (iPhoneSIMfree and UniquePhones) have been a bit mum of late, but while iPhoneSIMfree’s hack is supposedly due by tomorrow, you just might have a free (as in beer) alternative — if you’re the type to believe the hype you read on internet forums. Unknowns the Deathcorp team claim tomorrow, September 1st, will also mark the wide public release of their iPhone SIM unlock software, which is supposedly going to be distributed with no charge to you, unlike iPhoneSIMfree’s forthcoming release, and UniquePhones’s intended, but waylayed, launch. As usual, we’ll be there to sort the fact from the fiction.
Know Your Rights is Engadget’s new technology law series, written by our own totally punk copyright attorney Nilay Patel. In it we’ll try to answer some fundamental tech-law questions to help you stay out of trouble in this brave new world. Disclaimer: Although this post was written by an attorney, it is not meant as legal advice or analysis and should not be taken as such.
Preface: There’s been a lot of discussion about the RIAA’s, shall we say “controversial” (and we’re being generous here) tactics in suing P2P users who download copyrighted content; especially this week, what with the EFF releasing its “RIAA v. The People: Four Years Later” report. But it’s never been easy to find information about the nuts-and-bolts of what happens when you get that first letter from the RIAA. We’re not going to get into our feelings about the RIAA and MPAA (you probably already know what we think), but since we’ve (read: Nilay) been involved in a couple successful defenses — and a lot of unhappy settlements — we thought we’d try and break down the process for you. We’re not telling you how to avoid or get out of trouble with the RIAA, just how it is that trouble usually operates.
Help! I’m being sued by the RIAA!
Wow, bad luck for you. The RIAA really only sues about 6,000 people a year, mostly those who use FastTrack clients like Kazaa. Users of other networks have been sued, of course, but it’s by far Kazaa users who get sued the most often, and generally those who have been unknowingly sharing files. That’s a drop in the bucket compared the to estimated nine million people who use P2P software every month.
Ever wanted a full, 1080p camcorder that looked just like the Super-8 your dad used to shoot sun-soaked home movies with back in the 1970s? Well, you’re in luck, because Sanyo seems to be sharing your nostalgic vibes this year, particularly in the case of the Xacti DMX-HD1000, the world’s tiniest, full-HD video camera. We got our chance to manhandle this minuscule (yet powerful) camcorder at IFA today and honestly, it’s like holding a gun… a memory gun. Deep, right? Take a look at the totally ill photo gallery and let us know your thoughts on the matter.
A lot went down at this year’s IFA conference in Berlin, and as always, we were there to get you the scoop. Here’s a quick rundown of our coverage from the past week:
Want to add iPhone ringtones? iToner’s your solution, it’s the easiest (and most graphically purdy) method we’ve seen yet, and it works without even jailbreaking your iPhone. The down side (yeah, there’s always a downside) is this simple utility could teach a course in Nagware 101, bugging you incessantly and imposing increasingly longer delays before carrying out its function until you buy the thing. Still, it’s worth it if you’ve been waiting for an excuse not to use marimba anymore. We’d just suggest waiting until next Wednesday before making the buy, we hear Apple might just do this thing themselves. More shots after the break.
It’s not like it’s too big of a deal, but we happened by this new Blu-ray player from Sony while we were on our mass-wanderings amongst the gadgetry at IFA, and we thought we’d share a few images. Really nothing to write home about, though it does have a snazzy sliding front panel (the one that appears mirrored) — but we couldn’t say what that panel’s function actually is. Maybe you can figure it out, so have a look at the gallery.
We already had word that the Archos 605 WiFi would be released tomorrow, but it looks like the company couldn’t wait — the 605 and and 405 just appeared for sale on the Archos website. Pricing is right in line with what we told you earlier: the 160GB 605 is $399, with the 80GB, 30GB and 4GB + SD versions coming in at $349, $299 and $230, respectively, while the 2GB + SD 405 is just $169. Still no word on all those rumored content partnerships, but at least now we can do some digging Stateside, eh?
GPS without hands-free calling is hardly worth its weight in silicon these days, and Sony is getting in on the game in Europe with its new nav-u personal navigation devices. The 4.8-inch NV-U93T (pictured) and NV-U83 in particular are getting the new Bluetooth functionality. The U93T bests its peer with a broad selection of Europe maps, and live traffic info, the latter of which is optional with the U83. You can control either device with “Gesture Command,” which allows you to scribble symbols on the screen and be presented with directions home or to the nearest gas station. If you’re not quite ready to take the Bluetooth plunge, Sony also has the 4.3-inch NV-U73T and NV-U53, which both do Gesture Command, and hold the same traffic info and Europe map differentiations of big brother 4.8-inchers. All four models will be out in Europe this November, ranging from 249 to 379 Euro ($340 to $517 US).
Here’s a tip. If you’re not really skilled at hardware hacks, don’t try to hardware unlock your iPhone. If you accidentally touch the wrong thing or screw up, this will happen.
The user says:
“We were so happy, all the software part was done, so we started opening the iPhone. The antenna cover was a bit tricky but eventually it came off. Then we started to open the metal cover (after taking out the 3 screws) and PUFF, up it went in smoke, I think my collegue must have touched something. It literally went up in black smoke. It was so hot that when I tried to pick it up I burned my fingers. So, this is for sure the most difficult part of the whole process. I don’t know what he did, as I had just stepped out of the room to fetch something when I heard a scream…they got such a fright.”
Just wait until the software unlock becomes available, and THEN unlock it. Or use the SIM method like we detailed here before. Or ask a buddy that you know has experience with these things. Just for Jesus’s (Diaz) sake, don’t open it up if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Samsung announced a few new items at IFA today, but one of the more interesting finds in its treasure trove of mysterious electronic goodness were two LCD displays equipped with built-in 2.0-megapixel webcams, 1680 x 1050 resolution, 10/100 ethernet ports, and four or two powered USB jacks (the 220TN and 225UW, respectively). The 220TN, which you’ve probably seen already, rocks an onboard 500MHz CPU and an embedded version of Windows XP, thus alleviating your need for a PC (even for Skype). Its new kid brother, the 225UW, can’t make that same claim, though the specs are dangerously similar (save for that pesky “look-ma-no-hands” processor action). No word on pricing or availability, but you’ll know as soon as we do.
The two big teams claiming iPhone software SIM unlock solutions (iPhoneSIMfree and UniquePhones) have been a bit mum of late, but while iPhoneSIMfree’s hack is supposedly due by tomorrow, you just might have a free (as in beer) alternative — if you’re the type to believe the hype you read on internet forums. Unknowns the Deathcorp team claim tomorrow, September 1st, will also mark the wide public release of their iPhone SIM unlock software, which is supposedly going to be distributed with no charge to you, unlike iPhoneSIMfree’s forthcoming release, and UniquePhones’s intended, but waylayed, launch. As usual, we’ll be there to sort the fact from the fiction.
Preface: There’s been a lot of discussion about the RIAA’s, shall we say “controversial” (and we’re being generous here) tactics in suing P2P users who download copyrighted content; especially this week, what with the EFF releasing its 
Here’s a tip. If you’re not really skilled at hardware hacks, don’t try to hardware unlock your iPhone. If you accidentally touch the wrong thing or screw up, this will happen.