Those worried about the Safari TIFF exploit found in the Apple iPhone can rest easier thanks to an unexpected source: the AppSnap iPhone hacking application.

Apart from jailbreaking the iPhone and getting it ready for third-party applications, AppSnap also fixes Apple's TIFF bug. This is also the exact same exploit used by AppSnap to jailbreak the iPhone.

Please note that jailbreaking the iPhone will not unlock it. AppSnap does open the iPhone to installation of other third-party applications, however, so after running it you can then run any of the many unlocking applications available for the iPhone.

If you've been waiting for a free iPhone software unlock program that will allow you to use any SIM with your unit, then AnySIM 1.1 might be what you're looking for. It's intended for "virgin" Apple iPhones.

Just so we're all on the same page here, a virgin iPhone is one that has not been modded or hacked before. This is a new unit which is working under normal conditions.

The iPhone Dev Team has tested AnySIM with 1.0.2 and 1.1.1 and it works on both. However, if you try to unlock q.0.2 then try to update to 1.1.1, your phone will end up being re-locked, amounting to nothing in the end.

If your Apple iPhone isn't virginal, there's no need to go out and buy a new one. The iPhone Dev Team is currently working on an app that will "revirginize" your Apple iPhone so you can use AnySIM on it.

Those who think that the current iPhone unlock software is a bit too expensive may want to check out iUnlock Reloaded, the alternate solution created by the iPhoneDev team. The developers claim that their unlocking software is easy to use, and judging by the instructions on how to use this application, it really does seem to be a piece of cake.

iPhone owners only need to copy the software to the phone and it will do the job on its own once the program is executed. See? Piece of cake! And there's no need to pay resellers of a certain other iPhone unlocking software.

The iPhoneDev team also sent in a few instructions on what to do to make iUnlock Reloaded run properly:

• upload all 3 files to your phone in some location you prefer
• ssh in
• run iUnlock_Reloaded (./iUnlock_reloaded)
• be happy if its done

Getting the hang of it so far? We don't blame you if you didn't. iPhoneDev weren't able to provide a more detailed discussion on how exactly one performs an SSH, nor did they supply a readme file along with the software, which is available for download right at the bottom of this article. Do check this space for more updates on how to unlock your phone using this software!

Download: iUnlock Reloaded

It was probably inevitable; the fact that Apple's iPhone is now available with a software unlock in more than 40 countries all over the globe before it's even supposed to be officially available in some of these areas.

The image (left) shows the list compiled by the iPhone Dev Team of 32 countries and 69 carriers with the iPhone software unlock already been tested and good to go. The phones were confirmed to have working incoming and outgoing calls, as well as SMS compatibility, EDGE/GPRS access, and non-visual voicemail access.

In actuality, however, the list above has recently been appended with an additional 10 countries and 11 carriers according to additional contributions from the source's website. With the growing number of software unlocked iPhones being made available worldwide, who knows? Perhaps you'll find a working iPhone just around the corner from where you live before you know it.

Additional countries and carriers include:

• New Zealand/Vodafone
• Spain/Movistar
• Poland/Orange
• Czech Republic/Vodafone
• Bahrain/Batelcom/MTC Vodafone
• Israel/Cellcom
• Hungary/T-Mobile
• Belgium/Proximus/Base/Mobistar
• Kuwait/Wataniya
• Ireland/Meteor

The iPhone unlocking software by iPhoneSIMfree has already been released for a few days now, and its about time to check out how the application is faring in its attempt to unlock numerous iPhone units.

The unlocking software has encountered a small snag in a reseller's first few attempts to use the application, but iPhoneSIMfree responded quickly and saved the day with a quick fix to the bug.

So what is this bug, and how did it hinder the unlocking process? As a Gizmodo blogger reported, the bug caused the unlocking software to not work on phones with the auto-lock setting enabled.

Upon learning of this issue, iPhoneSIMfree almost immediately sent out a fix to their resellers and updated their site informing of the bug, warning iPhone users to disable the auto-lock function before using the application.

iPhoneSIMfree now ensures that the small (but almost heart-wrenching) bug has been taken care of, and will unlock EVERY iPhone. For more information about the iPhone unlock software, do check out the Read link.

Looks like the iPhoneSimFree group, who claimed to have hacked the iPhone a week ago, isn't hampered by the same legal dilemma as UniquePhones. The company has developed a software-only unlocker for the iPhone which they will be releasing within the next 48 hours.

To satisfy doubters, iPhoneSimFree is also holding a contest where three winners can have their iPhones unlocked for free. No definite price has been announced yet but they will be offering as many payment options as possible. They are confident that it will do its job but they don't offer a money back guarantee if Apple chooses to lock the device again in the future.

They claim that the only difference between pre- and post-unlocking the iPhone would be the Visual Voice Mail which is an exclusive feature of AT&T. Whether or not AT&T will be able to delay or entirely halt the operation before its release like it did for UniquePhone's unlocking software is still in question. Most likely we'll hear about it within the next 48 hours.

Given the attention Apple's iPhone has been getting from the hacking community, we were wondering when somebody would try tricking out the unit's accelerometer. For the guys unfamiliar with this particular function, it allows the iPhone to detect its orientation, which in turn allows it to adjust its screen display accordingly.

And from the looks of this video we've picked up (posted by ealf), it's also become a new source of entertainment and (quite possibly) new homebrew implication - see the segment that demonstrates a tilt-based game in motion. The poster further states that this hack's source code will be available soon. For the moment, we advise readers to enjoy this teaser video, and keep alert in case this hack gives way to new uses for this mobile.

The more the merrier, we say (unless it's dinner guests). For the readers who've been keeping up on the matter of iPhone hacks, we'll be reporting on two recently found methods of unlocking your mobile:

The first way is a Do-It-Yourself hardware hack by George Hotz, and will have iPhone owners opening up their mobile. Before you get cracking, remember to have these items handy before heading over to George's blog (here) for the full instructions:

• An iPhone
• Some trusty case opener tools
• A soldering iron
• Fine pitch wire
• An unlock switch

You will also need to download several programming binaries to go along with the hardware hack - we've provided for them here. The tools below include certain software that you might need from Steps 5-8 of the hack (again, check Hotz's site for specific instructions). Now, before you get all gung-ho about this, keep in mind that this hack involves plenty of soldering, and will most likely brick your iPhone if you're not absolutely careful. You have been warned. George is hoping to have a simplified hack method ready by next week - hopefully, it won't be hardware-based.

Download: iPhone Hack Binaries (George Hotz)

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The software-based hack is available for reading in the Full Article

A lot of videos have been floating around the 'net about people finally cracking the mystery surrounding the iPhone code, making it work with any sim card inserted into it. However, unlike most anonymous videos regarding the subject, geohot and his group have found a full hardware unlock for the iPhone and made a careful documentary of it in a video on YouTube and on his site.

Geohot has even gone as far as detailing the steps on how to unlock it on his blog, with the standard disclaimer that doing so may inadvertently brick you phone, so do so at your own risk. Even now they are working on a software unlock for the iPhone as well, telling everyone to stay tuned at their site when more updates arrive.

The "legendary" unlocked iPhone was even put on sale at eBay at a starting bid of US $540. So far it has received up to 10 bids and has risen to US $1,575 as of today. The items in the eBay auction bid include: the phone, the serial dock accompanying it, as well as the official unlock switch depicted from the blog.

While this sort of practice may not exactly be something that Apple may approve, it just goes to show that no matter how fool-proof the technology claims itself to be, the industry itself is an ever changing and ever evolving process that people will continually surpass and even improve it when applied properly.

Hats off to Xerox for this tip!

"Iron Coder Live" is a contest during the C-4 developer conference where attendees develop "hacks" within a given time limit. This year they decided to "hack" the iPhone and first place went to a group who developed two-way video conference calls for the iPhone.

Now anyone who's ever seen an iPhone will know that the camera is in the back of the phone. The first thing that pops to mind then is how you'd be able to see the one you're talking to while you're trying to keep yourself in view of the camera. You can't keep turning it around every time you say something.

Well, the developers have thought of that, too. They took a Huckleberry mirror - a nifty accessory which allows a MacBook to see what's behind the screen instead of in front of it (which would be you) - and modified it to fit the iPhone. The result is that the camera will be aimed directly at you using mirrors. Imagine a little (and more professional) version of the milk carton periscope and you'll get the idea.

Now what the hack really does is transfer the images from the iPhone to a web server and transfers it to another iPhone, and vice versa. It doesn't actually make a phone call but you can make a call then turn on the hack and it makes for a very effective method for a two-way video conference call. Think Apple will be interested in it?