Once again keeping to the every-2-weeks cycle, Apple has released iOS 4.1 beta 2 for developers. If you’ve got an account, head on over to developer.apple.com and update your SDK and firmware.

We’re guessing Apple plans on doing what they’ve done in year’s past — keep releasing betas until they hold a fall Special Music Event and show off the final version along with a new iPod touch G4.

If anyone notices anything new in beta 2, we’ll update!

[developer.apple.com, thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Apple releases iOS 4.1 beta 2 for developers is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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AT&T and T-Mobile bring the Android competition with the Samsung Galaxy S-class Captivate and Vibrant

Phil Nickinson, my counterpart over at sibling site Android Central has just posted his AT&T Android Captivate review and T-Mobile Android Vibrant review, the latest, greatest US GSM competition to our own iPhone 4. They’re both Galaxy S-class devices, but one of the strengths of Android is the ability for manufacturers like Samsung and carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile (and Verizon and Sprint when their versions launch) to modify and customize the hardware and software to make their devices distinct.

Ally already posted her thoughts on the AT&T Captivate vs. iPhone 4, so if you’re trying to decide between the two, or between them and the T-Mobile Vibrant, give Phil’s a read to and them come back here and let us know what you think.

Android Captivate and Vibrant get reviewed — the competition is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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Plunderland is Apple’s App of the Week this week. Does it deserve it? Yes and no. Developer JohnnyTwoShoes has made a solid effort to bring pillaging across the sea in the hands of eager gamers.

The premise of Plunderland is you are a ghost with pirates that sail across the sea to attack and sink enemy ships, pillage tribes people and take money from their monuments then make it to the next port. Sounds fun? Well, get used to it because that is what you do over, and over, and over again with little variety. Call me a stinker, but I don’t see the allure with this game.

Sure, the water physics are nice. You tilt the iPhone left or right to make your boat move in that direction. When there is a storm, etc, the water behaves in a more erratic manor, making maneuvering more difficult. Once you are on the high seas, you come across your enemy; the British warships. You have a couple ways to take them out. First is to use your ships cannon. You have a nifty way of angling the cannon to shoot your targets, just move your finger along the bottom and you will get a reticule via a line that helps your aiming. Release your finger and you fire your cannonballs. Second, you can use the enemies cannonballs against themselves. Before the enemy launches an attack, the cannon will puff smoke, that is your cue to ready your finger and deflect the cannonball back upon the enemy ship and with luck, split it in two!

I know, I make it sound exhilarating, and it is the first two or three times you do it. Sadly, Plunderland does little to keep your attention. Future attacks add blimps and more, but the fun is gone by that point. The attacking villagers is a simple “tap, tap. tap” on the totems to get money and fling some villagers around in an effort to extract some more dough. Again… zzzz…

There is nice upgrade system though, you can upgrade your ship, cannons and bowsprits by earning said money above. The game has excellent promise. The controls, physics and graphical style all lend them selves to a success. However, the bland  I really, really wanted to like this game, being highlighted on Apple’s App Store, but alas, mateys, I just can’t bring myself to recommend this lack-luster treasure.

[$2.99- iTunes Link]

UPDATE: I had a delightful Twitter chat with the developers. I explained that I had played 50% thorough the game and became unchallenged with the levels and objectives. They understood and are looking at a way to unlock the more exciting and complex levels earlier for more “hardcore” gamers. I also said that when I find the time to complete the game 100%, I would update this review to include my findings. I am hopeful that by the time I do this, they will have some new content available. You can follow the developer on Twitter here.

Pros

• Great graphics
• Solid frame-rate
• Good physics engine
• Upgrade system

Cons

• Very, very, very repetitive
• Takes a while to become a challenge (the end of the second chapter)

Plunderland for iPhone- app review is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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YouTube Link

The Belkin Max Sleeve for iPad not only does a great job of protecting your iPad, but it gives you a little extra room to stick some of your accessories in as well. The case is made of a fabric material that is pleated on the front. This is what allows you to have a zipper compartment in the front to stick your other gadgets in.

The inside of the case is a foamy white mesh material. It’s extremely soft so you don’t have to worry about it scratching your iPad. It’s also a loose fit, which means you won’t damage your iPad while taking it out and putting it back in the case. There’s always a down side to a case not fitting snugly though, and that’s if you forget to zip it and pick up the case by the wrong end, it’s very likely your iPad could go crashing to the floor. We didn’t have this happen with this case, but I could see that being a problem as the material on the inside doesn’t offer any grip.

The way we cast that fear aside was to put a silicon case on the iPad and then put it in the Belkin Max Sleeve. The silicon provides the grip and solves the issue. I know a lot of people wouldn’t want to buy 2 cases so it isn’t an ideal situation. My advice? It’s a great case worth the money, just be careful how you pick it up, or make sure you always zip it up.

Other than the sliding out of the case issue, this is a great case and well worth the money. It offers superior protection in an unobtrusive form factor. Even though it’s small, it still lets you stow away other objects, which is nice. If there’s any girls out there like me that hate carrying around a laptop/iPad bag and a purse, this is awesome. Simply throw your phone, credit cards, etc in the front pouch and you’re good to go.  You can purchase the Belkin Max Sleeve for iPad from the TiPb Accessory Store.

Pros

• Allows for extra storage room in the front pocket

• Material on the outside is easy to grip on to

• Material on inside won’t scratch your iPad

Cons

• Inside material is a little slick so forgetting to zip up could cause an iPad to fall out

• Zipper on front pocket is sometimes a bit hard to pull

Belkin Max Sleeve for iPad – accessory review is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Looks like Apple may be canceling free bumper orders from Puerto Rico over the last 24hrs, as several readers have sent us copies of the following notification:

We are unable to complete your order. We do not ship to international, freight forwarder, APO, FPO, or P.O. Box addresses.

We offer the following information:

International Shipping: We are unable to ship to an international address. Therefore your order has been cancelled. Please visit the Apple Store Worldwide for the Apple Store Store in your country of residence.

Freight Forwarders: We do not ship to Freight Forwarders. Therefore your order has been cancelled.

APO, FPO or Post Office Boxes: Our carriers are unable to deliver orders to these addresses. Please visit http://www.apple.com/orderstatus to change your address to a physical address, so that we may continue processing your order. If we do not receive a response from you within one week, your order will be cancelled. You will need to login to your account with your Apple ID to locate this order.

Anyone else in a US territory seeing this?

Apple canceling bumper orders to Puerto Rico? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

The Apple Online Store is back up and with it comes the Magic Trackpad, bringing full on MacBook-style multitouch goodness to Apple’s desktop line.

It’s got click, scroll, swipe, and rotate, so if the Magic Mouse just wasn’t enough for you, here’s the escalation you’ve been waiting for. Oh, and there’s an Apple battery re-charger to go with it.

And while it’s not the iPhone or iPod touch “Magic Trackpad” app I’ve been waiting for — can you please get on that Apple? — it does show Apple is continuing to leverage their technologies across their various platforms, devices, and machines, creating a virtuous cycle iOS is sure to benefit from as well.

(And no, there’s no info on whether or not it will work as a companion to the BT Keyboard for iPad — we’ll have to try it when it arrives).

$69. Anyone besides me picking one up?

[Apple.com]

Apple brings multitouch to desktops with Magic Trackpad is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Simple poll for a simple question — Does the recent DMCA exception make you more likely to Jailbreak?

Were you worried about the legality before and it was enough to make you hold off? Were you just not aware of Jailbreak before it the media spotlight hit it? Are you still concerned about Jailbreak slowing down or messing up something on your device, or voiding your warranty? Or are you just not interested in Jailbreak at all?

Vote up top, give us the details down below.

Does the recent DMCA exception make you more likely to Jailbreak? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

Could a next generation Apple TV not only run iOS, but also TiVo’s awesome DVR software? That’s what the rumors on the webs are saying.

It seems hard to reconcile both a new, tiny, solid-state Apple TV powered by iOS with the bigger, beefier needs of local HD video recording an playback, so I’m taking this with a grain of salt, especially considering Steve Jobs’ comments at the last D8 conference.

But at the same time the thought of iOS apps, iTunes streaming, and TiVo local recording makes me positively giddy with want. (And probably makes the upcoming Google TV slightly less competitive).

What do you think? Make Apple TV lean and mean and focused on the stream, or give it the TiVo treatment?

[Barrons via TUAW]

Apple TV and TiVo? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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Given yesterday’s Library of Congress exceptions to the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) for Jailbreak and Unlock, it was only a matter of time before both sides, Apple and the EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) commented.

Here’s what Apple told Cult of Mac:

"Apple's goal has always been to insure that our customers have a great experience with their iPhone and we know that jailbreaking can severely degrade the experience. As we've said before, the vast majority of customers do not jailbreak their iPhones as this can violate the warranty and can cause the iPhone to become unstable and not work reliably."

And here’s the EFF

By granting all of EFF’s applications, the Copyright Office and Librarian of Congress have taken three important steps today to mitigate some of the harms caused by the DMCA,” said Jennifer Granick, EFF’s Civil Liberties Director. “We are thrilled to have helped free jailbreakers, unlockers and vidders from this law’s overbroad reach.”

So anyone here heeding Apple’s warnings of doom and gloom, or are you two busy partying in the streets in celebration of your new legal standing?

[Cult of Mac, EFF]

Apple, EFF comment on Jailbreak DMCA exception is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog

TiPb nation, rev up your ZOMGS and get ready for SQUEEE — the Apple Online Store is down world wide.

Now before you get too excited, this is not for the White iPhone 4. That’s been delayed until later this year. Unfortunately, this time it’s probably not for any iOS devices. If the rumors are true, what we’ll see today are 12-proc Mac Pro, updated iMac, 27″ LED displays, and maybe — just maybe — the MagicPad multitouch trackpad for the Mac.

Give us your best guesses in the comments and we’ll find out just as soon as the store comes back up.

Apple Store Down! [Not for White iPhone 4] is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

TiPb - The #1 iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch Blog