It looks as if there’s yet another Phone.app security hole, this time in iOS 4.1 that allows someone to get around a passcode locked iPhone, gain access to the owner’s contact list, make calls and send emails to anyone in said contact list.  From MacStories:

“To reproduce the bug, make sure to have a passcode lock turned on and lock your device. In the lockscreen, tap on Emergency Call in the lower left corner. Now type a non-existent emergency number, I tried #946494. Start the call, and as soon as the red button appear hit the sleep button. You'll be brought to the contact list.”

The issue will most-likely get patched by Apple in the 4.2 update coming later this month, but it’s not the first time the emergency call screen has been exploited. Both iOS 2.1 and iOS 2.0.2 suffered from passcode lock bugs. Hopefully Apple pays extra attention and really secures Phone.app this time.

We were able to recreate the issue in the video above.  Any readers out there seeing the same results?  Let us know your thoughts on this in the comments below!

[MacStories]

by Andrew Wray

iOS 4.1 security flaw allows calls to be made on passcode locked iPhone is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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

The godfather of iOS development, Craig Hockenberry wondered out loud on Twitter about just why Apple would change the iPad’s hardware orientation lock to a mute switch in iOS 4.2, and if it could be related to future, FaceTime-equipped iPad 2 hardware:

When (not if) an iPad has FaceTime, will silencing the alerts be more important than orientation? Depends on the person and how they use it…

If iPad 2 is shown off in January and ships in April, it will certainly still be running iOS 4.x. (iOS 5 won’t ship until June 2011 for iPhone, and who knows when for iPad, November 2011?) So when it makes FaceTime calls, does an iPhone-like mute switch make more sense?

[@chockenberry]

Does iPad 4.2 mute switch make more sense for iPad 2 with FaceTime? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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

Halloween is almost upon and what better way to celebrate than a Jack O’Lantern contest! That’s right, get your pumpkins and carving knives ready and make the most amazing TiPb Jack O’Lantern you can make.

Then post a picture of it right in the iPhone Forums.

Can’t get a real pumpkin? Give us your best photoshop. We’ll pick two winners, a really big prize for a real pumpkin carving and a runner-up prize for a cool (or funny/scary!) photoshop.

Contest starts now and ends on Saturday, Oct. 30 at 12pm PT.

So get going!

[Thanks to @JhonnyCrespo for the idea!]

TiPb Jack O’Lantern Carving Contest! is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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The Otter Box Commuter Case for iPhone 4 is a well constructed hard-shell case with a silicone layer underneath and screen protector. It provides a no-slip grip while keeping the thin iPhone 4 form factor we love.

Reviewing cases can be tough; there are a lot out there. I think it’s fair to say most cases I review are rather good. I haven’t really come across the “perfect” case yet, but I might be close with this one. Why? Well, it’s the perfect compromise between slim and protected and it’s by Otter Box, an industry leader in hardcore protective cases.

What makes this case unique among its competition is that the silicone is very well constructed. The the hard shell outer case and the silicone literally work in concert to protect every aspect of your iPhone 4. The silicone covers everything from the headphone jack port across the top of the device to the 30-pin connector slot on the bottom. Each is protected with a flip-out plug. What is so great is the headphone jack is protected without the sacrifice of blocking the second mic; it’s still uncovered. I am very impressed with Otter Box’s design work.

The hardshell is pretty solid. The only way I could envision it breaking is if it was frozen to -30 degrees then smashed with a hammer. I seriously feel very secure with it.

Here is something else I like about the case; by now you may know how much I like raised edges on cases for the iPhone, as it protects the screen if it is laid on its face. With the Otter Box, I feel I am getting an extra .5 or 1mm additional height and the hardshell meets the height of the silicone on the top, bottom and sides of the device. This means that if placed face first and any weight is placed on the device, it is still not likely to scratch. That is great design work and my kudos to Otter Box.

If you need your iPhone protected, look no further than the The Otter Box Commuter Case for iPhone 4 to have a good looking case while keeping it safe. Available now from the TiPb iPhone 4 Accessory Store.

Pros

• Awesome protection with little sacrifice for thinness
• Throughly protected, yet access to all ports, even the mic!
• Included screen protector
• Durable silicone skin
• Polycarbonate outer shell

Cons

• Though relatively easy to take on and off, not really meant to be removed
• Lint tends to stick to the silicone, but this is an issue with every silicone skin I have come across
• No color selections other than black
• Can’t place in dock with case on

Otter Box Commuter Series for iPhone 4- accessory review is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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The new Apple data center located in Maiden, North Carolina, is expected to begin its operations "any day now" according to local officials. Amidst Apple getting ready to begin production inside the massive 500,000 sq. ft. data center, rumors have been milling around the internet stating that Apple plans on doubling the size of its already massive data center.

A local realtor, Bill Wagenseller, posted an aerial video of Apple's facility had these comments to share:

Though there has been no official announcement, I discovered that site work is being performed and it clearly appears that there may be some truth to the speculation.

This new data center is what many are saying will be the heart of Apple's  new cloud-based services which will allow users to store files such as their iTunes libraries on Apples servers as to stream them to all their devices.

Are you excited about possibly getting to utilize the cloud soon to store your files or does the cloud experience have you nervous about leaving all of your files in the hands of Apple and their servers?

[ Data Center Knowledge ]

by Brian Tufo

Apple’s massive data center about to open, could double in size is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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

Earlier this morning it was outline how Hollywood stars and producers alike have been quick to adopt the Apple iPad to help with their day-to-day work.

J.J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof and Bryan Burk, director and producers for shows like LOST, Fringe and the Cloverfield movie respectively, have specifically been using the iPad as a main assisting component when working with Transformers executive-producer Robert Orci last month while laying down the sequel to the last Star Trek movie.

“When you're carrying a little TV around, you bring the power of imagery to places that you don't normally have it," Mr. Orci said in an interview.

In addition to big-time writers and producers using the iPad to help with their work, it looks like many actors — like Dana Delany who will be starring in “Body of Proof” on ABC — have been utilizing the iPad to help with things like rehearsals and script revisions. Heck, even the sound guys are getting in on the action.

“The iPad is the must-carry accessory on sound stages this season, visible behind the scenes of television and film shoots and in business meetings.”

With the amount of product placement for the iPad (2,438 appearances on TV in September alone) and attention from the likes of major Hollywood players mentioned above, how quickly could the iPad take over most day-to-day tasks at the workplace? How have you been using the iPad at work, specifically? Let us know in the comments!

[ NYTimes ]

by Andrew Wray

Hollywood actors, writers, and producers putting iPad to work is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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Melinda Gates has once again re-affirmed that no Apple product, no iPod, iPhone, or iPad, is welcome in her and husband Bill Gates’ house. Last time she said she wouldn’t mind an iPhone, of course, but this time she stuck to sterner stuff:

Do you own an iPod, which is made by Apple?

No, I have a Zune.

What if one of your children says, "Mom, I have to have an iPod?"

I have gotten that argument — "You may have a Zune."

Do you have an iPad?

Of course not.

Is it true that Bill works on an Apple laptop?

False. Nothing crosses the threshold of our doorstep.

Isn't there room in this world for both Apple and Microsoft?

Microsoft certainly makes products for the Macintosh. Go talk to Bill.

And fair enough. How many Microsoft products do you think make it into Steve Jobs’ house?

[NYT Magazine via Fortune]

No iPods, iPhones, or iPads cross the Bill Gates threshold is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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ProOnGo Expense with receipt reader is a universal app for iPhone and iPad that will easily track your expenses for you. It uses image capture to import information from receipts or you can manually enter details. The app currently supports regular, time, and mileage expenses. You have several options when it comes time to export your receipts and reports – including Excel, CSV, Quickbooks, and more.

iTunes Link

The app will come with 10 receipt reads to start. From there you can purchase credits on your account. You can purchase 30 receipt reads for 2.99/month or 50 receipt reads for 4.99/month. The prices are reasonable but the pricing model to me is a little tedious. I’d like to eventually see ProOnGo implement a monthly and yearly model where you pay a set fee and get unlimited reads. This is the only thing I didn’t particularly care for as I think some people may prefer an unlimited option. (Update: As of writing this, ProOnGo was not advertising an unlimited plan, but there is now one being rolled out to businesses, so if you’re looking for that, it IS an option.)

When it comes to the main features of the app, it couldn’t be any simpler. Receipts can be entered manually or via image capture. If users prefer not to buy credits, they can always choose to manually enter expenses for free instead of using imager capture. As an accountant, I think the image capture is worth the money as you’ll always have proof of your expenses if you ever need it.

One feature I really like is credit card sync. You can enter and store credit card info (I prefer manually entering credit card info opposed to storing my info when I need to sync for extra security) and the app will bring down your purchases from that account. The app currently only supports sync with American Express. I’d really like to see support for other cards as well. Most large businesses may use AmEx but smaller businesses may not. I think this app could be invaluable for smaller businesses as it’s an extremely easy and non-expensive way to manage and track expenses. I know I use one of my personal cards right now for business expenses for our repair service and development company, but that card isn’t an AmEx.

Expense reports couldn’t be easier to compile either. The app simply does it for you and emails you the report. Just choose the format you prefer and click send. It supports almost every major report format. I’d like to see native PeachTree support added as several Sage users may prefer native file types as they are more import friendly. PeachTree will import some of the file types options. It may just need a bit of cleaning up.

You can also view graphs and charts on the go of your expense trends, which is a nice bonus. It’s nice to have a quick snapshot of how your expenses have fluctuated over a several month time period.

Overall, ProOnGo Expense is an extremely intuitive app and a great tool for users who don’t want to spend a ton to manage their expenses. If you’ve used this app or something similar, let us know your thoughts in the comments! Any features you’d like to see added?

Pros

• Several export formats supported (Excel, QB Pro, CSV, XML, & PayServ)
• Graphs show instant snapshots of report trends
• Reasonable prices for the amount of functionality offered

Cons

• Pricing model can be a bit tedious and confusing
• Credit card sync only supports AmEx
• No landscape mode on iPad version
• Syncing from device to device is manual, sometimes confusing

YouTube Link

ProOnGo Expense with receipt reader for iPhone & iPad – app review is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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

As many of you may know, I am one of the productivity geeks here at TiPb. I am always looking to use tools to help me be more productive and save time. I have used most of the major task management platforms available for iPhone and iPad, but I have secretly longed to do it in Evernote.

There are many ways use GTD and Evernote and a quick Google search will usher many results. However, I have adopted and tweaked Jeff Kirvin’s GTD concept in Evernote. Let me explain how it works. Getting Things Done (GTD) is a methodology for complete task management. Evernote is suited well for this as it has folders, tags and custom searches; this is my setup.

First, I only use one notebook, that’s right, only one. I use the ingenious title of “My Notebook” for its title. From here I start to add tasks, articles, whatever- things I need to get done, into my the folder. From there I have an “All” tags category with literally hundreds of sub tags for just about anything I can think of from “Humor” to “Science Fiction”. Once I place a note in my notebook, I tag it with as many tags as I feel it needs. Next I determine if the note is actionable; if it is, do I need to do anything with it? If the answer is no, I don’t do anything and save the note making it instantly searchable later if I need it. If the answer yes, then I give it a Context. A Context is typically labeled with an “@” (ampersand) and can mean different things, but I equate it to location or state of mind. For example, I use @Home, @Computer to indicate a place to do something. I have contexts like @Internet, @Read and @Evernote that I use to tell me I need to read or write something, but that could really be anywhere. I typically assign the @Evernote or @Read context for schoolwork or articles I send to Evernote that I want to read later or for writing a blog post (like this one).

After I have assigned the context tag, I save the note. If you work on Projects, you can create those too (as a tag) and assign notes as appropriate. However, I use a method similar to Jeff in a sense that I borrow the methodology of the AutoFocus system by Mark Forester and simply pick what I feel is appropriate at the time. If something is date-sensitive, I will add a date to the title so I see the date first, then the action name. Others may add these items to their calendar.

Now at this point you are probably saying to yourself, “That’s great Chad, but how do I find something in this big bucket of notes?” Ah, that is where the power of Evernote comes alive.

You see, the secret with Evernote is the Custom Search. You can enter search criteria and Evernote will return the result. So, let’s go back and look at my action of @Evernote, Blog Post for GTD. When I complete this task, I add a !Complete tag to the note and remove the”@” context. This will allow me to see that is completed while removing the fact it is an action item. In Evernote there is number that appears next to the context. I use this number to determine the volume of actions I have in any given context. So, by removing the context from a completed note, I am able to keep the number limited to only items I need to get done while having the !Compelte tag allows me to track what I have done.

So If I want to create a search from completed tasks, that is east I use: tag:!Completed -tag:@. This will display every note that is done but that does not include a”@” context. If I want to see how many tasks I have compelted in the last week, I can use this: tag:!Completed -tag:@, created:week-1. This works really well. I use different variables of this logic to architect my Evernote custom searches to only display what I need. For example, if I want to find notes that I haven’t tagged (sometimes they slip through!) I created an “!Inbox” search. This criteria is simply -tag:. This tells Evernote to show me everything that doesn’t have a tag. I also use an !Active Tasks search to show me all actionable tasks with an “@” context. This search looks like this: tag:@. Since I don’t really use dates for my tasks, I also need a way to mark a task as something I want to do today. For this, I use !Today tag and create a custom search like this: tag:@* tag:!Today. The other benefit of these searches is that they sync from platform to platform. Mac, PC, iPhone, iPad, Android, BlackBerry, Web, it appears everywhere. Also, you may be wondering why I am placing an exclamation (!) point in front of my custom searches. Evernote sorts searches, tags and folders by name so adding interesting characters such as an @, !, # and . elevate them to the top of the alphabetical list.

So far I am enjoying this system; its seems to be working well. Sometimes I feel tempted to go back to using OmniFocus or ToDo, but I am about two weeks in and I have little adjustments here and there for the custom searches trying to really nail what I need for retrieval. One of the other main benefits of using Evernote for GTD is that you can email items directly into Evernote. For example, you have some work emails you need to follow up on or some emails with useful attachments. You can send that email with attachments to Evernote for reference or action (attachments beyond images, audio, ink and PDFs require an Evernote Premium account, but it is totally worth it).

If you are looking to learn more about the system I have described, here is Jeff’ Kirvin’s original post as well as links to David Allen for GTD and Mark Forester for the AutoFocus system.

Evernote for iPhone and iPad is available in the App Store. [iTunes link]

How to Get Things Done with Evernote for iPhone and iPad is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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UK supermarket chain Tesco, have reported that they are experimenting on a new shopping experience, using your iPhone and iPad. They are already trialling a "scan-as-you-shop" system, in a store in Romford, Essex using specially developed handheld scanners. These are used to scan your shopping as you walk around the store, and you can just simply check out at the cashier. Nick Lansley, head of Tesco's research and development, said that these scanners are likely to roll out nationwide in early 2011. Lansley also added, that his team are looking into implementing similar technology into iPhones and iPads.

The R&D department set about deploying the same technology to an iPhone. We wanted to prove that we could do it without any real change to our checkout systems.

There are several wireless access points in the ceilings of Tesco stores, which staff already use for communication with each other. He explains that using these wireless access points, they can determine where the customer is located in store, which can then be used to navigate them to specific products, or show the user relevant offers in the isle they are currently in. Unfortunately, he added that reflections from certain things within the store, like metals and shelving, may disrupt these signals, however his R&D would look into resolving this.

Are there any TiPb readers who think they would highly benefit if this was implemented in their local supermarket?

by George Lim

UK Supermarket Tesco experimenting with iPhone and iPad shopping experience is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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