As part of the steady march towards iOS 4.2, Apple has released Mac OS X 10.6.5. Beta versions of this OS were said by developers to be necessary to enable iOS 4.2 iPhone and iPad AirPrint support for networked printers. Now, however, there have been rumors networked AirPrint support has been postponed or cancelled.

We’ll try it out with the iOS 4.2 GM but we likely won’t know for sure until the release version of iOS 4.2 hits, hopefully soon.

If you’ve updated to 10.6.5 and have iOS 4.2 GM, let us know if it works for you!

Apple releases Mac OS X 10.6.5 ahead of iOS 4.2, will it AirPrint? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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

You know the drill, come 6pm PT, 9pm ET, 2am BST, we’ll be live over at:

http://live.tipb.com/live/

We’ll be discussing all the week’s iPhone new and we want to hear from you. Be there!

iPhone live tonight, 6pm PT, 9pm ET, 2am GMT is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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

Earlier today we told you how network air printing was rumored to be removed from iOS 4.2. According to MacRumors one of their forum members decided to shoot Steve Jobs an email to find out what is going on with regards to this issue.

The email to Jobs:

As a release-day purchaser of an iPad, I was elated when you revealed iOS 4.2 would support AirPrint. Now comes reports AirPrint support has been pulled from 4.2. Between announcements/assurances of the white iPhone, and now the pulling of AirPrint, is Apple going to lose credibility and become known for announcing “vaporware”?

Jobs’ reply:

AirPrint has not been pulled. Don’t believe everything you read.

However, this email exchange doesn’t really clear anything up. The fact that Steve Jobs said AirPrint has not be pulled does not indicate that network shared printers is still included. This could merely mean that if you have an AirPrint capable printer such as those that HP makes that you will still be able to print from your iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad.

Ultimately we will find out as soon as iOS 4.2 is released and people will either be angry or deal with it by purchasing a compatible printer if they want to print right away.

Which way are you leaning?

[ MacRumors ]

Steve Jobs replies to questions regarding AirPrint is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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

If you are a fan of some of the features the Android OS has to offer and currently have a jailbroken iPhone then you will be very happy to know that Bootlace v2.1 will now allow you to install Android on your device without even hooking up to your computer.

According to Twitter user @cpich3g:

Bootlace 2.1 Released, Installs OpeniBoot from userland! – http://bit.ly/a8ELoV Congrats to @nidawson @bluerisEN @nickpack

If you are unaware of what OpeniBoot or even Bootlace are here is a quick explanation:

Bootlace is an iOS application which allows the installation of iDroid and OpeniBoot as well as configuration of OpeniBoot settings. Also supported is QuickBoot – a way of directly booting into the selected OS without modifying normal OpeniBoot settings.

Bootlace can be found at the following repo in Cydia:

http://repo.neonkoala.co.uk

This version currently supports the iPhone 2G running 3.1.2 or 3.1.3 firmware and the iPhone 3G running 3.1.2, 3.1.3, 4.0, 4.0.1, 4.0.2 or 4.1 firmwares. If you are currently using backgrounder for multitasking on your 3G or even 2G iPhones then be sure to disable backgrounder to utilize Bootlace as there are known issues between the two applications.

If you utilize this feature and install Android onto your device let us know how it is running and how the entire process went in the comments section below.

[ GeekWord ]

Install Android on iPhone using Bootlace [Jailbreak] is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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

iPhone Dev team posted a quick reminder for all jailbreakers and unlockers as iOS 4.2 release is imminent:

By all accounts, we're within a few days of Apple's official public release of Firmware 4.2. Here's what you need to know:

• Thanks to geohot's limera1n exploit, and our original pwnage2 exploit, and @pod2g's ipod2g-MC exploit, absolutely all devices at all iOS firmware versions are capable of being jailbroken.
• The untethered jailbreak of those very latest FWs and latest devices depends on @comex hacks. His hacks so far extend only to 4.1 and 4.2beta3. He's working on a way to extend it to 4.2 and beyond. Just wait for him to work out his method.
• iPhone 3G and 3GS unlockers will be covered by our upcoming unlock. Stay away from any updates to Apple FW until our official release and you'll be okay. Just stay away from all Apple IPSWs
• iPhone4 unlockers are not left out in the cold. @sherif_hashim has found some very promising avenues to pursue. Those will be explored as soon as possible after all the 4.2 madness.

What does this mean to you?

• If you're an unlocker, just stay where you are. Please, just stay where you are. Any mistakes you make now may be permanent.
• If you only care about the jailbreak and you're absolutely sure you have your personalized 4.1 SHSH hashes, feel free to experiment but keep in mind that any mistakes you make may result in your losing pictures or notes or bookmarks that you'd rather keep. Honestly unless you love living on the bleeding edge, it's better to just wait for official updates from Cydia/redsn0w/PwnageTool.
• Don't buy or donate to any unlock or jailbreak scammers. Every legitimate solution you will find for unlocks or jailbreaks will be offered without an extended hand. That's how this community works. It's about freedom, not donations.

It looks like an untethered jailbreak is right around the corner. All X-Gold 608 devices (iPhone3G, iPhone3GS, iPad3G) will have a new unlock, and iPhone4 isn’t too far behind… Please let us know what you are looking forward to….

[iPhoneDevTeam Blog]

iOS 4.2 Jailbreak update! is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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

Smule, makers of Ocarina, Leaf Trombone, Magic Piano, and I am T-Pain have announced their latest app — Magic Fiddle!

Uncover your musical talents and learn new techniques effortlessly as your friendly fiddle leads the way. Compete for global high scores and earn medals and badges as you accomplish fabulous feats of fiddlery. Show off your newly discovered musical aptitude with friends, family or even broadcast it to the world.

Check out video of it in action after the break and if you want to win a promo code to make it your very own, just leave a comment telling us how much you want it! (Promo codes require a US iTunes account, Apple’s rule, not ours!)

[$2.99 - iTunes link]

Pick Up and Play Beautiful Music: Amaze yourself as you pick up and play songs by following streams of colored light in the Songbook, no previous skill required. Impress your friends by playing any of the 20 songs that come bundled in the Songbook, from video theme songs to Ave Maria and everything in between.

Learn Fiddling Techniques Easily: Learn to bow, pluck, trill, vibrato and glissandi directly from your iPad. Your fiddle takes you on fun learning adventures with the Storybook – an 8-chapter interactive journey that teaches you different techniques with fun activities and step-by-step instructions.

Take it To the Top! Show off your newly found musical aptitude to your fellow fiddlers as you compete for the high score on the global leaderboards. Play your heart out to earn scores and medals for each song – your best performances combine for your global high score. Earn badges as you accomplish new heights.

Listen and Share Globally: Inspire your friends and family with your musical talent at home or experience social music on the Smule globe. Listen to other fiddlers around the world, broadcast your masterpieces and show support for fellow fiddlers by "liking" their songs.

Smule announces Magic Fiddle for iPad – Want to win a copy? [give away] is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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

The 2010 TiPb Awards have begun and it’s time to vote on all your favorites. This time it’s for your favorite iPhone/iPad protective case of the year. You know what we mean. The full plate armor or kevlar vest. The case you go to when you absolutely, positively can’t afford to get your iPhone or iPad damaged.

With the debut of the iPad and the all new form factor of iPhone 4, there are lots of new cases vying for your vote, but there can only be one 2010 TiPb Award winner! Choose your favorite in the pole above and then let us know why you chose the favorite you did in comments below. (And if you don’t see your favorite here, add it as a write-in as well!)

• Case-Mate Hybrid Tough (iPhone / iPad)
• iLuv Durable Ultra-Thin (iPhone / iPad)
• Incipio Destroyer (iPhone / iPad)
• Otterbox Defender (iPhone /iPad)
• Speck Candyshell (iPhone / iPad)

Ready, set, vote!

Vote now for your favorite iPhone/iPad protective hard case! – TiPb Awards is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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

Wondering how to manually force your movies, TV shows, and podcasts to be “mark as watched” on your Apple TV? You might be considering the current Apple TV (2010) is really, really buggy about doing it automatically. Watch something and it’s a coin toss as to whether or not Apple TV realizes it. Hopefully Apple will fix it in the upcoming iOS update. Either way, when Apple TV fails, we’ll show you how to do it yourself after the break.

Here’s how to manually “mark as watched” on your Apple TV:

• Highlight the movie, TV show, or Podcast you want to mark as watched
• Press and hold down the menu button
• A popup will appear asking you to “Mark as watched” or Cancel
• Click the menu button again

And you’re done.

It’s extra steps, yes. It’s annoying, for sure. But even if/when Apple fixes the bug it can come in handy, especially for old content you’ve added to your Mac or Windows iTunes collection that you want to have handy but isn’t really new or “unwatched”.

Bonus tip: If you’ve added a ton of old content, say a bunch of home movies you’ve ripped, it’s much fasted to go to iTunes on your Mac or PC, select it all, right click, and choose “mark as watched” right in iTunes.

Let us know how this tip works out for you, and as always, ask any questions you have in the comments below or get even more help in our Apple TV Forum!

Tips of the day will range from beginner-level 101 to advanced-level ninjary. If you already know this tip, keep the link handy as a quick way to help a friend. If you have a tip of your own you’d like to suggest, add them to the comments or send them in to dailytips@tipb.com. (If it’s especially awesome and previously unknown to us, we’ll even give ya a reward…)

Tip: How to manually “mark as watched” on Apple TV is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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

A source told BGR that Apple has changed the screening process they utilize to determine if an iPod has been damage due to water intrusion. Apple utilizes what is known as Liquid Contact Indicators in their mobile devices. In the event moisture comes into contact with these LCIs they become activated which will in turn let an Apple representative know that there was been water damage.

In the past Apple store employees would merely look inside the headphone jack and check on the LCI to see if it had been activated by water. At that point they were able to say the water was the cause of the issues and you would basically be out of luck. Now with the new policy not only will they check for the LCI but they are also being told to check for other signs of water damage before making a decision on what could have caused the device to malfunction.

Whether or not this change is due to false positives from incidental moisture contact or simply a change of heart within Apple is unknow. However, this could definately been a huge plus for the consumers who have had issues prior and were told that merely having an activated LCI that their warranty was null and void.

Our question is, will Apple apply the same new policy to iPhones and iPads?

[ BGR ]

Apple changes policy on how they check for water damage on iPods is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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

It looks like Apple might have removed or postponed network AirPrint functionality from iOS 4.2. When Apple first announced AirPrint they said it would support both specifically compatible printers and printers attached to your Mac or Windows PC as long as they were on the same network as your iPhone or iPad. Now, according to MacStories:

We have been told from a few Mac developers that a few days ago Apple removed all the references to printing via OS X 10.6.5 and PCs both from Readme files and other online documentation posted in the iOS developer center. It seems like all that's now mentioned in the release notes are the aforementioned HP networked printers, as if the shared printing option never existed.

A reply to a developer from Apple tech support purportedly added:

Support for AirPrint on Windows and Mac has been cancelled. We will be in contact with you if another opportunity arises in the future.

The feature currently works with the iOS 4.2 beta if you have the prerequisite Mac OS X 10.6.5 beta installed. Developers are saying, however, that network AirPrint suffered from instability and incompatibility. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time Apple removed a feature from final release that they felt provided a buggy and bad user experience. Then again, enough buggy and bad user experiences have crept into iOS features over the years that even if AirPrint is having some issues, it’s impossible to know for certain until the final version ships.

Would you rather Apple get AirPrint right, or get it out right now?

Has Apple removed network AirPrint from iOS 4.2? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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