It appears as though Apple’s iPod nano G1 replacement program is now sending out current model iPod nano’s instead of refurbished originals.

Some users initially reported receiving their replacements quickly but the process slowed substantially over the last few weeks and a backlog built up. Now appears as though Apple is using current models to speed up the process.

So,if you’re in the replacement program, have you received any word on your iPod yet?

Source: MacRumors

Evernote, one of the most popular note-taking apps for the iPhone and iPad, has been updated to version 4.1.7 and now includes options to allow users to share notes with friends.

• Improved stability
• Addressed some sync errors
• Users can share notebooks and manage the sharing members of notebooks on both iPhone and iPad.
• Easier access to offline-notebooks (Premium only)

I use Evernote for pretty much everything, from simple note-taking to helping me remember wishful purchases and more.

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Have an app you'd love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we'll take a look.

Reports in Apple’s Support Community suggest some users running on older iOS 3.1.3 firmware are no longer able to download apps from the App Store after Apple pushed out an update on December 16th.

Specifically, when users jump into the App Store and try to download any app, the download button is completely missing altogether. Although fragmentation within Apple’s iOS ecosystem is extremely limited — at least compared to the closest competition with Google — some users are still running older iOS versions.

There’s currently no fix outside of upgrading to a newer version of iOS, but for some users with older devices that simply don’t support current iOS versions, this could become a serious problem. Hopefully Apple pushes out a fix soon.

Source: Apple Support Communities via Engadget

If the vibrate function of AT&T/GSM iPhone 4 isn’t working or is very faint, you may need a new vibrator assembly. If you’re out of warranty but have just a little bit of ninja skill, it’s a very cheap and easy repair to perform yourself.

It’s worth noting that this guide is only valid for the AT&T or other GSM variant of the iPhone 4. The iPhone 4S and Verizon/CDMA iPhone 4 are very similar internally but very different from the GSM variant of the original iPhone 4. So if your iPhone 4 is not AT&T/GSM, proceed no further young Jedi!

Disclaimer: As with any repair, TiPb nor PXLFIX can be held responsible for any damage you may do to your device. It's also worth considering that opening up your device to perform any repair or modification can and will void your Apple warranty. If you don't feel comfortable opening your device, don't. Use extreme care and caution when performing a repair on any device.

What you need for a DIY vibrator assembly repair

PXLFIX recommends using only quality and genuine parts from a reputable supplier like eTech Parts. They have quality parts, tools, and much more for all your repair needs.

• A GSM iPhone 4
• #00 Phillips screwdriver
• Security screwdriver (only if your iPhone has the security screws in the dock connector)

Power off your iPhone 4

You should always power off your device before performing any type of internal repair work. Simply hold down your top power button and Slide to power off.

Remove the back of your iPhone 4

1. First remove the bottom 2 dock connector screws in your iPhone 4. Use either your #00 screwdriver or the five point depending on whether or not your iPhone 4 has security screws in the dock connector. Almost all newer devices will have security screws.

2. To remove the back simply slide the back upwards and lift it off gently.
3. Set the back and 2 dock connector screws aside.

Replace the vibrator assembly

1. Locate your vibrator assembly in the upper right hand corner of your iPhone 4 (assuming you’re looking at it from the back).

2. It is held in with two screws. Use your #00 Phillips screwdriver and remove them. The screw on the left will be significantly longer. Just remember which screw came from where.

3. Next, gently lift the old vibrator assembly out of the device.

4. Place the new one in carefully and replace the two screws that hold it in place.

Reassemble your iPhone

All you need to do now is replace the back on your iPhone 4 and put the two dock connector screws back in.

And …done!

That’s all there is to it! Have you done this repair yourself? Let us know how it went! Want to know how to perform another type of iPhone repair or modification? Send me suggestions to ally.kazmucha@tipb.com or leave a comment in our brand new Mod and DIY Repair Forum!

For repair questions or to inquire about mail-in repairs through PXLFIX, follow us on Twitter or e-mail us directly!

An untethered jailbreak for A5 devices (iPhone 4S and iPad 2) has finally been achieved according to pod2g’s most recent blog entry. He updated his blog yesterday stating he had hit a stumbling block but would update us today again. He’s kept true to his word and let us know today that he’s overcome the cache issue and achieved an untether.

OK, figured it out, the A5 cache is not a problem anymore. I sorted it out by doing the untether in a single thread and by flushing all the dcache then all the icache in a row at a strategical point of the process.

Saurik helped with launchd boot process so they’re one step closer to a stable jailbreak. Props to pod2g and saurik for all their hard work. I can’t wait to jailbreak my iPhone 4S as soon as a tool is updated and released. Anyone else jumping for joy at this news? I know I am! Check the source link for all the details.

Source: pod2g

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Kevin, Phil, Derek, Daniel, Georgia, and Rene take at look at the year in mobile, from BlackBerry to Android, webOS to Windows Phone, iPad to iPhone. Highs, lows, great new devices, frustrating delays, devastating losses, and a look ahead to 2012. This is Mobile Nations!

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Got something to say? Agree or disagree with something we said? Have something you want us to discuss on a future show? Don’t just sit there yelling at the screen, dammit, let us know!

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Thanks to the Mobile Nations network of store for sponsoring this podcast, and to our fantastic live chat members for keeping us honest and making us smart!

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Still looking for that perfect gift for the smartphone, tablet, or general gadget lover in your life? Whether they’re head-over-heels for iPhones and iPads, or rocking the Android, all-in on the BlackBerry, all-over the Windows Phone, or keeping 7 Palm Pre devices in the freezer, Mobile Nations has you covered.

Below are the best of the best of the best of our holiday gift recommendations, carefully chosen by the editors, with all of our favorites for 2011. Check them out, pass them on, or drop them as not-so-subtle hints to your own secret Santa.

Happy holidays!

For today only, the TiPb Store has the allistic Hard Core (HC) Series Case for iPhone 4S, iPhone 4 on sale for only $24.95!. Get them before they’re gone!

Get the allistic Hard Core (HC) Series Case for iPhone 4S, iPhone 4 now!

Cut the Rope has been updated with a new Buzz Box and support for iCloud syncing. There is also a new hidden Om Nom drawing for you to collect.

I am so excited about iCloud support! I have both the iPhone and iPad version of Cut the Rope, but only play the iPhone version because I don’t want to redo all the levels on my iPad. With this update, both devices with stay in sync!

• New Buzz Box featuring the rope moving Bees
• New hidden Om Nom drawing to collect
• Optimized for iOS 5 – including iCloud support to save game data across all iOS devices
• Reordered level boxes – to ensure better playing experience
• Various optimizations and fixes

Cut the Rope is available on the iPhone for $0.99 and on the iPad for $1.99.

• iPhone – App Store link

• iPad – App Store link

Have an app you’d love to see featured on TiPb? Email us at iosapps@tipb.com, tell us about your app (include an iTunes link), and we’ll take a look.

According to BusinessWeek, Apple has apparently issued a notice of complaint against Samsung for patent infrignements tied to the cases Samsung uses on their tablet and smartphone devices.

Apple issued the notice of infringement to Samsung in Australia over the cases, and will file a statement of claim, Apple's lawyer Stephen Burley said at a hearing in Sydney today. Samsung's lawyer Katrina Howard said at the same hearing the company was served with the notice that the cases infringe at least 10 patents.

This comes hot on the heels of Apple loosing an effort to keep Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1 off the store shelves in Australia last week. Samsung also recently dropped a bid for a temporary injunction that would have prevented Apple from selling the iPhone 4, iPhone 4S and iPad 2 in select countries.

Apple is currently taking time to gather evidence before the case begins, but it looks like we can add another mark to the growing list of Apple vs Samsung disputes.

Source: Bloomberg BusinessWeek

Image credit: SlashGear

According to financial news site Calcalist, Apple has closed the deal to acquire Anobit, an Israeli based NAND flash memory firm, for upwards of $500 million dollars.

The acquisition is reportedly based on Anobit’s innovative, efficient storage solutions based on its proprietary MSP (Memory Signal Processing) technology. The technology should help Apple save bundles of money by lowering costs while at the same time significantly boosting performance and capacity in the memory chips they use throughout their device lineup — specifically iOS devices like the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, and SSD dependent portables like the MacBook Air.

Apple has yet to comment on the rumor of the purchase.

Source: Calcalist via BGR

Brand new to iPhone and wondering how to set a contact as a “favorite” for speed dialing? It’s easy to do, places them in a neat and easy to access list, and setting it up is quite simple. Best of all, once you’re done, so are your days of scrolling through your full contact list trying to find that one name you need when you really, really need it.

Already know how to add a favorite? Save this link for family and friends and we’ll spare you the tech support time!

Here’s how it’s done:

1. Launch the phone application and click on favorites in the lower left corner.

2. Tap the + button in the top right.

3. Find the contact you wish to add as a favorite and tap on their name.

4. Select the information you wish to favorite (phone number, email, FaceTime, etc)

5. That’s it! From now on the contact willl now appear as a favorite so all you have to do is tap on that and it will call them or compose a new message if you wish.

Pretty simple to set up, and easy to add to or remove at any time. Give it a try and let us know how it works for you.

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.

TmoNews is reporting that some unlocked iPhone users may be picking up T-Mobile’s 3G network in small areas of the Pacific Northwest — specifically limited pockets in Nevada, Utah and California — due to spectrum reallocation under the 1900MHz band.

Most unlocked iPhone users are relegated to 2G due to most of the T-Mobile 3G network running on the AWS spectrum of 1700MHz/2100MHz. We’re not exactly sure what they’re reallocating the spectrum for, however, multiple reports have surfaced from Howard Forums detailing a jump in speeds and, more specifically, the 3G network indicator popping up in the statusbar on their unlocked iPhone.

It’s possible that T-Mobile could be testing spectrum allocation for new devices or simply to expand their network range for existing devices that already support the 1900MHz band, but again, there’s no concrete evidence on what precisely they’re up to. If you’re lucky enough, however, you may be able to hop onto their 3G network depending on the area you’re in.

Source: TmoNews via Howard Forums 1, Howard Forums 2

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Rene, Seth, and Marc Gurman from 9to5Mac talk iOS 5.1 beta 2, new wallpapers, iPad 3 rumors, 7-inch iPad rumors, iTunes Match and TV in the Cloud go international, A5 goes Texas, R&D goes Israel, best FPS games, GTA 3, Netflix, and more! This is iPad Live!

Hosts

• Rene Ritchie (@reneritchie)
• Seth Clifford (@sethclifford)

Special Guest

• Mark Gurman (@markgurman)

Credits

Thanks to the TiPb iPad Accessory Store for sponsoring the podcast, and to everyone who showed up for the live chat!

Music Hear me Roar by iPad Live theme song contest winner, DieselJesus!

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