PercyFX is an iPhone and iPad app that lets you take popular movie clips and personalize them with your own messages. The folks at Percy 3DMedia created the video above for us with a personal message targeted at iMore. To see another video they made with an even better message, follow along, below!

PercyFX allows you to create personalized videos from popular movie clips and share them with your friends! They download right onto your phone and you can email them to your friends, post them on YouTube, share them on Facebook – there are tons of ways to use these fun, customized video clips!

There are lots of movie clips to personalize – movies like…

• The Fast & The Furious
• Despicable Me
• Hop
• Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

and classics like

• The Big Lebowski
• Back to the Future
• American Pie
• King Kong
• Sixteen Candles

PercyFX is available on the iPhone and iPad for free.

• App Store link

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

With Apple’s education event not far off and an A5 jailbreak lingering, the forums have been a very busy place the past little while.  If you’re looking to discuss those things and more — we’ve got plenty of room in the iMore forums for your voice to be heard, you can register now to get started today and check out some of the threads below:

• iPhone 4S Forum: Sideload eBooks to Kindle app?
• iPhone 4 Forum: Issues with WhatsApp now that I’m on iOS5
• iOS 5 Forum WiFi Sync is garbage!
• Apple iTV Forum Would you buy an Apple iTV television?
• Jailbreak and Unlock Forum Untethered jailbreak for the iPhone 4S

If you’re not already a member of the iMore Forums, register now!

AppleInsider is rumoring that Apple’s education event will include a textbook initiative codenamed “Bliss”, inspired in part by current Apple board member and past Vice President of United States, Al Gore’s Our Choice ebook app.

The person who contacted AppleInsider indicated that Apple’s Internet software chief, Eddy Cue, is responsible for the distribution side of the new e-textbook initiative. But Rosner is said to be in charge of development of the editor used to create digital textbooks, as well as the reading software that will allow students and teachers to view the files. The person said the internal code-name for the project is “Bliss,” and said the software will allow publishers to make textbooks more interactive.

Gore’s “Our Choice” ebook app was built by Push Pop Press, which was subsequently bought out by Facebook. If true, the combination of iTunes/App Store/iCloud head Eddy Cue on the content delivery side, and iWork shepherd Roger Rosner on the content creation and consumption side could be powerful.

We’ll find out tomorrow. In the meantime, check out a video of Our Choice, and then hit the link below for all the details.

Source: AppleInsider

That’s right, we’re postponing our usual Wednesday night iPhone and iPad Live podcast tonight so that we can bring you a special edition tomorrow at 10am, where will be following along with Apple’s special education event in New York, and offering up commentary, color, and analysis both during and after the announcements.

So put your snacks on hold, keep your spicy drinks on ice, because we aim to rock your internet socks come tomorrow morning.

Time: 10am ET, 7am PT, 3pm GMT tomorrow!

Place: http://www.imore.com/live

AT&T has just announced some upcoming changes to their data plans for iPhone and iPad — and smartphones and tablets in general — that will go into effect as of Sunday, Jan. 22.

The new smartphone plans include:

• AT&T Data Plus 300MB: $20 for 300MB
• AT&T Data Pro 3GB: $30 for 3GB
• AT&T Data Pro 5GB: $50 for 5GB, with mobile hotspot / tethering

iPhone customers needing additional data can pay $10 per additional gigabyte on the AT&T Data Pro 3GB and Data Pro 5GB plans; AT&T Data Plus users will receive an extra 300MB for $20.

The new tablet plans include:

• AT&T DataConnect 3GB: $30 for 3GB
• AT&T DataConnect 5GB: $50 for 5GB

Current customers won’t be required to change to their already existing data plans. In other words, they’re not enforcing anyone onto the new plans… yet. However; if you find any of the new plans better then what you have now, you can up customer care and make the switch as of Jan 22.

Source: AT&T

A hack called Whited00r allows iOS 5 features to be installed on the original iPhone and iPhone 3G devices, as well as the early iPod touch models.

Whited00r will automatically jailbreak your device, and the latest version of Cydia, 1.1.3, will be installed on it. The biggest advantage of the tool, is that you will get true multitasking, and apps will keep in running state in the background.

It’s as simple as running a manual IPSW install via iTunes before Whited00r takes over and installs a custom iOS firmware package. Apparently you’ll be running a heavily modified iOS 3.1.3 IPSW, which is required on older iOS devices. As such, this version of iOS comes with a custom iCloud setup, and also doesn’t include the new Notification Center included in iOS 5.

Source: Whited00r via AddictiveTips

Google has officially launched its Orkut app for iPhone, letting users of Brazil and India’s favorite social network access the service on-the-go.

The official Orkut app for iOS connects you to your friends and family. Now you can send scraps, see your friends updates, upload photos and browse your friends albums anywhere you go. Never miss a conversation again because you are not in front of your computer: get the free Orkut app and stay connected.

• Update your status
• Check your scraps and messages
• Reply to your friends birthdays
• Check your friends updates
• Browse your friends profiles, scraps and photos
• Take new photos and upload them directly to your Orkut albums
• Share your life anywhere, anytime with the people you care about

Although Orkut isn’t as popular as Facebook in most parts of the world, the Google-owned social network that’s not Google+ has gained popularity in Brazil and India, where roughly 80 percent of its active user base resides.

Orkut is available now in the App Store and is compatible with the iPhone and iPod touch.

• Free — App Store Link

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

Weightless: Helps you reach your desired weight by providing the simplest possible solution to track your daily weight and view your progress.

• $0.99 for iPhone – App Store link

Genius Scan – PDF Scanner: Turns your iPhone into a pocket scanner. It enables you to quickly scan documents on the go and email the scans as JPEG or PDF.

• Free for iPhone – App Store link

Facebook Cover Designer: Give your Facebook Timeline cover the unique and professional design it deserves.

• Free for iPhone – App Store link

Roads of Rome: Follow the romantic love story, take up challenging tasks set by the wise and cunning Caesar, explore barbarian lands, win recognition and achieve success in Roads of Rome, the fascinating blend of casual strategy, SIM and time management features!

• $2.99 for iPhone – App Store link

Draw War: Save Your Booty: Them filthy and dirty Vikings are trying to rob Captain Goodthrow's booty, and it is your job to prevent those nasty sons of Odin from succeeding! You must fight the Vikings at all cost, and by using your trusty battle axe, kill them all by using your finger to draw a path on the screen to release the axe to bring' em' down!

• Free for iPhone – App Store link

Any other big app or game releases or updates today?

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

If you’re browsing Wikipedia, Reddit, or some other sites today and notice it’s either blacked out or otherwise differently-functional, don’t worry, they haven’t gone down, they haven’t been hacked, they’re just protesting some wrong-headed U.S. legislation known as SOPA and PIPA (and I’d ask kindly they add ACTA to the list).

In a nutshell, Hollywood considers us all content thieves and their inexplicable hostility towards their own customers has caused them to expend tremendous time, effort, and money trying to get the U.S. government to cram through anti-consumer legislation that doesn’t really fight illegal and unlicensed content distribution, but sure does trample individual rights, fair use provisions, and in general the whole concept of due process. To combat this, people who actually know what the internet is and how it works have applied equal and oppositional force back, up to an including today’s black out. Fear of informed, engaged citizens has caused some politicians to rethink their support of these bills (though why they supported them to begin with should be a question asked pointedly and repeatedly come reelection time). But there’s more work to be done.

Intellectual property violations are real. More than a decade ago I walked into a store in Hong Kong and saw a book I’d spent years researching, photographing, and writing photocopied and offered up for discount sale. I’ve been creating content most of my life. I understand it’s value. It’s Hollywood that doesn’t — that inflates and infantilizes it, that makes reasonable protection impossible in the face of their unreasonableness.

The defensiveness of movie makers and music labels, of myopic media throwbacks, of technophobes and all but disintermediated middlemen should never be put before the rights of the people who — by the way — are the very consumers who buy their products and provide them the very money they spend to lobby for such insane legislation to begin with.

Apple broke this conundrum years ago with iTunes: Make things easily available and price them fairly.

How about we make that the law?

Source: Wikipedia SOPA and PIPA resource page, Wikipedia ACTA page

If you plan on jailbreaking your iPhone 4S or iPad 2 as soon as a jailbreak for Apple A5 chipset-powered devices is released, update to iOS 5.0.1 ASAP if you haven’t already.

If/when Apple releases an iOS 5.0.2 patch or iOS 5.1 they’ll most likely stop signing iOS 5.0.1 pretty quickly. iOS 5.1 patches the current exploit used on iOS 5.0.1. That means if you don’t update before then, you’ll be stuck waiting for jailbreak developers to find a new exploit for iOS 5.1 and we have no idea how long that’ll take.

So the moral of this story is if you’d like to jailbreak sooner rather than later, update your devices to iOS 5.0.1 now. If you’ve got an iPhone 4 or other Apple A4 chipset device, you can jailbreak untethered now on iOS 5.0.1.

For today only, the iMore Store has the Incipio Hive Honeycomb dermaSHOT Silicone Case for iPad 2 on sale for only $19.95!. Get them before they’re gone!

Get the Incipio Hive Honeycomb dermaSHOT Silicone Case for iPad 2 now!

My list of most used accessories for 2011 is rather short, but these accessories are real gems. I like to keep things nice and simple to help with productivity, and these accessories fit the bill perfectly. I don’t like the wiz-bang accessories that add flash, but rather like to stick to items that add to the functionality of my iPhone or iPad. Here are a few of my favorites.

RAM windshield mounting system for iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S

The RAM windshield suction mount is the best car mount that money can buy. I’ve been through a handful of car and windshield mounts, and nothing has come close to the RAM mount thus far. Its unique suction lock delivers a full and sturdy lock to the windshield with no play whatsoever.

This is the perfect mount for anyone looking to use their iPhone as a GPS system. Because of the sturdy design, even the roughest of terrain won’t be a match for the RAM mount. I’ve been off road with this thing a number of times, and not only does it stay in place, it doesn’t wiggle one bit!

• $33.99 — Amazon Link

Twelve South BookBook Case for iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S

Want to look cool while geeking out at the same time? With BookBook for iPhone, you can! I’ve had the BookBook case for my iPhone 4 for about half a year now, and the head-turns and double-takes haven’t stopped yet. By design, the BookBook case looks more like a small poetry book. So, by nature it looks as if you’re diving deep into a good poem or novel, when in reality you’ve just been playing Angry Birds. Great camouflage.

• $49.99 — Amazon Link

Marware CEO Hybrid case for iPad 2

• $26.99 — Amazon Link

Apple is hosting an event in New York tomorrow, and if the chalkboard logo is any indication,  we’ll be seeing some new content for educators, specifically new interactive textbooks delivered on iPad through a new file format and publishing system curated by Apple. On top of cutting the hassle of lugging around a bunch of print volumes, digital textbooks would be more engaging, and publishers would be able to update their products as necessary.

iPads in the classroom has been a common image in many Apple ads, and more than a couple of schools have bought  in to the idea. Programs like iBooks and iTunes U are already in place to support a new digital textbook standard, but the real question is, will schools be willing to cough up $500/student for iPads? Will Apple be willing to subsidize the cost, just so they can hook ‘em while they’re young?

I guess we’ll find out tomorrow – stick around for our coverage of the event!

Source: Bloomberg

That, above, is a Sprint iPhone 4S. Physically, it’s the exact same iPhone 4S you can get on Verizon. Or AT&T. Or Rogers, O2, KDDI, Vodacom, or any other carrier that sells the iPhone 4S anywhere in the world. Apple makes one iPhone 4S (okay, technically six, when you include the storage variations and colors). But this one runs on Sprint. There’s no user-facing software difference – it’s an iPhone 4S inside and out.

So here we are, three months after the biggest network load freight train in history smacked into Sprint’s network. CEO Dan Hesse was begging for it. Literally, he really wanted the iPhone. After the long-term sales disappointment that was the Palm Pre (rest in peace, shiny webOS pebble) and the failure of the Android-powered HTC Evo 4G to really take the market by storm, Sprint found themselves really needing the iPhone, and publicly proclaiming such.

With three months of more-and-more users switching to the iPhone on Sprint (including myself, I know at least seven webOS, BlackBerry, and Android users on Sprint that picked up a Sprint iPhone), it’s time to check in and see just how well the pin drop network is holding up. And the answer is… quite well.

Unlimited data and Apple’s no bloatware policy make for calm, clean experience.	Sprint’s network isn’t as fast as AT&T or as expansive as Verizon.
The iPhone 4S is the best smartphone on Sprint. The iPhone 4S on Sprint is for people who want to be on Sprint. And as I want to be on Sprint, it’s the iPhone for me.

I’ve been on Sprint since 2004, and in seven years I’ve owned five-and-a-half phones on America’s perpetually third-place cellular carrier. The last phone-and-a-half before the iPhone (a Palm Pre and a hacked-together Sprint Pre 2 (there’s the half phone)) were on Sprint’s EVDO Rev. A 3G network, the same network used by the iPhone 4S. And the experience has been largely the same as far as that network is concerned.

Coverage

The iPhone on Sprint does just as well as any other Sprint smartphone as far as coverage is concerned – I can’t say I’ve noticed it picking up a signal any better in fringe-coverage areas than my trust old Pre did, nor has it performed more poorly. Pretty much right on the mark wherever my Pre failed the iPhone fails as well. That said, those failures were pretty rare. Sprint’s done a commendable job of expanding its network footprint, and nine times out of ten, if Sprint isn’t available, you can roam onto Verizon 3G without hiccup. As a caveat: I live in Ohio, and the Midwest is “Sprint Country” – the Ohio/Indiana/Illinois/Michigan area is one of Sprint’s strongest (along with Sprint home state Kansas).

Call quality

Call quality is adequate, in that callers will be able to understand what you’re saying and you’ll be able to understand them. It’s not for broadcasting concertos to a remote audience, and as CDMA calls are routed over Sprint’s 1xRTT (2G) network, it never will be.

International roaming

Well, there’s one hiccup – the Sprint iPhone is carrier-locked internationally. Sort of. You can purchase an expensive international data pack and Micro SIM through Sprint for your international travels, or if your Sprint customer service rep is feeling particularly nice, they can unlock the iPhone’s SIM slot so you can just buy a prepaid card for your trip overseas.

Data speed

Speed-wise, the iPhone does seem to manage the Sprint network better than my previous Sprint smartphones, albeit marginally so. Does the iPhone get a stronger signal than other Sprint smartphones or is it just better at optimizing what it pumps through the datapipes? Hard to say, but the user experience is that it does its thing faster. The speeds are roughly comparable to Verizon’s 3G service (though roaming onto Verizon isn’t that speedy). Download speeds over 3G rarely cracked over 1.5mpbs, which is right around average for a Sprint smartphone. Yes, that’s rather pathetic compared to the HSPA+ service available on GSM carriers, which itself performs as-well-as if not better than Sprint’s ill-fated WiMAX network. There’s a reason Sprint’s going full steam ahead with LTE.

Bloatware free

The Sprint iPhone doesn’t hold an edge over AT&T or Verizon when it comes to speed or network coverage, respectively, and thanks to Apple’s no bloatware policy, it doesn’t bring any of Sprint’s gratis services like Sprint TV, Sprint Navigation, Sprint Music, or Sprint Anything Else. That’s a good thing, in that the phone isn’t loaded down with unwanted and undeletable apps like so many Android devices, but it’s also a bad thing in that these apps are not available in the App Store either. Will Sprint make them available for Sprint iPhone users? Only time will tell, but it’s been three months already and they’re not there.

Unlimited data

Sprint has one signature advantage over AT&T and Verizon. It’s something that the other carriers, with all their coverage and speeds can’t match. Or rather, something they won’t match. It’s unlimited data. Not “unlimited but really 5GB”, not “unlimited but throttled.” Just plain unlimited. With your Sprint iPhone you can download as much as you want. Well, as long as you’re doing it on the phone – like the other carriers, tethering requires an addition; $30-a-month tethering/hotspot plan and is limited to 5GB in a month. To be honest, 99% of users would struggle to break 2GB of use in a month, let alone 5GB.

Sprint’s advertising for the iPhone has focused almost exclusively on this unlimited aspect, because really that and the plan pricing are Sprint’s only true selling points. Every carrier at this point offers some form of unlimited mobile-to-mobile calling (a feature first implemented by Sprint), and with the exception of business and grandparents, most of your calling is going to be done to landlines. So who is the Sprint iPhone for? Sprint and Sprint customers. Just as customers didn’t flee en masse to Verizon or AT&T for the iPhone, they aren’t going to switch to Sprint for the iPhone.

Should you buy your iPhone 4S on Sprint?

It all comes down to our perpetual advise for smartphone buyers: pick your carrier first. Coverage where you live/work/play and how much you’re willing to pay for that service, by far the most expensive part of purchasing a phone on contract, should be the first decisions you make. It doesn’t matter if the iPhone or whatever other phone you’re looking for isn’t on the best carrier for your situation if you can’t use it. With the iPhone now on Sprint, AT&T, and Verizon, that makes the decision even easier.

• With AT&T you get spotty but improving coverage but fantastic speeds so long as you stick close to urban centers.
• With Verizon you get a generally reliable network with fantastic coverage and so-so speeds that you’ll pay out the nose for and still have to deal with Big Red’s meddling ways.
• With Sprint you get good coverage, underdog status, so-so speeds, unlimited usage, and cheaper prices.

Conclusion

There you have it – the iPhone 4S on Sprint. Sprint’s smartphone selection hasn’t been great recently, with the Samsung Galaxy S II, Epic 4G Touch (yes, the name has a comma) serving as the closest competition to the iPhone 4S. We might be a bit biased here, but it’s safe to say the iPhone 4S is the best smartphone on Sprint. It’s certainly going to be a sales king for the Overland Park, Kanasa-based network. The iPhone 4S on Sprint is for people who want to be on Sprint. And as I want to be on Sprint, it’s the iPhone for me.

“Should I buy an iPad?” is a question we’re getting asked a lot these days at iMore, especially with the iPad 3 just around the corner. The holiday gift-giving season may have passed, but a lot of people who didn’t get an iPad are still looking at them, considering them, and wondering if they should get an iPad in general, and get an iPad 2 now or wait for an iPad 3 in specific.

Should I buy an iPad?

Apple introduced the iPad as a device that sits somewhere between smartphones like the iPhone and laptops like the MacBook. They believe the tablet form factor combined with iOS software allows the iPad to do certain things better than either the phone or laptop. These things include email and web browsing, watching movies and playing games. It’s not the phone you can easily carry in your pocket, small of screen but hugely portable. And it’s not the laptop you need to put on a table and keep plugged in, hot and noisy, and overly complex for most tasks. It’s a 9.7″ piece of glass that turns on instantly, lasts for up to 10 hrs between charges, and is easy enough for a toddler or grandparent to use, but powerful enough to delight geeks and gadget-lovers alike. Apple truly succeeded in changing the game — for the first time it’s not about specs, it’s not even about content, it’s about the experience. It’s about using it.

If Windows or Mac OS X frustrate or annoy you, and you just want something simple to use the internet and apps, you’ll like the iPad. If you want to be able to curl up on the sofa or in bed and read an ebook or watch a video, or often find yourself on a long, cramped plane or train ride and need to get work done, you’ll like the iPad. If you’re the creative type who just wants a clean canvas to record music, paint with digital bits, or map minds with your fingers, you’ll like the iPad. If for any reason a phone is just too small and a laptop is just too much of a pain, you’ll like the iPad.

Should I buy an iPad 2 or wait for iPad 3?

iPad 3 is probably coming in March. While Apple doesn’t always stick to their yearly product cycles, they stick to them often enough that a new iPad this spring is high likelihood. With a new iPad there come new features, usually at the same price as the old iPad. In this case, with the iPad 3, we’re probably going to be seeing a double density Retina display, meaning 2048×1536 resolution in the same 9.7-inches the current iPad uses for 1024×736. So text will look sharper, more like reading ink on paper, and graphics will look crisper. The pixels will all but disappear.

It will probably also have an Apple A6 processor. Whether or not that means quad-core, it will certainly mean faster — faster rendering web pages and much faster — and hence better — graphics. It may or may not offer super fast 4G LTE connectivity, and if you live in one of the relatively few areas that have 4G LTE, that might matter to you. It could also have better cameras than the current, rather pitiful iPad 2 cameras.

So if a new iPad is only a couple of months away, is there any reason to buy an iPad 2 now? Sure, if you need it badly enough now. If you need an iPad today, this week, or this month, then get it. If your netbook broke and you need a portable PC, if you’re about to leave on a business trip or vacation and need a way to stay connected, if you’re going to move from developing iPhone apps to iPad apps, if your child or significant other really wants one for his or her birthday, if your parents are about to be grandparents and you’d give anything to be able to place FaceTime video calls to them, get an iPad now. It’s a great device, it has tons of great software, and just because a new one comes out in a few months doesn’t mean your current one will spontaneously combust. Get it, be happy, and if the new one entices you, give or sell the current one to friend or family member and make the upgrade.

If you’re still on the fence, if you’re still undecided, check out the link below and then head on over to your local Apple Store or electronics retailer and try one out. Try out the web and the apps and the games. See how it feels and how it feels to use it. Then make up your mind. Chances are that within a few minutes you’ll find out if you should buy an iPad.

• iPad 2 review
• iPad 2: Everything you need to know
• iPad 2 forums
• iPad 3 news and rumors
• iPad 3 forums

Firecore has released an updated version of its aTV Flash (black) software that runs on any jailbroken second generation Apple TV. The new update, version 1.2,  adds in some nice new features like video zoom options, grid view, watched icons, quick access to recently visited browser pages and a huge raft of bug fixes.

• Three all new zoom options (Normal, Crop, and Stretch) allow you choose how videos are displayed. You can keep videos in their native format (widescreen or pillar box) or crop/stretch them to fill the entire screen.
• Watched indicator icons have been added to the grid view. These icons allow you to quickly see which content is new and ready to be enjoyed. (Note: These can be disabled through the Media –> Settings menu if desired)
• Couch Surfer now displays thumbnail images in the ‘top shelf’ area of the main menu, which allows you to quickly get back to recently viewed pages.

Full Changelog

• Added video zoom options (available through Playback Menu)
• Added watched indicators to grid view
• Added ‘Recently Visited’ section to Browser top shelf
• Added support for MicroDVD .SUB files
• Added screensaver during pause
• Added file delete option
• Added activity indicator for metadata clearing
• Added ‘tune’ icon placeholder for audio files without metadata
• Added episode number to the fetched name the list view
• Added Reload Metadata’ option in contextual menu for folders
• Added ‘no items’ message to the ‘Unwatched’ filter of the list view
• Added gray ticket image caching
• Added loading screen when opening Manage Extras menu
• Improved scrubber bar logic
• Improved audio feedback for watched and pre-playback screens
• Improved poster loading for large folders
• Improved support for DVDs without menus
• Improved subtitle support for right-to-left languages (e.g. Hebrew)
• Improved installer device detection
• Resolved minor memory management issues
• Resolved issues with subtitles settings while playing a playlist
• Resolved issues with yellow subtitles displayed for movies converted with Handbrake
• Resolved conflicts with default audio player
• Resolved issues with passwords that contain @ symbols
• Resolved issues with metadata loading for files that contain ‘/’ in folder or file name
• Resolved buffer overflow in libafpclient observed when navigating folders with long names
• Resolved issues with installer Bonjour detection
• Resolved rare crashes during web browsing
• Changed metadata format to S.# / Ep.# for TV Shows
• Disabled metadata processing during movie playback
• Corrected audio feedback when pressing Menu while in grid view
• Minor UI improvements
• Other miscellaneous bug fixes

If you are already a user of aTV Flash (black), you can update easily through the Maintenance menu on your Apple TV.

If you're not already jailbroken, you can jailbreak your AppleTV via Seas0nPass. You'll just need the most recent version of Seas0nPass and a micro-usb cable. For help, you can check out our guide on how to jailbreak the AppleTV second generation. All the steps will remain the same as long as you grab the correct version of Seas0nPass for your AppleTV firmware.

Source: Firecore

 

Chronic Dev Team member pod2g has again teased everyone waiting for an iPhone 4S and iPad 2 untethered jailbreak. This time he has released a picture of an iPad 2 running Cydia after being jailbroken by the soon to be released untethered iOS 5.01 jailbreak.

We have already seen a demo video of an iPhone 4S running with an untethered jailbreak a few days ago and we were told then that we only had to wait a few more. Now with this release, all we hear is "No more to say!" We assume that this means that the untethered jailbreak for A5 devices is now complete and may be released as early as this week.

Non-A5 iPhone and iPad owners can untethered jailbreak iOS 5.0.1 right now.

Source: pod2g Blog

“This Incipio SILICRYLIC is ideal for anyone who wants good protection without excessive bulk, and the ability to quickly prop up their iPhone for easy video viewing.”

The Incipio SILICRYLIC case with integrated kickstand stands (literally!) somewhere between a feather case and a full-on armor case, providing twin layers of protection without being overly bulky about it. The two layers consist of a silky, silicone core that slips onto your iPhone 4S or iPhone 4 almost like a wetsuit. The acrylic shell clamps over, on top, to provide greater impact protection to the back and sides. It does take a little bit of wiggling to line everything up perfectly, however.

A “Vanity Kit” comes standard with the Incipio SILICRYLIC, and I’m not even going to lie, it’s just the sort of extra I love to see. The kit includes a cleaning cloth, screen protector, and applicator card, so you can protect the one thing the case itself doesn’t cover, that big, beautiful, scratch-able glass display.

And here’s the part where I unbury the lede — it also has a kickstand. I’ve often said I wanted a kickstand on the iPhone — and been made fun of because of it! — but where Apple continues to ignore me, Incipio has listened. Just pop the kickstand open on the back of the SILICRYLIC and you can prop up your iPhone and get down to some serious video watching. The only downside, and it’s a big one, is that the kickstand only works in landscape mode. If you try to stand it up in portrait mode, unless you have Crique de Soleil level balancing skills, it’s going to fall over almost immediately. Hopefully Incipio will engineer a more flexible kickstand in the future, especially if the feature is important enough to be included in the product’s name.

The good

• Dual layer protection
• Not overly bulky
• Did I mention it has a kickstand?

The Bad

• A bit fiddly to put on
• Dock port isn’t cut wide enough for some car and media plugs
• Did I mention the kickstand only works in landscape more?(!)

Conclusion

The Incipio SILICRYLIC with kickstand is ideal for anyone who wants good protection without excessive bulk, but really wants the ability to quickly prop their iPhone up for easy video viewing.

CAN$24.95 – BlueShop.ca

US$14.95 – Amazon.com

College T.A is an app to help college students balance classes, clubs, work, and social life. Manage your coursework, events, to-do lists, professors’ info, and more and keep your calendars synced in College T.A and your iPhone’s built-in Calendar app. The recent update also brings a new UI and other optimizations.

For many college students, the Spring semester is right around the corner (or has just begun), so now is a perfect time to picks up College T.A before you’re helplessly disorganized!

The life of a college student can be a confusing whirlwind that involves balancing your academic and social lives. However, College TA, the next generation of college planners is here. College TA assists users with managing their personal, social, and academic lifestyles, all on a beautiful and simplistic design.

College T.A is available on the iPhone for free.

• App Store link

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

The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple's iWork VP Roger Rosner has been charged to lead Apple’s entry into the digital textbook arena.

According to people familiar with the matter, Mr. Rosner—Apple’s vice president for productivity applications, in charge of its iWork document, spreadsheet and presentation software—is closely involved in developing the new digital-textbook service. Apple last week said it was holding an event in New York City on Thursday for an announcement, which people familiar with the matter have said will be around digital textbooks.

With Apple’s education event happening January 19th, we’ll soon be able to lay to rest all the rumors surrounding what, exactly will be unveiled. It seems, however, that rather then looking to replace textbooks with their digital counterparts right away, Rosner’s team will introduce a new set of tools for publishers to create “iTextbooks”. Apple’s iTunes U podcast section is a critical if not mainstream success, and their iBooks eBookstore and reader already have a small set of textbook publishers participating. If Apple can expand on that existing base with tools to make the transition easier, they could start to get some momentum going.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

“If you already have comics in a digital format, Comic Zeal is simply the best way to read them on your iPad.”

Comic Zeal is currently the best app for reading comics on your iPad. Whether you’re a member of the mighty Marvel marauders, a dedicated DC-for-lifer, or someone who prefers the alternative and independent sequential art scene, if you already have your comics in a digital format — especially if you bought those massive Marvel DVDs containing all the early issues of Avengers, Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, X-Men, etc. in PDF — Comic Zeal should be your go-to reader.

You can sync PDF, CBR/RAR, or CBZ/ZIP files straight over to Comic Zeal from iTunes via file sharing if you absolutely have to, and with Wi-Fi sync it’s easier than ever. I just drop mine into Dropbox, hit the Dropbox app on iPad, download them, hit the action button, and tell Dropbox to open them in Comic Zeal. It would be nice if Comic Zeal could hook into Dropbox (and other online storage pools) directly, eliminating a step. Here’s hoping we get that in the future.

Comic Zeal also has a lot of great options for organizing and displaying your comics, including by series and in a grid, so you can more easily find the issue you want, when you want. You can choose between swiping or tapping — or both — to change pages, tapping or hitting a button — or both — to show and hide the navigation tools, and a variety of other features, including zoom. Alas, you there’s no tactile way to manipulate your comics (you can’t put them into “jiggly mode to re-arrange or delete them, or put them into folders), and turning pages lacks the iBooks-style animation and doesn’t feel as crisp as it ought to.

The good

• Fast, well organized, good options and controls, and did I mention fast?
• Supports popular formats like PDF, CRB, and CBZ.

The bad

• Lacks iPad-like tactile manipulation and page turning.
• Lacks integration with popular online storage services like Dropbox.

The conclusion

If you already have comics in a digital format, Comic Zeal is simply the best way to read them on your iPad.

$7.99 – Download

Goodnight iPad: a Parody for the next generation, by Ann Droyd (ha!) is a cute little twist to the bedtime story, Goodnight Moon. Today’s children have iPad’s, iPhones, computers, and all sorts of gadgets and electronics, so this book is about saying goodnight to these items instead of the traditional ones in Goodnight Moon.

Now go grab a cup of hot chocolate and join me around the fire for a reading of this modern bedtime story!

• $14.99 – Amazon link

I have a very short attention span when it comes to accessories for my iPhone and iPad, and my most used accessories reflect that. To really keep my attention an accessory has to stand out from what I already own. If it looks like something I already have or doesn’t provide any additional features, I probably won’t give it a second look. Here are the ones I’ve found to be functional and versatile enough to keep around.

iSkin Aura for iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S

The first iSkin product I ever purchased was an iSkin Solo FX case for my iPhone 3GS. I’ve been impressed with their product lines ever since. Yes, they’re a bit more expensive than other cases on the market but I really think they’re a prime example of “you get what you pay for”.

The iSkin Aura adds minimal bulk to your iPhone, if any at all. The inside of the case is a thin rubber than won’t scratch or damage your device. The sides of the case are also rubber which provides a good grip. The back is a beautiful brushed metal that’s available in three different colors – grey, blue, and white.

I’ve been using the iSkin Aura for a good few months now and the quality is just what I’ve come to expect from iSkin. It’s worth keeping in mind that this case isn’t aimed for people who drop their phone frequently. It isn’t an Otterbox and doesn’t claim to be. If you don’t need heavy protection, you’ll love it. If you do need heavy protection, I wouldn’t recommend it.

• $34.95 – iMore Store link

Bamboo Stylus for iPad and iPad 2

I first learned of the Bamboo stylus when Leanna used it as her pick of the week. I’d tried several types of stylus’ and never found one that was a good weight and provided good accuracy while writing. Not to mention a lot of them have very cheap tips on them that will start to come apart or lose their shape after a while.

I find the Bamboo stylus to be the perfect combination of weight and design. It comes in several different colors and is priced very reasonably.

• $25.95 – $29.95 (depending on color choice) – Amazon link

Bose MIE2i in-ear headphones

I finally broke down several months ago and bought a “good” pair of headphones. The stock Apple ear buds always hurt my ears after an hour or so of use. My brother actually talked me into finally picking up a pair of Bose headphones. While they’re not new to 2011, they’re still a top seller when it comes to quality headphones (and they’re new to me).

Aside from the great sound quality, they’re extremely comfortable even when worn for long durations. They come with several different ear pieces to ensure the best fit individually. As you would expect, they’ve got a built in mic and clicker so you can use them not only for music but for phone calls and other tasks as well.

They’re a bit more expensive than other headphone choices but I’ve found the quality to be more than worth the price.

• $129.95 – Amazon link

Apple iPad 2 Smart Cover

The Smart Cover continues to be one of my favorite accessories for my iPad 2. The iPad 2 is much slimmer than its predecessor and I like to keep that form factor to a minimum. I don’t want a case that’s going to make it bulky.

I’ve found the Smart Cover to be versatile enough for my needs. I can prop it up in one way when I need to utilize the keyboard and another way when I want to sit back and watch a movie. It doesn’t provide the greatest protection considering it doesn’t protect the back at all but I’ve got that covered with an iSkin Solo Smart that compliments it perfectly without adding additional weight or bulk.

• $39.99 to $69.99 – Amazon link

iSkin Solo Smart for iPad 2

While I love my Smart Cover I still felt like the back was left wide open to scratches and potential damage. I wanted something I could use in addition to my Smart Cover.

Then I found the iSkin Solo Smart. Not only does it cover everything the Smart Cover doesn’t, including ports, it strengthens the Smart Cover’s connection. Along the left side you’ll find a small bracket that comes up and around the hinge of the Smart Cover. No matter how hard you pull, you’re Smart Cover won’t come unattached.

And if you don’t want to use a Smart Cover at all, the Solo Smart comes with an extra piece you can put inside the bracket so nothing on the back or sides of your iPad 2 is exposed.

• $52.99 – iSkin Solo Smart for iPad 2