Bloomberg is reporting that, according to unnamed sources, Apple is working on a smaller iPhone model (iPhone Nano, anyone?) to help close the pricing gap between lower end Android devices and Apple’s flagship iPhone product. The move would let consumers pick up an iPhone Nano for around $200 non-subsidized and without a carrier contract:

One version would be cheaper and smaller than the most recent iPhone [...] Apple has considered selling the new iPhone for about $200, without obligating users to sign a two-year service contract.

We previously speculated that Apple would do well by releasing a smaller iPhone to help fend off the never-ending flow of cheap Android smartphones. Apple would be able to sell the device without a contract because the costs to build it would be very low compared to the current iPhone 4 or future iPhone 5. The sources told Bloomberg that Apple is aiming to unveil the device around mid-year, but that plans could still be scrapped depending on how things play out.

Another interesting tidbit was that Apple is working on a technology called Universal SIM which would let users jump from network to network without switching out their SIM card. The SIM would be compatible with both GSM and CDMA networks and would work well in a contract-free iPhone Nano, giving more freedom of choice between networks for the user.

So how about it, would you be interested in picking up a contract-free iPhone Nano now that we know Apple is actually working on one? Let us know in the comments!

[Bloomberg]

Apple releasing a cheaper, contract-free iPhone Nano this summer? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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

Greenpois0n not only works for the AT&T iPhone 4, it will also jailbreak your Verizon iPhone 4 on iOS 4.2.6. I had no issues the first time out. It’s pretty straight forward and pretty much the exact same process you’d use to jailbreak an AT&T iPhone 4 with Greenpois0n running iOS 4.2.1. HIt the jump to find out what you’ll need. We’ll also give you a quick walkthrough as well.

What you’ll need

• Verizon iPhone 4 running iOS 4.2.6
• Either a PC or a Mac
• Greenpois0n RC5 b4, Mac Version – PC Version

This jailbreak is also untethered so you won’t have to worry about having to connect your iPhone 4 to your PC every time you want to reboot like a lot of users did under redsn0w on iOS 4.2.1 (until greenpois0n came along).

How to jailbreak

1. Download Greepois0n from one of the links above (Mac or PC).

2. Save it somewhere easily accessible. I always put mine in the dock of my Mac. It’s easy to find if I ever need it again.

3. Make sure you have backed up all of your data via a sync in iTunes before proceeding any further.
4. Plug your Verizon iPhone into your computer via USB and turn it OFF.
5. Launch greenpois0n

6. Once you are ready to begin click Jailbreak. greenpois0n will walk you through putting your iPhone into DFU mode. If you mess up the first time, that’s okay, it will fail and you can simply try again.

7. After you have correctly entered DFU mode, greenpois0n will begin jailbreaking your phone. (As a side note, a lot of users reported the jailbreak failed because they did not hold the home button down long enough. I suggest holding it down for a few seconds even after the jailbreak begins installing, just to be safe.)

8. Let greenpois0n do its thing. Once it says “Complete!”, click it to close out greenpois0n.

9. When your phone boots back up, you should see a Loader Icon on your screen, tap it.

10. Then choose to install Cydia. Once it’s done, close out of Loader, let your phone respring and make sure Cydia is on your homescreen.

11. Once Cydia is installed, go back into Loader, tap options and uninstall Loader.

12. Close out of Loader and your phone will respring one more time in order to uninstall Loader.
13. Congrats! Your Verizon iPhone 4 is now jailbroken! Launch Cydia and let it update. If it asks you to do a complete or essential upgrade, click complete.

14. Once it is done, you should be able to re-enter Cydia and start enjoying all kinds of fancy jailbreak tweaks and apps!

If you’re new to Jailbreak check out our Jailbreak Starters Guide for all the basics. If you have any issues or just want to talk tweaks and apps, be sure to visit our TiPb jailbreak forums. We’ve got lots of awesome jailbreak forum members willing to help you out and talk jailbreak!

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 news@tipb.com. (If it’s especially awesome and previously unknown to us, we’ll even give ya a reward…)

How to jailbreak iOS 4.2.6 on your Verizon iPhone 4 with Greenpois0n is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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

NBA Jam by EA Sports has made its way into the App Store and onto iPhone and iPod touch! If you are wondering whether this the same game that you — and everyone else — loved to play on SNES, the answer is yes! EA Sports has brought back the action-packed in-your-face NBA thriller!

The game is just as fun as it way years ago and includes all of the current NBA teams, filled with some current stars as well as stars from yesteryears. You have to beat challenges to unlock certain older players but it is fun enough to make it worth your while. Also available are in-app purchases that will allow you to gain access to even more items in the game.

So far, after a short time with the game, it seems as if it is spot on with the SNES version. The controls are easy to use and the action is non-stop. So what are you waiting for? Check out the video and screenshots after the break, then go get your dunk on and then come tell us your thoughts on the iPhone version in the comments below!

[ $4.99 - iTunes Link ]

NBA Jam for iPhone slam dunks its way into the App Store! 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 we love BodyGuardz here at TiPb, and the great folks at NLU love the TiPb nation as well — so much so they’re letting us give away three (3) of their brand new BodyGuardz Dry Apply for iPhone 4!

Specially designed to maintain optical clarity and durability without interfering with touch-screen functionality, BodyGuardz Dry Apply is essential for the iPhone 4, which features a fresh, flatter design, and a glass back, increasing the need for full-body protection that doesn't mask its sleek look. The patent-pending application process features the use of and adhesive that uses an anti-microbial mold inhibitor and anti-corrosion compound that is mixed directly into the product formula, providing easy-to-apply, instantly clear, scratch-proof device protection. As with all BodyGuardz products, BodyGuardz Dry Apply are made from the highest quality material

Want a BodyGuardz Dry Apply for your iPhone — or brand new Verizon iPhone? Just leave a comment below and tell us what you most want to protect your iPhone from! (Make sure you leave a valid email address, we won’t make it public but we will use it to contact you if you get one of the give aways!)

[BodyGuardz]

BodyGuardz Dry Apply for iPhone 4 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

If someone manages to take physical possession of your iPhone and keep it long enough to Jailbreak it, enable SSH, and get access to the root, they can compromise Apple’s Keychain password management system and get to your data in roughly 6 minutes.

The attack works because the cryptographic key on current iOS devices is based on material available within the device and is independent of the passcode, the researchers said. This means attackers with access to the phone can create the key from the phone in their possession without having to hack the encrypted and secret passcode.

Using the attack, researchers were able to access and decrypt passwords in the keychain, but not passwords in other protection classes.

In other words, Exchange, Google/Gmail, LDAP, VPN, Wi-Fi, and some app passwords. This assumes you — or the company for which you have passwords — is a high enough level target that an attacker will go through the time and effort of stealing and breaking into your iPhone (or you lose your phone and a bored hacker finds it and decides to do it for the lulz.) It’s also currently being shown off in the lab, not in the wild (that we know of).

In any case, common sense and best practices dictate that if you ever have your iPhone stolen — or you lose it — you immediately use Apple’s free Find my iPhone service to remotely wipe it (you can always restore via iTunes if you find it again or it gets returned). You should also change your account passwords and inform your IT department so your enterprise access can be changed if/as needed.

Note: None of this has anything to do with you Jailbreaking your own phone or not. This is an attack on an iPhone, regardless if it’s Jailbroken or not, that uses Jailbreak to gain access to the iPhone to steal data. Same exploit, evil intentions.

Hopefully Apple’s new security muscle gets more serious about protecting the Keychain in future versions of iOS.

[PCWorld]

Security researchers: iPhone Keychain circumvented, data stolen in 6 minutes is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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

The Verizon iPhone can’t do simultaneous voice and data, something AT&T is quick to point out in their latest commercial. But how important is that to you? Many of us have Wi-Fi at home and at work or at school so it’s not an issue but how about when you’re out and about? If you’re on a call how critical is it that you be able to surf the web, send email or get push notifications? (Or if the call is just deathly boring how much do you need the distraction of the web or online games?)

The original EDGE-only iPhone couldn’t do simultaneous voice and data either — calls would go to voicemail if you were using data. With the Verizon iPhone on CDMA EVDO Rev A you’re alerted to a call and can choose to pause data and then can’t use data again for the duration of the call. It’s more elegant but is it any less frustrating for people who’ve gotten used to doing it on AT&T?

Vote in the poll above and let us know how you came to your decision in the comments below!

TiPb Asks: How important is simultaneous voice and data? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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

Did you just get a sweet new Verizon iPhone? Whether you got it on pre-order, you stood in line today to grab one, or you’re still waiting for the delivery truck, once you’re powered up and ready to go… you might just be wondering what you need to know and do next? Don’t worry, TiPb has your back!

• iPhone Starters Guide: Get unpacked, get set up, get updated, and get all the info you need for your new iPhone!
• Top 10 apps for your iPhone 4: From Facebook to Angry Birds, productivity to utility, these are the apps and games to check out first.
• Switchers:
  • How to transfer data from your old AT&T iPhone to your new Verizon iPhone
  • How to transfer data from your old Blackberry or Droid/Android to your new Verizon iPhone
  • Top 5 iPhone apps for Droid/Android switchers
  • Top 5 iPhone apps for BlackBerry switchers
• Tips and How-tos: From beginner to ninja, everything you need to know to get more out of your iPhone
• Jailbreak Starters Guide: If you want to go beyond the bounds of Apple and iTunes but aren’t sure how, we explain all the basics and help you get going.
• iPhone accessories: Need an extra case, cable, charger, headset or anything else to make your iPhone perfect?

And don’t forget our awesome Verizon iPhone Forum for extra help and expert advice! We’ve got contests and give-aways, polls and guides, bug fixes and forums, and much, much more. Bookmark TiPb now and come back often, we want to hear from you!

Just get a new Verizon iPhone? Here’s what you need next! 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’re looking for a stylish pouch for your iPhone, the Pamela Durkin Designs Vertical Pouch Case for iPhone may be exactly what you’re looking for. This leather pouch is slim, lightweight, and simply gorgeous.

The exterior of the Pamela Durkin Designs pouch is designed using a process that allows museum quality prints without sacrificing any of the performance of the leather. The design itself is very geometrical – evenly spaced rectangles with ovals and lines and comes in two different colors schemes: pink and green, or blue and green. There is a magnetic closure at the top and a belt clip on the back. The belt clip can be rotated 360 degrees into 8 different positions.

The interior of the pouch is lined with a soft, felt material that will protect your phone from scratches. There is also a little bit of padding for added protection.

One of my favorite things about this case is that it can be used simultaneously with any case similar to Apple’s Bumper case. This allows me to use the Pamela Durkin Pouch for protection when my iPhone is not in use, yet have the bumper for looks and minimal protection while using my iPhone.

The Pamela Durkin Designs Vertical Pouch Case for iPhone is available in the TiPb iPhone Accessory Store.

Pros

• Beautifully designed
• Durable leather exterior
• Rotating belt clip
• Magnetic closure
• Compatible with bumper case

Cons

• None

Pamela Durkin Designs Vertical Pouch Case for iPhone – 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

According to one of TUAW's tipsters, there is every possibility that the Apple TV is heading towards online gaming with the iOS 4.3 update. When we say online gaming, we don't mean the poor offerings of Game Center, this could go much further.

References found in the latest beta of iOS 4.3, refer to "ATVThunder" and indicate online games and merchandising will soon be available via iTunes and then to your Apple TV. Think Apple's version of Xbox Live! The possibilities are endless and could include scheduling online games with friends, viewing leaderboards and much more.

The Apple TV is more than capable of running iOS games, it has the A4 CPU, that is also at the heart of the iPad; which is a very capable gaming device. The A4 chip also supports Open GL rendering.

TUAW's tipster also found a couple of other interesting references within the iOS 4.3 beta, "Sedona" and "Flagstaff". Sedona is the name given to Apple's video rental service and could point to streaming of content from the new Apple datacenter. Flagstaff is still an unknown service at this point.

Of course this could all be in place for a future iOS update and may not form part of iOS 4.3 at all. We will have to wait and see, hopefully it will not be too much longer. What do you think; would you like to play games online on the Apple TV? Let us know in the comments!

[TUAW]

Games coming to Apple TV in iOS 4.3? is a story by TiPb. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

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

Every day, TiPb gets flooded with announcements for new and updated iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad apps and games. So every day we pick just a few of the most interesting, the most notable, and simply the most awesome to share with you!

• NAVIGON sale!: In celebration of reaching 2 million users, all NAVIGON apps are 50% off! [NAVIGON AG - iTunes link]

• Carnivores: Dinosaur Hunter: Console-quality hunting game which lets players explore huge non-linear locations as they attempt to track down a variety of dinosaurs and not become a prey. [$2.99 - iTunes link]

• PADI: Hey scuba divers! Find you next diving location with this little app. [Free - iTunes link]

• News Republic: A robust news app that aggregates news from sources such as Associated Press, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse. You can read stories in the app and create your own channel. [Free - iTunes link]

• SHAPE Services sale!: In celebration of the Verizon iPhone launch, SHAPE Services is have a sale on IM+ Pro, Business Card Reader, iDisplay, Webcamera, RDM+, Mobiscope, Barcode Reader Pro, VR+, and IM+ Talk. [Shape Services - iTunes link]

Give-away! The folks at Tetem Games have generously supplied us with 5 promo codes for Carnivores: Dinosaur Hunter. Leave us a comment below for a chance to win one of them!

Any other big apps or game releases or updates today? If you pick any of these up, let us know what you think!

New and updated iPhone and iPad apps for Thursday, February 10 [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