If the hacking group called iPhone Dev-Team won't release their Jailbreak, it seems like someone else will. Developer George Hotz has released the Purplera1n jailbreak software for iPhone 3GS and by all accounts, it seems to work.

This one runs on Windows XP and Vista (Windows 7 and Mac OS aren't supported, apparently - it's weird for Windows 7). The jailbreak assumes that your iPhone runs with OS 3.0 (for a 3GS, that should be the case) and that you have the latest version of iTunes (may be do an update check?). The author warns that the Jailbreak is a beta, so do a full backup before running it just to be safe. Obviously, do this at your own peril, as this is clearly not supported by Apple. Good luck.

Links: Purplera1n, 3GS Jailbreak instructions, iPhone OS 3.0 Jailbreak

We knew that the PSP Go was faster than the PSP-3000, but “by how much” was still a subject of speculation. It is not anymore as an FCC filing makes the PSP Go speed official. With a 480Mhz frequency, it is 44% faster than the previous 333Mhz PSP chip.

At first, most developers will make sure that their games are compatible with the PSP, so it's unlikely that they will use the added power for anything affecting the gameplay. However, it's not impossible to think that some eye-candy could be added when running on the PSP Go. Physics, particles, lighting or reflections would be high on the list... As the user base grows, the PSP Go could become a platform in itself as Sony will want to push their highest margin product. Sony could also subsidize Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker to be a “PSP Go only” title for that reason.

Link: FCC filing

Today we are featuring some technologies that bring our drinking experience to the next level... but, please drink responsibly*. Absolut launched its new iPhone app Drinkspiration leveraging GPS use and integrating Twitter and Facebook. The Absolut application recommends the right drink depending on the user's mood, the time of the day, the liquor type, the drink color, the shape of the glass, the type of venue and more. Using the built-in GPS, social media and users' collective behavior, Drinkspiration displays what cocktails are ordered around the world in alive Top list feed. Drinkspiration is expected to be released for Google Android G3. Check the video here dowload the application from iTunes here.

*Drink responsibly: Alcohol beverages are only for adults of legal drinking age.
If you choose to drink alcohol beverages, do so sensibly, and in moderation.
Avoid drinking before or when driving, or whenever it puts you or others at risk.
Don't drink if you are pregnant.

Last week, HTC officially announced its new Hero Android smartphone that will hit the market in Europe later this month starting via Orange UK, and Orange Spain. No words was said about the US /Canada market. Today, it got the FCC approval, with 850/1900 MHz 3G bands, the ones that AT&T operates on. Some recent rumors claim that Sprint could also launch the Hero, but we need to see a CDMA version on the FCC site first.

Original article by Zaher Karp on Matter Network a News Portal dedicated to Sustainability

Wi-Fi lets you work around the house or check kitchen recipes, but it does have its issues. Wi-Fi was recently outed as being slowed primarily by interference between devices, rather than congestion in an area, according to a recent report Estimating the Utilization of Key License-Exempt Spectrum Bands.

The new ePlug series from Hercules will connect users to the Internet without the potential for network interference by utilizing existing home electrical wiring, and it will save some power in the process.

A number of sites are following on a report from newcomer website semiaccurate (as in “half-accurate”?) that says that Apple plans to ditch NVIDIA chips and that the relation between the two is deteriorating. The article also hints to NVIDIA's recent woes with chip defects.

The "ditching" of NVIDIA chips would come from the fact that Apple would use Core i7 chips in the future. The thing that semiaccurate does not mention is that Nvidia does not have a chipset product for that space and is still in a dispute with Intel on the Core i7 front side bus topic. So yeah, if Apple was to use Core i7 today, Nvidia can’t sell them anything any chipsets... Call that "ditching" if you want. Core i7 chips for laptops are scheduled to be released in the second half of the year.

This is one of the zanier alarm clocks we've come across - the Finger Dance Alarm Clock that will keep on ringing to make sure you get out of bed, unless your fingers are able to hit the correct sequence as depicted by the lights. Definitely great to get notorious slow starters out of bed, and if you hit the wrong sequence, don't expect the alarm to shut off. Not a recommended purchase for those living with a roommate, but if you're single (or married), then you'd best let your more alert other half shut the alarm for you. The Finger Dance Alarm Clock is going for £9.99 - we wonder whether there'll be any moonwalk sequence?

JBL partnered with Roxy to launch these headphones a month ago and I have tested them for a few days. I like the bright and fun design that for sure is appealing to the young generation and might be targeted to the female audience, given the color palette (pink and orange) and the picture on the product page, however there is also a green and blue version, for the boys who do not dare to wear pink. The product comes with a cool looking pouch ornamented with bright colored drawings (see gallery), I like the subtle organic design that "grows" on the headband as well.

Folks who have always wanted unlimited voice and data on a smartphone can now look forward to Zer01 Mobile where $79.99 per month will net you unlimited voice (MoIP), data and messaging over AT&T’s data networks, while throwing in another $10 monthly results in unlimited international calling to around 40 countries. There is one catch though - Zer01 will need to install its proprietary software on your handset, or you can always opt for a phone from the company itself that already comes with the software pre-loaded. Only Windows Mobile handsets are supported at this moment, although they're working on compatibility issues with BlackBerry, Android and other operating systems.

Android handsets aren't exactly available in a wide variety to date, but that doesn't mean manufacturers ought to give up on developing new handsets that support that operating system. The Highscreen PP5420 is the latest Android-powered phone from Vobis Computer that will be launched in Russia later next week, where it is also known as the Mobinova Ice. Features include a secondary OLED display/navigation pad alongside the following specifications :-

• Qualcomm MSM7201ATM 528MHz processor
• Google Android OS 1.5
• GSM: 850/900/1800/1900; WCDMA/HSDPA 7.2mbps: 900/2100, HSUPA
• 3” WQVGA TFT LCD touchscreen display
• 3-megapixel autofocus camera
• 256MB ROM
• 128MB RAM
• microSD memory card slot
• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity
• Integrated FM radio
• GPS navigation
• Accelerometer
• TV out

Funny how it took the death of the King of Pop to get everyone raving about how this star burned so brightly at his peak, and even until now there really isn't any performer as electrifying as Michael himself who can sing and dance to a frenzied crowd that well. No idea on the timing of the release of this Michael Jackson Thriller headphones, but it sure as heck is one of the more unique ones out there although you might be victim of some laughs when you put these on.

Now that we've spent some quality time with the mBook, including a live blogging field trip, let's go over the pro and cons of using one of the smallest PCs out there. First, I would like to share the context: during a discussion with Intel, we were asked how we would use this MID and what kind of problem we could put it to work for. We thought that it would be useful to have a tiny computer during an expo so that we can go from booth to booth and post immediately. Intel loaned the mBook to us and we set out to try posting live from their Search Day and see how the mBook performs. The computer was subsequently returned to Intel.

As you can imagine, using such a tiny computer isn't without challenges, that's why the Mobile Internet Device (MID) category is still in "soul search" mode. The bottom-line is: it worked well for us, but we had to adapt our workflow to it.

The sweepstakes' first prize winner will get two tickets to the Distant Worlds: music from FINAL FANTASY concert with the San Francisco Symphony July 18, 8pm at Davies Symphony Hall, an iPod touch (32 G) with the Smule applications Ocarina and Leaf Trombone, an Altec Lansing external speaker, a free night’s stay at The Westin St. Francis in San Francisco and a $50 Zipcar voucher.

There is a second prize as well, to enter the sweepstakes, join the San Francisco Symphony’s Social Network at http://community.sfsymphony.org and join the Smule Group sometime between June 30th and July 15th, 2009. Learn more about the contest in this video and on this page (prizes, terms and conditions).

After the concert, Smule will host an Ocarina Master Class, contest winners and other concert attendees will be invited to learn Ocarina techniques and play with other fellow musicians on their iPod Touches and iPhones in the first Ocarina Orchestra.

Dell has apparently done a costly snafu in Taiwan: a promotional deal went online with the wrong price of $15 for a monitor. In about eight hours, 26000 customers ordered 140000 monitors. The Taiwanese regulators are now saying that Dell has to fulfill the order, which is standard procedure I guess. The original price was intended to be around $150.

After Dell changed the pricing, 471 complaints have been filed and Dell will effectively have to use the $15 price for clients who have ordered a single monitor. For the others, Dell will have to apply a deep discount.