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Updated! The iPhone's slick update lays the groundwork for physical media's demise

Finally, the iPhone's first major update!

My optimism for this 1.1.1 update was muted as, after a couple of months of waiting, I was excited for the ringtone feature that has ultimately proven lackluster. If my iPhone is in my pocket, I honestly cannot hear the ringtone portions of songs I've picked - even the jarring ones! The only reason I know I'm getting a call is because of the vibrate feature. So, with yesterday's major update, I was cautious. It should follow, however, that the speaker adjustments in the 1.1.1 update … Read more

Owners of unlocked iPhones hosed by software update

Well, you can't say they didn't warn you.

Apple released an update for the iPhone on Thursday that brings the Wi-Fi Music Store to the device, as well as several security fixes and enhanced features. But, as expected, it also turns iPhones that were unlocked to run on cellular networks other than AT&T's into little more than emergency call boxes.

Macworld reported two iPhones in its office with SIM (subscriber identity module) hacks did not work after the update was installed. A message prompted the phone's owner to install "an unlocked and valid … Read more

Patriots' spying scandal raises technology questions

Pro football has a Clancy-esque spy story going. It can even be called Patriot Games.

The New England Patriots of the National Football League are accused of conducting electronic surveillance in an effort to steal hand signals from opponents. The murky tale of rule breaking features clandestine videotaping and suspicious radio frequencies. Some in football believe that this is all wrong; not just the cheating, but some look down their noses at the kind of cheating.

This situation isn't like grabbing someone's jersey away from the refs or corking a bat. This is cloak-and-dagger stuff. We're talking … Read more

What Apple didn't announce

Wednesday's Apple announcements included some significant market advances, particularly the iPod Touch and the iTunes Wi-Fi Store. The new lineup of devices should keep the company clearly in the digital-media drivers' seat through the end of 2007, at least, and the pricing strategy is rock-solid. (Microsoft tried to pre-empt Apple's announcement with a $50 price cut on the 30GB Zune to $199, but with an 80GB iPod available for only $249, Microsoft's going to have to cut the price further.)

Even so, a few things that Apple didn't announce might leave some room for other innovators. … Read more

Price cut side effect: cheaper refurbished iPhones

Today's oh-so-sweet $200 price cut on the iPhone had a nice little side effect. Those refurbished 8GB iPhones sold exclusively through Apple's special deals section that were on sale for $499 last month have been given the price cut treatment, as well, although only by $50 this time around, bringing the grand total down to $349 for an (almost) brand new iPhone. If you're looking to save $50 on an iPhone to spend on some music to fill it up using the new iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store, this is a pretty sweet deal while supplies last. Keep … Read more

Free San Francisco Wi-Fi project dies

EarthLink said late Wednesday that it is bailing out of a contract to build San Francisco's free Wi-Fi service.

EarthLink backed out of the deal a day after the company announced it was laying off 900 employees--nearly half of its staff. EarthLink, which is trying to get its finances in order, announced earlier this summer that it would not invest in any new citywide Wi-Fi deployments until it came up with a better business model.

But it was assumed the company would fulfill obligations with cities where it had already signed contracts. Now it looks like EarthLink is … Read more

Photos and reviews: Archos 405 & 605 WiFi

Jet-lagged travelers of the world rejoice! The latest portable video players from Archos promise new cures for inflight boredom, and the prices are staggeringly cheap. We've just posted full reviews of the (CNET Editors' Choice Award-winning) Archos 605 WiFi and Archos 405 portable video players and regardless of what next Wednesday's announcement reveals from the Apple camp, I think it's safe to say that these new Archos players will top more than a few holiday wish lists.

How can we be so sure? For starters, the 605 WiFi includes a shortcut for wirelessly downloading purchased or rented … Read more

Nikon's latest Wi-Fi slimcam

Nikon has been dabbling in Wi-Fi-equipped cameras for a few years now. Most recently, the company included Wi-Fi in its ultracompact 7-megapixel Coolpix S50c. The new Coolpix S51c continues this trend and includes an 8MP CCD sensor, a 3-inch, 230,000-pixel LCD, sensitivity of up to ISO 1,600, and optical image stabilization. This new model also includes Nikon's D-Lighting to compensate for imperfect exposures after the fact, as well as Face Priority AF to help make sure that the camera focuses on your friends' faces, instead of a tree or some national monument in the background. It also … Read more

EarthLink pays $5 million to delay Houston Wi-Fi buildout

A day after EarthLink said it would lay off nearly half its workforce, the company has agreed to pay the city of Houston a $5 million penalty fee for missing its first deadline in building the city's municipal Wi-Fi network.

Houston Mayor Bill White announced the settlement with EarthLink at a Houston City Council meeting on Wednesday. EarthLink, which had agreed to blanket nearly 640 square miles of Houston with Wi-Fi service, failed to meet its first deadline by not signing an agreement with CenterPoint Energy to lease its utility poles for the Wi-Fi project.

"EarthLink appeared to … Read more