The hacker group Anonymous has hacked into one of Apple’s servers used to process technical support follow-up surveys. The hack has revealed some 27 usernames and passwords and while the hack hasn’t revealed any customer data, it does expose internal passwords and usernames. What’s more interesting is whether the hacking team has managed to hack into Apple’s iCloud service. According to Lulzsec representatives: “After mapping their internal network and thoroughly pillaging all of their servers, we grabbed all their source code and database passwords, which we proceeded to shift silently back to our storage deck.” A hack of the iCloud service could really affect Apple once the service is more popular.
RIM has released the latest App World OS breakdown numbers with the latest data from May. According to their numbers, OS 5.0 and 6.0 make up 68% of all BlackBerrys in the market. Some other interesting facts include the fact that 31% of free app downloads come from an OS 6.0 BlackBerry. Again, OS 5.0+ dominates and 88% of free app downloads in App World originate from them. OS 6.0 accounts for 54% of all paid app downloads, so it should be obvious to any developer that OS 6 support is a must.
**Note: AT&T users must have a tethering plan included with their wireless service plan to take advantage of the Bridge Browser. To enable tethering on your BlackBerry smartphone, go to att.com/mywireless or dial 611.
It’s this kind of behavior that makes your customers think you’re trying to pull a fast one on them. Sure, customers will figure it out anyways, but to write it in a note at the bottom in your post in tiny print is misleading and it insults your customers’ intelligence. The tethering plan costs an additional $20 per month and it would have been nice for RIM to come clean about this fairly huge issue and not try and treat it like it’s unimportant or try and hide it. Many are commenting on the announcement post, angry about the addition of a tethering plan, and RIM could have avoided this by simply addressing the issue and perhaps offering some form of compensation. It also speaks to the fact that perhaps RIM having its own blog isn’t such a good idea. RIM should also be more upfront about the tether issue because it apparently conflicts with what the CEO told cNET which is that the PlayBook will offer tethering for free.
Apolline & Leon – The Witch of The Tuileries, is a children’s book that has been ported to the BlackBerry PlayBook and made fully interactive. As you can see from the above YouTube video, you can touch various elements of each page and something happens. The book is ideal for young children from 3 to 8, as they’re bound to have fun shaking clouds, steering boats, throwing balls, playing music and more. The only potential downside of a book like this, is that children may spend more time playing than actually learning to read. So it’s important to still emphasize the words and meanings.
