Apple makes Siri iPhone 4 port Legally possible with iOS 5.0.1 update

Siri is the iPhone 4S’s most-desired feature, and many non-4S users have been yelling for hackers to make the voice assistant available on older iOS devices. While Siri ports have been demoted to the public before, it’s been made clear that public distribution is not possible at this time due to legal issues.

Apple has made a Siri port legally possible with today’s iOS 5.0.1 revision by offering wide-open access to system files that were previously encrypted.

MuscleNerd, a well known hacker in the jailbreaking community, recently tweeted that the iOS 5.0.1 update from today features decrypted ramdisks, making it possible to extract the necessary files for a Siri port without infringing on Apple’s copyright. MuscleNerd said, “it’s the first public 4S ipsw where the main file system keys are obtainable (due to non-encrypted ramdisks).”

There have been multiple methods proposed for running Siri on non-4S hardware in recent weeks, but all of them are either illegal or impractical. To run Siri properly, one would need access to an iPhone 4S unique identifier and that key would need to be switched out every 24 hours to avoid detection. If thousands of devices start calling on Siri from one 4S identifier, Apple will be able to easily spot the activity and kill the port.

It’s unclear as to why Apple left such an opening for hackers to exploit when a Siri port has been such a hot topic as of late. iOS 5.1 is coming soon, and Apple may re-encrypt access to the 4S Siri files with its next update. Perhaps the second iOS 5.0.1 revision from today was rushed. Whether it be out of ignorance or some hidden agenda, Apple has made the possibility of a Siri port legal — at least for the time being.

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Small update has been released by Apple for iPhone 4S and Apple TV

Two minor software updates has been released by Apple yesterday. A pinched version of iOS 5.0.1 (Build 9A406) for the iPhone 4S has been pushed for users who haven’t yet upgraded to the latest firmware (essentially replacing the current 5.0.1 build). Also the second-generation Apple TV has been updated to version 4.4.4 (Build 9A406a) and features small bug fixes and stability improvements. Both updates can be downloaded now.

It’s very odd for Apple to release such a small tweak when the next iOS update is on the near horizon. iPhone 4S users that have not yet upgraded to iOS 5.0.1 are able to install the altered version that Apple seeded today. The firmware itself has no obvious changes and is likely related to Apple putting the finishing touches on the iOS 5.1 beta that is currently being tested by developers.

MacRumors also speculates that the update has something to with Apple’s next round of international 4S rollouts. It’s probable that small alterations are needed to allow other international customers access to the full 5.0.1 firmware when they update their Smartphones from the pre-installed iOS 5.0.

According to Apple the Apple TV’s minor 4.4.4 update strictly contains “stability and performance” fixes. Users can download the latest software on the Apple TV itself or download it directly from Apple’s website.

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Digitimes says Apple to begin producing 7.85 Inch iPads in Q2 2012

According to Digitimes, Apple will begin the production of a 7.85-Inch iPad in Q2 2012. Apple will reportedly begin selling the smaller iPads prior to Q4 2012, but will also sell another iPad in Q1 2012, presumably the iPad 3.

Digitimes had published that “Apple is likely to launch a 7.85-inch iPad prior to the fourth quarter of 2012 in addition to a new iPad scheduled to be released at the end of the first quarter, according to sources in the supply chain.

In order to compete with Amazon’s Kindle Fire-which has been selling very well, Digitimes says their sources say Apple has been persuaded to manufacture the 7.85 inch tablet to compete.

However, in order to cope with increasing market competition including the 7 inch Kindle Fire from Amazon and the launch of large –scale smart phones from handset venders, Apple has been persuaded into the development of 7.785 inch iPads, the sources indicated.

LG Display and AU Optronics will reportedly be the manufacturers for the 7.85 inch   panels and will hit the supply streams in Q2 2012. This isn’t first time that we have heard of smaller iPad, as it’s been in the rumor-mill for quite some time. More iPad 3 rumors have also been popping up over the last few months.

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iTunes Match international rollout was premature, Apple issuing refunds

We were skeptical yesterday about the apparent rollout of iTunes Match internationally, and now it looks like our suspicions are being confirmed with GigaOM and others reporting that users across Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada (everywhere except the U.S. and Brazil) are being told by Apple that the service “will not function”. As you can see from the email posted by a Twitter user who contacted iTunes support, refunds are being issued within 5-7 days, and many other Twitter users are reporting the same. It’s unclear whether users will first have to contact Apple to initiate the refund.

We’ve also received a tip that Apple has updated the iTunes Terms and Conditions to clarify legal issues related to iTunes Match. The changes in the updated terms can be seen below. Apple is certainly prepping the international launch of the service, and today appears to have added prominent links in the sidebar of many international iTunes stores. You can see the iTunes Match and blue “New” tag in the image below from the Canadian store. However, it as of yet doesn’t appear to be fully functional for the majority of international users experiencing errors when trying to sign in or actually use the service. We’ll keep you updated.

The changes we have made to the terms and conditions include the following: 

- Notification of an additional type of previously-purchased content that may be subsequently downloaded to certain computers and devices as an accommodation to you, subject to existing association rules; and that such content may be played back on certain devices that are not subject to existing association rules, with limitations; 

- New terms have been added that govern your use of iTunes Match, whereby you may pay a subscription fee to access certain content remotely, subject to existing association rules and usage rules, and explain that such content may be accessed on certain devices that are not subject to existing association rules, with limitations; and 

- New terms have been added that explain that use of iTunes Match requires collection of certain information from your iTunes library which shall be associated with your Account.

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Apple’s A5 chip swings into full production at Samsung’s Texas factory

Samsung’s new $3.6 billion factory in Austin, Texas has now kicked manufacturing into full tilt and is dedicated almost entirely to producing Apple’s A5 chip shipping in the iPhone 4S and iPad 2. Reuters reports:

The A5 processor – the brain in the iPhone 4S and iPad 2 – is now made in a sprawling 1.6 million square feet factory in Austin owned by Korean electronics giant Samsung Electronics, according to people familiar with the operation. One of the few major components to be sourced from within the United States, the A5 processor is built by Samsung in a newly constructed $3.6 billion non-memory chip production line that reached full production in early December.

The report also notes that Samsung actually started supplying Apple with A5 chips from the plant earlier in the year, but just this month hit full production. In September there were reports claiming that Apple was moving to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company for manufacturing of the next-gen A6 chip. That was followed up by reports in October claiming that Apple was indeed ramping up production of A6 chips in Samsung’s Austin, Texas plant. Apple and Samsung have declined to comment.

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Apple releases Apple TV update 4.4.4 (9A406a), small iOS 5.0.1 update

Apple has just released an update for the 2nd generation Apple TV, version 4.4.4 (9A406a). As of now we know the update brings bug fixes, but we’re checking for more. Hit up your Apple TV to download the new firmware or hit up the direct link.

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iPhone bug allows stolen phones to receive iMessages even after remote wipe

Scattered reports have emerged that stolen iPhones continue to receive iMessages intended for their original owners even after changing numbers, resetting Apple ID passwords and remote wiping the handsets.

ArsTechnica looked into the matter earlier this week after a reader reported experiencing the issue.

According to the report, a stolen iPhone 4S continued to receive the reader's wife's iMessages after the couple had deactivated the device with the carrier and remote wiped it. The contraband handset had even been resold and activated under a new number.

Apple released iMessage as part of iOS 5 in October. The service, which allows for free messaging between iOS users, has been much discussed because it poses a threat to wireless carriers' SMS revenues.

The issue does not appear to be an isolated incident, as multiple support threads ( 1, 2) on Apple's website have cropped up regarding the problem. Some users suggested that wiping an iPhone when the original SIM card is still in the device won't result in a clean reset, thereby allowing the iMessage feature to reactivate when the phone is restored.

Apple has yet to respond to a request for comment, but report author Jacqui Cheng did speak with iOS security expert Jonathan Zdziarski about the bug.

"I can only speculate, but I can see this being plausible," he said. "iMessage registers with the subscriber's phone number from the SIM, so let's say you restore the phone, it will still read the phone number from the SIM. I suppose if you change the SIM out after the phone has been configured, the old number might be cached somewhere either on the phone or on Apple's servers with the UDID of the phone."
 

One user experiencing the issue claimed to have resolved it by canceling his old Apple ID completely, but the solution would be unacceptable to most customers, as it entails abandoning any iTunes and App Store purchases tied to the account.

Twitter user Kim Hunter told the publication that a representative from Apple's security unit had denied that it was a security problem, offering the relatively unhelpful solution of turning iMessage off on the offending device.

Apple has experienced minor issues with several of its new product rollouts this fall. iCloud, for instance, has been subject to intermittent outages. The company is also working on a software fix for battery life in iOS 5 after an initial fix failed to completely resolve the issue.

Most recently, the international iTunes Match launch got off to a false start on Wednesday ahead of its official release on Thursday.

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