Five reasons to take the iPhone on vacation

Even if you won't get reception where you're headed, think twice about leaving your iPhone behind. Before the iPhone was a glimmer in the consumer's eye, travelers had used its cousin, the iPod, for a variety of practical and playful purposes. The introduction of Wi-Fi and the all-new iTunes App Store make the iPhone an even more indispensable travel tool, never mind the carrier.

Media console
As romantic as travel sounds, a large hunk of it is wasted on waiting. There's airport check-in, long train and bus rides, and time to kill while a fastidious companion prepares for the day. Besides, there's only so much battle a heavy book can do against an hour-long museum wait. That's when you plug in headphones and turn on the iPod, play a few games such as Texas Hold 'em or Super Monkey Ball, or open up that preloaded e-book you've been meaning to read.
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Hacker team releases iPhone 2.0 jailbreak

A little more than a week after the release of Apple's iPhone 3G, an unofficial development team has announced the release of software that "jailbreaks" the new device, allowing unauthorized third-party applications to be loaded.

In a post titled "Thanks for waiting", the iPhone Dev Team announced the release of Pwnage 2.0, which also allows unauthorized third-party applications to be loaded on older iPhones and iPod touchs running the iPhone 2.0 operating system. In hacker jargon, to "pwn" means "to compromise" or "to control".

While the tool allows third-party applications not available at Apple's App Store to be installed on the iPhone 3G, it apparently does not unlock the new phone to allow it to be used on unauthorized cell networks.

However, installation is going smoothly on both the new and older models of iPhone, according to users who posted their comments on the site. One reader told CNET News that the software "works like a charm. Best thing is you can share your custom firmware with others".

While the Dev Team may not have unlocked iPhone 3G, a Brazilian blog reported earlier this week that the iPhone 3G had been unlocked by using a special SIM card adapter that tricks the phone into thinking it's on an approved network.

Of course, the real trick right now is actually getting your hands on one of the new phones. Apple announced last week that it had sold 1 million iPhone 3Gs during its first weekend on the market. But an AT&T representative confirmed earlier this week that most of the company's stores ran out of iPhones the first day the devices were for sale.

Via CNET Crave

First Look video: Shazam for iPhone

Can't get a song out of your head and don't know what it's called? There are two good applications for iPhone that will fetch song titles and artists when curiosity begins to gnaw.

Shazam for iPhone (see video) grabs song, title, and album information after 30 seconds of listening to a recording. If YouTube videos are available, you'll be able to download them in a click from the results page. When or if you're ready to buy, the application also integrates with the iTunes music store, which will gladly bill your account for the song.

Broader still is Midomi for iPhone (coverage), which supplies singing, hummimg, speaking, and typing as input options in addition to recording a 10 second song clip. Either way you phrase your request, Midomi will return similar artist details, video, and iTunes lookup results.

Via CNET Crave

GPS with multidestination planning--Ask the Editors

With all the iPhone hysteria, I missed last week's Q&A--shame on me. Fortunately, the dust has mostly settled, so I'm getting back on track. And believe it or not, this week's question isn't about the iPhone 3G and its GPS capabilities--mostly because I haven't had the opportunity to try it out yet--but I could also use the iBreak. So let's get on with it, shall we?

Q: I need a unit that I can plug 10 to 15 addresses into and it will map out a route hitting all the addresses in the most efficient and orderly manner. Am I dreaming?--Annette via email

A: 'Tis no dream, Annette. There are quite a number of portable navigation systems that support multidestination routing, even up to 15 stops. All the major manufacturers, including Magellan, TomTom, and Garmin, offer models with this functionality. Typically, there are two methods for creating these multistop itineraries. First, you can plan a trip from point A to point B like you normally would and then go back and add "Via Points" to that route. Alternatively, some models offer a Trip Planner (or Itinerary Planning--the name of the tool differs from brand to brand) where you can input all your stops at once and save and name your trip for use later.
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What's the No. 1 must-have accessory for the new iPhone?

With every step forward, there's often a step back, and in the case of the new iPhone 3G, it appears that battery life has taken a hit. Of course, the old disclaimer that your mileage may vary with use is in full effect, but the early consensus at CNET is that if you're a road warrior/power user, you better have some backup juice on hand or you may be looking at a dead iPhone before day's end.
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