Jobs confirms iPhone app blacklist feature

Straight from the horse's mouth: Apple's iPhones do, indeed, have the capability to check for, and potentially defang, software that Apple deems unfit for the iPhone.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs confirmed the existence of the so-called "kill switch" capability, following last week's ruckus over early reports of just such a function. The word from Jobs was tucked at the bottom of a story in The Wall Street Journal about Apple's hot-as-a-pistol first month of sales at its App Store.

The intent behind the capability is high-minded, Jobs said. Apple would need it in case a malicious program inadvertently were to be distributed to iPhones via the App Store.

"Hopefully, we never have to pull that lever," Jobs said, "but we would be irresponsible not to have a lever like that to pull."
Read more »

AMD reclaims the high-end 3D card belt

The reviews are in for AMD's new high-end 3D card--the embargoed, but not exactly secret 2GB Radeon HD 4870 X2--and the official results are as enthusiastic as the previews. By all accounts, the US$550 Radeon HD 4870 X2 is the fastest desktop 3D board on the market, outpacing Nvidia's flagship GeForce GTX 280 card on most tests.

According to the results on PC Perspective, Hot Hardware, ExtremeTech, and Anandtech, AMD's new card comes up faster than both a single US$450 GeForce GTX 280 as well as two US$250 GeForce GTX 260's. Nvidia may steal a win here and there depending on the settings, such as on Crysis, but at higher resolutions and with more image quality details turned on, the AMD card and its 2GB of fast DDR5 memory the Radeon HD 4870 X2 fares better overall.

You won't really see a benefit from the 4870 X2 unless you play games at 1,920 x 1,200-pixel resolution or higher. That means unless you own a 24-inch or better LCD, you should probably stick to lower-end cards, at least for the moment. You can also double-up AMD's new card in CrossFire mode (AMD's multicard technology, and competitor to Nvidia's SLI), but that would be hard to justify on anything less than a 30-inch display.
Read more »

The new Lara Croft: More agile than ever

Gamers can dream that Angelina Jolie will one day take her cinematic Lara Croft into the video game world. But for now, they'll have to make do with the lovely Alison Carroll, a competitive UK gymnast who looks downright sporting in her multiple-holstered, black-booted garb.

Carroll, 23, will be the real-life incarnation of the famed game heroine at promotions for the series' latest installment, Tomb Raider: Underworld.

Game creator Eidos Interactive says Carroll embodies the essence of Croft--"brawn, brains, and beauty" (and er, bustiness, perhaps?). The company says Tomb Raider: Underworld has upped the ante on Croft's athleticism, and the character will tackle her trademark high adventures with movements and skills reminiscent of a highly skilled gymnast.
Read more »

Another basic Nokia clamshell

Here's another low-end phone from Nokia, the 3610 fold. As its name suggests, this is a clamshell handset. It has a basic set of features including quad-band GSM connectivity without 3G, a 1.3-megapixel camera and music playback capabilities including a microSD slot for memory expansion.

Even if its features are nothing to shout about, this handset will be a decent choice for those who need something compact and light without frills. Expect to see it in stores in Q3 this year. Pricing information is currently unavailable, but don't worry, we're not expecting it to cost a lot when it ships.

BlackBerry Javelin plays little brother to Bold

When it comes to smart phones and cell phones, one size does not fit all. So while it might seem like everyone wants the BlackBerry Bold, Research In Motion knows better. Enter the RIM BlackBerry Javelin. This rumored smart phone is like the little brother to the Bold. It drops the HSDPA support but offers EDGE, Wi-Fi, and GPS.

The Javelin is also said to have a 512MHz processor and 256MB of flash memory under the hood, while rocking a 480 x 360-pixel resolution display like the Bold. Some say the Javelin is in line to replace the RIM BlackBerry Curve 8320 , but there has been no official word from RIM.

Via CNET Crave

Crave is...

The name says it all. Crave is our new blog about cool gadgets and other crushworthy stuff.

Drop us an email if you have tips or suggestions.

Crave for...

» Mobile Phones (821)

» Digital Cameras (450)

» Notebooks (547)

» PC & Peripherals (587)

» Handhelds (281)

» Printers (45)

» Home AV (548)

» Music & Play (456)

» Gadgets (1044)

» Future Tech (181)

Previously...

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

Subscribe to
Crave

Today on CNET |  Reviews |  Crave |  Blogs |  CNET TV |  Digital Living |  Downloads