News

The first update for the iPhone is now available via iTunes. Users who have recently docked their iPhones have received notification that an iPhone software update, version 1.01 of the iPhone firmware, is available for download and installation. The update is around 7 MB and installs in approximately 5 minutes.

According to Apple, the update includes security and bug fixes. Specifically, the update patches security holes in the iPhone version of Safari and the iPhone webkit which previously allowed malicious attackers entry points from which to exploit the iPhone.

Though speculation was that Apple would rush out the first update to the iPhone in order to patch these holes, including nothing else in the update, it appears as though this is untrue - even despite Apple's failure to mention otherwise.

Users are already starting to notice other changes to their iPhones via

You know that YouTube video that you can't stop showing to your friends over, and over, and over again? Tired of downloading it every time? Wouldn't it be great if you could just save that YouTube video permanently on your iPhone? What about when you're away a WiFi hotspot and you want to show off that video in full quality, not the degraded EDGE version? Well, now you can.

These are just a couple of scenarios when being able to convert and save YouTube videos for the iPhone comes in handy. Zamzar.com, a free online file conversion service, recently introduced an option to convert videos directly for the iPhone, including YouTube videos.

Converting a YouTube video for the iPhone using the service is painfully easy

As there are countless aftermarket sources for iPod batteries, it stood to reason it was only a matter of time until third party sources of iPhone batteries started showing up.

The first aftermarket iPhone battery to cross our radar has shown up, from San Antonio, TX company iPodJuice. According to the company, the replacement battery offers the same strength as the original iPhone battery and is 100% compatible with the phone.

Though the software has only existing for a little over a week, bitSplit, the creator of iFuntastic, has just released version 2.0. iFuntastic is a straightforward, easy to use, completely GUI based application that makes modifying your iPhone a breeze. Most importantly, it makes iPhone customization available to less technically inclined users who most likely were scared off by the hands on approach to modding your iPhone.

Take custom ringtones for example. When custom ringtones first became possible on the iPhone, initial tutorials included a 23 step process to perform the required hacks and get custom ringtones in place. With iFuntastic, it's all drag-and-drop simple. And, it's quick! No terminal work, no multiple pieces of software to install and setup.

Don't be mistaken, you're still hacking your iPhone, only iFuntastic is doing it for you.

So what's new in version 2.0? In addition to custom ringtones, you can also use iFuntastic to change your carrier logo or even reorganize the order of your home screen icons. All with the same ease as adding custom ringtones.

As we predicted yesterday, Apple released sales figures today that calmed some of the uproar over AT&T's lower-than-expected iPhone activation numbers, which AT&T published yesterday. Apple reported that it sold 270,000 iPhones over the first two days that the iPhone was available for purchase.

The misplaced worry that resulted from AT&T's activation numbers for the same two days (146,000) and led to more than an 8% drop in AAPL share prices yesterday has been relieved by the Apple clarified sales figures. Currently, Apple share prices have rebounded are are up almost 6%.

As mentioned here, the discrepancy in the Apple and AT&T numbers most likely results from a lag in iPhone activations caused by technical difficulties experienced by AT&T and Apple during the iPhone launch weekend.

Apple brought more good news to the table, as well. The company confirmed that it will launch the iPhone in Europe during the fourth quater of 2007. According to