iPhone Firmware

Apple officially released the iOS 4.2 update today at 10AM PST. iPhone 4 owners get a special surprise in the latest operating system, free Find My iPhone service. The feature makes it possible to locate your lost iPhone using maps on the web. Previously the service required a paid MobileMe subscription to use.

iPhone 3G owners are anticipating significant increases in speed and performance with the latest fixes and optimizations included in iOS 4.2. This version of iOS is the first to run across all recent iOS devices and will hit the iPad and iPod touch today as well. Several new features will come to the iPhone.

Evidence is mounting that Apple plans to release iOS 4.2 to anxious iPhone and iPad owners at 10 AM PST on Friday, November 12. iTunes 10.1, which hasn't been released yet, will be required to install the iOS 4.2 firmware. All indications are that Apple will launch iTunes 10.1 and Mac OS X 10.6.5 as early as Wednesday to prepare for the iOS 4.2 public release. The golden master of iOS 4.2 has already been seeded to developers and is not expected to change in the public version.

German blog iFun found evidence (above) that Apple plans to push carrier updates to wireless service providers on November 12. This date matches with inside infomation from an anonymous AT&T employee revealed by MacStories. The source also stated that Apple was delayed in its release of iOS 4.2 due to a bug discovered by AT&T testers. iOS 4.2 was originally slated for release on November 2, however an error in the display of Japanese characters required a fix from Apple.

iPhone 3G users were disappointed when Apple's iOS 4.0 made their devices all but unusable due to sluggish performance and short battery life. The iOS 4.1 update was a step in the right direction, with iPhone 3G owners reporting that Apple had made significant improvements. With the release of iOS 4.2 coming any day now, many are wondering if upgrading the firmware on their devices will speed things up even further or lead to more problems.

Apple has released the golden master of iOS 4.2, which is the last version that goes to developers before public release via iTunes. The iPhone Blog has thoroughly tested iOS 4.2 on the iPhone 3G and they have revealed that iOS 4.2 runs pretty smoothly in a video demonstration.

Your iPhone personal data is protected by the passcode lock screen at all times, right? Turns out that it's pretty simple to bypass the four-digit passcode to access the phone app revealing contacts, email information, recent calls and even visual voicemail. The process to circumvent the passcode lock revolves around the emergency call feature built into iPhones to allow 911 calls on a locked phone.

MacRumors forum user jordand321 announced the security flaw this weekend. The problem happens when the iPhone is locked but you enter the emergency call screen. Type any non-emergency number and touch the call button.