Not only has the iPhone 2.0 software been released a day early for first-gen handset owners, bringing functionality like push email, but it’s already been unlocked. The iPhone Dev Team have in fact been working on early builds of Firmware 2.0 since it went into beta testing, and reached an unlock and jailbreak solution before Apple even released the official version.

The team is now promising a publicly-available release of their infamous Pwnage tool, which will allow anybody to unlock and jailbreak their handset for use with unsigned apps and any SIM card. There’s no release schedule as of yet, though.

Of course, the necessity for such a hack is somewhat reduced as Apple is releasing the handset in a greater number of countries and partnering it with the App Store, which will make third-party software official. Somewhat worrying, though, is the fact that some users are experiencing problems with their iPhones and the new firmware, including interface lag, crashing apps and hard resets. There are rumors that the build was only intended for the iPhone 3G and that Apple has planned a different release for the original handset.

[via Gizmodo]

It seems like you can now download iPhone 2.0 (iPhone1,2_2.0_5A347_Restore.ipsw), according to MacRumors.  It’s important to understand that this unknown file from Apple’s server may brick your iPhone or iPod touch.  So make sure to read this knowledge base article in which Apple notes that your iPhone or iPod will be erased in order to perform 2.0 install.

“Normally if you choose to update, the iPhone or iPod touch software is updated but your settings and media are not affected. If your device currently has a software version prior to 2.0 (1.x) and you are updating to software version 2.0 or later, all data on your device will be erased in order to perform install the new software. In this case, iTunes will offer to create a one-time media backup of your device depending on what content is on your device and what content is stored in the iTunes Library you are connected to. You should ensure that you have enough free space on your Mac or PC to accommodate a backup that matches the capacity of your iPhone or iPod touch (4 GB, 8 GB, 16 GB, or 32 GB) if you proceed with the this backup,” per Apple.

Once you download the new firmware and iTunes 7.7, simply open iTunes and clicking the option + clicking the check for update button will prompt iTunes to ask for the ipsw location; once you’ve done that, iTunes will begin the firmware update.

Arn, the self-proclaimed macrumors god, has this to say MacRumors:

I’m not sure how you got two dmgs. It should download as a single .ispw file. That’s what I used to install.

I just played Super Monkey Ball. I suck at it.

fyi, it took me a while to download and install it. I tested it before I posted it on the site, so I didn’t brick thousands of iphones. That being said, you should still do it at your own risk. The numbering thing bothered me a little, which is why I waited to post it. So there could still be some issues down the line, though I would suspect a reinstall would prob fix it, if this wasn’t the “right” version.

Arn

So there you have it.  If you get this bad boy installed and all is well, drop us a note.

Update: Ewdi just emailed confirming the firmware is indeed the real deal and had no problems with the update!

[via phonemag - macrumors]

The first iPhone 3G went on sale at 8AM EST time zone in New Zealand where Jonny boy was the first person in the world to purchase the iPhone 3G.  As much as we hate this guy and want to beat his guts in, you know that deep down; you secretly want to be him (not him, him, but the first one with an iPhone 3G).

So it seems that you can actually get to the applications on iTunes already. There’s no link (that I’ve seen) to the App store, however, do a quick search for AIM, which we already know is a confirmed app. You’ll then see the AIM app, and after it is downloaded, you can click the “Get More Applications” button at the bottom right corner of the Applications section.

There are a ton of Applications already up for download, 552 to be exact. 135 of those apps are free to download. I’m pretty sure that the next hour of my time will be dedicated to sifting through pages of new stuff for the iPhone 3G that I don’t even own yet.

Those of you purchasing an iPhone on Friday may want to go ahead and get your iTunes up to date. Apple just released the iTunes 7.7 for download. Strangely enough, their download page has listed the current version as 7.7 for an hour or two, though the link only gave you 7.6. iTunes updater still thinks that my version 7.6.2 is up-to-date as well.

There’s not a whole lot to see with the update. The App Store is in there, however, you have to have the iPhone 2.0 software to even see it. I’d recommend going ahead and downloading the update, just so there’s one less thing to mess with once you get your new phone home.

As surprises go, this one isn’t exactly up there with the Da Vinci Code or the twist at the end of Finding Nemo (spoiler: he’s found), but a recent video of an AT&T lady unpacking iPhone boxes in preparation for their Friday release does contain the first ever sighting of the white iPhone 3G’s packaging.  And yes, as you might have expected, the box is white.

Question is, how many people want their iPhone 3G in white?  The AT&T store in the video does seem to have far more black handsets, suggesting that Apple doesn’t expect its paler version to be as popular.  I’m throwing this one open to the comments; who is planning on buying a white iPhone 3G?

[via Gizmodo]

After causing potential iPhone 3G customers to rise up in horror at the proposed costs for its data packages, Rogers Wireless is doing a whole lot of backtracking with a new, albeit-temporary, promotional plan.  Customers who sign up before the end of August will be able to choose a new, $30 monthly data plan on top of a standard voice tariff, that bundles 6GB of data.

It’s not unlimited, no, but Rogers are keen to point out that 6GB is enough to do plenty of data-intensive stuff:

“For example, with 6GB of data, iPhone 3G users can visit 35,952 web pages, or send and receive 157,286 emails, or watch 6,292 minutes of YouTube videos each and every month” Rogers Wireless press release

Visual Voicemail, however, is being treated as separate from data, and as such is being priced at $8 a month.  Text messages too will be separate rather than bundled.  There’s no word on what - if anything - will take the 6GB plan’s place once the promotion ends.  Incidentally, it’s not just new iPhone owners who can take advantage of the 6GB plan.  Any user signing up before August 31st can add it to their voice package.

The carrier also announced that six stores will be opening at 8am on Friday to cater for early customers.  These are:

• Toronto: 112-10 Dundas Street East
• Montreal: 1015 rue St. Catherine Ouest
• Ottawa: 690 Bank Street
• Halifax: Unit 265, 7001 Mumford Road
• Calgary: 5244 Falsbridge Gate, NE
• Vancouver: 2097 West Broadway

I’m not sure if iPhone Buzz has a lot of readers from Hong Kong, but this article is for you.  ePrice posted oodles and oodles of pictures and a number of videos of the iPhone 3G for your viewing pleasure.  Enjoy!

Feel free to submit your iPhone 3G unboxing pics/videos to iPhone Buzz — we’re doing a special feature on iPhone 3G around the world.

[ePrice via iTechNews]

If you’re planning on heading over to your local Apple store this Friday, there’s a good chance that you’ll run into one heck of a line. Well, that’s true if you live in the US, other countries likely won’t be seeing the same sorts of lines. It seems that Apple has decided not to carry the iPhone 3G in their retail stores outside of the US.

If you check the “Where to Buy” page on Apple’s UK, Italy, Australia and Japan websites, you’ll notice that it does not mention any Apple stores. This is most likely due to Apple’s inability to handle the activation process for other carriers inside of their own stores.

[via iLounge]

I have to admit that I have never used .Mac. I still use my PC for most of my work, so I haven’t really been able to justify it. However, with my shiny new iPhone 3G and the awesome features of MobileMe, I think I’ll be giving Apple a little bit more of my money for their service. As we all know, .Mac will be shutting its doors to make way for MobileMe. We now have official confirmation as to when this will be taknig place.

On July 9th starting at 6PM (PST) the .Mac service will go down, and MobileMe will be up six hours later. The only .Mac services available during those six hours wil be .Mac Mail accessed from a desktop mail app, an iPhone or iPod touch.

[via TUAW]