unlocked

USB lock and key

Portable storage devices can be a blessing and a curse. They're a convenient way to back up data and make files portable, but they can also introduce malware to your computer and let people easily copy files that they're not supposed to remove. Pen Drive Unlocker is a simple utility that lets users lock and unlock their computer's USB ports, protecting their machines from the unauthorized use of external storage devices.

There's not much to Pen Drive Unlocker, really; the interface consists of a small rectangle with a drop-down menu that lets you select Normal, Read … Read more

Battlefield 3 to have 10x the unlocks of Bad Co. 2

Last week, publisher Electronic Arts said preorder tallies for Battlefield 3 are currently tracking 10 times higher than predecessor Battlefield: Bad Company 2. However, reservation totals aren't the only area in which Battlefield 3 is growing tenfold over its predecessor.

According to the latest Battlelog update, Battlefield 3 features 10 times as many in-game unlocks as Bad Company 2. These items include weapons, weapons attachments, gadgets, awards, service stars, and what DICE calls a "huge unlock tree" for vehicles.

Read more of "Battlefield 3 to have 10X the unlocks of Bad Co. 2" at GameSpot. … Read more

5 reasons an unlocked iPhone is important

The quiet release of an unlocked iPhone by Apple yesterday marked an important chapter in the history of a device that's gone on to become an enormous part of the company's business.

When Apple first launched the iPhone, the carrier component was one of the biggest parts of the story. Apple had wrangled back control over the software on the device, yet U.S. customers were relegated to AT&T, a situation that persisted until this year with the release of a CDMA iPhone for Verizon's network. Now, you can get an iPhone on 200 carriers … Read more

Apple starts selling unlocked iPhone 4 for $649, $749

Apple has officially started selling an unlocked iPhone 4.

The company's online store now lists both a 16GB and 32GB unlocked version of the smartphone. Customers can choose between a black or white model. The company's 16GB version retails for $649, while the 32GB option is available for $749.

Apple currently sells locked versions of the iPhone for $199 and $299 for the 16GB and 32GB models, respectively.

"If you don't want a multiyear service contract or if you prefer to use a local carrier when traveling abroad, the unlocked iPhone 4 is the best choice,&… Read more

Rumor: Unlocked iPhone 4 to hit U.S. this week

The Apple rumor mill is grinding away already this week, with a report that an unlocked iPhone 4 will become an option for U.S. customers in Apple stores on Wednesday.

The rumor comes courtesy of Twitter user @chronicwire, who apparently set up the account about a week ago and quickly started tweeting all kinds of purported iPhone leaks and rumors. The latest is that four specific models--the MC603 (16GB, black) MC604 (16GB, white) MC605 (32GB, black) and MC606 (32GB, white)--have already landed unlocked and retail-ready on U.S. shores.

I've seen reports claiming that @chronicwire is a "well-known source" and that the unlocked iPhone rumor is considered "certain," but haven't been able to divine the basis for either, especially for a source that apparently materialized from thin air a week ago.

It should also be noted that @chronicwire has been changing his or her story lately, intitially reporting that Apple would be announcing a MacBook Air refresh for back to school on Wednesday.

Nonetheless, the notion of an unlocked iPhone being sold in Apple stores isn't unprecedented.… Read more

Two iPhone unlocking stores call it quits

If you were hoping to unlock your iPhone using one of the two solutions that came onto the scene earlier this month, you're out of luck. Both Cut Your Sim and GSM Phone Source no longer offer their services.

The two providers promised those with an iPhone 4 a way to get a "permanent" unlock to use their device on the network of their choosing, with no need to jailbreak or worry about future software updates affecting the fix. Such functionality is especially appealing to travelers who seek to avoid paying international roaming fees to their own … Read more

Unlock iPhones without jailbreaking

For many iPhone owners, a big reason to stage a jailbreak is to unlock the device, thus allowing it to work with carriers other than AT&T. (In the U.S., "carriers" means T-Mobile.)

Now, at least two services are promising to unlock any iPhone 3G, 3GS, or 4 without the need to jailbreak. What's more, they can do it remotely.

For a price.

Cut Your Sim and GSM Phone Source charge $169.99 and $179.99, respectively, for remote iPhone unlocking. In both cases you supply your phone's International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number, … Read more

Dell offering Streak tablet for $99 with PC buy

Consumers in the market for a new PC from Dell now have a chance to pick up the company's Streak 5 tablet for $99.

As part of a new promotion, Dell will kick in an unlocked Streak 5 for that $99 to any customer who spends at least $699 on a new PC. By itself, the Streak 5 normally sells for $99 with a two-year contract, while an unlocked version goes for $449 with its current discount factored in.

The Streak 5 offers a 5-inch WVGA display, placing it somewhere between most smartphones and tablets in terms of screen … Read more

Who doesn't love robot combat?

MadMaks is a promising robot-combat arcade game with chunky old-school graphics, fun controls, and a short solo campaign.

You start the game controlling a maneuverable but relatively wimpy tank--a "Frogamo Mak"--and you can opt for good accelerometer controls (tilting left and right to steer, and forward and back to move) or a somewhat clunkier virtual directional-pad. You change weapons and shoot using touch-screen buttons, as you travel across a 3D sandbox terrain, destroying and defending various targets (all as cute as your Mak, with similar cartoony eyes) to accomplish varying objectives over 10 unlockable levels. As you … Read more