Polish Actors Paid to Fake iPhone Frenzy

Rep cites shortage of towers, then claims fraudulent orders

(NEWSER) - AT&T has stopped selling the iPhone online to customers in New York City. The first explanation, from an AT&T rep, is that the company's New York network couldn't handle any more data-hungry iPhones because the city doesn't have enough towers. New York "is not ready for the iPhone," the rep told the Consumerist. Then the story changed to a wave of fraudulent orders, according to the most recent company statement, leaving the real reason no clearer than AT&T reception. More»

Users sick of AT&T now have an option

(NEWSER) - Verizon has finally come up with a phone that will satisfy users who want an iPhone-quality smartphone to run on the firm's zippy 3G network, writes Walt Mossberg. The Motorola Droid, is, like the iPhone, "a powerful hand-held computer that happens to make phone calls," Mossberg writes. The Droid, at an iPhone-matching $200, runs the smooth 2.0 version of Google's Android which adds some functionality Apple's platform lacks, Mossberg notes. More»

Cardboard protection can be yours for just $1

(NEWSER) - Hard times no longer mean iPhone users who blew all their cash buying one can't afford a protective case for their new favorite toy, Mashable reports. Case-Mate has introduced the iPhone 3G Recession case, priced at just $1. The sturdy cardboard case, which assembles with locking tabs, will cushion your phone against falls and defend against scratches, but makers don't recommend getting it anywhere near fire or water. More»

(NEWSER) - Even a gadget as good as the iPhone isn't without its annoyances, although luckily bigger geeks than you have cooked up workarounds for most of them, Jared Newman writes in PC World. Some major gripes:

• AT&T: The carrier's stranglehold in the US is becoming even more irksome as foreign iPhone users start to enjoy better tethering and multimedia messaging services.
• Weak email management: An update has added bulk email management, but there's still no simple way to delete or move batches of messages.

Hackers use school vacation to best Apple's engineers and 'jailbreak' new phone

(NEWSER) - A group of teenage thorns in Apple's side have been the first to release "jailbreak" software for the latest iPhone 3GS, the Wall Street Journal reports. The hackers, in the latest round of what Steve Jobs calls "a cat-and-mouse game with his top engineers," created software that lets iPhone users unlock their phones and download applications not approved by the company. More»