TechBytes: Unlocking the iPhone
Citigroup's flawed app, Puzzle Agent video game review, "Jersey Shore" game.
July 27, 2010— -- A government ruling has loosened Apple's grip on the iPhone. New regulations allow iPhone owners to legally unlock their devices so they can run software that has not been approved by Apple.
That could be the first step toward opening Apple's app store to competition. But the company says unlocking phones is an unauthorized modification of its software and users who do it run the risk of voiding their warranty.
Citigroup is advising its customers to upgrade to the newest version of its mobile banking app for the iPhone. The bank said an older version of the app had a security flaw that accidentally saved information including account numbers, bill payments and security-access codes. The bank doesn't believe any personal data was exposed by the flaw.
In our weekly video game review, here's a game that will challenge you unlike most others. In Puzzle Agent, you are a federal agent who must solve logic puzzles to figure out why an eraser factory has been shut down.
CNET's Dan Ackerman says it feels like a Coen Brothers movie. "I think the big appeal of Puzzle Agent is really the cool, quirky visual style, the clever writing, there's a lot of funny lines, funny jokes, really great performances by the voice actors," Ackerman said.
"And, of course, the puzzles themselves are the main star, you know, a lot of them are really hard, they're really logic-driven. You're not just going to be able to wing this one, you're going to have to sit down and think about it. And you know what? After playing a lot of shooters and platform games, it's good to have to really use your brain for a while instead."
The game costs $10 and is available for PCs and Macs at PuzzleAgent.com.
Can't get enough of Snooki, The Situation or the rest of the "Jersey Shore" crew? MTV is releasing a new online game today to mark the second season of the reality-TV show. It features one-on-one battles between animated versions of the housemates, based on things that happen on the show. It will change every week, incorporating new things that happened during each episode.
The game will be available on Facebook Tuesday.
Related Stories
ABC News Live