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Here’s a hot story:

The quest to unlock the iPhone from being inextricably tied to AT&T’s network has finally proved to be, um, extricable. (Is that even a word?) While the process is nontrivial, involving opening the iPhone and soldering and stuff, it’s doable in the right hands. You can browse the hardware hacking process starting with “What you need” on George Hotz’s blog (http://iphonejtag.blogspot.com).

The hard part, so it seems to me:

“The red line is covering the A17 trace. In order to trick the chip into thinking the flash is erased in the correct section, you will need to pull this high. Scrape away at the trace with something like a multimeter probe. Then solder a very thin wire to it. Be very careful. Only scrape away at that solder mask above that one trace. YOU DO NOT WANT TO BREAK THE TRACE. This is the hardest step in the whole process; the rest is cake. Also solder a wire to the 1.8v line. Connect to wire coming from the trace and the wire coming from the 1.8v to your unlock switch. Be careful, you only get one chance to do this right. Thanks again to Nick Chernyy for the picture.”

There’s also a fair amount of software-fooling-around-with. I won’t pretend to understand or explain it.

What it comes down to is that a fully unlocked phone should be able to be used on any GSM network. This is a bigger deal outside of the US. It’s not like you can use the iPhone on Verizon or Sprint, for example. Also, if you’re patient enough it’s very likely that you will be able to purchase an unlocked phone, or send yours to someone to do the dirty work, in the near future.

If you’re burning with desire for an unlocked iPhone, and your wallet is burning a hole in your pocket, you can bid for the second unlocked specimen on eBay.  Be forewarned - it’s already over $8k, with 6 more days to go!

Apple’s not gonna like this. Maybe they should hire George?

Hey, here’s your last chance to win a MacBook, a Wii, or an XBox 360, or several other prizes at rankaroo.com. To enter, use this special link to register for a free account. Then follow the link to enter the contest.

What kind of prizes can you win?
First prize | Ultimate Multimedia Pack

• 17″ MacBook Pro (Laptop computer)
• Cyber-shot DSC-T50/B Digital Camera + LCS-THG Custom-fit Leather Carrying Case + MSX-M1GN 1GB High Speed Memory Stick PRO Duo Media
• DCR-SR300 40GB Handycam® Camcorder DCR-SR300 + ACC-FH70 Accessory Value Kit + NP-FH100 InfoLITHIUM® H Series Super Stamina Rechargeable Battery Pack

Second prize | Crazy Gaming Paradise

• Nintendo Wii
• Xbox 360 with 20GB HDD
• 1 Nintendo DS Lite
• Sony PSP Entertainment Pack + Headset + Memory Pro Duo 4.0GB
• 1 Wii game + 1 Xbox 360 game + 1 Nintendo DS game + 1 PSP game

Third prize | Audio/Video Fanatic Experience

• 30GB iPod U2 Special Edition
• Apple TV
• DLO HomeDock Deluxe
• iMuffs MB210 Wireless Headphones (Black)
• DLO TransDock

Consolation prizes (4th through 10th place)

• XBOX 360 with 20GB HDD

Hurry, the contest ends August 31, 2007! Rankaroo is a great way to share web favorites and explore topics in depth. They even have battles! Check it out.

Did you know that FOX News actively petitioned for war with Iraq, back in the day? I didn’t know this. I didn’t even have cable at the time, so the fact that I generally avoid watching that “news” outlet would have been compounded.

According to FOX Attacks, not only were they guilty of war-mongering, not to mention fear-mongering, but now they are clamoring for war with Iran! WTF? (Have I mentioned that I can’t wait until January 2009?)

Would you like some video evidence? I thought you would. Here’s a short video compiled by Robert Greenwald.

This is completely ridiculous. Is FOX News trying to run this country, nay, the world into the ground?

If this information disturbs you, you can join a petition/open letter to the other news outlets requesting them to not follow FOX News’ path, as they did for Iraq.  Over 40,000 have already signed.  Tell MSNBC, CNN, ABC, CBS, and NBC that Americans don’t want what FOX News is serving.

Just what you’ve always pined for… celebrity medical leavings! The star of The Colbert Report fractured his wrist while taping a show several weeks ago. Last night, August 23, 2007, Stephen’s cast was removed by his physician, Dr. Jerald Vizzone (complete with confetti and four dancers in scrubs). Click the cast to see the eBay listing, 290153546119.

100% of the final sale price will support the Yellow Ribbon Fund. The Yellow Ribbon Fund assists injured service members and their families while they recuperate at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the National Naval Medical Center by offering free cab vouchers, hotel rooms, apartments, rental cars, job mentoring, internships and tickets to sporting and cultural events.

The auction ends September 3 at midnight EDT (9pm PDT September 2), so bid early and bid often. Just kidding, with eBay you don’t have to bid often.

You’ll also receive a WristStrong Bracelet, which supports wrist awareness. If you don’t want to bid thousands of dollars for Stephen’s cast, visit ColbertNation.com to purchase a WristStrong bracelet for $5 (plus shipping). Proceeds from the sale of WristStrong bracelets will also benefit the Yellow Ribbon Fund. OR…if you don’t want a bracelet or a used cast, and you’d like to contribute to the fund directly, you can do that too! You don’t have to support the war to support our troops.