Just a week after Apple released the iPhone 3.1.3 update, Sherif Hashim has discovered an exploit that could allow iPhone users to unlock their iPhone on the iPhone 3.1.3 firmware on baseband 05.12.01 and use it with other carriers like T-Mobile in the US, for example. We get these a lot, but no the iPhone can’t be unlocked to work with Verizon because Verizon operates on a CDMA network. Apple always updates the baseband with each update, causing many iPhone users to loose their unlock so this is good news for the iPhone users that had their baseband updated and lost their unlock.

For now, download the iphone toolbar (works on Windows/Mac on Firefox, Safari, or Internet Explorer browser) and you’ll receive an alert once the unlock is released, and instructions on how to install it.

The exploit Sherif Hashim uses has not been revealed yet, but iPhone Dev Team member MuscleNerd has confirmed that it works. The iPhone Dev Team will most likely wait for Apple to release the next generation iPhone 4G before releasing this unlock so that Apple does not patch the exploit before then. For now, all iPhone users that are unlocked/jailbroken are advised to be extremely cautious of future firmware updates and avoid updating before the jailbreak tools are updated.

Announcing that Cal Stach, the developers of PIC-SAFE, has launched a unique app for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad users. The application offers users an exclusive tool and cutting edge picture sorting and privacy technology for iDevices. It is the only app that removes the need for cutting and pasting, replacing it with fast and easy, drag and drop action. PIC-SAFE has built-in sharing and security features, essentially offering a well organized photo vault.

The developer has created the program to increase the ease and speed of tucking pictures away in a secure environment. Users can reveal only photos that they want to share with others, without people realizing that some are left out or accidentally seeing a snapshot that the owner would rather they didn’t.

Using the PIC-SAFE app is easy enough for everyone. All a user has to do is create a folder, select as many photos as they want to put into that folder then drag and drop the pictures into it. Each folder can have its only password protection to keep out prying eyes. Viewing snapshots is also easily done, just by touching and holding for one second. The usual pinch and pull motions will enlarge the photograph, if desired. PIC-SAFE also allows users to email photos directly from within the application.

The photo up there is a new iPhone 4G hardware prototype with iPhone 4.0 software. The Verizon iPhone release date is still unknown, but analysts say that Apple plans on releasing a Verizon iPhone either this year in June or next year (2011). Apple is currently providing their iPhone phone on AT&T, but it would be wise of them to offer it on multiple carriers just like Google offers their Android smartphone, the Nexus One on multiple carriers as well.

The new iPhone 4G that’s launching in June has a front facing camera, as revealed by the pictures a popular tech blog named Gizmodo posted. Gizmodo may be in trouble for buying a stolen iPhone 4G and then posting pictures of it on their blog, but that’s another story. The new iPhone 4G will be big for the front facing camera alone, and the added multi-tasking support.

TUAW recently reported that iPhone OS 4.0 includes a new application that makes use of an “iPod Out” feature that could be used to control the iPhone or iPod Touch when used in a car.

According to sources that TUAW spoke to, the “iPod Out” functionality is built over the iPod Accessory Protocol (IAP). The report claims that the application contains references to several strings like IAPSimpleRemoteCarButtonNotification and IAPSimpleRemoteCarButtonTypeKey that hints at the use of the “iPod Out” functionality in automobiles.

According to TUAW’s source:

“the application might be used in an Apple-branded car kit, where the user docks his iPhone or iPod touch and gains full access to the onboard audio libraries (no video at this time). The car kit could include both a video screen to show the menus and custom physical buttons that would produce the notifications to allow the user to move through those menus, and select from them.

Other hints in the application point to hands-free phone integration as well (kCTCallStatusChangeNotification). Incoming phone calls would be routed into the same system, allowing users to answer calls without having to pick up their device.”

An Apple branded car kit could truly revolutionize the way users consume audio content from their iPhones.

It will be interesting to see if Apple ends up unveiling the car kit, which makes use of this new application when iPhone OS 4.0 is released this summer.