Just yesterday, the revelation that the iPhone and iPad 3G are constantly tracking your location and storing that data in an unencrypted hidden file spread throughout the media.

As we noted, while there’s nothing that suggests Apple is actually monitoring or doing anything with the data, when your phone or a computer you’ve recently synced it with is out of sight tech savvy people could gain access to the information without your permission. According to forensic computing researcher Alex Levinson, law enforcement are some of those people and they’ve been using consolidated.db to find people.

Even better, they’ve been using it since before iOS 4 when the file was called h-cells.plist.

“Through my work with various law enforcement agencies, weâ€ve used h-cells.plist on devices older than iOS 4 to harvest geolocational evidence from iOS devices,” Levinson writes on his blog. {via GigaOm} Levinson declined to elaborate on exactly how the data was used, and the bulk of the post is raising the point that he published similar information a few months ago.

Given that the tools to find this information are now a click away and that the file – hidden or not – is receiving so much publicity – new discover or not, we’ll say again that even if law enforcement isn’t looking for information on you someone else may be.

Users who have a jailbroken iPhone or iPad can download an app called untrackerd here. It will run in the background and constantly clear location data. iPhone/iPad 3G users who aren’t on a jailbroken device? Keep an eye on that. Apple may not be watching, but other people could be.

In iTunes, you can choose to encrypt your backup data under the Options menu, but there are much larger questions on why Apple is storing this in the first place. To get the same information from cell phone companies would require a court order, but for any users who didn’t know or didn’t think to turn on encryption – we’re guessing that’s actually a fairly large amount – it now only requires leaving your phone or a machine where you’ve synced your phone unattended around the wrong person for a period of time.

If you’re cheating on a tech savvy partner, now’s the time to worry.

Aside from that, Allen notes that chances are there are a limited number of people who would have access to this file, but the ease of discovery will still be troubling for some; as will the fact that there’s no documented explanation for why Apple’s devices collect and store the information seemingly forever.

Though it hasn’t slowed anything down, this isn’t the first time concerns over Apple’s unencrypted data storage and transmission around iOS 4 have arisen. In June, a former employee brought up the issue of the amount of data being collected in the background and the lack of privacy.

So how did that first week go?

According to Wired, data from the Speedtest.net iPhone app shows that AT&T iPhone data transfer rates were roughly 2 times faster than those of the Verizon iPhone.

There are a few caveats though; the post notes “results did not provide data on coverage reliability or dropped connections,” and the number of AT&T phones providing data outnumbered the Verizon iPhones providing data 3 to 1.

When it comes to sales of that Verizon iPhone, it’s still attractive to new buyers but not in the overwhelming numbers many anticipated.

Boy Genius Report published sales figures from the first 5 days of the Verizon iPhone’s initial launch that “are performing a little under what Apple and Verizon anticipated.”

• Thursday: Verizon = 909, AT&T = 539
• Friday: Verizon = 916, AT&T = 680
• Saturday: Verizon = 660, AT&T = 471
• Sunday: Verizon = 796, AT&T = 701
• Monday: Verizon = 711, AT&T = 618

On the first day, the five Apple stores included in this data (including “very, very prominent” Apple stores which we can guess refer to their San Francisco and New York stores) were selling 68% more Verizon iPhones than AT&T iPhones, but by that Monday the difference in sales shrunk considerably, though the Verizon iPhone is still slightly more popular.

Perhaps that’s because AT&T’s fees helped to stem any mass exodus of customers. According to BGR:

30% of people buying Verizon iPhones were Android users, just over 25% of people buying iPhone 4 were BlackBerry users, and only 14% of people buying the Verizon iPhone were AT&T iPhone owners. The remaining percent didnâ€t want to say, didnâ€t have a smartphone, or didnâ€t have a phone prior to making their iPhone 4 purchases last week.

Now these numbers don’t take into account the estimated 550,000 pre-sales made online, or sales from Verizon stores, but overall it seems to actually be a good thing for Apple.

The fact that people are still buying AT&T iPhones with 2 options available means that even if demand is less than anticipated, the Verizon iPhone represents a new market, not one entirely cannibalized from existing AT&T customers. The real test will come when the next generation iPhones are released though.

The bad news? Apple’s warranty is voided if the phone is used in freezing temperatures. To be clear, we’re talking about 15-degree Fahrenheit/-10-degree Celsius weather here. Cold? Absolutely, but not the kind of arctic chill you’d imagine causing phone meltdowns, or should we say cooldowns.

The good news is that Norway’s consumer protection laws override Apple’s contract, so all is not lost for this iPhone owner. {speechorgan}

The ugly is that  you probably won’t be as lucky in the US, where almost every state is experiencing freezing or below freezing temperatures. Should your phone stop working because of the cold, Apple and AT&T may not have any responsibility to replace it. If it happens to enough people to cause an outcry their may be some flexibility; but considering how long it took to get an acknowledgment that antenna problems on the iPhone 4 were more than just people needing phone holding classes, you’re probably better snuggly than sorry.

In China, the release of the Meizu M9 drew similar anticipation. {Electronista}

We haven’t seen any M9 clothes yet, but the controversial smartphone has a lot in common with the iPhone. Meizu, a Chinese brand, previously drew a lawsuit and criticism from Apple over similarities between the phone’s user interface and that of the iPhone. Apple was able to successfully halt sales of the M8 on those grounds, though legalities are still being debated on both sides. With a switch to Android, Meizu added buttons that the OS relies on for functionality, and the M9 interface is somewhat different, though still more similar to that of the iPhone than any other Android phone.

None of that seemed to matter to the hundreds of people who turned out to buy an M9 though. The switch to Android is credited with the heightened anticipation for the phone, and the fact that Apple’s legal attempts to stop the phone from being released fell through probably didn’t hurt either.

What’s interesting to note is that in China’s smartphone market, Android phones already represent 50% of smartphones sold in the 3rd quarter of 2010, which is staggering considering their share of the market the year before was 0%. In raw numbers that’s somewhere between 4 and 5 million phones. That comes at the expense of Nokia, which had 70% of the market in 2009. The much loved iPhone and RIM’s Blackberry (which still maintains a good portion of the US smartphone market, despite not receiving the same amount of press that iOS and Android products do)? They sold less than 500,000 phones during the same period. {Fortune}

That’s a significant drop for Apple, who according to Fortune estimates sold roughly 1 million phones in the 2nd quarter. Don’t hold your breath for a US release of any Meizu phones (where they’d surely be sued out of distribution), but do take note of China’s growing position as a major smartphone market which could become large enough to sustain homegrown brands like Meizu.

If Apple wants to get the same type of launch day excitement going in China, it looks like it will take more than a strong legal team. An expected price reduction should help, but for companies looking to get a foothold in China now may be the time to start working on the Android versions of those iPhone and iPad apps.

Photos via Electronista

And that means people will be lining up to outfit their phone with lots of apps, and possibly an accessory or two if the antenna problems that hobbled the iPhone 4 continue to be a problem. What’s really interesting are the number of people putting out accessories to outfit your iPhone in actual outfits.

There’s a legitimate need for bumpers or cases to improve functionality, but does your iPhone really need a hoodie or pair of jeans? Seems the artisans over at Etsy have decided that a regular old case just won’t do when it comes to protecting your precious iPhone, and sales seem to support the trend. Granted, these cases are often made one at a time so it’s not a certainty that these would become a bestseller at a mass level, but it  looks like they have found a fanbase. We’re sure iPad and Kindle clothes are just around the corner.

Red Hoodie Sweater Case $16.99

Lemon Yellow iPhone Hoodie Sweater Case $9.99

We're not jumping on these trends, but they're still interesting.

5. The Return of the Fanny Pack

Ah, the cyclical nature of fashion can be a fantastic thing when lovable trends are re-invented and made exciting to wear again, but some fads should be left in the past (and by the past, we mean the ‘80s). This year, Rihanna was spotted wearing a fanny pack and Tory Burch even began selling them. Most of the ones we found online carried a hefty price tag, and we never thought Tory Burch would ever be making one, so weâ€ll see if the hip bag catches back on for good. If it does, then boy does whoever markets that thing deserve a pat on the back.

4. iPhone STD Testing

Researchers in the U.K. announced they were in the process of coming up with a way for young adults to test themselves for STDs by essentially inserting their own urine into their iPhones or other mobile devices. The object is to get the STD rate down by allowing for increased testing privacy. We had to put at least one IEJ topic that gives you the willies on the list.

3. Japanese Anti-Aging Goggles

One of our favorite IEJ trends this year involved brands that were essentially attempting to charge consumers for a product that did basically nothing the average person couldnâ€t do themselves for free. We thought weâ€d seen it all in the ant-aging game when British beauty brand Rodial came out with snake bite anti-aging serum, but these goggles claimed to fight wrinkles and lines by holding the skin around your eyes taut. The makers declared that holding the skin in place for an extended amount of time would cause it to stay that way. (Helpful hint: if you believe them, you can hold your skin that way using your own fingers – or a pair of swim goggles that at least you can take to the pool once you realize they donâ€t work like Botox).

2. Teva Stilettos

The Teva stilettos are meant to be tongue-in-cheek, but they are a fantastic oddity nonetheless. This fall, news spread through the blogosphere of Tevaâ€s partnership with Grey Ant to sell hiking sandal meets New Yearâ€s Eve party shoes. That horrible combination was running for more $300. ‘Nuff said.

1. The Snazzy Napper

The informational video for this thing is definitely in the top 10 most entertaining things weâ€ve ever seen. The Snuggieâ€s weird younger sister popped up across the Web this summer, and it is basically a blanket with a hole in it that is supposed to help you sleep in public. A big IEJ trend this year was strange products with huge price tags. The Snazzy Napper (aka the “snazzy way to sleep while you travel”) takes number 1 partly for the fact that it is not insanely expensive. That and itâ€s sheer WTF genius.

Maybe some things shouldn't be replaced by technology

The Guardian reported this week that the U.K. Clinical Research Collaboration is in the process of developing a way for people to test themselves for sexually transmitted diseases using their mobile devices. If they are successful, users will be able to place their own urine or saliva on a small computer chip that plugs into the mobile device, which will then produce the test results.

According to the Guardian, the app is being produced with technology-savvy young people in mind – those that experts say may be too embarrassed to go to the doctor to be tested though their age group has the highest rate of STDs. The test is meant to be private and quick, much like a drug store pregnancy test, and to reduce the growing number of STDs, which have increased in frequency over the last decade in the U.K.

Appadvice points out that this news may mean one day doctorâ€s offices could be obsolete, or at least less frequently visited. If the average person can test themselves for an STD, whoâ€s to say people wonâ€t diagnose themselves and print out their prescriptions in the future?

We donâ€t see that happening until sometime very far into the future, and the app being developed does not seem to include a way for people to treat themselves in private as well. This could mean it will not actually reduce the rate of STDs. If someone is too embarrassed to see a doctor to be tested, they may be too embarrassed to be treated as well.

And now that weâ€ve discussed all the particulars can we take a minute to talk about how inserting your own urine or spit into your mobile phone is disgusting? Weâ€re sure the creators will have some way to keep the process totally sterile and clean, but weâ€re not planning on sticking anything up against our cheeks and ears that has once housed our own pee. Trying to stop the growing rate of infection any way possible is a great idea and should be commended, but how about educating young people about STD prevention and coming up with ways to make them feel more comfortable talking to their doctors instead?

Much has been said about Apple’s stance in their closed App Store, and how the apps that are submitted to it are reviewed.  There have been many complaints by developers that Apple has rejected their apps for reasons they were not aware of.  Not to mention the fact that Apple recently banned third-party development tools from being used for apps that make it into the store.  Today that changes.

Apple has finally released it’s App Store Review Guide to tell developers exactly what not to do with their apps.  Many of the points could already be inferred, but there are some new rejection points including “apps that duplicate apps already in the App Store may be rejected, particularly if there are many of them.”  So, it could be that we’ll see no more flashlights, or tip calculators.  It could pose an issue for the myriad of Twitter apps in the App Store that all essentially do the same thing, but offer different experiences and interfaces, which could make a huge difference to users.  There’s also “we have over 250,000 apps in the App Store. We don’t need any more Fart apps. If your app doesn’t do something useful or provide some form of lasting entertainment, it may not be accepted,” which could be very subjective decision. We could easily take out half of the games that we don’t find entertaining at all, but someone out there might find enjoyment from. {Engadget} While we’re definitely in agreement on not needing any more Fart apps, if that’s what consumers want, why limit their choices? After all, with Apple getting a portion of most app revenue, duplicate apps don’t exactly hurt the bottom line.

The document as a whole is very interesting, even if you aren’t a developer of any sort.  It’s written in a very friendly manner, in a way that you could imagine being penned by Steve Jobs, or someone within Apple trying to imitate a Jobs announcement.  The guidelines themselves aren’t too unreasonable.  Apple is understandably concerned for kids, since most parents would never enable parental controls.  It may be frustrating, but if you really need porn on your phone, there’s always Safari aka the portal to the world wide web of skin and sin.

Along with the App Store Review Guidelines, Apple has decided to lift the ban on third party developer platforms.  That means that those who want to use Adobe’s Flash to iOS app converter can now do so, as well as game developers who use platform such as Unity 3D.  This also explains why we were able to see the Epic Citadel app in the App Store, since Unreal 3 is a cross-platform graphics engine.  This means we could see more of those magazines that Adobe was working with to create iPad apps, and more graphically impressive games using the Epic’s Unreal 3, id Tech 5, and Unity engines. {Gizmodo}

The biggest added feature in iOS 4.1 was actually promised to be a part of iOS 4 by Apple, and that’s Game Center.  Game Center is seemingly Apple’s version of Xbox Live for iOS games.  It will feature achievements, and allow you to challenge your friends that have Game Center compatibility.  The feature will be coming to all iOS devices that are capable of upgrading to 4.1, with one exception.  Though the iPhone 3G will be upgraded to iOS 4.1, which should improve stability and the speed of the OS, it will not be able to handle Game Center apparently.  The second generation iPod touch, which came out around the same time as the iPhone 3G will have Game Center, so it seems that small increase in performance (iPod touches always seem to have more powerful processors as the same generation iPhones) is the minimum for Game Center. {Gizmodo}

This isn’t the only feature that’s been left out on the iPhone 3G.  It, as well as the second generation touch weren’t able to support  home screen backgrounds which were introduced in iOS 4.0.  Nor were the devices able to support the multitasking in iOS 4.  So it’s really nothing new, but it’s obvious that Apple is trying to keep people to the two-year refresh model, which perhaps not coincidentally lines up with the timeframe of most contracts.