We suspected this when Apple didn’t mention tethering and AT&T told us after repeated prodding that all device features were up to the manufacturer—i.e., the tethering ball is in Apple’s court—but iPhone Atlas says they’ve learned that there won’t be any tethering for the iPhone 3G.

As we mention in our ultimate iPhone 3G FAQ, written by the esteemed author of How to Do Everything With Your iPhone, they didn’t grant tethering with the first iPhone either (not that EDGE would’ve been a wild ride anyway). This just seems to make it more of a lock—at least without some hackage. If Apple winds up allowing tethering, AT&T will probably come up with a plan, or simply apply its standard smartphone tethering plan, but either way, we’ll let you know if we hear different. [iPhone Atlas via TUAW]

Via [Gizmodo]

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Sittiphol Phanvilai, a developer on the Nokia forums, managed to rig up a “multitouch” engine using the N95. With the camera, an IR filter on the back, a light pen and a TV, he cobbles together a system that allows drawing. Since this is only one pen, it’s not exactly multitouch, but it is a begin that shows what the N95 can do with the proper input systems. Does it means the N95 will get a multitouch screen some time in the future? Probably not. [Nokia Blogs]

Via [Gizmodo]

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You can chat with us during the show via AIM by pinging username “crunchtips” or call into the show at (646) 200-4163 should the mood strike you. Here’s the link for today’s show…

You can chat with us during the show via AIM by pinging username “crunchtips” or call into the show at (646) 200-4163 should the mood strike you.

Here’s the link for today’s show…

Via [crunchgear]

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Stopping short of coming out and saying the FCC would begin regulating cellphone company early termination fees, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin did publicize ideas for how such regulations would work. I’ve met Kevin Martin and he’s a very intelligent man, though I normally disagree with his ideas. This one, though, I love. Right now carriers are […]

Stopping short of coming out and saying the FCC would begin regulating cellphone company early termination fees, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin did publicize ideas for how such regulations would work. I’ve met Kevin Martin and he’s a very intelligent man, though I normally disagree with his ideas. This one, though, I love.

Right now carriers are free to come up with any fees they want, knowing if the customer wants to sing up badly enough they’ll do it despite the fine print. That means most people face fees of about $200 to cancel their contracts, even if they only have a few months left.

The chairman’s idea would eliminate that problem, calling for pro-rated fees. The longer you’re in-contract, the less you’ll pay to get out. This is fair. Also, more pricey phones would be allowed to have such high fees, but cheaper handsets — like the RAZR, for example — would have lower fees. This also makes sense, as being locked into a two-year contract with a $200 early termination fee doesn’t make sense for users who get basic handsets.

One interesting idea he also put forth calls for companies to have reasonable time frames, maybe a year, for contracts, and not require users to re-up the entire contract for service upgrades.

So there’s a plan for a plan, but no real plan for FCC regulation. That being said, we think it’s only a matter of time before the FCC steps in and keeps the carriers from pillaging your bank account they way they’re now.

Via [crunchgear]

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Still undecided about what to get for Father’s Day? It doesn’t look like you would get the Logitech Harmony 1000 shipped in time, but with a beautiful 3.5-inch touchscreen that can be used to control just about everything in your home, I’m sure he won’t mind you being a tiny late. And the $249 price tag is hard to beat. [Amazon]

Via [Gizmodo]

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Chris and Jared over at Brickmodder rigged up this fantastic diorama of a scene inspired by Iron Man. There’s a detail picture of Iron Man after the jump, but you can see from the wide shot that Iron-y is just hanging there, eyeballing that RPG as it gracefully flies past his head before blasting the two terrorists (or construction contractors) in the face with hand lasers. “Yeah, I can fly.” [Brickmodder via Brothers Brick]

Via [Gizmodo]

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