Ziphone creator Piergiorgio Zambrini has discovered a bug with the iPhone that causes the phone to crash when it starts to play a specially-created video. Forbes.com recorded a demonstration.

The bug apparently affects the audio track of the video, which takes down the iPhone operating system. I could not independently verify the bug, because the links to the movie (and the movie file itself) shown to Forbes were no longer available online.

The bug does not permanently damage devices, according to Zambrini. He said he hasn't yet contacted Apple's security response team. Forbes.com informed an Apple spokesman about the flaw and is still awaiting an official comment.

Zambrini claims he emailed Steve Jobs personally about the bug; around the same time, he applied for employment at Apple. Apple has not yet responded to his resume. It strikes me that Zambrini is trying to appeal to Apple in the same way that your ex-girlfriend tries to appeal to you by spray painting the front of your house.

In the Forbes.com article, Zambrini now claims his goal "...is not to work for Apple."

Zambrini created Ziphone, a popular iPhone unlocking tool.

Thanks, Taylor!

Update: A tipster sends word that he's been in touch with Apple's Product Security Team, and says the crash has been fixed as of iPhone OS 2.1. There is no threat to users as long as your iPhone software is up-to-date.

iPhoneApps.org, currently the top Google result when searching for "iPhone apps," offers 10 apps for $25, including much-sought-after MMS and video recording capability.

But hold on there, pardner, because it looks like they make you jailbreak your phone to get the apps to work. According to a post by a disgruntled customer at Yahoo! Answers, the site is only selling ZiPhone, and instructions on how to install the apps shown on their homepage.

If this post is correct, this reeks of scamminess, since nothing mentions ZiPhone anywhere on their site before purchase. ZiPhone is also freeware. Not cool.

Apple and The Jobsmeister also made it pretty clear that the App Store (via iTunes) was the only place to get apps for your iPhone or iPod touch. Now, we all know that's not necessarily the case, but to base a business around breaking the rules historically hasn't worked.

[Via PC World and Gedeon Maheux, the latter with NSFW language.]

ZiPhone, the free jailbreaking and unlocking tool for iPhone, has hit version 3.0. According to the ZiPhone blog, new features include:

• NVRAM fix is no longer needed
  
• Greyed WiFi solution
• YouTube fix is no longer needed
• Apps installer is included
  
• Customized plug-ins
  

You can download the updated installer from the ZiPhone blog.

[via iPhone Hacks]

Thanks Leif!

If you are looking to jailbreak your iPhone and the most recent iNdependence beta isn't for you, you might be interested in trying out the latest version of ZiPhone. ZiPhone 2.5, which is now available for all users (not just financial donors, who were expected to get the app somewhat sooner than the rest of us) is compatible with the latest iPhone 1.1.4 firmware. Zibri recommends restoring the phone to 1.1.4, not updating, because of potential conflicts within the application cache.

The early e-mails we have received from users has been positive, but as always, jailbreak at your own risk.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!