So here’s what you need to out iOS 5 beta 3: You’re going to need the iOS 5 beta 3 firmware and  iTunes 10.5 beta 3 here (take note that you’re going to need an Apple Developer account to access the downloads legally). Then you’re going to need to download Sn0wbreeze 2.8 for Windows (download here), which you’ll use to build a jailbroken version of the IPSW file.

Redmond Pie has a detailed how-to for creating the modified firmware here. Sn0wbreeze supports the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4, iPod touch 3G and 4G, as well as the first-gen iPad, and is a tethered jailbreak only. If you have an iPad 2 or rely on unlocker hacks, stay away from this one if you want to keep your mods.

[via Redmond Pie]

Mozilla’s Firefox browser has been updated to version 3.5, which should be the final version for Firefox 3. The latest update boasts of better (read: faster) overall performance, better security, and a host of new features.

The new version includes the TraceMonkey JavaScript engine, which gives the browser better performance (listed to be twice as fast as Firefox 3) over the previous version for loading web apps such as email, photo sites, and online word processors.

There’s a ton of new features added onto this version, but probably the best thing about Firefox 3.5 is the smaller memory footprint that it takes up (seriously, if you notice your computer slowing down while browsing, open the task manager and check out how much memory the previous version takes up when you’ve been online for a while). A new memory management function called the XPCOM cycle collector has been added to continuously clean up unused memory, and memory leaks have been plugged to remedy this.

Other notable features include a private browsing feature that totally cleans up your tracks for privacy, and improvements to the Awesome Bar, anti-phishing and anti-malware protection, and the session restore and customization features.

Download Firefox 3.5 here.

A Beta version of Nokia’s touch-based Photo Browser app is now available for Symbian S60 Smartphones. First introduced last month for the 5800 XpressMusic phone’s touchscreen interface, the update for S60 3rd Edition mobiles will make use of scroll keys and softkeys for navigation and editing.

The update post on the Nokia BetaLabs site outlines three versions for S60 3.1 phones, S60 3.2 phones without an accelerometer, and one more for S60 3.2 phones that sport a built-in accelerometer.

Click here to view the release notes, a list of supported handsets, and the download link for the Photo Browser’s .sis file.

AMD has released a new beta version of their Fusion Media Explorer, a 3D media browser designed for AMD’s Puma and Dragon platforms. Aside from presenting media files (photos, videos, album art, etc) into one very attractive interface, the FME offers one-click uploads of photos to Facebook, quick searches from YouTube, Flickr and Windows’ Live Search service, and displays content that’s related to what you’re looking at or listening to.

The Fusion Media Center is developed to make full use of AMD’s Phenom II and Turion Ultra platforms along with ATI graphics cards, and is currently set to run on AMD systems exclusively. Sean Kalinich from brightsideofnews.com has managed to come up with a work-around to run the FME on an Intel-powered system.

AMD’s Casey Gotcher has some notes on the Fusion Media Explorer up on AMD Blogs, where more of the FME’s functions and features are explained in detail. Download the Beta version of AMD’s Fusion Media Explorer here.

MP3 format co-creator Thomson has come out with new software tools for creation and playback of an enhanced version of the old mp3 format. The resulting format, dubbed “mp3HD”, will use lossless compression—making it an exact replica of CD tracks, or at least close enough—for a boost in sound quality and detail.

The resulting mp3HD format will have bitrates in the 500-900kbps range, a whole lot more than the average mp3 file that usually gets ripped at 128kbps. Because of the big bitrate-bump, expect the average 4-minute song’s file size to be around 14-26MB, compared to the average mp3 file that’s at around 4MBs.

Thomson says that the mp3HD files will still be backward-compatible to mp3 players, since the mp3HD file will still contain the regular mp3 data, and the new format will still carry the .mp3 extension. Playing them on an unsupported device will give you none of the benefits, though.

The significantly larger file size might not make much sense to the general public, especially when the detail might not even be that noticeable to the untrained ear. But audiophiles and purists who are into high-end sound will be sure to appreciate the boost in quality.

Utilities and player plug-ins for creating and playing mp3HD files can be downloaded from all4mp3.com or mp3HD.com.