Appletell

MacRumors has discovered a new preference in the iPhone firmware 2.0 beta. The “Enable 3G” option allows you to turn 3G data speeds on and off - Apple claims that “Using 3G loads data faster, but decreases battery life”. Steve Jobs once said at the iPhone UK launch that the iPhone was not using 3G chips because they sucked up battery life too quickly - this could give users the option of either, when they need it most.

Although the iPhone 2.0 firmware appears to contain this 3G code, owners of current generation iPhones will not be able to take advantage of the 3G speed option without buying a new iPhone with a 3G capabilities embedded. It looks like Apple will be using similar, if not the same firmware for both 3G and 2.5G iPhones. The 3G iPhone is still expected for launch at the WWDC in June, however there is no confirmation of this from Apple themselves.

Via [MacRumors]

Apple US Online Store - reads: “Ships: Currently Unavailable”

iPhones have been in high demand recently and the lack of stock in both US and UK Apple stores is not helping the problem. The iPhone is one of the most sought-after devices of the year and both retail and online stores are having their supplies dry up. Many believe this is due to Apple’s expected announcement of the 3G iPhone next month.

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TUAW has received information from an anonymous tipster about future Apple plans. Apparently, .Mac is going to undergo a complete revamp - and will be re-launched at the same time as the iPhone 2.0 launch - which is expected some time in June (most likely in the Worldwide Developers’ Conference). .Mac’s new changes would bring new features to the service for both Mac and Windows users for the first time; some of these features include:

• .Mac push e-mail
• Wireless syncing for calendars, contacts, and email (similar to Microsoft Exchange)
• .Mac syncing on Windows

It makes sense for Apple to integrate .Mac into the iPhone. Wireless syncing of calendars and contacts would make it a big competitor to Microsoft’s Exchange service - which is widely used as the standard for many businesses. .Mac hasn’t been too successful either, this could be Apple’s way of bringing the product to success.

Via [TUAW]

According to a report by Fortune today, AT&T Inc. will subsidize $200 of the purchase price for new iPhones purchased this summer, reducing its cost to as low as $199. Although Apple wouldn’t be particularly happy, they wouldn’t be able to object either, due to increasing iPhone sales through AT&T.

Fortune claimed in its report that AT&T will subsidize the price of new iPhones capable of accessing the 3G data network that the carrier is currently expanding in the United States. AT&T’s $200 price cut would likely be limited to customers who sign a two-year contract, and would not be available directly through Apple. Apple and AT&T now sell the iPhone for $399 for the 8 GB model and $499 for the 16 GB model, and the expected 3G models are estimated to have the same list prices. Several weeks before the new 3G iPhone is to be released, Apple will stop supplying the current iPhone models to reduce inventory, according to Fortune.

Both Apple and AT&T declined to comment on the report, with representatives from both companies stating that they do not comment on speculation.

Read [Fortune’s Report]

Apple’s update of the iMac line on Tuesday is really beginning to show the direction that Apple is taking in its computers. Most significantly, Apple seems to be showing signs of preparing its Macs for the world of gaming.

Some evidence of this is the new 3.06GHz processor option for the 24-inch iMac, which is suspicious only because Apple is working the current technology to get 3.06GHz out of something designed to only give 2.8GHz. Another piece of evidence is the GPU, which seems to be a stock nVIDIA 8800M GTS (even though Apple calls it an 8800 GS, but Apple also called Mobility HD 2600 XT parts HD 2600 Pro). This is a very high-end GPU and offers much more power than most Mac users currently need from the iMac.

Implementing the overclocked processor and a high-end nVIDIA GPU in an iMac is a suspicious move for Apple to make. Whether Apple is starting to optimize Macs for gaming using Boot Camp with Windows, or even preparing Mac OS X-based gaming, no one can be sure. Either way, it appears that Apple is taking a step forward towards a future of gaming in its Macs.

If you can’t beat ‘em, develop for ‘em!  At the moment, that it what Research In Motion, producer of the BlackBerry, may be doing.  The company has seen falls in sales of elephantine proportions since the introduction of the iPhone, and they seem to be in a hole out of which they cannot be dug.  Some analysts even predict the iPhone to totally make the BlackBerry an after thought in the world of SmartPhones. 

With that in mind, RIM may be hedging their bets in terms of an BlackBerry fallout.  A recent company memo called for applicants for a special team, and although the exact memo is nowhere to be found, an unidentified RIM employee did leak the following to Electronista. 

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Reports from the Chinese news site, Commercial Times, say Apple has asked Foxconn Electronics to begin producing between 24 and 25 million 3G iPhones and to have them ready by June.  The sources for this report come from component suppliers and investors in Taipei.  In case you forgot, throughout the world at this point Apple has sold about 6 million iPhones, which is a bit off from their 10 million device expectation for June.  However, the specs for the 3G device could be what everyone was looking for, which would skyrocket iPhone sales worldwide.  There has already been news of companies, such as TIM, signing deals with Apple for this device, and I think it’s going to be a huge announcement.

One thing is for sure, this device has been hyped like none other, and Apple really needs to nail the official specs for it.  If they do, the 2nd generation of the device will be a huge success, not only with individuals, but with companies.  I can’t wait for WWDC just because of the iPhone announcement that will likely take place, can you?

It looks like Apple could be tossing it’s current touch panels for the iPhone in favor of some Haptic technology from the ever popular Immersion (you know, the maker of those touch panels in Nokia products). Anyhow, reports say that Apple has been having many meetings with the guys over at Immersion regarding licensing of the technology and product. If all goes well, of course, we should be seeing some new and improved touch panels in the iPhone, possibly with vibration feedback. What’s even more interesting is that President and CEO of Immersion, Clent Richardson, worked at Apple for five years, so the chances of this rumor being true are even greater now.

Via [Engadget]

According to the latest iPhone firmware release, Apple is currently working on an iTunes controller for your iPhone called, you guessed it, iControl.  This application would allow you to wirelessly browse your iTunes library from a local source and stream your music and other content.  This information came from a group of strings in the latest beta release of the new iPhone software and could be one of the apps Apple will be releasing themselves when the SDK comes out.  If you’ll remember, back in July, Apple applied for a patent for this sort of thing.  That patent stated:

A portable multimedia player (such as the iPod. manufactured by Apple Computer, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.) is used to wirelessly access and control a media server (such as a personal computer running iTunes software) that is streaming digital media by way of a wireless interface to a media unit (such as a stereo/speakers in the case of streaming digital audio).

This all sounds pretty cool to me and would be another great addition to the phone.  However, it leaves me wondering whether or not, like above, other iPods will get the same functionality.  It may be kind of hard at this point considering all iPods (besides the Touch) have yet to receive some sort of wifi connectivity.  Could this be a sneak peak of things to come?

Via [TUAW]

Apple and Immersion have reportedly begun talks about integrating some sort of tactile feedback system into the iPhone.  If you’ll remember, one of the biggest complaints about the iPhone when it first came out was its lack of feedback when typing with its touch screen keyboard.  With an example of their work coming in the Samsung’s new Instinct, Immersion Corporations is a company that would fix just this problem.  The most common way of doing this sort of thing is a small vibration that happens near where you touch to confirm the device has received your input.

In my opinion, the iPhone touch screen keyboard is fine just the way it is once you get used to it, but I have small fingers so may have it a little bit easier than most.  However, I have used devices with tactile feedback such as vibrations and I sort of like it.  I’m sure Apple and Immersion will find an innovative way to integrate this if they, in fact, do.  Who knows, maybe it’s even coming in the 3G iPhone, but I doubt it will be ready by then.  What are your thoughts on this?