Read the rest of this entry »

We all suspected it, but now it is confirmed: someone very, very close to the 3G iPhone launch has told me that Apple will announce their new model at the WWDC Keynote on June 9th. The second-generation iPhone will be available worldwide right after the launch, and not at year’s end, as previously thought. The new model will also herald new sales policies in some countries.

In Spain, for example, the 3G iPhone will be available for sale at the June 18th grand opening of Telefonica’s megastore—an Apple Store-like shop located in the company’s historical building in Madrid’s Gran Vía— with nationwide availability the next day or after a few hours. The other European countries with iPhone availability will have similar launch schedules.

According to another source involved in the launch, the 3G iPhone will no longer be available at a fixed price point—at least in some countries, and its launch will also bring new sales policies, although these have not been completely specified yet.

The move is a logical step, since the iPhone has clearly solidified its position as the cellphone to beat during the last 12 months, and companies in the cutthroat European cellphone market need to use it as an incentive to capture clients aggressively.

This most probably means the new 3G iPhone will be integrated in the usual marketing systems of carriers, with point-based trade-ups, discounts for carrier switchers and other service-based subvention packages.

via [Gizmodo]

One thing that would certainly be nice for the iPhone, is some sort of feedback when you press an on screen key. The answer to this, is dilemma, is haptic feedback. This technology has already made it’s way to quite a few touch devices, like the Voyager on Verizon, and the LG PRADA. Haptic feedback provides a type of virtual interaction with with a device, it helps simulate a more traditional key stroke.

The aim of haptic feedback is to make users aware of a touch interaction with their device, such as a key stroke or selection. The technology is most often used by LG for their touch enabled devices. In the game of haptic feedback, Immersion is a major player. They currently provide the haptic feedback for LG devices, several Nokia devices, and even a few non mobile phone applications of the technology as well.

There has been a little executive association between Immersion and Apple as well. Clent Richardson has been appointed as the new CEO of Immersion. Richardson was a former executive for Apple. This may lend this story some more credibility. Haptic feedback would be welcomed with open arms, so lets hope this one comes to fruition.

[Via Palluxo]

Since Apple’s iTunes charge you 99 cents to create a ringtone for your iPhone, while many programs that do the same actually cost you money to download, some folks will be excited to find out about ToneShop, a free iPhone ringtones maker for Windows.

Actually to call it a ringtone maker just for the iPhone would be an understatement — ToneShop can create ringtones in MP3, AAC (M4A), WAV (uncompressed PCM and ADPCM), AMR-NB, AMR-WB (Nokia TrueTones), and MMF (Yamaha SMAF) formats, while the Apple iPhone M4R (AAC) format is just the latest addition to its lineup.

ToneShop works on Windows 2000, XP and Vista PCs (32-bit and 64-bit).Direct download:
- ToneShop (build 9) for Windows (4.4MB)

Yesterday The Financial Times reported that a group of big music industry labels approached Apple, whose iTunes music downloads store is responsible for over 70% of all music sold online, with a rather innovative offer.

According to the report, Universal Music, Sony BMG, Warner Music, and EMI, are interested in a similar deal like the one that they get from Nokia’s “With Music” program. Apparently, they’re interested in receiving a part of the revenue that Apple gets from sales of iPods and iPhones (sort of like Apple gets a part of iPhone carrier’ revenues).

In return, they’re allegedly willing to provide unlimited music subscriptions to Apple’s customers — that means you, iPhone owners to be (since most likely the price of the device with free music subscription would cost more than the regular price — in Nokia’s “With Music” case, free-music-enabled phones cost $80 more).

But BusinessWeek reports today, quoting an insider source, that the idea has been “kicked around” for approximately a year with “no meaningful discussions” taking place. Likewise, other insiders in the music industry dismissed the idea, while Apple declined to comment.
One of the potential reasons for Apple not wanting to get along with this program that BusinessWeek is bringing up, is the fact that iTunes is very successful as it is, and requires no revamps to its own business model (although the case might be very different when it comes to the business model of the music industry itself). Another potential reason is that despite the fact that iTunes sold over 4 billion songs, it has also sold a total of 142 million iPods and 4 million iPhones — which would mean that the average iPod/iPhone owner has bought fewer than 28 iTunes tracks.

But still, not all is lost, according to Jupiter Research analyst Michael Gartenberg. “There may be millions of people who would never buy into the iPod-iTunes ecosystem who’d be willing to pay $7 to $10 a month for all the music they can get. If anyone can explain the benefits of a plan like this, it’s Apple,” he says.