Phonedig

The iPhone OS 3.0 Gold (shipping build) is now available to developers in preparation for the June 17th release date. I’m sure they’ll be using this time to tweak their apps to take full advantage of the OS’s new features: push notifications, in-app payments, copy/paste, landscape mode, etc. The gold build contains a few small but notable changes:

• iTunes now offers movie, TV, and music downloads from the phone itself
• App Store nav bar re-arranged to include a ‘More’ button on the Top 25 and Redeem links
• Store screen in Settings now shows an account information screen

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After many months of waiting, speculating, obsessing, etc, Apple released the goods on the new iPhone 3G S. It’s looks more or less the same as the older 3G model but under the hood, well, that’s a different story. Check it out:

• 7.2Mbps HSDPA data speeds
• $199 for 16GB model, $299 for 32GB model (with contract)
• Faster processor with updated 3D graphics (processor speed unknown beyond Apple’s claim of being 2x faster)
• High quality video capture - shoot video, edit, then share with others
• 3 megapixel camera with autofocus and ‘tap to focus’ feature
• Voice Control which lets you dial a contact or play a song by simply speaking
• Built-in digital Compass which re-orients the map to match the direction you’re facing
• Cut, copy, and paste text or pictures in or between applications
• Landscape Keyboard - rotate the iPhone to type in landscape mode
• Improved messaging, search, and accessibility
• Internet tethering (AT&T plans to support this)
• Nike+ support

Available in the States on June 18th. Users in 80 other countries will have to wait until August.

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While I’m not one to make a stink about typos, this one certainly warrants some attention. It would appear that T-Mobile’s Austria website posted a placeholder for a 32GB iPhone. Since Austria isn’t probably at the top of Apple’s list for distribution of the soon to arrive generation 3 iPhone I’m not sure how much weight the slip up should hold, but it most certainly brings creedence to many of the rumors regarding a 32GB iPhone that we’ve been hearing about.

[via Engadget]

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I think I speak for every iPhone user when I say ‘we’ve been eagerly anticipating the arrival of push notification’ for iPhone apps.  Today, word has come through that ‘push’ will in fact be rolled out in iPhone Software 3.0 and here are some screen shots to prove it.  To kick things off, Apple has chosen the Associated Press’ iPhone app to test the feature since the app calls for a heavy load of notifications.  Apple has asked developers to let them know if they don’t receive notification for 48 hours, as this probably means there is something wrong.  I gotta admit, though, testing the feature with less than 30 days until its official unveiling does seem a bit precarious on Apple’s part.

[via Engadget]

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Rumors have been swirling around lately that Verizon is in talks with Apple to bring iPhone-like devices to their network. Some insiders report they’ve seen a more basic version of the iPhone best described as “iPhone-lite”. Another device that may be in the works is a larger tablet-like device that focuses more on multimedia playback. And, of course, neither company wants to confirm anything so take it as you will.

Some analysts are saying, and I tend to agree, that it’s just a move by Apple to get a better deal with AT&T.

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Holy frickin’ moley!  Apple’s app store hit the 1 billion mark today.  It’s only been online for 287 days, which means 3,484,321 apps were being downloaded per day.  The person who downloaded the billionth app won a 17-inch Macbook Pro, 32GB iPod Touch, $10,000 iTunes gift card and a Time Capsule.  Not bad for downloading the billionth app, but when you consider what Apple has made from the store you’d think they’d go a little bigger.

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According to Alley Insider, via a source close to the Hulu team, the TV and movie streaming website will launch their iPhone app in the next few months.  Further inflating the rumor is news that the app will stream over both WiFi and 3G.  Unfortunately, they don’t have any evidence to bring credence to the rumor, but with so many other streaming apps out there it only seems likely.  Question is will Apple and AT&T approve the Hulu app given SlingMedia’s recent experience?

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Apple, which is known for rejecting certain iPhone apps for no reason, has once again struck, but this time it ain’t no small time developer.  A few weeks ago Slingmedia announced their Slingplayer app for the iPhone.  Apparently they dotted all their ‘I’s and crossed all their ‘T’s, but Apple still shot down the app.  Why?  If I’m to gander a guess, it’s because it directly competes with their iTunes store and might also lend itself to further congestion on the already heavily taxed AT&T 3G network.  According to BGR, Sling doesn’t even know why, but expect this story to develop in the coming days.

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Recently, Apple ordered a whopping 100 million NAND chips from Samsung, including the 16Gb variety. Could this be in preparation for the 32GB iPhone to be released this summer? Analysts sure think so since, historically, Samsung has been Apple’s iPhone memory supplier. 

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No day, or week for that matter is complete without a rumor.  So in light of TGIF I bring you an iPhone rumor, this one regarding an updated camera.  Digitimes is reporting that OmniVision has scored a deal with Apple to produce a 3.2MP sensor that is presumably for the rumored and upcoming iPhone that should hit this June.  Additionally, the report states that they also scored a deal to produce a 5 megapixel sensor that is not for the iPhone, but another product that will launch later this year.  Apple Netbook? Maybe.

[Digitimes]