Onlookers may already be impressed with your stable of sexy Apple products, but perhaps its time to replace those bland blacks and grays with something more meaningful. HunterGatherer’s InCase products for the iPhone and and 15-inch MacBook Pro are “a purposefully fake version of something natural,” according to designer Todd St. John. “I also enjoy seeing it as a wrapper for a concentrated brick of technology.” How poetic. For the MacBook, the $60 sleeve is simply a clutch for safekeeping, while the iPhone’s $50 slider case is a new skin in its own right. And if your friends still aren’t jealous, tell them HunterGatherer has worked for Nike, VH1 and the New York Times. If pure technology doesn’t fill them with envy, name-dropping surely will.
You just knew something iPhone-related was going to happen at Apple’s World Wide Developer’s Conference today. The reality doesn’t quite match the rumors we saw last month, but there’s a surprisingly high ratio of information that was on the mark. With an extra “S” for “speed,” the iPhone 3GS runs up to two times faster than its predecessor and holds either 16 GB or 32 GB compared to the 8 GB iPhone 3G. Battery life has grown, but not by 50 percent, and there is indeed a built-in compass and a glowing Apple logo on the back. Best of all, the new iPhone shoots and edits video and has improved camera features such as touchscreen autofocus and autoexposure. Voice commands are now possible as well. What didn’t pan out? The OLED screen and the FM transmitter. Maybe next time. For now, the 16 GB and 32 GB models will cost $199 and $299 respectively when they go on sale June 19. Also, the old iPhone 3G gets a price cut to $99 today. [Apple]
Though many are waiting with bated breath for the newest iPhone release, an article by Gadget Lab indicates that it’s unlikely the new operating system will be ready for release at next week’s World Wide Developers Conference. It appears that the completion of the 3.0 system hinges on a new in-app commerce feature that would allow for sale of things like songs and gaming accessories within iPhone applications. This feature is not quite ready for prime time. No new OS, no new iPhone. The article estimates that it will take three or four more weeks for Apple to get the OS tested and completed, so hopefully we’ll see it sometime in early July. An announcement of availability is expected at WWDC. [via Gadget Lab]
A better camera, more capacity and an OLED screen may be in store, according to a report by Apple iPhone Apps. The site quotes “a source who is closely connected to Apple’s hardware development team” in listing the specs. Notably, capacity may double to 32 GB and 16 GB models, the pixel count on the camera may jump from 2 million to 3.2 million and battery life could grow by 50 percent. The new iPhone may also include video recording and editing, a built-in FM transmitter, a built-in compass and turn-by-turn directions. For stylistas, the design will apparently be sleeker, losing the metal band around the sides and gaining glowing Apple logo on the back. The release date is reportedly July 17. If any of these specs seem unlikely, I feel like the whole report could just be wishful thinking, but there’s also some probable specs in here too. We’ll find out soon enough. [Apple iPhone Apps via Wired]
With the help of a Belkin Rockstar multi headphone splitter, one intrepid DJ has created a tapestry of digital sounds using a Nintendo DS Lite running Electroplankon, a DSi running Korg DS-10, an iPhone, an iPod Touch and a Kaossilator. The result is, well, meh. But think of the possibilities. I’d love to see what a talented chiptune artist like Nullsleep could do with an elaborate setup of Game Boys, and even an average listener might have fun mixing in and out of different iPods at a party. At $20 for the splitter, it certainly beats splurging on an expensive mixer. [via YouTube]
Word on the Wall Street Journal is that Microsoft is teaming up with Verizon to create an iPhone-like smartphone, complete with a touch screen and apps for sale at the Windows Marketplace. Reportedly, Microsoft will design the software and hardware, then hand the manufacturing off to a third party, kind of like Google does with its Android operating system. This isn’t a surprising rumor, but there’s a twist: USA Today reported that Verizon is in talks with Apple to reel in the iPhone. Could both of these unconfirmed stories pan out? Maybe, but get ready for yet another shocker: BusinessWeek says Verizon and Apple are actually working on an “iPhone lite” and a media pad that only includes Wi-Fi for making calls. With so many crazy rumors packed into such a short period of time, they can’t all pan out. Which one would you like to see the most? [Wall Street Jounal via Engadget]
A Chinese company named CECT has done its very best to bring us the iPhone Nano we’ve all been waiting for, sort of. The m188 looks just like Apple’s creation — minus the branding — but in a shell measuring 3.5 x 1.9 x 0.4 inches (roughly the size of a credit card). The specs aren’t bad, either, with a 2.6-inch touch screen, GPRS connectivity, an MP3/video player, an FM tuner with scheduled recording and a cheap little 640×480 resolution camera. International travelers might enjoy the dual SIM card slots. If you’re interested, head over to BigBoxStore, where $100 gets you this bold exercise in ripping off Apple. [via Technabob]
If Japan is any indication, Skype for iPhone is going live at respective midnights around the globe. The VoIP program is downloadable now in Japan, and should start coming online as each time zone hits 12 a.m. on Tuesday. Early reports say the sound quality is great, and the app itself is absolutely free. Good thing, because nothing’s better than saving a few cell phone minutes here and there when you’re shelling out $30 per month for data. In all seriousness, the app will come in handy for international calls — say goodbye to purchasing SIM cards before a big trip — although PC World says a Wi-Fi connection is required. Blackberry users, don’t fret; your version comes in May. [via Engadget and PC World]
iPhone 3.0 has been officially revealed to the public. The new iPhone 3.0 operating system will include some basic (and some highly demanded) updates that will make using an iPhone easier and more immersive. Here are a few of the changes that the new iPhone 3.0 will feature:
Cut, Copy and Paste. It’s about time! You can now cut/copy/paste between applications on the iPhone OS version 3.0.
Global Search Functionality – allowing you to search your iPhone and all of its apps in one single query bar.
Landscape View Composition – you can now compose emails, text messages and notes while in landscape mode, allowing for a wider keyboard.
Peer-to-Peer Bluetooth – want to share files, contacts and more with your friends? You can now do so via Bluetooth. Welcome to the social.
As more news hits, we’ll post it here. For now, we welcome the new functionality to our iPhones– its about damn time!
