Google introduces an iPhone rival

Google and T-Mobile unveiled their answer to the iPhone on Tuesday, pulling the wraps off a slick mobile device that combines a touch screen and a keyboard and is aimed at putting the Internet in the pockets of millions of cellphone users.

The T-Mobile G1, which will be available in the United States on Oct. 22, is the first mobile phone to be powered by Google’s Android operating system. It represents a milestone in Google’s efforts to extend its dominance of the PC-based Internet to mobile phones and further loosen the control that wireless carriers have over what consumers can do with their phones [...]

Skype with iPhone, Symbian S60 and Windows Mobile

Variety of known messenger applications (MSN, Yahoo!, AOL etc.) along with Skype has been developed by Fringe. It brings VoIP to "open" versions of Apple Inc.'s iPhone and will also work with Symbian S60 or Windows Mobile operating system as well as with the Sony Smartphones.

According to the company, the new pre-release version of the software "is designed to both answer demand from iPhone-owning would-be Fringsters and at the same time enable Fring to learn about user experience, benefit from early feedback, and influence the R&D process of the full release version." A proper version of the software will be available later this year.

Fringe provides PC-Style status indicator to display the current status of contacts. Its all free, but users may have to pay more for voice chat etcetera because of data volume.

Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference

Apple's developers are gathered yearly in Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) to see what are the interesting technologies and how it can be incorporated in their applications.

For the first time, apple will discuss the iPhone software development kit (SDK) which would allow third-party developers to write some applications for iPhone and iPod.

Apple set June 9-13, 2008 for WWDC and after the Steve Jobs keynote address, following topics will be discussed:

• Getting Started
• Build Powerful Application
• Create Engaging Media Experiences
• Target the Web
• Integrate the Technologies of iPhone

Along with iPhone, Mac and IT tracks will also be highlighted with some topics like Sophisticated Tools, Dynamic Web Experiences, Go Beyond the Desktop, Leverage Rich IT Applications and Services etcetera.

One should go and have a taste of "Apple".

Source: Macworld

Sprint Launches iPhone Competitor

In Las Vegas Sprint has announced a new mobile called the Instinct made by Samsung. It weighs in and is about the same size as the iPhone, and seems to use similar interface ideas. One of the most touted features of the Instinct over the iPhone is the ability to run on EVDO Rev. A, which can achieve much faster speeds than AT&Ts EDGE network. Instinct will come with a 2GB microSD card and it can be expanded up to 8GB. It also features a 2 megapixel camera, GPS navigation (using Telenav), Visual Voicemail (using the touch screen to scan through and browse voicemail messages), and two 1000 mAmp batteries giving up to 5.75 hours of talk time each, as well as some other accessories.

Link: PhoneScoops Video of the Instinct
Link: Sprints Instinct Website and Order Reservation

iPod Shuffle 1GB and 2GB available for $49 and $69

Apple has reduced the price for 1GB iPOD to $49 and by the end of this month, new 2GB iPOD Shuffle will also be launched for a price of $69.

iPod Shuffle is one of the most successful and handy iPod product range ever introduced by Apple. iPod shuffle is just half a cubic inch in volume, weighs just half an ounce, features an aluminum design with a built-in clip and comes in five colors. It is easy to use and very light and handy to carry around.

"At just $49, the iPod shuffle is the most affordable iPod ever,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide iPod Product Marketing. “The new 2GB model lets music lovers bring even more songs everywhere they go in the impossibly small iPod shuffle.”

iPod Shuffle Features:

• Powerful and easy to use controls
• Built-in Clip that can attach itself to anything
• Shuffle switch lets you mix your playlists
• Battery indicator alerts your about your usage
• Headphone Jack does double-duty as a dock connector

This gadget of Apple is more preferrable because of its small size and portability. Now everybody expects a price-drop in iPhone and iPOD touch as well.

via : Apple Press Relese

Apple launches 16GB iPhone and 32GB iPod Touch

The still-the-world’s-most-desired-cellphone iPhone has finally received the capacity upgrade that many have been talking about for the past few months. In a somewhat surprising move, the iPod Touch, which already had a quite decent capacity (16gb) received an upgrade to 32gb, leaving it with twice as much capacity as the iPhone, minus the phone and camera, but in a slimmer package. I believe, the unlocking of iPhone this month would allow other developers to create software for their product.

The iPod Touch upgrade was obviously a tactical maneuver to help keep it’s sales going well. Apple doesn’t want it’s products to compete with one another, because if they did, it would hinder the sales. Considering how well they’ve been doing, one can’t argue that they’re doing anything wrong.

The large capacity iPhone and iPod Touch are both priced $499. Overpriced? Perhaps. But in my opinion, these prices leave the 160gb iPod Classic looking even more attractive, with 10, or approximately 5, times more capacity for $150 less.

via Apple Hot News