"The reaction has been so strong," he says. "So many developers responded."

With 500 programs launching internationally today, "This is the biggest launch of my career," says Jobs.

The App Store is a way for owners of the iPhone and Touch (like the iPhone without the phone) to add games and other software and Web shortcuts to the devices. Heavyweight participants include Facebook, MySpace, AOL, eBay, Major League Baseball, Sega and Bank of America.

The App Store (AAPL) is timed to spur sales of the new iPhone, which goes on sale at 8 a.m. Friday with a lower price ($199 from $399) and faster network. The App Store is available as a free download for owners of the old iPhone and $9.99 for Touch owners.

Consumers initially will buy the new iPhone for its price and speed, but later on applications will make the sale, says Tim Bajarin, an independent analyst at Creative Strategies.

"When IBM introduced the PC, it was good, but it didn't take off until people started discovering the software," he says. The breadth of the applications "dramatically differentiates the iPhone" from competing smartphones such as the Treo and BlackBerry, he adds.

"The games are what you'd find on a computer, not on a phone," he says. "You'll end up with PC-class applications that fit in your pocket."

Having an application on the device — instead of going to a website to use it — makes it a quicker, more robust experience, says Chris DeWolfe, CEO of social network MySpace. His app instantly updates you on friends' activities. You can post directly to MySpace photos taken with the iPhone's camera.

"You do more of the work on the device than over the Net, so the load time should be quicker," he says.

Another new application is from Pandora, which lets you create customized Internet radio stations. Pandora is already available on other phones from AT&T (T) and Sprint, (S) for a monthly fee. On the iPhone, it is free. That makes it "a credible alternative to broadcast (radio)," in part because iPhones can be plugged into car stereos, founder Tim Westergren says.

The new offerings aren't only from the big guys. Xavier Carrillo Costa, CEO of Digital Legends, a Barcelona game company, had never worked with Macs before but wanted to develop games for the phone. "You forget that it's a phone," says Costa, whose action game Kroll will launch in September for $9.99. "It has all the power of a computer."

Jobs says 25% of the apps will be free, and 90% of the ones for sale will be $9.99 or less. Apple gets 30% of the revenue.

via usatoday 

Mercedes-Benz Hearts The Apple iPhone New Cradle Allows Full Integration Into The Vehicle Architecture

Let's be honest:  when Apple unveiled the iPhone last summer, they forever changed the mobile market. Not only did they have Apple fanboys lined up half-a-week in advance to get their hands on the new phone, in retrospect, they also managed to pull off one of the greatest product launches in history.  Now, a year later, Apple has introduced a 3G iPhone; they've cut its price to a paltry $199; and in my opinion, they've eliminated any justifiable reasons to buy any phone other than an iPhone.

So why am I telling you this?  The reason, ladies and gentlemen, is because today, Mercedes has acknowledged Apple's current (and in all probability future) dominance in the mobile arena, so much so that they have unveiled a new cradle specifically for the device.  Available now for the Mercedes-Benz C-, E-, CLK-,
CLS-, S-, CL-, SL-, M- and R-Class (as well as the in the future for the forthcoming GLK-Class), the Apple iPhone cradle allows seamless integration between your device's music and telephone functions and your vehicle's architecture.

Here's how it works.  First, you must specify Optional convenience telephony (Order Code 386). The cradle then connects without any tools into the audio system either via the optionally available Media Interface or the retrofittable iPod® Interface Kit.  Once the cradle is installed, your iPhone's music and phone functions can be controlled with the help of the multifunction steering wheel controls, while the vehicle's display is used to indicate the phone status, music functions, etc.  Other features include automatic recharging while your iPhone is attached to the cradle as well as increased reception with the help of your vehicle's aerial.

If you're interested, as already noted, the new Apple iPod cradle is available for ordering immediately (check with your dealer for local availability), while pricing is set at € 249 (including VAT).

For more info, you can see photos of the new iPhone cradle and read its official details in the press release below.

via emercedesbenz 

Dior phone has a high-end model, for $26,000

Bits and pieces of information about the first Christian Dior phone have been circulating for months, but apparently it has finally made an official showing in Europe. Created by ModeLabs, the Parisian phone designer to the stars, the "My Dior" clamshell comes in two versions, both come with a 2.6-inch touch screen and a 2-megapixel camera. The difference between the two? The higher-end model is draped in crocodile skin and festooned with 640 Swarovski crystals--totaling 3,251 carats--and goes for $26,000, Newlaunches reports. The lesser sibling is a mere $5,000, for more frugal shoppers.

via crave.cnet 

HTC Touch Diamond Concept Store at Low Yat Plaza

Finally, the new toy from HTC is release in Malaysia===> HTC Touch Diamond



This long waited & expected model just came into Malaysia market on 06 June 2008.I have wanted to feel & touch the diamond for months, and finally, there is a Touch Diamond Concept Store in Low Yat Plaza allow me to feel it.



Guys,i guarantee you after "feel" or "touch" the diamond, you'll know that HTC had just step into a new level of technologies.

*For those who interested in visiting this concept store, you can refer to this address:
PDA Expert Sdn. Bhd.
Lot G-27A, Ground Floor,
Low Yat Plaza, No. 7 , Jalan 1/77,
Off Jalan Bukit Bintang,
55100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Tel: +603 2144 8446

via worldofpda 

[Computex] Qisda's Smartphone Supports WiMAX, WLAN, EDGE

Qisda Corp of Taiwan displayed a smartphone that supports IEEE802.16e mobile WiMAX and wireless LAN as well as GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks at 2008 WiMAX Expo Taipei, an event taking place alongside Computex in Taipei, Taiwan, June 2, 2008.

This smartphone is a test handset used in the "M-Taiwan" project where the Taiwanese government promotes the WiMAX industry, Qisda said.

The handset uses Windows Mobile 6.1 as an OS. It also supports WiMAX via SIP and VoIP networks as well as voice calls via wireless LAN. Effective WiMAX speed is "about 2Mbps with the current handset, but can be up to 8 to 10Mbps after tuning," a company spokesperson said.

"We will also develop a dual handset for 3G and WiMAX," the spokesperson added...

via techon.nikkeibp 

Apple assigns new Senior VPs of iPhone Software, Mac Engineering

Apple Inc. last week extended its executive branch from ten to twelve members, creating a new position to oversee its iPhone software experience and appointing its first senior VP of Mac hardware development, AppleInsider has learned.

Scott Forstall, formally the vice president of platform experience and more recently vice president of iPhone software, was promoted to Senior Vice President of iPhone Software. He'll lead a team responsible for delivering the software found at the heart of the Cupertino-based company's iPhone handsets and report directly to chief executive Steve Jobs.

The Apple veteran holds a Masters in Computer Science from Stanford University and was one of the original architects of Mac OS X and its Aqua user interface. During his 11-year tenure at the company, Forstall has been responsible for several releases of the operating system, most notably Mac OS X Leopard. Prior to Apple, he also worked alongside Jobs at NeXT, where he developed core technologies for the platform.

Joining Forstall atop the Apple's management team is Bob Mansfield, who was named the company's Senior Vice President of Mac Hardware Engineering, becoming the first public face of Mac systems development since the rocky departure of Tim Bucher back in November of 2004.

Butcher, who had held the position under the title of 'vice president' for just six months, later filed a lawsuit against the electronics maker for wrongful termination, claiming he was fired for discriminatory reasons and deprived of due compensation.

In the complaint, he said that Tim Cook, now Apple's No. 2 in charge, suddenly asked him to "go home" one day. Jobs later allegedly told him, "People sometimes think you are manic-depressive…. I'm not sure what I am going to do, but I think I am going to have to ask you to leave the company."

Apple did not name a successor for Bucher immediately and instead assigned a team of workers to oversee Mac hardware development that included Mansfield, in addition to Dan Riccio and industrial design chief Jonathan Ive. Though there were reports that UMAX founder Peter Mehring eventually succeeded Bucher, Apple never confirmed that information publicly.

Mansfield is believed to be the first 'Senior' Vice President of Mac Hardware Engineering and will report directly to Cook. Under his new role, he'll continue to lead an expansive team of hardware engineers that have delivered dozens of breakthrough Mac products, including the new MacBook Air and the all-in-one iMac.

Alongside their executive promotions, both Forstall and Mansfield were awarded a grant for 25,000 restricted Apple stock units worth more than $4.17 million as of May 30th, the day the two signed regulatory filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The stock units are scheduled to vest in full on March 24, 2010...

via appleinsider 

Nokia 8800 Diamond designed Heyerdahl

Diamonds are a girl's best friend, but when they inspire designers to use them creatively in mobile phones, then gender knows no bounds. Oslo-based Norwegian jeweler Thomas Heyerdahl has transformed the Nokia 8800 Arte into a masterpiece. With 112 diamonds dotted all over, the Nokia 8800 Diamond will become a prized possession for many. Did you know, this one is Nokia's first phone with real diamonds? Only 100 pieces with a numbering engraved on the back will be available for sale. This swanky looking phone gets onboard 3G capabilities, 3.2 megapixel auto focus camera, and1GB built-in memory space. A unique silencing mechanism is activated when the phone is turned over, screen-side down.

via luxurylaunches 

Ozmo Devices Brings Low-Power Peripheral Connectivity to Wi-Fi Personal Area Networks

Ozmo Devices extends Intel’s® “Cliffside” Wi-Fi PAN technology to support low-power devices

TAIPEI, Taiwan – June 2, 2008 – Ozmo Devices, a developer of low-power wireless solutions, announced today that the company is collaborating with Intel Corporation to enable low-power devices to operate with Intel’s Wi-Fi Personal Area Network (Wi-Fi PAN) technology. Ozmo Devices’ technology will be publicly demonstrated for the first time on Tuesday, June 3, 2008, at Intel’s Booth #L0816 at Computex at the Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Hall, Taiwan. Attendees will see first hand how Ozmo Devices’ patent-pending technology extends Intel’s Wi-Fi PAN technology to include connectivity with low-power wireless peripherals such as mice and headsets.

According to Dave Timm, Ozmo Devices’ CEO, the company’s low-power solution benefits users as well as platform and peripheral developers. “With the rapid proliferation of Wi-Fi enabled platforms, from PCs and game consoles to smart phones, there’s a tremendous benefit to enabling wireless peripheral connectivity over Wi-Fi without adding complexity and cost to the platform. Legacy technologies such as Bluetooth require that another, dedicated radio be added to the platform and compromise on the performance, battery life, and scalability demanded by today’s wireless connectivity applications. In addition to delivering superior performance, Ozmo Devices’ technology also provides a better user experience, which will translate into accelerated adoption of wireless peripherals and, ultimately, a preference for Wi-Fi enabled platforms designed to drive them.”

Ozmo Devices’ low-power technology includes an advanced protocol driver that leverages the Wi-Fi chip on the host side and a highly integrated, ultra-low power IC, for use in wireless peripherals. This unique approach delivers unprecedented performance and cost advantages for system developers while at the same time solving integration and interoperability problems associated with traditional approaches.

“We believe that Computex participants will share our enthusiasm to see Wi-Fi deliver more than just WLAN connectivity,” commented Randy Nickel, director of wireless marketing for Intel’s Mobile Platforms Group. “Ozmo Devices extends Wi-Fi functionality with a solution for low-power peripherals that can connect without requiring an additional radio inside the platform.”

Ozmo Devices’ Timm added that the company looks forward to broad adoption of its technology in applications ranging from mobile computing and communications to home entertainment.

# # #

About Ozmo Devices
Founded in December 2004 as H-Stream Wireless, Ozmo Devices extends the functionality of Wi-Fi-enabled platforms to seamlessly communicate with peripherals. Ozmo Devices’ silicon solution delivers superior performance for low-power wireless peripherals like mice and headsets. Ozmo Devices is backed by top-tier venture capital firms and managed by semiconductor industry veterans. The company is headquartered in Palo Alto, California, and has offices in the United Kingdom. For more information about Ozmo Devices, visit www.ozmodevices.com.

Contact:
Ozmo Devices, Inc.
Roel Peeters, Vice President of Marketing
Tel: +1 650-515-3501
Email: peetersr@ozmodevices.com

via ozmodevices 

Mio Leaps Into Windows Mobile 6.1 Territory with the G50

More mayhem at Computex - this time, courtesy of Mio (shocking English translation). They've just introduced the Leap G50. It doesn't exactly offer earth-shattering specs, but it should suffice for the casual user. Inside, there's a 400MHz processor, quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE, Bluetooth, possibly Wi-Fi (still needs confirmation), GPS, and a 2.0-megapixel camera, all running on Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional. There's also Spb Mobile Shell 2.0, MioMap 2008, and geotagging support as added extras. Fingerprints, too.

via pocketpcthoughts