With new iPhone Video models expected this summer, in addition to the previously-announced 3.0 firmware, Carphone Warehouse appears to be gearing up for the change. A screenshot of its inventory system provided by a person known to have access to such information shows placeholders for both 16GB and 32GB iPhones in both white and black. They’re mixed in among the existing and previous iPhone models, having reportedly cropped up just hours ago.

So, which one do you like? A 32GB one in white or black? :-)

[via Apple Insider]

Now this seems pretty useful, if you ask me. The iPhone 3G FUEL is the latest offering from Case-Mate and offerings a way to carry your iPhone and boost your battery life at the same time. And that’s a deal that you can’t really beat.

The FUEL makes it so you can charge your iPhone no matter where you are. Even if you leave your charger at home, you’ll be okay to go because the device provides you with an extra 9-hours of talk time.

Additionally, you can add on 7 extra web browsing hours, 24-hours of music playback, 8-hours of video playback and up to 250-hours of standby time. You can sync your iPhone 3G with this device as well. You can get the iPhone 3G FUEL Rechargeable Battery Pack today for $79.99.

The site writes:

Start here to get your new iPhone.

First, you’ll check your eligibility and pricing. Then, you’ll select your AT&T rate plan and choose the iPhone 3G model you want.
iPhone 3G 8GB1 in black — from $199*
iPhone 3G 16GB1 in black or white — from $299*

[via Engadget]

According to the poster (who said the next iPhone as a “repeat” in physical design), the new iPhone will contain the following features:

• 600MHz CPU Speed (up from 400MHz)
• 256MB RAM (up from 128MB)
• Digital compass and FM
• 3.2 megapixel camera with auto focus
• 32GB size
• No major changes in battery, screen and external casing.

[Apple Insider, Mac Rumours]

According to the patent filing:

There is a need for providing a user interface in a personal media device that minimizes either or both a user’s physical and visual interactions with the personal media device, especially while the user is performing other activities that require, for example, the user’s visual senses.

The first application published a couple of weeks ago actually explores the possibility of using motion as an interface method:

One problem with existing portable media devices such as cellular telephones is that users can become distracted from other activities while interfacing with the media device’s video display, graphical user interface (GUI), and/or keypad. For example, a runner may carry a personal media device to listen to music or to send/receive cellular telephone calls while running. In a typical personal media device, the runner must look at the device’s display to interact with a media application in order to select a song for playing. Also, the user likely must depress the screen or one or more keys on its keypad to perform the song selection. These interactions with the personal media device can divert the user’s attention from her surroundings which could be dangerous, force the user to interrupt her other activities, or cause the user to interfere with the activities of others within her surroundings.

Already, the iPhone has an accelerometer allowing users to shuffle songs by shaking it. Also, motion-detecting technology has also been widely used by application developers who have incorporated the functionality into games and other kinds of apps. But Apple appears to be moving a few steps further in making motion an even bigger part of interacting with the iPhone.

The patent filings seem to suggest that Apple is looking into the interaction users have with phones while busy doing something else (like running). As using accelerometer features can be dangerous due to distraction, new gesturing technology would try to solve this issue. For example, when a user is running, the device might provide an alternative movement-based interface for adjusting the music volume or answering a call. This level of feature is very advanced and may be a little while away just yet. But exciting none the less.

[via CNET]

Speaking in an interview, Seidenberg said that the company is not interested in getting into the wireless retail business in other countries. Rather, pursue deals that improve its enterprise-level business. He also noted that while Verizon Communications would like to own 100% of Verizon Wireless, it is unlikely that it will buy out partner Vodafone.

Seidenberg also said that he believes Apple will be more willing to work with Verizon in the future on an LTE-equipped version of the iPhone. According to Seidenberg, Apple never considered building a CDMA version of the iPhone due to CDMA’s more limited distribution footprint.

[via Wall Street Journal]

The love is spread rather widely for the development and manufacture of the next batch of iPhones. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and two of its subsidiaries, one a packaging and testing house Xintec, the othera color filler maker VisEra Technologies are likely to benefit from their roles in the manufacturing of the next-generation iPhone, according to industry sources.

TSMC have landed foundry orders for GSM EDGE power amplifiers, Bluetooth ICs and 3.2-megapixel OmniVision CMOS image sensor (CIS) used in the upcoming iPhone model, indicated the sources. Xintec will handle the packaging and testing service for the CIS whereas VisEra will manufacture on-chip color filters for the CIS.

TSMC, Xintec and VisEra declined to comment on the report, citing customer confidentiality.

The so-called “iPhone 3.0″ reportedly will be launched by mid-2009, the sources claimed. Assembly suppliers will kick off shipments for the upcoming model starting from May, with the first batch estimated to be around five million units, the sources said.

Apple next-generation iPhone: Chip and key component suppliers:

[via I4U]

Sure, it’s possible that more 16GB iPhones could be on the way, but that seems unlikely, especially since the company has been working furiously to unload their current inventory.

Lazard Capital Markets analyst, Daniel Amir, suggests that a 32-gigabyte iPhone is in the works to debut in June. He  also revealed that Apple was expected to begin production on a 32GB iPhone in April and May.

[CNET via SlashGear]

Together with the rumors on the new iPhone in the past few months, here is yet another rumor from  according to its source from iPhone component suppliers. According to its insider news, Apple has already ordered 4 million units of new iPhones and expected to receive the shipment by end of this quarter. These iPhones might be a combination of 3 new models, with one only supports EDGE wireless data connection, another one for 3G wireless data connection and one model made for China market (for China’s TD-SCDMA network?).

[China Times via SlashPhone]

According to the latest leaks from Taiwanese component suppliers, Apple have already started clawing in the parts required for the next-gen iPhone.  If Chinese-language paper Commercial Times are to believed, Apple are planning to launch the new handset in June this year.

Does it mean the June launch or (at least) announcement of new iPhone “almost official”? Let’s wait and see. [via SlashGear]

Thegirlssite reports a photo being sent to them by a friend whilst in Japan of this great cover for an iPhone. Apart from that, there is nothing more to report. The cover itself looks like a sticker, as ZedoMax would agree. If this is the case, as well as the slightly jaded coloring of the A and B keys, I have a feeling some crafty person scanned their Gameboy and printed off a gloss label to the dimensions of their phone and has excellent scissor control.

The Gameboy from Nintendo from way back in the 1980′s was ‘the’ game console of it’s time. Part of me still dislikes my parents for never buying me one. Granted, I did have a lot of fun plying outside. If the cover is a real option to decorate your iPhone, it is one thing I am not really seeing a lot of for iPhones – there is a lot to go inside the iPhone (like apps) although personalizing the device seems far behind in the times.

[via EngadgetMobile]

Amir discusses the development of the model however says that it may firstly be released in emerging markets of Brazil, Russia, India, and China, while the high-end version is expected to make its way to North America and Europe. Although having double the capacity, the model is expected to run on a 3G network, rather than on WiFi. The number of units looking to move Amir believes is 3.8 million to four million in the first quarter, while Wall Street is anticipating three million to 3.5 million units.

Noted in the report Amir says that “about 20 percent of all NAND capacity goes to Apple, and its impact on the NAND market should not be underestimated…NAND prices should move up further off the Apple orders. We believe that with the new iPhone design which could include 32GB NAND, Apple is setting the stage for another potentially big flash order starting in April. With the potential for 3 million units to be shipped in 2Q, we believe the magnitude of such an order could enable prices of NAND components to move up an additional 20 percent in the (first half) of 2Q.”

[via Silicon]

As a person, I like to think that I am open minded although very loyal when I find something that works (this contradicts to history with boys, more that I seem to have more luck finding a reliable phone than a person). I’m extremely active and one that tends to look after technological equipment, although if it cannot handle a random bump on the head, then it is just not tough enough for me. Without this sounding like an online dating profile, I would like to hear from users of iPhones whether I should jump the mobile phone ship. Realise this will be a tough battle to win.

Comments along the lines of “cause they are cool”, “just because” or “you’ll look cool” won’t count. What will be appreciated is an analytical response to the needs of me, a consumer and the functionality of the device. If there was a reason why I didn’t get an iPhone last year, convince me that the problem is no longer an issue. My needs are listed below as well as current considerations for why I haven’t gotten an iPhone already. The best comment will receive imaginary warm fuzzy feelings. Main hurdle is still having the idea in my head that in buying something, the more features it has on it, the more things that could break.

I use the phone for the following, all (but the last) are default options on the BlackBerry:

• Old school operations – making phone calls, sending SMS (Daily)
• Sending and receiving email (Daily)
• Instant chat (although this only recently, all I needed was another distraction)
• Taking occasional photos (Note: Professional photographer by trade, refuse to buy a phone ‘for’ the camera, it’s a nice to have)
• Calendar (Weekly)
• Note / Reminders (Daily)
• Maps / Directions (4 – 5 times a week)
• Calculator (Rare)
• Internet (Rare)
• Needed to download: MySpace and Facebook

I did not buy an iPhone last time because:

• No MMS
• Was easier to continue with a phone with buttons rather than touchscreen (previous phone to the BlackBerry was the flip Nokia model that takes over the World in Die Hard 4)
• A touchscreen and being a girl (i.e. having nails) didn’t work
• I have too many keys in my handbag
• I was worried about scratching it
• I was having trouble taking people seriously with some of the Apps they were downloading
• It didn’t fit in my back pocket
• Was more cost effective to get the BlackBerry (I’m a business customer, not a personal shopper, thus great deals and 12 month contracts)
• I was able to crack the screen of my BlackBerry with a nail polish bottle (how girlie is that) – can an iPhone withstand an enemy attack from beauty products?

Other factors and areas that no amount of convincing will effect:

• I have the Internet at home, so do not use the phone to ‘surf’, having the option is nice, although used rarely
• I do not use the phone for music, mainly as collections see tracks about 85MB each and an hour long
• Photography is done via my SLR Digital Camera and is not a factor for phone purchases

So, with all the modifications to the iPhone over the past 2 years, can it now rid me of the reasons why I didn’t buy one 12 months ago? Will I just need to buy a phone sock and bigger pants? Tell me, for reasons other than the ‘idea’ of an iPhone, when you break it down into the real facts of a phone – is the iPhone the model for me?

Please note: If you would like to comment, please be nice and constructive.

A thief in New York City made a major boo-boo when emailing a photo of himself through the iPhone he just stole. 18 year old Daquan Mathis and an accomplice grabbed 29 year old Sayaka Fukuda’s handbag and phone while she was waiting for a train.

Assuming she would never see her phone again, she went home via a call to police. Logging into the computer, she noticed that in the outbox was an email. The mugger (pictured) had emailed a picture of himself to his own email account using her iPhone. After passing the picture on to the police, Fukuda sent off an email to Mathis, telling him that she had sent it along and that he should expect to get arrested. His response was one on her life. The youngster was apparently already on file and was soon arrested. He also confessed to other robberies including the snatching of an Apple iPod. Lesson here – A) Don’t send emails via an iPhone you’ve just stolen B) Don’t steal (probably easier).

[via PhoneArena]

A unit from Quick Bridge Solutions, fixes this issue. Quick Bridge Solutions features custom iPhone applications for Radio stations and online radio stations. And now, the QB-EM. The QB-EM Shield is a patent pending shield for your iPhone that makes streaming radio on your iphone more listen able.

The unit, is a simple business card shape makes it fit easily into most iPhone cases or docking stations. To use, just place the shield at the back of the case so that the shield will cover the black stripe at the lower section at the back of the iPhone. This reducing the EMI/RFI that can effect speakers, radios, telephones, etc. Although unproven, the website for the unit suggests that it can reduce the amount of EMF exposure to your body, providing a health benefit for individuals with pacemakers.

[via SlashGear, GearLog]