The blogger wrote:

This revelation, (again at least to me) comes by way of an advertisement in the new ad supported version of the app Twitterfon released on 5/15/09. Three ads, stumbled upon by a geeky friend of mine who wishes to remain anonymous for fear of the powerful arms of the Apple legal department, scrolling across the top of the app were for ‘iTunes Movies’, ‘iTunes TV’ and ‘iTunes Movie Rentals’.

Unsubstantiated rumor? I don’t know, though on-device downloads would be nice. Currently, the only way to get video on an iPhone is by downloading it via iTunes on your computer and syncing with your device.

[via Open Salon]

Here’s an interesting tidbit for those that own an AppleTV. I’m sure you’ve likely downloaded the Remote application for your iPhone (it’s pretty useful, and free, so download it if you haven’t), so open it up and you’ll see the controls for your media browser. Sure, that’s nothing exciting, but use your remote to navigate to YouTube Search or the iTunes Store, and you’ll see something exciting.

Ok, so a keyboard on your iPhone isn’t exactly exciting, but it’s better than trying to punch in letters using your remote. It will definitely save you time when you go to search for something though, which is nice.

[via MacRumors]

“We continue to expect Apple to offer a family of iPhones (2-3 separate models) in the first half of 2009, including lower priced ($200-$300) models. Just as the company slowly diversified the iPod lineup and entered lower price points with every new version of the iPod, we expect Apple to launch new models of the iPhone at lower price points in CY09. This expectation, along with the expectation for lower price points, and world wide availability of the phone, is critical to our CY09 iPhone estimate of 45m units” Gene Munster, analyst, Piper Jaffray

“[W]e believe Apple is not hesitant to try business models other than the exclusive models the company has chosen during the iPhone’s first year. It has enabled Apple to maintain tight control on the user experience of the iPhone, but expanded availability will likely become a higher priority, and we believe it will eventually drive Apple to offer the iPhone on multiple carriers in each country” Gene Munster

Munster also addresses Apple’s introduction of the App Store, describing it as a recognition that the iPhone user base was “dissatisfied with the simplified Web 2.0 apps available on the iPhone’s web browser.”  He describes the developing iPhone and iPod ranges as a sign that Apple is looking to “transform the MP3 market into a portable computing market” and that the iPod touch is the first of many WiFi-enabled, internet-friendly PMPs.  For anybody hoping for an Apple Tablet, Gene suggests it may take a few years, but will come as an evolution of the MacBook’s MultiTouch trackpad (which itself will evolve to an embedded color touchscreen):

“Eventually, we expect Apple to change the trackpad to backlit color screens for a more dynamic user interface on the Mac. And ultimately, we expect Apple to develop a full touch-screen MacBook, although not until the technology has fully matured over the next 3-5 years” Gene Munster

Nothing especially new on the iPhone, overall, but the omission of the 3G iPhone from any of Munster’s answers is a curious one.  You can read the full list of questions and answers at Apple Insider.

[via iPhone Investigator - thanks Michelle!]

Both new and vintage titles will apparently be available, and analysts believe the upgrade will be used to springboard higher sales of the Apple TV set-top box.  In fact, some predict an upgrade to that device too; Bear Stearns & Co. analyst Andrew Neff suggested that the Cupertino-based firm would announce the next-gen software version for the unit, which streams media from networked Macs to display on a connected TV.

The news comes as Apple has been pressured into reducing the price of UK iTunes music downloads, to ensure parity with European prices.

[via Engadget]

With the recent advent of movie rentals through iTunes this would be a great new feature. With all of these devices sporting access to the iTunes store Apple is going to have to move the library associations online so people can have access to all of the content they’ve purchased regardless of which device was used.

Anyways, that’s for another day, I will just be happy when I can surf the iTunes store from my couch and purchase music, movies, videos, and listen to podcasts. This isn’t definite yet, but it does sound like the next logical step, so keep an eye out for the next Apple TV update.

Apple TV update soon? [via looprumors]