It’s already begun: iPhone 3G line starting in New York City: “Although it’s not the first release and ample supply is expected, a queue has reportedly begun outside of Apple’s Fifth Avenue retail store to buy iPhone 3G a full week before its release.

As of mid-afternoon on Friday, a ten-person line has been …”

(Via AppleInsider.)

New Apple touch patents show body part sensing, fingernail input: “In what’s considered the definitive overview of Apple’s attempts to patent its multi-touch interface, a deluge of newly-public filings show Apple considering technology that hasn’t yet been used in the iPhone or the Mac — including sensing the diffe…”

(Via AppleInsider.)

1.8GHz SSD MacBook Air Drops $500: “Apple has quietly dropped the price of the high end MacBook Air by $500.

The high end MacBook Air comes equipped with a 1.8GHz upgrade (from 1.6GHz) and a 64GB Solid State Drive (SSD). The total price for the high end laptop is $2598…”

(Via MacRumors : Mac News and Rumors.)

Apple Sets July 7 Cutoff Date For iPhone App Store Launch [Iphone App Store]: “If you want to get your iPhone App into the App Store in time for the July 11 launch, you’ll have to submit it by July 7. That’s next Monday. If you’re one of those kids who always does their homework at the last second, we suspect there’s going to be less BBQ and more ‘OMGWTFBBQ we’re not done!’ this weekend. And there’s no copying off the smart kid now either, so we don’t want to see Super Monkey Ball and Super Orangutan Ball turn up next Friday. Of course you don’t absolutely have to be there at launch, but there’s a much higher chance of more press coverage if you are. Don’t forget to look at our App Contest as well. [MacRumors]“

(Via Gizmodo.)

iPhone 3G to be in healthy supply as iPod touch supplies weaken: “Apple should have ample stock of iPhone 3G when it touches down this month, according to analysts, who also note that Apple stands to make more from each device than once thought — and that iPod touch stocks are continuing to run down ahead of a pos…”

(Via AppleInsider.)

AT&T says original iPhones can be inactivated and used as WiFi iPods: “Original iPhone owners who prefer not to give away or sell their old iPhones after upgrading to an iPhone 3G can instead keep their devices and use them as WiFi-enabled iPods, AT&T has confirmed.

The exclusive US provider for the Apple handset iss…”

(Via AppleInsider.)

PS3 Firmware 2.40 is now live: “Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3

The much-ballyhooed PlayStation 3 firmware 2.40 update — with in-game XMB and Trophies — is now available. What are you waiting for? Download it now, and be sure to check out our coverage of the firmware so far.

Check out more information about Firmware 2.40’s features, including the Trophy system and video of the in-game XMB in action.“

(Via Joystiq.)

PS3 firmware 2.40 update coming tomorrow: “Filed under: Gaming

It’s been a long time coming, but in-game XMB will arrive on your PS3 tomorrow. That’s right, Wednesday July 2nd and likely kicking off as a rolling, firmware 2.40, network update just as soon as the clock ticks over the top in Japan. You know, for those of you looking to get a jump on your Trophy collection.

[Via Joystiq]“

(Via Engadget.)

Seven problems with the iPhone 3G: “Section: iPhone + Communications, Carriers, Email/IM, iPhone, iPhone SDK & Apps

The new iPhone 3G hasn’t even been released yet, but seven problems with the new iPhone have already been pointed out by many, all of which have been based on demos and published specs of what the iPhone 3G will offer. We may get 3G and GPS, a way to connect to Microsoft Exchange, and the new App Store, but what about all of the other features that are missing from Apple’s device? Outlined below are the seven most prominent issues with the upcoming iPhone 3G, as defined by Forbes.com and Yahoo Tech:

1. The cost - The price of the actual iPhone 3G itself seems to be a lot more affordable than that of the first generation, but sure enough it’ll cost you an extra $160 or so over the next two years versus the original iPhone, and even more for people outside of the U.S. (such as for customers on Rogers).
2. The camera - Unfortunately, there’s still no flash or video recording features on the device, and the iPhone is still stuck with a 2 megapixel camera, while other smartphones will be gaining up to 8 megapixels with their built-in cameras this year.
3. The battery - Non-replaceable, yet again, which shouldn’t be a surprise, since Apple is starting to do the same thing with its notebooks as well.
4. No MMS - Apple is basically right that you don’t need MMS to send pictures on a device that has a full e-mail client, which the iPhone 3G does, but the real problem comes when users of other phones send you a photo via MMS: you simply can’t view it on the iPhone.
5. No Cut-And-Paste - Copy and paste is an essential feature for the iPhone, which has been requested by users since the first generation iPhone was released. Copy and paste is a simple tool that would make blogging and other tasks on the iPhone a whole lot easier.
6. No live TV - The YouTube implementation was seen as a great feature when the first iPhone was released, but it has grown tiresome and old. Live TV is a feature that has been implemented into many other smartphones as part of the standard data plan, but one gets the impression that Apple keeps it off the iPhone just so that they can sell you TV episodes at $1.99 each instead.
7. No 32GB option - 8GB feels like a pathetically small storage capacity, and now 16GB still doesn’t seem like enough. 32GB USB thumbdrives have been on the market since 2006, as cheaply as $140. Apple is likely to launch a 32 GB model in the near future, but it should have came with the launch of the iPhone 3G.

Although the iPhone 3G is undoubtably one of the greatest smartphones on the market, these crucial missing features show that it does have its weaknesses as well. We can only hope that Apple will implement these features into the iPhone in the near future.

Via [Forbes] and [Yahoo! Tech]”

(Via Appletell.)

Time Capsule and AirPort Base Station (802.11n) Firmware 7.3.2: “Filed under: Wireless, Airport, Software Update

Along with the Mac OS X 10.5.4 update tonight, Apple also released firmware 7.3.2 for Time Capsules and AirPort Base Stations. Apple states that it ‘includes general fixes and compatibility updates’ for both Time Capsule and AirPorts with 802.11n.

Most likely your AirPort (or Time Capsule) will find and download the update automatically; however, you can also visit the Apple Support Downloads page to download the installer package for Leopard, Tiger, or Windows.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!“

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)