iLounge

Apple has removed the small disclaimer stating “Use requires minimum new 2 year activation plan” from the end of all online iPhone ads. The revised ads began appearing online sometime yesterday evening, and have now apparently replaced the older ads appearing on televisions nationwide. What this means for the rumors that the iPhone would be available with prepaid service, or whether the text was simply removed without a change in policy, is not clear.

Apple has begun airing a fourth iPhone ad, focused on the handset’s version of Safari. “This is not a watered-down version of the internet,” the ad voiceover claims. “Or the ‘mobile’ version of the internet. Or the kinda-sorta-looks-like-the-internet internet. It’s just the internet. On Your Phone.” The new commercial, like the other three iPhone ads that began airing earlier this week, ends with a “Coming June 29.” Apple has yet to post the commercial in its gallery, however, it is available on YouTube. [via Gizmodo]

Update: Apple has now added the commercial to its site, along with the spot’s name: “Watered Down.”

Speaking in an annual results webcast yesterday, Charles Dunstone, CEO of Carphone Warehouse, a European retailer of mobile phones and services, claimed that in order for the iPhone to function correctly, Apple servers must be placed “deep into the [operator’s] network.” Dunstone was responding to a question on whether his company had been in talks with Apple over the handset, or if there would be a network-specific deal like in the US. He replied: “It has to be in some form a deal with a network, because the way the iPhone works requires the operator to install a lot of servers and stuff deep into the network to supply some of the services to it. So if you buy the phone, say on Cingular in the US, and put a T-Mobile SIM [card] in it, it won’t work properly because T-Mobile won’t have all this proprietary stuff. So the first thing they have to do is do a deal with a network. I don’t think they’ve done that yet.” [via SeekingAlpha]

Unlike the iPod, iPod mini, nano, and shuffle, the iPhone lacks the ability to be used in Disk Mode, according to an article on Mac enthusiast site 9to5Mac, and therefore can only be synchronized with data using iTunes and associated helper applications such as iPhoto. The report, which the site attributes to a source at Apple, also claims that the iPhone includes support for tabbed web browsing, a VPN client for business users, and a vibration feature, but lacks an iChat application for instant messaging, at least in its current software revision. It also notes that the tested iPhone lacked a SIM card slot, which may have been attributable to the phone’s pre-production status. Apple representatives had no comment on the report.

Pictures and a brief hands-on of one of the first iPhone knockoffs have surfaced online. The knockoff comes in a black box adorned with an Apple-style graphic of a hand holding the less-than-authentic device. The text on the outside of the box includes the word “iPhone,” as well as “HD1080P,” referencing the high-definition television standard, and the phrase “Apple, the future is here.” Even more is written in Chinese.

The device itself boasts several features, including a two megapixel camera, two SIM card slots that can be switched on-the-fly, and a microSD expansion slot. As for its performance, the phone was an obvious forgery with “clumsy” navigation handled with a stylus, despite the iPhone-like background and a splash screen that reads “ iPhone.” The back of the device also sports a false Apple logo above an iPhone label, and features a message of garbled English in place of Apple’s traditional “Designed by Apple in California.”

AT&T has ordered a last-minute upgrade of its EDGE throughput, latency, and coverage ahead of the iPhone launch, according to a Gizmodo report. An AT&T employee who works on Operations told the gadget site that the operation, internally referenced as “Fine Edge,” has been going on for as many as six weeks and wil continue until June 15. According to an internal document, the company is adding more T-1 connections to its poorest performing towers, hoping to boost the current standard of 40kbps to a new minimum of 80kbps. The iPhone hits store shelves June 29.

Along with the slew of new cases, several iPhone accessories also debuted in the pages of The Free iPod Book 3.0. The v-moda Vibe Duo combines a pair of v-moda earphones with a microphone, the DreamGear i.Sound RoadTalk packs a full-frequency FM transmitter with Bluetooth functionality, a built-in microphone, and a car charger in its relatively small body, and the XtremeMac InCharge Series of iPod & iPhone Chargers consists of the InCharge wall charger, the InCharge Auto car charger, and the InCharge Travel, which includes wall, car, and plane chargers. Check out The Free iPod Book 3.0 for more complete coverage of these and other new iPod and iPhone accessories.

Apple plans to announce that it will make it possible for third-party developers to easily convert small Macintosh programs to run on the iPhone, according to a New York Times report. A person briefed on Apple’s plans claims the announcement will come at Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference, which begins with a keynote address from Steve Jobs at 10:00a.m. Pacific, on Monday, June 11. Jobs stated in his January keynote that third-party apps posed too large of a security and stability risk for the handset, only to slowly backtrack on that statement. Last week at the D: All Things Digital conference, he claimed the company was trying to find a way to allow third-party apps on the iPhone.

Several new iPhone accessories made their debut in The Free iPod Book 3.0, including a slew of new cases like the Belkin Armband for iPhone, Griffin Streamline, Marware SportGrip Backwinder for iPhone, Marware C.E.O. QuickVue, and the Belkin Holster for iPhone. Also unveiled were the Griffin Elan Sleeve, Belkin Acrylic Case for iPhone, Griffin iClear for iPhone, Power Support Crystal Jacket Set and Crystal Film Set for iPhone, and the Marware Sidewinder for iPhone. Be sure to check out The Free iPod Book 3.0 for complete coverage of these and other new iPod and iPhone accessories.

Announced in January for a June release, Apple’s iPhone finally has a street date: June 29, 2007. In a series of three commercials now found on Apple.com, and beginning to air on television, Apple announces the date while touting the phone’s versatility as an iPod, cell phone, and mobile Internet device. The commercials, “Never Been an iPod,” “How To,” and “Calamari,” show the phone switching effortlessly from feature to feature, rendering easy and straightforward transitions from media playback to e-mailing, web browsing, and Google Maps.

Each commercial ends with the disclaimer that “(u)se requires minimum new 2 year activation plan” with AT&T. No major new features are shown, but the screens now highlight the AT&T logo and include a Bluetooth icon alongside the battery life indicator at the screen’s upper right corner. Several of the icons have also changed slightly in position from their original places; consequently, it’s unclear whether you can manually rearrange the icons on the system’s home menu, or whether they’ve been permanently moved. A demonstration of email functionality now contains a bottom-of-screen “Updated” listing noting when email was last synchronized, plus two-line summaries of message content rather than the one-line summaries shown in prior demonstrations.

Additional small details are also evident. The unit’s top now clearly shows a concave headphone port, rather than the purely flat surface found on the tops of iPods; how this may impact headphone plug compatibility is unclear. Apple now also refers to its Safari web application as “Safari” on the main menu rather than as “Web,” keeping the iPhone application’s branding consistent with the OS X application.

Speaking at an investor conference in New York, AT&T Chief Operating Officer Randall Stephenson claimed that expectations for Apple’s iPhone were “too low,” and that the device would be “a game changer” for the cellular industry. Mentioning the more than one million customers who have showed interest in the device, Stephenson claimed “The iPhone is going to be a game changer. I don’t know what your expectations are for the iPhone, but I would tell you they’re probably too low at this point.” Stephenson will replace Edward Whitacre Jr. as CEO of AT&T on June 3.

Two potential iPhone rivals will be introduced weeks ahead of the device on Wednesday, according to reports. Palm said today that company founder Jeff Hawkins will announce “a new category of mobile device” at the Wall Street Journal’s D: All Things Digital Conference tomorrow. Meanwhile, Gizmodo is reporting that Microsoft will introduce a new device at midnight tonight. In an advance look at the announcement, the gadget blog quotes a Microsoft email as saying the product is “something totally new coming out of the [Microsoft] Entertainment and Devices division, and it’s going to change the way people interact with technology.” The email also stated that “you really have to see it to believe it.” Apple CEO Steve Jobs and Microsoft chairman Bill Gates will take part in a rare joint interview at the D conference on Wednesday. A Microsoft device announcement would seemingly be aimed at giving Gates a talking point to counter the iPhone discussion during the meeting.

Update: Microsoft’s announcement is a tabletop touch-sensitive technology dubbed Microsoft Surface. Reportedly five years in the making, the advanced software allows users to use their fingers to manipulate photos and files, much like the iPhone’s multi-touch interface. The computers will initially be targeted at businesses, hotels and other retail establishments.

Update #2: Palm’s new product is the Foleo, a new mobile device being marketed as a companion to the company’s Treo smartphone. The device sports a 10-inch display, full-size keyboard, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and a 5-hour battery life. The Palm Foleo will be available later this year for $500.

AT&T’s president of national distribution, Glenn Laurie, has revealed in an interview that the wireless provider will be recommending an “unlimited” plan for iPhone customers. When asked about the handset’s full-featured browser, Laurie replied: “I think it will be great for us, and here’s why. One of the things with this device — people are going to be asked to have an unlimited package — people are going to have to have a package with us to browse.” Laurie refused to answer a question about possible subsidizing of the device, but did mention some new features, stating “There are other things — you have the widgets, some of the Google applications that are coming — there are just so many things here that the price will not be an issue.”

A discussion on Google Finance between readers has revealed that a telecommunications analyst, speaking on the CNBC program “On the Money” Thursday night, said they had been given a confirmed iPhone release date of June 20. June 20 is a Wednesday, which would be an abnormal day of the week for such an important launch for Apple — the company typically introduces new products on either Tuesday or Friday. “On the Money” airs nightly on CNBC at 7:00 ET, and is hosted by Melissa Francis. [via Mac Rumors]

Wireless news site Unwired View has posted an article examining the patents that pertain to the iPhone, and have found that the device is indeed well protected by patent law. Apple-held patents for the iPhone include the multipoint touchscreen, gestures for touch sensitive devices, the proximity detector in a handheld device, a system for sensing ambient light, and the patent for the handset itself, a multifunctional handheld device. In his keynote address this January, Steve Jobs made reference to the fact that the iPhone was protected by law, stating, “And boy have we patented it.”

A study done by Strategy Analytics’ Wireless Device Labs into consumer perceptions of the iPhone experience shows that 90 percent of respondents gave the iPhone higher marks than their own handset. The study captured consumer reactions to an Apple-developed video highlighting the features of the iPhone. “An overwhelming 90 percent of respondents gave the iPhone higher marks than their own handset and over 40 percent of respondents rated the iPhone much better across key functional categories—including music player, web browsing, voice mail, and phone call management—indicating real innovation in designing a user experience,” said Harvey Cohen, President of Strategy Analytics, who conducted the research. Kevin Nolan, Director of User Experience Research at Strategy Analytics, added, “While the iPhone ‘Wow’ factor is impressive, our user panel indicated that challenges in pricing and positioning may act as a barrier to mass-market success. Nonetheless, the iPhone clearly represents a breakthrough in terms of user experience.”

Apple’s iPhone may be available with prepaid cellular service, according to a report from a mobile industry insider blog. The Boy Genius Report has posted screenshots purported to be from an internal AT&T/Cingular system which shows that the iPhone will be available three ways—traditional subscription service, Go Phone Pay As You Go (prepaid), and Go Phone Pick Your Plan (hybrid). If true, prepaid iPhone service would allow consumers to purchase and use the iPhone without signing a lengthy AT&T service plan or dropping their current carrier. Prepaid Cingular cards start at $15.

Speaking with USA Today regarding the company’s decision to pass on becoming the iPhone’s exclusive U.S. distributor, Verizon Chief Operating Officer Denny Strigl claims it has an answer to the iPhone waiting in the wings. “We do have a very good response in the mill,” Strigl claimed. “You’ll see that from us in the late summer.” In addition, Stigl believes that the fate of the iPhone rests more with AT&T’s network than with the handset. “The issue is not the Apple-ness of the iPhone itself, but with the cellular network that it is running on,” he stated. “That will be the true test of the iPhone: What will the iPhone experience be?” As part of its exclusive deal with AT&T, Apple is barred from developing a Verizon-compatible CDMA version of the iPhone for the next five years.

With the stateside launch of Apple’s iPhone just weeks away, questions have begun to emerge surrounding the device’s European launch. Despite the handset being months from hitting store shelves, almost half of European iPod owners would consider the iPhone as their next mobile, according to a survey conducted by Canalys, a Reading, England-based research firm. A key factor in which carrier will offer the iPhone in Europe is whether or not the European version of the handset includes 3G mobile network technology. Apple has already stated that the US version of the phone will not include 3G, instead opting for the more widespread GPRS/EDGE.

If the European version of the iPhone does include 3G, carriers likely to offer the device include 3, a network offering 3G service in Austria, Britain, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Norway and Sweden, and T-Mobile, which offers 3G service in Austria, Britain, and Germany. “Both these operators are the most forward-thinking in how 3G telephones should be brought to consumers,” said Carolina Milanesi, a mobile phone analyst for Gartner in London. “They have the appropriate and futuristic business models necessary for the iPhone already in place.” Vodafone, previously rumored as an Apple suitor, is Europe’s largest service provider.

AT&T has announced that it will accelerate its rebranding campaign at Cingular wireless stores to better take advantage of the iPhone’s launch. The company will replace the Cingular name with new AT&T signage in the interior its 1800 shops, ahead of the iPhone launch in late June. “The iPhone is one of the most anticipated handsets ever in the wireless industry, and we want to make sure that every drop of equity from the iPhone accrues to the AT&T brand,” AT&T spokesman Michael Coe said. “We want to be as far along as possible with our rebranding in advance of the launch of the iPhone.” Cingular signage found on the outside of the stores will remain unchanged for now.