This post was written by Mary Joseff

When the new iPhone goes on sale Friday, Apple Inc. will also launch an online software store, called App Store, to peddle a potpourri of programs such as games, pedometers, tip calculators and language translators for the device. The company hopes that by enabling buyers to transform the phone into a personalized electronic Swiss Army knife of sorts, it can boost sales. The store is another way that Apple is changing the mobile market since the first version of the iPhone went on sale in June 2007. The new App Store will be the only retailer of Apple-sanctioned software programs for the iPhone family and the iPod Touch.

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This post was written by Mary Joseff

AT&T, the exclusive iPhone service provider in the U.S., says that the latest version of the iPhone will go on sale at 8 a.m. local time on Friday, July 11. The July 11 ship date had been set by Apple during Steve Jobs’ Worldwide Developers Conference keynote last month, but the exact time of the release was still up in the air. AT&T made the announcement amid detailing the pricing plans for the iPhone 3G. The early-morning release is something of a departure from recent high-profile Apple product launches.

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This post was written by Mary Joseff

After almost a year of the launch of the original Apple iPhone, Apple Inc.’s CEO Steve Jobs has introduced a 3G version of the device, finally putting to rest months of rumors and speculation. While some of the rumors panned out — the new handset will offer full GPS — other rumors, like the addition of a 32GB model, fizzled. With support for three 3G bands (850, 1900, 2100) and both UMTS and HSDPA networks, the iPhone 3G is well positioned for using high-speed networks across the world. If data speeds hold up as Jobs demonstrated, the new iPhone really is ready to put the Internet in your pocket. The latest iPhone version will go on sale from July 11, 2008.

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This post was written by Mary Joseff

Apple has released 40 patches to security vulnerabilities in more than 25 different components and applications bundled with Mac OS X, including Flash Player, iCal and Apache. The year’s third update fixed fewer than half as many flaws as the previous collection, which Apple issued two months ago to plug nearly 90 holes. According to the Security Update 2008-003 advisory, the most-patched components by vulnerability count were Apple’s version of the Apache open-source Web server (eight bugs fixed) and the version of Adobe’s Flash Player that Apple tucks into Mac OS X (seven flaws patched).

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This post was written by Mary Joseff

A blog entry from ImportGenius indicates that Apple may have secretly smuggled millions of 3G iPhones in the U.S. According to ImportGenius, the circumstantial evidence includes shortages of 2G iPhones, AT&T’s vacation blackout, predictions of analysts and labeling of the cargo as “electric computer.” According to Ryan Petersen of ImportGenius.com, Apple has never reported the “electric computer” product in their customs declarations before. The product is apparently a code for the 3G iPhone.

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This post was written by Melissa Chang

Apple’s Macs have continued to gain share in the premium personal computer market, according to NPD Group, a research firm that specializes in tracking retail shares. According to a new report, Macs accounted for 66% of all PCs priced at $1,000 or more sold at retail in the U.S. during the first three months of this year.

In the first quarter of 2008, Apple held 13.8% of the overall U.S. retail computer market, up from 9.5% during the same period a year before, an increase of 45%.

But there is one important factor to keep in mind, according to Stephen Baker, an analyst with NPD Group:

“Yes, they dominate in the $1,000-plus market, but they also tend to be the only company that has a considerable focus in that price range.”

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Photo by jocke66