MacShrine

NewsWireless.net is reporting that Apple has partnered with Vodafone, T-Mobile of Germany and Carphone Warehouse and is expected to announce the UK iPhone on Monday. It is expected to launch this October. They say:

Vodafone is currently in an ideal position to take on the iPhone, because its 3G network is hugely under-utilised. Pricing on mobile data is normally prohibitive, but Vodafone has recently revised its 3G data charges down, following “rip-off” complaints from users.

Update: We’re also hearing that the European iPhones will NOT feature WiFi because of battery issues. That would seriously put us off purchasing it.

MenuShade simply dims out the menu bar when it’s not in use. It’s sort of like hiding the Dock; it might help you stay focused on the window you have open and stay on task. We have it set to make our menu bar transparent like in Leopard and it really does make a difference. Our desktop looks so much more elegant. Download it and see the difference it’ll make to you!

If you want 1 iPhone head to an AT&T store or if you want 2 then head to the Apple Store. Comprende? All this iPhone news is wearing us out, thank god it’s out tomorrow.

Engadget claims to have received an internal Apple memo about a company-exclusive mini Stevenote tomorrow. He’ll just go on about how revolutionary the iPhone release is for Apple and the market, like back at the iPod launch. Here is the memo:

From: Steve Jobs
Date: June 27, 2007 1:47:55 PM PDT
To: [redacted]
Subject: Town Hall Meeting Tomorrow

Team,

We’re launching the most revolutionary and exciting product in Apple’s history this Friday. And given Apple’s legacy of breakthrough products, that’s saying a lot.

I’d like to get together and share my thoughts about this amazing moment for our company. So please join me for a company-wide communications meeting tomorrow, Thursday, at 11:00AM in Town Hall.

This meeting will also be broadcast to other Apple campus locations. Please check [redacted] for details.

See you there,

Steve

Update: Steve Jobs did hold a company-wide town hall today and announced that Apple employees will get free 8GB iPhones this July. This applies to all full-time Apple employees as well as part time employees who have been with Apple for more than 1 year.

The phones are expected to be delivered to employees by the end of July, after initial consumer demand has subsided. According to Yahoo! Finance, Apple has 17,787 full-time employees.

Seems Apple is preparing a new RSS reader exclusive for the iPhone. Visit: http://reader.mac.com/ to preview the splash page. No idea when it will launch, but we’re guessing tomorrow. Good to see Apple taking .Mac a bit more serious with new services.

Apple today released more updates. This time for Pro Apps such as Final Cut Pro 6.0.1, Motion 3.0.1, Soundtrack Pro 2.0.1, Color 1.0.1, Compressor 3.0.1 and a SuperDrive Firmware Update 2.1 for MacBooks and MacBook Pros. Go grab ‘em!

You were all asking for them, so here they are. The brand spankin’ new desktop backgrounds in Mac OS X Leopard 10.5. Enjoy!

Update: Images have now been removed at the request of Apple Inc.

So it’s finally here. The first official review of the iPhone.

Our verdict is that, despite some flaws and feature omissions, the iPhone is, on balance, a beautiful and breakthrough handheld computer. Its software, especially, sets a new bar for the smart-phone industry, and its clever finger-touch interface, which dispenses with a stylus and most buttons, works well, though it sometimes adds steps to common functions.

This is big news practically everywhere, a video showing how the iPhone is activated. Wow. What next? A video showing the signup to a subscription iTunes? Please don’t watch it if you don’t want your activation experience spoiled this weekend.

You know how we feel about these boring little updates, bla bla. They fix some stuff that’s all we need to know really. They’re both available via Software Update or online at Apple. Oh, this applies to Windows users as well (nearly forget about WinSafari there!).

They just re-designed the site last week and now today a totally new iPhone site launched! Featuring even more goodies such as more videos, an uber long iPhone “Guided Tour” and more Q&A. Will we get another redesign next Friday?… madness. Anyway, check it out as it is rather swanky. Also just to remind those of you who aren’t aware - the iPhone launches next Friday!

We were just wondering if anyone outside America is thinking of purchasing an iPhone next week just to use as an iPod and video player? Those in Europe will probably have to wait until Christmas to get their hands on the iPhone.

Boston.com is today reporting that iPhone users will have to pay a massive $175 fee if they wish to get out of their two-year contract.

Even though AT&T isn’t subsidizing the iPhone’s hefty price, depending on the storage capacity a customer chooses - the company will charge a $175 termination fee for iPhone users who want to break their two-year contracts.

Apple delivered giant iPhone displays to all Apple Stores last night for them to set up for today. Here’s some photos from one of the stores. As usual clicky the thumbs for larger shots. When the stores open today we’ll get better pictures. Anyone else seen these at their local Apple Store? Take some pics and send them in.

With it’s launch in 7 days time, it seems Apple has allowed people lucky enough to have an iPhone already to use them in public. MacRumors just posted this picture of an Apple Engineer in an Airport lounge using his. It looks like he was in the middle of dialing a number and then recieved a text message.

Google CEO Eric Schmidt yesterday said (whilst showing off his iPhone):

“iPhone is a powerful new device and is going to be particularly good for the apps that Google is building. You should expect other announcements from the two companies over time”

Apple has posted the Mac OS X 10.4.10 Update via Software Update and on the Web. Apple says “this update is recommended for PowerPC and Intel-based Mac computers currently running Mac OS X Tiger. This update includes general operating system fixes, as well as specific fixes or compatibility updates for the following applications and technologies: RAW camera support; mounting and unmounting external USB devices; support for 3rd party software applications; and security updates. Now bring on Leopard!

As exclusively revealed by MacShrine back on the 1st June, Apple today announced a YouTube app for the iPhone. It will be available as a firmware update next week.

We finally got round to fixing up our forums and now MacShrine is pleased to announce the official relaunch of them! So sign up and start posting. There’s already nearly 10,000 posts and close to 1,000 members to keep you company. MacShrine Forums!

AppleInsider is reporting that the long-awaited next generation updates to the iMac will come mid-late Summer. They say:

Apple engineers have been toiling long-hour days on a pair of radically redesigned 20- and 24-inch iMacs that will be both slimmer and sleeker than today’s offerings. When the project manifests later this summer, it will represent the first major industrial design overhaul to hit the flagship all-in-one consumer Apple desktops in nearly three years.

The current range of iMacs came in August 2004 replacing the “Sunflower” design which itself replaced the original iMac. How much thinner can these new iMacs be and what do you think they’ll look like? Will this be the first all metal iMac?

Apple today announced that the iPhone will deliver significantly longer battery life when it ships on June 29th than was originally estimated. iPhone will feature up to 8 hours of talk time, 6 hours of Internet use, 7 hours of video playback or 24 hours of audio playback. In addition, iPhone will feature up to 250 hours - more than 10 days - of standby time. Apple also announced that the entire top surface of iPhone, including its stunning 3.5″ display, has been upgraded from plastic to optical-quality glass to achieve a superior level of scratch resistance and optical clarity.