SDK comment leaks 3G iPhone plans?...

The next iteration of the iPhone is likely to use the Infineon S-Gold3H processor in its 3G incarnation, an examination of the latest SDK beta suggests. According to ZiPhone.org, code in the SDK beta implies that the next generation iPhone will see "3.5G" HSDPA functionality, with a connection speed of 7.2 Megabits per second, as well as several other advanced features. No official word has been given on the status of a "3.5G" iPhone.

LifeAgent 2.2 backs up to .Mac, Flickr, more...

Memeo today unveiled LifeAgent 2.2, a new version to its automated software backup solution, that introduces support for Flickr and .Mac iDisks. Using LifeAgent, users can automatically back up data to a network folder, external hard drive, removable media, the internet, and now Flicker and iDisk. By securing multiple backup locations, LifeAgent helps ensure that data will be safe in the event of an emergency. LifeAgent is available for $30 from Memeo's website.

UK firm simplifies iPhone video streaming...

A London-based web technology firm has developed a server-based video streaming technology, capable of sending video feeds to factory-condition iPhones. Guardian.co.uk reports that the server technology – called Millicent by developer Best Before – would allow broadcasters to provide edited video feeds for the iPhone, and allegedly already has two UK broadcasters interested in what the architecture can offer.

Hear enhances Mac OS X sounds...

JoeSoft has announces the availability of Hear, a sound enhancement program for the Mac. The developer says this add-on "greatly" improves audio quality in movies and music throughout all Mac OS X applications. It offers a wide array of settings, purportedly delivering intra-app sound that is richer and clearer with regard to dialog. "Hear is a great new program that makes everything sound better on your Mac. All your music will be vastly improved, your movies will surround you with rich sound and your games will now blow you away" says Greg Brewer, CEO of Prosoft. "Once you've listened to your music or movies with Hear, you will never want to be without Hear." Hear is priced at $50.

Apple updates MacBook/Air/Pro, iMac, kybd firmware...

Apple today released a number of updates, including firmware updates for its MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro as well as firmware for its iMac. The Mac BookAir EFI Firmware Update 1.0, MacBook EFI Firmware Update 1.2, and Mac Book Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.5 fixes several issues to improve the stability of the notebook computers, while the iMac EFI Firmware Update 1.3 fixes several issues to improve the stability of iMac computers. Apple's Firmware Restoration CD 1.6, for its Macs, can restore the firmware of an Intel-based Macintosh computer and the company notes that restoring the firmware will reset some of the computer's preferences to defaults.

Apple leads player, music market with teens...

Investment research firm Piper Jaffray today held a conference call regarding teenage spending habits and statistics, which brought to light several figures about Apple devices and services. Of the students surveyed, the report found that 87-percent owned an MP3 player, and of those, 86-percent are iPod owners. This also reflected in the students' choice of music store, with iTunes sitting at 79-percent. The advent of other iPod-compatible music stores eroded iTunes' share slightly from 89-percent.

SDK beta firmware 'timing out' for iPhone developers...

Developers participating in the iPhone SDK beta are discovering that the device is "bricking" itself after the limited-time beta expires. TUAW readers point out that this shouldn't come as a surprise, since a note posted for developers says that the beta would indeed expire if not kept current. Another user notes that the next development firmware version has yet to be seeded to non-enterprise developers, while another still says that a call to the Apple Developer Connection revealed an updated SDK masquerading as an older one.

Kensington keyboard packs top-mounted USB...

Kensington has provided a spin on the routine for keyboards today by launching its Ci70 Keyboard with USB Ports. In a still-rare break from most keyboard designs, the updated Ci70 adds two full USB ports for peripherals but places them at the top of the keyboard rather than at the back or sides, making it easier to load in a flash drive or some portable media players. A third mini USB port with cable also lets users with digital cameras quickly hook up to the computer without finding the appropriate cable or leaving clutter on the desk.

Mossberg hedges on 3G iPhone comments ...

Wall Street Journal columnist Walt Mossberg is claiming that his previous comments indicating that a 3G iPhone would debut in the "next 60 days" were based on the same, widely reported speculation to which other pundits have access, and that he has "no idea" when Apple will release the new device. Silicon Alley Insider reports that Mossberg said "If I knew when this date was, why would I announce it in the middle of a sentence at the Finnish embassy, rather than report it in the Wall Street Journal?" The veteran writer made the comment while discussing the limits of cellular broadband in the US, noting that third-generation access in the country is still slow compared to other areas of the world.

Yamaha to debut Tenori-on instrument in US...

Yamaha says it is bringing a formerly Japanese-only digital instrument, the Tenori-on, to the United States. The instrument consists mainly of 256 LED buttons, which can be touched and swiped to create different patterns, in turn affecting how loaded sound samples are looped. By adding or deleting various layers of sound, a musician can theoretically play multiple parts of a song by himself, improvising on the fly.

Anti-hacker features added to QuickTime...

Apple's recent QuickTime 7.4.5 release includes exploit prevention mechanisms designed to block attacks from hackers, according to a recent report from eWeek. QuickTime for Windows Vista now features ASLR (address space layout randomization), technology that randomly arranges key data addresses to prevent developers of malware from predicting targets. ASLR is already used by Mac OS X Leopard to reduce the effectiveness of exploit attempts.

MS proposes end-to-end trusted computing...

Microsoft today suggested a major change to Internet technology that it claims could dramatically improve the security of users online. Nicknamed End-to-End Trust, the system would take the existing philosophy behind the company's existing Trustworthy Computing for PCs and extend it to the whole Internet. Devices, data, and software would incorporate a "trusted stack" of code that authenticates the user at every step of a transaction online.

Microsoft offers five colors for best-selling mouse...

Microsoft on Tuesday announced it will offer its popular Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse 3000 in five new colors. After looking at the colors on today's popular clothes, accessories and consumer electronics, Microsoft decided to offer the 3000 in Milk Chocolate (brown), Pomegranate (red), Crème Brûlée (khaki), Dragon Fruit (dark pink) and Aloe (green). The new colors are meant to keep the 3000 at the top of the sales charts in the US.

Slacker gains label support for song copying...

Slacker, the creator of its namesake Portable Radio Player, has announced a deal for the support of all four major record labels: Warner, Universal, EMI and Sony BMG. The Portable is an unusual "radio" device in that it does not stream live music, but rather syncs with the Slacker service via USB or Wi-Fi, and copies up to 40 "stations" for listening offline as well as on. As music plays listeners can rate their tracks, and ban ones they do not want to hear again.

Apple gains visual effects, display patents...

The US Patent & Trademark Office has officially granted three new patents to Apple, two of which are connected to visual effects. The first, Methods and apparatuses for the automated display of visual effects, describes a means of generating real-time graphics on a data processing system. The patent does not list many specifics, but suggests that game developers may find it saves time. The patent was originally submitted in April of last year.

iTunes solidifying grip on music business...

Research firm Ipsos has released a new study on the digital music industry, the results of which position Apple as the leader. Some 82 percent of American music downloaders are familiar with iTunes, versus a next-best figure of 76 percent for Napster. Some 38 percent of downloaders think of iTunes first when it comes to digital music, and while most major online outlets have had their name recognition increase during 2007, only iTunes showed a substantial growth in use past the first 30 days, up to 24 percent last year from 18 percent in 2006. Services such as Rhapsody and Walmart.com saw their 30-day-plus use decrease.

mobiBLU Cube3 announced for US release...

The latest digital music player from mobiBLU was announced on Tuesday. The Cube3 measures 1 by 1 by 1 inches, or 1 inch cubed, earning it the distinction of being the world's smallest digital audio player with a color display, just like the Cube2, its predecessor. The Cube3 can hold up to 2GB worth of MP3 or WMA audio as well as video and image files, including audio it can record live or from a built-in FM tuner. The Cube3 plays downloaded content as it's PlaysForSure certified and Podcast Ready.

Nokia offers Tube as iPhone rival, dismisses Apple...

Nokia has given its touchscreen phone an early name and demonstration, the company has revealed at the Evans Data Developer Relations Conference. The handset maker at the Redwood City-based event said its first touch device is internally known as the Tube and is said to be visually similar to the iPhone. However, the Finnish handset is already known to include features that its Apple competitor lacks, including the ability to directly upload videos as well as support for Java-based apps.

Apple updates iTunes games catalog, pulls old titles...

Apple has made several changes to its catalog of iPod games on the iTunes Store (link). Zuma, a well-known puzzle title by PopCap, has been added to the list of games compatible with Nanos and Classics; several other games have had their section removed however, including Bejeweled, iQuiz, Lost, Mahjong, Mini Golf, Musika, Royal Solitaire and Vortex. iQuiz and Vortex are already installed by default on modern-generation Nanos and Classics.

Keyboard Maestro 3.0 adds, improves macros...

Stairways Software has released the third edition of Keyboard Maestro, a utility meant to improve the convenience of Mac OS X by enabling macro shortcuts, which can be activated at any time. Users can control apps, open documents and run scripts, using either a keyboard or a mouse; it is further possible to specify at what times commands are executed, and run options remotely via a web server. The software also comes with custom program and window switching tools.

Apple ships Final Cut Server...

Apple on Tuesday finally began shipping Final Cut Server, its media asset management tool for video production houses. The software announced last year automatically gathers media assets across a network to let editors work from a common pool of resources, including on Storage Area Networks (SANs). While intended for and working closely with Final Cut Studio, Mac and Windows clients let users search for content they can edit without having to depend on Apple's creative software. It can scale from just two users to the largest broadcasters, the company says.

SpaceNavigator 3D mouse for notebooks...

3Dconnexion today unveiled the SpaceNavigator for Notebooks, a new addition to its 3D mouse product line, ideal for mobile 3D professionals. Weighing in at half the weight of its standard SpaceNavigator mouse – around 240 grams – the notebook model gives users a refined cap design to provide more immersive and natural interactions with 3D workspaces. The ruggedly designed SpaceNavigator for Noteooks is available for $130 at many online retailers.

68% of Chinese surveyed aware of iPhone...

Despite a lack of the of a localized version or solid confirmation of plans to do make one, a recent study indicates that 68-percent of all Chinese surveyed showed knowledge of the iPhone, but also discovered that it might not sell very well with its $500 price point. According to The iPod Observer, the price tag was the most frequently mentioned restriction that would prevent people from buying one, but information regarding how many felt this was not readily available.