It has been long tough that iPhone is available on China, although it’s not true. This is probably the reason why the Hi-Phone or HiPhone is still a big hit over there. This is about to change after China Unicom signed a 3 years deal with Apple to finally bring the iPhone to massive Chinese market. China Unicom will be able to over 2 types of iPhone to whooping 141 millions customers. Specs and price of the iPhone is not yet revealed and we are wondering how Apple or China Unicom will be able to market such an expensive gadget.

The lastest news suggest the deal may not be exclusive to China Unicom, as it’s the case in other countries.

Further to an earlier post regarding the recently cracked iPhone 3GS security, here is a video from YouTube that shows how it can be done. The worrying part is, it doesn’t take a full fledged hacker to be able to do it, any scriptkiddy can use tools to reveal iPhone 3GS passcode and decrypt data!

No Steve Jobs this time, but observers agree that Phil Schiller seems to be doing a good job introducing new Apple gear at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference 2009. Most of interest to us is the announcement of iPhone 3GS. The S stands for Speed. So what does the new iPhone bring to the table? (more…)

Palm previously suggested that users will be able to drag and drop their music file from their PC to Pre device. That’s usually a simple task, but music management will soon be a nightware. So Palm figured, why re-invent the wheel? how about using something popular which users are already familar with? You can call it an attempt to step on iPhone toes, expand on existing iPhone market share, but Palm likes to refer to it as a feature that will allow Pre users to transfer DRM-free music, photos and videos. More on Palm Pre webOS here.

The question now is, how Apple feels about having it software used by a competitor? Will Apple in act of “monopoly” release an update to block non-iPhone and non-iPod device syncing with iTunes?

Fake Watch app displays the time of day using the appearance of “look-like” famous watches maker. Cartier didn’t seem too happy with this and they decided to to file a complaint yesterday in federal court in Manhattan with claims that Fake Watch app violates a trademark.

Apple’s “use of Cartier’s Tank mark and Cartier’s trade dress and proprietary designs is likely to cause consumers to believe that Cartier’s and defendant’s goods originate from the same source,” Cartier said in the complaint.

The app in question is made by Digitopolis Co. and is available on Apple’s online iTunes store, according to the complaint. Apple is yet to comment.

UPDATE on 23-May: Wall Street Journal reported that Cartier International withdrawed the law suite after Apple removed the two apps in question from Apple Store. In a statement Cartier stated that our concerns have been addressed.

This is the second complain in a month that Apple received, the previous being an app that requires the user to shake the iPhone to silence a crying baby.

OLED display, twice the processing power, a 50 per cent better in battery life, and a rubber-backed body with a light-up Apple logo on the back is what looks like on the menu for iPhone 3.0.

According to AppAdvice.com, which appears to have sourced the information from someone “closely connected to Apple’s hardware development team”, the release date for iPhone 3.0 is set to be 17th July.

Many details of what the source has revealed are what already has been predicts and discussed recently including a 3.2-megapixel camera with in-phone video editing, a built-in FM transmitter and digital compass, enhanced location services, video and still-photo MMS, and a top capacity of 32GB. The full list includes:

* 32GB and 16GB to replace current capacities
* $199 and $299 price-points to be maintained
* 3.2 Megapixel camera
* Video recording & editing capabilities
* Ability to send a picture & video via MMS
* Discontinuation of the metal band surrounding (more…)

It looks like the latest weapon used by the US Army comes from Apple’s notorious gadgets; iPhone and iPod touch.
According to a report pulished in The New Zealand Herald, the iPhone and iPod Touch are used to aid US soliders in iRaq and Afghanistan to assist them get by their daily tasks. This includes apps to translate Arabic to English words, consult the Iraq constitution in full text. In addition, the slicky devices are used to share pictures of wanted suspects via a global database. In a matter of minutes, US soldiers can determine if the chap standing next to them is an average civilian or a threat to US Army unwanted presence.

In addition to over 40,000 apps currently available on iTunes store, some of which are free, the US Marine Corps are funding internal apps for the purpuse of bomb disposal, receivers of ariel footage and biometric database.

Members of the British military are reported to be keen to follow the trend, but Ministry of Defence has no plans at present to provide ressources on this path.

In a surprising move, Apple appears to have acquired the services of Richard Teversham, which used to be the European senior director of business, insights, and strategy for the Xbox. we wonder what input he’ll now have on the roadmap of iPhone gaming.

As reported by PCWorld, its not sure what direct role Teversham will have in relation to the iPhone, as his official title is an “education-related role” for now. (more…)