Apple released the iPod Shuffle a month ago with ability to speak song titles, artist  names and playlist names, However the pronunciation  was not accurate. This update of over 17MB will correct the pronunciation of several artist names and couple of minor bugs.

What’s new for Users:

The all new Editing Features:

– Double tapping on any word brings up a menu with copy, cut and paste features, upon selection users can drag to expand the selection and then select one of the copy or cut functions.

- The copy/paste functions works across the applications, that is, users can copy text or images from one place, say, a text file or a folder consisting of images to safari browser.

Other features:

- MMS for sending and receiving audio/video, photos, contacts, audio files and locations using Messages app

- Voice Memo app for capturing and sending audio recordings on the go

- Landscape view is now available for mail, text and notes aswell

- Spotlight Search function for searching within the files, Mail and Notes

- Stock app displays trading information, average price, market cap or trading volume, all this in full screen landscape mode.

- App Store will now be available in 77 countries

What’s new for Developers:

- iPhone 3.0 SDK brings 1000 new APIs for the developers

- Developers can now make you of the new peer-to-peer connections over Bonjour, in-app content purchases features while developing applications

- In-app content purchases allows developers to provide and update for a price. Suppose, if a user finishes of a game consisting of 10 levels, he can buy the next 10 levels from the game application itself.

- Peer-to-peer connections feature allows developers to develop network games, which can be played by using Bluetooth

Accessories:

- iPhone 3.0 SDK is a boon for the hardware accessory manufacturers. They can manufacture new accessories  like diabetics checking device, which can be hooked to the iPhone or iPod touch controlled from an app.

The iPhone OS 3.0 will be available for free for the iPhone users for free and the iPod Touch users will have purchase the OS by paying $9.95. Some of the features may no be supported by the older iPhone due to the differences in the hardware. Also, the MMS messaging feature will be available only in the iPhone 3G.

All in all, iPhone 3.0 is a major upgrade. It sets a platform for the developers and accessory makers to make revolutionary applications and accessories. I guess the hardware upgrade is not far off. We will definitely see a 3MP or 5MP camera and good battery life in the months a head.

Image Courtesy: Apple Insider

Here’s how the controls work:

Volume up: Single click on the + sign

Play/Pause: Single click on the middle button

Go to next track: Double click on the middle button

Go to previous track: Triple click on the middle button

Volume down: Single click on the – sign

Press and hold the middle button to hear the name of the artist while the song is playing, and to move between the playlists hold the middle button and release after you hear a tone after the name of the playlist is announced, yes it is possible to maintain multiple playlists with the new iPod shuffle.

The new iPod shuffle has 4GB of storage space and is capable of storing up to 1000 songs in good quality.

Gallery:

Price: $79 (available in white and black colors)

The 17-inch MacBook Pro has a high resolution LED-backlight display with a full HD resolution of 1920×1200, measuring just 0.98-inches thin and weighing 6.6 pounds, Apple claims, this laptop is the world’s thinnest and lightest 17-inch laptop.

The base config comes with a 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT graphics card with 512MB video memory, 320GB SATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, built-in iSight video camera, FireWire 800 Port, three USB 2.0 ports, Express Card Slot, glass multi-touch trackpad and illuminated Keyboard.

All this for a price of $2799.

Press Release

SAN FRANCISCO—January 6, 2009—Apple® today unveiled the new 17-inch MacBook® Pro featuring a durable and beautiful precision aluminum unibody enclosure, and a revolutionary new built-in battery that delivers up to eight hours of use and up to 1,000 recharges for more than three times the lifespan of conventional notebook batteries. The new 17-inch MacBook Pro has a high resolution LED-backlit display and the same large glass Multi-Touch™ trackpad introduced with the new MacBook family in October. In addition, the new 17-inch MacBook Pro includes state of the art NVIDIA graphics and the latest generation Intel Core 2 Duo mobile processors. As part of the industry’s greenest notebook family, the new 17-inch MacBook Pro is made of highly recyclable materials, meets stringent energy efficiency standards and is made without many of the harmful toxins found in other computers.

“We’ve developed new battery technology that is better for the user and better for the environment,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “Apple’s advanced chemistry and innovative technology deliver up to eight hours of use on a full charge cycle and up to 1,000 recharges.”

Apple uses advanced chemistry, intelligent monitoring of the system and battery, and Adaptive Charging technology to create a revolutionary new notebook battery that delivers up to eight hours of wireless productivity on a single charge and up to 1,000 recharges without adding thickness, weight or cost to the MacBook Pro’s incredible design.* The longer battery lifespan equals fewer depleted batteries and less waste, which is better for the environment.

The new 17-inch MacBook Pro includes an ultra-thin, widescreen glossy 1920 x 1200 display with 78 percent more pixels than the 15-inch MacBook Pro and a 60 percent greater color gamut that delivers desktop-quality color in a notebook. The LED-backlit display has brilliant instant-on performance, uses up to 30 percent less energy and eliminates the mercury found in industry standard fluorescent tube backlights.

Measuring just 0.98-inches thin and weighing 6.6 pounds, the 17-inch MacBook Pro is the world’s thinnest and lightest 17-inch notebook. The 17-inch MacBook Pro is the most powerful Mac® notebook yet with the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processors available up to 2.93 GHz, up to 8GB DDR3 main memory and a graphics architecture that allows users to switch between the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics processor for better battery life and the powerful NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT discrete graphics processor for higher performance. The new 17-inch MacBook Pro includes a 320GB 5400 rpm hard drive standard with a 320GB 7200 rpm hard drive and 128GB and 256GB solid state drives as options. As with the rest of the new MacBook family, the 17-inch MacBook Pro includes a next generation, industry-standard Mini DisplayPort to connect with the new Apple LED Cinema Display featuring a 24-inch LED-backlit widescreen display with a built-in iSight® video camera, mic and speakers.

The new 17-inch MacBook Pro joins the aluminum unibody MacBook family in setting new standards for environmentally friendly notebooks with every model achieving EPEAT Gold status.** Each MacBook unibody enclosure is made of highly recyclable aluminum and comes standard with energy efficient LED-backlit displays that are mercury-free and made with arsenic-free glass. The new MacBook family meets stringent Energy Star 4.0 requirements, contains no brominated flame retardants and uses internal cables and components that are PVC-free. The battery in the new 17-inch MacBook Pro provides additional environmental benefit because its extended lifespan means fewer depleted batteries resulting in less waste. Depleted batteries can be replaced for $179 which includes installation and disposal of your old battery in an environmentally responsible manner.

Pricing & Availability
The new 17-inch MacBook Pro will be shipping at the end of January and will be available through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of $2,799 (US), and includes:
17-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1920 x 1200, glossy display;
2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 6MB shared L2 cache;
1066 MHz front-side bus;
4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM;
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics;
NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT discrete graphics with 512MB GDDR3 video memory;
320GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;
a slot-load 8X SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) optical drive;
Mini DisplayPort for video output (adapters sold separately);
built-in AirPort Extreme® 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
Gigabit Ethernet port;
built-in iSight video camera;
three USB 2.0 ports;
one FireWire® 800 port (FireWire 400 compatible);
ExpressCard/34 expansion card slot;
one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog;
glass Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard;
built-in, 95WHr lithium polymer battery; and
85 Watt MagSafe® Power Adapter.

Build-to-order options for the 17-inch MacBook Pro include a 2.93 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 8GB 1066 MHz DDR 3 memory, 320GB 7200 rpm hard drive, a 128GB or 256GB solid state drive, anti-glare display for $50 (US), Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter, Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (for 30-inch DVI display), Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter, Apple Remote, Apple MagSafe Airline Adapter and the AppleCare Protection Plan. 

*A properly maintained Apple 17-inch MacBook Pro battery is designed to retain 80 percent or more of its original capacity during a lifespan of up to 1,000 recharge cycles. Battery life and charge cycles vary by use and settings. For more information visit www.apple.com/macbookpro/17inch-battery.

**EPEAT is an independent organization that helps customers compare the environmental performance of notebooks and desktops. Products meeting all of the 23 required criteria and at least 75 percent of the optional criteria are recognized as EPEAT Gold products. The EPEAT program was conceived by the US EPA and is based on IEEE 1680 standard for Environmental Assessment of Personal Computer Products. For more information visit www.epeat.net.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has entered the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.

Sun Microsystems is developing a Java Virtual Machine for Apple iPhone and intends to release it in the coming June. Seems like, opening up iPhone SDK to Enterprises turned out to be a really good move by Apple for iPhone users and Apple itself.

JVM on iPhone could bring Games like Harry Potter and Enterprise applications like ERP or CRM, useful applications like MapQuest Mobile and thousands of existing Java based apps.

Above all Java on iPhone means security. Java can bring its SSL Security features to Apple’s platform as well.

Hardware Specifications
1.86GHz Intel® Pentium® Dual-Core Mobile Processor T2130 (1MB L2 Cache, 1.86GHz, 533MHz), 120GB Hard Disk Drive, 512MB DDR2 667 SDRAM, DVD+/-RW, Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator GMA950, Realtek ALC268 High-Definition Audio, (1) 10/100/1000 Ethernet Port, (1) DVI-I Port, (1) S-Video Port, (1) IEEE 1394 Port, (4) USB 2.0 Ports, (1) 4-in1 Media Card Reader, (1)

Headphone/Line-Out Port, (2) Microphone/Line-In Port

It comes with pre-installed Linux and some useful software.

gPC Mini vs Mac Mini :

Apple’s Mac Mini hasn’t had much competition since its release. Now, Everex gPC Mini gives a tough competition to Mac Mini, Check the chart..

[via: Wired]

If you update your phone’s firmware to 1.1.1 then you’ll get these things:

- iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store
- Louder speaker phone and receiver volume
- Home Button double-click shortcut to phone favorites of music controls
- Space bar double-tap shortcut to intelligently insert period and space
- Mail attachments are viewable in portrait and landscape
- Stocks and cities in Stocks and Weather can be re-ordered
- Apple Bluetooth Headset battery status in the Status Bar
- Support for TV Out
- Preference to turn off EDGE/GPRS when roaming internationally
- New Passcode lock time intervals
- Adjustable alert volume

But, if you didn’t, Bingo !! (See the chart)

If you are too worried about that WiFiTunes, No need to, Amazon’s DRM free Music store is coming.

[Via: 9to5Mac]

If AppleInsider is to be believed, Apple is going to release another product that uses touch technology. AppleInsider says a small team is already began working on this project.

Like the iPhone and iPod Touch, the new device runs on an embedded version of Mac OS X Leopard and will be 1.5 times the iPhone size and sports 720×480 high resolution display. This is not a PDA nor a Tablet. The Size could be somewhere in between. Like always Apple is trying to start a whole new section in the market.

Will be made available on 9th November 2007 on the O2 Network. The iPhone will be available from O2, Apple and Carphone Warehouse stores across UK for 269 Pounds.

18 month contract is a compulsion. Not so different from American Version.

Anyway’s, that’s the news.