Techno-Snack

Mobispine is launching the world’s first Multimedia Messaging (MMS) application for Apple’s iPhone. Mobispine’s MMS application adds the abilities to send, receive and forward MMS to the iPhone. The application will be released as a “white label” MMS service for iPhone to global operators.

[mobispine]

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While it's true that Best Buy is going to start selling iPhones on Sunday, making it the first independent retailer to sell the sought-after device, a look at their upcoming Sunday ad insert (click to enlarge) shows some more of their typically lame sales tactics.

The ad trumpets "Phone and email setup included" and then the fine print "when you buy the iPhone 3G and any accessory package." And those packages are on page 2, natch.

Packages are priced to sell (insert sarcasm here), starting at $106 and running to $234.

Just to be clear: go to an Apple Store and they'll activate your iPhone and setup your email for free. While I do realize there are far fewer Apple Stores and thus more people will have the opportunity to find a Best Buy, this is pretty lame.

Past instances of Best Buy's "deals" were "bait-and-switch" websites that differed in the store vs. outside the store (which eventually led to a lawsuit by the Connecticut A.G.), and tempting customers with faux "last" Wiis.

Oh, and waitasec. Setup your iPhone? Don't they have to activate it before you leave the store? If AT&T and Apple are now relenting on this, explain to me why we early adopters got stuck with it, and the long lines it produced.

Oh wait, I know. We're stupid.

[TechnologyExpert]

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A joint project between the Apple Finance Board (AFB) and Investor Village’s AAPL Sanity board has been collecting the IMEI numbers from as many iPhone 3Gs as possible, placing the results in a Google Docs spreadsheet.

By tracking the sequence of the IMEIs, the project now says that, with a fair degree of confidence, it can report that as of the end of August Apple had manufactured at least 5,649,000 iPhone 3Gs. When you add the 2.4 million first-generation iPhones Apple reported it had sold in the first six months of 2008, that means that Apple has manufactured more than 8 million iPhones this year.

Note: manufactured, not necessarily sold.

Still, this means Apple is on track to build the 10 million iPhones it' said several times it would sell by the end of this year. And just watching the first weekend sales, and the continued frenzy over the iPhone (though perhaps not in Europe, and despite continuing 3G issues), it seems obvious Apple should achieve this goal well in advance of the end of the year.

Watch the video, from 2007 Macworld, where Jobs made that statement:

[TechnologyExpert]

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Thaddeus Computing, which previously published Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine, is starting an iPhone-only magazine, iPhone Life. The magazine hits newsstands on Sept. 9th.

Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine has suspended publication, BTW.

According to their press release:

“People are excited about the iPhone and iPod touch for good reason,” says publisher Hal Goldstein. “The iPhone’s vibrant screen, its fun intuitive interface, powerful Safari browser, automatic updates, and app store brilliantly solve many of the problems inherent in handheld computing. The iPhone is changing the way people use their phones, and we’re here to help them get the most out of it.”

News, Reviews, Profiles, Tips, How-to’s, and More

The 100-page premier issue includes:

• Full coverage of the new 3G iPhone
• Top software from the iTunes store
• 85 hidden features
• Best FREE software and web apps
• How to Rip DVDs
• Must-have accessories
• Safari surprises
• iPhone profiles of a doctor, rabbi, student, mayor, CEO
• Celebrities who have iPhones

The magazine will have regular departments profiling people who have integrated the iPhone into their life, how-to articles, resources available on the Internet such as free software and support, and more.

It seems they're not clear yet on how many issues they will be publishing. According to their subscription offer, $25 will get you at least eight issues + the premier issue, covering the time through 2010. You'll also get a digital edition you can view on your iPhone or iPod Touch.

According to the publisher, you'll be able to find the magazine at booksellers nationwide.

[TechnologyExpert]

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Other than Belkin’s JoyPad, here is another gaming controller for the iPhone, the iControlPad. This iPhone game pad has a D-Pad, four buttons, power LED and Start/Select buttons.

This iControlPad is intended to support emulators running on the Jailbroken iPhones. It is still under development.

[iControlPad]

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iLuv offers the new iMM173 Dual Dock Alarm Clock that has two universal dock for your iPhone 2G/3G and iPod. The iMM173 has a display and offers 5W x 2 sound output. It can charge two iPhones and/or iPods at the same time.

Users can also choose to play music from either of the two docked iPhone/iPod. This device has also FM tuner and remote control.

[SlashGear]

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Bose introduces the new SoundDock Series II audio system for Apple’s iPod. This SoundDock Series II docks not only iPods but also the iPhone and iPhone 3G as well as iPod touch. It supports almost all iPod models, including the Nano, Mini, Video, Photo and Classic.

It comes with also a new auxiliary input so users can connect other multimedia devices like portable music player, CD player and music phones. It has a remote control.

The Bose SoundDock Series II will be available in September for $299.

[Cnet]

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