Almost three years ago BMW announced “iPod your BMW” integrating Apple’s device in their cars. Today, BMW, is the first to ensure that iPhone owners can get seamless integration of music playback and handsfree Bluetooth calling “across its model line.”

With BMW Assist with Bluetooth can enjoy handsfree calling and those with the iPod / USB interface can control the iPod functions of the iPhone via built-in vehicle controls and view the track / album information on your radio. BMW promised more details will be available soon.

Apple’s Online Store down until 6PM PST preparing for iPhone.

Gizmodo is reporting in a post called AT&T EDGE Speeds on Steroids? that users are seeing a substantial speed increase on AT&T’s EDGE network that the new iPhone will be riding on for data. EDGE speeds have been hitting around 200kbps, a lot faster than the 40kbps reported from NY Times Tech reporter David Pogue when he tested the iPhone.

New York City: 184kb/s
Queens, NY: 186kb/s-230kb/s
Chicago suburbs: 160kb/s
S. Florida: 176kb/s-204kb/s
Washington DC: 196kb/s-207kb/s
Philly: 191kb/s-264kb/s
Marion, Indiana: 186kb/s-196kb/s
North Seattle: 190kb/s
Dallas: 160kb/s
West of East Orange, New Jersey: 365kb/s

Well the lines are forming at Apple iPhone retailers all over the country. I was at the Tice’s Corner store in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey today about 3 PM and saw a nice line of about 75 to 100 people already waiting for the Apple Store to open. Security guards were stationed at the doors.

I was not there to get an iPhone, I was there to get a sandwich from the “very busy” (much more than usual at this time of day) Panera Bread a few doors away. I wondered how many people inside the Panera Bread was really there to go next store to get on the line for the iPhone.

Continue reading Lines Formed For iPhone Day…

Welcome to the very anticipated day for gadget lovers. Today is iPhone day and Apple has dedicated the entire front page of Apple.com to the iPhone. The long lines are forming across the country to be one of the first to “snag” an iPhone. As expected iTunes 7.3 has been released this morning. This updated version allows for iPhone compatibility, activation and at least one other nice feature.

Continue reading Welcome iPhone and New iTunes 7.3…

Apple CEO and Founder will make a rare company-wide speech to employees only today at 11:00 AM PST in an all-hands “Town Hall” at Apple.

Continue reading Steve Jobs Will Make Rare Company-Wide Speech Today – Updated…

Apple has an official announcement with their retail sales for the iPhone. Here it is:

• All 164 Apple retail stores will close at 2 PM and reopen at 6 PM until midnight on the 29th.
• 2 iPhone’s per person MAX.
• First come, first serve basis.
• Free iPhone training workshops will begin Saturday morning at all Apple retail stores.
• Apple’s online store will also begin taking orders at 6 PM PDT on the 29th. Free shipping.

So you don’t get disappointed, Apple is providing an online tool to check for iPhone availability at your local Apple store. I would also remind you that activation is done at your leisure using iTunes, see here. No need to hang around the store to wait to activate your new cool phone!

If you visit reader.mac.com, with your computer you will get a splash page (see above). The iPhone in that graphic shows a web based RSS reader hosted on .Mac designed just for the iPhone that Apple is bringing to the table. Be great if it syncs with your Safari RSS feeds.

Apple is busy with stuff other than the iPhone believe it or not.

They have lots of software updates now on their download site. Updates include Final Cut Pro 6.0.1, Motion 3.0.1 (improves stability, resolves performance issues), Color 1.0.1, Compressor 3.0.1, Soundtrack Pro 2.0.1, a combo Pro Applications Update, and a SuperDrive Firmware Update 2.1 (improves readability of certain CD media).

Continue reading Apple Releases Many Updates…

Wii unit sales are higher than PS3 and Xbox 360 combined – and they still can’t make them fast enough to satisfy demand. Nintendo’s market value has surpassed Sony’s.

In May, Nintendo Wii sold 338K units — more than Sony (82K) and MS (155K) could sell combined. In Japan the Wii is even more dominating, selling 5:1 against the PS3.

Microsoft and Sony, as they try and sell game consoles at a loss, Nintendo makes a nice profit on each system they sell!

Google has announced an update to Google Docs and Spreadsheets that includes improved features and support for folders.

Google Docs and Spreadsheets now has an overhaul including “new icons, more content, and better organizational controls”. Searching documents in the service has been improved; dynamically filtered results from documents are listed as a user types.

Adding folders are the biggest change. Although, Google has not abandoned tagging. Giving you the best of both worlds.

When the iPhone was first previewed back in January, competitors without much ammunition with there own “smartphones” screamed that that cost of the iPhone was excessive. Steve Ballmer of Microsoft was especially very vocal, claiming that the iPhone was waaaay to expensive to be successful. He compared the Motorola Q to the iPhone and claimed that Apple’s iPhone will be the most expensive phone ever. I remember what was paid for the Samsung i730 with plan cost that I have, and that Microsoft powered smartphone was pretty pricey, so I had no idea what Ballmer was talking about! Not to mention all its limitations. I hate this phone.

Well after AT&T service plans for the iPhone were recently announced it is interesting to see that the iPhone is actually cheaper than the Motorola Q phone! Ballmer compared the $500 iPhone back in January to the simple Motorola Q, which was on sale for $99 at the time. What he didn’t say was that the Q was only offered at that price when users signed up for an $80/month contract over two years, a $1920 commitment plus $99 making the cost of ownership $2019!

Continue reading Is the iPhone Really Expensive? Let’s Take a Look…

Sorry to say I was not an invited reviewer for the most anticipated phone since Graham Bell’s version, the Apple iPhone. But some lucky tech writers with “slightly higher” readerships have been testing the highly hyped iPhone that is coming to the AT&T network starting on June 29 at 6PM. Seems the early reviews are mostly quite positive. New York Times journalist David Pogue and Wall Street Journal columnist Walt Mossberg, respond positively to the device, generally calling it a capable, durable machine with a good feature set.

Edward C. Baig reports for USA Today that “Apple’s iPhone isn’t perfect, but it’s worthy of the hype.” Newsweek’s Steven Levy’s review: “iPhone fulfills promise of people-friendly palm-top communication and computing.”

Apple retail stores will be closed on June 29 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. to get ready for the premiere of iPhone. We’ll open the doors again at 6:00 p.m., when you can be one of the first to see, try, and buy the iPhone. Be sure to arrive early — iPhone is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

This even goes for Apple’s Fifth Avenue store in New York City, which is otherwise open 24 hours a day. That location already has people camping out in anticipation of buying an iPhone when it’s available.

Kaplan has introduced three new interactive, iPod-based SAT preparation programs. The programs, focused on the test’s Critical Reading, Mathematics and Writing sections, are priced at $4.99 a piece and offer detailed analyses of each completed quiz students take, as well as feedback and an option for tracking quiz score progress.

“Students don’t go anywhere without their iPods and Kaplan has always sought to make test prep as convenient as possible for our students so it’s a natural fit to offer test prep on iTunes. As students have embraced new trends over the years, from new learning and entertainment channels to new technology, we’ve adapted our materials in ways that are relevant to their lifestyles,” said Mark Ward, president, Pre-College Programs, Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions. The programs are available from the iTunes Store now [iTunes Link]. A 5th generation iPod is required as with all the games.

I bought an Aliph Jawbone Bluetooth “noise-cancelling” headsets a few weeks ago. I lost my trusty old Motorola unit, so I bought the Jawbone (mine is silver). It is a nice unit that has some useful noise canceling features on top of being pretty cool looking. Now it seems that Jawbone is headed for the Apple stores to be paired with the iPhone on June 29.

The Jawbone uses Noise Shield technology combined with innovations in acoustics and audio processing to virtually eliminate all background noise from calls, and allow you to hear the caller more clearly. The Jawbone Bluetooth Headset sells for around $120. I am very happy with mine. Especially like that you can charge it from a USB port. Boy, I wish I had an iPhone to go with it!

Mark today as “the day the music died” at least on most Internet radio sites anyway. Most Internet radio sites went silent today to bring attention to the lobbying efforts of the RIAA, substantially increasing royalty rates that threaten the very existence of music on the web. You are urged to make your support for Internet radio know at www.savenetradio.org or it is actually possible to lose net radio forever.

The Internet community is protesting the radio royalty charge increases that threatens many small webcasters by going silent today. Yahoo Music Is Silent. So is Pandora, MTV, Real/Rhapsody, WXPN.com, KCRW.com, and many many others. Is the protest justified? What’s your take?

Continue reading The Day the Internet Music Died!…

Apple and AT&T announce the pricing for the monthly service plans (see image above) for the iPhone coming on Friday June 29, 2007. The iPhone is probably the most anticipated “phone” since Graham Bell’s invention with “long lines” expected at Apple stores and AT&T locations. A $36 activation fee is required for all new plans.

Continue reading AT&T and Apple Announce iPhone Service Plans…

Microsoft Surface Parody. Get that “big ass” table now. Very Funny.