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Google announced a new version of Google Talk optimized for the iPhone. The web-based chat client allows you to instant message with others.

- Chat with your Google Talk contacts in real time. Send and receive instant messages in chat sessions with your contacts.
- View and search for your Google Talk contacts. See the availability and status message of your contacts and change your own status on the go.
- Go off the record if you don't want to store your chats. Off the record chats are not stored on Gmail.

iPhone users can visit www.google.com/talk in Safari.

The appeal of these web-based clients, however, are coming to a close. With the release of the App Store next week, we expect to see multiple versions of instant messaging to become available as native applications for the iPhone.

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The United States Patent and Trademark Office revealed at least a dozen new patent applications from Apple this morning. The majority of the applications revealed ongoing multi-touch research by Wayne Westerman, the former cofounder of Fingerworks.

We've seen many exciting multi-touch patent applications from Apple over the past few years including screenshots of a Mac OS X implemenation of advanced multi-touch gesturing.

Today's patent applications cover ongoing research in refining the touch experience by avoiding unintentional contact and advancing the hardware technology itself, but a few interesting tidbits were also found.

One patent application titled "Gesture Learning" describes methods to teach these advanced gestures to users. Many readers have been concerned that previously depicted gestures for advanced multi-touch applications may be too hard to learn. In order to combat this hurdle, Apple is researching the use of visible feedback such as animated motion trails and/or hand motions as well as interactive games to teach users these gestures.

Another interesting possibility raised is the use of both capacitance (finger tip) and resistance (fingernail) to provide secondary functionality in future touch screens. The iPhone introduced a multi-touch capacitance based screen that allowed it to recognize bare finger touches only. This means that the iPhone will not respond to fingernails, gloved fingers touches or a standard stylus.



Apple suggests the addition of pressure sensitivity to provide additional functionality. For example, touching an item in a list with your fingertip would select it, while pressing it with your fingernail (or otherwise shielded finger or stylus) could bring up a pop-up menu (see picture above). Another interesting possibility would be the ability to add text-selection and copy/paste functionality. In an email, for example, while swiping with your fingertip would scroll the screen, using your fingertip or stylus could invoke text selection.

Unfortunately, we'll have to wait for a future Apple device to take advantage of these features as the current iPhone is not capable of this functionality.

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Apple has published a knowledge base article detailing steps for existing iPhone owners to take in upgrading to the iPhone 3G. Apple walks through the backup and restoration process which will require iTunes 7.7 for the iPhone 3G.

One new bit of information for U.S. customers is the fact that you will not move your existing iPhone SIM card to the new iPhone. Instead, the iPhone 3G's SIM card will be reprogrammed with your information:

In the US, iPhone 3G includes a SIM and your original iPhone's SIM is not needed. Your original iPhone account information will be transferred to iPhone 3G's included SIM when you purchase iPhone 3G. To dispose of your original iPhone SIM, contact your carrier.

For whatever reason, international users may simply use their original iPhone SIM card in the iPhone 3G.

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Mobile carrier Optus has announced iPhone 3G pricing and plans in Australia. Optus is offering both pre-paid and traditional post-paid plans.

The pre-paid price for the iPhone is $729 (8GB) and $849 (16GB) and allows you to sign up as needed without need for a long term contract. Pricing appears to start at $30 per "recharge" but without data service. 50MB is included in the $40 Turbo Cap pricing. Full details are available at Optus.

The post-paid pricing appears slightly more confusing (to this U.S. resident), with no upfront phone charge, but a monthly "handset repayment" which ranges from $0/month to $59/month depending on the plan and model of iPhone you get.

"Cap" plans start at $19/month with 100MB of internet data and "$50 of calls and text". Prices go up from there, with the highest price priced at $179/month with 1GB of data and "$1500 of calls and text". Full details are available at Optus.

Vodafone and Telstra are also providing iPhone service in Australia but have not yet announced their pricing plans.

Update: Telstra announced their plans today:

iPhone 3G will be available from Telstra on July 11 with a range of specially designed Next G iPhone 3G plans that meet the needs of any customer. The Next G iPhone 3G plans start at $30 per month with an upfront cost of $279 for the 8GB model and $399 for the 16GB model. Customers will receive the 8GB iPhone 3G model at no cost with the $80 plan and either the 8GB or the 16GB model at no cost with plans starting at $100 per month. All plans include free Wi-Fi access at Telstra hotspots and require a 24-month contract.

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One forum user posted for help getting his new iPhone activated through iTunes. As it turns out, the iPhone was purchased in China just last week. After some photos of the phone were posted, it was clear that the phone is a very convincing knock-off of the actual iPhone. The packaging appears authentic, and at first glance the phone itself looks pretty similar. The proportions are slightly off, but the icons are identical except for the presence of a Penguin icon which launches a Chinese game:



Other differences can be seen, including the use of a standard USB plug on the bottom, instead of the usual dock connector. Other minor differences of type face and user interface placement would not be easily noticed by anyone who didn't own an iPhone themselves.

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In typical Apple fashion, the iPhone SDK program and App Store application process has been clouded in some uncertainty about launch dates and details of the approval process. Today, Apple finally gave developers a firm deadline of July 7th as the last date they would be considered for inclusion on launch day of the App Store.

To ensure your application can be considered for the exciting launch of the App Store, submit your application by 12 PM PDT, on July 7, 2008. We will continue to accept applications after this time, however your application may not be available until after the launch of the App Store.

Of course, developers can continue to submit their applications beyond the deadline, but may not make the actual App Store launch. The App Store is expected to launch on July 11th, alongside the iPhone 3G.

The App Store is thought to be a huge opportunity amongst developers, and inclusion on the first day of launch would provide a significant amount of free publicity. Developers interested in additional MacRumors coverage on launch day and beyond should contact us.

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Gizmodo posts a brief video walkthrough of some of the new features found on the 2.0 firmware.

According to the site, testing has not revealed any obvious errors, though content filtering is not yet working. The App Store, of course, is also not yet online.

Apple is expected to release the 2.0 Firmware update on July 11th as a free update to current iPhone owners.

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The iPhone 3G will launch on July 11th in 20 countries worldwide. More details have been trickling in about launch times and pricing:

- According to Macworld.co.uk, the UK's O2 stores will open at 7am on July 11th to begin selling the iPhone 3G. O2 will be limiting sales to one per customer.
- AT&T announced yesterday that U.S. AT&T stores would be opening at 8am to launch Apple's latest phone.
- New Zealand is said to be kicking off their sales at 12:01am local time. This translates into 5am Pacific, 8am Eastern, and 1pm London time on July 10th.
- International rate plans have been released for the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Hong Kong.
- Photo of an iPhone 3G "in the wild" taken in Mexico City.

Apple has not yet announced the time they will be opening their retail stores on launch day, but they are holding a briefing with retail stores on July 6th about the process. MacRumors readers are continuing to organize local meetups for launch day.

Readers interested in even more iPhone news should follow the iPhone subsection on MacRumors which has recently covered additional details:

- Unsubsidized iPhone 3G Still Locked
- Starting New Service on Original iPhone? Prices Stay the Same.
- Teaser Video for Rolando: a Platform/Puzzler Game for iPhone
- iPhone 2.0 Offers 'Wi-Fi Only' Option for Flights

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Appleinsider reports that an AT&T spokesperson has informed them that customers upgrading to the iPhone 3G could continue to use their original iPhone as a Wi-Fi iPod:

"If the [original] device is not re-activated as a wireless phone after you’ve upgraded to iPhone 3G, it will still work as an iTunes player and can access Wi-Fi," the spokesperson said.

This would replicate the functionality of the iPod touch, with the additional ability to record audio and take photographs. If it can be successfully upgraded to 2.0 firmware without service, the original iPhone could also be used to run 3rd party apps and games.

When the original iPhone was released, there had been some interest in using the iPhone as an 'Wi-Fi iPod' by canceling your service, but there had been some initial concerns that this functionality might be later disabled. It appears these iPhones without service do remain functional long after the canceling of mobile service.

Obviously, with the introduction of the iPod touch in September, interest in this possibility dwindled. However, now it remains a useful alternative to selling or otherwise handing down your existing iPhone. Those who wish to activate new service on their original iPhones will be glad to know the original iPhone rate plans are preserved.

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AT&T confirmed another tidbit that many assumed true, but again it's nice to hear the official word. Despite suggestions that the unsubsidized iPhone 3G ($599, $699) would be "decoupled" from AT&T, a spokesperson has confirmed that the unsubsidized iPhone 3G will still be locked to AT&T.

But both contract and contract-free phones will be "locked" to work only on AT&T's network, and the monthly service plans available will be the same, said AT&T spokesman Michael Coe.

This means U.S. customers who wish to unlock their iPhone 3G will have to wait for a publicly available solution.

As has been stated before, the iPhone 3G will be unable to use T-Mobile's 3G data network, so the only practical reason for unlocking of the iPhone 3G in the U.S. is for international travel.

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Tidbits confirms what most people expected, but it's nice to get confirmation from AT&T.

The current 2G iPhone plans will continue to be available for people who want to start up new service plans with someone's old phone.

If you get an original iPhone (in sale, trade, or hand-me down) and decide to initiate new mobile phone service with AT&T, you will be charged the same rates as before. This means Unlimited Data and 200 SMS messages are still only $20/month for those using an original iPhone. The price and terms changed with the introduction of the iPhone 3G. iPhone 3G owners pay $30/month for unlimited 3G data and no SMS messages are included in that plan.

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A new video teaser of upcoming iPhone game Rolando has been posted at TouchArcade. Few details are provided, but the game is described as a physics-based platform/puzzler which has been designed from the ground up for the iPhone. The Youtube Video is impressive.


The game will be the first official game from Handcircus. The developer is hoping to deliver it by late July/early August.

Some have compared the game to Sony's Loco Roco for the PSP.

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One new feature shown in the iPhone 2.0 guided tour is the ability to independently turn on Wi-fi after you've switched your iPhone into "Airplane mode". Normally, with Airplane mode, the iPhone turns off both its cellular and Wi-fi transmissions to prevent any inteference with the plane's navigation system.

The need for Wi-fi on a plane is a rather new feature with a company called Gogo starting to offer Wi-fi internet access on domestic flights beginning this summer.

Gogo will be launching on three American Airline routes in July, with plans to expand to several other major U.S. airlines next year. The cost for the service is $12.95 for flights of three hours or longer and $9.95 for shorter trips.

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