MicroTechXP

We’re not particularly inclined to believe them, but the whispers that Apple is about to bump the top-end iPhone capacity to 32GB are getting harder to ignore — especially since 8GB inventory is drying up, leading to speculation that’s it’s going to be dropped as soon as next week. We think the timing’s a little odd on the heels of the Let’s Rock iPod refresh, but considering the rampant speculation that Apple was forced to bump the nano to 16GB and drop the “limited edition” 4GB model entirely at the last minute in response to the new Zune lineup we suppose it makes competitive sense. AppleInsider also says customers will once again get the option to activate in-home, but we haven’t heard anything about that — we’ll see what happens in the next few days.

[Engadget]

So the good news is that T-Mobile has decided to keep right on taking pre-orders for the G1 through October 21, just one day before the handset’s official launch. The bad news, though, is that it doesn’t mean you’ll be getting your Android on come October 22. Turns out that the initial allotment of G1s set aside for pre-orders is now sold out completely, and any names taken between now and launch will be allotted phones being shipped quot;at a later date.quot; It’s not clear if a quot;later datequot; means a week, a month, or a decade after the 22nd, but for the sake of everyone involved, we hope its the former. br /strongUpdate:/strong T-Mobile’s site says that pre-orders taken from here on out will be delivered quot;as early as November 10,quot; so it looks like you early birds are going to have a nice little period of exclusivity. [Engadget]

It has been long rumoured that Microsoft would introduce Zune software onto the Windows Mobile operating system.

In an interview with CIO magazine Steve Ballmer confirms that Microsoft is looking to port the software to Windows mobile devices.

When questioned why Microsoft developed the zune, Ballmer replied:

“At the end of the day, one of the big trends is that all content is going digital. And if we don’t have the software and services that are useful, helpful and valuable for the consumption of music and video, we are sort of not really a player.

Now, we built the Zune hardware with the Zune software - and what you’ll see more and more over time is that the Zune software will also be ported to and be more important not just with the hardware but on the PC, on Windows Mobile devices, etc.”

This is the strongest indication that Microsoft will be porting the software. We’re not sure when exactly but you can bet that Windows Mobile 7 will have it included. [CIO Magazine]

I missed out on the cushy, well-received home activation process enjoyed by pretty much every first gen iPhone user. Instead, I waited in line for my iPhone 3G, waited some more, and then waited some more as the AT&T store employees told us about a hundred times that iTunes was kaput. Eventually, I was sent home to wait until the system was ready. On that note, here’s some good news for future iPhone 3G buyers: The critically acclaimed home activation process could be returning soon.

AppleInsider cites Apple Store employees as the source of the rumor. Apparently, a new "Home" option (currently inactive) appears in their EasyPay system when they make an iPhone 3G sale. As the 8GB model runs dry on store shelves, there’s also indications a 32GB model could appear fairly soon to replace it, and match the iPod Touch. [AppleInsider via Gizmodo]

Competition in the touch-screen smartphone segment is set to heat up soon now that Asustek Computer has unveiled its first touch-screen handset, the Asus P552w, while High Tech Computer (HTC) is preparing to launch a mid-range touch-screen model, the HTC Opal, to strengthen its penetration in the segment, according to market watchers in Taiwan.
The P552w, which was unveiled on September 5, features the latest Asustek-grown 3D touch user interface, the Glide, which is able to perform functions similar to the HTC-grown 3D TouchFLO technology, the noted the observers. Asustek is expected to start volume shipments of the P552w in the fourth quarter of this year, compared to the first quarter of this year as originally planned, the observers indicated.
View: The full story @ DigiTimes

Despite reports earlier this month which suggested otherwise, Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs appeared during the highly anticipated “Let’s Rock” presentation today, thin but jaunty, where he introduced new iPod nano and Touch music players. The thinner 8GB iPod nano, hailed as the thinnest iPod ever made, will go for $149, and includes a new “shake to shuffle” feature to change song play. The company also announced that that television broadcaster NBC had rejoined online video and music store iTunes.
“I would call it a series of both expected and unexpected announcements. Clearly the new iPod nano in the flesh is certainly more appealing than it’s been. It was expected but I think it will sell well in the holiday season,” said Michael Abramsky, analyst with RBC Capital Markets. “NBC is important content for Apple to have on iTunes, especially with the direction it’s taking, which is for iPods to handle more video. Having robust iTunes video is key to their success,” said Shannon Cross, analyst with Cross Research.
View: Full Story at Reuters

Zune, Microsoft Corp.’s end-to-end music and entertainment service, again revolutionizes how customers discover and connect to the music they love, where and how they want it. Starting next week, every Zune portable media player will let consumers wirelessly download or stream millions of songs on the go from thousands of wireless hot spots around the country. Free, powerful software and firmware updates will give Zune owners the ability to discover, tag and purchase songs directly from the built-in FM radio, wirelessly access the Zune Marketplace store on the go, and tap into interactive, personalized music recommendations that add even more value to the Zune Pass subscription. Zune is also expanding its device lineup with new 16GB and 120GB capacities as well as shiny new blue-on-silver and sleek all-black color schemes. The new features will begin rolling out on Sept. 16, 2008.

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Dutch website PSonly.nl published the first photo’s of a controller/remote/keyboard combi, manufactured by Nitho. The device seems to be a normal remote, with buttons like Play and Pause, but it has a slide-out keyboard hidden within. Not only a complete QWERTY keyboard is within it, also two analog sticks and all of the buttons of a normal PS3 controller.
it is unknown when this device will be released, and what the price will be. [PSOnly Via N4G.COM]

A new version of the iPod Nano will be introduced within the next two to three weeks, according to Digg founder and Apple watcher Kevin Rose. In a blog posting, Rose cites anonymous sources in a personal blog posting which details the reported plans from Apple. He claims that the upcoming rollout will include a new version of iTunes and a redesigned iPod nano.
The new nano would reportedly be thinner and longer than its current incarnation, allowing for a wider screen. Additionally, the new nano would also feature a rounded, cylindrical casing. While Rose’s report makes no mention of wireless networking, a past filing from Apple could point to the addition of WiFi hardware on the device.
View: The full story @ vnunet