The iPhone is possibly the most wanted cellphone since the mighty Blackberry, and sporting loads of features, including a mini OSX Operating System and devilish good looks, who wouldn't want one? We know that the iPhone doesn't have everything, but the sheer appeal of the phone, just like the iPod, makes everyone want one.

There has been rumor of an early release for the iPhone, but until now no solid dates have been revealed. Cingular is confirming that the release date will be June 11, and although this isn't coming from Steve Jobs' mouth, June 11 coincides with the first day of Apple's World Developers Conference.

We're still awaiting a response from Apple, but as soon as one comes in we'll have it ready. Any confirmation on this date would be helpful so we can get our pre-orders in!

 

A few days ago we reported on the different launch parties that were going on around the world to celebrate the release of what's set to be the world's next most popular Operating System, and today we bring you coverage from the Vista launch at the British library in the UK.

Windows is everywhere: from your home, to work, to entertainment; you just can't get away from it. Windows Vista is the successor to Windows XP and is supposed to be more efficient, more secure and more reliable than it's predecessor. But according to Bill Gates himself at the London shindig, we can expect much more from Vista that will shape the future of gaming.

Mr. Gates said, "Today is a big day, and it's really the start of something different," proceeding to comment on the future of games in Vista, the Operating System which will allow us to "play games that are of a whole new level of realism and connecting up with other people around the world". He talked about the developer tools which will be available for Vista will 'empower' the software industry, giving them the ability to create high quality software at low prices. He concluded by saying "We're unleashing people's creativity and we're excited about what can happen."

This speech appears to have been made in response to the Vista compatibility questions that have sprouted up all around the internet, but if Microsoft get this right it could be the sale of the century. Developer tools in Vista are going to be one of the huge factors in the development of games in the future.

Developers are only as good as the tools they can use to create their games, and with the use of extensive information and documents Gates has promised devs, we should be seeing more huge games with amazing graphics that challenge the boundaries between reality and virtual reality. We could even see a game better than World of Warcraft.

A revolution is underway as internet search giant Google has signed an agreement with mobile phone maker Samsung to pimp the latter's mobiles. Google products such as Google search, Google maps, Gmail, and other future Google products will be available so you can find whatever you want whilst on the move.

The combination of Google applications and Samsung's advanced mobile devices represents the two companies' dedication to offering a hassle-free mobile Internet experience for consumers worldwide. This may sound a bit salesman-esque but for mobile phone users out there, this is great news, especially with the integration of traffic updates on Google Maps.

If you find it a little hard to get to grips with new technology on mobiles then you'll be glad to hear that all Google applications on Samsung phones will be easily accessible with a click of a button. If you cannot get to a PC, this is the next best thing. Kitae Lee, President of Samsung's Telecommunication Network Business said:

We are very thrilled to introduce Samsung mobiles with one-click access to Google services. Our cooperation with Google exemplifies our commitment to leading the evolution from the fixed-Internet era to a mobile Internet era and ushering in a ubiquitous world where mobile enables our consumers to access information about anything, anywhere, anytime.

The internet-mobile revolution has begun.

We all like a good freebie or two and if you're a Windows lovers, you'll surely be very pleased to hear what we're about to tell you. The title does not lie: by watching a few online videos, you could get your hands on a pristine copy of either Windows Vista or Microsoft Office 2007, two of Microsoft's next generation range of computer software. This isn't illegal, nor is it happening behind the backs of those guys at Microsoft. It's 100% genuine and all it asks is that you are over 18 years of age and are a resident of the U.S.

Now, just register at the special "Power Together" site and make sure to watch the the three webcasts featuring Windows Vista and Office 2007 within 30 days, and you'll soon (say six to eight weeks soon) have a shiny copy of Vista Business (not the cheap one) or Office 2007 posted directly to your door. With the technological enhancements in Vista providing increased security, amazing 3D graphics, and a nice new user interface for higher spec computers, this is one you'll surely want. There's no catch to this "promo" as it has been confirmed legitimate and COMPLETELY FREE by MSDN officials. As long as you meet the above requirements, you're in.

The obvious ploy behind these webcasts is to encourage the use of Office 2007 and Vista together - and by sending you one of the two for free, you'll surely be encouraged you to buy the other product. As Microsoft claims, it's the Zen of Vista and Office 2007 that will make you happy. Even if you are unsure of this, it sure beats shelling out hundreds of dollars for this software! I'd advise you sign up quick (just click the link below), this offer will go from zero to millions of registered users in minutes.

Motherboard manufacturers in Taiwan have an aggressive increase in orders for high-capacitance multi-layer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) used in the manufacturing of CPUs allegedly for the use in an AMD-based Apple notebook. With Intel getting in on the Apple action, there's no reason why the other major CPU manufacturer in the world shouldn't get a piece of the warm Apple pie. AMD Taiwan have refused to comment on this.

Although some are saying that an AMD Apple notebook is in the works, other motherboard manufacturers have claimed that there are no AMD/Apple notebooks around, firstly due to Intel having processor superiority over AMD with its latest Core Duo 2 line-up, and that AMD has insufficient capacity to manufacture chips for Apple notebooks.

This is a nice area to look at, and with the success of Boot Camp and the integration Intel processors, and if AMD processor integration goes ahead, Apple computers may steal a lot more of the notebook market, taking even more people away from their Windows laptop loyalties.

The growth of Bluetooth has been exponential in the last 5 years or so, with the introduction of the new wireless standard to mobile phones and laptops alike. The VoiceStation Bluetooth conference phone shows just how this Bluetooth technology has adapted to suit our normal lives. Designed for the small office/conference room, the VoiceStation 500 from Polycom features their Acoustic Clarity Technology for full, natural group conferencing which works by minimising annoying conference phone call features such as background echoes, word clipping and distortion; providing high-quality voice conferencing for all.

The VoiceStation 500 features 3 360-degree microphones that have been finely tuned using Polycom's 12 years in the voice conferencing business for maximum clarity. The Bluetooth part of the device allows you to connect wirelessly to a mobile phone for conference calls, or to a computer for use with VoIP services such as Skype, giving this device many uses. If you don't have a bluetooth connection, you can even connect it up to your PC using the good old-fashioned copper wire - known as a cable to you and me.

The Polycom Voicestation can be picked up for as little as $260 from certain online retailers.

The latest accessory for your Sony Ericsson mobile is small, makes a ticking sound, fits on your wrist, tells the time and displays Caller ID. Of course, it's the Sony Ericsson MBW-100 Bluetooth watch, the next must have item on your list of wireless devices you want for Christmas. The Sony Ericsson MBW-100 is actually made by watch company Fossil and not Sony Ericsson themselves and features an analog display with stainless steal casing and a small OLED display that shows incoming calls using Called ID and Bluetooth technology which wirelessly links your phone to your watch.

Pushing a button on the watch can decline the call, allowing you to get rid of that unwanted call without even reaching for your phone - the ultimate feature to keep your phone calls discreet. Other features include out-of-range warning (for when you exceed the bluetooth range limit), SMS indication and play, pause and skip control for the your Sony Ericsson's MP3 player.

What more could you ask for in a watch? It looks good, has great functionality and is compatible with a huge range of sony Ericsson phones - the K610, K610i, K618, K790, K800, V630, W710, W850, Z610, and the Z710. The Sony Ericsson MBW-100 Bluetooth watch will go on sale globally during Q4 of 2006, just in time for Christmas with a guideline retail price of approximately $380.

Microsoft, the biggest software manufacturer in the world have filed a lawsuit against the hacker that created FairUse4WM, the application which originally appeared in August. The application reportedly has the ability to bypass Windows Digital Rights Management (DRM) technology which is supposed to restrict the use of online purchased media to ensure copyright is not infringed. The FairUse4WM program strips DRM from Microsoft's WMA (Windows Media Audio) format of all copyright restrictions, allowing users to do what they want with the audio files.

Over the past month Microsoft has issued numerous patches in order to try and thwart the FairUse4WM threat, however the hacker, known only as 'Viodentia', has been keeping one step behind Microsoft, releasing new versions of the program when Microsoft update their DRM software.  Due to the promptness of Viodenta's releases, Microsoft claims that he has access to Microsoft source code and have therefore filed a lawsuit against him.

In a post on the Internet on Wednesday, Viodentia denied using any copyrighted Microsoft source code code, and as if in an effort to provoke Microsoft even more, released an updated version of his DRM-cracking tool. "FairUse4WM has been my own creation, and has never involved Microsoft source code," said Viodentia. "I link with Microsoft's static libraries provided with the compiler and various platform SDK (software development kit) files."

Is Viodentia an innocent person wanting the free distribution of data or a strategic hacker with a personal vendetta against Microsoft - Sound off in the comments!

Major airline Virgin Atlantic has eased its restrictions on laptops today, allowing both Dell and Apple laptops to be used on board as long as their serial numbers have been checked by a member of the in-flight cabin crew. This comes no more than a week after the airline banned the use of Dell and Apple laptops on their flights following the same kind of ban from Australian airline Qantas. The whole shenanigan started with faulty Sony batteries supplied to laptop manufacturers all over the world including Dell and Apple, some of whose laptops started to explode.

Virgin Atlantic has trained its cabin crew to check the laptop batteries, and Virgin Atlantic has said that if a battery is not on the recall list, then the laptop can be used without restriction. However, if the suspect laptop does in fact come fitted with one of the affected batteries, then it must be removed immediately. "In cabins where the seats are fitted with in-seat power supplies... Leads/adaptors will be offered," the airline said. "Any removed or spare batteries must be individually wrapped/protected and placed in your carry-on baggage. This is limited to two batteries per passenger."

Virgin says that the extra security measures will be lifted once the safety issues had been fully resolved. Watch this space; Qantas will probably be making the same changes to their policies too. If you are in any doubt about whether or not you will be able to use your laptop in-flight, we advise that you contact your airline before the flight.

NBC Universal and I-Play are set to bring the much-loved comedy TV series 'The Office' to North American Mobile users via on-demand video. The most memorable moments of the prime time TV show later this year, not too far away from The launch of The Office's 3rd season, launches on NBC today at 8:30pm ET.

"Offering select video clips from popular television series like The Office is one way that NBC Universal is looking to extend our audiences experience with the brand" said Jeremy Laws, Senior Vice President, Universal Mobile Entertainment. "We look forward to working with I-play, who has been a key strategic partner for us as we address consumers growing appetite for mobile video."

David Gosen, CEO of I-play also commented on this ground-breaking movement for comedy on the move: "I-play is continuing to build its library of video on demand entertainment and having the best scenes from The Office fits perfectly with the profile of today's burgeoning clip culture. Bite size chunks of comedy, with and innuendo delivered when the end user wants to see it is a compelling offering mobile on demand video really puts choice and control in the hands of the consumer."

If you haven't heard of the TV show (where have you been?), 'The Office' is executive-produced by Ben Silverman and Greg Daniels, who developed the series for American television, and features comedy-faces such as Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant and Howard Klein. If you haven't seen it yet, make sure you do, we can almost guarantee that you will laugh all the way through - unless you don't have a sense of humour that is.