Apple today introduced MobileMe, a new Internet service that delivers push email, push contacts and push calendars for iPhone, iPod touch, Macs and PCs. MobileMe also provides a suite of elegant, ad-free web applications that deliver a desktop-like experience through any modern browser. MobileMe applications (www.me.com) include Mail, Contacts and Calendar, as well as Gallery for viewing and

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iToner, an application by Ambrosia software, has been updated for the iPhone 1.1.3. iToner was previously disabled for phones which upgraded with the 1.1.3 firmware. The iToner software enables painless ringtone transfer from a Mac (using Mac OS X…

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Apple will release an iPhone software update during MacWorld Expo 2008, well informed sources confirmed MacScoop. But it appears that the unpolished iPhone sofware version recently leaked on the Internet doesn’t include all the features of the final release.

The reports we obtained claim that the software update will add copy-paste, which is one of the most requested features by iPhone users, and will provide a few other user interface improvements.

Additionally, the update should provide better stability and performance for the device which sometimes suffers from UI glitches and application hangs in its current version.

Sources also confirmed recent reports claiming that a soon to be released iPhone software update will offer very improved Google Maps with localization and hybrid view, mass SMS sending and multi-page editable home screen.

It is not out of question that other, non revealed yet features, appear with this update, our sources said. Be sure that we’lll keep you updated in case we obtain more information.

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Future versions of the iPod could turn down the volume if listeners play their music at full blast for too long.

It is the first time that the company has explicitly expressed fears over the risk the device poses to hearing.

Experts believe that millions of young people are risking irreversible hearing damage because of the craze for MP3 players.

The iPod, like other digital music players, can store enough music to play for several days and has batteries that can last for more than 12 hours at a time.

As a result, its owners can keep their earphones in all day, risking cumulative damage to their hearing.

A new patent reveals that the next iPods and iPhones could automatically calculate how long a person has been listening, and at what volume, before gradually reducing the sound level.

It states: “Since the damaging effects on users’ hearing is both gradual and cumulative, even those users who are concerned about hearing loss may not behave in a manner that would limit or minimise such damaging effects.”

Currently, iPods can reach volumes of more than 100 decibels (dB) - equivalent to standing 10ft from a pneumatic drill.

At that volume, experts claim there is a risk of hearing damage after just 15 minutes. Some MP3 players can exceed 120dB.

The device will also calculate the amount of “quiet time” between when the iPod is turned off and when it is restarted, allowing the volume to be increased again to a safe level.

However, it is unclear whether iPod owners will be able to switch off this automatic volume control.

The move by Apple to introduce hearing protection to iPods comes after heavy criticism by hearing charities who have expressed concerns about the risk posed by MP3 players.

In April, Apple revealed that it had sold more than 100 million iPods worldwide and it was expecting, by the end of this year, to have sold more than 4.5 million iPhones - which also function as music players - including 200,000 in Britain.

A recent report by the Royal National Institute for the Deaf estimated that more than four million young people in Britain are at risk of hearing damage from listening to loud music, and called on MP3 manufacturers to introduce warnings and volume limits.

It found that nearly 20 per cent of teenagers were listening to music for more than 21 hours a week.

Its “Don’t Lose the Music” campaign also recommends using noise-cancelling headphones to avoid turning up the volume to drown out background noise.

Listening to volumes below 70dB is considered safe, but prolonged exposure to ­volumes higher than 85dB can lead to hearing loss and tinnitus.

Many MP3 players in Europe have had volume levels capped at 100dB after authorities in France ordered a clampdown.

Apple said it did not comment on patent applications.

Emma Harrison, head of campaigns at the RNID, said: “Apple’s patent application makes it clear that personal audio players can damage hearing.

“If the next-generation iPods do what the patent claims, it could help to protect the hearing of millions of its customers.”

source

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Insiders tell us that Apple expects to announce sales of roughly five million iPhones at Macworld 2008 in January. Of these, around one million are expected to come from Europe. Apple is seeing very strong Christmas sales despite AT&T’s announcement that a 3G iPhone will be hitting in 2008 (May-June is our best guess at this point) that could’ve hampered demand.

Apple sold 1 million iPhones in 74 days around the same time it dropped the price to $399 from $599. Also, Apple opened in Europe’s three biggest markets in November - just in time for the holidays.

Some sources expect Apple to release a 16Gb iPhone upgrade at Macworld in mid January, however, no hard evidence to this effect has hit our ears.

Apple had originally expected to sell 10 million iPhones by the end of 2008 and reaching the halfway point this early is likely to bolster Apple’s stock price. Apple’s iPhone is a leader in the smartphone charge in the US and has gained marketshare at an unprecedented pace.

source

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