Over the next 48 hours, there is going to be an avalanche of news releases and reports regarding the iPhone 3G, MobileMe, App Store, and individual application launches. As always for launch events, MacRumors will accelerate news coverage to report each of these items with some detail.
New MobileMe system preference icon
Apple has announced that MobileMe will be launching tonight between 8pm PT and 2am PT. One forum user has already discovered the url for the Leopard MobileMe updater which changes all references of .Mac to MobileMe in Mac OS X. The official updater should be available shortly.
The first iPhone 3G launch will take place in New Zealand on July 11th at one minute past midnight local time. This translates to July 10th at 5am Pacific Time. The crew at iFixit actually flew to New Zealand to stand in line in order to disassemble the iPhone 3G immediately after its release. They are #4 in line. Other lines have already formed in Japan, Sydney, Boston, USA, and New York, USA. Readers are continuing to organize meetups with others in their area.
Forbes believes that Apple is planning to launch the App Store on Thursday, July 10th at 9am Pacific Time. This means the non-disclosure agreement preventing developers from publicizing their apps and publishing screenshots will be lifted. MacRumors will be covering iPhone launch applications in some detail, initially on the front page, and later in our iPhone subblog. Developers who wish this additional exposure should send their information, links and screenshots to webmaster@macrumors.com in a timely manner. No application information will be published prior to the App Store launch.
AT&T has started receiving iPhone 3G shipments and have posted a Youtube video (via Adam Jackson) showing them receiving iPhone 3Gs and stocking them. Employees have received training on iPhone activations and are humorously instructed to allow the customer to "enjoy the feel of the phone in their hand" (image) before proceeding with activation.
Update: .Mac is down for the transition to MobileMe.
Update 2: Vodafone Australia posted rate plans for iPhone 3G
Update 3: Stuff.tv video review of iPhone 3G
