MacRumors

Apple released a pre-release version of iTunes 7.7 for developers tonight. In the Read Me of the iTunes installer is a hint at a previously unannounced iPhone/iPod Touch application:

Use iTunes 7.7 to sync music, video, and more with iPhone 3G, and download applications from the iTunes Store exclusively designed for iPhone and iPod touch with software version 2.0 or later. Also use the new Remote application for iPhone or iPod touch to control iTunes playback from anywhere in your home -- a free download from the App Store.

Apple reveals that they will be offering a free app on the App Store that allows you to remotely control iTunes in your home from your iPhone or iPod Touch. The application will presumably work under Wi-Fi to control playback of iTunes.

Apple has previously patented methods to implement such an iPhone Media remote control.

Apple has sent out an email notice to developers that they are now accepting applications to the App Store.

Get started by downloading the eighth beta version of the iPhone OS, available in the iPhone Dev Center. With this new version of iPhone OS you can conduct final testing and prepare your application for submission to the App Store.

Apple is expected to launch the final iPhone 2.0 Firmware and App Store on July 11th alongside the iPhone 3G release. Developers may submit their applications now for availability in the App Store. Apple must approve all applications that are submitted.

Apple has seeded developers with Beta 8 of the iPhone Software Developer's Kit (SDK) in preparation for the upcoming App Store. Alongside the latest SDK, Apple has also seeded a pre-release of iTunes 7.7 as well as a new version of the iPhone 2.0 Firmware.

A detailed list of changes are not yet available, but Apple is now accepting Apps into the App store.

New Features in iTunes 7.7

- MobileMe Support - "Use MobileMe to have push email, push calendars, push contacts, and bookmarks delivered over the air to your iPhone."
- "Applications" in iTunes Sync with the option to sync "All" or "selected" applications.

Despite some recent reports about an early Firmware 2.0 release, one reader points out that Apple's iPhone 3G press release pinpoints July 11th to be the day of the 2.0 software launch:

iPhone 2.0 software will be available on July 11 as a free software update via iTunes 7.7 or later for all iPhone customers

This also correlates to what Apple and AT&T representatives are telling enterprise customers.

Meanwhile, one analyst believes that Apple has increased their order for 3G iPhones to 15 million for 2008, well above their targeted goal of 10 million iPhones. Finally, we've heard that some locations (such as early reviewers) have already been seeded with the iPhone 3G in anticipation of the upcoming launch.

Adobe has announced the availability of Adobe Acrobat 9. According to Adobe's website, new or enhanced features include:

- Capturing web pages as PDF
- Insert video (FLV or H.264) into PDF. Video can be marked up.
- Content management via PDF Portfolio feature
- Professionally designed templates
- 256 bit encryption
- Enhanced review tracker
- Electronic Form importer from Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, or scanned documents
- Ability to check PDF standards compliance

The software is available as a stand-alone product in Standard, Pro, and Extended versions (only the Pro version is Mac compatible), or via Adobe Creative Suite 3.3 (Design Premium and Standard and Web Premium versions), which are available as a $159 upgrade for existing CS3 customers. More details are available via Adobe's site.

Unconfirmed reports claim that the U.S. iPhone launch will take place starting at 8am, July 11th at AT&T stores nationwide. A screenshot posted to our forums claims to depict the actual email sent to AT&T managers. Even if you accept the letter as true, it's not entirely certain that the 8am time was sanctioned by Apple. When the iPhone first launched in 2007, there were multiple reports of AT&T stores planning on opening first thing in the morning, only later to find out the actual launch time was 6pm.

Apple's own retail stores have not yet been briefed on the exact launch time of the iPhone 3G, though it had been previously suggested that it would again happen at 6pm. Apple has confirmed that the iPhone 3G will launch on July 11th, 2008, but the exact time of day has not been announced.

Apple is expected to brief their retail stores on July 6th regarding both the iPhone 3G and MobileMe, so more details should be available after that time.

On Tuesday, Microsoft released the 12.1.1 update for Mac Microsoft Office 2008. A Microsoft support note details the changes found in the latest update. Amongst the improvements listed include stability and performance improvements as well as a number of bug fixes. The download is available from Microsoft.

Microsoft also released the final version of their Open XML File Format Converter for Microsoft Office 2004. This updater allows Office 2004 users to open and save files in the Open XML format used by 2007 Microsoft Office for Windows and Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac.

Finally, it appears that Microsoft's Mac Business Unit is growing with plans for "products beyond Office 2008" and is actively hiring.

Apple is set to launch the iPhone 3G on July 11th in 20 countries. Reports of the mandatory contract agreements at the time of iPhone 3G purchase have many worried about the logistics of executing this plan on launch day. When the original iPhone was launched, users were allowed to activate their phone and choose a rate plan at home.

At least one O2 rep has been telling customers that they will be able to sign up for contracts and rate plans ahead of the 3G launch to help expedite sales on launch day.

The main point he told me was this, From July 1st All O2 stores in the UK will offer pre registration Credit checks, You can come in store, have your contract setup for you, and a unique registration code given to you. The contract will simply be "paused" and wont be activated. No details are taken about which model phone you are going to be purchasing.

You can then turn up on July 11th and quote the registration code and then make a standard purchase of the phone and then the contract will become activated.

Unfortunately, mobile phone reps have been notoriously inaccurate with respect to pre-release iPhone information, but such a procedure would help alleviate long delays on launch day. If true, we would expect Apple to adopt a similar strategy in the U.S.

Seemingly in a response to growing competition from Apple and Google, Nokia is buying out Symbian Ltd and will open its mobile operating system for royalty free use. Nokia will pay $410 million to buy the remaining 52% share of the company that it does not already own and establish the Symbian Foundation:

"This is a significant milestone in our software strategy" said Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, CEO of Nokia. "Symbian is already the leading open platform for mobile devices. Through this acquisition and the establishment of the Symbian Foundation, it will undisputedly be the most attractive platform for mobile innovation. This will drive the development of new and compelling, web-enabled applications to delight a new generation of consumers."

The Symbian Foundation is a non-profit organization that will open source the Symbian operating system to bring "innovation to the platform" and to engage a broader community. Symbian Ltd was originally formed in partnership with Ericsson, Nokia, Motorola and Psion in 1998. Since then, Symbian's mobile operating system has grown to power two thirds of all existing smart phones and 6% of all phones worldwide.

The move seems to clearly be in response to Google's Android initiative which similarly offers an open platform for upcoming mobile phones. Yesterday, a report claimed that we would not see the first Android phones until the 4th quarter of this year, due to carrier delays. As well, Apple's plans to launch their App Store and promoting their new mobile development platform likely also played a factor in Nokia's decision.

Apple will be launching the App Store alongside the iPhone 2.0 Firmware update in "early July".

Apple has quietly added television shows for sale on iTunes Australia tonight. iTunes lists five networks with TV shows currently available: ABC Studios, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Disney Channel, Nine Network and MTV. Individual shows are priced at $2.99 per episode. At present, there appear to be 21 different shows represented.

Apple has been slowly rolling out international television and movie sales on iTunes. Movies remain unavailable on iTunes Australia at this time.

An official press release will likely be issued later today.

Japanese mobile carrier Softbank announced pricing for the iPhone 3G which will be launched on July 11th, 2008. Softbank will sell the iPhone 3G for 23,040 yen ($214.6) with a monthly charge of 7,280 yen ($67). The service plan provides unlimited data usage and also allows subscribers to talk free between Softbank subscribers for most of the day. This is 70% higher than the average rate plan in Japan of 4,310 yen ($40). Softbank believes they will be able to attract new users to their service:

"We expect users who pay a lot to migrate from au (KDDI's mobile arm) and DoCoMo," Son told a group of reporters. "There have been users who were just attracted to our low price, but the main point this time is feature attractiveness rather than price."

DoCoMo was also in talks with Apple and has "not given up on talks".

Softbank warns that they expect the first supply to "evaporate instantly" and "we in the company will probably fight to get one as well."

Meanwhile, details of other international pricing and service plans have been emerging, including (unconfirmed):

- UK PAYG iPhone priced at 370
- One Australian customer completed an online survey about phones and price plans and listed the iPhone at $220 upfront and $80/mo service plan but may just be speculative pricing.
- iPhone Mexico rates leaked?
- Vodafone and TIM (Italy) announced unsubsidized pricing 499 and 569 euro (8GB and 16GB).