MacRumors

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

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

Top and bottom casing of MacBook Pro

Although the enclosure shown in the photo appears to be a slightly dated prototype that has somehow found its way into the wild, casings currently sitting in Apple's labs are said to be nearly identical, as the overall design has not changed.

According to their sources, the battery will take up the the remainder of the bottom casing and the rectangular recess is a latch to release the battery. Taking up 25% of the bottom of the case, the battery compartment will also provide easy access to its hard drive.

Artist rendition from AppleInsider

Apple has been rumored to be working on new aluminum MacBook Pro designs that will adopt features of the current iMac and MacBook Air.

Update: A time lapse video showing the complicated procedure of how to replace a hard drive in the current MacBook Pro.

Rogers issued a press release today announcing a last minute special promotional offer for the iPhone 3G in Canada.

Effective July 11, and as a limited time promotional offer for customers who activate by August 31 on a three year contract, a data-only offering of 6GB of data for $30 per month is being made available that can be added to any in-market voice plan. For example, with 6GB of data, iPhone 3G users can visit 35,952 web pages, or send and receive 157,286 emails, or watch 6,292 minutes of YouTube videos each and every month.

The rate plan appears to be in response to the overwhelming consumer outrage at the original iPhone plans announced two weeks ago. Initially, data plans for the iPhone topped out at 2GB for the highest $115/month plan which also came with 800 voice minutes + unlimited voice nights/weekends.

Select Rogers stores in Canada will open at 8 a.m. on July 11th for the iPhone 3G launch.

AppleInsider provides some additional notes about the iPhone 3G launch on Friday at U.S. Apple Retail stores and offers some clarity to one purchasing scenario.

According to their sources, current non-iPhone AT&T customers can go to Apple Retail stores and purchase the iPhone 3G and will be billed appropriately. The confusion arose from the subsidy surrounding the iPhone 3G and whether or not Apple would be able to tell if current AT&T customers "qualified" for the lower pricing. Existing iPhone customers and individuals new to AT&T automatically qualify for the $199/$299 subsidized iPhone 3G pricing. However, individuals who are current AT&T customers but do not own an iPhone must be "upgrade eligible" to purchase at the discounted prices. AT&T has posted walkthrough videos that explains the different scenarios.

Apparently, Apple's checkout system does access AT&T's database, but only at time of checkout. So if you are unsure of your upgrade eligibility, you should contact AT&T or log into your online account to check. As a result, the only group of individuals who need to specifically go to the AT&T stores are business/corporate customers.

Meanwhile, customers in Australia, New Zealand and the U.K. may see short supplies of the iPhone 3G. Smarthouse.com.au claims that the first iPhone 3G shipments to those carriers will be less than 25,000 units each. The stock is described by one executive as "next to nothing" with expectations that they will be "snapped up within minutes."

Similarly, the U.K.'s O2 expects only "a couple of dozen" iPhones for each of their O2 and Carphone Warehouse locations on launch day. In fact, no stock at all of the white 16GB iPhone is expected in the U.K. at first.

Other Notes about the iPhone 3G and Launch:

- "Push" has been turned on in .Mac/Me.com and now works for those who have iPhone 2.0 firmware.
- The shipping iPhone 3G Firmware build (5A345) is the same as the 2.0 Beta 8 Firmware in the hands of developers
- 5th Avenue Apple Store will close at midnight July 10th and reopen at 8am July 11th.
- First guy is in line in New Zealand
- New Zealand customers are unhappy about pricing plans from Vodafone. (Petition)
- Mexico rate plans also came out. Customers there are also quite unhappy.
- Australia: Optus World store at 280 George Street Sydney will open 12.00am on July 11.
- Australia: Vodafone briefly posted their rate plans but then pulled them down.
- Meetups with other MacRumors readers are being organized: click here

The first iPhone 3G reviews are in from the reporters who have had early access to the iPhone 3G for the past two weeks. While we encourage you to read their reviews in full, we've highlighted some interesting tidbits:

Walt Mossberg / AllThingsD

- "it mostly keeps its promises."
- "more capable version of an already excellent device"
- Battery drained much more quickly using 3G
- Greatly improved audio, much louder speaker
- Data speeds 3-5x faster than original iPhone
- Better voice coverage with 3G. "At my neighborhood shopping center, where the first iPhone got little or no AT&T service, the iPhone 3G registered strong coverage."

Edward Baig / USA Today

- "iPhone 3G: The Sequel, is worth the wait."
- Still no recording video, no stereo bluetooth or voice dialing
- Supports PowerPoint attachments; mass move or delete multiple e-mail messages
- 10-30 seconds to load popular websites on 3G.
- GPS was very accurate
- Speaker sounded better for both speakerphone and music.
- "started receiving low battery warnings toward the end of a busy work day; I found myself charging the device overnight, the same as with the older iPhone."

David Pogue / NYTimes

- Sound is much improved. "In fact, few cellphones sound this good."
- Feels better in your hand due to the curved back
- "According to Apple, the iPhones G.P.S. antenna is much too small to emulate the turn-by-turn navigation of a G.P.S. unit for a vehicle, for example."
- No voice dialing, video recording, copy/paste, memory card slot, Bluetooth stereo, MMS
- "the really big deal is the iPhone 2.0 software and the App Store, neither of which requires buying a new iPhone."

While we've covered iPhone 2.0 firmware screenshots in the past, WinSuperSite has compiled (one, two, three) an extensive gallery of photos of the iPhone 2.0 Firmware and installation process.

The iPhone 3G will become available on July 11th internationally. Apple is also expected to release the 2.0 Firmware for the original iPhones at that time.

Update: Video unboxing of the iPhone 3G.

Informationweek reports on comments made by Brad Brooks, Microsoft's VP of Windows Vista consumer marketing at their annual Worldwide Partner Conference. Brooks admits that they have made mistakes with the Vista launch but that they are ready to counter attacks from Apple and let customers know that Vista is "finally stable and ready."

"We've got a pretty noisy competitor out there," Brooks said of Apple whose "I'm a Mac... and I'm a PC," commercials criticize Windows Vista. "You know it. I know it. It's caused some impact. We're going to start countering it. They tell us it's the iWay or the highway. We think that's a sad message. Software out there is made to be compatible with your whole life."

Microsoft is planning to launch a massive advertising campaign worth hundreds of millions of dollars to promote Vista. Key features to be promoted include upgraded security and compatibility with both applications and devices.

Apple has posted guidelines about what to bring and expect at the iPhone 3G launch at Apple Retail stores.

The Apple Retail Store is the perfect place to get your iPhone 3G. When you arrive, a Concierge in an orange shirt will direct you to the iPhone bay where you can take advantage of our free Personal Setup. A Specialist will help you choose an iPhone 3G, review coverage maps, select a rate plan, and best of all have your new iPhone 3G ready to make calls, browse the web, and receive email right on the spot.

In order to purchase and activate your iPhone 3G, you will need (U.S. Stores):

- Credit card
- Social security number
- Valid, government-issued photo ID
- Your current wireless account number and password or PIN (if youre new to AT&T)

Apple reminds users to sync their existing iPhones before coming into the store and that sales start at 8:00 a.m. on a first-come, first-serve basis. Stock will be replenished daily and Apple will offer a daily online status check of inventory after the launch.

An important note for business customers, Apple warns that corporate accounts must contact AT&T directly and that these will not be processed at Apple stores. While Apple posts no caveats for current AT&T non-iPhone owners, one reader has been told by Apple Retail stores that current non-iPhone AT&T customers ineligible for upgrade should visit AT&T stores.