MacRumors

PCJoint.com points to ongoing research by Apple into multi-touch technologies. The most recent patent applications reveal techniques to recognize both palm and finger contacts in order to react appropriately.

PCJoint summarizes the possibilities:

- Need to move a cursor across the screen? Just slide your finger and it goes.
- Want to enter text? Just start typing and the text is there. You even get the touch feedback as if really pressing the keys.
- Need to erase some text? Use the backspace or just slide the finger backwards
- Have to write or draw something? Just pretend you hold a stylus or pen in your hand and start writing/drawing.
- If that is still not good enough, pick up the real stylus and start writing with it.
- All these cool touch gestures that Apple has implemented in iPhone and is exploring further? You know, scrolling, zooming, rotating & moving objects, etc; They are here too
- 3D object manipulation? Select a few 3D objects on the screen and use all 5 fingers on both hands to play with them.
- Want to take a break to relax and afraid to put your hands on the touch surface? Dont worry Multi-touch 2.0 thingie knows that and does not pay attention to your resting palms or fingers

This should come as no surprise to those who have been following Apple's patent applications as well as their previous acquisition of Fingerworks. Previous patent applications have also suggested the possibility of one surface acting for many different functions (such as typing and gestures).

Some of these sales are over. Parallels sale remains ongoing (see below), Amazon and MacMall still have $75-$150 rebates on many Macs.

Popular online retailers such as BestBuy, CompUSA, CircuitCity.com, and Amazon are now participating in online Black Friday sales.

Apple Store
Sale is Over
Apple's online store and retail stores are participating as well. Apple's 5th Avenue Store was the first to open at midnight on the east coast. Prices on select Macs and iPods are discounted as follows:

iMac: $1148 ($51 off), $1398 ($101 off), $1698 ($101 off), $2198 ($101 off)
MacBook: $1048 ($51 off), $1198 ($101 off), $1398 ($101 off)
iPod Classic: $228 ($21 off), $318 ($31 off)
iPod Nano: $138 ($11 off), $188 ($11 off)
iPod shuffle: $68 ($11 off)

Free laser engraving on iPods. Also discounts on many accessories, including Airport Extreme Base Stations ($21 off) and Apple Wireless Mighty Mouse ($11 off). Discounts can not be stacked with educational discounts.

Apple Related Deals
The following deals are of genuine interest, but purchases made through the links will also support MacRumors.

MacMall
Sale is over but some discounts remain
Up to 22% off Macs and iPods in their 48 hour Thanksgiving sale. Pay attention what you are buying, however. The biggest discounts ("Closeouts") are on the previous versions of hardware, but even new hardware has reasonable discounts. For example, the older MacBook Pro can be had for $600 off, but even the newest MacBook Pro can be had for $300 off ($150 instant, $150 mail in). Discounts available for all Mac models and iPod models.

MacBook: $974 ($125 off), $1162 ($137 off), $1341 ($158 off)
iMac: $1135 ($64 off), $1354 ($145 off), $1628 ($171 off), $2099 ($200 off)
MacBook Pro: $1799 ($220 off), $2235 ($264 off), $2499 ($300 off)
Mac mini: $544 ($55 off), $744 ($55 off)
Mac Pro: $2235 ($264 off)
iPod Touch: $269.99 ($29.01 off), $359.99 ($39.01 off)

Update: If you can't get through to MacMall, Amazon has similar deals. Instant savings + Mail in Rebate.

Parallels
Through our affiliate vendor, Digital River, you can get $10 Off Parallels Desktop 3.0 or $10 Off on Parallels 3.0 Upgrade.

$100 off Mac Office 2004 + Free Upgrade to Mac Office 2008
Sale is Over
Microsoft's Business unit is offering a $100 rebate (rebate PDF) in addition to the Super Suite Deal which lets you upgrade from Mac Office 2004 to Mac Office 2008 for the price of shipping and handling.

Details: November 23rd only (must be dated on receipt), buy Office 2004 Mac Standard, Standard Upgrade or Student and Teacher and send in $100 Mail in rebate (PDF). Then submit the Super Suite Deal to upgrade to Office 2008 (when released) for shipping and handling.

Update 2: Parallels sale remains ongoing (see above), Amazon and MacMall still have $75-$150 rebates on many Macs.

To be in compliance with a court ruling, Deutsche Telekom announced today that they will immediately start selling an unlocked iPhone without contract for 999 euro (US $1,477). The iPhone will still be sold, as before, with 2 year contract for 399 euro ($US $590).

Bloomberg reports that customers who purchased the iPhone in Germany after November 19th may have their iPhone unlocked for free. Existing German iPhone customers can reportedly also receive the unlock for a fee.

Prior to this, the only unlocked iPhones in existence have been "hacked" with 3rd party applications. This introduces legitimate unlocked iPhones into the marketplace that will presumably withstand future iPhone software updates.

Several readers have noted a new web-only advertisement from Apple that has appeared on a number of sites, including News.com, Engadget.com, and PCMag.com.

The Apple advertisement features "Mac" and "PC" as played by Justin Long and John Hodgman in a web ad composed of two separate components. The first is a traditional 720x90 pixel horizontal leaderboard at the top of the page as well as a large vertical rectangle on the right side of the page featuring the actors.

The Flash-based ad allows the visitor to play the ad in its entirety with audio. A full video capture of the advertisement is mirrored here.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Vodafone has succesfully won a temporary injunction against Deutsch Telekom from selling the iPhone tied to their network and with a 2 year contract.

The court has temporarily prohibited T-Mobile Deutschland GmbH from continuing to sell the iPhone only in combination with a two-year service contract. The court also demanded that the product be allowed to function on other cellphone networks, and not just T-Mobile's.

The injunction reportedly stands until another hearing in Hamburg in two weeks. Vodafone reportedly took action only in Germany due to local laws favoring the ruling and does not plan to seek a similar suit in the U.K.

Update: Reuters reports that T-Mobile will be announcing their response to the injunction tomorrow.

Apple sent out promotional emails to customers tonight confirming their plans for a Black Friday sale on November 23.

Shopping event is available only at the Apple Online Store on November 23 from 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. PST and at Apple Retail Stores. Check your local Apple Retail Store for special hours. Sale prices are limited to stock on hand and while supplies last.

Historically, Apple's Black Friday sale discounts have been modest (old price lists). The exact discounts will not officially be announced prior to the sale day.

9to5mac reminds us that the first feature film to be launched exclusively on iTunes is opening today. Written and directed by Edward Burns, Purple Violets is a romantic comedy starring Selma Blair, Debra Messing, and Patrick Wilson. A preview page is already available on iTunes (though ordering is currently unavailable) along with a trailer.

The LA Times notes that this digital-only distribution experience may take some getting used to:

As the first full-length feature to premiere exclusively on Apple's iTunes store -- not in theaters -- your date would have to be cool with coming over to watch the movie on your laptop. Or desktop. Or even on the gorgeous little 3-inch by 2-inch screen of your iPod Touch -- since nothing says romance like sharing ear buds.

But director Edward Burns wants his fans to be able to see his films when they are released, and not face the same issues with limited distribution that he has dealt with in the past. Online film distribution also eliminates printing and distribution costs. That being said, the ultimate success of a film may be limited by this form of distribution. Apple's vice president of iTunes reveals that while the most popular movies have sold "hundreds of thousands" copies each, no single iTunes movie has broken the 1 million download mark.

iTunes Link: Purple Violets, $12.99 Pre-Order pricing

Apple debuted a new iPod + iTunes ad tonight on television. The ad continues the silhouette dancer theme of Apple's long running iPod ads. The ad is featured on Apple's iTunes product page. (direct QuickTime link)

The television ad promotes a new album called Growing Pains by Mary J Blige. Growing Pains is available for pre-order on iTunes ahead of its December 18th released date. The individual song, Work That, is also available now as a single.

Apple's use of songs in their television advertisements has clearly shown to be a boost for artists. Lesser known artist, Feist, recently saw significant exposure after 1234 was used in the newest iPod nano tv ad.

Newsweek provides an early scoop for a device coming from Amazon called "Kindle". The $399 device attempts to deliver a complete eBook solution, unlike existing products, and is described as "the iPod of reading".

Indeed, the feature set is impressive, with EVDO and WiFi connectivity allowing customers to browse, purchase, and download from a library of over 88,000 digital books at launch. Aside from digital book content, you may also subscribe to newspapers and select blogs. The device also incorporates web browsing, email, and the ability to read Word and PDF documents. Other features are said to include:

- Has a keyboard
- 30 hour battery life
- 2 hour recharge time
- 10.3 ounces
- 5.3 inches x 7.5 inches x 0.7 inches, 800x600 pixel
- SD Slot for storage
- USB 2.0
- Uses E Ink technology
- Adjustable Font size
- Can hold over 200 books
- Can search books for phrase or name
- 3.5 stereo headphone jack

Amazon has reportedly been taking cues from Apple's iPod launch, planning on using similar videotaped celebrity testimonials at launch.

Dedicated eBook readers, however, have not yet seen a commercial success, with early attempts by Sony to create a market for the devices. Apple has been rumored to be working on a similarly sized tablet, though not intended specifically to be an eBook reader, there appears to be much cross-over functionality (web, email) between the devices. In fact, Apple was once rumored to be incorporating eBook functionality into an upcoming iPod with digital book sales handled through iTunes.

Final specs and official announcement is expected later on Monday. Larger image available here.

Update: Official announcement and product page reveals more details and demonstration videos and photos.

- No wifi
- EVDO connection - No monthly contract
- $9.99 for new releases and bestsellers
- 1st chapter of books available for free
- No computer required
- $.99/month for blog subscriptions
- Annotations, bookmarks
- Has a basic web browser: Gizmodo: something called "Basic Web" browsing is available in the "Experimental" section of the menu, along with "Play Music" and "Ask Kindle NowNow."
- Plays MP3s

In the U.S., the day after Thanksgiving is called "Black Friday", which is historically one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

Over the past several years, Apple has participated with one-day specials at both their retail Apple stores as well as the online Apple Store. Discounts have historically been modest and can not generally be combined with other offers (such as educational pricing). Pricelists for recent years are documented on our guides.

Thanksgiving falls on November 22nd this year. Apple has not yet revealed their sale plans, but has participated annually in Black Friday with discounts since at least 2002.