MacRumors

Along with iPhone Software 1.1.1, Apple has also released the 1.1.1 software update for the iPod Touch which simply lists "bug fixes".

Some early reports by users are claiming that the Negative Blacks screen issue may have been addressed with this update.

Meanwhile, iTunes 7.4.3 for Windows has also been released which specifically addresses issues with the initial setup of the iPod touch on some international versions of Windows. No Mac update is presently available.

Apple has released the iPhone 1.1.1 Software Update to iTunes.

The 154MB download warns that "If you have modified your iPhone's Software, applying this software update may result in your iPhone becoming permanantly inoperable."

Apple previously released a press release saying that users who specifically had SIM unlocked their iPhone should not proceed with the update as it may cause irreversible damage to your iPhone.

Apple's website has been updated with a new video that shows off the latest features of the iPhone update. The video is titled "Wi-Fi Music Store. Ringtones. And more."

New Features include:

- iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store
- Louder speakerphone and receiver volume
- Home Button double-click shortcut to phone favorites or music controls
- Space bar double-tap shortcut to intelligently insert period and space
- Mail attachments are viewable in portrait and landscape
- Stocks and cities in Stocks and Weather can be re-ordered
- Apple Bluetooth Headset battery status in the Status Bar
- Support for TV Out
- Preference to turn off EDGE/GPRS when roaming internationally
- New Passcode lock time intervals
- Adjustable alert volume

Update: Though it was hoped Apple would only be targeting SIM unlockers, the update is confirmed to have broken all 3rd party applications installed via Installer.app. On our iPhone that had 3rd party applications installed (but was NOT unlocked), the update reverted the iPhone back to only Apple-made applications, and the iPhone re-activated itself after installation (similar experiences are being shared in the forum).

Experience may vary, especially if your iPhone is unlocked. Unlocked users who wish to apply the update are recommended to wait until the promised re-locking tool surfaces.

Followup:

- Are Unlocked iPhones Getting Bricked? At Least Some.
- 3rd Party Apps Disabled in iPhone 1.1.1
- iPhone 1.1.1 Harder to Hack/

More updates at MacRumors.com/iPhone

MacNN notes that of the two remaining "issues" listed in the latest Mac OS X Leopard seed (9A559), one was simply a test case for a new feature.

Mac OS X Leopard 9A559 was released to developers last week and listed two "known issues".

The first was an issue with "Archive installs" from Tiger to Leopard on PowerPC machines, and appears to be a true outstanding issue. The second issue, however, asked users to deselect HP printers and allow Leopard to update the HP drivers post-install via Software Update.

MacNN spoke with HP and found that this is actually a feature that Apple was testing rather than any particular bug.

"Although listed in Apples last developer Leopard Seed Note as an 'Issue', the recommendation to use Apples software update process to install the HP driver set for the Leopard developer seed is actually a test scenario, not a driver problem or bug issue.

It seems that future Mac OS X printer driver updates may simply become available through Apple's Mac OS X software update mechanism. A more extensive version of this technology had been previously rumored with the idea that Apple would open up their Software Update to major 3rd party applications to allow them to push updates to users.

Apple's Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) is scheduled for release in October.

Apple has released a number of updates for the iLife '08 suite this afternoon, available in your Mac OS X software update.

iLife Support 8.1
This update supports system software components shared by all iLife 08 applications, improves overall stability, addresses a number of other minor issues, and supports general compatibility issues. It is recommended for all users of iLife 08.

iDVD 7.0.1
This update improves overall stability, supports general compatibility issues, and addresses a number of other minor issues.

iMovie 7.1
This update addresses several areas including video and audio editing capabilities, and performance associated with opening and switching iMovie Events and Projects. This update also supports general compatibility issues, improves overall stability, and addresses a number of other minor issues. More details

GarageBand 4.1
This update addresses isolated graphic display issues, compatibility with 3rd party audio software, fixes minor problems with Magic GarageBand, and supports general compatibility issues.

iPhoto 7.1
This update addresses issues encountered when moving photos between Events, plus new greeting card themes, including holiday card designs. It also supports general compatibility issues, improves overall stability, and addresses a number of other minor issues.

The iTunes Store is now offering content from the fall television season, including a number of free episodes from Fox.

Despite conflicting reports, NBC's new shows, including Chuck and Journeyman, have become available on iTunes. NBC's contract with iTunes expires in December and has not been renewed. As a result, NBC shows will only be available until December of this year.

Apple had originally claimed that NBC's new fall season would not be added to the iTunes Store, but it appears this is not the case.

AppleInsider reports that Apple has had an ongoing project to reinvent the Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). Steve Jobs had previously admitted that they had been working on an Apple PDA in the labs, but had never shipped it. Certainly back in 2003 all the rumors had aligned pointing to the imminent release of an Apple Tablet from traditionally reliable sources. The product never came to light.

AppleInsider now claims that Apple has had an ongoing PDA project which uses the same multi-touch OS X as the foundation and may soon be ready to see the light of day. They describe the PDA as an ultra-thin slate about 1.5 times the size of the current iPhone. The screen is said to have a high resolution (720x480) display that takes up almost the entire surface. The rumor site states that the PDA could see an announcement as early as January 2008 (Macworld San Francisco) but with a ship date closer to the middle of the year.

Apple's PDA project would represent another core business segment beyond the existing Mac, iPod, iPhone, Apple TV lines. The introduction of an Apple PDA would mark Apple's return to the PDA business, which it invented in 1993 with the introduction of the Apple Newton.

Amazon announced the public beta of a new service called Amazon MP3, a music download store that sells MP3 music downloads that do not include any Digital Rights Management (DRM).

"Amazon MP3 is an all-MP3, DRM-free catalog of a la carte music from major labels and independent labels, playable on any device, in high-quality audio, at low prices," said Bill Carr, Amazon.com Vice President for Digital Music. "This new digital music service has already been through an extensive private beta, and today we're excited to offer it to our customers as a fully functional public beta. We look forward to receiving feedback from our customers and using their input to refine the service."

The MP3 formatted files are compatible with a wide range of music players, including the Apple iTunes, iPod and iPhone. Songs are priced from 89 cents to 99 cents, and albums from $5.99 to $9.99. All MP3s are encoded in 256kbps format and are now available at Amazon.

This represents the latest trend in the online download industry to move towards DRM-Free downloads that are playable in a number of different media players and not tied to a particular vendor. Apple launched DRM Free songs on the iTunes store in May, 2007.

Amidst little fan-fare, Apple Expo kicked off today in Paris, France.

Setteb.it provided some coverage and photos from the floor.

Microsoft revealed their Mac Office 2008 pricing at the show.

Think Secret has posted a more comprehensive gallery of the improvements in the latest Mac OS 10.5 "Leopard" build, seeded to developers last week.

With only two known issues remaining, MacRumors sources are indicating that Leopard is in the release candidate stage of development. Release Candidates are typically chosen amongst builds that have no known major issues and little to no known minor issues. If thorough testing does not produce any show-stopping issue, a Gold Master will be declared and production of media and packaging will commence.

Production times for software can take 2-3 weeks, which means Apple has approximately 2 weeks left for testing of release candidates and certification of a gold master. Yesterday, MacScoop said their sources had indicated a final candidate was near.

Microsoft has announced packages and pricing of their upcoming Office 2008, to be released in January.

All versions have been further localized to Danish, Finnish & Norwegian (the "Nordic Pack".)

Also announced is a new technology guarantee. Buyers of Office 2004 from here on out will be eligible for an upgrade to Office 2008 for only the cost of shipping and handling.

Apple's Phil Schiller was quoted by an Associated Press article about today's announcement that SIM Unlocked iPhones may become permanently disabled by upcoming iPhone updates.

Schiller clarifies that this is not an intentional move to disable unlocked iPhones:

''This has nothing to do with proactively disabling a phone that is unlocked or hacked,'' Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide product marketing, said in an interview. ''It's unfortunate that some of these programs have caused damage to the iPhone software, but Apple cannot be responsible for ... those consequences.''

To clarify, this appears to affect iPhones that have been specifically SIM Unlocked to use other carrier SIM cards besides AT&T. iPhones otherwise "hacked" to install 3rd party applications are unlikely to be affected in the same manner.

There has already been one tutorial on how to relock your iPhone. We'll be posting coverage of apps, tools, tutorials at our iPhone blog.