So it seems that Consumerist got their hands on some internal memos that outline which outlets will be receiving iPhone shipments, come 6pm on June 29. The memo clearly states that only Apple (NSDQ: AAPL).com, Apple Stores, and select AT&T (NYSE: T) outlets will have the honor of lightening our pockets of the better half of a Grand. So, make sure you’re not going to just any rinky-dink AT&T store on launch day in hopes of scoring that precious Apple iPhone – chances are it just won’t happen.

Our money is on the Apple Stores themselves, just be sure to get there ahead of the crowd – we’re not to sure about Apple’s supply on launch day.

[Via: Consumerist] Thanks, Yoeau!

We just got word that the much-anticipated web browser from Opera is just days away! The Opera Mini Dimension has been taunting us with contests and beta programs, but is now a reality as the beta launch day closes in. Come this Tuesday, June 19th, the public beta will be going live and throngs of people will be able to see what they’ve been missing with their current mobile browser.

Sign-up for your chance to check out the hot new browser for yourself! We’ve been signed up for quite some time now.

Foxconn (Han Hai) manufactures the Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) iPhone, so it’s interesting to see the component integrator ramping up production capacity. Chairman Samuel Chin announced that Foxconn would spend $1B over 2007-2008 in their efforts to more than double capacity, saying that, “Our current production capacity isn’t sufficient to support future development and labour costs have increased, so we need to find new locations which can supply a stable labour force.”

It seems that the makers of Apple iPhone are expecting a good bit of demand – with good reason. We certainly can’t wait for the iPhone’s launch and we’re sure there are a lot of you out there that feel the same way. Foxconn better have their ducks in a row if they want to meet Apple’s likely fervent demand for iPhone’s – come June 29 at 6pm local time.

[Via: Yahoo]

There was some confusion over Steve Jobs’ mention that the iPhone would be released at 6PM on June 29th. Was he talking about Cupertino local time, PST, or EST? Well, we get word today from MacRumors that Stevie was referring to 6PM in your local time zone – which means that when your clock’s little hand is one the “6″ and the big hand is on the “12″ you better be in line at the Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) or AT&T (NYSE: T) store.

The magical 6PM launch is likely linked to the next-day shipping cutoff for Apple’s distribution system – FedEx. So it looks like the iPhones are going to literally be flying off the shelves faster than they can get stocked – FedEx drops them off, Apple sells them out.

So, get ready to hit your Apple or AT&T store on launch day at 6PM in your local time, we’ll see you in line!

[Via: Engadget Mobile]

MobileTechNews reports that Tessera Technologies has announced their new thin-wafer technology that promises to make digital camera lenses super-thin. The breakthrough technology, dubbed OptiML WLC, will undoubtedly see applications in cameraphones – pushing the boundaries of miniaturization for digital camera components. Tessera claims to be able to manufacture the components at the wafer-level – sandwiching thousands of incredibly thin wafers and bonding them at the wafer level (with WaferStack technology); and will still be able to auto-focus while saving 30% in production costs and shaving 50% off the overall size of the module.

We can’t wait to see these super-small camera modules implemented into the latest cameraphones! And with the cost savings of OptiML WLC, we expect all manner of mobile phones to start including cameras. The day of the cameraphone has arrived!

[Via: PhoneScoop]

Want the convenience and ease of a pager with the features of a Skype phone? Well, Voiis has your solution! The Voiis Mini Pocket Messenger Phone uses Bluetooth to wirelessly connect to your PC’s Skype, Windows Media Player, and iTunes from as far as 100 meters away (that’s an optimal range, of course – your mileage may vary). The Voiis Mini touts itself as both a messaging device and a phone – with Skype connectivity and wireless contact list synchronization, the Voiis can make Skype calls on the fly; and Skype and MSN Messenger text messages will be wirelessly transmitted to your Voiis Mini.

Grab your $130 Voiis Mini in Japan and get ready for a 6 hour talk time, built-in mic, and 3.5mm headphone jack. We’ll be sticking with our smartphones.

[Via: NewLaunches]

Direct from the WWDC, we’re getting confirmation that the Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) iPhone will not support flash. While the iPhone is touted as a web-browsing phone that serves up the “real” internet, we fail to see how any web-browsing experience can be complete without support for all that fancy flash animation that we’re so fond of. Developers were told that “There will be no Flash support at the moment on the iPhone.”

Notice that there is no support “at the moment.” We’re holding out for additional development on the iPhone’s OS to give it some flash support. It would be ashame if we had to browse the “real” internet without any “real” content.

[Via: The Unofficial Apple Weblog]

Reuters is reporting that Sprint (NYSE: S) is entertaining the possibility of joining forces with cellphone pioneering firm Clearwire Corp. to finance the build-out of the much-touted WiMAX network. Sprint has already earmarked over $3 billion for its WiMAX infrastructure and it may be hurting for some cash after that expensive buyout. It’s understandable that investors might be a little concerned at the rate that Sprint is burning through cash – which may have motivated Sprint’s search for WiMAX partnerships.

Clearwire Corp. is already a high-speed wireless network operator and puts the company in a position of experience to help Sprint with its inevitable WiMAX growing pains.

Sprint might do well to team up with an experienced operator. Especially since that would take the load off of its cash reserves – we all get a little jumpy when the bank starts to run dry.

[Via:Â PhoneScoop]

Alcatel’s new music phone for the masses comes to us as the Alcatel OC701. We got some live pics of this puppy and we gotta say that, for an entry-level device, this thing looks pretty cool. The “rubbery” look is pretty attractive and the phone even comes with a remote control for playing all that music. Music controls are located on the phone’s external face, along with a small OLED display.

Still, we’d rather play our tunes on our Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) iPhone (we know it’s a lot more expensive, but that’s how we roll).

Lots more pics on the link

Read the full article »

Eastman Kodak Co. promises to take those barely decent cameraphones to the next level. With their new low-light filter technology – essentially a color-filter – Kodak says that they can double sensitivity to light by any digital camera’s image sensor. This is especially important to cameraphones – which have always suffered in low lighting conditions, even with a flash.

Chris McNiffe, general manager of Eastman Kodak’s image sensor division, says “Low light can mean trying to get a good image indoors of your kid blowing out the birthday candles. It can mean you want to take a photograph on a street corner in Paris at midnight,” adding that “We’re talking about a 2-to-4-times improvement in (light) sensitivity.”

We’re expecting the new filters to start their sampling rounds in Q1 2008, with applications in digital cameras and cameraphones later that year. It’s nice to see new tech actually start at the lower end of the gadget spectrum rather than be horded by high-end models, only to trickle down after some time.

[Via: Yahoo]