New iPhone bezel shows speaker, color changes

Things are all coming together... This looks to be the bezel for the new iPhone (perhaps a 3.5G version which should ship with a better camera, video functions, faster network, etc.) There have been other photos posted, but this is the first one which shows an all black bezel and the speaker near the very top of the iPhone.

Purported next-gen iPhone bezel shows speaker, color changes | iLounge News: "Notably, the bezels appear to show a repositioned and redesigned ear speaker, now significantly higher above the display than the present speaker, and ringed with metal, a change that may make room for additional front-mounted sensor or camera hardware. Also changed is the bezel’s color, which has shifted from the prior silver in all iPhone and iPhone 3G models to a nearly black metallic color reminiscent of the backs of later fifth-generation iPod U2 Special Edition models. In the photos, the bezel now stops short of ringing the entire iPhone face, ending at roughly the edge of the LCD screen."

The Palm Pre syncs with iTunes

This is strange. Apple has never let anything but an iPod sync with iTunes. They must not be too worried about competition for the iPhone, or maybe they're just worried about monopoly issues with iTunes.

Scooplet: the Palm Pre syncs with iTunes - Apple 2.0: "Plug a Pre into a Mac and it syncs, seamlessly, with Apple’s (AAPL) iTunes.

In fact, the iTunes Store treats the Pre just as it would an iPod or an iPhone with one exception: it can’t handle old copy-protected songs."

Intel preview eight-core Nehalem-EX Xeon...16 Core MacPros here we come!

This is crazy fast. If you've not experienced on of the current 8-core Nehalem-based MacPros, and even if you have, you can't wrap your head around this. Basically with this hyper-threading (the current MacPros have this) you get a "virtual core" concept. What this does is lets the 4-core chip available today run 8 threads (computations) simultaneously - basically double what is should be doing. Now if you could cram 8-cores (Intel has!) onto that chip and then run TWO of them you're now talking about a 32-virtual-core system...each of which run at around 3Ghz. Now look at that image above and check out the roadmap...Gulp!

Intel peeks eight-core Nehalem-based Xeon: "The design will stand as Intel's first eight-core processor and, thanks to Hyperthreading, will run as many as 16 program threads at once. It will also have the most bandwidth of any design with four QuickPath interfaces, which create a point-to-point link between the CPU, memory and peripherals. Each core will have as much as nine times the bandwidth of present-day Xeon 7400 processors."

DJ Hero's turntable, crossfader peripheral spotted in E3 preview

Not bad, but I don't know if I understand the gameplay mechanics just by looking at it....

DJ Hero's turntable, crossfader peripheral spotted in E3 preview

Intel delays debut of Core i5 platform until early September

Some people are saying that this delay is coming from lack of competition. Currently AMD doesn't have anything near this power at this price point so it sounds like Intel is going to give the market some time to burn up the older boards and let the competition heat up.

Intel delays debut of Core i5 platform until early September: "Intel has decided to postpone the debut of its new mainstream desktop PC platform, Lynnfield processors (tentatively Core i5) and 5-series chipsets, from July as originally scheduled, to early September 2009, according to sources at motherboard makers."

Life-Size Katamari Lives!

This is pretty cool. If you've never played this game it usually uses the two analog sticks on your controller to drive the on-screen ball like a tank. This would be much easier...

Kellbot! � Life-Size Katamari Lives: "It uses an optical mouse to track the ball. I gathered up some cheap PS2 controllers, ripped out the potentiometers on the analog sticks, and replaced it with a digital potentiometer and an arduino. The arduino takes signals from two PS/2 mice (one for each analog stick) and adjusts the potentiometer accordingly."

Tony Hawk's Ride coming to GameStop October 13th for $120

GameStop has setup pre-orders for Tony Hawk's Ride - you know, the one with the faux skateboard sans wheels/trucks and a few more buttons than your current Birdhouse.

Tony Hawk's Ride coming to GameStop October 13th for $120: "That'll be the damage due according to GameStop where Tony Hawk's Ride game with skateboard peripheral lists for $119.99 with a simultaneous Wii, Xbox 360, and PS3 launch on October 13th."

Teens are texting machines and it's taking it's toll

Now I'm not saying texting is bad, but this is crazy! I'm all for texting to a certain level, but when it interferes with actual human interactions then we've got a problem. One of my biggest peeves is when you're with someone who cannot stop checking their phone. A few times is fine, but when it's every 60-90 seconds then you're obviously not spending time with the people currently in the room with you. Anyways, I guess it's not just an issue of manners anymore...

Texting May Be Taking a Toll on Teenagers - NYTimes.com: "Spurred by the unlimited texting plans offered by carriers like AT&T Mobility and Verizon Wireless, American teenagers sent and received an average of 2,272 text messages per month in the fourth quarter of 2008, according to the Nielsen Company — almost 80 messages a day, more than double the average of a year earlier."

New iPhone to have matte finish and "enhanced 3G"?

This isn't a huge shock. This photo was leaked a long time ago and seems reasonable. The current iPhone 3G with it's glossy back can become impossible to hang onto if there is any moisture on your hands or it is raining.

Next Generation iPhone Case to Have Matte Finish? Enhanced 3G? - Mac Rumors: "The models are described as '3G, enhanced 3G ('3.5G/3.75G'), and mainland China versions'. The case is said to be the same general design as the current model but with a 'less scratchable matte plastic body'. A previously leaked case image is included above which matches this description."

June 1 New Yorker Cover Is Painted With an iPhone

New Yorker Cover Art Is Painted With an iPhone - NYTimes.com: "Mr. Colombo drew the June 1 cover scene, of a late-night gathering around a 42nd Street hot dog stand, entirely with the iPhone application Brushes. Because of the smears and washes of color required by the inexact medium, it comes off as dreamy, not sharp and technological."