Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard does indeed have some “refinements and enhancements” for the iPhone, namely a brand spanking new iPhone logo in System Preferences > Network when you’re tethered via the iPhone.

Yeah, okay, we know — AT&T users need do nothing but raise their fists and yell out a “KAAAAAAHHHHHHNNNN!” like scream at the gaping lack of functionality they’re still enduring. But at least you can take the smallest, most infinitesimal comforts in knowing that — if you’re a Mac — you’ll get a spiffy new icon to go with your no doubt exorbitantly overcharged tethering option.

If it ever becomes available.

[Via jpcaine]

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Snow Leopard Shows iPhone Love… For Tethering!

Microsoft on Monday downplayed a blog post that said the company designed the first iteration of Bing to help people find items to purchase online.

Apple on Monday released firmware updates for the Mac mini and for certain SuperDrive-containing systems.

Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster, who tends to hit the nail on the head per his Apple forecasts, has noted that Apple will probably move to multiple U.S. carriers by 2010. According to Loopinsight, Munster stated that the transition will occur next summer, which is when Apple has introduced new models of the iPhone.

Following last Friday's announcement that the iPhone would become available in China late this year, Apple has confirmed its agreement with China Unicom is not exclusive to the carrier. Per CNNMoney, an Apple spokesperson confirmed that the China Unicom contract is not exclusive. The person declined, however, to detail whether or not Apple is in negotiations with other possible carriers.

Adobe Systems has acquired Business Catalyst, which provides a platform for Web professionals to build online businesses.

Filed under: Hardware, Multimedia, iPhone, iPod touch

Last night I received an email from a friend who was irate. He's been using his iPod touch as a portable video solution with a dock and video out cable. The iPod and the cable got along famously until he updated to iPhone OS 3.0.1 OS 3.0 [sorry, there isn't a 3.0.1 for the iPod touch]. Now, the iPod refuses to recognize it. Same cable, same dock, same iPod.

We looked around and found that he's not alone. There's a thread on Apple's Discussion Boards reporting the same thing. It's affecting both the iPod touch and the iPhone. Apparently 3.0 is specifically designed to reject 3rd party cables, strictly on the premise that they fail the "Made by Apple" test. One poster on the discussion board notes that the original Apple Component AV cable and dock work fine. Sure, you could restore and downgrade, but that seems silly.

Of course, no company has a responsibility to support 3rd party devices, so my friend is out of luck. But we're sympathetic. If you're affected by this issue, all we can say is it's probably time to pony up for a cable from Apple.

iPhone OS 3.0 breaking video out originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

iPhone OS 3.0 breaking video out originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Facebook 3.0, the latest version of the iPhone application from the popular social networking site, is now available from the Apple iTunes App Store.

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars and Beaterator are both coming to the iPhone, courtesy of Rockstar Games.

Filed under: Apple Corporate, iPhone

Several news sources have been reporting that, at long last, the iPhone will finally make its way to China after Apple was able to strike a deal with China Unicom. However, according to CNW (English translation), the integration of the iPhone may not be so easy; in fact, the App Store, from which customers can buy supplementary applications for their iPhones, presents a rather large problem.

In China, telecommunications businesses must apply for a "value-added telecommunications business license," which certifies that the company is allowed to function in the country, and subjects it to any conditions or standards set by the government, which currently include a minimum registered capital of 10 million yuan and and established reputation to "provide users with credibility and capacity." So far, Apple has not taken any steps toward obtaining this operating license and thereby receiving the approval of the Chinese government, but not a big deal, right?

Unfortunately, the issue is not simple as a bit of paperwork. One stipulation of the license is that the government must be able to monitor the activity of the company. Apple's servers for the App Store are not in China, and so they do not fall under Chinese jurisdiction. If the servers cannot be monitored by the Chinese government to a degree of their own satisfaction, the terms of a telecommunications license will not be fulfilled.

This is not to say that the iPhone can't go to China at all -- if Apple removes the App Store option, their application is otherwise fine. There's an old wives' tale that a sort of Cro-Magnon iPhone once roamed the earth pre-App Store, and they weren't so bad. However, the availability of such a wide variety of apps is one of the main advantages of an iPhone as compared to other smart phones, and that would be a hard leg-up to lose for Apple. Combining this with the lack of Wi-Fi capability, Apple's grapple with China is likely far from over.

Thanks for the tip, David!

Not so fast, Chinese App Store! originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Not so fast, Chinese App Store! originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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