Week in review: Palm challenges Apple to phone fight
Apple and Palm mix it up over smartphones, while Microsoft sends browserless Windows to Europe and cans Money. Also: China to require censorship software.
Apple and Palm have dialed up a nice little smartphone skirmish.
At Apple's annual Worldwide Developer's Conference, Apple announced a new version of the iPhone, called the iPhone 3G S. It's got the same design and pricing as the current iPhone 3G model, but sports a faster processor that Apple says will load most apps somewhere between three to five times faster. It also comes in improved capacities, all the way up to 32GB up from 16GB.
• Apple selling iPhone 3G S at 8 a.m. June 19, AT&T at 7 a.m.
• Where does the iPhone 3G S get its speed?
Apple announced that iPhone OS 3.0 will be available worldwide June 17 as a free update to iPhone customers, and as a $9.95 update for iPod Touch owners. For an overview of what the software does, see our previous news roundup from the mid-March developer event.
Meanwhile, Sprint Nextel executives said the launch of the much-anticipated Palm Pre hit a sales record for the company. Neither Sprint nor Palm is discussing specific sales figures, but Tim Donahue, vice president of business marketing for Sprint, said the launch exceeded the company's expectations.
While the crowds that showed up on Saturday morning to buy the Pre at Sprint stores and other retail locations where the phone was offered were small in number compared with the crowds that have gathered for the past two iPhone launches, analysts are calling the launch of the Pre a success.
• Palm picks Apple veteran to run company
The dark horse in the race, Nokia said its flagship smartphone, the N97, which was announced in December, has gone on sale in the U.S. at the whopping price tag of $699. This price isn't that shocking considering the phone will also be offered in Europe for a comparable price.
The reason the price of the N97 is still so high is that Nokia is not selling it through any particular carrier. Instead it will be sold to U.S. customers in Nokia flagship stores in New York and Chicago as well as online.
More headlines
Europe to get Windows 7 sans browser
Aiming to appease regulators, Microsoft plans to ship Windows 7 in Europe without Internet Explorer, though computer makers will have the option to add it back in.• Who wins, loses with browser-less Windows 7
• Opera lashes out over browser removal
• EU responds to Microsoft's browser move
Apple bashes Windows 7, talks Snow Leopard
As part of the WWDC 2009 keynote, Apple's Bertrand Serlet takes a few swipes at the competition and talks about the next version of Mac OS X.• Apple refreshes iPhones, MacBooks, and OS X at WWDC
• Apple: Next Mac OS X unlocks chip power
• Apple finalizes PowerPC divorce with OS upgrade
Microsoft to discontinue MS Money
The software maker has notified financial institutions that it plans to stop selling its long-running personal finance program.• How Intuit managed to hold off Microsoft
French 'three strikes' piracy law dealt setback
The French Constitutional Council rejects a key provision of controversial law that would deny Internet access to those deemed to be copyright scofflaws after two warnings.• Jammie Thomas suffers pretrial setback in copyright case
Hybrid trucks strut on Capitol Hill
The Capitol Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C., plays host to a showcase of hybrid possibilities for the commercial trucking industry.• Ethanol made from straw flows at Shell pump
• Former Tesla CEO sues company, current CEO Musk
2.8 million not ready for DTV transition
As the June 12 deadline for the digital-TV switch approaches, the number of homes not ready represents 2.5 percent of the market.• Yes, Virginia, the DTV transition still isn't over
Also of note
• Google polishes competition charm offensive
• DOJ steps up Google Books settlement probe
• Do we still need the Webby Awards?
• China to require censorship software