Mead also pretty much confirms that Apple is working on an LTE model stating “They understand the value proposition of LTE and I feel very confident that they are going to be apart of it”. Mead also said during the report that Verizon will continue to strongly support RIM’s Blackberry, Microsoft Windows 7, and the huge amount of Android devices on Verizon despite it’s huge promotion for the iPhone 4.

For those unaware, the WAC is a web-based storage unit [that's what I like to say it is, really] that are theoretically compilable with any device that uses an HTML5-capable browser. The apps will be limited in function for the time being, considering only native apps can take advantage of the developer tools available for the different platforms.

[Source: BGR.com]

But, don’t freak out because if you don’t want to wait another week then you press your Apple Stores & Verizon Stores around the world. The Verizon iPhone will be available at more than 2,000 Verizon Wireless stores across the United States starting at 7AM Thursday morning. Also, some Best Buy stores and more than 600 Wal-Mart locations will have the Verizon iPhone on launch day as well.

[Source: AppleInsider.com]

There seems to be some antenna changes also as they have added an additional antenna break in the casing. Pre-Orders will start on February 3rd to current Verizon Customers while those who may switch from AT&T will have to wait until February 10th.

Also, Verizon will allow the iPhone 4 to be a mobile Mi-Fi hotspot device which will allow you to connect up to five wi-fi enabled devices.

The 16GB will cost $199.99 and the 32GB model is $299.99 with a two-year contract.

The first update comes from Reuters who is reporting that the Verizon iPhone plans to announce the iPhone for their service and sales will kick off a few weeks later, their source tells them

The Wall Street Journal also has some juicy goodness as they are reporting that Verizon will offer unlimited data plans for the iPhone. There seems to be no mention wether there will be a seperate plan for iPhone users or if it’ll work with the same service plans other phones such as RIM’s BlackBerry or Android devices work on. This has to be a play by Verizon to get AT&T customers to switch over as AT&T has done away with the unlimited data plan, which is something that Verizon was reportedly considering a few months ago.

We’ll keep you updated on any news regarding the Verizon iPhone and of course, will have the scoop come 1/11/11 following Verizon’s media event.

If you remember, Gizmodo was responsible for the iPhone 4 leak last year and from that point has been “blacklisted” from all of Apple’s media events. Gizmodo made note on their website that they were “great friends” with Verizon and have always been invited (and attended) to Verizon’s events that they have had over the past three years.

No word on if Verizon will offer a live stream of the media event.

MacRumors.com also pointed out that the help documents stated that you would need Skype for iPhone 3.0 for video calling but the current version of Skype for iPhone is only 2.1.2. I guess we’ll see if this was just an error or really going to happen in a few weeks time at CES.

Instant messaging has been alive for over a decade now. Today, the mobile internet technology (EDGE/3G) has allowed us to stay connected to the peers while being on the move. However, if you are to decide on an app which one can use to connect to their favorite IMs, it may be a tough call. Yes, there are both paid and free versions of iPhone applications that allow you to connect with more than one IM contacts.

While most have been talked about at often hyped, the IM app called Mundu IM is one of my personal favorites. The prime reason being it does just what it should. More importantly, it’s been written keeping this fact in mind.

The application supports open standard XMPP protocol that’s used by many messaging systems including Google, facebook, Jabber and several other corporate messaging system. What does that mean? It means that the application has the flexibility to work as an IM client for all services that use a particular protocol, called XMPP protocol.

Both Google talk and Facebook chat supports XMPP protocol. Did that make it interesting enough? NO?

Check out the key features of Mundu IM for iPhone app;

• Easy set up for Gtalk and facebook chat.
• Ability to connect with a XMPP messaging service.
• Push notification for your messages – yes!
• Chat history and ability to email them.
• Multiple chat support with audio-visual notifications.
• Slick UI and features.

MacStories reported the story on Tuesday citing an anonymous source stating Apple plans to release iOS 4.3 in mid-december. The update is said to allow users the ability to subscribe to content, like tablet only newspaper, “They Daily”.

This goes hand-in-hand with the report that Apple would hold a special media event on December 9th to announce plans for it’s subscription plans along with partnerships with content providers. The report claims that Apple has hopes of releasing iOS 4.3 on December 13th, just four days after the media event would take place.

Unfortunately, this could wind up being delayed due to issues that forced the delay of iOS 4.2.

MacBook Air

I’ve already done details about MacBook Air in my previous article.

Time Capsule

Gone will be the days of the hassle of plugin in a USB/FireWire drive just to get your Time Machine working. At the MacWorld Expo, Apple unveiled Time Capsule, a hardware companion to Time Machine which will automatic backup of your whole drive wirelessly.

Time Capsule combines an 802.11n network access point and a hard disk drive. Time Capsule is a Full Airport Extreme Base Station plus a server-grade hard drive.

With Time Capsule, users will be able to go back through archived backups to find lost files, photos, digital media, and other data. Once the missing file is found, users can restore it wireless from Time Capsule; they can also restore an entire system from a Time Machine backup stored on the device.

The Time Capsule sports some amazing features –

• dual-band antennas for 2.4GHz or 5GHz frequencies
• one USB 2.0
• one Gigabit Ethernet
• three Gigabit LAN ports
• built-in power supply
• can connect to print wirelessly from a USB printer

In addition, Time Machine offers Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA/WPA-2), 128-bit WEP encryption, and a built-in NAAT firewall that support NAT-PMP for Leopard’s Back to My Mac feature. Apple will start shipping Time Capsule in February and will initially be available in two capacities — 500GB model for $299, and a 1TB version for $499.

iPhone – powerful maps, multi-person SMS

Apple CEO Steve Jobs also unveiled the latest iPhone features. Apple expanded the iPhone’s capabilities with a free software update that adds a location finder to the Maps feature, customized home screens, multi-person SMS chats, and the ability to add Web sites to the home screen. In addition, video playback on the phone has been enhanced, with support for chapters, subtitles and languages, and lyrics support has been added for music tracks.

Read more details of the new iPhone features at MacWorld.

iPod touch – add more apps for a price

Just as iPhone users were getting new capabilities via an iPhone software update announced during Steve Jobs’ Macworld Expo keynote, iPod touch users will get new features for their handheld device, too. But unlike the free iPhone update, iPod users will have to pay for their new capabilities, to the tune of a $19.99 fee.

So, what new features do you get for the upgrade fee?

You’ll get five new mobile apps that match those already on the iPhone. With the update, the iPhone touch adds Mail, Maps, Stocks, Weather, and Notes features—essentially giving the music player the same capabilities as the iPhone, with the notable exception of calling features.

More about iPod Touch features and updates at MacWorld.

Apple TV – price drop and untethers from the Mac

The new and improved Apple TV software will be available in about two weeks as a free update to existing Apple TV devices. The entry-level 40GB model had its price dropped to $229, while the 160GB version now costs $329, a $70 price reduction for both. The Apple TV will sport a completely changed and enhanced interface adding numerous new features — most notably the ability to rent movies and purchase music and TV shows directly via the device.

The upgraded Apple TV operates as a standalone device. While it will still synchronize content with your computer, no computer is required to operate it. Once it’s connected to your television and your computer network, you can rent movies directly on your widescreen TV, using Apple’s new iTunes Movie Rentals feature, navigating using the Apple TV’s remote. iTunes Movie Rentals cost $4.99 for new high-definition releases, $3.99 for older high-definition films and new standard-definition releases, and $2.99 for older standard-definition releases.

Apple TV will be able to play at HD – 720p resolution with many available Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. Standard-definition films purchased on the Apple TV are of “DVD quality” and will not play back on Macs, PCs, or iPods. However, the Apple TV is also able to play back rentals purchased on a Mac or PC, albeit at reduced “near-DVD quality.”

The Apple TV can also now be used to directly purchase TV shows and music, which will also automatically sync back to a Mac or PC via iTunes. A new podcast browser allows users to browse Apple’s podcast directory and pick certain podcasts as “favorites” for quick access at a later time.

iTunes Movie Rentals

Apple also introduces iTunes Movie Rentals, a new feature of the iTunes Store that enables users to download movies and watch them for a short time rather than having to buy them.

The new feature is dependent on iTunes 7.6, a new release of Apple’s jukebox, music, TV and movie software that’s available for download from Apple’s Web site. It also requires an update to QuickTime.

Apple is supported by all the major movie studios — Fox, WB, Disney, Paramount, Universal and Sony, along with Touchstone, Miramax, MGM, New Line and Lions Gate. Apple CEO Steve Jobs said that the new service will launch shortly, and by the end of February will contain over 1,000 movies. Movies will become available for rental on iTunes 30 days after they are released on DVD.

Movie rentals will be priced at $3.99 for new releases and $2.99 for older films. High Definition (HD) movies will be downloadable only via Apple TV and will cost $4.99 for new releases and $3.99 for older films.