Apple rumors run wild, slow news day confirmed | Tech news blog - CNET News.com

"When it comes to writing about Apple, deciding what you should and should not cover can be tricky.

You can take the machine gun approach: Anything said, written, rumored, or signaled via smoke should be dutifully blogged with a hint of snark and just enough insight to make readers think, "Heeeeeeey, that fella must know the inside dope." This, unfortunately, is what most of the tech press (mea culpa: sometimes including CNET) following Apple does these days. If you don't give readers their Apple fix, the other guys will."

steve jobz

Apple commits to June iPhone release, 10M units in 2008

"Development of the iPhone is keeping up its pace, and Apple says their June release date is on schedule. Some concerns arose when they mentioned not too long ago that the Leopard release for OS X would be delayed to push development of the iPhone up, leading some to believe that perhaps both projects might end up not meeting their deadlines. It's quite common for releases to be pushed back (we're looking at you, R600), but Apple is committed: From the beginning, Apple said that the iPhone would ship in June of this year and would be a Cingular Wireless (AT&T Wireless) exclusive phone. Late last month, an unofficial launch date of June 11 was reported by CNET. The launch would coincide with Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco which is slated to run from June 11 through June 15. A timely release is important for them, especially considering they are planning to have sold at least 10 million units by the end of next year. At $499-599 a pop, that might be difficult. "

Gates

iFund

"KPCB’s iFund™ is a $100M investment initiative that will fund market-changing ideas and products that extend the revolutionary new iPhone and iPod touch platform. The iFund™ is agnostic to size and stage of investment and will invest in companies building applications, services and components. Focus areas include location based services, social networking, mCommerce (including advertising and payments), communication, and entertainment. The iFund™ will back innovators pursuing transformative, high-impact ideas with an eye towards building independent durable companies atop the iPhone / iPod touch platform.
"A revolutionary new platform is a rare and prized opportunity for entrepreneurs, and that's exactly what Apple has created with iPhone and iPod touch," said John Doerr, Partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. "We think several significant new companies will emerge as this new platform evolves, and the iFund™ will empower them to realize their full potential."
"Developers are already bursting with ideas for the iPhone and iPod touch, and now they have the chance to turn those ideas into great companies with the help of world-class venture capitalists," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "We can't wait to start working with Kleiner Perkins and the companies they fund through this new initiative."
The iFund™ will be managed by KPCB Partner Matt Murphy in collaboration with partners Chi-Hua Chien, John Doerr, Bill Joy, Randy Komisar, Ellen Pao and Ted Schlein. Apple will provide KPCB with market insight and support. "

Apple Is Transparent in Bid To Broaden iPhone's Reach - WSJ.com

"Apple Inc.'s iPhone boasts the power of a computer under its metallic-and-glass shell, including a stripped-down version of the software that runs Apple's Macintosh computers. Soon independent software makers will be able to harness that power themselves, in a development that could broaden the iPhone's appeal."

"Apple has invited the media to an event Thursday at the company's Cupertino, Calif., headquarters, where it plans to present an "iPhone software roadmap." One of the event's highlights will be a software-development kit that will let independent programmers build iPhone applications, according to Apple's invitation.

Since the iPhone made its debut in June, software developers have bridled over how Apple hasn't allowed them to create programs that could tap into the device's full potential. To prevent viruses that could wreak havoc on the gadget, Apple has only allowed developers to make software that runs through the iPhone's Safari Web browser, but not more full-featured "native" applications that users could download and store on their phones.

In plain English, that means iPhone users have been stuck with hobbled software from independent developers. Although the applications that run through its Web browser are more secure, they can't be accessed when users are away from a wireless network."