iPhone 3G's third sensor; Sydney store official; Radeon HD 3870

iPhone 3G's third sensor confirmed?

Rumors of a third iPhone sensor requiring case redesigns are accurate but aren't quite what users had hoped for, iLounge now claims.

While it's purportedly true that case manufacturers had to clear additional room at the top front of the phone for a new sensor, the equipment is said to be a second proximity sensor rather than a hoped-for front video camera. The extra component would more accurately gauge whether or not a user's face is close enough to shut off the screen and save power.

The initial iPhone's one-sensor design hasn't always detected the user properly, according to the report.

Sydney Apple Store to open next week

Apple has announced the official opening of Apple Store Sydney for Thursday, June 19th, at 5PM.

The store is Apple's first in the southern Pacific nation and will also be one of the biggest even after a future Melbourne store, with the outlet at the corner of George and King occupying three stories and 14,370 square feet.

The opening also arrives nearly three weeks before the July 11th debut of the iPhone 3G in the country.

AMD unwraps Radeon HD 3870 for Macs

AMD on Thursday lived up to recent rumors and introduced its new ATI Radeon HD 3870 for Mac & PC.

As suggested by the name, the add-in video card is designed to work both in Mac Pro workstations as well as in conventional Windows PCs, while the cards available through Apple itself typically run only with Macs. The card is said to perform twice as well in performance-per-watt tests than the Windows-exclusive Radeon HD 2900 XT card of last year.

The card should be available through resellers in late June for $219 and will support dual 30-inch Apple Cinema Displays.