Apple.pro, a Chinese-language blog and forum community that has served as an outlet for at least one authentic photo of Apple's next-generation MacBook Pro, has now posted a video (below) of what it claims to be the company's new 13-inch MacBook.

The video shows an Apple notebook that is indistinguishable from the MacBook Air save for the bezel stamp, which reads "MacBook" instead of "MacBook Air." Raising further suspicion is that the notebook's keyboard is intentionally concealed in the photo by a piece of paper, and that the notebook is not shown in its entirety. Therefore, it can't be determined whether the bezel stamp is off center (with the "Air" text having been removed).

In August, the blog posted still photos of an identical but empty display shell and bezel, again claiming the photos were that of Apple's next-generation MacBook design. AppleInsider compared the photos of the display shell to tear-down photos of the MacBook Air's display. Again, with the exception of the bezel stamp, no considerable differences could be detected.



The MacBook shell in the photos and video is also noticeably different from the one shown photos of another 13-inch Apple-like notebook, also published by the same blog on Thursday.

EA has announced that alongside Need for Speed Undercover and Monopoly, they are also bringing Simcity to the iPhone.

For those not keeping up with Sim happenings, Simcity is a city building simulator that puts you in the position of a mayor charged with creating new cities from scratch, managing taxes, traffic, happiness, energy - all kinds of things - and in the event you need to spice up your life a little, a large selection of catastrophes are at your fingertips (EA uses tornadoes, earthquakes, and giant monsters as examples).

It's a pleasant surprise to see such a well established franchise coming to the iPhone, and EA looks to be making this version of SimCity a must-buy purchase with specialised iPhone controls (pinch zooming, for instance) and extra landmarks.

Expect Simcity for iPhone to be released next month.

Jakub Koter has released MindWave ($1.99, App Store), a brainwave entrainment app for the iPhone that employs binaural beats. Have no idea what I'm talking about? Read on.

Binaural beats are stereo noises that pump two slightly different frequencies into each ear. The difference between these two tones produces a unique phenomenon in the mind that creates the sensation of a beating sound in your head. This combined with the frequencies then begins to entrain the brainwaves in your head - making your brainwaves follow the frequency of the beat you're hearing.

It's been discovered that the brain has all kinds of different frequencies for different tasks - Alpha frequencies are for inner concentration, whereas Beta usually occurs when you're dealing with people and things around you. On the other side, Delta frequencies occur in deep, unconscious sleep and Theta occurs when we dream or meditate.

By mixing these tones it is supposedly possible to create different effects on the mind, and that is what MindWave sets out to do.

The app is the first example of a brainwave generator for the iPhone that I know of - though it may sound similar to apps like Ambiance. The noises it provides are designed to affect your state of mind in a far more direct way. MindWave includes 10 different binaural beats bearing names such as "Study Aid", "Sleep Induction", "Creativity Boost" and "Weight Loss" (note: I remain somewhat sceptical in regards to this). The developer promises new presets every month as well.

Binaural beats are a fascinating example of some of the strange stuff our brain does in certain situations - and this app makes a nice introduction to the newcomer. For those of you who'd like to try it out first on your computer (for free) try sbagen.

If your someone who frequently uses the iPhone's Mail application to author emails, you may want to check out Michael Schneider's handy new TouchType application for the iPhone ($0.99 App Store).

The simple software lets you to author emails in landscape mode using the larger version of Apple's touch-screen keyboard that has thus far been reserved for use in Safari. The advantages are two-thumb typing as opposed to one hand typing.

To author an email, simply launch TouchType, turn your iPhone to activate landscape mode, and author an email as you would in the iPhone's mail application. When done, click send and TouchType will auto-populate an email message in the iPhone's Mail application using the information you just entered.

Those of you not satisfied with staring at one screen may find use with a new app named i.TV (free, App Store). It acts as movie listing and a TV guide all at once, offering 144,000 TV and movie listings, reviews, and more to those of you in the US and Canada.

The app also lets you watch trailers, previews, as well as celebrity biographies and photos. There is also a social aspect to the app with the option to write your own TV show reviews (as you watch a show, apparently).

The developers also say that in upcoming versions the app will be able to act as a remote for your DVR and "watch TV", whatever that implies.

Replacement power adapters for the iPhone 3G have started to arrive for customers who elected to exchange the parts via the mail.

"I received mine yesterday.  It came in the usual AppleCare style with a return label for you to include the old one via DHL," said one AppleInsider reader. "The main difference between the old one and the new one is the presence of the green dot and the prongs are tapered at the end. This does not seem to affect the fit of the adapter in the wall outlet as I tested mine and both seemed to have about the same amount of tension on them when plugged in."

Apple last month recalled the ultracompact USB power adapters that ship alongside the iPhone 3G, warning that they might pose a hazard to owners. Specifically, the company said "certain conditions" could cause the prongs to snap off when the adapter is pulled from a wall outlet, potentially creating a shock for those who touch an exposed connection.

iPhone 3G users can order their free replacement adapter via Apple's website or simply swap their old adapter at an Apple retail store beginning this Friday.

Dial Directions on Monday announced the availability of Say Where (Free, App Store), which it's billing as the first ever iPhone application to let users speak locations and business searches (instead of typing) to access popular websites for mapping, reviews and information.
 
Among the features of the new app are:
 

• Voice-recognition of locations – Users can say any place: an address, intersection, business search, or point of interest (like “524 Broadway”, “Delfina Pizzeria” or “dog parks”)



• Voice-entry to popular location-based content like Google Maps, CitySearch, Yelp and others

Dial Directions has posted a video demo of the app to YouTube, which can be seen below:

The iPhone supports SMS-based text messages, not MMS messages, and therefore does not natively support picture messages. That doesn't mean picture messaging is impossible, explain the folks over at Art of the iPhone.

They've posted a short workaround that takes advantage of the hidden email address used by mobile phones to facilitate text messaging. To obtain the text messaging email address of your mobile phone, or your friend's mobile phone, check the list of email domains for the various US wireless carriers (below).

Alternatively, you can have your friend send an MMS message to your real email address (such as a .mac or gmail account). Their phone's text messaging email address will be the one listed in the "From:" field, which you can then add to your iPhone's contact list for quick messaging capabilities.

You're now ready to send your first iPhone MMS message. Simply select a photo from your iPhone's Photo Album, drop it into a new email message, and address the email to your friend's text-messaging email.

Text messaging email addresses for US carriers

The Xs should be replaced with your friend's 10 digit mobile phone number:

Alltel = xxxxxxxxxx@message.alltel.com
Amp’d Mobile = xxxxxxxxxx@vtext.com
AT&T = xxxxxxxxxx@mms.att.net
Boost Mobile = xxxxxxxxxx@myboostmobile.com
Cingular (AT&T) = xxxxxxxxxx@mms.mycingular.com
Einstein PCS = xxxxxxxxxx@einsteinmms.com
Nextel = xxxxxxxxxx@messaging.nextel.com
Sprint = xxxxxxxxxx@messaging.sprintpcs.com or xxxxxxxxxx@pm.sprint.com
T-Mobile = xxxxxxxxxx@tmomail.net
US Cellular = xxxxxxxxxx@mms.uscc.net
Verizon Wireless = xxxxxxxxxx@vzwpix.com
Virgin Mobile = xxxxxxxxxx@vmobl.com

After being criticized for giving users a "light" version of its social network, Facebook on Tuesday launched its version 2.0 app (free, App Store) for iPhone and iPod touch.

The update adds many of the missing features from the web version to the native mobile app, including the complete news and mini feeds, the ability to find and approve new friends, and attachments with messages. It's now more feature-rich than the iPhone's web app, Facebook argues.

Photo management has also been given a boost and lets members post photos directly to friends' Walls as well as caption and tag shots.

The Palo Alto-based developer also claims much improved speed and crash resistance compared to 1.x builds.

AT&T announced Tuesday that it will launch Apple's iPhone 3G in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands on Oct. 17.

"iPhone will arrive for AT&T customers in Puerto Rico on October 17," said Jose Juan Davila, vice president and general manager of AT&T's wireless operations in Puerto Rico. "AT&T is committed to offering the most innovative products and services to our customers, and we are pleased to be part of this great milestone in our market."

New AT&T customers who wish to port or retain their phone number from another wireless carrier should consider bringing a copy of a bill from their current service provider. Customers will be asked to provide account information as it appears on record with their current provider, including:

• Account number


• Name of the account holder


• Account holder's Social Security number or Tax ID


• Billing address


• PIN or password (if applicable)

iPhone 3G will be available for $199 for the 8GB model and $299 for the 16GB model. These prices require two-year contracts and are available to the following:

• Customers activating a new line with AT&T.


• Current AT&T customers who are eligible, at the time of purchase, for an upgrade discount.

Current customers who are not eligible for an upgrade discount can purchase iPhone 3G for $399 for the 8GB model or $499 for the 16GB model. Both options require a new two-year service agreement.