Tucked away in Apple’s pre-release version of iTunes 7.7 is word that the iPhone and iPod touch will soon act as remote controls for nearby computers. Also, Apple is now accepting submissions to the App Store.

A reference in the late beta version of iTunes available with iPhone SDK Beta 8 and discovered by Mac Rumors directly points to a new Apple-made program that will navigate tracks on Macs and Windows PCs from any of Apple’s current handhelds.

“Use the new Remote application for iPhone or iPod touch to control iTunes playback from anywhere in your home — a free download from the App Store,” it reads.

While the depth of control offered by the app is still very much unknown, the virtually confirmed existence of such an app fulfills a longstanding desire at Apple to use its touchscreen devices as makeshift remote controls. A patent originally filed as early as December 2005 hinted at plans for a wireless iTunes remote that would collect track data from a nearby computer and give users more control than just the pause, skip, and volume controls from most remotes, including Apple’s own white stick remote bundled with some Macs.

A remote control function has also been hidden in recent iPhone betas but at the time didn’t provide enough evidence of its ultimate function.

Beyond the new remote functionality, iTunes 7.7 is also known to add an Applications tab to let users specify loading only certain software on the phone, and will be necessary for both iPhone 3G and the MobileMe sync service.

Apple has simultaneously begun accepting submissions of programs from members of its iPhone Development Program that are ready to post their content to the App Store, ensuring the service will be stocked ahead of its formal debut on July 11th.

written by Jose Castillo

Wired’s Leander Kahney, arguably the most credible yet of those who’ve weighed in with alleged specs of Apple’s upcoming 3G iPhone, is reporting the handset will be 22 percent thinner than its predecessor, not thicker as some earlier reports had suggested.

Citing “a programmer at a major software publisher,” Kahney adds that the handset should also sport better battery life than the “up to 8 hours” of talk time advertised alongside its predecessor. It will also include GPS and twice the amount of NAND flash memory: either 16GB or 32GB.

What’s more, Kahney’s tipster claims Apple will allow subsidies on the new model as a means of attracting some of Research in Motion’s existing and would-be Blackberry customers.

He points to an article by the UK’s TimesOnline, which cites a UBS Investment Research analyst as saying the device could be available in Britain for as little as £100 (or ~$200) beginning in July.

Still, Kahney hedges his bets with a warning that he has not confirmed the integrity of the information offered up by his tipster.

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written by Jose Castillo

Here’s a nice little tidbit: word on the street is that the most recent version of the iPhone 2.0 beta has added a “Location Services” feature that encompasses what appears to be GPS-based Google Mapping, along with geotagging for the phone’s camera app. Sure, even if these shots are legit, Apple is late to the party here — other featurephone users have been geo-tagging their shots for years — but that doesn’t mean we can’t condescendingly congratulate Apple for these “achievements” while simultaneously pinning screenshots to the fridge alongside that 3G preferences pane and the hand-traced picture of a turkey in crayon.

[Thanks, SuperSaf]

written by Jose Castillo

Orange, the exclusive provider of iPhones in France, announced Friday a new deal with Apple that will see it expand distribution and service of the device to additional European countries, the Middle East, and parts of Africa.

Specifically, the French carrier said that later this year it will provide details on availability for Austria, Belgium, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Jordan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Switzerland, and its existing African markets.

A spokesperson for Orange parent company France Telecom told Reuters that the carrier will be the exclusive iPhone provider in Belgium and Romania, with co-exclusive or non-exclusive deals in other countries.

Orange joins Swisscom and SingTel, which also announced iPhone deals this week. Swisscom earned the rights to sell the device later this year in Switzerland, while SingTel through its subsidiaries said it would market the phone in Singapore, India, the Philippines and Australia.

Earlier this month, America Movil said it would offer the Apple handset throughout Latin America, while Vodafone announced deals for Australia, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Greece, Italy, India, Portugal, New Zealand, South Africa and Turkey.

Telecom Italia Mobile will also be selling the iPhone in Italy, and Rogers will market the device in Canada.

[Via AppleInsider]

written by Jose Castillo

Granted, we haven’t heard anything thus far about which carrier would be offering up the recently-made-official BlackBerry Bold, but we can’t say we’re too shocked to hear that it will indeed be AT&T. In a report highlighting the recent boost in RIM’s stock price, it’s noted that AT&T will be “the exclusive carrier for the Bold in the US,” though we have all ideas the other major US carriers will be following suit shortly, probably with redubbed handsets. We know, you’re hungry for a price to mull over, but sadly, it’s not meal time just yet.

[Via Engadget]

written by Jose Castillo