United Airlines is adding in-air Internet access on some flights.Airplane phones have been disappearing, but in-air Internet access that’s usable and affordable may finally start to arrive. United Airlines says they’ve installed Verizon Airfone JetConnect on 22% of domestic US flights, via a standard RJ-11 phone cord. The service provides IM, outbound text messages, news, weather, sports, games, city guides, and, for an additional fee, email sending and receiving. Basic service is US$5.99 — so usable for quick messages via IM. We’d still like to see more, of course.

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Until a mobile version of the G5 chip addresses heat and power consumption issues, many have already speculated a PowerBook G5 is out of the question. Apple?s VP of Hardware Product Marketing confirmed this in an interview with MacCentral yesterday. ?Motorola is huge for us,? Joswiak told MacCentral. ?Our partnership with Motorola is not going away, G4s are in every other part of our product line. As you can see, [the G5] is not going in a PowerBook anytime soon. Motorola remains very important to us, but IBM is the one that can take us to the next level.? Read more . . .

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Update: the Terms of Service available from the front of the SprintPCS website do not have any language describing the use of the Vision service, but the text of the SprintPCS Advantage Agreement does state the following:

PROMOTIONS, OPTIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS
PCS Vision. Sprint may deny or terminate service without notice where use is in connection with server devices or host computer applications, other systems that drive continuous heavy traffic or data sessions, or as substitutes for private lines or frame relay connections. PCS Vision Packs are: (a) only available with a Vision capable PCS Phone or PCS smart phone device; and (b) not available with Connection Cards, Aircards, or any other device used in connection with a computer or PDA – including phones, smart phones or other devices used with connection kits or similar phone-to-computer/PDA accessories. Sprint reserves the right to deny or to terminate service without notice for any misuse. PCS Vision Pack credits for premium services do not carry forward.

So to rehash – if you want unlimited data for your Powerbook or PDA, T-Mobile offering unlimited GPRS for $20/month attached to a voice plan is the most economical plan you can find. For data-only, $30 is still cheaper than SprintPCS’s $80/month for unlimited data.
Though if you need speed, SprintPCS’s 1xRTT Vision service is faster.

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A follow-up to the news on June 24. The staff changes in the United States and Germany, and uncertain future for the use of the SE T608 and T606 on U.S. carriers. –Emory
Launch of T608 & T606 put into question:

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MobileTracker spotted that Apple is using the audio technology from CDMA in its new iChat A/V software. Since CDMA is owned by Qualcomm, Apple may very well be paying for the right to use it. But, I have tried it out and must say that the audio quality is great.

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Apple is offering The Apple Store Pro Card, which it describes as “your passport to a world of benefits and privileges designed exclusively for the professional Mac user.

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Apple has posted the shipping date as September 2nd for the Power Mac G5 (Dual 2 GHz) that I ordered yesterday at roughly 5pm EST.

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Apple Retail Store representatives are reporting they expect availability of the new iSight camera/microphone in the next couple of days. There are rumors that the iSight was supposed to be in-store for the WWDC telecast. If thad had happened, we can imagine the enormous wave of impulse buys it could have generated.

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RadTech has introduced a limited-edition “Mac Pirate” pirate flag-design ScreenSaverz laptop screen protector. The design is inspired by the flag the original Mac team flew over their offices. If you’re on-site at WWDC, you can pick one up. Availability beyond WWDC is yet-to-be-determined. (John, I say keep making `em!) RadTech ScreensavRz are designed to protect notebook LCD displays from damaging contact with keyboard and chassis, as well as offering the ability to clean, polish and remove prior damage resulting from abrasive contact. One of our favorite products — absolutely beautifully made, and very effective. Wouldn’t carry my 17″ PowerBook around without one.

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Sony Ericsson has withdrawn from the CDMA market. Five hundred are sacked in EU and US offices.

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