For the sake of not bombarding you with 25 iPhone stories today (too late?), here's a summary of all the goodness we've found in the last 48 hours.

First off, someone took all the images on the Apple site and modelled it up into a 3D gif. Neat, eh?

But how much will you really pay for the iPhone in the first year? Counting the $640 for the phone ($599 + tax), a $60 voice plan, a $40 data plan, and $8 worth of fees, you're looking at $1,936 in just the first year. Yikes. Then again, you're paying around that much if you get a regular smartphone with the same data plans, but this may be a shock to the "average" consumer who isn't used to getting data.

Think you're going to be getting the entire 4GB or 8GB on your iPhone for music and videos? Think again. Apple's going to be using 500MB of that to store the OS (slimmed down version of OSX), so you're only going to be getting 3.5GB or 7.5GB. Even less if you're considering the apps that are installed there—if the apps aren't considered part of the OS.

Also, more importantly, users won't be able to use iTunes songs as ringtones. At least, not at launch. We're sure Apple's gotta work out stuff with Cingular and the music industry, since using songs you already bought as ringtones makes it pretty hard to justify buying the same song again just to use as a ringtone—something that's turning out to be a pretty big money source for both providers and the music industry.

And has Cisco lost the rights to the iPhone? According to a trademark law expert, Cisco had to file a Declaration of Use for the trademark before the sixth anniversary of the registration date. Since they registered on 11/16/99, the sixth anniversary would have been 11/16/05. Since they didn't do so, they may in fact have lost their right for exclusive use of the iPhone trademark. – Jason Chen

True cost of the iPhone - CenterNetworks does the math! [CenterNetworks]

iPhone 3d [iPhone-3d]

Macwelt gets more iPhone details out of Apple [Ars Technica]

Cisco lost rights to iPhone trademark last year, experts say [ZDNet]

2:22:31 PM    comment   

Remember that hot Media Skin cellphone we saw nearly two years ago from Tokujin Yoshioka design? It's about to be released on KDDI and not NTT DoCoMo, which to most Americans means absolutely nothing.

The Media Skin, however, comes in black, orange, and white, has a QVGA screen, and some various other features we can't quite make out because we don't read Japanese. Point is, design projects actually do make it out sometimes—at least in Japan.

More shots after the jump.

– Jason Chen

Design Page [KDDI via MetroSexualDesires - Thanks Bob!]

2:19:32 PM    comment   

Sharp's W51SH cellphone is set to make its debut in Japan in the next few days. Sure, it looks exactly like the LG VX9400 we saw at CES, but Sharp's baby has a 3-inch Aquos screen. As we all know, Aquos just isn't a hollow marketing term designed to trick consumers into thinking they're buying Grade A merchandise. No, sir: Aquos means you're getting enhanced picture quality and an ambient lighting sensor. Other gems include on-the-go TV, built-in GPS, HSDPA and a microSD slot. I don't know, but it seems a little "meh" compared to certain other recently announces cellphones. – Nicholas Deleon

Press Release (in Japanese) [Sharp via Newlaunches.com]

2:17:22 PM    comment   

Still confused about what the hell is going on with the Cingular and AT&T deal? Here, allow Steven Colbert to explain it a little bit better. He is getting pretty good at regurgitating the flaccid tech news. –Travis Hudson

2:13:48 PM    comment   

Breaking news for you guys. The folks at Tech.co.uk are reporting that Apple will open its FairPlay DRM to companies that are a part of the "Made for iPod" club. If true, this means that you'll be able to play songs you bought on iTunes on certain third party devices like wireless hi-fi systems. The announcement is rumored to be made official by Apple some time this week. A bold move by Apple, but one that could help keep their allies close by and away from temptation. – Louis Ramirez

Apple to Open Up FairPlay DRM [iLounge]

1:59:28 PM    comment   

Despite an aggressive GBP2.5 (US$4.9) million ad campaign featuring former Baywatch star Pamela Anderson, NTL’s Virgin Mobile—the first to market in the U.K. with a broadcast TV service to mobile phones—has failed to gain much traction, according to The Guardian. The paper quotes industry insiders as saying Virgin Mobile has signed up “significantly” fewer than 10,000 customers for its Virgin Mobile TV (VMTV) service.  Virgin Mobile CEO Alan Gow didn’t give a figure but says mobile TV is in its infancy and that the availability of just one handset has so far hampered sales despite lowering handset prices and offering free TV or 90-day trials depending on payment method. Rivals contend the TV menu, five channels broadcast via BT using the digital radio spectrum, is too small. More details at our sister site MoCoNews.net.

1:52:52 PM    comment   

Hi-Fi vendors queueing up

Apple may be on the verge of announcing it will licence its FairPlay DRM technology, it has been claimed, with the recently announced Netgear EVA8000 Digital Entertainer HD one of the first non-iPod devices to take advantage of the move.âo[oe]

11:20:56 AM    comment   

Five big trends/themes that are on our radar for 2007, dealing with status, transparency and consumer power, the online revolution, more adventurous consumption, and a shift to participation.

10:31:34 AM    comment