Here's the latest in the iPhone 3G evidence trail: both models of the iPhone (8GB and 12GB) are currently unavailable in the Apple Store. So what does this mean? Probably nothing, but the timing does seem to be too much of the coincidence, now that bits and pieces of hints are flying about, such as the hidden 3G option in the iPhone 2.0 firmware beta. More in the full article!

After a full month since the MacBook Air's initial introduction, demand for the unit appears to have increased. Various retailers, including Apple's own stores, have reported a shortage of stock. To find out more about the stock woes of the MacBook Air and the apparent increased sales of the product, check out the full article.

Apple definitely isn't letting up on the massive Mac OS X updates, and it's in this latest news post direct from its website that we find yet another goodie heading our way. It's the Xsan 2, a newly-unveiled update for the Mac OS X's Storage Area Network (SAN) file system. Check out the new features it offers to both administrators and users in the full article.

If you're a musicphile (like a lot of us here at QJ), 1 GB worth of space just isn't enough. If you found your 1 GB iPod Shuffle a little wanting, you can chuck it for the new 2 GB version Apple has just released. Ok, 2 GB may still not be enough, but it's still the better option. If you don't have a music player yet and you're content with 1 GB, now's the time to grab the old iPod Shuffle model which just got US$ 30 slashed from its price tag. More in the full article.

The unlockings just keep going, and getting better. George Hotz just released his software unlock for 1.1.3 iPhones via his improved 1.1.2 software unlock, and it's bound to get you Apple iPhone owners abuzz. If you want to know more about this application, and how you can get it on your units, read on!

Download: [Geohot's 1.1.2 software unlock (gunlock]

Have you ever experience hearing a really good song but never caught information about it? Well, that won't ever happen again with Polk Audio's I-Sonic Entertainment System 2 which has the ability to "bookmark" songs on the radio.

Good thing about this is that, it's going to be sold in March by Apple itself. Read more on the upcoming speakers in the full article.

Apple recently opened a new retail store in Manhattan's former Meatpacking District last Friday and is the biggest yet in the US. The whole building is three stories tall, with two floors showcasing Apple products and the third dedicated to customer service that gives one-on-one sessions and offering free classes on how to use Apple computers with their "genius bar." Now that's service. Now if only they gave out free iPod Touch samples... Would their strategy pay off? Read more in the full article.

An undercover reported investigated Apple's retail stores, and what did he find? Every little detail that Apple Store customers have experienced for the first time, too, it seems. As a matter of fact, Alex Frankel, the reporter who has spent two years undercover as trainee for the front line retail of several companies, has described the same sense of passion and will to share information that you may have felt from your previous encounters with Apple Store sales personnel.

According to Frankel, it was apparent that from day one, Apple was serious about selecting Apple-inclined employees (if not already huge fans) to man its retail stores nationwide. "Apple is surely a rare bird--few companies have such a broad and committed following, let alone frontline employees who revere its CEO," wrote Frankel.

With that said, Apple's sales process was all about customer approach, though most of the time, Frankel found that they didn't seem to be working hard in selling. "At an Apple Store, workers don't seem to be selling (or working) too hard, just hanging out and dispensing information," he added.

There's actually a three-step process involved, and it required understanding the customers needs (position), getting permission to ask finer details of the customers needs (permission), and continuing to dive into the available products and what satisfied the customer best (probe). And it actually sells. A lot.

Frankel further explained:

And that moves a ridiculous amount of goods: Apple employees help sell $4,000 worth of product per square foot per month. When employees become sharers of information, instead of sellers of products, customers respond.

He also added that the orientation treatment regarded them as responsible adults and didn't begin with programs that belittled first-time employees.

It was reported earlier that New York Times recommended Apple's way of sales for Sony's own retail outlets.

Smashing the various iPhone 3G rumors to bits is the announcement of an iPhone 3G coming in 2008, delivered by Apple's main man himself, Steve Jobs.

"You can expect a 3G iPhone later next year," said Jobs in a press conference aptly named "Mum is no longer the word," held in the Regent Street Apple store in London.

Jobs explained the reason why Apple did not put the iPhone on EDGE in the first place: the 3G chipset technology will just drain out the iPhone's battery life (currently 8 hours). However, future iPhones will indeed run on 3G.

An iPhone model equipped with 2G EDGE technology is already in the works, and will be available in the UK on November 9. That may also mean that the leaked German T Mobile ad may not be just a rumor after all.

Apparently, the not-so-secret organization known as Apple is passing out private invites to various member of the UK press, asking them to join them on the 18th at the Apple Store at Regent Street in London. As you can see in the image (right), it details the directions on how to reach the appointed meeting place with the RSVP email address and phone number blanked out for privacy measures.

Many people are speculating what exactly this invite entails for the European community. The most common of these are the much awaited release of the UK/European release of the iPhone. This coincides with the fact that the Apple Store on Regent Street is, in fact, the biggest Apple Store in the world and would be the most appropriate place for such a grand unveiling. There was even word of some boxes being kept under lock and key at the store.

Other more unlikely theories include a possible deal with BBC regarding some of their shows being turned over to the iTunes store or even the much overdue arrival of the Beatles classics being made available on the iTunes store.

No one knows for sure exactly why "mum is no longer the word," but we'll have to wait until the aforementioned event comes to pass and see what Apple has in store for their European customers. Keep yourselves in touch as we'll deliver any more updates on the matter as soon as we get them.