The Mac OS X 10.5.3 build is a really critical update, especially when schools of students are depending on its release so that they can get their hands on a new batch of Apple computers. As it turns out, the New York City Department of Education recently ordered a lot of Apple computers for their schools, but the units are now currently being held because of a bug that requires the Mac OS X 10.5.3 to be fixed. More in the full article.

Is Apple's rumored end-of-the-month event to take place at an even bigger apple? That's the rumor we picked up based on the upcoming Linkin Park concert tour that's also expected to be making an appearance over in New York.

Details on this matter are in the full article.

After receiving US$ 2000 worth of roaming charges from AT&T, Herbert H. Kliegerman decided to sue Apple for not properly disclosing to customers that the iPhone is locked to AT&T, and the use of the handset in other countries will result in roaming fees.

A frequent traveller, Kliegerman travelled to Mexico and continued to use his iPhone. Not aware of the roaming charges applicable when using a local network provider's service internationally, Kliegerman was content that he will not be charged extra for using internet and checking emails. However, he received the US$ 2000 bill upon his return from the trip.

Kliegerman contacted AT&T to have his phone unlocked, but since iPhone is exclusive to AT&T for the meantime, AT&T refused his request to unlock his phone. Disgruntled, he filed a 9-page complaint in a New York Supreme Court and accused Apple of deceiving customers by not properly informing them of the iPhone's exclusivity with AT&T, and about the roaming charges as well.

Here's a short quote from the lawsuit:

As a result of [Apple's] deceptive and misleading acts, members of the Class have been injured because they are unable to unlock their phones for use with non-AT&T SIM cards.

It looks like it's another day, another lawsuit for Apple and the iPhone. However, it looks like this particular case would have been avoided with a careful reading of the contract before signing anything.

There's no doubt that the Apple iPhone's launch was a runaway success, and new owners of the handset couldn't be happier. But Gizmodo reports some flimsy incidents that might dampen the parade a bit.

According to the report, AT&T might be cashing in on the launch by forcing consumers to buy two accessories if they want to get the handset. This happened in two stores in Seattle, one in California, one in New York and a weird variant of the act in North Carolina.

According to sources, consumers who waited in long lines to buy the iPhone were required by shopkeepers to purchase two of the product's accessories. If they didn't, they were simply denied the privilege of trading. In the New York branch, it took a man hollering that AT&T was doing illegal stuff to get them to sell without forcing accessories.

In one Seattle store, a source reports that AT&T had 20 units in stock and declared them sold out after 10 people entered the shop. However, they did offer the remaining people that they could get them handsets through "special deals" within a couple of days if they ordered two accessories along.

Gizmodo also reports that there are sources saying that AT&T personnel were required to sell products on a given quota. Unless they perform according to the company's benchmarks, they were subject to termination.

In Greensboro, North Carolina, accessories weren't forced on buyers but accessories were placed within the package of the iPhone. This way, the store was able to charge an additional 10 percent for restocking if the box was reopened.

And in the mobile world today, Steve Job's hobby - the iPhone - has just hit North America's east coast today, at a very prompt 6 p.m. launch as announced by the Cupertino-based company. People have lined up on Apple's retail outlets in New Jersey, Florida, New York, and Philadelphia, among some.
 
And while the west coast nears its launch window, Apple stores in California and Connecticut have already been prepping up for their share of the iPhone purchase craze. There are claims of people whisking past potential iPhone customers lined up, teasing folk with their iPhone.

The first iPhone owners have walked out of the official Apple stores with iPhone in-hand, although not one person has been named as the first official iPhone owner post-launch as of press time. Photo courtesy of Engadget.

If you've ever had to wait in line for something - maybe a ride at some famous amusement park, or for a copy of that just-released game, perhaps a console that's been selling out for quite some time - you know it's an annoying affair you probably wouldn't want to go through ever again.

If that's the case, then you should probably meet Greg Packer - a highway maintenance worker and hardcore linesitter from Huntington, New York, and coincidentally the very first guy in line for the highly-anticipated iPhone launch.

While we can certainly understand the overwhelming need to be the first to get an iPhone, what we don't get is the guy's obsession at being first in line for ANY newsworthy event. Yes, he's not actually in the line for the iPhone, but rather for the privilege - and the bragging rights - of being first.

From the unveiling of the viewing platform of Ground Zero to being able to meet singer Brandy in person - if you can be first in line for it, Greg's already camped out there, with his shirtless self draped on his portable lawn chair.

And not only does he get the media coverage for being the first in line, he's also regularly quoted at newsworthy events and his lines oftentimes appearing in major publications. The guy, if you really want to know, also has his own Wikipedia entry to boot.

How's that for getting your fifteen minutes of fame? Greg Packer, your core is indeed the hardest of them all - especially when it comes to linesitting.

With the high base price of the iPhone and AT&T deciding not to subsidize the cost of the phone, the cost of owning one when it comes out is pretty steep. If for some reason you decided to cancel your subscription early, it gets even more expensive. How expensive? Try an additional US$ 175.

It was recently announced that AT&T has decided to place a US$ 175 fine for those who decide that they want out of the two-year contract with the company. This move has sparked the outrage of many an iPhone fan interested in picking up a unit.

As most would know, when people cancel their subscription to a cellular service they have to pay a fine. The reason for this is because the company sells the phone for a cheaper price and subsidizes the cost over the two years or more as dictated in the contract.

AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel gave word that these termination fees pay for more than phone subsidies. His exact explanation for this is that "there are certain fixed costs we incur in serving every customer who establishes service with us." However, he declined to specify exactly what these costs were.

The Vice President of Jupiter Research in New York Michael Gartenberg spoke about this issue and gave a theory on why this was the case. Considering that other networks do sell music through their wireless service, iTunes will be getting revenue that AT&T could have gotten.

However, he also noted that while this may be the case, those who will be adopting the iPhone are those who will most likely be using more data and voice services, which would give a nice boost to AT&T as well.

Is AT&T trying to milk more money out of this deal? It wouldn't have been so bad if they didn't charge such a huge amount for the cancellation considering the simple fact that you're already paid for the entire phone out of your pocket. I believe it's time for AT&T to decide on having one or the other. If they choose to subsidize it, I doubt many will complain but asking for both is pretty excessive in my book.

 

A Gizmodo tipster was able to take a snapshot of what was curtained off in a section of New York City's Apple store. The layman wouldn't know what to make of the image so the tipster was nice enough to offer some insights. He writes:

Thanks to my cat like reflexes, I was able to snap a picture before the enigma that is the Apple store was shrouded in black velvet again. There's actually 2 curtained off areas, you guys only mentioned one before, this all happened at the one you guys didn't take a picture of before. Not to ruin any of the fun of guessing, but my genius told me they were just adding more genius bars, and thats what it looks like.

We hope you were able to decipher what the message was through the self-promotion. In any case, what do you think about the image? Post your insights below.

 

Gizmodo techies report that Solutions Research Group did a little number among the US populace, tracking down the general profile of the kind of person who would most likely want to pick up Apple's new hobby, the iPhone. And true, they didn't include ol' Stevie in the mix.

So who's going to line up when the phone-meets-PDA-meets-media gizmo struts it stuff on June 29? Gizmodo pegs that perfect specimen right on the dot: the guy to most likely pick up an iPhone at the end of the month is "a rich, college-educated guy with an iPod, probably living in New York or California, [who will] be ditching [his] cellphone carrier sometime soon."

Wonder how they got to that conclusion? Just check out the top 8 InfoModo numbers from Gizmodo, provided below. Remember to click the picture to view a larger version of the image. (Don't worry, it won't blow up as much, we promise!)

   
   

The New York Times came up with an analysis regarding Apple's phenomenal success in the retail front and what Sony and other companies could learn from it. Simplicity seemed to be the operative theme.

When Apple launched an ambitious project to open retail stores nationwide back in 2001, it was largely criticized and condemned by traditional business knowledge as a self-defeating move that Apple will regret. It happened in a time when once-mighty retail chains like Gateway were closing down, prompting almost everyone to write off the idea.

It seems, however, that everyone forgot the tremendous knack for innovation that Steve Jobs and the boys at Apple have. Damning the torpedoes and doing away with unnecessary aesthetics and exorbitant store spaces, the retail stores were built at a minimum cost and were designed to be compact, simple yet accessible and loaded with products that sell themselves.

New York times correspondents documented the amazing story and watched as Sony opened its own Sony Style chains which were spacious, trendy and in most cases, virtually desolate with staff outnumbering consumers even on peak days. This scenario was repeatedly observed by NY Times correspondents in various Sony Style outlets located in malls and other good locations.

In contrast, Apple stores always seemed loaded and vibrant with a sense of excitement omnipresent in the expressions of customers. Apple stores were often much smaller than the typical 6, 000 square-feet that Sony Style outlets occupy, yet they're doing far better.

The article hints that bigger isn't always better and sometimes it boils down to product appeal and service quality. There are a lot of things mentioned in the article that Sony can take more of and perhaps adopt, if it isn't too late. Follow the read URL and see what the celebrated paper has to say.