App Store is open for business

So it seems that you can actually get to the applications on iTunes already. There’s no link (that I’ve seen) to the App store, however, do a quick search for AIM, which we already know is a confirmed app. You’ll then see the AIM app, and after it is downloaded, you can click the “Get More Applications” button at the bottom right corner of the Applications section.

There are a ton of Applications already up for download, 552 to be exact. 135 of those apps are free to download. I’m pretty sure that the next hour of my time will be dedicated to sifting through pages of new stuff for the iPhone 3G that I don’t even own yet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5ravQXkTlg

iTunes 7.7 is up for download

Those of you purchasing an iPhone on Friday may want to go ahead and get your iTunes up to date. Apple just released the iTunes 7.7 for download. Strangely enough, their download page has listed the current version as 7.7 for an hour or two, though the link only gave you 7.6. iTunes updater still thinks that my version 7.6.2 is up-to-date as well.

There’s not a whole lot to see with the update. The App Store is in there, however, you have to have the iPhone 2.0 software to even see it. I’d recommend going ahead and downloading the update, just so there’s one less thing to mess with once you get your new phone home.

White iPhone 3G spotted in AT&T video

As surprises go, this one isn’t exactly up there with the Da Vinci Code or the twist at the end of Finding Nemo (spoiler: he’s found), but a recent video of an AT&T lady unpacking iPhone boxes in preparation for their Friday release does contain the first ever sighting of the white iPhone 3G’s packaging.  And yes, as you might have expected, the box is white.

Question is, how many people want their iPhone 3G in white?  The AT&T store in the video does seem to have far more black handsets, suggesting that Apple doesn’t expect its paler version to be as popular.  I’m throwing this one open to the comments; who is planning on buying a white iPhone 3G?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzwLFFWsUeE

[via Gizmodo]

Rogers 6GB data plan add-on attempts to placate for $30 a month

After causing potential iPhone 3G customers to rise up in horror at the proposed costs for its data packages, Rogers Wireless is doing a whole lot of backtracking with a new, albeit-temporary, promotional plan.  Customers who sign up before the end of August will be able to choose a new, $30 monthly data plan on top of a standard voice tariff, that bundles 6GB of data.

It’s not unlimited, no, but Rogers are keen to point out that 6GB is enough to do plenty of data-intensive stuff:

“For example, with 6GB of data, iPhone 3G users can visit 35,952 web pages, or send and receive 157,286 emails, or watch 6,292 minutes of YouTube videos each and every month” Rogers Wireless press release

Visual Voicemail, however, is being treated as separate from data, and as such is being priced at $8 a month.  Text messages too will be separate rather than bundled.  There’s no word on what - if anything - will take the 6GB plan’s place once the promotion ends.  Incidentally, it’s not just new iPhone owners who can take advantage of the 6GB plan.  Any user signing up before August 31st can add it to their voice package.

The carrier also announced that six stores will be opening at 8am on Friday to cater for early customers.  These are:

• Toronto: 112-10 Dundas Street East
• Montreal: 1015 rue St. Catherine Ouest
• Ottawa: 690 Bank Street
• Halifax: Unit 265, 7001 Mumford Road
• Calgary: 5244 Falsbridge Gate, NE
• Vancouver: 2097 West Broadway

iPhone 3G unboxed and demoed Hong Kong style!

I’m not sure if iPhone Buzz has a lot of readers from Hong Kong, but this article is for you.  ePrice posted oodles and oodles of pictures and a number of videos of the iPhone 3G for your viewing pleasure.  Enjoy!

Feel free to submit your iPhone 3G unboxing pics/videos to iPhone Buzz — we’re doing a special feature on iPhone 3G around the world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfLucjFMNBk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mjIgSUMlVQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbTKc6ft-mM

[ePrice via iTechNews]

iPhone 3G won’t be found in Apple Stores outside of US

If you’re planning on heading over to your local Apple store this Friday, there’s a good chance that you’ll run into one heck of a line. Well, that’s true if you live in the US, other countries likely won’t be seeing the same sorts of lines. It seems that Apple has decided not to carry the iPhone 3G in their retail stores outside of the US.

If you check the “Where to Buy” page on Apple’s UK, Italy, Australia and Japan websites, you’ll notice that it does not mention any Apple stores. This is most likely due to Apple’s inability to handle the activation process for other carriers inside of their own stores.

[via iLounge]