Synchrotech ships AirQueue USB 2.0 extender...

Synchrotech today unveiled the AirQueue, a 7.75-inch USB 2.0 extension cable specifically designed to allow large or unusually designed USB devices to work with Apple's recently released MacBook Air. The AirQueue is certified to work with Synchrotech's own MicroU2E USB ExpressCard reader, which allows users to access a wide array of USB 2.0-based ExpressCards with a MacBook Air. The extender cable is priced at $6.

Id software head interested in iPhone SDK...

Id software head John Carmack today expressed interest in Apple's iPhone SDK (Software Development Kit) in a comment on a popular tech news website. The iPhone SDK, which Apple released today during a town-hall meeting at its campus in Cupertino, will bring support for OpenGL/OpenAL to mobile developers alongside access to the handset's 3-axis Accelerometer. "Just based on the blurbs, it looks very good -- a simulator plus debugging on the native device is the best of both worlds, and a 70 percent royalty deal for apps over iTunes is quite good," Cormack wrote in a comment on Slashdot.org.

Collanos Workplace 1.3 optimizes foundation...

Collanos today released Collanos Workplace 1.3 (site down at publish time), an update to the cross-platform collaboration software that is thoroughly optimized with extended teamwork functions. The latest release includes a Team Instant Messenger environment, and allows team members to share results with other team members across any supported platform as quickly as similar server-based applications, according to the company. Collanos Workplace 1.3 is available for free (system requirements were unavailable).

Apple posts event stream for iPhone SDK...

Apple has posted the event stream for the iPhone software developer's kit session that took place at the company's head office in Cupertino. Apple's "SDK Roadmap" event transpired at 10AM Pacific Standard Time, where Steve Jobs, Phil Schiller, and many representatives from different developers offered their opinions and views of the project. Venture capitalist firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers was on hand as well, announcing a $100 million "iFund" for entrepreneurial developers.

iPhone Enterprise Beta Program launched...

Apple today launched its iPhone Enterprise Beta Program, a new mini-site dedicated to bringing the iPhone to large corporate environments. The program offers "a unique opportunity for IT departments to try iPhone 2.0 software before general release," according to Apple. "If your company is selected to participate, you'll test new iPhone enterprise features within your corporate environment, then provide Apple with valuable feedback." Apple touts the latest capabilities of its iPhone which surfaced today during a town-hall meeting centered around the iPhone's software roadmap.

[U] VC firm intros $100m iFund for iPhone apps...

Venture capitalist firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers today announced the iFund, a money pool for developers looking to start businesses based on the newly announced SDK for the iPhone and iPod touch. The fund has a total of $100 million to distribute between potential candidates and is meant to spark the next wave of development. The size "should be enough to start a few Amazons or Yahoos," according to the VC firm's John Doerr.

iPhone Q&A shows VoIP, parental locks, more...

The iPhone and iPod touch will support more than just third-party applications when their version 2.0 firmware is available in June, Apple executives have revealed today at a question and answer session following today's software roadmap event. The company noted in particular that the software will allow voice over IP (VoIP) calling with the iPhone as long as the device is on a Wi-Fi network. Cellular data will be restricted, he says. No explanation is provided, though the limit is believed to be in place to protect AT&T's phone business.

Apple unveils App Store for iPhone, iTunes...

As part of its SDK announcement, Apple today unveiled the App Store, the sole home for third-party applications for the iPhone and iPod touch. The service will be accessible either wirelessly from the device itself or through iTunes, which synchronizes apps to the handset on its next connection. To fund the store, Apple will follow a pattern set by Handango and other third-party stores and will collect 30 percent of the revenue from each app purchase. Free apps remain free for both the user and developer, Apple notes.

Apple: Spore, more games coming to iPhone...

Apple today during a meeting covering its iPhone software roadmap announced that games are coming to iPhone, and that the highly anticipated massive multiplayer online title 'Spore' is also coming to the mobile handset. The iPhone features built-in OpenGL/OpenAL support for graphics as well as sound, and game developers can access the handset's Accelerometer for motion-based controls. Travis Boatman -- vice president of worldwide studios for EA Mobile -- took the stage at Apple's town hall meeting to talk about iPhone owners controlling 'Spore' by moving the iPhone in space.

Apple explains iPhone SDK details, Xcode for iPhone...

As promised, Apple today provided development details for native third-party applications for the iPhone and iPod touch. The company has created a development kit that uses the same programming language and interface used by Apple itself and now includes Cocoa Touch, an API designed to add touchscreen input. Programmers now use a modified version of Xcode that is not only used to write programs for the iPhone but to manage them as well, including designing the visual interface, source control, and debugging.

'Push' mail support coming to iPhone...

Apple today announced that it is implementing ActiveSync for Exchange mail support on its iPhone. The word came today during a planned meeting at the company's Cupertino campus, where Apple promised to discuss the future of software on the iPhone. ActiveSync for Exchange mail support, or 'push' mail, comes alongside promises of improved security for the mobile handset, according to phonemag. Stanford University has already purchased hundreds of iPhones for faculty and students, according to Apple, and the Cupertino-based company promised built-in Cisco IPsec VPN capability with certificates and identities with WPA2/802.11x. [updated]

BBC iPlayer leaked for iPhone, iPod touch...

MacNN has discovered that the BBC is reportedly working on a version of its iPlayer software for the iPhone and iPod touch, which was spotted ahead of Apple's announcements at 10AM Pacific. When visiting the BBC iPlayer website through the portable devices, a small, inactive link appears in the corner of the main window, indicating that a beta version of the player software will soon be available. Details have not been released, but with the SDK event due any moment, the BBC will hopefully put an official spin on the find.

Freeverse joins native iPhone game development...

Freeverse, the developer of games like Kill Monty and Commander: Europe at War, says it will be one of the first companies to produce native games for the iPhone and iPod touch. The company has in fact already begun work on two products, the first of which is Flick Sports. Like Nintendo's Wii Sports, the Freeverse title combines several mini-games, including Golf, Bowling, Soccer and Baseball; here players take advantage of the iPhone's unique flick/pinch controls. More mini-games may be added with time.

NI releases Player, new Soundpacks...

As promised, Native Instruments has released KORE Player, a scaled-down companion to its KORE 2 platform. The software lets musicians or producers play material from KORE Soundpacks through their host sequencer, or else as a standalone instrument. Because Player is based on the same six components of KORE 2, including ABSYNTH, GUITAR RIG and REAKTOR, all Soundpacks are supported; the software further comes with a basic library in order to get started. The app is a free 590MB download, and requires Mac OS X 10.4 or higher.

dvGarage updates Conduit Suite, dvMatte Pro...

dvGarage recently unveiled updates to Conduit Suite and dvMatte Pro, its respective Conduit nodal composition tool and chromakeying software. Conduit suite brings with it Conduit Live, a new standalone nodal capture tool which offers users real-tie video compositing and analysis of any live digital footage. The Studio bundle also includes Conduit for Motion, Final Cut Pro, Adobe Photoshop, and After Effects. Conduit Suite is selling for $199, available from dvGarage's website.

GyPSii launches iPhone site, plans native app...

A geotagging-based social networking site, GyPSii, says it has developed a new iPhone version of its mobile web client. The site is used to upload and share points of interest along with pictures, video and text; the two can in fact be combined, creating what the company dubs an online "life history." The iPhone client uses an optimized interface, able to display all relevant information at once for a particular person or place. Location-based search has been improved with new categories, and users can get integrated directions from the mapping interface, pointing to or from specific people and places.

iPhone SDK to require Mac OS X?...

More details of Apple's iPhone SDK announcement, scheduled today for 10AM Pacific time and 1PM Eastern, have allegedly leaked through anonymous sources. It is indicated that although the iPhone can be used on both Macs and PCs, developers will only be able to acquire the SDK for Mac OS X, leaving Windows developers stranded. The development environment is in fact said to be an enhanced variant of Xcode.