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The man with the enormously big hands is back, baby!

Apple has posted a new Guided Tour video, highlight the new form and features of the upcoming iPhone 3G.

For those keeping track, following on a Keynote and the release of software updates (OS X 10.5.4 last night, the beta for iTunes 7.7 along with SDK beta 8 last week, etc.), Guided Tour videos are usually the next indicator that Steve Jobs is readying to break the final seal, on the final sign, of iPhone launch.

AT&T has apparently been watching Roger's desperate, retreat-action PR spin and thinking, "Yeah, let's not do that." So instead they've done something typical and something a little surprising. The typical thing: they've issued a press release with some crunchy details, including:

Proving their kung-fu is far better than Canada's or Scandinavia's, Hutchison Telecom's 3 brand just kicked out some positively Confucian price points:

With a 2 year contract, the low end plan will run you just HK$188 (a WOW-inducing US$24!!) for 500/500/500 (minutes, heart-to-heart minutes, and data megs), along with 25 MMS and 15 SMS (+ unlimited intra-SMS), and HK$2938 for the 8GB handset and $3738 for the 16GB.

Given the massive, and increasingly -- embarrassingly -- international outcry over Canadian GSM monopoly and thus de facto iPhone 3G exclusive carrier, Rogers' expensive and decidedly limited pricing plans, is it any wonder they've gone into full blown PR panic mode?

(If the below is legitimate, of course).

Thanks to sister site'r Crackberry Kevin for sending this our way!

Hello. My name is [redacted] and I'm writing on behalf of Rogers to give you some additional information about the Rogers rate plans available for the iPhone. The iPhone 3G bundles released June 27 are not the only price plans available to customers, they are the high value plans that allow Rogers customers to use the device to its fullest and offer considerable savings over separate voice and data plans that exist in market today.

Keep reading for the rest!

Mobile Mag is reporting that the iPhone 3G may be sold at Radio Shack and Best Buy. Best Buy we can see -- Apple's already been making inroads there. Radio Shack, though, ...ugh. Sure, since the iPhone 3G is being sold pretty much just like any other smartphone now, it's not crazy that it could be sold by any of the usual suspects -- Radio Shacks, Mall Kiosks, that one guy down the street who inexplicably has an AT&T store in his garage. But... Radio Shack? Maybe I'm old, but I remember a time when Radio Shack had, you know, electronic parts and wasn't the laughing stock it is today.

If it's a day that ends in a "y", then its likely the status of the Apple / China Mobile talks has changed! On again/off again seems to be on again, with reports now saying the obstacles have been hurdled, the chasm bridged, the bamboo curtain rolled up to let in some sun.

But can China Mobile beat competitor China Unicom, or even the massive gray market, to the punch?

Only time, and probably a bazillion more flip flops, will tell.

One year ago today people were lining up outside Apple Stores. Woz was handing out snacks. El Jobso was making surprise cameos. Scoble was screaming. Leo was chatting up the Google devs. Mossberg was flaunting his demo. Colbert was begging for his. Vloggers were vlogging and boy-oh-boy bloggers were blogging. The mainstream media was going gaga. Mike was live at the Mall of America. Dieter was right here, online, keeping us all up to date.

It was launch day USA. The original iPhone. 2G. Premium priced. Industry changing. Handset revolutionizing. Universe denting.

We've done our share of protesting the plan rates released by Canada's GSM monopoly, and therefor de facto iPhone 3G exclusive carrier, Rogers Wireless. But we're hardly alone. Reports have even surfaced of angry consumers egging Rogers retail stores.