Apple

What better way to start off your post-holiday work week than a strong dose of highly caffeinated unsubstantiated Apple rumors, courtesy of the Washington Post's Sam Diaz, who claims to have received documents from one of Apple's partners, proving the existence of new iPhones.

Speculation runs high among analysts and the press that an iPhone Nano-like device, smaller and less expensive than the original, is in the works and set for release sometime in Q4. Fact or fiction, the very thought of such a device has many fanboys sporting woodies.

Personally, I'm looking forward to Apple releasing a software update for the current model, integrating the long list of absent features demanded by users.

Apple is now listing refurbished iPhones at store.apple.com for those who desperately want an iPhone but can't swing its premium price tag. These units sell for $100 less than the price of their shrink wrapped counterparts, which isn't a bad deal, depending on the condition these iPhones are in (these are pre-owned remember).

If this deal sounds sweet you better act quickly while supplies last. Only a handful of units are currently available. Get 'em before the vultures swoop in.

A growing number of iPhone users have reported what could be a serious manufacturing flaw affecting some units. After an indeterminate period of use the touchscreen may lose sensitivity in specific locations on the screen. These "dead spots" will be no longer respond to user input. For a device that depends entirely on touch input for manipulation...this isn't good.

Fortunately Apple is listening, and is now offering repairs for anyone experiencing this problem. Unfortunately the company seems intent on enforcing its $29 rental fee for loaner iPhones, while your device is in the shop. Several readers have reported they managed to negotiate a waiver, but I am not satisfied with this scheme. Negotiation should be unnecessary when the problem is a manufacturing flaw.

In addition to the big iMac announcement, Apple also made a few lesser but greater iLife feature introductions that could have a big impact on iPhone users - those who use Macs anyway.

iMovie '08 now enables video to be encoded and formatted for iPhone's native screen resolution (HVGA). So now you can view your home videos on any iPhone, and share them with other iPhone users.

That's not all. iPhoto '08 offers a new .Mac Web Gallery service for uploading and sharing photos from a Mac, PC, or...iPhone! So iPhone users can now upload images captured from the phone right to a .Mac account. Pretty nifty, eh? Of course you'll have to pony $100 to purchase a .Mac account, and oh yes, a new iMac wouldn't hurt.

So goeth the upgrade treadmill.