iPod iTunes Zone

Apple has sent out invitations to select members of the media inviting them to a special event on September 9th. Featuring a large iPod silhouette graphic at the top sporting the phrase “It’s only rock and roll, but we like it,” the invite states that the event will be held at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater in San Francisco, CA, and that it will begin at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. Apple is widely expected to announce its fall 2009 iPod lineup at the event.

Notable is the “only rock and roll” reference, which appears to be a simultaneous dismissal of rumors that the event might be focused on more than just Apple’s “music” business—iPods—and a reference to the Rolling Stones, who traditionally were seen as rivals to The Beatles. The September 9 date of the event coincides with the release of The Beatles’ entire backcatalog in remastered CD format, as well as a widely publicized tie-up for a special Beatles version of the game Rock Band; these events, combined with Apple’s longstanding interest in offering The Beatles’ catalog in digital format on iTunes, have led many to speculate that the event would include such an announcement. If so, the theme of the invitation provides only the most modest hint that such a thing could be possible.

source: iLounge

TomTom, provider of GPS devices and digital maps, today announces the TomTom for iPhone navigation application is now for sale at the iTunes store. The new application, announced in early June, provides iPhone 3G and 3GS users with many of the features such as turn-by-turn spoken navigation and routing technology typically found in a standard GPS device.

The TomTom app for iPhone 3G and 3GS users includes a map of the US and Canada from Tele Atlas, and costs $99.99 in both the iTunes US and iTunes Canada store. Included in the GPS app is TomTom’s new IQ Routes technology which , instead of using travel time assumptions, bases its routes on the actual experience of TomTom drivers to calculate the best route to take.

Tom Tom iPhone App Additional features include: route planning and clear voice instructions; Automatic re-routing if a turn is missed; route demo or map of route when trip planning; Alternative route options if avoiding roadblocks, toll ways or looking for high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes along route; and 6 million points of interest.

iPhone users will also appreciate the ability to use multi-touch gestures such as tap, swipe, pinch and zoom to operate the application and zoom in and out of the map and the ability to navigate to contacts in address book. Requirements for use on the iPhone 3G or 3GS include phone installation of OS3.0 and installation of iTunes on the PC or Mac. The company is also expected to offer a car kit so drivers can attach their iPhones to the front window or dash.

source: Digital Home