They’ve been out for the last few days, so you’ve probably already seen one or both of the two new TV spots where Apple hops in to aid AT&T. The ads attack rival carriers by flaunting the iPhone’s ability to perform 3G-related activities while on a voice call, and end with the question “Can your phone, and your network do that?” Then the  AT&T logo then flashes on the screen in a show of solidarity right before Apple’s.

The ads follow strong assaults on TV by Verizon designed to exploit what it believes is a weak chink in the iPhone’s shiny armor, namely AT&T’s 3G coverage.

But the ads also follow one early indication that young men are deserting the iPhone en masse, as reported by CoM in a previous post.

So, are these ads a show of strength? Or is Apple feeling the heat?

Update: A new Apple Store Black Friday “ad” leaked again to Boy Genius Report – this time from what the site described as a “pretty credible” source bearing “more reasonable” sale prices. Among the items, iMacs and MacBook Pros starting at $1098, iPod nanos for $138 and iPod touch for $178. Apple TV reportedly going for $208, Airport Express for $88 and the Magic Mouse and wireless keyboard for $64 each.

Apple today unveiled a teaser ad on its U.S. and UK online stores, offering no details on what bargains could be available for Mac fans. The official announcement comes just days after a purported flyer (later shot down) indicating up to a 30 percent discount on items.

“Come back to the Apple Online Store this Friday for a special one-day-only shopping event,” the ad urges. “You’ll find lots of iPod, iPhone and Mac gift ideas – all with free shipping.” Unlike the UK, where the upcoming holiday is not commonly observed, the U.S. online store mentions “the day after Thanksgiving.”

Here’s a guide for finding the best bargains on Apple-related gear during the infamous Black Friday sales on November 27. We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of gear from leaked photos of sales flyers and descriptions of sales.

The bargains include a 2.26 GHz MacBook + $150 gift card at Best Buy for $999.99 ; a 32GB iPod Touch + $30 Gift Card for $295.00 at Target; and a Sony Speaker Dock Clock Radio For iPod/iPhone for $79.99 at Office Depot.

We’ll continue to update this guide as more retailers announce their Black Friday offerings in the run up to the big day.

Just in time for iTunes Store customers to send family and friends links to their favorite songs, Apple has created the iTunes Preview Web site. Now clicking on links to iTunes media no longer requires launching the full iTunes media software suite.

iTunes Store customers can use the “Copy Link” feature to send links to an iTunes Preview page.

The iTunes Preview Web page allows you to browse artists and albums, read biographies and get more information on song prices or customer reviews. Browsers will still need the iTunes software to listen to song snippets. The iTunes Preview site includes a “View in iTunes” button. Although the iTunes Store offers music and movies, the new Web site currently supports only music.

Apple updated its iTunes 9 software in October. The iTunes 9.0.2 included support for the new Apple TV 3.0 and gave customers the option of also viewing iTunes LP or iTunes Extras through Apple TV.

[Via AppleInsider and 9to5Mac]

If rumors that Apple is adding an RFID reader to the iPhone are true, it’s huge!

An RFID reader would turn the iPhone into an e-wallet — allowing you to pay for everything, from a cup of coffee to a subway ride. It could also turn the iPhone into an ID card, a security access system and an electronic ticketing device.

It’s could also function as an easy and secure online shopping system that doesn’t require you to enter your credit card number.

Your iPhone could unlock your car, pick up e-coupons at the local mall, and pay for all your supermarket groceries just by laying it on top of the checkout.

Imagine if such a system was enabled on your iPhone. It would supplant your wallet — if enough retailers adopted the system, of course.

Programmer John Carmack helped bring Commander Keen, Wolfenstein 3D, Doom and Quake into the world.

Getting his games on the iPhone was not so easy.

“My relationship with Apple has been long standing, but it’s a roller coaster ride,” he told web site Kotaku. “At the highest level of Apple, in their heart of hearts,” Carmack said. “They’re not proud of the iPhone being a game machine, they wish it was something else.”

However, the popularity of gaming on the iPhone has forced Apple to think different(ly).
And, now that former collaborator Graeme Devine has gone to work for the iPhone Game Technologies division, iPhone games may get the respect they deserve.

Carmack calls Devine his “man on the inside…a real developer and I understand everything he is saying.”
Via Kotaku

Apple is reportedly talking with TV executives about delivering content via iTunes for $30 per month. The arrangement could start as early as 2010 and Disney may be the first studio to accept the offer.

According to MediaMemo’s Peter Kafka, TV heads are “intrigued” but no programmer has made a firm commitment. The plan would bypass Apple TV for iTunes, which the Cupertino, Calif. company claims has 65 million accounts.

We reach mid-week with a mix of new 27-inch iMacs sporting Intel’s 2.66GHz Core i5 chips with 3 years of AppleCare for $2,198. Also on-tap: MacBook Pro laptops starting at $800 and the gorgeous 30-inch Apple Cinema Widescreen LCD displays for $1,299. Rounding out the top three deals are two deep discounts on iPhone and iPod cases.

For details on these and more bargains (such as App store freebies including the ever-helpful B.S. Meter), check out CoM’s “Daily Deals” page after the jump.

Two days after the US Consumer Product Safety Commission said it would launch an investigation into iPod battery issues, Apple updated its support document on battery overheating.
Here’s the main update:

iPod nano (1st generation): Rare cases of battery overheating
Apple has determined that in very rare cases, batteries in the iPod nano (1st generation) sold between September 2005 and December 2006, may overheat and prevent the iPod nano from working and deform it.

Apple has received very few reports of such incidents, and the issue has been traced to a single battery supplier. Additionally, there have been no reports of such incidents with any other iPod nano model. If your battery shows signs of overheating, such as discoloration or deformity, stop using the iPod nano immediately and contact AppleCare as soon as possible for further assistance.

It’s an acknowledgment, but just, that comes two months after the EU announced it was going to investigate exploding iPods — and iPhones.

And what about the advice? Easy enough to spot an overheating device (as it melts and changes color) in hand, but if you’re jogging or have it in your back back, good luck.

Apple, often in the vanguard of coolness, is just now catching up with Internet social-networking. The Cupertino, Calif. company since March has joined the ranks of a multitude of companies seeking to boost awareness through Twitter. Apple is using Twitter to promote iTunes movies, music and podcasts. The oldest account, iTunesTrailer, has gained 1.2 million followers, reports said Tuesday.

Apple’s Twitter presence also includes iTunesMusic, iTunesMovies, iTunesTV and iTunesPodcasts. The Twitter accounts have made only a few tweets and attracted “thousands” of followers, collectively. One of Apple’s latest tweets, in iTunesMovies, promoted “Away We Go,” a movie by “Where the Wild Things Are” co-screen writer Dave Eggers.