It is also VERY obvious that Cisco employees (and other biasly Cisco/Linksys factions) are literally TROLLING the web to make fun of anyone talking in Apple's favor about this issue.

I read (somewhere- so much infor on the iPhone is clouding Google searches) that Cingular is actually subsidizing this phone by $500-750 dollars (nothing to do with the good credit/bad credit story) - this is why Cingular is requiring a 2 year agreement with the purchase of the iPhone. I imagine it will be sold unlocked, but it won't matter because the only network it will be able to connect to for data which is a major feature of the phone and for email will be Cingular only. An unlocked SunCom phone will not receive email because it doesn't have the software for Cingular phones.

I will confirm for you that THIS design WAS a prototype floating around ... although it apparently isn't what is shipping in June

"stop calling it "iPhone" Cisco Systems/Linksys owns the rights to the name and has a product by that name..."

The rumormill has titled it that ... so why does it matter. The iTV isn't called the iTV either ... but that's the best name to call it by.

And for your info, Apple owns the rights to the name iPhone in 12 countries and the domain iPhone.org.

if the Apple Phone doesn't materialize ... this is what I'm getting then applying A mac os x theme to it.

It should be noted that the average ugly "iPod case" (and usually heavily discounted) is from XtremeMac

Sales are designed to get rid of old stock to make way for the new and/or to stimulate sales numbers in general. iPod sales numbers hardly need the bump a sale would give them, they're flying off the shelves as it is. The only time you're likely to see discounted iPods is when a new one is introduced and places have old stock - which is also the only time a shop is likely to have old stock of iPods - as I said, they're flying off the shelves.

I would have typed this exact same comment had you not beaten me to it ... iPods are never on sale because they don't need to go on sale and the margins are too thin anyway ... why cut your price on a thin margin item if it's moving well?

The reason online retailers usually discount iPods is to provide what is called a "loss leader" - take a loss on the iPod and hope the customer orders accessories along with it.

Essentially this article by slate was completely off ... it only mentioned perceived reasons not actual reasons the the iPod isn't on sale .... ie ... what I mentioned here.

What you have to realize is that the iPod doesn't go on sale (or rarely does) at RETAIL Brick and Mortar stores ... the Zune on the other hand is being discounted most everywhere ... even at retail.

Ok ... try to get my logic here without this coming off as cold and brutal ... if you have to yank on this string for a minute ... how many calories does that burn? How much more in FOOD AID will the world have to send to make up for this calorie loss?

AS an Apple Tech ... I welcome this "innovation" ... I have fished 5 8cm mini CDs (from Sony CD digital cameras) over the last 5 years of slot drives

I would be certain that's Nina Hartley as well ...

http://www.nina.com/tour/p1.gif