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As expected and reported by Neowin last week, Microsoft, via Chris Keroack the Windows XP SP3 Release Manager for the Windows Serviceability team, has announced the release of Windows XP Service Pack (SP) 3 to manufacturing.
Here’s the official word, via a post to the TechNet XP Forum, thanks to sgtLENIN for the heads up:
“Today we are happy to announce that Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3) has released to manufacturing (RTM). Windows XP SP3 bits are now working their way through our manufacturing channels to be available to OEM and Enterprise customers.
We are also in the final stages of preparing for release to the web (i.e. you!) on April 29th, via Windows Update and the Microsoft Download Center. Online documentation for Windows XP SP3, such as Microsoft Knowledge Base articles and the Microsoft TechNet Windows XP TechCenter, will be updated then. For customers who use Windows XP at home, Windows XP SP3 Automatic Update distribution for users at home will begin in early summer.
Thanks to everyone here who installed the public betas – you not only gave us detailed feedback but also helped each other out with timely troubleshooting. Through the beta program we found several important issues and were able to confirm some essential fixes. We couldn’t have done this without you.
We will still be monitoring this forum during the next few weeks in case you have more feedback about the release of Windows XP SP3.”

Link: Microsoft TechNet XP Forum

  Times Online is running a story about the not-so-good sales of Apple’s iPhone in Europe. According to the British publication, the European mobile operators have overestimated the demand for iPhone in Europe and now they are cutting the prices in order to “clear” the shelves.

Three mobile carriers sell the iPhone in Europe: Telefonica’s O2 in UK, Deutsche Telekom’s T Mobile in Germany and Orange, the mobile arm of France Telecom, in France.

The first two operators have already announced new prices for iPhone. Earlier this month T-Mobile announced that the 8GB version of iPhone, will be sold for 99 euros as a part of a promotion that runs from April 7 to April 30. Through this promotion T-Mobile hopes to win new customers, but in order to obtain this price they will have to sign up for a two-year contract that offers an 89 euros monthly plan.

Additionally, T-Mobile offers three other contracts: Complete S under which iPhone costs 249 while the monthly price is 29 euros, Complete M, through which the consumers can buy the iPhone for 199 euros and a monthly price of 49 euros, and Complete L, with the iPhone priced at 149 euros and a 69 euros monthly price. Meanwhile the price of the 16 GB version will remain unchanged, and the phone will be sold for 499 euros.
On April 15, O2 also dropped the price of the 8 GB version from £269 to £169. So far, Orange has left the price unchanged. Times Online believes that these price cuts could also signal the introduction of the 3G iPhone.

Citing some anonymous sources, TimesOnline noted that Apple could unveil in June not just one new model of iPhone, but three.

An Asian analyst said for the British newspaper that the 3G iPhone will be “radically different” to the current device, which has a 4.5 inch screen and slick, aluminium backing. “Among the possibilities are flip version, which would enable the screen to be larger, and a sliding model with a regular qwerty keyboard - as opposed to a touchscreen one,” Times Online wrote.

However, this is a speculation we find hard to believe. Referring to a 3G iPhone, Steve Jobs noted almost one year ago that this kind of device will need a new battery, but he didn’t give any details. Probably the new version could be slightly different from the first iPhone, but it’s hard to believe that Apple will change radically a design that proved so far to be a real success.

One thing is sure: Apple’s annual World Wide Developer Conference is coming and until June 9 when Jobs will go on stage to give his speech, we will have our good share of rumors about the alleged, upcoming 3G iPhone.

Source: eFluxMedia