iLounge is reporting that Apple has banned protective screen films from its retail and online stores. Several film-screen manufacturers have confirmed that Apple’s ban will take effect in May. Multiple vendors told iLounge that Apple has said that it will remove both film-only solutions from its stores, as well as any case or other accessory that includes film protection as part of its package, such as cases that include film screen protectors. Read more…

According to The Wall Street Journal, about 10% of Microsoft’s employees are avid users of the iPhone. While it’s not surprising that tech geeks like those who work for Microsoft would be interested in the iPhone, what is surprising is the lengths some Microsoft workers go to in order to hide their “forbidden love” for a competitor’s device. Read more…

Rhapsody has announced that offline listening will be coming to their iPhone application soon.

One thing is clear. You want to hear your music everywhere, whether you’re on a plane, in the subway, with a mouse, in a house, in a box or with a fox. Well, you get the idea. No bars? No problem. Strong signal, weak signal or no signal — soon your Rhapsody music will be able to go ANYWHERE your iPhone or iPod touch goes. Read more…

Apple updated its Web site with new pictures of the iPad Friday, and one screenshot in particular garnered attention from readers due to its inclusion of a mysterious icon. Included on the home screen Web page Read more…

The introduction of the iPad Friday morning sold an estimated 50,000 units in two hours, and also bumped Apple’s “hobby,” the Apple TV, from the front page of its online store. Also, a mysterious icon included in iPad promotional pictures gains attention, and Apple has expanded its site to explain features of the coming hardware in greater detail. Read more…

Apple has been making last-minute changes to its App Store and iBookstore leading up to the April 3 launch of the iPad, according to a new report.

Citing data from San Francisco mobile media research firm Busted Loop, Forbes reported Thursday that Apple has designated 20 categories for books on its iBookstore, which will be available for download on the iPad. That number has been whittled down from about 35 categories that were listed in February. Read more…

A new report from reputable sources says that Apple will finally deliver a multi-tasking manager for the iPhone in OS 4.0.

According to AppleInsider, “people with a proven track record in predicting Apple’s technological advances” say that the company has developed a “full-on solution” to multitasking for the iPhone OS.

From a user-facing perspective, Apple plans to deliver a multi-tasking manager that leverages interface technology already bundled with its Mac OS X operating system, according to those same people. Read more…

Apple is reportedly cracking down on iPhone applications that are built from templates; otherwise known as cookie cutter applications. These applications are often generated using an app building service and are usually just an RSS feed or a flashy business card.

According to TechCrunch, Apple isn’t opposed to app generators and templates per se; however, the company doesn’t want people using native applications for something that a basic web app could accomplish.
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The Daily Telegraph reports that a new Apple patent has surfaced which could potentially allow the iPhone, or another Apple portable, to act as a sort of electronic key. The potential applications are as limitless as the number of things locked by old-school metal keys. It could be used for cars, offices, homes, or lockers. Basically, anything that could have an electronic receiver mounted to it in place of a metal tumbler-style lock could then use an iPhone as a key. Read more…

Steve Jobs appears to have fired off a tersely worded email reply to a user in Sweeden who asked whether the WiFi-only iPad could be tethered to the iPhone: “No.”

Jezper Söderlund of the Swedish website Slashat.se reports that he sent Apple’s chief executive an email identifying himself as an Apple customer before adding, “I’m also awaiting the release of the iPad. However, I have one question: Will the wifi-only version somehow support tethering thru my iPhone?”

The full email headers Söderlund forwarded to AppleInsider appear to indicate that Jobs sent his one word reply at 8:30 AM from his iPhone. Read more…