Apple Upgrades iPhone

Steve Jobs isn't usually one to bow to his critics, but give Apple credit for addressing two major flaws on the iPhone before it goes on sale on June 29.

Apple said Monday that the iPhone will now come with a battery that supports up to eight hours of talk time, three hours more than previously announced. Apple also said the new battery could support up to six hours of Internet use, seven hours of video playback or 24 hours of audio playback.

Apple's battery received harsh criticism (see " Why You May Not Want An iPhone") because early indications suggest that it can't be removed and replaced with a fully charged spare, like consumers can do with competing smart phones from Palm, Motorola, HTC and Research In Motion.

Apple also said Monday that it is upgrading the iPhone's screen from plastic to optical-quality glass, which should improve durability and prevent scratching.

While the upgrades address the iPhone's two biggest flaws, critics still question Apple's decision not to support carrier AT&T's (nyse: T - news - people ) fastest "third-generation" (3G) data network, instead requiring users to access a slower, older network.

Jobs says he expects to sell 10 million iPhones worldwide by the end of next year.

http://www.forbes.com/intelligentinfrastructure/2007/06/18/
apple-jobs-iphone-tech-intel-cx_df_0618iphone.html