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Exactly as rumored, Apple announced the new monstrous 16GB version of the famous or better yet notorious Apple iPhone. Currently the new Apple iPhone 16GB is available through the Apple store and AT&T stores in USA. The European carriers offering the iPhone are a bit slow to catch up in active promoting - they are expected to start offering it as of tomorrow - the 6th February 2008.

The Apple iPhone is probably the single most controversial mobile phone in the industry and it’s changed the US mobile market beyond recognition. We are not going to elaborate on its features but we’ll better concentrate on its price tag right after this graphic jump.

The latest Apple iPhone 16GB will be sold for USD 500 before taxes, while the current 8GB model will be selling for the same USD 400 price (again before taxes). If you ask us, it’s simply a matter of time before Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs announces the next price cut just as he did with initial iPhone 4GB/8GB models.

As far as European carriers are concerned, the only details we have now, is that O2 UK will be selling the new 16GB model for GBP 330, which is around EUR 440 or USD 650. You probably already know that the iPhone is selling with a hefty European premium here at the Old Continent (some serious tax burden as it seems).

The other interesting announcement today is that the iPod Touch, the iPhone’s cousin, also has received a doubled storage space. The new iPod Touch 32GB will be selling at a USD 500 price tag (before taxes). The 16GB version which has been available for quite some time retains the USD 400 price, along with the 8GB model, which is still priced at USD 300.

The new Apple iPhone 16GB is already available for purchase.

Source: Mobile Phones

Google have released their latest version of Google Maps for Mobile devices. On the right is a screenshot I’ve just taken on an HTC Touch to track my phone’s current location within the Google Maps software.

Not quite the accuracy that is required of phone’s in the US for their E911 system, my phone can only identify which is the current cell tower it’s connected to. If I switched to satellite view and zoomed right in, I’d be able to see all the way down to the big mast sticking up into the air.

This is pretty much exactly what I’ve been trying to achieve with my own attempts at cell location lately. My method doesn’t link directly into maps, but it does keep a history of where I’ve been, by relaying the information to my website and also updates Jaiku with my location as I go.

I’ll certainly be using this in the future, as there are a few times when I’ve found myself wanting to quickly load up a map without worrying about entering details. Google have made this ridiculously easy. On my phone I didn’t even have to press any buttons or do anything. As soon as the software was installed, it took my straight to my current cell tower, as in the screenshot.

I’m very impressed. When do we get an API?

UPDATE: I jumped the gun on the screenshot. A couple of minutes later, my phone decided to connect to a different nearby cell tower. At this point, the software probably looks at the previous tower, the two signal strengths, and looks up both locations to mark me as being half way between the two. If it does real triangulation based on multiple current towers then I’m jealous.