via AP

Apple says it will give everyone who buys an iPhone 4 through Sept. 30 a free case. People who already bought one of the company’s $29 “Bumper” cases can get a refund. Apple will let people sign up on its website late next week.

Some iPhone 4 owners say holding their hand over a spot on the lower left edge of the device muffles cell reception and causes calls to disconnect. Apple says only a tiny fraction of iPhone users have complained.

…. both the iPod nano and iPod touch will receive cameras. He believes the new iPod touch will have the same RAM and processor speed as the iPhone 3GS, and the new media player will sell in capacities of 16GB, 32GB and 64GB at prices of $199, $299 and $399, respectively. He also said that the hard drive-based iPod classic will remain, likely with a 160GB capacity for $249.

Gruber admitted that he has heard “very little” prior to Wednesday’s event in San Francisco, reaffirming reports that a veil of secrecy returned when co-founder Steve Jobs returned to work at Apple. And all of what he’s confirmed, including the addition of cameras to the iPod touch and iPod nano, was known months ago.

Apple users have less protection from viruses and malicious software than Windows users do. But they’re still safer, security experts agree, because so few malware programs target the Mac.

Apple’s new Snow Leopard operating system, which landed in stores Friday, adds a few security enhancements to protect Mac users from malware. But like previous versions of the Mac OS, Snow Leopard lacks security features that are built in to Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7, such as full Address Space Layout Randomization to thwart attacks from malicious code.

That makes Macs more vulnerable to attack, explained Charlie Miller, a security researcher and author of the book The Mac Hacker’s Handbook. But despite its weaknesses, Mac users have no reason to panic — yet. Apple’s PC market share is still roughly only about 10 percent, giving hackers and malicious software coders very little economic incentive to target the Mac.

Apple revealed at its World Wide Developers Conference that it would be adding to its MacBook Pro family with a 13-inch notebook offering available at two different price points. While the 13-inch MacBook Pro joins the Pro family, Apple isn’t entirely abandoning the white polycarbonate MacBook. Instead, the company is rebranding the notebook as a more of a premium offering. For the time being, the white MacBook will still be offered by the company, starting at $999.

But the new 13-inch MacBook Pro is designed to give customers the look and power of a MacBook at a lower price point.

Amazon on Monday launched a version of the Kindle Store optimized for Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch, the latest indication that the online retailer is taking a multiplatform strategy in selling electronic books.

Amazon has modified the Kindle Store, so people accessing it through the Amazon application for the devices will get an interface tailored for the size and shape of their touch screens. Amazon offers its application for free through Apple’s App store.

The minimalist Shuffle has innovative text-to-voice technology, but the controls take some getting used to. Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site.

Ipod Shuffle (Photo AP)

Apple Inc. (AAPL) is planning to launch a netbook computer with a touch screen monitor as early as the second half of this year, two people close to the situation told Dow Jones Newswires Tuesday.

The mini laptop computers will likely have monitor screens that are between 9.7-inches and 10-inches, one person, who declined to be named, said.

Another person said other specifications and functions are still under evaluation.

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