ThinkSecret reports that Apple has encountered "significant technological hurdles" in the development of the long-rumoured iPhone.

The site claims that the company decided to design the iPhone from scracth but struggled making some components of the phone to work together.

Rumours that the iPhone will be released later this year have recentrly been spread all over the web by analysts and tech sites reports. This issue could delay the release of the iPhone to 2007.

Here are some brief news from the Mac-centric web:

Audio patent:

MacsimumNews notices a patent filed as "Audio system, loudspeaker and method of operation thereof" at the European patent office describing an audio system with loudspeakers controled by a computing device. The system produces the effect of having five speakers when there ar only two. This patent shows how Apple is getting involved in the entertainment devices market.

Mac OS X 10.4.6:

Since the release of the 15 inch MacBook Pro in January, speculation on the forthcoming Apple laptops is spreading throughout the net. Meanwhile, MacosXrumors has received a very unexpected report, providing information about one of the forthcoming MacBook Pros.

The sources that can be qualified as "very reliable" (yes you read it well), are claiming that Apple plans to keep similar display size for its entry level Mac Book Pro by releasing what sources called an "ultra-thin 12 inch Mac Book Pro".

As promissed in January by Steve Jobs at MacWorld Expo 2006 opening keynote, Final Cut Studio in version 5.1, which includes Final Cut Pro 5, Soundtrack Pro, Motion 2 and DVD Studio Pro 4, is now available as universal binary.

The suite for audio-video profesionnals can now run natively on Apple's Intel-based Macs but will still run on PowerPC based ones. Final Cut Express has not yet been released as an universal binary, but a new version that will run on Intel-based Macs will come later this year.

Apple offers a "crossgrade" with a different price for owners of each version of Final Cut Studio.

Apple has posted iPod Updater 2006-03-23 through the software update utility. The updater provides the following improvements:

New iPod Software 1.1.1 for iPod
New iPod Software 1.1.1 for iPod nano
For all other iPod models, iPod Updater 2006-03-23 contains the same software versions as iPod Updater 2006-01-10.

Important: After downloading the iPod Updater software, connect your iPod to your computer and launch the iPod Updater application. If iPod Updater determines that your iPod needs to be updated, click the Update button to install the latest software on your iPod.

Features of iPod Software 1.1.1 for iPod and iPod Software 1.1.1 for iPod nano:

As ArsTechnica reports, Apple has quietly updated the technical specifications of its 30 inch Cinema Display.

Here is a mix of recent not covered yet news:

Next Saturday, it's Apple's 30th anniversary and everyone's asking himself what the company may do so as to celebrate its 30 years of existence. Boakes.org may have the answer to this question:

Reliable sources informed MacosXrumors that Apple is developing virtualisation software that could be added to Apple's next major release of Mac OS X, Leopard. The technology will allow users to create and run virtual machines with Mac OS X, Linux or Windows on any Intel-based Mac.

An article on CNET's Apple Blog features a brief interview of Deborah Conrad which is VP and direcor of the Team Apple at Intel. The Team Apple was formed some time after Apple announced that it is switching to the Intel architecture, so as to address specific needs of the company in term of R&D.

Microsoft announced earlier this week that, along with the release of Vista, it is porting its Windows Presentation Foundation framework to Mac OS X as well as for handheld devices. Microsoft calls the project Windows Presentation Foundation Everywhere (or WPFE).

According to Smarthouse.com.au, an executive of BenQ electronics maker claims that Apple has been seeking for taiwanese mobile-phone makers regarding the manufacturing of its forthcoming iPhone.

Here's a brief mix of Apple fresh news:

Today, the french law-makers voted a law that will force Apple and Sony to open its DRM technology. A move that the company is not expected to make.

AppleInsider highlights a report from analyst Shaw Wu (American Technology Research) claiming that Apple will release a widescreen iPod with Bluetooth capabilities:

The U.S. Patents and Trademarks Office reveals that Apple has filed a trademark for the brand "iPod Hi-Fi" on March the 9th 2006.

MobileRead notes an article (requires subscription) on Barron's Tiernan Ray bringing evidence that Apple is planning to release an iPhone by the fourth quarter of this year.

We noticed since earlier this week, that a TV ad is being aired on French TV relating a lottery that the French radio "Nostalgie" is organizing.

A new iPod ad has been made available on Apple's web site. It advertises the iPod nano with the slogan "1000 songs in your pocket" which is also the original slogan of the first iPod ad that Apple had released.

Apple has posted an update to its latest Security Update labelled "2006-002 v1.1". This update provides additionnal security fixes and is recommended to all users.

WinXPonMac.com, which had organized a contest encouraging users to develop a solution capable of booting Windows XP on a MacTel while keeping Mac OS X, has announced yesterday that the contest had a winner.

Apple is quietly making its first step into the online movies market with some unusual content it added on iTunes this week.

Apple has posted a Security Update labelled "2006-002" through the Software Update utility:

MacObserver reports analysts comments about Apple and the iPod business and highlights their claims that Apple will release a "real" video iPod on April the 1st.

A first step to the subscription model for iTunes?

Apple has trademarked the brand "Photo Booth" at the U.S. Patents and Trademarks Office. The patent was filed on February the 28th 2006.

Apple has announced through its dedicated site Apple Developer Connection (ADC) that the World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) will take place in San Fransisco between the 7th and 11th of August 2006.

Apple has filed two new trademarks at the U.S. Patents and Trademarks Office on February the 22nd. The first is "MacBook" and the second is "FrontRow".

In its latest two articles, ThinkSecret describes what could be the "true" video iPod from Apple as well as plans of the company for the online movies market.

Apple has posted a Firmware update to version 1.1 for the PowerMac G5 1.8Ghz single which was released in late 2004.

Apple has released updates for three of the iLife applications Front Row as well as a Security Update for Mac OS X. The updates are available through the Software Update Utility.