Who says interesting IT-related things can't happen at night didn't see the iPhone 2.2 coming right after midnight, like a werewolf, but since I spotted it, here you have it! It seems earlier iPhone 2.2 rumors proved to be true, and iPhone 3G owners will now be able to take full advantage of their phones.

If you ask me, it was the time for Apple to do this, since all of the expected features that we heard about in the past several weeks are here, and even a few extra ones, as you can see in the detailed iPhone 2.2 features list below...

Enhancements to Maps
- Google Street View
- Public transit and walking directions
- Display address of dropped pins
- Share location via email

Decrease in call setup failures and dropped calls

Enhancements to Mail
- Resolved isolated issues with scheduled fetching of email
- Improved formatting of wide HTML email

Podcasts are now available for download in iTunes application (over Wi-Fi and cellular network)

Improved stability and performance of Safari

Improved sound quality of Visual Voicemail messages

Pressing Home button from any Home screen displays the first Home screen

Preference to turn on/off auto-correction in Keyboard Settings

To find out more about the iPhone 2.2, you can go to Apple's official iPhone software update page, while updating it is as easy as 1-2-3 - dock your iPhone, power up iTunes, and choose to install the iPhone 2.2 software. Nevertheless, a backup would be a good idea, before deciding to update...

I don't know about you, but I never had something to call "the perfect gadget," although I have a few ideas about it. First of all, it should come for free, and second, it must have all the features I need, as well as a few extra ones, "just in case..." Anyway, we're not going to talk about freebies now, because despite its price, the iPod Touch was recently crowned with 5 stars by BusinessWeek, making it a perfect gadget!

This wouldn't be such a big story, since a lot of sites are turning the iPod into a perfect gadget these days, burying it with thousands of awards, but now we're talking about a story that made it to the Apple Hot News page, and this is not something happening on a daily basis, as you probably know already. "Sitting “in a class by itself,” the new iPod touch receives a perfect 5 stars from Cliff Edwards (businessweek.com)," proudly wrote Apple.

In the article entitled Apple's Superlative Sequel: The Latest iPod Touch, Cliff Edwards pointed out the great features of the iPod Touch, like the Wi-Fi connectivity, large screen(wait until the new Cowon high-end players arrive, and then call this one "large"!), as well as the impressive amount of applications available for it, but I think he wasn't fair in claiming that having "slightly underpowered external speakers" is something bad. If you ask me, no portable media player should have external speakers, because some people will always listen to the wrong music, in the wrong place, using a volume that's too high.

The conclusion is also something I have to disagree with, since saying that "A poor man's iPhone, the Touch offers wireless music downloads, mobile Web access, and hundreds of applications while on the go." doesn't exactly fit the "poor man" idea, at least the one I have. Better make it "an iPhone for the budget-conscious user who already has a decent phone and a good contract already," don't you think?

Anyway, the iPod Touch getting 5/5 stars is nothing but impressive, and that's what really matters, so if you're an Apple fan and a music lover, I suggest that you forget the Nano, because the Touch is the only way to go!

If you have some "classic" TV set lying around, then the great advantage you have is that you don't have to look for software updates for it, as it happens with those looking for an Apple TV update... and I don't have to tell you anything about the reason, since we all know software updates exist because, most of the time, manufacturers release products that aren't exactly mature. Anyway, we won't talk about the Apple TV problems now, because there's a new Apple TV update in town, version 2.3 of the software, to be more accurate, so let's check it out, shall we?

If you don't want to go through all those features described by Apple for the Apple TV updates since version 2.0, let me tell you about the highlights of the last version only. After all, there's not much to say about this Apple TV update, but here's what you should know:

- AirTunes Streaming from Apple TV - Music can be streamed via AirTunes to Airport Express speakers or other Apple TVs in your house.

- Third-party Remote Controls - Apple TV can now learn other remote controls and use them in addition to the Apple Remote.

Apart from the two features described above, the playlists that contain Movies, TV Shows, Podcasts, and Music Videos can now be seen on Apple TV, and support for volume control in Music has also been added.

While this may be a small step, I think it's a good sign to see that Apple finally decided to open itself a bit more to the world, allowing the use of third-party remotes with the Apple TV. Even more, this last Apple TV update may come with some extra features that are not listed in the official description, so... don't be shy to let us know about your discoveries, and let's hope there's no trace of copy protection software to be found here!

Probably you're wondering about the hidden copy protection software from Apple and its effects already, so I won't keep you waiting any longer - this is all about playing protected media on devices that are not compliant with the new protection measures, and it all goes so far, that I can call this "silly copy protection software." Why "silly," that's what we're going to see right away!

Basically, the story goes like this - Intel's now pretty old HDCP(High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) technology aims to prevent copying of digital audio and video content as it travels across a variety of display connectors, even if such copying is not in violation of fair use laws, and according to ArsTechnica, Apple is already using this technology to prevent transmission of iTunes content to non-HDCP devices.

Where this can lead? Just read this and be amazed - "When my friend John, a high school teacher, attempted to play Hellboy 2 on his classroom's projector with a new aluminum MacBook over lunch, he was denied by the error you see [screenshot above]. John's using a Mini DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter, plugged into a Sanyo projector that is part of his room's Promethean system."

ArsTechnica's David Chartier friend mentioned above surely found himself in a delicate situation because of Apple's secret copy protection software, and while now only the DisplayPort-enabled MacBooks are able to use this, expectations are that the Cupertino-based company will do this to its entire product line.

Considering all the above, soon you may have to throw away your "old" HD display, simply because it's not HDCP-compliant, and Apple doesn't like non-HDCP displays being connected to its computers. What else can I say?

iPhone 3G cases...whatta topic, whatta topic! Just think about it - we have leather iPhone 3G cases, a bunch of plastic ones, and even a few metallic cases, for those who can't stand anything else but metal. Despite all those thousand iPhone 3G cases available as we speak, there's still something missing. As it usually happens, I only got to figure that out when I heard about it, because the Power Slider is exactly what the iPhone 3G owners needed badly!

Since I hate describing once again items well described by their manufacturer, namely Incase, here, look what we have, regarding this iPhone 3G case - "The Power Slider for iPhoneâ„¢ 3G is the first accessory of its kind to offer protection, expanded battery life and integrated sync and charge capabilities. While most supplemental batteries simply satisfy the need for added power, the Power Slider more than doubles the battery life of iPhone 3G while providing complete device protection and the ability to sync without removing iPhone 3G from the case."

Before telling you about the features, I have to warn you that this case with additional battery included comes only in black, so if you have a problem with that...go get some paint, first! Now, here we have the features of this innovative iPhone 3G case:

- Integrated rechargeable lithium-ion polymer battery more than doubles the battery life of iPhone 3G
- Optimized power management system provides continuous charge to iPhone 3G internal battery
- 5 light LED battery status indicator
- Charge and sync without removing iPhone 3G from case using the custom USB cable provided
- Advanced lithium-ion polymer battery cell technology prevents overcharging and short circuiting and provides protection from extreme temperature
- Durable, lightweight hardshell construction with soft-touch coating
- Compatible with USB charging ports that provide 5V at 1A output
- "Works with iPhone" certified by Apple

The included rechargeable lithium-ion polymer battery (1330mAh 4.2V) allows a standby time of up to 330 hours, up to 26 hours of audio playback, up to 5 hours on 3G network and 10 hours on 2G network talk time, and up to 7 hours of video. At last, if you're crazy about Internet browsing on your iPhone 3G, now you'll be able to surf using Wi-Fi up to 6 hours, and 5 hours when connected to a 3G network.

Priced at $99.95, the Power Slider will start humiliating the other iPhone 3G cases on the 28th of November.