“Bento,” says Stephen H. Wildstrom (businessweek.com) “takes the essence of FileMaker Pro, a database-management program aimed at small- and midsize businesses, and marries it to Mac’s new Leopard operating system. The result is a powerful organizing tool anyone can use.”

“Even after being on the market for less than half a year,” reports Nancy Gohring (IDG News Service), “more iPhones sold in the fourth quarter than Windows Mobile phones in the U.S., according to research from Canalys.” The research suggest that “iPhone had 28 percent of the U.S. converged-device market in the fourth quarter of 2007” with Research in Motion coming in with 41% and Windows Mobile phones with a 21% share.

After months of silence, Bob Levitus (Houston Chronicle) wanted to “share my opinion of iPhone after seven months of heavy use.” After saying that he couldn’t “imagine living without one” way back in July, Levitus adds “that is still true today, as well.” Seven months later, he says, “I believe the iPhone is the best darn mobile phone money can buy.” “Where else,” he wonders, could “can you find a world-class phone, plus video, audio, Web and e-mail, all in a single hand-held device with an intuitive user interface?”

Customers who’d like to carry more music, photos, and videos with them now have new models of iPhone and iPod touch with double the memory from which to choose. The revolutionary iPhone now comes in a new 16GB model for $499. It joins the 8GB model for $399. And the iPod touch now comes in a new 32GB model for $499. It joins the 16GB and 8GB models for $399 and $299, respectively.

You have an upcoming meeting with a colleague who works clear across town. Wouldn’t it be great if you could get directions to her office in just a few seconds? Thanks to the tight integration between Address Book and Google Maps, you can. Find out how by watching the latest Quick Tip of the Week.

You have an upcoming meeting with a colleague who works clear across town. Wouldn’t it be great if you could get directions to her office in just a few seconds? Thanks to the tight integration between Address Book and Google Maps, you can. Find out how by watching the latest Quick Tip of the Week.

The world’s thinnest notebook is now shipping, Apple announced today. MacBook Air measures an unprecedented 0.16-inches at its thinnest point. And at its maximum height of 0.76-inches, it’s less than the thinnest point on competing notebooks.
Apple also announced that the free Apple TV software update enabling movie rentals is not quite finished and will now be available in another week or two.