German website Macerkopf.de. has reported that some German customers have apparently received their pre-ordered iPhone 4S ahead of its official launch, October 14th. The iPhone 4S pre-ordered through Deutsche Telekom was delivered this morning. The lucky customer promptly shared photos of the packaging, device and Siri. The packaging is almost similar to the iPhone 4’ one.  The new assistant is now available in English, French and German, with more languages to come in the future. The US customers are still waiting for their devices that will start shipping on October 14th.

More photos below.

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When choosing the perfect instant messaging it is worth considering Verbs app. It is an instant messaging client that is now available for both iPad and iPhone. This app includes support for MobileMe, Facebook, AIM, and Google Talk. Instant messaging with Verbs is really sleek and direct. Also the app has WebOS card-like capability that allows easy switching across chats.

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Apple has posted a press release where confirmed that had received more than one million pre-orders of the iPhone 4S in the first 24 hours of availability. In the first 12 hours of the iPhone 4S availability AT&T reported that had received 200,000 pre-orders, Sprit, which also offering the iPhone 4S, said that they were very pleased with initial demand. This is the new record for Apple. The iPhone 4 saw 600,000 pre-orders in 24 hours last year.

Apple today announced pre-orders of its iPhone® 4S have topped one million in a single day, surpassing the previous single day pre-order record of 600,000 held by iPhone 4. iPhone 4S is the most amazing iPhone yet, packed with incredible new features including Apple’s dual-core A5 chip for blazing fast performance and stunning graphics; an all new camera with advanced optics; full 1080p HD resolution video recording; and Siri™, an intelligent assistant that helps you get things done just by asking.

“We are blown away with the incredible customer response to iPhone 4S,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “The first day pre-orders for iPhone 4S have been the most for any new product that Apple has ever launched and we are thrilled that customers love iPhone 4S as much as we do.

While some customers have only begun receiving shipping notices, someone has already got the device and provided video about it.

It is interesting that Siri section in Settings allows choosing between activating voice-based function by pressing the home button or simply by moving your device to your ear.

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In London Apple’s Covent Garden has been robbed early today. A gang of seven thieves on motorbikes has raided this retail store in an attempt to steal Mac notebooks and iOS devices.

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Apple will start to sell the unlocked version of iPhone 4S in November. The price will be $649 for 16GB, $749 fro 32GB and $849 for 64GB model. This is less than prices in Europe.

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AT&T has officially announced that they have processed 200,000 pre-orders for the iPhone 4S. It looks like new Apple smartphone is the most successfully launched iPhone yet. These 200,000 orders only come during the first 12 hours of sales

AT&T has seen extraordinary demand for iPhone 4S with more than 200,000 preorders in the first 12 hours alone, the most successful iPhone launch we’ve ever had. It’s obvious customers like AT&T’s 4G network, which is the only one that lets their iPhone download twice as fast and talk and surf simultaneously.

These numbers don't include Apple's own online pre-orders or the orders through Verizon Wireless and Sprint.

The iPhone 4S officially launches on Friday, October 14th.

Samsung and Google announced that they would cancel a special event which is scheduled for Tuesday and at which the companies were going to introduce their new handset Nexus Prime. The particular feature of this smartphone is the brand new software, Google's latest "Ice Cream Sandwich" version of Android. Rumors immediately turned to the possibility that the companies postponed the launch in respect for Steve Jobs who passed away on October 5th.

Samsung and Google decide to postpone the new product announcement at CTIA Fall. We agree that it is just not the right time to announce a new product. New date and venue will be shortly announced.

AllThingsD has confirmed that speculations. The site claims that Samsung and Google did indeed cancel the event due to Jobs' death.

The decision to postpone things was made late last night at the top levels of both companies, sources said, with Jobs’ death being the reason. There are no delays with the product itself, sources insisted.

But Apple is not going to cancel its plans for the iPhone 4S, having started accepting pre-orders for the device.

Apple has posted a gallery of photos that were taken with the iPhone 4S.

Take a look:

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Sony Pictures is reportedly working to acquire right for a film that will be based on Steve Jobs authorized biography by Walter Isaacson, according to Deadline.

I’ve just learned that Sony Pictures is making a hefty deal to acquire feature rights to Steve Jobs, the upcoming authorized biography by former CNN chairman and Time Magazine managing editor Walter Isaacson.

History of Apple and Steve Jobs were already the topic of the movie Pirates of Silicon Valley. The movie tells us about founding of Apple and covers events up to the return of Steve Jobs at Apple in the late 90s. And now Sony Pictures is said want to shoot a movie about Steve Jobs. It is unclear whether the movie will indeed shoot and when such a film might be targeted for release.

The LA Times provides some new details about "Apple University", an internal project at Apple, designed to provide successful future for the company without Steve Jobs. First information about the project appeared in May, when Steve Jobs hired dean of Yale School of Management Joel Podolny, who  was personally influenced by Steve Jobs and Apple and even described writing his first computer program on an Apple II. Podolny runs an internal group of business professors and Harvard veterans to prepare employees for life at Apple after Jobs.

"Steve was looking to his legacy. The idea was to take what is unique about Apple and create a forum that can impart that DNA to future generations of Apple employees," said a former Apple executive who spoke on the condition of anonymity to preserve his relationship with the company. "No other company has a university charged with probing so deeply into the roots of what makes the company so successful."

Jobs reportedly personally oversaw the creation of courses and believed that he was responsible for Apple’s future success. He even identified specific tenets for the company such as accountability, attention to detail, perfectionism, simplicity, and secrecy. Pixar, the Job’s another successful company, is believed to use the same corporate University model.

As Apple promised, pre-orders of expected iPhone 4S is become available. Now it is possible to pre-order new iPhone through Apple’s website in Australia, Germany, France, Canada, the United States, Japan and the United Kingdom. Besides, pre-ordering is also available through the websites of carriers in these countries.

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AllThingsD reports that Simon & Schuster has rescheduled release of Walter Isaacson's authorized biography of Steve Jobs to October 24th. The previous date of release was November 21st.

The fully authorized by Steve Jobs book is based on over 40 interviews with Jobs and interviews with over 100 of his friends and family members and will include full details on Steve Job’s life. The Wall Street Journal reports that Isaacson last interviewed Jobs four weeks ago. At that moment Jobs already knew that he would die soon. The last interview will be included in the book. Of course, the book causes a great interest of Apple fans. Since yesterday the book orders on Amazon has increased by 40,000%.

Steve Jobs passed away, leaving us his brilliant ideas and legacy. He literally created his own chapter of the IT industry history. Following his death, a number of simple people have extended their sincere condolences and the most powerful and influential people in the world have commented on his passing, among them Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, Disney President Bob Iger, and U.S. President Barack Obama.

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates

"I’m truly saddened to learn of Steve Jobs’ death. Melinda and I extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends, and to everyone Steve has touched through his work…

The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come. For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it’s been an insanely great honor. I will miss Steve immensely."

Disney President Bob Iger

"Steve Jobs was a great friend as well as a trusted advisor. His legacy will extend far beyond the products he created or the businesses he built. It will be the millions of people he inspired, the lives he changed, and the culture he defined…

With his passing the world has lost a rare original, Disney has lost a member of our family, and I have lost a great friend..."

U.S. President Barack Obama

Michelle and I are saddened to learn of the passing of Steve Jobs. Steve was among the greatest of American innovators - brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it.

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An hour ago Apple's Board of Directors released a statement in which it is said that company co-founder and longtime CEO has passed away.

Apple has already updated the main page of the website and asked for "thoughts, memories and condolences" to be sent to rememberingsteve@apple.com.

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