Later today (Tuesday) Apple will hold a press conference to unveil its upcoming iPhone 3.0 operating system and a new SDK ,or software developer kit, for the phone that is aimed at helping engineers and third parties write applications for the device.
Naturally enough, speculation on the blogosphere is rife about what will be on offer. Apple notoriously stays mum on what will be coming out but here is a selection of what some people are taking guesses on what might be included and what they would like to see.
Kevin Rose, the founder of Digg, says he expects a cut and copy and paste function. A feature that has arguably been one of the most requested.
Macworld is looking for quite a few improvements to the iPhone so I will just note a couple of them. The blog wants a new improved mail programme with a single unified inbox. Great for those with more than one e-mail account. It also wants to be able to synch notes and to-do applications and would like to see better app organisation.
The site says back in the day "when the iPhone had only 20 apps - all from Apple - its one-panel home screen was a simple and easy-to-use way to launch those apps." No more of course because there are more than 15,000 to choose from and most people have a host of apps that end up running over several pages.
Macworld suggests being able to group apps into useful categories like games on one screen, productivity apps on another and so on. Another way would be to manage apps from within iTunes.
Engadget.com says it thinks a copy and paste function is "weak" and is calling on readers to vote for what should come in the update.
The list includes proper Bluetooth support, video recording, Flash, or "ridiculous proprietary headphones." A jibe obviously at the fact that the headphones that come with the new iPod shuffle have a proprietary control chip that wannabe headphone makers would have to pay to use so their product will work with the shuffle.
CNET thinks the announcement will include being able to tether the iPhone 3G so it can be used as a wireless modem for a laptop even though it hasn't had a rush of readers asking for it.
It lists a series of capabilities that many other smartphones and cell phones have that the iPhone lacks and should include like video recording, more camera options, voice dialing, speed dialing, text forwarding, and multi media messaging.
It almost makes you wonder why the iPhone is such a megastar in the smartphone category without all this built in.
PCWorld.com thinks "push notification" is on the cards. That's where apps get information from Apple servers even when they are not running. It is also looking for a horizontal keyboard as a standard function rather than users having to pay for it via an application from the AppStore.
While the invitation I got only refers to giving us a "sneak peak" at the new software and the SDK, it's unlikely there will be any mention of new hardware. However using my finely honed Sherlock Holmes skills, I would deduce that if Apple provides a date for the new OS then it's an obvious leap to make that a new iPhone would follow shortly thereafter. The big betting is on June or July.
As always there is plenty of hype and speculation around the Tuesday press announcement and a flurry of gossip that Apple will also talk about a 10-inch tablet computer.
Seth Weintraub of Computerworld is not alone in raising the flag on this one, but perhaps he goes a bit further than most. He notes that Apple is "developing a touchscreen in the 9.5-10 inch area for release in Q3."
His reasoning is that while Apple won't compete directly with the Netbook market, it will try to release a similar type product. Mr Weintraub says if Apple is aiming for a summer release it needs to start talking about such a device now so that developers can get to work to make their apps function on this smaller device.
MG Siegler at VentureBeat is of the same mind on this and writes "given that this is an "advance preview" of the new OS, it seems Apple wants to give developers some time to prepare for some big changes."
As always with Apple product announcements, lots of unanswered questions ahead of the launch. Take thanks in knowing that this time tomorrow the fuss will all be over.

So, after plenty of rumours, and even more leaks, the "free" internet calls service Skype will finally come to Apple's iPhone on Tuesday. Is this the moment that Voip - to use the ugly jargon - finally makes the leap from the laptop to the mobile? After a quick play with the new application, I must say I'm sceptical.
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It works fine - just install the app, tap on the icon and Skype launches with the familiar start-up sound you get on your computer. Your contacts list then tells you who is online - and you can either send them an instant message or make a call. When I tried it, the sound quality was about the same as on any mobile call - and as it was to a Skype contact it was free.
But here's the catch - I could only make the call because I was on a wi-fi network. Apple's restrictions on the use of its software development kit mean that Voip applications cannot use the 3G network. The other issue is that the iPhone doesn't allow you to have more than one application open at the same time - so your Skype buddies probably won't be able to get you on the phone unless you happen to be in the app when they call.
Most iPhone users will be on a contract giving them a lot of call minutes - so it's unlikely they'd want to use Skype unless they were abroad - or calling abroad. And wi-fi, as we know, is a lot less widespread and efficient than we might have thought it would be by now - whereas fast mobile networks are now widely available.
You can already use Skype on a dedicated phone from the 3 network, and Nokia is building the application into its N series of phones. In both cases you can make free calls to other Skype users over 3G as well as via wi-fi - so why would you choose an iPhone for its Skype capabilities?
What might make it into a killer app is free video calls - which aren't available on any mobile right now. but for that to happen on an iPhone, it would need a new camera on the front of the phone.
Skype is obviously very happy to be on the iPhone. But unless Apple takes a radically different approach to integrating the free calls service into its phone, it's unlikley to make a huge impact. And like many businesses, Apple is probably wondering whether "free" is such a great idea anyway.

Ever since Apple changed mobiles forever with the launch of its iPhone, the rest of the industry has been playing catch up.
Now, one of its biggest rivals in the market, Nokia, claims to have done just that.
Released on 23 January, its 5800 XpressMusic is the company's first touch screen phone.
Costing almost £100 less than the iPhone, it could start a price war.
But at £250 it's still not cheap and the big question is - is it good enough to take on Apple?
Newsbeat listeners Sophie Reed and Nik Williams got a sneak preview and gave us their thoughts.
Screen size
Sophie's first impression wasn't good but it did improve.
She said: "When I got the phone I thought it was quite hard to use - the screen is smaller than the iPhone - but I've had it a couple of weeks now and I've gotten used to it.

Sophie thinks the screen on the 5800 could be bigger
"You can view pictures, go on the internet and connect to any wi-fi that's available."
The 5800 has got 8G of memory, meaning it can hold around 6000 songs.
And Sophie reckons that's one of its best features.
"I think it's really good as a music player. I just got loads of songs from my computer, put them all on there and the quality when you play it out, either through headphones or its speakers, is really good," she said.
Pointer pen
Style wise the 5800 is slightly thicker than its rival and has a smaller screen - 3.2 inches compared to 3.5 for the iPhone.
She said: "It's a bit chunky but because it's got a big screen it looks quite good. But I think the iPhone looks cooler really because it's thinner and looks more modern."
Although it uses similar touch technology to the iPhone, the 5800 comes with a plastic pointer pen that makes it easier to use than just with fingers.
But Nik reckons the pen takes away from the whole point of having a touch-sensitive screen.
He said: "It just seemed so fiddly to use with your fingers.
"You either missed what you were trying to hit or ended up touching the wrong part of the screen or internet link and ending up not getting to where you wanted to be."
So overall?
Sophie said: "It's a good phone, and cheaper than the iPhone. But I don't think it's as good because the iPhone has a bigger screen and seems to have more to it."
Nik said: "It's got some pretty cool features but ultimately, for me, Apple has just set the bar so high with the iPhone that the 800 XpressMusic doesn't come close."

In San Francisco on Monday, Apple unveiled what it calls the "fastest, most powerful iPhone yet" - the 3GS. So how does it compare to previous versions?

The iPhone 3GS has voice control and a built-in compass
Some critics say the new incarnation isn't anything that wasn't expected.
They argue that for many iPhone users, the new model may simply do things they expected the original one to be capable of.
It has more speed, more storage, better battery life and a better camera that can record video.
The new model will also be able to send picture messages, allow copy and pasting of text and a full search capability.
Apple is promising the new model will be up to two times faster than the iPhone 3G, and users will be able to take higher resolution photos and capture video using the new 3 megapixel camera.
Video function

Critics say the 3GS only does what was expected of the original
But once Apple's marketing boss Phil Schiller had got round to announcing the new iPhone's built-in compass, the audience in California had realised this was not a day that would change the mobile phone market very much.
For many users, the decision whether to buy an iPhone 3GS will come down to its price, regardless of how many new features it has.
Apple has not yet given details of how much the handset will cost in the UK.
In the US it is priced at $199 (£125) for the 16GB model, $299 (£187) for 32GB.
Other tweaks which set the iPhone 3GS apart from previous models include up to 32GB of storage, but that's only the same as the biggest iPod Touch.
Apple said it has sold more than 40m iPhones and iPod Touch devices, but the company is facing competition.
Palm will soon be releasing the new Pre phone in the UK, launched on the 02 network.
Whilst it has not generated as much hype as the iPhone, it has proved popular in the US and is seen as a big rival to Apple's product.
The new iPhone 3GS will be available in the UK from 19 June.

After months of speculation the Apple iPhone is coming to the island...
We get e-mails fairly regularly from people asking whether they can get things in Jersey. From DAB radio and Freeview to WiFi and the iPhone.
The answer to the first two is no, the third is yes and the fourth used to be no.
The problem was that Apple ties the iPhone to a single network in each location it’s sold and until now that hasn’t included Jersey.
In the UK the iPhone is only available on the O2 network and in France the phone is sold by Orange.
Some people in Jersey do already have an iPhone, purchased unlocked in the UK or France and then had a Jersey sim card put into it – but this does mean a number of network tied features aren’t available.
You will now be able to buy the 3G version of the iPhone in Jersey through the Jersey Telecom or Sure network.
Both operators have purchases the phones through a European operator to sell unlocked in the island.
We've been told that the phone should be available to buy within the next few weeks.
If you want it on the Jersey Telecom network you will need to pre-register your interest, whereas Sure are offering it on a first come first serve basis.
Airtel-Vodafone have confirmed that they will also be offering the iPhone.
However, Airtel's Matthew Morrell told BBC Jersey that the company is working with Apple, local Apple retailer IQ and Airtel's parent company, Bharti Telecom, to bring the full iPhone service, complete with Visual Voicemail, to the island as quickly as possible.
We don't have the exact details of the Sure or Jersey Telecom plans or price points yet but will bring you details when we get confirmation.

In less than three months, world leaders will meet in Copenhagen to try to reach an agreement on tackling climate change.
Environmental scientists say only a far-reaching deal to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions will prevent major environmental degradation, in the form of melting polar ice caps, rising sea levels, and extreme weather events such as droughts and floods.
But in many parts of the world, the effects of global warming are already very apparent, and they are forcing local communities to adapt, often at great expense.
The Alps, climatologists agree, are especially sensitive to global warming. Alpine glaciers have retreated faster in the last 20 years, losing around 25% of their surface area.
Now the Swiss region of the Jungfrau, which is classed as a Unesco Heritage Site, is hoping to show the world exactly what global warming looks like, in the form of a graphic interactive guide along its hiking trails.
Graphic guide
The guide has been developed by the University of Berne's Institute for Climate Change, and uses the latest in modern technology - an iPhone complete with GPS.

Taking the iPhones, which are available from local tourist offices, along any one of seven Climate Change Hiking Trails, allows hikers to compare, for example, pictures of the glaciers 100 years ago with their condition now.
They can also see interviews with climatologists explaining how glaciers normally advance and retreat, and the devices can be used to identify rare alpine flowers, many of which are now growing in areas once covered by ice.
"We wanted to show people that climate change is already happening," said Kaspar Meuli of the Climate Change Institute.
"You can see the consequences already, it's happening now and here. We want to make people feel more concerned about this whole problem."
Crumbling mountains
Walking with Mr Meuli up the trail towards the lower Grindelwald glacier provided a stark illustration of the problem.

"This area is of particular interest because there are many natural hazards due to climate change that can be witnessed here," he explained.
And sure enough, just as the climate guide instructs hikers to stop and examine a particular rock formation, the rock begins to crumble, and boulders roll down the mountainside.
The rock slide is the result of thawing permafrost, which once held the rock in place.
"This kind of thing is happening basically all the time now," said Mr Meuli.
"Just two kilometres from here they had to build a special tunnel to protect the path from rock falls."
Disappearing restaurants
Closer to the glacier, or rather, closer to where the glacier used to be, there is another graphic example.


A brand new mountain restaurant welcomes hikers, but just a few hundred metres on, visitors can see where the old restaurant stood until three years ago.
Now the spot is a collapsed wall of earth and rock. As the glacier retreated, the ice stopped supporting the earth beneath the restaurant, the ground crumbled away, and the restaurant fell.
Such examples are not only stark evidence of the fact that global warming is already damaging the planet, they are also forcing local communities into costly and complicated protection measures.
A particular danger caused by the melting glaciers is the excess water.
As the lower Grindelwald glacier melts, the levels of the glacial lake are rising, threatening to flood the villages in the valley hundreds of metres below.
Now the local community is spending almost $15m (£9.4) to build a complicated series of run-off tunnels, drilling through the mountain and up to the lake, in a bid to give the water a safe route down.
"This is a good example of the consequences of global warming," explained tunnel engineer Nils Haehlen.
"With the melting of the glacier this lake becomes bigger and bigger and so does the danger. So we are building these tunnels to try to lower the level of the lake."
New foundations
Right across the Alps, similar measures are under way.
Many cable car stations are built into permafrost; now that the permafrost is thawing, the stations have to have new foundations.

It's not the kind of information you would expect tourist boards to want to spread around too much - after all, the Alpine economy depends on tourists enjoying themselves, not worrying about rock falls or floods.
Nevertheless Sammy Salm, of the Jungfrau tourist office, believes the new interactive climate guide is a way to show visitors the reality of what's happening to the mountains.
"First of all it's a cool tool, and our visitors like it," he said.
But more importantly, he pointed out, it is a way to confront the public with the consequences of climate change, and perhaps spur them to action.
"Up here you can really see what climate change does to nature, what it does to our mountains," he explained.
"I think with this we can really raise the awareness of each individual person about what's actually happening, and then also maybe make them more sensitive to their own daily behaviour about how they use resources."

A university is offering a free iPhone application it has developed to help students starting their first term.
The University of Central Lancashire in Preston says the mobile phone service will provide maps and details of entertainment and local transport.
There will also be details of campus facilities and access to students' university e-mail accounts.
Director of learning, Michael Ahern, say this will help connect with students who "lead very busy lives".
He believes this is the first such iPhone application for a university in the UK.
Keeping track
"At the beginning of term you're always being stopped by students asking for directions, now they're going to have the information they need in their pockets," says Mr Ahern.
"As they roam around the campus they can get information about lecture theatres, places to eat and libraries," he says.
The mobile phone service links to an alternative student guide, written by fellow students, and can also access student union services, such as letting students book tickets for bands.
Students are increasingly likely to be studying part-time - or to have term-time jobs - and Mr Ahern says that a mobile phone is a convenient way for the university to keep in touch with busy people in many different locations.
"It's a different track for reaching students," says Mr Ahern.
But he says that there is a question about the lack of access for students who do not have iPhones - and although not wrapped into a single package, the same information can be accessed through laptops and other mobiles which can access the internet.
The university has just invested a £1m in laptops and online access for students who cannot afford their own computers, he says.
The iPhone "applications" are customised information services which can be downloaded onto this type of mobile phone.
It has been estimated that there will be 100,000 applications available by the end of the year, with 1.8 billion having been downloaded so far.