Apple previewed its Apple iPhone OS 3.0 software and announced the availability of a beta software release to registered developers. The Apple iPhone beta software release includes an updated Software Development Kit with over 1000 new Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) including In-App Purchases; Peer-to-Peer connections; an app interface for accessories; access to the Apple iPod music library; a new Maps API and Push Notifications. “The new Apple iPhone operating software is a major software release packed with incredible new features and innovations for iPhone customers and developers alike. It will keep us years ahead of the competition,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing.

Apple introduced the all-new Apple iPod shuffle, the world’s smallest music player at nearly half of the size of the previous Apple iPod model, and the first music player that talks to you. The revolutionary new VoiceOver feature enables iPod shuffle to speak your song titles, artists and playlist names. The third generation iPod shuffle is significantly smaller than a AA battery, holds up to 1,000 songs and is easier to use with all of the controls conveniently located on the earphone cord. With the press of a button, you can play, pause, adjust volume, switch playlists and hear the name of the song and artist. iPod shuffle features a gorgeous new aluminum design with a built-in stainless steel clip that makes it ultra-wearable.

Transparent Language announced the release of its new Apple iPhone language learning application - Byki Irish. Available for download, the Byki Irish for Apple iPhone and iPod Touch app will be free on St. Patrick’s Day (March 17). After St. Patrick’s Day, Byki Irish will cost $7.99 for the first 30 days as a special introductory price and $9.99 from then on. Byki Irish for iPhone comes with more than 1000 words and phrases, including some special vocabulary for St. Patrick’s Day, all taught through Byki’s rapid, 3-step learning process. Every word and phrase includes native speaker sound, and Byki Irish for iPhone includes the popular SlowSound function that allows users to slow down the audio to help perfect their pronunciation.

Soonr announced the launch of the world’s first iPhone application that uses the power of cloud computing to keep business people in touch with their documents anywhere they go. A free version is available starting today from the Apple App Store with expanded versions offered through leading mobile operators and SaaS providers. Just as today’s mobile phones let you send and receive emails while on the go, Soonr now makes the documents on your Mac or PC completely mobile. Soonr automatically and instantly backs up your files in your “personal cloud,” making them always available to you.

Houdah Software is pleased to announce the immediate availability of ACT Currency 2.0. This is a major - yet free - update to Houdah Software's universal currency converter for the Apple iPhone and Apple iPod Touch. ACT Currency 2.0 software features an all new user interface design and expands the automatic download of exchange rates to support 190 world currencies. You may add more currencies as needed. For these you will need to manually enter exchange rates. ACT Currency is a universal currency converter. It is your ultimate travel companion. ACT Currency is priced at $1.99 (USD) and available exclusively through Apple's App Store. The software update is free for existing customers.

Think of Apple and you think of computers, notebooks, MP3 players, iPhones and iPods. Apple is a prominent player in the field of digital music, thanks to its portable iPod music and video players. The iPod nano is the latest portable music player of Apple belonging to the already fourth generation. With a mere 6mm of depth, the fourth generation Apple iPod nano is extremely flat with a streamlined, oblong design. Half of the front is covered by the 2 inch liquid crystal monitor. The other half carries the click-wheel, so very familiar for the iPod.

• Read our full iPod nano review.

Zynga, the largest social gaming network, announced the launch of “Live Poker,” the first truly live game on the Apple iPhone mobile phone. This mobile version of Zynga’s popular Texas Hold’Em turns the Apple iPhone into an always-on social gaming device. Zynga’s Live poker game turns the iPhone into a social gaming platform. “Live Poker” is the first application to leverage Facebook Connect allowing iPhone users to play with their real friends and access social information such as real player photos.

Freeverse announced Burning Monkey Casino, an incredibly stylish and entertaining mobile casino game for the Apple iPhone and iPod touch, is available on the Apple App Store. Whether your game is Video Poker, Blackjack, or Casino Slots, the Burning Monkey Casino is open 24 hours a day with ultra-mod lighting, major payouts, and a friendly and simple interface.

Field System has updated its original game, “newtonica,” developed for Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch platforms, through App Store (priced at US$4.99 including tax). In addition, a free application, “newtonica player,” designed to play the minimal techno tracks composed for “newtonica” by Kenji Eno, is now available as well. “newtonica” is an original game developed especially for the iPhone and iPod touch by two game creators who already have a string of hits to their names, Kenichi Nishi (planning and game direction) and Kenji Eno (sound design and music production).

Apple introduced the second generation iPod touch featuring an amazingly thin contoured metal design, a gorgeous 3.5-inch widescreen glass display, 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi wireless networking, integrated volume control buttons, a built-in speaker for casual listening, a built-in accelerometer and other advanced sensors, and Apple’s revolutionary Multi-Touch user interface. iPod touch, now available for just $229 for the 8GB model, is perfect for playing music, movies and games, with millions of songs, thousands of Hollywood movies and hundreds of games available on the iTunes Store.