I have begun writing for CNET. The Internet’s top technology website has tasked me with the responsibility of writing about The Digital Home. Most of my work with CNET will revolve around how we can build and maintain our perfect Digital Home. Besides my daily column, Wednesdays are “interview days” over at The Digital Home where I will be interviewing prominent tech icons from the industry. Last Wednesday I interviewed MAD’s Maddest Writer, Dick DeBartolo. This coming Wednesday I will be interviewing a VERY prominent tech guy, and you will NOT want to miss that one. On Thursdays I will be writing a “Digital Home Implications” piece where I take a current event and explore how it may affect our future Digital Home. As I get more into CNET, we will be adding more series’ and a whole slew of new features, so keep comin’ back for great tech stories.

Unfortunately I also need to announce that my relationship with Ziff-Davis has officially come to an end. When I first told my editor Carol Mangis over at Gearlog that I would be writing for CNET as well, she seemed receptive to the idea and we came to terms on a slightly altered idea for posting on Gearlog. Unfortunately, Jim Louderback, Editor-in-Chief of PC Magazine saw my work on CNET and (understandably) decided that it was a conflict of interest.

For those of you who don’t know, I got my start in writing from Jim Louderback and Ziff-Davis. Just last year, I emailed Jim and asked him if I could write for ZD. He sent me a few press releases and I guess the rest is history. For the past year, my work with Ziff-Davis has been extremely rewarding and my editor Carol Mangis is a sweetheart. She not only helped me become a much better writer, she was the right person for the job of dealing with a young guy with big dreams and little skill. Carol was the first editor to actually to coax the potential out of me and get it into my work; and she helped me work through the perils of wordiness and repetition — two cardinal sins of writing. I could go on and on about Carol Mangis, Senior Editor over at ZD, but nothing I could say would do justice to the appreciation and respect I have for her and everyone over at Ziff-Davis. Although I eventually chose CNET, Gearlog and ZD is where it all started for me, and as they say: you never forget your first. I wish everyone over at Gearlog all the best, and with any luck at all, you may be seeing my work on a variety of different Ziff-Davis properties in the future.

Since I last posted here on Bungatech, a number of more exciting things have come up besides CNET. I have officially started writing a monthly column for InformationWeek that will largely focus on product reviews. You can find my first article for the publication here. Expect an article at least once per month for InformationWeek.

Besides that, I have signed up with PC World Magazine to write up stories and reviews for the publication. My first review (Movable Type 4.0 Beta) will be in the September issue of the magazine.

As if that’s not enough to make me pull my hair out, I write a weekly set of articles for Processor Magazine about well, pretty much anything under the sun. Check it out.

And although I think I’m forgetting something, I will be writing up product reviews and informative articles for Videomaker Magazine in the coming months. The first few articles will probably be pretty basic, but after we get past those, look for monthly reviews in each issue of the magazine. There is also talk of a few other things that I probably can’t discuss right now, but look for something exciting come down the pike for that one as well.

So, as you can see, the past month has been extremely exciting, upsetting and busy to say the least. I am embarking on a whole new set of possibilities and I hope you will come with me as we try to take this writing gig just one step further.

Thanks for your time, and look for more regular updates here on Bungatech as we move forward. And as always, if you’re into writing and would like to get your feet wet, drop me a line at Don AT Bungatech.com to see if we can work something out.

Later.

Sometimes it amazes me how dumb people can be. A supposed “real” iPhone sold on eBay for $800 at the hands of a Buy It Now option. The auction page runs through a litany of iPhone specs, and then goes on to say that ALL SALES ARE FINAL. If you ask me, this is a ruse, but I thought I would share it with you anyway.

Check out the auction page.

A recent patent filing by the Cupertino-based company, shows how Apple can make iPhone accessory manufacturers become part of the “Made for iPhone” program. This feature would allow the iPhone to scan the accessory and match it to its directory of established iPhone tax companies. If the company is not part of the program, a warning message will be sent to the iPhone screen telling the owner that its use may not be safe. And much like its iPod brother, the “Made for iPhone” sticker will cost the respective accessory maker a cool 10% per sale.

Via [Unwired View]

He went on to say that the touchscreen may be enough to help people accept the price, but added that Google apps will be coming to the iPhone which he hopes will significantly diminish pricing pressures. Unfortunately he did not elaborate on what kind of Google apps are coming, or if there are new apps we don’t even know about yet, but chances are both will be true.

Via [AppleInsider]

Could it be? According to numerous sources, it looks like the iPhone is actually easily seen on the streets of Cali.

A Silicon Valley reporter caught an Apple employee using the iPhone at a local restaurant while taking pictures with the 2-megapixel camera and browsing the web like it was his job. Even better, the employee admitted to being part of the development team.

The reporter said the phone was easily readable from two feet away with its crystal clear screen, and was housed in a body that was similar to the device shown at Macworld.

Is it really the iPhone? Who knows.

Via [Electronista]

Well it looks like Steve Jobs was right when he claimed the iPhone was well patented. Patents include a multi-point touch screen, gestures for touch sensitive devices, a proximity detector, and a host of other interesting and incredibly useful patents.

Understanding the importance of their invention, Apple looks like it has every base covered so companies like LG or Nokia don’t try to rain on their parade. Even better, they can sue the hell out of anyone who even tries it! Let’s hear it for frivolous lawsuits!

Via [Unwired View]

According to CNBC’s “On the Money”, the iPhone will be shipping June 20th. Even better for future iPhone owners, it looks like that claim has been backed up by a number of other media outlets including Bloomberg.

So far Apple PR people have been tight-lipped about whether or not this will be the real release of the iPhone, but keep checking back here as more information becomes available.

Via [Electronista]

With all of the rumors swirling around in these weeks leading up to the iPhone release, there is no reason not to tell you about some of the more likely rumors.

According to a variety of sources, it looks like a GPS update might be coming for the iPhone at Macworld next year. It’s believed that an integrated Assisted GPS chipset will be the springboard for the update and it won’t be available upon release due the phone’s expected delivery to AT&T.

Rumor prediction: false. Why would Apple — an intelligent company — do that to the people who bought the phone just months prior to the update? Look for it in iPhone 2.

Via [ubergizmo]

According to a recently published USA Today story, it looks like AT&T will be trying to pad their future by making the iPhone exclusive to their service for the next five years. In doing so, Verizon Wireless and Sprint will be all but knocked out of the opportunity to have an iPhone on their service (both companies are CDMA and the iPhone will be a GSM phone). Although, theoretically, the iPhone should work with T-Mobile’s network, Apple will be locking the iPhone down so it only works with the AT&T service. What does all this mean? Look for a massive exodus to AT&T once the iPhone catches on.

More on this as it develops. Remember — this is only speculation at this point.

Via [DailyTech]

For the past decade Apple has taken its utmost care in giving us exactly what we want: functionality, good looks and ease of use. Each of their products work as soon as you get out of the box (how many times have you bought a Dell, brought it home and had it work in five minutes? Never.) And once it’s up and running, the intuitive style is enough to make your mouth water: just do what you feel is right.

Besides ease of use, these products just look great. Not only are they forerunners in terms of looks, the company has developed the most outstanding software design that allows you to easily do whatever you want. It is this ease of use that will carry the iPhone and the rest of the Apple products we all know and love.

So where will this be in five years? Simple. In your pocket. No, maybe it’ll be in your hand as you read another Apple Phoneboy post, or maybe it’ll be sitting on your nightstand waking you up every morning. The simple fact is the iPhone is going to replace your iPod, replace your cell phone and maybe even replace your mobile computer. It is going to be the be-all, end-all for gadgets that will not only allow you to talk to your buddies, it’ll let you use Web 3.0 — yes, I said web 3.0 — applications like never before.

The iPhone will be a forerunner in a business that has far too much competition. And believe it or not, in five years, half of the cell phone companies will not be around anymore. Motorola? Sure. Nokia? Yep. LG? Eh, maybe. Apple? You bet. And just in case you weren’t sure, the iPhone will NOT be an AT&T exclusive in the coming years. It works now because Apple has no footing in the market. But in five years when the phone is easily competing with the likes of Blackberries and Treos, Apple won’t be able to survive if they stay true to AT&T — it just can’t happen.

The iPhone is going to be the benchmark for all other cell phones in five years. Although it seems like many companies are trying to copy the phone now, it’s just not happening yet. All of these companies are silently watching Apple do what they will to decide if they need to act. Right now, they don’t. Five years? They will wish they did.

The iPhone will be the biggest launch in the history of cell phones, and in five years, it will be the most popular cell phone in the world.