So we like to dream. You can’t blame us for indulging, so now we’re doing it again. Russian magazine “mobi” somehow got the scoop on Apple’s alleged netbook, with photos to boot. We’ve even got a bunch of specs to go along with it. The so-called Macbook Mini will include an LED-powered 10.4-inch screen in 1280×768 resolution, running on a 1.83GHz processor with 1MB L2 cache. There’s 2 GB of DDR3 RAM, Nvidia Graphics 9400M, a 64 GB solid state drive, a USB mini-display port, a built-in webcam and wireless a/b/g/n as well. Plus, it looks thin as a pencil. Sounds pretty good, right? One might even say it’s “ideal.” [9to5Mac via Gizmodo]

If Japan is any indication, Skype for iPhone is going live at respective midnights around the globe. The VoIP program is downloadable now in Japan, and should start coming online as each time zone hits 12 a.m. on Tuesday. Early reports say the sound quality is great, and the app itself is absolutely free. Good thing, because nothing’s better than saving a few cell phone minutes here and there when you’re shelling out $30 per month for data. In all seriousness, the app will come in handy for international calls — say goodbye to purchasing SIM cards before a big trip — although PC World says a Wi-Fi connection is required. Blackberry users, don’t fret; your version comes in May. [via Engadget and PC World]

You didn’t hear this from Apple, but the company’s plans to create a slick touch screen netbook are for real, according to sources in Korea. Rumor had it that Apple is working with a Taiwan-based manufacturer to construct a product that is larger than the iPod Touch but smaller than the 13-inch MacBook. Reportedly speaking to LG, which in January signed a $500-million deal to make LCD screens for apple, Smarthouse says those rumors are true, and in fact there’s already a working prototype out there. Better yet, LG is supposedly working on an OLED screen that’s resistant to “body oils and sweat,” perhaps by adding a layer in the manufacturing process. That’s a technology that could benefit more than just Apple fanboys in the long run. Personally, I’m surprised Smarthouse didn’t reach out to Apple for the token denial or non-response, but where’s the juiciness in that? [Smarthouse via SlipperyBrick]

What ongoing legal battle? Psystar is pumping out a brand-new hackintosh, running Mac OS X Leopard for considerably less money than the real deal. Open(3) features a minimum 2.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2 GB of RAM, a 500 GB hard drive and a GeForce 8400GS 256 MB graphics card. With those minimum specs, sans keyboard, mouse and monitor, the machine sells for $599. It’s more like $1,050 to deck it out with twice the RAM and storage, a Core2Quad processor and a top-tier graphics card, but that’s still about $1,000 less than Apple’s offerings. They must be fuming in Cuptertino, so order now before all hell breaks lose. [Psystar via Engadget]

iPhone 3.0 has been officially revealed to the public.  The new iPhone 3.0 operating system will include some basic (and some highly demanded) updates that will make using an iPhone easier and more immersive.  Here are a few of the changes that the new iPhone 3.0 will feature:

• Cut, Copy and Paste.  It’s about time!  You can now cut/copy/paste between applications on the iPhone OS version 3.0.
• Global Search Functionality – allowing you to search your iPhone and all of its apps in one single query bar.
• Landscape View Composition – you can now compose emails, text messages and notes while in landscape mode, allowing for a wider keyboard.
• Peer-to-Peer Bluetooth – want to share files, contacts and more with your friends?  You can now do so via Bluetooth.  Welcome to the social.

As more news hits, we’ll post it here.  For now, we welcome the new functionality to our iPhones– its about damn time!

This St. Paddy’s day you may want to avoid swigging back those Guinesses, at least until you’ve gotten the scoop on iPhone 3.0. Apple will be previewing its new iPhone OS and a new version of its software development kit at a media event for reporters and bloggers at 10AM. That’s next Tuesday, March 17 for all you non-drinkers. Given that Apple has made recent introductions of new Mac hardware and a new Shuffle via press release, analysts are expecting this event to unveil some exciting and concrete iPhone updates. Some of the new features being speculated include universal search, updated user interface and multimedia messaging. Could this be an indicator that the new iPhone is on its way for June? [Wired]

Apple’s newest iPod shuffle doesn’t just play your tunes, it also talks to you. The device has a new “VoiceOver” function that will tell you the name of the song you’re listening to as well as the artist name. You can also get it to read you what tracks are coming up in your playlist (since the shuffle doesn’t have a display screen). The 4GB music player is so small now that all its controls are located in the earbud cord (which will definitely create an issue if you like to rock other headphones or lose yours). At $80, the player is pretty reasonably priced; we’re definitely thinking about picking one up- what do you think about the new shuffles? [via Wired]

If you’re looking for an iPod speaker system for your girlfriend or child, this one might be a winner. This cute and cuddly teddy bear is actually an iPod speaker system in disguise. The system in concealed in the plush bear (so you don’t see ugly speakers) and you can connect your iPod to it via a USB cord, much like when you connect your phone to your computer. The bear runs on batteries (that hopefully aren’t charging your iPod) and runs $38, which could make it a reasonably affordable gift option. What animals would you like to see a speaker system built in? We’re thinking a dragon or snake option might be pretty cool. [via DVICE]

With the economy in upheaval, it’s getting more and more difficult to establish a reliable investment, or indicator for that matter.  To illustrate, two longtime blue chips are currently teetering on the Dow Jones industrial average fence. With stocks dropping below the $2 mark, GM and Citigroup are in peril of getting pushed straight out of the index.  Who’s going to replace these economic powerhouses? It looks like it could very well be a player from the tech sector as names like Google, Cisco and Apple have been floating around as possible candidates. While the index is simply a “broad-based but investable measure of the U.S. stock market, intended for use as the basis of investment products”, it’s a step in a prestigious direction for those name brands that we all lust for here at Gear Crave.  [Electronista]