Yesterday, Apple released new ads for the first time in months. Each one focuses around an actual persons’ experience with the iPhone.

Check out each one at:

TV AD #1

TV AD #2

TV AD #3

Kevin and Alex must be mighty proud these days. They are now one of the most largely subscribed to podcasts on the net. All that circulation means major advertising dollars for their show, Diggnation. Interestingly, there’s only one company that never pays a dime for publicity and gets highly recommended each episode. Yep, you guessed it, Apple (AAPL).

The team has now officially filmed 118 episodes, had thousands of beers, and filmed in a variety of live locations. What started as a bit of a grassroots, word-of-mouth podcast, has flourished into one of the most anticipated podcasts each week. Who knew that two guys drinking on couch could become such a big hit?!

The duo have slowly evolved into major players in the online world. From little bars to big stages, these guys haven’t changed a bit. From the first episode to the most recent in a standing room only crowd in London, Kevin Rose has always had his trusty Apple computers (with less than a handful of exceptions). Whether or it was his Blackbook (Black MacBook) with his company’s logo, Digg, or his newest Mac, a MacBook Pro (15-inch), Kevin has been one of the most affluent Apple fanboys to date.

In one of the more recent episodes of Diggnation, the team sat out of an Apple Store in San Francisco, CA the day of the iPhone release and filmed a new episode right there in the middle of the line. Both Alex and Kevin decided to purchase the $600 phones. Since then, they have been hacking and generally messing with the iPhones almost every episode.

Much of the show focuses around a wide-variety of topics that were “dugg” on Kevin’s site, Digg.com, but he often makes a point of featuring updates and news in the Apple sector. For instance, when the wireless keyboard debuted, Kevin was quick to support the device and encourage its purchase.

In their most recent live show, the guys traveled to London to a “standing room only” crowd. Dawning his steadfast silver MacBook Pro, the Apple logo was ever more present.

9to5Mac.com just wrote a story that covers the recent release of the optical disc Blu-Ray player for Macs. Great news for Mac fans; except, Macs aren’t ready for HD content yet.

The website really makes the device sound like the ultimate solution until Apple (AAPL) decides for itself which High-Definition platform to choose (Blu-Ray or HD-DVD). This simply isn’t the case.

The aftermarket player, by Fastmac, will supposedly run on “all of Apple’s recent laptops and consumer desktops.”

• iBook G4
• iMac G5
• iMac Intel
• MacBook Pro (17-inch)
• Mac mini
• PB G3 Pismo
• PB G4 Titanium (667 Mhz or higher)
• PB G4 Aluminum

Clearly, this list doesn’t cover all of the recent Macs. Most apparent are the missing MacBook and MacBook Pro 15-Inch versions.

Then comes the best part, the drive costs $1000 to install and there are NO HD SCREENS ON MAC LAPTOPS! The resolution and screen quality on Mac laptops are second to none, but they don’t have HD-quality yet. While you could potentially watch Blu-Ray titles, it would be hardly any different from simply watching a DVD.

The future continues to look promising, and the movement to HD-quality screens and movies is exceptional, but this device just doesn’t cut it.

Several of the newest episodes of CW Network’s programing will be free for limited time. The move is similar to FOX’s method of capturing audiences by giving away the first week free through iTunes.

For one week, “Aliens in America,” “Life is Wild,” “Everybody Hates Chris,” “Girlfriends,” and “Supernatural” will be in the iTunes TV section for free. The rest of the seasons’ episodes will duplicate the normal iTunes store structure. Episodes will then be priced at $1.99 each.

CW’s free week on iTunes comes after a similar two-week free trial from Fox. The network declined to disclose how many people took advantage of the free downloads.

Source: DJ Newswires

The move may be a sign for the future of television program and its available delivery means. By testing the response to free online TV shows, the broadcasters can better understand the future success of a show and possibly hook viewers early. The move may also signal the reduction of TV show pricing in the near future.

Tuaw.com is currently liveblogging there own test of a recently developed iPhone hack for users of 1.0.2 software, that have yet to upgrade to V.1.1.1.

AppleInsider.com has just released industry rumors about the launch date for Apple’s newest operating system, OS X Leopard. The consensus believes that the release date should be some time in late October.

In the past, Apple has traditionally chosen Fridays for the release of operating systems. Therefore, that would point to an October 26th release date. Already guaranteed is the fact that Leopard will be released some time in October.

Apple already pushed back the original release, due to the iPhone, which was the original setback. Ultimately, the iPhone was released on the last day of the month and that may point to a later release of Leopard as well.

A recent update on AppleInsider:

We are receiving additional tips from industry sources who indicate that October 26 is currently the estimated ship date for Mac OS X Leopard.

Source: AppleInsider.com

Leopard is expected to release with a price tag of $129 for the single license and $199 for the family-pack.

Verizon (VZ) just launched what has been dubbed the “iPhone Killer.” Fortunately, Apple has little to worry about.

The new VZ Voyager, which was also created by LG, was first introduced to the public in May of this year. The phone has a “flip-open” QWERTY style keyboard, along with a somewhat large touchscreen face. The phone also has:

• A Web browser
• Media player
• Bluetooth
• Camera
• Possibly GPS navigation

The catch? The phone looks like a spruced up Palm Treo and the screen is full of the those tiny icons. Verizon and LG have essentially copied the iPhone screen characteristics by placing wireless information (bluetooth, status, etc.) and battery stats at the top, and including a bottom navigation bar. Without furtherado:

It’s certainly an attempt, but in all honesty, the phone will have a hard time competing with the iPhone, regardless of pricing. The phone is expected to come out some time around Thanksgiving.

It’s unclear how long Apple’s (AAPL) rally will continue, but for now, let’s look back on one of the most incredible stocks in recent history.

Let’s not forget how Apple was merely a $20 stock back in 2004 and 2005. A pebble in the electronic market, little more than a tick on Microsoft’s (MSFT) back. Those times have quickly changed, and Apple is capturing one of the largest profit margins in the industry.

Investors were quite curious about the “iPod” in 2001, as a set back Steve Jobs introduced the revolutionary device to a crowd of no more than seemingly 100-150 people. The stock hit the ground running from there. As the evolution of newer devices and more cross-platform technology was introduced by Apple, investors saw the opportunity to jump aboard (me being one of them).

Shortly after a nice run, Apple had a 2-for-1 split on February 28, 2005. Many took their profits and let the stock take its course, but nobody could’ve expected Apple’s near future. By that time, Apple has introduced the iPod mini, soon afterwards, the first iPod shuffle was created. The stock didn’t stop.

Each time a new product was announced, the company quickly popped in stock, and investors were questioning every move. Consumers were eating up Apple products, not Creative or SanDisk products. How could this be? It was a simple result of pure brand power. The company had captured the attention of the World through the consistently sleek designs that were now an expectation of the company’s end results.

The most influential move had yet to come. The stock had actually been suffering for quite some time. Slipping from an all-time high of close to $90 per share in January 2006. Then, in January 2007 Apple came back into the spotlight. The MacWorld event at Moscone West was due to start, and months of rumors had been floating around. In the end, many of the rumors were hardly far from the truth.

The iPhone was introduced and the stock immediately jumped over $100 per share. Took the Americas by storm, and propelled Apple into the mobile phone market. While rumors speculated over various concerns, Apple prepared for the launch date and delivered, with thousands of phones selling the first day.

Now, Apple consumers and investors have plenty to look forward to this upcoming holiday season. From the iPhone to the all-new iPod touch, those stockings will be full of products dawning the little Apple logo. With rave reviews already being placed into young kids’ brains, parents will be looking for any way to get their hands on these one-of-a-kind products. Looks like it’s going to be another nice holiday for AAPL.

Below is the original event in which Steve Jobs announced the iPod:

Disclosure: Long Apple Inc. (AAPL)