In Apple’s (AAPL) recent attempt to display the practicality of the iPhone, they launched a stream of ads focusing on actual consumers. Today, three new ads were published.

An off Broadway play producer, New York City ballet dancer, and an airline pilot have joined the cast of videos on Apple.com.

Engadget.com recently published an article discussing the recent “jailbreak” that has set the iPod Touch free. Now, the iPod Touch, through the power of Wi-Fi, can run mail programs, Google Maps, and much more.

From the beginning of Apple’s creation of the iPhone, and now the iPod Touch, hackers have been looking for a way around the company’s stronghold on their products. Users have demanded instant messaging capabilities, a full-function mail application, and various other ways to take advantage of the Wi-Fi enabled devices. Unfortunately, Apple has yet to respond and create their own programs of this nature. In the meantime, hackers have officially accomplished their goal of opening the device to 3rd party apps.

The hacking of any of the Apple products means only one thing for the company, more money. Once these devices are hacked, there’s always an increase in sales. Potential customers like the idea of “hacking” the products, as well as using considerably more features then the regular user. Heck, having a more advanced mail system is just one more reason to consider an iPod Touch a little more worthy of our attention.

Keep an eye out for Apple over the next few days, they’re set to report earnings on October 22nd.Estimates: 0.99 | 0.84 | 0.72

Apple (AAPL), in what has been well-rumored for quite sometime, has officially launched the Apple.com Webapps Directory. While these apps are often very interesting and offer a wide variety of choices, they’re still Safari based.

The Webapps Directory is an enormous leap over having no method of downloading any free Safari-based webapps. The Webapps Directory can be found at: http://www.apple.com/webapps/

Apple (AAPL) has literally sold tens of millions of iPods since they first debuted. Some people have purchased more than two and some have purchased different versions (nano, shuffle, etc.). With all the excitement surrounding the iPhone, there seems to be a euphoria that’s blocking the future outlook. Will previous customers eventually buy new iPhones, like they did iPods?

iPods have been a craze, year after year, it’s been on the top of lists and consistently selling far more than other MP3 Players (i.e. Zune). Currently, the iPod product lineup varies in price from $79 to the all-new iPod Touch’s top-of-the-line price of $399. There isn’t any plan attached to these Apple products, and no necessary additional costs.

Most iPhone purchases cost $599 (for 8GB model), alongside about a $60 a month voice and data plan from AT&T (T). Put the costs together and it is a phone/iPod that will cost over $2000 in total charges in the first two years. This price isn’t necessarily an unusual number for phones that need intensive data packages.

The question comes into play when you factor this exceptional amount of money alongside the possibility of Apple updating the product with 3G and more flash memory in the future. What will users do when the possibility of getting a new iPhone becomes a reality? Will they simply buy the new model and sell the old one, or will they hold out, and keep the phone for two to three years?

If this happens, the market could see a saturation of iPhones and the supply will outweigh the demand. Then, new model iPhone sales could quickly dry up. We’re hoping for the iPhone to continue to sell like the iPod did, but there could be trouble in the next couple of years.

Disclosure: Long Apple Inc. (AAPL)

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

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.