Looks like Apple store employees will be getting at least 3 exclusive and separate applications that will help with several important tasks. One of them will allow employees to swap iPhones or iPods on the store floor, which previously could only be done at the Genius Bar.

Another proprietary app will help employees in the stock room. The apps should make tasks done in all of Apple’s retail locations easier and more efficient.

Speakal makes some of the stranger and more interesting speaker docks on the market. They have docks for the iPhone that look like pigs and some look like other animals. The company has announced a new speaker system today called the iPom.

The iPom is designed to look like an apple with two speakers that look like flowers. The device lacks an iPod dock and makes due with a 3.5mm headphone jack for connecting to devices. The speaker flowers are removable and can be positioned.

Olive’s Opus No. 4 is getting an update, The 4HD looks similar to it’s predecessor, but this 2TB music server now features 24-bit sound and a 192kHz sample rate thanks to a Burr-Brown PCM1792A DAC, which will deliver about 250 times the resolution of a CD.

You’ll also get a gigabit Ethernet port and an 802.11n WiFi module to set it up on your home network, and there’s a free iPhone / iPod touch application available that will give you full control via your apple device. This time around it will cost $1,999.

One of the big reasons many users of the first generation iPhone upgraded to the iPhone 3G and then the 3GS was to get GPS capability. The problem for those that use the first generation iPhone or the iPod touch is that the devices lack a GPS receiver.

A new software and hardware system has been unveiled called G-Fi with Navmii software that allows turn-by-turn navigation on the iPod touch and the original iPhone. The hardware portion is called the G-Fi and is a device that acts sort of like a router and can support up to 200 Apple devices in range.

The mobile phone industry is hurting except for the high-end smartphone and feature phone segments. These more expensive devices are selling and smartphones are actually growing in popularity. The latest numbers for the mobile phone market are in and Apple is tops when it comes to profits.

According to Strategy Analytics Apple has posted $1.6 billion in operating profits for Q3 2009. The second place manufacturer is Nokia with $1.1 billion in operating profits. The impressive part here is that Apple is doing this with one or two models while Nokia has a full line of devices.

If you’re looking for an Apple handheld pico projector, you have one more option. Sparkz is a dock that is compatible with your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPod video, along with other A/V and VGA sources. It features 640 x 480 resolution, a 60-inch viewing area, and stereo speakers.

How much would you expect to pay for this device? 250? 350? This can be yours for the price of $495. Is it worth it? I’ll let you be the judge of that. It will also charge your iPhone and it comes with a tripod.

Verizon layed the smack down this weekend in its anti-AT&T campaign with three new ads. The first ad, “Misfit Toys,” attacks the iPhone’s attachment to AT&T and says it belongs on Rudolph’s Island of Misfit Toys for running on a network with low 3G coverage. The new commercials make a point to praise the phone, but attack the network, making it seem like Verizon is backing away from direct criticisms.

The “Blue Christmas” and “Elves,” ads are less direct but show iPhones with no logos ruining Christmas because they can’t get a good signal. You can see the other ads below.

All you want for Christmas is an iPhone for yourself right? But it’s too expensive, what with all of the other gifts you need to buy. How does an 8GB iPhone 3GS for $99 sound?

This one resides in rumor territory for now, but word is that Apple is toying with the idea of releasing the device for $99 in an effort to combat Motorola’s DROID. A cheaper iPhone 3GS is always welcomed, even if it is just an 8GB version, at least it gives users another option.

Today’s iPod dock of the day award goes to the Hard Rock Cafe’s very own iPod Dock. I guess it makes sense for them to offer one up. The limited edition Hard Rock MP3 Retro Radio features an FM digital tuner and an iPod dock that supports every generation including the iPhone 3G and iPod Touch.

Does anyone not already own an iPod dock by now? Well if you’ve been waiting for a dirt cheap iPod dock, get in the game already with this one. You can connect your other non-Apple MP3 players, CD players or other audio devices to the speaker via the audio line-in cord and it’s powered by 4 AA batteries.

Remember the XM SkyDock? It’s now available for purchase for $120. For that price it will give you full touchscreen control along with tagging capabilities over your in-car satellite radio. SkyDock features a built-in XM tuner and PowerConnect FM transmitter and will plug right into the cigarette lighter / power adapter socket where it will also charge your Apple device.

XM is making the App a free download from Apple’s App Store, but you’ll still have to run the antenna cable along the inside of your vehicle’s weather stripping to attach the magnetic antenna to your car’s roof (just above your front windshield) for optimal results.

If you are a music fan that uses an iPhone for your mobile phone and music device you really need to get yourself a decent set of headphones. The problem is that most of the good sets of headphones on the market lack a mic for making voice calls. Shure has announced a new headset specifically for the iPhone and iPod that has a mic and great sound.

The headset is called the SE115m+ and it combines a noise-reducing headset with a mic and remote control for music. On the right earpiece cable the mic and three button remote is found. The remote allows full control over all music player functions.

Verizon has launched a smack-talking offensive against the iPhone, with a new campaign called DroidDoes.com for their upcoming Motorola Droid Android smartphone. The handset, previously known by its codenames of Tao and Sholes, is being promoted as offering everything the iPhone can’t: an open development platform, the ability to run background processes, a flexible open App Store and replaceable batteries, etc. They really do some trash talking. Verizon has even set up a countdown timer showing that the Motorola Droid will arrive on October 30th 2009.

The teaser site starts off with some statements, all using the familiar i-prefix and in an Apple-style font. Stuff like “iDon’t run simultaneous apps”. Then a countdown page, with specs of the upcoming Motorola smartphone.

Apple has announced that they will be allowing free apps to enable in-app purchases. With this update, developers will be able use their free apps as a method to get users to install it and then charge them for content like add-ons etc.

It will certainly be interesting to see how this affects the whole pricing structure of the App Store. It’s a new business model for the App Store. It’s great for developers, but will consumers like this? We will see. Things are likely to get more costly for everyone.

Speck is famous for its line of hard shell cases for the Apple line of MacBook computers. The cases add looks and protection to the notebooks without blocking the popular style of the computers. Speck has announced a new single piece see thru hard shell case for the iPhone 3G/3GS.

The case is translucent and form fitting and protects the phone from damage in the event of a drop. The case is also designed to improve grip with a grip ring around the bezel.

Here’s something that’s sure to make geeks everywhere happy. Dark Horse Comics and GelaSkins have teamed up for a line of products that will have geeks staring at their Apple devices more than they already do now.

Hellboy, Buffy and some other Dark Horse comic images are now available in GelaSkin form. If the likes of Buffy and Hellboy isn’t quite your taste, there’s even some Bettie Page. iPhone skins will cost you $15 while 13 and 15-inch Macbook/general laptop skins will cost $30.