Although the mothership gets endless grief for their byzantine app vetting process and for barring some apps, there’s no question the iPhone’s the smartphone to buy for the biggest selection, both in terms of quantity and quality, of mobile software. Still, those issues linger, though the FCC and Verizon seem to be pushing Apple and AT&T in the right direction.

For the cynical, the obvious conclusion here is that Ma Bell’s marketing team didn’t have anything to counter Verizon with so the company decided to hit back with a legal filing. Although there may be some merit in AT&T’s legal machinations, bringing in the lawyers is a “jump the shark” inflection point in the two companies’ increasingly nasty competition for subscribers.

Although the reception to the iPhone going on sale in China was warm, the event does not seem to have engendered the sort of sellout reception that a new model iPhone introduction does in most markets.

Microsoft’s hype-driven search decision engine interface has now been optimized for the iPhone and iPod touch, as well as a bunch of the usual touch-based suspects, including the Zune. Features include easy tabbed homepage navigation and tabbed search results organization.

It is easy to see the iPhone as a mixed blessing for a wireless provider, with insanely high data rates on one side and insanely high sign-up rates on the other. Do Apple and Verizon want each other?

Palm said, “Tit,” and now Apple’s answered with a cursory “tat.” The ongoing war between the two companies over iTunes syncing rumbles on with neither side apparently willing the concede let alone play nicely with the other.

Although I’ve yet to put it to the test, there’s a lot to like just reading through the changes made to this open source project. Have a look at what’s been added and, just as important, what’s been fixed in this milestone release.

The Mac tablet breadcrumb trail now leads down under with media companies in Oz, off the record of course, reporting that the mothership’s been round to pitch their phantom device. This latest report adds weight to rumors that the Cupertino, California-based Mac, iPod and iPhone maker is preparing to remake the publishing business, bringing it into the 21st Century.

If you’re a space junky, and we know you’re out there, it’s no longer a question of keeping up with and in touch with National Aeronautics and Space Administration news and happenings — it’s how close you can be and the continuity of the contact. Here’s a free tool for keeping your finger on the pulse when you’re away from a traditional or Wi-Fi internet connection.

Going on a trip and you’re getting ready to print? Stop, don’t kill that tree! Here’s a cool money (and tree) saving trick for caching Google Map driving directions on your iPod touch.