Over at Mac Rumors they've unearthed a recent patent that shows Apple is researching cleverer use of the iPhone's many sensors. More nifty than turning the screen off when you put it to your ear, the new uses may include things like working out it's in your pocket (by temperature, proximity and ambient light) and then auto-switching to vibrate mode. Intriguingly, there's a hint that by detecting you've docked the phone, it may pass an ongoing phone call to a VoIP call over iChat. This all makes sense: making best use of those sensors and the iPhone's power... but like all Apple patents, we may never see these ideas in a real-life software update. [MacRumors]

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Those of you complaining about the lack of front camera and videoconferencing in the new iPhone, stop saying words. This July 11 you will be able to buy the Apple Videoconferencing Kit for iPhone 3G at just US$29. Press release and an exclusive leaked photo of the user manual—showing how it exactly works—right after the jump.

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These leaked pics from what looks like some sort of Apple or AT&T marketing material give up lots more information on the phone, including (if it's real) what the final shape is going to look like. Both the standard black version and the project (RED) version have tapered edges, which match the "thinner" rumours, and a fatter middle, which match the "slightly thicker" rumours. Other than that, the general shape and button design seem the same. What's really cool is the front camera, which allows for video calls.

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Now that the writer's strike is over, Conan should be swimming in a-list material, but it appears that his love affair with OSX features is too hard to resist. In this installment, we find him engaging in an electrifying 3-way iChat conversation with Max and LaBamba. I don't think they got the "magic back", but at least the demo went smoothly. [NBC via Macenstein]

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The enthusiastic high-fives of future iPhone instant messaging users yesterday might be quite a bit less enthusiastic today when they find out that Apple is not going to allow user-made SDK applications to run in the background. This means every application, from IM to VoIP to GPS mapping, will have to terminate entirely when the user switches out to take a call or change a song. How does this affect you? It means you won't be a be able to receive IMs unless you're currently inside the IM app, forcing you to disconnect when you take a call. There's an upside and a downside to this decision.

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Finally, after so many months, IMing is coming to the iPhone with AOL iChat native for iPhone. No more forced texting! It'll support invisible mode, you'll be able to make your own buddy icons using your stored photos, and you'll swipe to switch between conversations. [live.gizmodo.com]

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The R2D2 iChat Video fx is not making it to final build. Whyyyyyyyyyyyyy? I'm upset, but my girlfriend thanks you for saving her from hours of Princess Leia impressions over iChat. Drop your petition signatures / curses / cries / conspiracy theories in the comments.

You know that AIM mobile device forwarding that forwards your AIM messages to your phone via SMS? The one that just about all IM clients already have now? Apple's building a link to that feature in Leopard's iChat, under the accounts screen in preferences. What does this do? Well, with this, you can forward your messages to your iPhone, which with the iChat-like SMS screen, gives you a kind of iChat-esque option for chat. It's pretty ghetto, and it's pretty much the least Apple could do to get iChat onto the iPhone. How about we see a real iChat app, or better yet, a multi-client chat client like Adium? AOL Mobile

In the new version of iChat coming with Leopard, you can make yourself look like a hologram, as from Star Wars. Yes, nerds, Apple and Star Wars are combined in a way that let's you be in the action. Except your messages won't be about your home planet being in danger, but more of the "hey mom, bring home some ice cream for dinner, I plan on playing World of Warcraft all night and need sugar for energy" variety. May the force be with you, indeed. –Adam Frucci