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In an open letter to the Apple community (basically the entire world with the popularity of the iPhone) Steve Jobs gives insight into his health… sending shares soaring over 3 1/2% this morning already.

“Dear Apple Community,

For the first time in a decade, I’m getting to spend the holiday season with my family, rather than intensely preparing for a Macworld keynote.

Unfortunately, my decision to have Phil deliver the Macworld keynote set off another flurry of rumors about my health, with some even publishing stories of me on my deathbed.

I’ve decided to share something very personal with the Apple community so that we can all relax and enjoy the show tomorrow.

As many of you know, I have been losing weight throughout 2008. The reason has been a mystery to me and my doctors. A few weeks ago, I decided that getting to the root cause of this and reversing it needed to become my #1 priority.

Fortunately, after further testing, my doctors think they have found the cause — a hormone imbalance that has been “robbing” me of the proteins my body needs to be healthy. Sophisticated blood tests have confirmed this diagnosis.

The remedy for this nutritional problem is relatively simple and straightforward, and I’ve already begun treatment. But, just like I didn’t lose this much weight and body mass in a week or a month, my doctors expect it will take me until late this Spring to regain it. I will continue as Apple’s CEO during my recovery.

I have given more than my all to Apple for the past 11 years now. I will be the first one to step up and tell our Board of Directors if I can no longer continue to fulfill my duties as Apple’s CEO. I hope the Apple community will support me in my recovery and know that I will always put what is best for Apple first.

So now I’ve said more than I wanted to say, and all that I am going to say, about this.”

Steve

[Apple]

The BlackBerry Storm has been out for a few weeks now in Canada (more shipments are arriving today at Bell and Telus) and some of the feedback has been mixed.

To name a few likes: users enjoy the style, screen resolution, music player and camera features. Some of the main dislikes are the weight, some users are finding the screen has pixel problems and the accelerometer sometimes lags.

A free app from CellAvant has made its way to help with another frustration of Storm users. “TalkLock” is still in beta and it basically puts a lock on the touchscreen when you’re on a call so other programs won’t accidentally start.

Here is the description from their website:

Are you annoyed by the BlackBerry Storm touch screen remaining active during a call? Frustrated with accidental screen presses activating programs while you talk?

CellAvant has the answer… TalkLock. This free utility automatically engages a few seconds after a call is connected, and intercepts touch screen actions. This prevents screen presses from launching programs or invoking functions while you talk.

When the call ends for any reason, TalkLock releases control of the screen until your next call. You can also disable the lock and return to your normal phone behavior at any time by swiping your finger across the screen from left to right.

Features include:
* Automatically runs after installation, and on each reboot
* Automatically activates after phone calls are connected
* Automatically hides when phone calls are completed
* Manual unlock with “slide to unlock” function
* Menu item to re-engage lock after unlock
* Customizeable backround image (uses /home/user/TalkLock-Background.png if it exists under Device Memory)

[BerryReview]

Now that the holidays are over and us Canadians are officially back in the office chair… we can concentrate on pretending to work and surf the internet all day. I did and found Best Buy is joining the “we need to clear our inventory fast” group and decided to have a $0.00 sale on some of their mobile phones.

The Source did this last week with some Rogers devices. In the Best Buy sell off you can find both Rogers, TELUS, Koodo and Fido phones ranging from the BlackBerry Pearl 8220 Flip, BlackBerry Curve 8330, LG KEYBO all phone the rock bottom sale price of $0.00. FutureShop also has the BlackBerry Curve 8330 for $0.00 but that’s about it.

By the end of January we’ll see more clearance sales happening as new devices are launched.

More here at Best Buy and The Source

Palm expected to introduce its Linux-based operating system (code-named Nova) at the Consumer Electronics Show this week. Analysts are saying that this is Palm’s best and last chance to gain any sort of market share in the smartphone market.

Jack Gold, analyst for J.Gold Associates said “The bottom line is this is Palm’s last gasp. They have to come out with a new OS to make themselves relevant again. Their old OS is a geriatric case. It’s been around for a long time and has been marginally improved, but it hasn’t kept pace with the iPhone or (Google) Androids of the world.”

Remember when the “iBeer” iPhone app was cool? Well, it’s now a reality with “Serv O’ Beer“. A little bit of engineering, Contstrux, HTML coding and your iPhone you too can have the perfect pour. Video here

Globalive is ramping up fast – they have plans to open a new customer service centre in Windsor which will create approximately 100 jobs. (75 full time positions and 25 part time).

If you live in Windsor, or simply want to work for Globalive they’re having a job fair on January 7th and looking to hire Customer Service Representatives, a Call Centre Manager, and Call Centre Supervisors. First week of training will start as early as January 12th.

This is big for Windsor and here is a standard press release response: “Locating in Windsor gives us access to a workforce with a reputation for quality, which is essential to our business,” said Ezio D’Onofrio, President of Globalive Communications Corp. “We look forward to having Windsor be a part of our growth.”

Windsor does have a great reputation for quality (in the auto industry)… Most likely this was the most affordable place to put a new office in these economic times.

UBS Analyst Jeffrey Fan has forecasted Rogers to be the big winner in the big Q4 wireless push. In order of rank he stated Rogers #1 with an estimated 49% market share and a gain of 185,000 postpaid subscribers (mainly due to holiday sales and Apple iPhone). #2 spot goes to Telus with 31% market share and adding 117,000 postpaid subscribers. BCE comes in a strong 3rd with a 20% market share and an estimated growth of 76,000 subscribers.

All carriers will officially release Q4 details soon.

iDelux has made one brilliant piece of work with their newest iPhone app called “iHand Massage”.

As they state “iHand Massage is the first iPhone app to specialize in giving your hands a rejuvenating massage which will leave them feeling, relaxed and refreshed”. They have taken the vibration mode from your iPhone and made it into your personal massage therapist.

You can select from Pulse mode (low, medium or high), Steady mode (constant vibration) or a mix of both. In addition, the app allows you to choose the length of time you want.

Once you have chosen your unique massage, for optimum results iDelux says you must place your iPhone between your palms and hold together gently until iHand Massage is completed… then “your hands will have a light tingling sensation and feel very relaxed and refreshed”.

The app can be bought here for $0.99. Just in case you are hesitant about this purchase. iDelux has given more benefits of a massage:

-Vibration along the course of a nerve is helpful for restoring and maintaining the functions of a nerve and the muscles supplied by them, thereby improving their nutrition.
-Vibration can increase blood circulation
-This type of massage can reduce anxiety and mental stress
-Vibration massages have been used since the Ancient Greeks

Let’s hope this is the start of a great discounted 2009!

The Source has advertised a wack load of mobile phone price drops… all the way down to a rock bottom $0.00. You can get yourself the following devices on a Rogers 3-year contract with a minimum $35 voice and data (plus activation fee):

BlackBerry Pearl 8220 Flip, Samsung T336, Nokia N95 8GB, Motorola ROKR E8, Sony Ericsson W760. All decent phones with great additional capabilities: music, pictures, games.

This sale is on until January 14th so you got some time to ponder and look for other post holiday deals.

Check it out here

Certicom recently put an ad in the paper to inform all shareholder to reject the offer from RIM… however, the BlackBerry maker has announced they are extending the expiry date of its offer to acquire Certicom for $1.50 per share in cash per share to January 27th, 2009. The previous deadline was January 15th, 2009. Very gracious of them during this hostile takeover bid.