While helping a client at the Apple Store Topanga today, I ran into Damien Stolarz (author of iPhone Hacks) talking about a keyboard for the iPhone. Naturally this peaked my interest as this is a commonly requested item from my clients.

The hardware component works with iPhone 2G currently with a iPhone 3GS version in the works. It is really quite remarkable, as “KeyBot” uses sound from the iPhone and translates it into infrared signals sent to the wireless keyboard, such as the readily available Targus PDA keyboard.

To read more about the tech behind this visit Perceptive Development’s blog.

Perceptive Development has an application, called Tin Can! that will take advantage of this hardware, which is currently available in the App store. Tin Can! is is an iPhone app “that allows you to transmit text from one iPhone to another iPhone without using a network connection.”

[Hardware available from DroidSupply]

With the availability of iPhone OS 3.0, MobileMe members can now use Find My iPhone to help recover a lost iPhone or remotely wipe the personal data on it.

To get started, use iTunes to update your iPhone software to iPhone OS 3.0, and then follow these steps:

Apple also recommends setting up a Passcode Lock on your iPhone, so only you can turn the Find My iPhone feature on and off. Go to Settings and tap General followed by Passcode Lock.

If your iPhone goes missing you can log into me.com on any computer to access Find My iPhone (under Account) and display your iPhone’s approximate location on a map, write a message to be displayed on its screen, and play a continuous sound for two minutes even if the iPhone is set to silent. Or if you fear the worst, you can initiate a remote wipe to permanently erase your personal data and restore the iPhone to its factory settings. Watch this video to see how it all works.

[via MobileMe News Feed]

The free iPhone OS 3.0 Software Update includes some great new features, as well as all the features from previous updates. iPhone OS 3.0 also lets you run the next generation of iPhone apps, like peer-to-peer games and more. If you’ve never updated before, now is the perfect time.

Cut, Copy & Paste

Quickly and easily cut, copy, and paste text from application to application. Select entire blocks of web text with a tap. Copy and paste images from the web, too.

Landscape Keyboard

Want more room to type? Rotate iPhone to landscape to use a larger keyboard in Mail, Messages, Notes, and Safari.

MMS

Send MMS messages and include video, photos, audio, and contact info. Even tap to snap a picture or shoot a video right inside Messages. (MMS support from AT&T coming in late summer.)

Spotlight Search

Find what you’re looking for across your iPhone, all from one place. Spotlight searches all of your contacts, email, calendars, and notes, as well as everything in your iPod.

Voice Memos

Capture a memo, a meeting, or any audio recording on the go. Voice Memos works with the built-in iPhone microphone or with the mic on your headset.

Improved Calendar

Create meetings via Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync and subscribe to calendars with new CalDAV support.

Buy Movies, TV Shows, and Audiobooks

Download movies, TV shows, music videos, and audiobooks from the iTunes Store on your iPhone.

Enhanced Stocks App

Get more at-a-glance information and view charts in landscape.

Safari Improvements

Enjoy faster performance, autofill user names and passwords, and more.

Internet Tethering

Share your Internet connection with your laptop with Internet tethering via Bluetooth or USB. (Tethering is not currently offered in the U.S. and some other countries. See your carrier for availability.)

Stereo Bluetooth

Connect compatible Bluetooth stereo headphones, car kits, or other accessories.

Automatic Wi-Fi Login

Log in to a Wi-Fi hotspot and iPhone automatically logs you in when you connect again.

Sync Notes

Never leave a note behind. Now you can sync all the notes you write on your iPhone back to your Mac or PC.

Parental Controls

Decide what music, videos, and apps your kids can access.

iTunes Store Account

Create and log in to one or more iTunes Store accounts directly from your iPhone.

YouTube Login

Log in to your YouTube account to save and sync bookmarks and rate favorites.

Shake to Shuffle

Give iPhone a shake and it shuffles to a different song in your music library.

New Languages

iPhone supports 30 languages and more than 40 keyboard layouts.

MobileMe Find My iPhone and Remote Wipe

Find your iPhone if you lose it and protect your privacy with Remote Wipe.

Run the Latest Apps

Run the next generation of iPhone apps, like peer-to-peer games1 and more.

[Story removed by request - 5/18/2009]