If the thought of waiting hours for your video to download while you watch "Head of the Class" reruns has grown tiresome, worry not; Netflix has announced a new service that allows its users to watch streaming video of films directly from the Netflix website. The new feature will have a phased rollout over the next six months, and will be available by the end of June for all subscribers, at no extra cost.

Users will be able to view an hour of video for every dollar they pay toward their Netflix monthly plan. For example, if you pay $17.99 for the unlimited DVD rental and three discs out at a time plan, you will be able to view 18 hours of online video per month. Say goodbye to that gym membership.

According to Netflix, after a one-time browser applet install, the movies should load in as little as 10 to 15 seconds.

Netflix is thinking beyond the PC screen too. "Over the coming years we'll expand our selection of films, and we'll work to get to every Internet-connected screen, from cell phones to PCs to plasma screens. The PC screen is the best Internet-connected screen today, so we are starting there," said Netflix CEO Reed Hastings.

With the introduction of the new Netflix service, and the forthcoming iPhone, June is shaping up as the greatest month ever for movie buffs and nerds everywhere!

Cisco's suit against Apple got a response that was probably not what they expected.

Apple spokeswomen Natalie Kerris called the lawsuit "silly" and went on to state that other companies were already using the iPhone name on other VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) devices.

Natalie continued, "We believe that Cisco's U.S. trademark registration is tenuous at best. Apple's the first company to use the iPhone name for a cell phone. And if Cisco wants to challenge us on it, we're very confident we will prevail."

Dem's fightin' words if we ever heard 'em!

The web is ablaze with bloggers and pundits choosing sides and throwing their two cents into the mix. For serious Mac addicts and diehard Apple haters, BoDog.com is giving all a chance to place bets on the outcome of the suit. So far, the odds are favoring Apple computer to win the suit and keep the iPhone name.

The way things are going, a cage match for the name iPhone isn't out of the question.

The iPhone lovefest has come to an abrupt end with Cisco Systems suing Apple in Federal Court over the use of Cisco's registered iPhone trademark.

Cisco released their version of the iPhone in mid-December, leading most observers to wonder what Apple was going to name their unannounced communication device. Prior to Steve Jobs' announcement of the Apple-branded iPhone on Tuesday, there was some negotiation between the two companies concerning the use of the "iPhone" name, but the issue remained unresolved. Cisco stated to MarketWatch, "It is our belief that Apple intends to agree to the final document. We expect to receive a signed agreement today (Tuesday)."

Now it seems Cisco's mood has changed: "There is no doubt that Apple's new phone is very exciting, but they should not be using our trademark without our permission."

Hopefully, the two companies can reach an agreement before the June release, although it's doubtful anyone will be upset about buying an "iFone" instead of an "iPhone."

Enjoy the spotlight Apple -- while it lasts. Apple, as you don't need me to tell you, introduced the $499 iPhone yesterday, and in so doing sent Apple's share price soaring by six percent. Close-competitor BlackBerry stock plunging by even more. To put that in perspective for you: Apple, Inc. is now worth $6 billion more than it was 48 hours ago, and the iPhone won't even be available until June.

I can see why. I recently steeled myself and managed to program -- slowly, painfully -- a few new numbers into my Motorola RAZR V3 cell phone. With its agonizingly slow web connection and painfully awkward text-messaging, being thin really is about its only redeeming quality. Fortunately, as Nicole Richie can tell you, being extremely thin is often enough to keep your name in the papers. When the RAZR came out in July 2004, it stopped traffic; Aircraft-grade aluminum, chemically-etched keypad numbers, all in a package less than 14 millimeters thick. Back then, we all agreed that cell phones were evil, and while they all more or less sucked for anything beside making a call, they were necessary. The least they could be was elegantly unobtrusive.

Steve Job's latest invention aims to contravene those assumptions. In addition to being a phone, it's got a multi-touch screen, scrolling navigation and a 2-megapixel camera, as well as the iPod music and video player. Daily Variety even put news of Apple's new, albeit limited, movie download agreement with Paramount Pictures on its front page the other day. (If you think your monthly cell phone bill is scary now, wait until it includes the price of the six movies, ten shows and eighteen songs you bought with it.)

More, I don't know about you, but my cell phone has taken so many beatings from me, it's considering taking out a restraining order. In contrast, I treat the iPod my wife gave to me like it's a Fabergé egg. I shudder to think what will happen to Apple if the five or six hundred dollar iPhone proves to be as delicate as it is expensive. Rather than use it to order 4,000 lattes, Jobs would have impressed me and the CES audience far more if he'd simply dropped his iPhone to the floor, as I've done a million times, then nonchalantly continued his prank call to Starbucks.

One other thing that leaves me head-scratching: Why would a guy so meticulous about what tech geeks refer to as "the user experience" throw-in with a bunch of chuckleheads like the phone companies? Ultimately, a phone is judged by its provider, and as anyone who's called directory assistance can tell you, the phone companies will deny that a restaurant you just drove by even exists -- especially when you need the number in a hurry.

It appears Wall Street's analysts share the same worries; this summer we'll see if Jobs can revolutionize chewing the fat the way he did spinning the wax.

After what seems like years of rampant speculation, the Apple branded iPhone has finally seen the light of day. During the annual Macworld convention keynote speech, Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced the elusive device.

Utilizing multi-touch technology on a widescreen device, the phone went beyond even the most outrageous conjecture about its features. The phone has leapfrogged the competition with its seamless integration of iPod and phone with video capabilities, internet connection and incredible multi-touch-screen technology.

Play music, watch videos, email photos, surf the web, utilize widgets, conference call and send text messages using the onscreen touch keyboard. The list of capabilities goes on and on. All of wrapped in Apple's easy to use OS X operating system, which has been scaled down for the phone.

Apple has partnered exclusively with Cingular for the device. Pending FCC review, the phone is set to hit the streets in June with a price tag of $499 for the 4GB model and $599 for the 8GB model. No word on whether the phone will be eligible for price reductions based on your contract length.

You have six months to save up the cash and to dump your current provider.

Once again, the elusive iPhone is on the radar of geeks who are hungry for an Apple-branded phone.

This time, news comes from respected financial magazine "Forbes," instead of the basement of a rabid Apple fan. According to the article, "Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd has secured contracts for 12 million mobile handsets that also function as mp3 players." Now, before you throw your phone into the nearest mulcher, the article goes on to say that the iPhone won't launch until the first half of 2007.

If the article's "industry source" is to be believed, expect Mr. Jobs to announce the iPhone during his annual Macworld Expo keynote speech in January, where the abominable snowman is also scheduled to speak.