The ramp up to the next iPhone always appears to draw more near more quickly each year.  Although noone that we know has had the pleasure of laying eyes on the next iPhone, Pandev has seen the likes of it via an iPhone identifier never before gazed upon.  For example, when the iPhone 3GS was being field tested an identifier of iPhone2,1 was seen in October 2008.  This time Pandev has seen the iPhone3,1 identifier pop up since November of 2009.  Pinchmedia provides analytics data for applications and shows the iPhone 3,1 identifier as official firmware from Apple.  The time frame is about right given the past spotting prior to the 3GS launch.  We doubt we will see any annoucement until around June, but maybe we will get a glimpse before then at whatever Apple replaces MacWorld with.

[MacRumors]

  Marketing Week’s annual top brands poll shows the top 20 brands of the year.  The poll shows Aston Martin, iPhone and then Apple in the lead as the most recognized or beloved brands in the UK.  Apple in reality holds the 2 and 3 position with the brand and a product.  This shows the clout of the iPhone in its own right as its own established brand aside from the ever popular Apple brand.  See the top 20 after the jump…

The top 20:
1 Aston Martin
2 iPhone
3 Apple
4 Bang & Olufsen
5 YouTube
6 Google
7 Nintendo
8 Agent Provocateur
9 Rolex
10 Tate Modern
11 Dom Perignon
12 Virgin Atlantic
13 Ferrari
14 Ducati
15 PlayStation 1
16 Sony Advertisement
17 Nike
18 Bose
19 Facebook
20 Lamborghini (ANI)

[via Macworld]