Soon you will be able to synchronize your iPhone or iPod touch to your PC or Mac, using a low power chip from Alereon. The new device—a reference design to be used by third-party manufacturers—is small and have a built-in battery that will supply electricity to the iPhone while it’s synchronizing with iTunes without any cable. Then again, you will need a cable to recharge the battery, which begs the question: Is there any real advantage of synchronizing wirelessly when you will need a cable anyway at one point or another? I can’t wait for a new Nicola Tesla to come and bring to use actual wireless power. [ i4u News ]

If you don't mind seeing your iPhone's guts splayed out, it's fairly easy to replace its battery. (Credit: Rapid Repair) It’s a sad fact of life: iPhone batteries wear out. Most users learn this about 18 months after they buy one, when the phone can barely last a day without running out of juice. Sadder still: With iPhones sealed up tighter than an astronaut’s flight suit, there’s no easy way to replace a worn-out battery. But there is a way. In fact, if your iPhone is out of warranty anyway (and at 18 months it undoubtedly is, unless you extended it) and you’re reasonably handy with small tools, you can swap in a fresh, longer -lasting new battery. Your cost: As little as $6. Start with the battery itself. Meritline sells a iPhone 3G-compatible 1600mAh battery for $5.99 shipped . The standard 3G battery has a capacity of 1150mAh, so in theory the replacement should give you about 50 percent more runtime. Now it’s time for some surgery. The iPhone may look airtight, but a little careful prying with an X-Acto knife (or similar tool) will get the case open. To see how, check the nicely illustrated iPhone 3G Repair Guide at Rapid Repair . Once you hit Step 10, just swap in the new battery and close everything up. That’s really all there is to it. Well, almost. I’ve got a few caveats, starting with that warranty thing again: Opening up your iPhone will void your warranty. So will installing a third-party battery. This isn’t a big deal if the warranty’s already expired, but if it hasn’t, take your iPhone to Apple. I understand they’re good about dealing with battery issues. The real caveat is that unless you’re comfortable with tiny tools and electronics, you may want to hire a professional for this. It just so happens that Rapid Repair can do the job. In fact, they have a pretty nice deal: $39.99 buys you a “lifetime battery,” meaning Rapid Repair will replace it for you every 12 months. You’ll also have to pay a one-time installation fee of $29.99 and cover shipping costs. Still, it’s way cheaper than a new iPhone–and a bum battery is a chief reason people buy replacements. Given that my 3G hasn’t had its first birthday yet (it’s a mere seven months old), I’ve yet to attempt a battery replacement myself. But when the time comes, I’ll almost certainly rise to the challenge. I’ve replaced iPod and Zune batteries before, and both times were a piece of cake. I’ve got to assume this isn’t much tougher. If you’ve tried this option, let me know how it went!