Briefly: New NBC shows appear, Apple Store redesign [updated]

Some new NBC shows appear on iTunes

Even though Apple was adamant that new episodes of NBC's fall shows would not appear in the iTunes Store, the company has relented on its vow — at least, for shows not directly produced by the TV broadcaster.

The series premieres of Chuck and Journeyman, both shows produced outside of the network itself, are now available from the company's online store for their usual $1.99 prices. In the former's case, buyers also have the option of buying a Season Pass for $39.99. However, in-house daily shows such as Days of our Lives and The Tonight Show have also seen updates.

Apple has undoubtedly declined to post new episodes of returning seasonal shows produced within NBC, casting doubts on hopes that the two comapnies have mended their rift over iTunes pricing. The TV network's recent season 2 premiere of Heroes is nowhere to be seen, while other established shows also lack new episodes.

Neither Apple nor NBC has commented on the inconsistency.

Update: As AppleInsider forum member RidleyGriff points out, Apple still has not posted any new shows that are produced by NBC Universal to iTunes. Both Chuck and Journeyman air on NBC, but they are produced elsewhere, by different entities (who likely retain the digital distribution rights).

Apple gives its online store a makeover

Although the look of its online shopping presence has changed in recent months, Apple on Wednesday launched a major redesign of its web-based store.

The redesign lets users more easily narrow the scope of their visits with distinctive iPhone, iPod, and Mac sections as well as an iTunes-like breadcrumb navigation bar that lets users jump back to a higher level.

Site changes also focus heavily on products popular with Apple and its customers. A Staff Picks section highlights accessories the company recommends — which are currently dominated by Apple products — while the Top Sellers are now broken into separate product categories.

Photoshop Elements 6 for Mac still on track

When Adobe announced its version 6 upgrade to its Photoshop Elements visual editing tool this week, the absence of a Mac version in the release left some worried that the software developer was once again neglecting the Mac user base.

These concerns are overblown, the company has revealed. While Creative Suite 3 and Lightroom typically share simultaneous releases, the Mac and Windows versions of Elements are subject to "different development schedules" and so have pushed back the Mac OS X launch to early 2008.

Elements 6 adds a Photomerge feature to create effects from blending multiple images, a Guided Edit tool that helps newcomers apply changes, and a Quick Selection tool.

AT&T offers international roaming for iPhones

Horror stories of four-digit cellphone bills after taking the iPhone abroad need not repeat themselves, says a second report from Ars Technica.

In a simple reminder, the site points out that AT&T's iPhone Center provides information on the carrier's World Traveler service that lowers calling and data rates substantially for subscribers who regularly expect to travel abroad. The service typically costs $6 per month on top of the existing iPhone bill.

Users anxious about data charges while abroad were also reminded that Apple's third iPhone update is expected to allow disabling of the EDGE cellular Internet connection without cutting off phone access, as with today's Airplane Mode.