Last year the "Apple effect" grew the market for flash memory 25 percent. This year things didn't look as rosy -- until Apple's latest mega-order

Apple is hogging all the flash, it seems. But don't worry, that's a good thing. (Unless you're another tech company trying to buy large quantities of OEM flash memory.)

According to Digitimes, Samsung Electronics has told its customers that their supplies will be reduced in July because Apple has placed an order for 50 million of 8Gb-equivalent flash chips, on top of a 25-million chip order last month.

In fact, Apple buys so much flash (which is used in tons of products, including the iPod shuffle, iPod nano, iPod touch, SSD-equipped MacBook Air, and of course that wacky iPhone doohickey that the kids love so much), the industry enjoyed an "Apple effect" that led to 25 percent growth in revenues in 2007.

This year, things haven't been as rosy. Prices are dropping: 8Gb of NAND flash cost just $2.32 as of mid June, down from $8.25 a year earlier. A couple of days before the news of Apple's huge order, research company Semico said it expected just a 13 percent growth in flash memory revenue in 2008, along with still-weakening prices. Now, Apple's order could stabilize prices by reducing the supply available to other companies.

What does this mean for you, the consumer? That Apple plans to sell a crazy number of iPhones this year, since it keeps boosting its order. If prices stay good and the supply can keep up, we might see that 32GB iPhone sooner than later. The Mac|Life office is guessing by Christmas 2008, but that's just our guess. Let us know yours in the comments.

Keep your hands and arms inside the ride at all times.

Apple fanatics fervently anticipating next week’s iPhone 3G release should head over to Apple and view the very extensive guided tour, featuring an excruciating half hour account of every touch-screen maneuver possible. The video, most likely intended for iPhone newbies, is probably Steve Job’s way of getting the public excited.

The video thoroughly showcases the iPhone’s “breakthrough,” “amazing,” and “revolutionary” features and clearly emphasizes that the phone is “redefining what’s possible” with a mobile phone. There are sections for every element of the iPhone, including visual voicemail, the new iTunes App Store, and “making the iPhone your own.”

Once again, Bob Borchers, a.k.a. iPhone Guy, narrates the guided tour. Once again , Bob emphasizes how great the iPhone is with large sweeping arm gestures. This time around, he includes a “great picture” of his friend, Chris, as an example of how to add a photo to an existing contact. It's nice to know that Bob has a life outside these videos.

Apple has also posted a “What’s New” video, which basically simplifies the guided tour and includes an explanation of the features specific only to the new iPhone 3G. Current iPhone owners can save some time and watch that one; it’s only ten minutes long and will register the same kind of chill down the spine in anticipation for July 11.

AppleInsider has uncovered a series of internal memos to AT&T employees outlining instructions for the upcoming roll-out of the iPhone 3G. According to these memos, AT&T stores should have extra staff that weekend to manage crowds and facilitate fast, efficient, and friendly activation of the new iPhones as customers buy them. Outside of the stores, AT&T has sent out memos regarding their engineers’ continued work on optimizing their 3G network and a new ad campaign focusing on that networks strength.