The release proudly boasts that readers can have "offline reading capabilities, a photo browser with links to the related articles and personalization options for the iPhone and iPod touch models. Available for free at the iPhone Apple Store, the NYTimes iPhone application allows users to take advantage of the advanced capabilities of the iPhone and iPod touch user interface."

It looks like The Times-Apple corporate relationship is only getting closer by the minute. This summer, The Times is switching from the Eudora e-mail system to Microsoft Outlook, which, in the new generation of iPhones, makes the phones capable of running corporate e-mail. And! Every few weeks or so, the Times home page gives up a large amount of real estate to those cute Apple ads.

We noticed back in January when that ad appeared and was told that they'd appear only once a month. Then we noticed it appeared two weeks in a row in March. A spokeswoman told us then: ""While that remains the rule, there is some flexibility regarding timing as this is a test and learn situation."