I wish more cellphones would use glass rather than plastic for the screens, I hope this is the beginning of a trend for higher end cellphones.

Still not worth $500 for only 4 GB of storage.

First they introduce the scratchPod, and now: the $600 scratchPhone!

There is more on iPhone than act like a simple storage device.

To JJ...

Stop thinking that it's just an iPod with 4GB. It's not. There've been plenty of $500 phones. This is a little more than that.

My point was that I care don't about the fact that the phone has a touch screen and nerds think it's cool. I care about making calls and having good sound quality. If it plays music and takes photos great, but $500 or $600 for phone that can only store 4/8 gb of music/pictures and video (LMAO at only 4 gb for that) plus you can only browse ATTs crappy web interface (of which i'm a customer) is it not worth it. Just like the rest of the smart phones without Apples name on it.

The iphone isn't supposed to use the "crappy" AT&T web interface...that's the whole point of the phone. It uses a version of safari..which is a decent enough browser.

I agree that it's a little too expensive for me, but the integration of the software looks stellar..looking forward to seeing if it runs as advertised.

Also..the new battery run time might be the thing that will draw blackberry users over.

I can't see being able to type as fast on a touch screen. In fact I wish they would show a picture of the KB might be its best or worst feature!

"It uses a version of safari..which is a decent enough browser."

Ya if current reports are any indication, some basement scriptkiddie will likely PWN the iPhone within a matter of days using a simple AJAX script. Safari is, afterall, the "development platform" for the iPhone according to Jobs.

HTC phones have got a much nicer interface what with being Windows Mobile and having 10,000 3rd-party applications available for it. The HTC Touch is looking like a beautiful marriage between Windows Mobile functionality and finger-based touch. Frankly i like the slide-out keyboard designs better, but I could see the Touch as being targetted towards consumers with multimedia wants rather than being marketted to mobile professionals. HTC, quite frankly, has the best mobile smartphone designs on the planet, based on the best mobile software platform on the planet.

"Draw blackberry users over." I'm sorry but have you ever tried to enter data on a touch screen? The iphone will go to the geeks and students with credit cards, and that's about it.

"Draw blackberry users over". Won't happen - no corporate email support. Many people don't realize how much technology funding is supported by the "enterprise". This is why BB will thrive and iPhone will stay Apple-niche.

I'm constantly amused by all the people who whine that the iPhone is expensive; typically there's some rambling message of how $500 is too much for 4gb of memory in a phone. Sure, if all you use it for is a phone and 4mb of portable storage, it's not worth it. However, someone who wants a smart phone/ipod/browser combination with a powerful UI, fairly big screen and the ease of use typical with Apple products, then it's quite a bit of product for the money. Personally, I can't justify the expense because all I really need is a phone. So I won't buy one, not whine on every message board about how expensive the iPhone is. ;-)

Waethorn:

I own a Cingular 8525 (HTC Hermes) and have been using Pocket PC (now Windows Mobile) for years. While I believe HTC products (Wizard, Hermes, and especially Kaiser) have much better hardware value for the money, I have to admit WM5 and WM6 have lousy interfaces.

MS needs to release a better GUI as either a patch or as WM7 and this time lets really be an upgrade.. not like WM5 2nd Ed... oh wait.. WM6. This new GUI needs to be more single-hand operation friendly with big icons or more soft buttons. It's ridiculous how often I need to use the stylus when using the default MS software. Don't get me started on the patheticly small buttons on the Dialer... although to be fair... maybe that's Cingular's fault.

It's kind of upsetting that I needed to buy Pocket Informant for more detailed Calendar monthly views and better one-hand operation for PIM usage. Add a SPB Pocket Plus license just to get ICONS on the Today screen! Seriously... WM6 should have given us the ability to add application icons on the Today screen!

Will I buy an iPhone? No. For that kind of money I expect the hardware to be state of the art: 3G, slide out keyboard, on-board GPS... oh wait... that's the HTC Hermes. The only thing that draws me to the iPhone is the GUI. The mass has yet to play with the GUI but I'm hoping it really gives MS an eye-opener on how a GUI should be.

Other then looks, the phone doesent offer anything new. Just browse the sites of available smart phones / web enabled phones and you'll see what I mean.

but I'd break it within a week, so I'll stick to my old faithful nokia brick phone which is only good for making phone calls and figuring out tips at resteraunts. lol

APPLE iPod 30GB MP4 Player AUD$349 OPTUS SE K750i 2MP Pre-Paid Camera Phone (http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/46773d100b99d8a62740c0a87f9c0748/Product/View/E9128 ) AUD$ 279 = $628 .

This is why it seems expensive. For not much extra, you get an extra 22 GB plus FM radio.

By integrating two devices, I think that many consumers would like to see more value because they dont need to double up on purchasing things. Eg instead of paying for one screen with an mp3 player and one screen for a phone, in a combined device you just pay for one screen. Same thing goes for the buttons, charger, casing, battery.

this glass concept is not a new thing. Nokia has been using it on it high end phones for a while. Same glass that is on your watches (not the knock offs, the real deal watches) Sapphire glass, scratch resistant.

The hype for this phone is absolutely astounding. I'm afraid, however, it won't deliver the goods. Not to say it will be a bad product, but after iPod, people have put Apple on a pedestal. And I do not think that this phone will revolutionize the industry. Even worse, it's on AT&T's awful network. Apple really chose the wrong carrier, I think. Based on its price point, the normal phone user won't buy it. And those looking to switch over to it probably know the woes of AT&T. In the end, it will receive about the same amount of subscription as Palm and Blackberry phones, I think. Blackberry has all of the corporate networking and mail. Apple doesnt. And palm...well, I like my 755p :p

maybe its redundant by now, but at this point i was even sold on the iphone despite the high price (dont own an ipod) so i would imagine it's pretty stupid what apple did with this long ass contract with Cingular/ATT, considering, as i said, i was swayed into buying one, if it werent for the fact that i cannot switch out of my verizon plan.

I dunno apple, maybe ATT gave you alot of money, but your phone would have likely done alot better without this lame exclusivity crap.

i've never had a problem with cingular / at&t, they've always provided me with great service and have never been out of calling range. although, i haven't been in the eastern states but, i've been all over the west including hawaii. as for the hype over the phone yeah its strong but what apple product doesn't have a lot of hype these days, i'll buy one since i haven't bought an ipod yet and i'm looking for a new phone, glad i waited.