Just to put things in perspective for all the "naysayers":

-iPhone is 11mm thick--first iPod was 20mm thick !!!
-Display on original iPod was 2" monochrome--iPhone is 3.5" color.
-The iPhone weighs 1.75 ounces less than the original iPod.
-Battery life on the original iPod was 10 hours; as a music player, the iPhone will play for 24 hours.
-Cost of the 10 GB original iPod was $499; the 4GB version of the iPhone is the same price, even though $499 has a lot less
buying power today.
-The first iPod was introduced 5 years ago.

@Eric, the original iPod had only 5 GB.

Dave-O: Eric said cost of the "10 GB original iPod" was $499. This is true. The 1st generation iPod was available upon its initial release in only a 5 GB model for $399. But a few months later a 10 GB "original iPod" (the only difference was the storage increase; it was still a 1st generation original iPod) was sold for $499.

Another thought:

Today's 4 GB iPhone is $499 (in inflated 2007 dollars). The very original iPod was 5 GB and $399 in 2001 dollars. It did not have AAC, just MP3, so the actual number of songs that could be stored is promoted as being the same: 1000 for either the original 5 GB or the newer 4 GB iPhone or Nano.

A handy inflation calculator on the Credit Union National Association webpage (http://googolplex.cuna.org/12433/ajsmall/story.html?doc_id=406) says that 2001's $399 iPod would cost $450 in 2006 dollars.

So, in a way, all else being equal, you get the same iPod as 6 years ago (but with better battery life and more functionality), and then for just 49 dollars more (!) you get a built in cell phone, a wireless internet device, a video player, and so much more.

Compared to the original 2001 iPod, the iPhone is a heck of a good deal, no matter how you think of it.

WHERE IS ICAL?

Unless you're a kid, you spend more time with your phone calls, iCal and emails than watching Pirates of the Caribbean and Cars on your small device. I have PDAs since Palm IIIxe (the plastic ones), and always is the same. You play with your toy and finally you end up using the core every-day applications. I'm just curious why Apple didn't make any presentation regarding iCal. The integration of an organizer (iCal or whatever), phone and emails is key for any business man, planner, or student.

Don't take me wrong, I like and use apple products, however it seems that Apple iphone news are targeting kids of 10 years old.

Ramiro.

There wasn't much about it in the video, but it is part of the iPhone and is listed on the getting started pages. I guess they just thought the calendar was sexy enough to include in the demo.

I'm wondering about syncing the calender that will be on iPhone. I use the Yahoo! Calendar since I can access that anywhere and my Motorola phones will sync nicely (until this one started poopin' out) with it as well. Many other things from Yahoo! seem to sync with the iPhone but no word about ability to communicate with Yahoo! Calendar. Any knowledge from the gurus on this?

Also, any idea about what cell plans from AT&T will look like when it comes to internet use, etc. I remember there was some question and speculation about that early on but haven't heard anything since. Anyone?
~C

BigBenford: As I understand it, the iPhone will indeed be able to sync with Yahoo Calendar.

What I am interested in is, will the iPhone have some kind of password protection? In the intro movies you see someone sliding the protection off but he doesn't use a password... I don't want anyone using my phone and look into my email.
My old Nokia 6600 had password protection and I only realised how pleasant that is when I found out that my Samsung D600 doesn't have it...
Since the iPhone runs OSX it shouldn't be so hard to put some protection in, or am I wrong?

About iCal: I've got to believe that when Leopard arrives this Fall, it's CalDAV capabilities will operate with the iPhone. I suspect the incomplete feature set in iCal at this point is why they don't say much. Stay tuned for full network accessible group Calendars via iCal on your iPhone.

Waht about all of us out there who still use the Palm? Will there be provisions for syncing with the Palm software?

"any idea about what cell plans from AT&T will look like"

AT&T will announce, on Thursday or Friday, that unlimited data plans for the iPhone will be $19.95/month.

@steven, Those who still use palm should think about transferring their data over to sync services. That, or maybe continue to use their Palm. That's what I would prefer ;-)

Seriously, my LifeDrive synced with sync services via The Missing Sync for Palm OS, which is the superior syncing solution for anything Palm - at least when compared to Palm's own solution. If you are currently using The Missing Sync, you have no worries. Everything is already syncing with your Mac's sync services, which is what the iPhone and iTunes will hook into, I;m sure.

Oddball items, like your notes, will probably be a different story. You may find yourself manually transferring or at least waiting for some clever scripter to come up with something.

Waht about all of us out there who still use the Palm? Will there be provisions for syncing with the Palm software?

Posted by steven Poster ASC | June 24, 2007 12:30 PM
---------------------------------

If I were you, I'd set up the Pal conduit software to sync your Palm Desktop with your MS Outlook (or Outlook Express), or with your Mac, which is my case. That way, when the iPhone comes out, it will sync just fine (via iTunes) with the Outlook, OutlookExpress or Mac programs. But do it ahead of time so that you don't have to figure it out once you have the iPhone in your hands.

'kito

"any idea about what cell plans from AT&T will look like"

AT&T will announce, on Thursday or Friday, that unlimited data plans for the iPhone will be $19.95/month.

Posted by Shawn King | June 24, 2007 12:35 PM
-------------------------------------------

Wow, if that is actually true, then it's a huge bargain!
Unlimited data accounts for the Treos on Verizon have always been $40/month! And our data use will be WAY more fun on the iPhone than on our old Treos!

'kito

"AT&T will announce, on Thursday or Friday, that unlimited data plans for the iPhone will be $19.95/month."

that alone will get people to sign up. i hope you are right...

In addition to mail, will the iPhone synch (via Internet connection) with dot mac (Contacts, address book, files, etc....)?

"i hope you are right..."

I am. :)

"AT&T will announce, on Thursday or Friday, that unlimited data plans for the iPhone will be $19.95/month."

Okay, that's a bit under how much I pay now for 1000 text messages, unlimited "internet" usage (as if I use that now on the current Motorola phone). Can't wait!!!
~C

I already have an iTunes account, I have screen protector and a case from iQase.com, all I have to do now is cleanup my addressbook.

hmm where to start?

Cleaning up my address book has been the hardest part. I'm not nearly done and I started back in February. Little by little....
~C

"I am. :)"

In Shawn we trust... :-)

So tell us, what about the screen? Does it get fingerprints easily or can I continue not washing my hands before every call?

"what about the screen?"

Gorgeous, clear, smooth, sensitive (it's "capcitance resistance" (I think that's the term - *not* pressure sensitive) so often the merest brush of a finger causes an action.

"Does it get fingerprints easily or can I continue not washing my hands before every call?"

Well, it's still glass and will show smudges/grease/face gunk, etc but it is easily wiped off with a cloth, pant leg, tie... :)

Can anyone tell us about the iPhone warranty? Will there be an extended plan available, vis-a-vis the ones for computers?

Also, what about battery replacement? How? Cost?

Thanks.