Well folks, the time has arrived, and I am officially a card-carrying member of the iPhone club. In fact,I am blogging right now from the WordPress application on the iPhone. Has it changed my life? Not really. Am I finding it extremely useful? You better believe it. More to come!
This morning marked the release of the new Apple iPhone 3G, which includes 3G wireless speed, an integrated GPS, and the new version 2.0 software release that allows users to add applications to their device. Apple and AT&T stores opened at 8:00am local time across the country. Just minutes ago, the last locations to open on the west coast began admitting customers into their stores.
However, those last people being admitted to the stores are being greeted with an unpleasant surprise: AT&T’s activation servers have been unable to stay operational to complete the process. Gizmodo has reported that the official word is:
“We have had reports that customers attempting to download new iTunes 7.7 software to their new iPhone may get an error message saying “page not found.” We have reported this issue to Apple. While Apple works to resolve this issue, we are asking customers to sync their newly activated phone later at home.” via Gizmodo
Some people have waited more than 30 minutes to have their phones activated, only to be sent home to try the activation process from iTunes on their home computers (TUAW), which was the way the process went for the first iPhone. The first customers on the east coast were able to get their phones activated in the stores, but those who have been sent home are still having problems because of the server issues.
Leo Laporte has been broadcasting the whole event with footage from around the country, which you can access at http://twitlive.tv. I am so glad that I didn’t try to get in line only to have these issues! It still is one exciting day 
I’m not going to do the full run-down here of all the junk news we have been receiving about the July 11 release of the iPhone. What I am going to do is simply say that owning an iPhone is not just a mobile device choice; it is a financial obligation. I signed up for AT&T in March to prepare for this iPhone release. I didn’t want to be stuck in an AT&T or Apple store on launch day waiting for a credit check or having some problem with my plan - I wanted to get in, get it, get out. So, it was quite surprising when I discovered that existing AT&T customers (which is now me) have to pay $200 *more* than new customers for the phone because of upgrade ineligibility. Tack on the extra $10 per month in 3G data and at least $5 to make up for the lack of included texts, and I am preparing to spend an extra $560 for the iPhone over a 2 year contract. Is this amount calculated above my current plan? NO…above the cost to run the current 2.5G iPhone. I was excited about the first-generation iPhone, even with the price premium, but this is starting to get a bit pricey. Let’s see what happens…
As if anyone doubted, Gizmodo is reporting that it has been confirmed that the new iPhone will be introduced at WWDC on June 9. There have been many rumors floating around about the specifics of the hardware, new form factor, and date of availability, but here is what I have gathered so far:
As I have mentioned before, if the new phone has 32 GB of capacity, it is the ultimate device for me. I can’t imagine what availability struggles they will have and/or the line I am going to have to wait in to get one, but it will all be worth it.
So what?
This announcement is definitely going to revolutionize the smart phone market. Since the launch of the iPhone one year ago, there have been advances in the mobile web, and we have gotten the sense of what consumers want and need when it comes to advanced mobile devices. The iPhone is no Blackberry in capability at this point, but it is solid hardware and the advances (including Exchange support) will take a chunk out of Blackberry’s marketshare.
Apparently someone close to the source of information can’t (or doesn’t want to) keep his mouth closed about Apple’s new initiative to add an unlimited music option to the iPhone. Nokia already plans to offer a similar plan, to the tune of $80 for the life of the device.
So what?
Well, first of all, I think that this is a great idea. Sure, it’s unlikely that, once you have the music, you’ll be able to get it off the device. But if your iPhone (especially a 32GB) is acting as your iPod, is it really that big of a deal? If someone tells me to check out a track, I would be ecstatic if I could listen to the entire track instead of a lame 30-second preview.
Second of all, if I really like the tracks that I can listen to on my iPhone, I’ll throw down 99 cents to get full access to the file. It’s no different than my current iTunes setup, just great mobile access to their entire catalog at all times!
Hey Apple, here’s a great way for you to break it before it begins: Don’t let us wirelessly download without syncing, and make the tracks only 128kbps AAC files. Yeah, who needs iTunes Plus on their phone?
PLEASE don’t mess this one up!
via Apple Insider
It’s no secret that I want an iPhone. Bad. I know it’s not right to covet your neighbor’s cellular telephony device, but every time I see my iPhone-toting neighbor, I just want to covet all day long. Why then do I not have an iPhone? Not because of the $175 early termination fee of my current provider (I’ve been out of contract since July of last year), nor because of any hesitation of switching to AT&T for all my wireless needs.
It’s because Steve Jobs and I have some unfinished business.
I love what has been done with the iPhone, from the slick interface to the fact that most any of my surface-level wishes can be added with software updates or the upcoming SDK. But there are just a couple of hardware tweaks that will send me over the edge and empty several hundred dollars from my bank account:
1. 3G Wireless - EDGE is so last year. Or the year before that. Come to think of it, when was the last time Nokia preferred EDGE for browsing? 2006? The CEO of AT&T has mentioned that the 3G iPhone is on it’s way this year, so I guess we’ll just have to play the waiting game.
2. Internal GPS - Sure the Google Maps application on the iPhone is great, and the cell tower triangulation feature is neat, but come on. We need a real, bona fide GPS in that thing. If the Nokia N95 can have one, so can the iPhone.
3. 32 GB Internal Storage - Ok, here’s the deal. I have a 30 gig iPod. Coincidentally, I also have close to 30 gigs of content. I do not enjoy plugging in my Nano and having to go through and select what I may want to listen to until the next time I dock the device. Likewise, I don’t want to have to select what content I put on my phone, nor worry about what content I have synced to the device every time I plug it in to charge! A 32 GB iPhone would do the trick. I could get rid of my iPod and use my phone as my only portable device. I might be dreaming, and I might need a solar-powered jacket to stay operational, but I’m willing to make that sacrifice.
BONUS! 4. Starbucks Ordering System - Ever since I saw this, I haven’t stopped thinking about how stinking awesome it would be to order my Venti Shaken Black Tea Lemonade from the car on my way to the ‘Bux, and have it waiting for me when I get there. Mad props to Phil Lu for mocking that one up.
So there it is, my wish list that would set me over the edge (or 3G, if you will) and get me over to the Apple Store to pick up my very own iPhone. I have never wanted to part with $500 so much in my life.