iPhone, my opinion.

A lot is on the web about iPhone so I will keep this short.

Sure, every function available was formerly available either on a PDA (it reminds me of my old Sony Clie) or on a phone itself but this is a new product and as such looks impressive.

Announcing a product which is not existent has been an old strategy of Microsoft many years ago to prevent customers to invest in non-Microsoft products. Apple made the phone and shows it, so this is not Vaporware.
So what is remarkable? The fact that so much was done at the same time.

1. Apple entered a new market, apparently mobile phones.
2. They used their own Operating System to do this (instead of deciding to use Palm or Symbian).
3. They say it´s the best Ipod ever made (improved and kind of merged an existing product)
4. And the customer interface is completely new, which means that the look and feel of the telephony functions were reinvented. Something the other participants are years of experience ahead which should theoratically give them an advantage on usability issues or customer feedback (new feature here: selective voicemail playback).

As far as I have read software development is is going to be resctrictive and is expected to include some sort of certification process.
Market availability is in six months and then we´ll see how the other manufacturers and or platform providers will pimp up their products to catch up.
My opinion so far; Apple changed the mobile phone market by adding a category of it´s own; traditional smartphones and Windows Mobile devices have 6 months to improve quality and think of new features to impress customers.
Until then look at this:

Apple representant showing features of the device:
http://gracefulflavor.net/2007/01/13/best-demo-of-iphone-yet-phil-schiller-on-cbs-news/

Steve Ballmer criticising the iPhone :)
http://gracefulflavor.net/2007/01/20/ballmer-hyperventilates-mocking-the-iphone/

No comment on pink Zune.
Initially found via graceflavour.net