Richard Hughes’ blog

Okay, I admit it. I’m a sad Apple wenie. I watched the various web feeds of the WWDC keynote on Monday (evening for me). I even found someone who was streaming the audio from an Apple macbook so I could actually hear The Words of Santa Jobs as he spoke them. All the while, I was IMing fellow Apple Wenies and yes, I got excited as Santa Jobs said “iPhone 3G”.

I don’t own the original iPhone. I came close. I replaced an elderly SE P800 last year and it was a close run thing between an iPhone and a Nokia N95 8GB. The Nokia won out. This was partly because I could get it on 12 month contract whilst waiting for a iPhone 3G. The other reason was technical. The lack of 3G, the highly crippled bluetooth, lack of 3rd party apps, fairly basic camera etc.

The iPhone 3G fixes the lack of 3G but not much else of the original list. However since its release, it has gained quite a following and a number of web apps have been written for it. With the release of the SDK, there are plenty more coming along in the not too distant future. This appeals, especially when linked with an ‘unlimited’ 3G data package.

Does the iPhone 3G replace so many other devices? I don’t think so. It has built in GPS but it won’t replace my Tom Tom. It has a built in camera, but it won’t replace my D-SLR or Canon G9. It has a built in music player but at only 16 gig, it won’t replace my 60 gig iPod. Without the ability to work as a bluetooth modem for my Apple laptop/N800/TomTom it won’t even replace my N95 8GB.

However, sometimes the best device is the one you have with you and I always carry a mobile phone. If that mobile phone is also an excellent all-in-one web browser, has built-in GPS, a tolerable camera, a good music & video player plus the ability to sync to my Mac, then I know what I’ll be buying on 11th July.