I’ve never before obsessed over a product as much as the iPhone. With expectations so ridiculously high, it would be easy to be at least a little disappointed, but I’m not. The iPhone truly is a thing of wonder. I like that if I have a spare minute somewhere, I can easily listen to a song, or watch a video. Perhaps one of the most amazingly beneficial features is the built-in speaker. I’m not going to carry around my earbuds with me everywhere on the off chance that I’ll get an opportunity for some extended music listening. The fact that I can watch a TV show, or video podcast anywhere is great. Moreover, I can share the experience with others nearby. For such a small speaker, it’s remarkably powerful, especially if you cup your hand and direct the sound towards yourself.
And then there’s the internet. Much has been said of the EDGE network. No, it’s not very fast, but in my experience, it’s absolutely usable, and I can understand the size/battery tradeoffs involved. I would much rather have a super-thin phone that walked through the internet than a brick that sprints. For my priorities, Apple made the right decision. The browser itself is, of course, fantastic. I really love that I can quickly look up something on Google or IMDB when I’m out and about, or even just on my couch. Also, the widgets are nice to have; I like to keep an eye on Apple’s stock price (wishing I had some), and also on the weather.
The decision to use glass for the screen was pure brilliance. As soon as I take it out of my pocket to show people, they always ask, “Don’t you have a case for it?” I love to take my keys and rub them across the surface to the shock of my friends and co-workers. It just doesn’t scratch. At all. No case necessary.