It seems to me that tech bloggers are often wrong (look at their take on the MacBook Air, which has been sitting on top of Apple's sales charts since it was introduced).

Very few people buy phones for their cameras, and those who do aren't really worth pursuing with a 2MP to 3MP upgrade. Apple might consider adding the ability to grab photos from other cameras (e.g. by providing an SD slot) but that's a reliability and security nightmare so it's easier to just not bother.

It seems like existing owners are getting third party apps and will be plenty happy with that. The iPhone is being priced competitively with the Sony PSP and the Nintendo DS, while having plenty of features neither will ever have.

It's great that people point out what they really want (even Apple wants to hear that) but the tone of much of the "complaining" reminds me of the same moaning and groaning that came with each release of an iPod, from iPod 10GB, through the mini, shuffle, "video", nano, classic, and even the touch.

As a stockholder, I'm glad Apple stays focused the strategic view instead of solely pandering to the geeks.

I've never understood why people get so uppity about cell phone cameras. Picture quality - regardless of megapixels - is always lower than dedicated digital cameras. If your phone's camera is your main camera, you obviously don't care that much about photography so it shouldn't be a deciding factor.

As for the rest of what's "missing" you're right about Apple spreading these updates. Around Christmas we'll see 32 gig storage. Next major update, front side camera. As for flash...that'll come once there's 10 million + users who want to visit youporn.com on the bus.

As an iPhone user I can say that I was considering making the purchase when the new phone is released but the changes were not enough. Copy and paste would be nice. Voice dialing would be a bonus for driving using a bluetooth headset. The ability to SMS pictures would be useful but not something that out weighs things listed above.
This message was typed on an iPhone

Priced along with the PSP and the DS? Of course the iPhone will have features the other 2 won't have. THEY ARE NOT PHONES!!! Comprehension is not a strong point, eh?

How much more 'bang for your buck" could you want for now? We all want more, but for what you're getting, that is a great price point. I predict it'll be a huge success.

It'll be the first iPhone I'm purchasing.

-- chip ;-D

What most tech bloggers don't realise is that the world has moved on, and their tastes are no longer the driver of market direction.

After years of competition based solely on manufacturers trying to squeeze as many features into their phones as possible (regardless of the usability compromises), Apple has completely shaken up the industry by going back to the basics and creating a phone that has fantastic usability as its core focus. And despite what focus groups might tell you, most consumers will always choose usability over features if given the choice.

That doesn't mean the phone skimps on functionality; in fact the opposite is true as it has all the functionality that the vast majority of potential users would need, even without third-party applications being taken into account. But far more important than yet another checklist of features is the intangible quality that's hard to impart in print or on the web, which is that the iPhone is one of the few pieces of technology that's actually *fun* to use as well as being functional.

When we watched all those sci-fi movies ten or twenty years ago and anticipated today's world, we imagined all kinds of awesome futuristic tools and gadgets. Mostly, this hasn't happened - our technology tends towards the mundane in its look and feel - but the iPhone actually feels like it's from that future we were promised as kids. This is what phones are supposed to be like.

What those tech bloggers fail to realise is that it's not features that are important; it's interaction. You would have thought that the iPod, with its low feature count and massive sales, would have taught them that by now.

You will not be happy with the carrier service. Many friends that have the phone are so unhappy with it due to roaming issues and service in general. I told them to wait untill they could get the phone with Verizon. I have read many comments on blogs that agree, I am surprised a great company like Apple went with AT&T. Maybe next time.

The only thing I want to say is: go buy the phone, decide for yourself if it's not the greatest device ever made, and then you can say whatever you want because it will then be YOUR opinion...

I don't understand the comments about AT&T by some iphone users. In Texas at least, you will have bad signal quality and many disconnected calls if you have any service OTHER than AT&T. I know, I've used them all.

I would like to see apple with sprint. I am on my 7th Iphone in 10 months. more drop calls then can count. In a large city. went with AT&T Just for the Iphone.

you make some very interesting/plausible points about holding back on purpose for the 3.0. when i first heard those comments, i didnt buy them, but your explanation seems realistic. on another note, as i dont know much about the connectivity, could the 3.0 actually boast something faster than 3g? if so, that would suck because some of the applications that are missing i really dont need for myself.

AT&T RULES...........GO IPHONE

Okay which shall I address first: Number one: the camera on the iphone, granted fewer megapixel camera, but the photo appearance is much better than any phone I have ever seen, including the Tilt, Q 9 Global, Blackjack II, and the Blackberry Curve.
Number two: Cut and Paste... " wow! Given the simplicity"(exact words) - Very condescending... let's see you do that. And I'm betting, not on the priority list of Apple.
Number three: Memory... it's a phone.
Number four: You might want to support a claim of weak Bluetooth support... I'll bet I can prove you wrong.
Number Fi... wait you don't own an iphone, you have no clue what you are talking about. Reading a few internet articles does not make you an expert. For future reference try criticizing something you have extensively used and researched... Have a lovely day.

I am very dissappointed with the iPhone. I expected a great phone and multimedia device, but the only good thing about it is the variety of 3rd party apps. And even those can be accesed only if you break the warranty, the battery is terrible(even worst than the psp phat battery). No shockwave or flash makes Internet browsing bettter even on Nokia phones than on an iPhone. The camera is a 7/10. Also(this is the most ridiculous of all) only certain earphones are compatible. I'm not getting an updated iPhone unless it is completely remastered.

All of these features would make the iphone 3g somewhere around $700

If you're going to talk about "tech bloggers" and their gripes, why don't you at least provide some links for context? Otherwise, this just sounds like your own complaining attributed to "bloggers."

I literally have never had a dropped call in my life and I basically never get off my cell and I am on AT&T. I am constantly traveling and its perfect everywhere.

I'm confused as to why you seem to think AT&T is a sub-par service. I've used them all and Its just the best, sorry if your stuck with verizon or sprint.

Just switch you wont regret it.

Man! A journalist can't even post legitimate criticisms of the holy Apple without the faithful dumping on the poor guy. Probably because the heathen doesn't own an iPhone.

Cut and paste: I use it all the time on my new Blackberry. Typing schmyping. When there's a sentence or phone number I want to use in an email or whatever, I C&P. Saves a lot of time. And to use a phrase seen above, until you have the feature, let's see if you can live without it.

MMS: The mulitmedia giant Apple can't figure out one of the most used cell phone features? How many cell-phone pictures do you think Japanese school girls send a day? Enough to underwrite ATT's entire network, probably. OK. That's hyperbole, just so you know.

ATT vs. Verizon: I know more people who have switched to Verizon from ATT (who aren't iPhone users, obviously). My customer service I get from Verizon is impeccable. They take care of me no matter what my problem. I think their "satisfaction" ratings bear this out. It's the number one reason I didn't switch to iPhone.

I have a Touch, and it's very very cool. I like the screen, the interface browser, etc. better than my Blackberry.

But until now, the iPhone didn't have push email or onlide syncing of calendars, etc. I can do that easily with the Blackberry and Google.

Folks, Zeiler wrote a concise article about what he doesn't like about the new phone. And without criticism, nothing would get better. Criticizing him is absurd.

Apple should come out with the solution for its existing iphone customers for the GPS. They won't mind spending some extra bucks for that and Apple will have lot extra in its banks, plus lot more happy customers and lot more opportunities to sell GPS related 3rd party apps. A complete win- win situation.

The only disappointment for me was the 16 gigs storage capacity. I was really hoping for 32 gigs. The original iPhone has been the best gadget I've ever owned and I look forward to buying the new one on July 11. Two things that I could not live without are the iPhone and TiVo.

Did they fix the quality of the phone volume? There are a lot of folks that say the phone is it's weakest feature.

Yet more proof that basic math education is sorely lacking in the US.... it wasn't a price cut, it was a stealthy price INCREASE by shifting hardware costs to Draconian AT&T service plans. Reality Distortion Field Engage, indeed. :-)

Power Blackberry (8800) and iPod (4 of them, 2-20 GB, 1-30GB, and 1-80GB) USER. I have said from day one and will continue to iterate that I don't care how much bigger and heavier a 32GB or, more likely, 64GB 3G iPhone costs, I'll pay it. Further, it won't be heavier or bigger that the two items riding separately in my pocket. Until then no more $$ for Apple from me!

Good heavens! A dinner for four or five at a really good restaurant can cost you $199. I spend an average of $15 a day on gasoline. Believe it or not, we are looking at something that has already changed the way the world will communicate and access data just as Apple has changed the computer world with their GUI. There is plenty that I want Apple to add, and probably they will. My first iPhone has more than paid for itself. I will certainly buy the next version, and the next, and the next. I am confident that they will enhance my income, and certainly my pleasure in using this device as the 21st Century unfolds.

Frankly, the lack of copy and paste is what is stopping me from making a major investment in iPhone. I've been using PDAs for over a decade now, and I find the fundamental PIM features in the iPhone lacking. Now, I am already an AT&T customer, it's not that I object to that carrier... I just majorly object to being unable to "vote with my feet" if that carrier is not performing to my liking.

Looking forward to getting my first cell phone.

This phone is one of three mobile phones use as a work tool.

The iphone is my mobile internet platform -- when I can get a signal.

As I travel around the U.S.A, I've found AT&T has the most horrible signal availability.

Between my T-mobile, Motorola Razr and Verizon VX980 I can get a signal almost anywhere in the U.S.A and talk for hours with excellent battery-life between those two phones.

For dial-up modem and data transmission from my laptop, the T-mobile Razr delivers every time.

The fact that I read the 3G iphone has no feature by which I can email photos via SMS where the recipient does not have access to email and that there appears to be no improvement in battery-life and speaker volume is amazing.

Add to that, that there is no Cut and Paste feature (a really functional tool in web browsing and email), this new lipstick glossed 3G is a dud in my mind.

I wish Apple would get there head out of there mashed potato's and create something functional as opposed to just wiz-bang, new.

The only thing this iphone offers is a lower cost.

DW

Well, I have to say that overall I am happy with my Iphone, which I purchased a year ago. I was considering buying the new one, with the hopes that it would have the ability to send pictures through text. That may not seem like a very important feature to many people, but I had it on an old LG phone and got so used to it, that it is now sorely missed. I'm not sure why Apple would choose to leave out such a basic feature. Disappointing. I suppose I will wait and see if they add it next year...

I had the iPhone first generation. It was sleek and pretty, but lacking some basics. Still, I did love the attention it got me everywhere I took it out. I got drunk one night and . . . let's just say it spent the night in my hotel toilet. ($400, down the drain lol).

At that time, I had iPhone and paid additional $60/month for an extra laptop card BECAUSE IPHONE CANT TEATHER!!!!

When my iphone fell in the bowl, I went and got the Tilt. Nice phone. . kinda bulky, but runs circles around iPhone when u compare what they can do. The Tilt can tether . . .so I was able to save 60/month and cancel the plan for the laptop card

Now, I had hopes for iPhone G3 . . but, alas . . At&T put the KABASH on the iPhone . . and will not allow tethering . . thats sucks.

The Tilt is nice . .but clumsy and bulky. I miss the ease and friendly face of the iPhone. I was all set to get one today (july 11th) . .but . . I cant bring myself to add on the laptop card plan again . . . .