That update sounds good, have to check it out. Will be nice to customise the main menu.
I've owned an iPhone now for a few months and I have to say I love it.
Not much of a Mac fan. Never liked the cult-like aspects of the Mac but I have to say they nailed it with this one. At least for some market segments.
It's great for me because I don't use my phone that much and mostly rely on email communications for work. The iPhone kills both those birds for me. Of course there are phones that will do that as well, and I checked those out too. Not only did I find their UI clunky but with additional data plans they were actually more expensive than the iPhone, plus required purchased apps which the iPhone does not. I imagine that will change when 3rd party apps come out.
As a freelance graphic artist the iPhone is a great thing. The iPhone serves as a portable portfolio for me. When a potential client asks about my work I can actually show him samples right there through the picture feature. It doesn't hurt that the client is also facinated by the iPhone as I'm showing him my work.
In addition to sincing with my already owned iTunes library due to my earlier iPod purchase I use it constantly to web surf. I used to be tied to my desk practically all day during business hours. Now I don't even have to get out of bed to check my email and run through my morning surf. If nothing's going on I often don't even go to my office and am free to do other things.
I use my iPhone much more for surfing, email and image features than I use it's phone features. So for me, it's a win win. And all for only about 20 bucks a month more than what my wife and I payed with our mutual phone plan under Verizon with no data.
I've had no problem sincing with my PC and it downloads my outlook calendar, email, internet bookmarks, and sincs with my music choices on iTunes seamlessly once you figure it out. I use the note feature constantly to send email reminders to myself.
Downsides.
1. Battery: Cannot be replaced by user and there is a fee.
2. A little buggy: Being more sophistated software-wise and new has it's disadvantages. I'm not sure how this stacks up against other Windows based data phones since I've never owned one. But given Windows quality I think I can guess. So far it seems to be browser (Safari) issues (crashing, lock-up, link breaks. The iPhone software and firmware itself I haven't had a problem with).
3. Non customizable interface: (At least until the patch. I'll let you know how "customizable", customizable is. Sometimes with Macs that means, not very)
4. No self-made custom ringtones: Custom ringtones only through limited iTunes snips for .99c (Not a biggie and I HATE music ringtones, it does come with a better than usual array of pre-available ringtones. I use crickets myself)
5. Battery-Life: It goes through charges fairly quickly. I get about two days of use before recharge. I'm sure that really nice screen doesn't help battery life. If I've got to choose between the really nice screen and battery life, I'll take the screen.
6. Must use AT&T: I think this will change after the exclusivity contract expires. While I'd like to shop competing plans, I'm getting better reception with AT&T than I did with Verizon, so it's been a plus for me.
7. Edge Network: Your default AT&T wireless network. Slow and somewhat flaky but pretty reliable overall. iPhone will also sinc with other wireless networks and it really hums at the local coffee shop.
The big plus for me. Three things.
Interface. Interface. Interface.
Last night, a not so tech savvy friend asked me to help him with something on his cell phone. Even after two months, I stared at the interface like it was a model T Ford. The iPhone is wonderfully intuitive and well designed. It puts other data phones to shame in interface even if the other data phone is more flexible and has more available functions. Even after 3 months it is a joy to use. Which I could never say about any previous cell-phone I've had which any time using the interface makes me want to hurl the thing against the nearest brick wall.
Of course, designing interfaces might have something to do with my appreciation of the iPhone. Finally a product who's interface is designed by actual, real, interface designers rather than just some programmer or worse, an engineer.