The Apple craze was ignited once more since the launch of the iPhone 3G. People waiting in line to spend money, while signing ludicrously expensive carrier contracts, makes me wonder if all this folly is justifiable, sometimes. While 3G and GPS may be interesting enough, the revelation of the iPhone as a platform turns out to be the true point of excitement.

As expected, the usual craze started after the latest installment of the Apple iPhone was officially launched. Immense queues started lining up in front of Apple Stores while people went berserk to get their hands on this piece of gadgetry. One may wonder: “Is it all worth it?”. Since I don’t own an iPhone 3G, I’ll leave the review up to the pros, whom are spread thickly over the net. This Google search should get you going in case you’re the type to research a big investment as such before you buy.

So now the tech orgasm is over, I suggest the tech community shifts its binoculars elsewhere and moves on. As for my rant, there is one more thing*…

The AppStore

appstore_iconLike many who didn’t make the leap for the iPhone, I do own a first-gen iPod Touch. And since Apple does account for the iPod Touch differently**, we Touch users had to pay for our software upgrade [again]. In my part of the world, Apple charges €8 for the update, which miraculously included the January software upgrade too (€14).

Those 8 euros (or 9.95 USD) bring you up to speed with the latest iPhone 3G software. In a nutshell, the new features with this release includes:

  • Microsoft Exchange/ActiveSync stuff (e-mail, calendaring, MobileMe)
  • A scientific calculator (uhuh)
  • Other minor improvements
  • The AppStore

When you think about it, with the latter, Apple makes you pay for software that will make you pay for more software (a lot of the apps are free, though). That set aside, it’s important to note that the iPhone/iPod Touch having become a platform will change the way we look at handheld devices/phones. The iPhone/iPod Touch has turned into a miniature computer. Other manufacturers are bound to follow Apple’s lead (if they haven’t already).

App Reviews Coming Soon

I’ve already been playing with a few notable [free] apps (like Evernote and Cube Runner [Game]) and will be reviewing some on this site soon. For the record: despite me being fed up with all the Apple coverage, I am excited about third party applications on my favorite handheld media player.

* see Stevenote
** reference to a previous Jobs keynote