Most of the modifications and improvements to Apple's iPhone device were fairly predictable. A change in color options, slimmer design, cheaper list price, with a better web interface and more importantly 3G and GPS capabilities.
The price coming down has to be a temptation for those sitting by and waiting to get a new SmartPhone. The new basic iPhone 8GB model will retail for $199 with the 16GB version coming in at $299.
iPhone 2.0 will finally allow users the ability to interface with Microsoft's Exchange program so that they can converge all their contacts and email. These things are all well and good, but the big strategic shift I think has nothing to do with added bells and whistles, or design excellence. The important shift is that Apple is really trying to encourage third party developers to come up with new products that will excel on the iPhone. Apple is really serious, in fact they are offering 70% of the profits to all third-party developers as an incentive.
This represents a slight shift in company strategy, not too long ago Apple would develop it's own systems and applications, but in order to continue taking chunks out of RIM's Blackberry pie this could be the answer and the smartest iPhone evolution to come out of the Worldwide Developer Conference in San Francisco.
U.K. developer Mark Terry garnered the biggest reaction from the packed auditorium yesterday when he showed how you could transform your iPhone into a musical instrument. The software application he's developed is called Band. I thought it was amusing and a tad ironic that he chose the distinctive bass line from Pink Floyd's "Money" from the album "Dark side of the Moon" to show off his ingenious non-business application. The app also has a touch screen piano, and a basic 12-bar blues riff with drums that allows you to play lead guitar. Both the iPhone 2.0 and Band should be available in a couple of weeks.
Who knows, perhaps one day the iPhone v9.0 will make the tea and take the dog for a walk! Time for Mac geeks everywhere to make a stash and start lining up outside the stores, but it's no surprise that they are giving none away, away, away.