Looking forward to the next generation - but for now let’s not call it a “new class of device”

After the initial rage from Apple fan boys let’s take a step back and look at the big picture… this is only the beginning… the web’s resident internet visionary Stephen Fry has thought it through…

“I know there will be many who have already taken one look and pronounced it to be nothing but a large iPhone and something of a disappointment. I have heard these voices before. In June 2007 when the iPhone was launched I collected a long list of “not impressed”, “meh”, “big deal”, “style over substance”, “it’s all hype”, “my HTC TyTN can do more”, “what a disappointment”, “majorly underwhelmed” and similar reactions. They can hug to themselves the excuse that the first release of iPhone was 2G, closed to developers and without GPS, cut and paste and many other features that have since been incorporated. Neither they, nor I, nor anyone, predicted the “game-changing” effect the phone would so rapidly have as it evolved into a 3G, third-party app rich, compass and GPS enabled market leader. Even if it had proved a commercial and business disaster instead of an astounding success, iPhone would remain the most significant release of its generation because of its effect on the smartphone habitat.” Read More

When developers start demanding multi-tasking, wireless syncing/integration with Mac OSX computers and pro applications, we will see a device that will be useful, convenient and soon we will not be able to live without.

So let’s all take a chill pill, sit back and wait for the 2nd generation. Unless you’re a freelance/small developer, then it’s worth getting into this now, while they fix it. As we learnt with the iPhone the early app developer catches the audience.