Initial impression is that this looks great.  When I used to provide first line IT support at my previous job I always wondered why businesses had the monopoly on ‘cloud computing’ and ‘hot-desking’.   By the way, expect Apple to be hitting home hard the concept of cloud computing.  You can tell by their branding of MobileMe just how important the cloud concept is.  

Being essentially a single device, single location user at present I have no real need for MobileMe.  But I am a mobile guy.  I am also hoping to get an iPhone and I am known to borrow my mate’s iMac or iBook.  I also have early-adopter pangs (though a little self control can help you get cooler products at cheaper prices) to deal with. So who knows, maybe I’ll be providing a review of the service … check back in 6 weeks.

So having watched the Keynote (GEEK!) and briefly skimmed through some stories dugg about the iPhone 3G I thought that I would add my initial impressions to the mix:

1. No MMS: I think this is more about Apple wanting to shape the way usera treat images on mobile devices rather than cutting corners.  They want you to use Mobile Me, flickr, email etc.  They want to strengthen the concept of it being a mobile internet device rather than just a phone.
2. Glossy plastic back: we all wanted it be cheaper.
3. Tapered: anything to make it appear smaller… just like the Macbook Air.
4. Colours: decent chance of a Product RED version in time for Christmas (that said the Touch still only comes in black, and the classic hasn’t gone RED either).  This isn’t a NANO so don’t expect it to come in pastel cyan or pink.
5. 3G: will be always on unless you dig a few layers into the settings… so that battery life better be as good as they say.  Twice as fast (compared to EDGE) on page loads and attachment downloading… sweet! Faster than 3G competitors Nokia N95 and Treo.
6. Battery life: see previous note.
7. GPS: is actually A-GPS. And will allow tracking and geo-tagging a.k.a. Stalker’s Delight.
8. Camera: Oh dear.  Why improve the camera resolution or lens?  Where’s the front camera?
9. Video calls: Again, where’s the front camera?!  Though to be honest I’m still not planning to take up video calling and will leave it to all the Live Sex Chat sites that spam the internet.
10. Display: still the best out there on a phone.
11. Minijack: 3mm flush stereo headphone minijack - use any headphone you like, no adaptors!
12. App Store: I’m excited about the quality of 3rd party apps and ease of installation that will be available to iPhone users.  Some great medical profession apps on display: MIMvista, epocrates and Modality
13. Games: Sega played a demo of Monkey Ball on the iPhone where you use the accelerometer/tilt of the iPhone as well as the touch to weave your way through the 3D mazes.
14. Capacity: 8Gb or 16Gb.  Still enough for me, though I can see people crossing their fingers for a 32Gb version in time for Christmas.
15. Pricing: Price capped globally at $199 for the 8Gb version, thats half the price.  Even better O2 have announced that you will be able to get either the 8Gb or 16Gb device free on higher tariff plans.  But for people like me, they have introduced a new baseline option of £30 per month, with the 8Gb iPhone only costing £99. 

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Spiced Chargrilled Mango

• Dust mango slices with brown sugar and cinnamon.
• Place on the hot barbecue.
• Cook until they start to caramelise on both sides.
• Serve with vanilla icecream.