[maclia]

Apple's website lists what's "in the box." (http://www.apple.com/iphone/specs.html)
What on earth is the SIM ejector tool? A fancy paperclip???

[DonSmith]

U-connect in my 2007 Dodge Caliber takes care of voice dialing through my current iPhone sitting on my hip. Yes, I have to create the contacts for the U-Connect system, but once that's done, I have a happy hands-free dialing and talking experience on the road.

[TowerTone]

I imagine the plastic back was needed for more sensitivity to satellite reception. Also, as far as map info, that might be one of the advantages to MobileMe, to keep all those detailed maps online until they are needed for a specific area. Just guessing.
Now I have to find out what the process is to give an iPhone with a year left on the contract to someone (daughter) to be able to get another.

[Bill_Farmer]

Of all the things in the iphone box, the "SIM Ejector" was the most entertaining. I could imagine the meetings where there was in-depth discussion of what tool should be designed to eject the SIM card and some engineer saying "Well, I just use a paper clip and it works all the time" and thus we get a paper clip in a small plastic envelope with all 6 million phones. Kind of amusing.

[flosofl]

But, it's not just any old paper clip. It's a pre-bent paperclip. That's where the genius comes in. :)

[doglesby]

Please describe your vehicle so the rest of us can stay the hell away from you.

You don't seriously expect to ever see external storage on an iPhone, do you?

[doglesby]

W_Loring said:

Hands-free dialing IS safer than hand-dialing a phone, but not talking on the phone while driving is safer than both. Not reading, applying makeup, shaving, eating, drinking, listening to music or talking to passengers is also safer. It's all a matter of degree.

Is it too much to ask that you not eat, drink, apply makeup, shave, or talk on the cell phone while driving? These are very risky activities. Listening to music and talking to passengers are much less risky. Obviously it's a matter of degree. Not driving would be safest.

[doglesby]

flosofl said:

But, it's not just any old paper clip. It's a pre-bent paperclip. That's where the genius comes in. :)

Actually, I read a report from someone who received a replacement iPhone. Before he opened it, he dug up a paperclip only to find one in the box. His comment was something to the effect of "they could have at least un-bent it for me."

[luckylindy]

I was SO hoping they would also include--for $399?--a 32GB iPhone. Seems they missed this one in the v.1 iPhone (even though the Touch has one.) Any comments from you/Apple on that?

[montgomery_burns]

Does the GPS transmit your current location, allowing other people besides emergency services to know where you are? If so, this could raise privacy issues.

[fithian]

It was a $500 option (each) in my wife's Audi and my BMW to allow voice calling and hands free bluetooth operation for our iPhones. It is still distracting and it is better to turn off wifi on the phone for bluetooth to function properly. New BMW's will have in car internet access available, but not while the car is moving. That will be interesting.

[rhambrecht]

Are we going to get stereo bluetooth this time ?

[iestynx]

All I want to know if they will allow the iPhone (v1) to connect via bluetooth to a third party GPS receiver to allow all of us sticking with our original iphones to get a piece of the action.

[Jason Snell]

@djejrejk: The apple on the back is silver in color. (But plastic.)
@hungryjoe: The white backing is really white and really shiny. The question is, how will it hold up under use?
@MacWizard: Agreed completely that hands-free dialing (and, quite frankly, much better Bluetooth support) should be standard, and they apparently are not. Quite disappointing.
@doglesby: That's called a compound adjective. :-)
@MCiPhone: The back looks like it's gonna scratch, yes. I would probably stick some kind of scratch protection on it.
@macFanDave: Weight may have been a factor in switching to a plastic back, but don't forget the other big factor: reception. Metal looks slick, but it also shields radio transmissions. That's bad in a phone that needs to send/receive cell, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS.
@hayesk: I generally agree with you that talking on cell phones while driving can be a serious distraction. Still, hands-free is the law, and it would help if Apple aided people in complying with the law.
@maclia: Yes, I expect that the SIM ejector tool is just a little stick, like an unfolded paper clip. At least they're not selling it as a $19 accessory!
@rhambrecht: What they told us was that Bluetooth hadn't changed at all in the phone. Disappointing.