Just curious. Being none of us have actually played with the thing, is possible that its hackable, like the AppleTV is? Although I suspect besides voiding the warranty it might violate the contract AT&T. Any thoughts?

Despite the wonderful avenue these posts allow for venting/arguing/defending, I'm surprised no one has further speculated on the reasons behind at first saying "no apps. allowed" to "mobile apps. for now." I personally see it as a baby-step process. If things go well with the system of apple getting the big stamp of approval on their app. before Apple lets them post it, I could see it moving beyond web apps. when there's no real outcry against censorship. Plus, you know they're going to work against "hacking" the device, so they want time to develop all of those safe guards.

If the product takes off like everyone says, it could be like the iPod: our software, our store, our rules, and the vast majority of people are happy. Because they put up with it for the media features, (not just internet access, etc.) people could have a happy surprise if and when it opens up to do more. Of course, the iPod is still primarily a closed system.

Perhaps in 5 years, you won't see any more simple media devices from apple like the iPod, but rather a focus on these all-in-ones. Once solid-state memory becomes more of a reality, there would be much more space available at a cheaper rate, and it would only make sense to get an all-in-one package.

As much as people whine and complain about a little product not being everything they've drooled over, it's got possibility and room to grow. The market is there for all-in-one devices, and when components and data plans get cheaper, the client base and demographic could widen out substantially. Hell, I'd buy an iPhone to replace my aging 2nd and 3rd Gen iPod if I didn't have to pay for the data service.

My desire would be to skip the internet, email, and IM and just give me a phone with all the media that you don't need a network to say the magic words to port it over (curse you Verizon!) There are plenty of people out there who have the phone, the camera, and the iPod in their bag/purse/pocket that don't need access to the web all the time. Since Apple came out with dumbed down version of the iPod once it got hot (mini,nano,shuffle) that might be a possibility in this case to if there's an obvious demand and apple has the ability.

Hell, I'd even hold out for just the widescreen iPod.

And the main reason I chose the Treo 650 was access to third party applications. Those who don't want third party apps are under no requirement to use them. But by not making it even possible, those who want them will not be able to get them.

-rob.