And the Big News at Macworld is … the iPhone (w Pics)

By Michael Santo
Executive Editor, RealTechNews

Before I say that, it’s interesting how excited people were that he was wearing his turtleneck again. At any rate …

Quote from Steve Jobs: “Well today, we’re introducing THREE revolutionary new products. The first one is a widescreen ipod with touch controls. The second is a revolutionary new mobile phone. And the third is a breakthrough internet communications device. An iPod, a phone, an internet mobile communicator. An iPod, a phone, an internet mobile communicator…. these are NOT three separate devices! And we are calling it iPhone!”

Additional details are that the phone will run OS X. There will be no keyboard. Jobs made a point of how hard keyboards are static and cannot be changed. Thus, the iPhone will use a full screen and a system called Multi-Touch. 2 megapixel camera, SIM tray (leans toward Cingular as I previously posted, eh), microphone input.

MORE PHOTOS HERE —>

Proximity sensor will detect when you bring it to your ear and shut down the screen and touch sensor. Quad- band, no 3G though, only EDGE. 8GB of storage, though, but don’t know how much is free.

Jobs also announced that Yahoo! will be offering push-email (IMAP) free to iPhone customers. Finally, pricing: $499 for 4GB and $599 for 8GB. It will not ship until June and (as I said previously), Cingular will be the carrier.

Photos: Engadget and Gizmodo

We Say: Don’t know how they are going to call it iPhone unless they made a deal with Linksys since they own that trademark. I’m also not sure about no keyboard. It’s easy to dial by feel with a real keyboard, but without one? Will they simulate the feel? Voice dialing will work for most, but the lack of static keyboard says no enterprise users.

Alice Update: Have to say though, this is one nice looking phone. But as with all Mac products, where oh where is the OFF switch!?
See Official Apple iPhone Product Page

Update: Cisco is waiting for Apple to sign final paperwork over the iPhone trademark. And … it’s no longer Apple Computer. It’s Apple, Inc.