@Jordan:

When someone comes up with a good idea, they deserve to profit from it if they choose to. Without that, there would be no incentive to invest in R&D and invent new things. Some people choose to allow others to use their ideas, but nobody should be forced to do that. I'm all for discussing alternatives to the patent system if you feel it's flawed – as long as it still protects inventors' ideas and investors' money.

As for Apple patenting everything under the sun, I'd be curious to see how often other companies patent ideas. Is Apple really patenting substantially more, or does an Apple patent just get more coverage? Regardless though, if you come up with an idea, it's your right to decide what to do with it. If you decide to do nothing for years or the entire life of the patent, that's your right, too.

@ d00b:

"The #1 reason why people want a smartphone is for web access anywhere. Web browsing is key. Music/movie consumption, while important, is secondary, if for nothing else than the smartphone's small screen and its limited battery life. Ditto for games; there are already dedicated game devices that are better suited for the task, and have much more content."

I agree that web is important (never said entertainment was more important), but the iPhone offers a good web experience. Most smartphone contenders actually do, so web access isn't much of a differentiating factor any more. Also, entertainment is also important because of the iPod touch, which people DO buy for entertainment. Developers who write for iPod touch also write for iPhone, offering a much larger consumer pool. If Apple can fix the review process mess (which I sincerely hope they can), it's an unbeatable combination.

"With Android, IHVs can make any device they want."

Sure they can, but do people want to carry multiple devices? I don't. Again, if Apple can fix the App Store approval process, I think accessories transform communications devices to life management devices.

"Android still has its growing pains. Give it a year, and see if that Mac-vs-PC history isn't going to be relived."

iPhone also has growing pains, particularly with the App Store; however, I don't think it will be over in a year.

@ d00b:

"I also don't agree with his premise, that entertainment is the make-or-break factor for smartphones. This shortchanges the potential of smartphones to be a handheld PC, augmented by external peripherals such as monitor & base station (accessed by RDP), to do real computing work. This is just the tip of the iceberg in the next PC form factor."

First, I'd argue that entertainment is a very, very important element in the smartphone ecosystem because it's very, very important in the PC ecosystem. I think you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn't use their own computer (not their employer's) to entertain in at least some capacity, and many Windows users cite Mac OS X's small selection of games as a reason they don't consider the platform.

Second, I don't think a device's ability to entertain affects its ability to be used productively as well. I have several productivity apps that I use daily or almost-daily on my iPhone (budgeting, maps, train schedules, Mail, nutrition management) in addition to those I use for entertainment. iPhone already offers developers the opportunity to integrate other devices (medical equipment, telescopes, GPS car kits), so there's definitely the opportunity to include the other peripherals you mentioned if the market shows a significant enough demand for them.

"The rate of hardware vendors adopting Android, the fast pace of improvement with Android, and the enthusiasm of the tech community for Android toys are all indicative of Android's momentum."

Only pace of development is likely to indicate anything concrete about momentum; I don't think hardware manufacturer adoption or tech community enthusiasm are necessarily indicative of anything. Many hardware manufacturers adopted Windows Mobile, and it has relatively little momentum. Also, the tech community generally looks for different things in devices than most consumers do, so the community's feelings may or may not translate into mainstream adoption. For example, most people probably aren't aware of the app approval issues on the App Store, and even those that are aware probably don't care all that much as long as they can find decent apps that do what they want.

I have been thinking about this recently and have come to the conclusion that the problem is that iTunes is the EXCLUSIVE way applications are installed on the platforms. The resolution to this problem would be two levels of review from Apple: one that certifies that it will not impact the integrity of the phone and a second for availability on the iTunes Store. Apps not approved for iTunes could be downloaded and installed from the web. This solution removes the subjective content evaluation problem.

Your local grocery store chooses not to stock Juggs in its magazine section because it doesn't want the content associated with their brand; Apple's position on objectionable content would be no different if there were other ways to get apps onto the hardware. It would also speed up the review process because some apps would only need to go through the first part of the process (integrity/security check). It also allows developers whose apps are in limbo (this week's political cartoon app, for example) to get their app out there quickly while the content issues are addressed.

I appreciate Apple's desire to keep the platform stable and secure, but I don't need them to be my mommy.

@ N900:

As a Mac and an iPhone user, I've always thought one of the biggest contradictions were Apple users who dismiss the idea that Windows is superior because it has more available software than OS X in one breath, then turn around and say the iPhone is better because it has more apps. They invalidate their own argument while simultaneously missing the point – quality over quantity – entirely.

@ David Austin:

You either don't have WiFi access for your iPod touch, or you aren't aware of the App Store application (which I find surprising since it's on the first page of apps). You can use the on-device app to download and install apps OR you can download through iTunes. Wherever you buy it, it syncs across both. I can't speak to the Pre experience, but based on your description, iPod touch and iPhone can do the same thing. I don't know if the Pre has any way of downloading on the computer.

@RioRyan:

I don't see it as much an ad for the iPhone as it is an endorsement of Apple's approach to the smartphone market. When you remove the issues regarding the App Store review process (a whole other discussion), Apple has done a great many things right with the iPhone platform.

@ WindowsFTW: I used to think that a smaller screen bezel was better, but I actually think a little extra bezel helps with cases, especially on phones that have virtual keyboards. If the edge of the screen is too close to the case, it can make letters on the edges of the keyboard difficult to hit.

I've always thought the iPod touch update charge was ridiculous as well, but I do work regularly with people in the financial community and the explanation made sense. Now I guess we will see whether this explanation was just an excuse for Apple to charge.

@ avenge: well, if it's a hardware issue, blame the manufacturer. if it's a software issue, blame microsoft.