A physical button is probably one of the most important features on a Touch Screen player. There NEED to be easy access to volume on these players. Everyone had those instants where you start listening to your music and it blasts your ear. Prio to Touch Screen players, we had no problem quickly turning down the volume with physical buttons. You shouldn't have to push a fake volume rocker that bring up onscreen menu to do so. Apple made a mistake with the first gen iPod Touch and heard about it from its users.

@ Emblazin

Not sure if you're helping the others by saying the first gen iPod Touch also did not have such and such back in (2007). This been repeated so often with the Zune brand. Usually companies try to compete with what's out in 2009/10 not 2007, except Microsoft it seems.

@ DC Mike

The App Store is only a year and few months old, it still have ways to go, bugs to iron out, and trash to throw out just like any other new fast growing business or venture. But the idea and goal for Apple here is to generate buzz, pull in more developers, strengthen the ecosystem and brand, and build a significant lead on its competition. If the number were 400,000 Apps sold, they would take it in order to do so. Again no difference from what they did with iTunes and iPods and look at there market lead today. They cut the number in half now, they piss off developers who would only run and help other platforms grow even faster. Hate them or love them, those 'useless Apps' is playing a significant part in generating buzz for the store.

@ DC Mike

The App Store is only a year and few months old, it still have ways to go, bugs to iron out, and trash to throw out just like any other new fast growing business or venture. But the idea and goal for Apple here is to generate buzz, pull in more developers, strengthen the ecosystem and brand, and build a significant lead on its competition. If the number were 400,000 Apps sold, they would take it in order to do so. Again no difference from what they did with iTunes and iPods and look at there market lead today. They cut the number in half now, they piss off developers who would only run and help other platforms grow even faster.

@ DC Mike

"The idea to market the App Store based on total app #s is marketing BS. I seriously believe that an App Store can be half that size and still have just as much meaningful content."

Maybe you don't know enough about marketing there Mike. This is no different from what Apple did with iPod sales and iTunes sales early on celebrating the numbers sold, generating buzz to bring in more accessory makers, more content providers etc etc. all while strengthening their ecosystem. Developers follow the buzz and the $$

btw I have over 100 Apps installed on my PC, but I mainly use 5 on a daily basses.

While many like to make fun of the many useless Apps found in the store (useless to you, may not be other others). What they can't make fun of is Apple's strategy of building excitement for developers and users alike, while at the same time strengthening their ecosystem and running away with the market. Microsoft knows all to well how this works:

Developers! Developers! Developers!

That didn't take long...

Key word there is "concept"

As I scratch my head, I am wondering what's generating so much excitement for this phone? Is it because I am not a 'super geek', I don't get it? Looks like most of the features I see can be had on other platforms. The UI is not that unique, the design is no different from any other we've seen for years, it lags which is annoying, has physical keyboards but it sounds like that already needs revamping....

Happy to see Moto is trying to stay relevant but call me confused about the buzz...

I'm not your guy, buddy!.....Oh wait!