Analysis:
1) Many hardware vendors, such as Samsung, Toshiba and Sharp, all of whom did or do manufacturer their own LCD panels also produce their own laptops and TVs, despite the fact they also license or sell their LCD panels to competitors. By producing their own laptops and/or TVs, they are providing an excellent showcase for their technology. Hence, Samsung and LG both sell to Apple. So, if Google would like to show what can really be done with all their know how, ideas and user data, a GPHONE will make perfect sense if they are to inspire and attract more manufactuers.
2) Like Apple with the Mac and iPhone, if you 'control' the backend technology and data (in Google's case, gMail, Docs, Picasa etc) and also control the hardware, you can design and engineer a better experience for your end users - who to be frank, don't care about the business arrangements behind a product - they just want something that works well with minimal hassle. To date, IMHO, with the exception of the under hyped HTC Tatoo (cute and very usable) and the well hyped Motorola DROID, there are few Android devices to make one sit up and take notice.
Evidence? The Nokia N900 has more comments on GSMArena than just about any phone, and it's not even on the market yet!

Let Google loose, bring on the GPHONE!

iRings?

Having lived in the USA for 10 years and observed the comments made by Engadget writers, it is obvious that there is a major difference between the European and American perception of style. Even today, US mobile phones (such as the push to talk models) are ugly and lack any finesse in design (iPhone excepted), their cars are appallingly constructed and lack the style of French, Italian or British models - possibly why their makers are collapsing into chapter 11? And here we have a fantastic example of very non Japanese industrial design from Yahama - and Engadget call it ugly! If this is ugly, then what is sexy? As it happens, Yamaha have consistently produced some very pleasing and 'timeless' designs - very different from the me to products of most Japanese AV firms.

Docking system looks like the one on my conceptual (Apple) tablet:

http://visionaforethought.wordpress.com/2009/08/23/if-apple-dont-launch-a-tablet-equal-or-better-than-this/

(Mine lacks finesse, being conceptual only of course.)

Write on Stevie!

The brilliance of this ad is lost to the dumb the wrong side of the Atlantic who just 'don't get it'. Too much dumbed down reality TV in your lives? Sad.

Kind of makes one feel embarassed to own (or in my case, consider owning) an iPhone. Brilliant ads. Last one is not really bashing the iPhone, but more any fashion phone with those blingy extras.

Ah, the 8210, lovely and small - and you could use the infra red to tether to a PowerBook! That was when Orange (UK) offered:

1. Replacement insurance on every phone (I went through about six 8210s). A guy on a motorbike would turnup with a box and a new phone. Simply gave him the old one.

2. No knobling of the OS to make tethering harder.

Ah, way back then...

2001 to be exact.

:)

In defense of Dr. Cooper, although I cannot prove it (I was not at the conference) I am convinced he is being misquoted. He may well be referring to the fact most phones are too fiddly for the elderly and/or those with poor eye sight. And he is right. And he has already done something about it. Google 'Jitterbug'.
a) Every device uses a different operating paradigm to others (consider Android - every phone has it's own UI!), so the minute you switch devices, you have to learn all over. And if we can leave being rude to them aside, people in their prime of life find it harder to re-learn any process. Consider your own relatives.
b) Performing even basic functions on most phones requires several steps and the only reason young people manage is because they learn the process out of pure desperate need to communicate. (Sending a text message from a Samsung used to be a multistep nightmare! It's taken them years to simplify the process.) Wait until you're 40+ and you'll find learning hard - your brain will be occupied with all the 'baggage' of life, just as one collects more physical stuff with age. But you'll be wiser. :)
c) The VCR is an example of how complex tech put people off. The VCR did not succeed because it allowed us to record TV programs, it succeeded because of the rental market. 1. Insert cassette. 2. Hit PLAY. 3. Watch! On the other hand, could you change the clock from a flashing 12:00 in order to use the machine to record a program? If so, you were in the minority. And the DVR was born.
d) Now, with regards to all in one devices, with the exception of the Pre, Dr. Cooper is correct here too. They do not yet tightly integrate the experience or offer the instantaneous ease of use of separate devices. Phone camera shutter releases are often tiny little buttons with little tactile feedback, and then, the shutter release is 3 or 4 times slower to activate than a stand alone camera. This makes 'Kodak' moments difficult to capture - such as Grand kids looking cute. Music players and radios are often burried in a layer of icons or folders. (The Sony Ericsson K800i - best phone ever made? - has a PLAY button hidden on the top left - something few probably notice, but it is very useful for starting the radio or music player. Only downside is the button is a bit small, but it makes a difference. These little things count!) Apple dealt nicely with this issue on the iPhone/iPod Touch by upgrading the OS such that double clicking the (only) button brings up a mini playback control. BACK - PLAY/PAUSE - NEXT. Next issue for them to tackle is the camera.

LightPeak all the way please. Let's get moving and spend less time fiddling with our cables and more time being productivity.

How many man hours lost to waiting for yet another DVI-X to connector Y adapter? Etc.