Putting in a Wi-Fi chip costs money, takes up space, uses up engineering and QA resources and doesn’t seem to actually let you use it for something like Skype – i.e. you’re putting in Wi-Fi instead of 3G to get marginally faster internet access with marginally spotty coverage. There’s lots of things they could have put into the iPhone instead of Wi-Fi that would actually make any sort of sense – handwriting recognition, 3G, GPS, a decent API, hell even an HDTV out port or something like that.
I can understand Apple’s logic – they want people to be able to use the iTunes store online for instant gratification. On EDGE I have to wait a few minutes for a song to download, but with WiFi you could do this instantly if you’re near a hot spot, and that’s a pretty big if.
The good news is that the IPhone will definitely create competition. The bad news is if Apple and Co. knew this they would have created mini IPhone. Wait… mini-IPod. Maybe they’ve had it planned all along.
Really, the thing is user inferface. For example, how you organize things are unique. Customizing is the key. If the darn little devices could know the primary way you communicate (say, Shroud is available for contact, press OK)
The best thing would be user input. You text where you are (at the movies) and then everyone will know that you are unavailable. Ahh, I said to much. That’s sounds like a great idea and I don’t want Apple or anyone to steal it.