For iPhone mania? to end?

Yes, we’re just 20 hours or so away from the debut of the iPhone, and an end - or at least a decrease - in the round the clock coverage that the phone has been getting.

I just don’t see the iPhone selling out like the PS3, Wii or XBox 360. I mean, people are camping out already, but really, it’s a lot harder to go out and buy a cellphone that people think. I say chill out a bit and visit the Apple store this weekend. Don’t get mixed up in the fray on Friday with the Apple fanboys.

Plus there are 3 million iPhones available at launch. If you can’t get it on Friday, you can order it online or at an Apple store for delivery within a week or so.

There has been some good news that has emerged in recent days:

• The iPhone will integrate with Outlook for calendar and contact synchronization.
• Users don’t have to wait in the apple store for activation - you active the iPhone at home. Thank god.
• You can check the availability of the iPhone in different stores here, so you don’t have to spend hours camping out in like like an asshole.
• Battery life is respectable. the NY Times reports that the battery will last through a day or more of average use.
• Possibly some support for Exchange?

But then again, there’s the bad:

• No stereo Bluetooth. WTF?! For a super modern world changing phone, it’s surely missing some very basic features.
• No custom ringtones. Again, WTF?! AT&T could have made billions selling ringtones of steve jobs reading excerpts of Apple’s 10-K.
• Plans starting at $60. This is kind of meh - not horrible, but you will be paying a lot per month for this thing.
• The keyboard sounds pretty shitty.
• No cutting, coping or pasting. What’s going on there Jobs? Forget those features along with the right button?
• No instant messaging.
• No Flash and no Video. That’s why they made such a big deal about YouTube support.
• The battery, as is Apple’s normal policy, is unremovable. So in two years, you’ll have to take your iPhone in to have the battery replaced. Or more likely, buy version 2 of the iPhone.

It’s a tough call. I mean, the thing looks f’ing nice for sure. And the interface is unbeatable. But no third party apps? No video? EDGE only? sigh. It’s a tough call.

All in all though, it’s impressive that Apple got the iPhone out in June (cutting it close) to being with. And all things being equal, there’s nothing like it available today. Jobsy bet the company on this one. I don’t think it’ll be a run away success, but there are enough Apple lovers out there to support such a risky investment.

In any case, after the news dies down on friday night, we’re bound to see reports of iPhone problems, crashes, bugs etc. And lots, and lots of broken iPhone screens.

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