Apple iPhone Review by CNET

CNET editors' take

Heads exploded around the tech world today after Apple CEO Steve Jobs finally announced the long-awaited Apple iPhone during his Macworld 2007 keynote in San Francisco.

The iPhone, as Jobs proudly dubbed the device to thunderous applause (take that Linksys), will be three devices in one: a cell phone, a wide-screen iPod with touch controls, and an Internet communications device. AT&T (formerly Cingular Wireless) is the lucky carrier (apparently the companies have patched up their relationship following the Motorola Rokr bust).

We haven't gotten to hold an iPhone yet, but we're just as excited as the next person to finally write down our first thoughts, and we won't sleep until we get our hands on one. Check back near the product's June 29 release date for our full review.

Availability
Both Apple and AT&T stores will sell the phone starting on the release date, and the handset will also be available on Apple's Web site. It will not be sold on AT&T's site for the initial release.. Europe will get it in the fourth quarter, and Asia will have to wait until next year. Finally, the U.S. gets something first!

The 4GB model will cost $499 with a two-year contract ,and the 8GB version will cost $599. That's a steep price to begin with, particularly since you're locked into a two-year contract with one carrier. And keep in mind that the iPhone will not be sold with the rebates or discounts that normally are offered by carriers for signing a contract.

New AT&T customers will have to choose a special iPhone service plan as well. For $60 a month, you'll get 450 minutes of anytime minutes and 5,000 night-and-weekend minutes. For $80 a month, you'll get 900 anytime minutes and unlimited nights and weekends. And for $100 a month, you'll get 1,350 anytime minutes and unlimited nights and weekends. All plans will include visual voice mail access, unlimited e-mail and mobile Web surfing, free mobile-to-mobile minutes, and 200 text messages a month. And don't forget the $36 activation fee.

Current AT&T customers can add an iPhone data plan to their existing contract for $20 per month, which will give them unlimited data and 200 text messages. More expensive plans are available as well, and families will have their own options to choose from.

Design
To be successful, an Apple phone has to sport an iconic Apple design--the Rokr's dull design did it no favors. Fortunately, Apple fulfilled our expectations this time with a smooth design and an innovative interface. Say goodbye to traditional cell phone buttons--this phone is all touch screen, all the time.

With only one hardware control (a "home" key), iPhone's real estate is dominated by a huge, 3.5-inch display. From what we call tell, the device looks beautiful with a resolution of 320x480x160 pixels per inch (the highest iPod resolution yet, according to Jobs). The videos and photos look great, and we love that the "smart" screen shifts automatically to a landscape orientation when you start to play a video. One giant touch screen controls the phone, and no stylus is needed ("Yuck," Jobs said). Use your fingers to type messages and e-mails on an onscreen keyboard--Jobs promises onscreen typing will be faster than on a standard smart-phone keypad, but we'll believe that theory when we actually get a device in our hands. (And speaking of yuck, what about all that finger grease?) But we admit the scrolling feature looks especially promising as Jobs had only to slide his finger across the display.

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