When it comes to new types of technology, it seems that we can always look to Apple Computer Inc. to bring us the most innovative new devices and find unique ways to combine different devices to serve purposes that we never thought they could in the past. This has been true about the iPod. At first the iPod was an MP3 player that made its mark by being well integrated with Apple's iTunes online music store. Then, Apple made a splash by adding color to the iPod's screen and enlarging both the screen and hard drive while adding extra video playing software. The video iPod was the result. Soon after the video iPod was introduced, Apple made a number of full length movies, as well as popular TV shows, available for download from iTunes. Of course Apple is also well known for making high quality computers that beat out many other brands when it comes to reliability, security, and user friendliness. Apple computers are available in both desk top and laptop models, and unlike many competing machines come loaded with useful productivity software right out of the box. The fact that Apple designs both the computers themselves as well as much of the software that runs on them goes a long way toward producing this kind of reliability and a generally positive user experience.



Now, Apple Computer is combining iPod technology with its computer technology at the same time as hurling itself into the mobile phone market with the introduction of its iPhone. The iPhone is a multipurpose device that combines the music and video playing features of the video iPod, with the Internet surfing and many of the productivity software features of a computer, and all of the communications capabilities of a smart phone. In addition, the device also has a built in two megapixel digital camera.

As if the combination of devices wasn't impressive enough, Apple has also included loads of other more subtle features to make them work together seamlessly. For example, the iPhone totally dispenses with keys in favor of a touch screen interface. The touch screen can be reconfigured for dialing phone number, surfing the web, typing email, sifting through digital photos, flipping through album covers (for selecting digital music), and a number of other things- all on the fly.

The iPhone is also aware of what's going on around it. For example, the device will sense the user turning it on its side and automatically flip the image on the screen around ninety degrees so that the image is always right side up. This is also a handy feature for viewing web pages or watching video because when the phone is held sideways the screen has a 16:9 aspect ration which is a lot better for viewing the full width of a web page or video than if the device is held in the up orientation that one would normally expect for a phone. The iPhone also has a built in proximity sensor which allows it to detect being brought up to its user's ear so that when it's actually being used as a phone, the iPhone will switch off the screen to save power and turn ignore input from the touch screen. That way an accidental bump against the face won't disrupt anything that's going on with the device.

In all, the iPhone from Apple seems to have a lot of great features, and it will be interesting to see if it lives up to the promise of its hype.