Historically, I wouldn't be characterized as an Apple guy. I've never personally owned an Apple computer [gasp!] and have been much more active (currently and in the past) as a Microsoft investor than with Jobs' company. In fact, it would be fair to say I've been an Apple skeptic in good times and bad.
But on days like today, how can you not tip your cap? If there's one thing Steve Jobs and his crew understand it's how to balance usability with innovation. Less is more when it comes to design, and no company better exemplified that mantra in today's technology world than the newly-minted Apple Inc. (ne Apple Computer). Today's HIGHLY anticipated debut of the iPhone at Macworld somehow managed to exceed even the loftiest of expectations.
As you might expect, there are roughly 3.14mm blog posts about Jobs' keynote speech along with screen shots, reviews and critiques of the iPhone; so feel to check Techmeme if you want details and heavy analysis.
All I know is that today Steve Jobs was able to make this skeptic say WOW. The iPhone looks STUNNING and as I watched the liveblog feed on Engadget all I kept thinking was I. WANT. ONE. NOW! If the battery life is acceptable; I would be absolutely stunned if this wasn't a smashing commercial success.
Kind of makes you wonder where all those R&D dollars go at the traditional cellphone handset OEMs, doesn't it?
Update (1/9/09 4:50 EST): Larry Dignan has a nice writeup on some of the collateral fallout from today's announcement
Note: At the time of
this
writing I, and/or funds I maintain discretionary control over,
maintained a long equity position in MSFT but did not
maintain a position (long or short) in AAPL or any of the cellphone/smartphone handset OEMs. We also may, at
times, carry derivative options on underlying positions as a hedge.
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