Here are a few thoughts that popped into my mind as I was watching the iPhone tour video:

  • Can’t start typing a number or a few letters to place a call (either you select from the address book or you remember the full phone number).

  • Visual voice mail rocks.

  • Touch screen is good for many more activities than I thought (but I suspect, still terrible to type text).

  • Overall, it’s quite striking to see how the UI (and the entire demo) downplays typing. Quite a contrast compared to how much typing is used in iTunes or search on Mac OS. For example, if I want to add the picture of Sarah Young to her contact info, I would start typing “y o”. With the iPhone, you have to scroll through your address book (lucky him, there is only one entry in the “y” category, what a coincidence!).

  • Is it possible to buy something from the iTunes store from the phone? (not shown in the demo, so I’m guessing not).

  • Good handling of the headphone/music/incoming call activity.

  • Safari: “renders just like on your computer”. Honest.

  • Web page zooming is cool.

  • Google button!

  • The typist doesn’t seem to make any mistakes with the keyboard. I’m still a bit skeptical about that, but we’ll see. Good to see they have spelling correction (and nice demo with the thumbs).

  • Claims Gmail access… Probably through POP… lame.

  • Can check email automatically.

  • Maps looks awesome. With traffic! (network access too fast to be true, though). The turn by turn instructions don’t seem to do text to speech, unfortunately.

  • “There are many ways you can customize your iPhone”… as long as you choose black.