Here’s a demo of a large multi-touch screen. This technology seems to be getting a lot of press at the moment - probably due to the fact that the new Apple iPhone uses a multi-touch screen. (more…)

It looks like the iPhone is going to be a closed system (thanks for the link David!). If this is true then it will mean that companies like Skyscape, Epocrates, etc will have to come up with an alternative to their current system of installable apps on Smartphones and PDAs if they want to develop for iPhone users.

One method of solving this problem would be to deliver the applications through the Safari browser on the phone. From the demonstration videos on www.apple.com the browser offers some unique ways of viewing web pages via the ‘multi-touch’ interface. This allows you to zoom in and around a page using two finger to stretch, zoom and scroll. Almost reminds me of Tom Cruise’s hand waving interface in Minority Report.

Whether browser delivery will be off-line or live will probably depend on things like wi-fi availabilty or how cheap the data calls are going to be.

Seems Steve Jobs was a bit too hasty in announcing the iPhone before they had secured the rights to use the name off iPhone trademark holder Cisco.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0cc5fd98-a105-11db-acff-0000779e2340.html

Steve Jobs has announced the the Apple iPhone will have a release date of June 2007.

The iPhone is really a PDA-phone like the Palm Treos, Blackberrys and Microsoft Windows Mobile devices (like my i-mate K-JAM).

This has significant implications for the medical world as a large percentage of doctors are currently using PDA phones for medical references, EMR integration, calculators and so on. - Update: TUAW is reporting that the iPhone won’t allow user installable applications. This information seem to be from a “security/information” attendant so I’m not sure how reliable this information is.

I can see many old Palm stalwarts now switching the iPhone. It will be interesting to see how Skyscape, PEPID, etc respond to this new device and when we’ll see a 5 Min CC iPhone version!

Update: Apple iPhone size comparison to Moto Q, Treo and Blackberry at Engadget.

Update 2: More screenshots - this thing looks fantastic!

Update 3: Video demos of all the features are now on the Apple Website.

Update 4: Steve Jobs interviewed about the new iPhone: