The iPhone’s awesome… only real complaints are (a) the camera’s a bit lame, and (b) the calendar doesn’t have multiple calendar support (everything gets merged together from iCal) and no tasks. Methinks Apple will solve the latter. As far as the former… well, my Treo camera wasn’t exactly killer, so it’s no loss. Everything else pretty much blows me away… the screen is ridiculously bright and sharp… the wifi hookups are seamless… it’s pretty amazing.

Podcast listening is awesome… I was listening to Meet The Press while watering the garden and took a phone call from my girlfriend. The audio ducked out for the ring… I took the call, and as soon as I was done, the audio ducked back in right where I left off. I may never take these earbuds off again…

There’s been a lot online about troubles activating the iPhone. Frankly, I suspect that was more because we all rushed home about the same time and flooded AT&T’s activation system. Sounds like new numbers registered and activated pretty quickly… number transfers like mine went a bit slower… and you whacky types that shifted from business plans to person and family plans were fools to begin with to think it would be a pain-free transition. (With all due respect… this is AT&T we’re talking about.)

That all being said… I think we’re tiring of the hype. None of us had to stand in line, it turned out, and iPhatigue has set in. Maybe enough is enough. I’m gonna go watch Season 3 of Arrested Development now… I won’t tell you how.

Oh, I wish activation would be instantaneous, but apparently not. I’m still waiting on the email from AT&T that will unlock this little beauty, but here it is… the iPhone.

Check out some line images… that’s John Aravosis from AmericaBlog I was next to… an excellent linemate!

I have to say, AT&T has so far been pretty miserable to work with. The folks in the store meant well… I think… but they never bothered to explain that the receipt I got included a pretty important number for activation in iTunes. I figured it out… but it might have been nice to be given the heads up? Also, I’m not diggin’ the wait for activation… the iPhone is a fancy paperweight until it goes through, and I want to get syncing! Physically, this thing is gorgeous. The few things it allows me to do pre-activation tells of good things to come… we shall see.

Interesting sidenote… a Capitol Hill line sitter (we have pros here) traded her #11 spot to a wealthy-looking gentleman who rolled in around 5:00ish. Must have been nice not to wait for 5 hours…

UPDATE: I’m activated and syncing… first videos on the iPhone will be episodes 4-7 of Arrested Development, Season 3. Sadly, they’ll be watched at the emergency vet while they take a look at my girlfriend’s mysteriously ill cat…

minutes away from the door opening… The line's getting surly over the one poor soul who wants her non-iPhone serviced. Good luck to her on that….

Just how bad do you want to have the iPhone on you when you go out tonight? Here’s a big hint… do NOT go to an Apple Store. Seems that people are lining up like crazy at malls all around the country to get the iPhone. However, if you’ve got an AT&T store nearby, there might not even be a soul in line yet. I just got off the phone with a store within a couple of blocks of my office and they have nobody there yet. Apparently the hoardes are likely to arrive around noon.

Kinda makes this guy seem a little… um, over the top?

We’re going out tonight with some friends around 8 to celebrate my girlfriend’s birthday tomorrow… if all goes well, I’ll be the geek… loser… mindless automaton… toast of the party.

I may look back on all of this and mock myself… in fact, I should probably start the process early. I’ll have plenty of time in line to do so this afternoon…

Ironic… My Treo will finally serve a fantastic function. I'll be able to post all about my iPhone line waiting with it…

Strange, it feels almost like I'm using it to cheat on it. Hmmm. There has to be a better analogy. Still haven't decided which DC area store will be hosting me tomorrow… Given the crazy heat, I'm leaning towards one of the Apple Stores located in an air conditioned mall…

Walt Mossberg is the Wall Street Journal tech writer… he’s apparently a big enough deal to procure an early iPhone from Steve Jobs. It’s not like his approval will make or break the iPhone, but it certainly gives the first non-Apple testimonial as to the features, benefits, and (gasp!) shortcomings of the little beastie.

The verdict? Mikey likes it:

Our verdict is that, despite some flaws and feature omissions, the iPhone is, on balance, a beautiful and breakthrough handheld computer. Its software, especially, sets a new bar for the smart-phone industry, and its clever finger-touch interface, which dispenses with a stylus and most buttons, works well, though it sometimes adds steps to common functions.

Check out Mossberg’s (or Goatberg, as Fake Steve Jobs calls him) review here.

UPDATE: Critical consensus… the iPhone lives up to the hype. I have to say, I’m honestly surprised in some ways. I figured there would be one major reviewer that would throw stones, but it looks like this phone’s the real deal (albeit with some flaws).

iPhone break… this video’s making the rounds. Too funny:

This was a real sticking point for me… how much will this little slice of heaven cost me per month? Answer… less than Sprint charges me for my Treo! I expected to take a little hit, but it turns out the newly announced service plans from AT&T are better than I expected… starting at $59.99 per month, inlcuding internet and data use. It’s official… I’m getting one.

BUT… I hasten to add, I am not going to be this guy. He’s first in line at the Apple Store on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. Five days in advance. Congratulations sir… you’re either (a) totally crazy to want the iPhone that badly, and/or (b) have a very strange concept of time invested to profit ratio for your plan to get wealthy by selling that sucker on eBay at 6:01 PM on Friday night… Try those real-estate tapes by that Rich Dad-Poor Dad author or the “tiny classified ads” guy instead.

I love the Washington Post… totally understating Friday’s launch:

Also, check out this probably soon-to-be ex-Apple employee trying to impress chicks at a Silicon Valley party this weekend (thanks Cult of Mac):