EDIT: After publishing this, I realized the title makes it appear like I used the iPhone for 45 minutes - sorry for the confusion!

A very lucky columnist at the Chicago Sun Times, Andy Ihnatko, was somehow able to play with the iPhone for 45 minutes! You can read his review here.

I am really looking forward to this device! Not to sound like too much of a fan-boy, but everything that I have read makes the iPhone sound slick as hell:

  • Never mind that it will be locked down to developers - would you really want viruses and crappy code running on it?
  • What about the small storage size, 8 gigs? Who cares?! This first gen might have 8 gigs, but think of the big picture - as flash memory storage increases, so will capacity on future revisions.
  • Scratch-prone surface?! I doubt it will be anywhere as bad as the iPods - plus, I think that the design will help push innovation. Just look at the Nokia Aeon.
  • What about integration? All of us who own iPods know how well they sync with iTunes - now imagine that tight, seamless integration for your email, contacts, photos, movies, tv shows, notes and yes, your music too.
  • What else?! Now think of accessing the internet anywhere! You could use the phone as a modem or hit any WiFi access point - they’re everywhere! Don’t forget that it has a slick touchscreen and a 2-megapixel camera (which will sync with iPhoto, no doubt)!
  • Cingular only?! Maybe at first, I have no doubts that it will eventually show up on other networks - no matter what communications protocol they’re using.

I am really excited about it!! What about you? What are your thoughts?