So there's a big hype going around lately about the iPhone and among the PDA/Pocket PC/Windows Mobile crowd an equally as big hype about making your PDA/Phone look like an iPhone. Well, it is really easy to do and you can even make your phone look better in my opinion. The sky is the limit with software like Wisbar Advance Desktop. You have complete control over the "desktop" of your Windows Mobile device and can add some really nice features/widgets/shorcuts, etc.
Someone also wrote a program that mimics the slide lock features of the iPhone. Now, I must admit this is a pretty good way of locking your phone. Especially if your phone is annoying to lock like mine.
Then to top it all off, there's a dialer program that changes the way your phone looks. Again, all these modifications don't need to look like an iPhone...they can be anyway you like. Let's see an iPhone compete with that for looks!
The slide lock program is under much debate and heavy fire from Apple as are the themes that make the WM Phones look like iPhones. Of course there are probably hundreds of photos of clown fish in the public domain as well. Still, Apple is swatting down sites that host these files by sending angry letters. Can they really do anything about it? Is it worth taking to court? Probably not. This guy certainly doesn't think so and he's a lawyer.
One thing that I think is shallow is the fact that you can buy an iPhone theme from this guy. Er, I mean he'll send you some files for a "donation." It's not 100% like an iPhone so who knows how Apple feels about it...though it does look slick as hell. Of course with a little graphics skill and $10 you can buy Wisbar Advance Desktop and make your own theme.
My feeling: Apple is really good at branding, marketing, and making things look good. However, Apple is really bad at inventing new technology and making their shit work. There, I said it! Yea, their computers crash all the time. I work on them all day and I have problems. Plus they are restricting at times. A Windows machine also crashes and has issues. I'm frustrated by all computers. If you have a computer that gives you no problems (a few problems is more than none)...you don't use it enough or push it to its limits.
Unlike the Windows Mobile devices, I bet you there won't be nearly as many customizations and modifications for the iPhone. Not to mention its weak processor (update: looks like they went with a stronger processor fortunately) and lack of expansion slot (who cares if you can get 4gb OR 8gb, with a card slot you get unlimited gb). I can also bet there won't be nearly as many programs or games. It may be more stable, but that stability comes at a price. Plus I haven't had many crashing issues with my Windows Mobile device anyway and WM6 is around the corner so you never know.
Microsoft has really been surprising lately and I'm sure the Deep Fish browser is going to be as good or better than the browser on the iPhone without a doubt. I think the Picsel browser is as good or certainly looks the same as the iPhone's. Plus Verizon has something up their sleeve for the end of the summer too apparently. So maybe the iPhone really is too little too late...too expensive. Just like everything else Apple makes.