Because geek is cool and clever

It’s finally here (well, there) July 3, 2007

Last week finally saw the release of what must surely be one of the most hyped and anticipated gadgets in history.

After being revealed six months ago, America was finally able to get its collective paws on an Apple iPhone.

As is the modern tradition, queues of people formed outside Apple shops for a day or two before the launch (despite the promise that there would be no shortage of stock) and the company managed to shift over half a million units in the first couple of days which, at $600 a pop, won’t do the coffers any harm.

So now that it’s officially out there, does the iPhone live up to its monumental hype? Sadly, we Europeans shall have to wait until late autumn before determining that for ourselves, but Stateside reviews have been almost unanimously positive.

As a pocket-sized internet device, the iPhone with its large, colourful screen is clearly without rival, featuring a version of Apple’s Safari web browser that shows full web pages. The email and Google Maps applications also look great as, of course, does music and movies.

Apparently it also works as a telephone. Madness!

Apple has been criticised for not making the phone available on a high speed 3G network in the US but with any luck that won’t be the case when it’s finally available here.