Technology road is bumpy (but exciting)

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I can attest to the fact that the technology road is bumpy. There is always change and improvement, and there is always someone who bought a product before a particular cutoff date and misses the new price or the new operating system or the new whatever. This is life in the technology lane. If you always wait for the next price cut or to buy the new improved model, you'll never buy any technology product because there is always something better and less expensive on the horizon.

Steve Jobs in an open letter to all iPhone owners, offering them $100 after cutting down the price of the 8 GB iPhone from $599 to $399 (-33%) just two months after introducing it.

I believe this makes room in the product roadmap for a 3G version, just in time for its European launch. Some analysts think so too. It would allow Apple to sell both versions everywhere, thus indifferenciating US and Europe models, as they do with iPods (in terms of hardware, firmware vary to accommodate local regulations and commercial agreements).

The iPod touch is exciting. I've got a chance to play with an iPhone and the UI is simply amazing. With the spread of free WiFi networks all over cities, the idea of having a usable internet device blended with the iPod in my pocket is appealing (much much more than the iTunes WiFi feature, I haven't bought anything on iTunes ever). Except for one obvious and frustrating thing: it's missing email! Considering how hackers reacted with the iPhone, you can bet the iPod touch will open a hacking fiesta that will eventually force Apple to open that platform to developers. How long before someone imports the mobile Mail client that's on the iPhone onto the iPod touch? Without the excuse of bogging some mobile operator network down, this is a damn good question.

Also, with an Apple internet device now starting at $299, expect the multiplication of "iPhone/iPod touch optimized" web sites (is your web site ready for the future?).

P.S. Ah ah: New iPod touch could do iPhone apps.