Yesterday was the start of this years Apple WWDC (World Wide Developers Conference).  As per usual Steve Jobs started the conference with the Keynote address in which he unveiled the all new iPhone 4.  Apple are claiming that this is the biggest change to the iPhone since its launch and if you realise that they're changing the hardware (all new frame, much better battery, A4 chip) as well as the software (iOS 4) you can see why they're saying that.

Other new features (Job's mentioned 8) include a gyroscope, a game changing retinal screen (4x pixel density), HD video as well as a better low light camera and Facetime video chat.  I can see the benefits with some of these features but some are a little confusing.  For example, the Gyroscope massively improves gaming, but what's the demographic of iPhone (and iPod Touch) gamers? Teenagers?  How many teenagers will be able to afford an iPhone 4?  The other 'invention' is Facetime video chat.  I love the fact that Apple are talking about this as if we've never video chatted before (Skype anyone?).  It's true to say that mobile phones have come with front and rear facing cameras for years but most mobile operators insisted that you payed for each video call.  A stupid move meaning that the front facing camera on most phones was useless.  At least Apple have addressed this issue by making Facetime work over WiFi.  But haven't Apple missed a trick with Facetime.  If only the iPad and iPod Touch and older iPhones had front facing cameras.  Just think of the number of Facetime users then?  iPhone 4 to iPhone 4 voice calling is, in my humble opinion, about as useless as front facing cameras where you pay your provider for each voice call.  It's a bit of a lemon.

The most exciting thing for me personally (and I hope O2 have a good upgrade path) is the HD video and iMovie for iPhone app.  Apple make really easy to use software and now that they have HD video support, I think this is the killer feature for the iPhone 4.  The low light sensor also looks like a great idea.  So all in all, while gyroscopes and front facing cameras may have taken up a great deal of the Keynote presentation, it's the HD video that takes the iPhone 4 into the next league and protects its future as the no1 smart phone for years to come.