I disagree strongly
All I can say is: the PRE IS DEAD. WINDOWS MOBILE IS DEAD. These new features plus the new hardware mop the floor with the competition...Apple is supreme again.
Hail to the undisputed king of smartphones! GO APPLE!
I have a new 3G S on order, but I still disagree that the others are dead. They all push each other to get better.
Now, it could be the Palm Pre/WinMo/Android/RIM killer, maybe...
If it had a significant number of the following improvements:
1. Multi-tasking (like the Palm Pre and WinMo devices have) (And yes, I do know that the iPhone does some multitasking with music in the background, notifications, etc. so any of you Apple fanboys that were poised to flame me, please keep this in mind)
2. User-replaceable batteries (Like the Pre, all WinMo phones I know off, etc.)(And I don't mean some kit you buy to carefully pry the case open and replace the battery for good. I mean a quick change battery in case its charge runs out before the day does)
3. Wasn't only available on AT&T in the US so there could be some competition for rates, services allowed, etc.. (Examples: No MMS now on AT&T, higher data plan rate than any other phone, no tethering on AT&T, SlingPlayer can work on 3G on other carriers and even other phones on AT&T but not so for the iPhone)
4. Had a flash for its camera like the Palm Pre and some other phones. (I keep mentioning the Pre because I am familiar with it since I bought my wife one this weekend. She liked the size of it and the camera and did not want an iPhone since she would have to switch to AT&T and there service sucks where she works, and the Pre fits in her pocket book phone pockets better)
5. Had a Flash Player
6. Had a memory card slot (MicroSDHC would be great). I would even accept one with a lower amount of built-in storage if it had the slot.
7. Either offered a model with a slider keyboard (either vertical like the Pre or horizontal like an HTC Pro) or built one in to all of them if they could still keep it relatively thin.
8. Came with a Mobile Office suite like DataViz Documents to Go or Mobile Office (Like on WinMo phones)
9. I am sure I am forgetting something. You can fill this one in yourself.
With all that said, I think it is a great phone and I look forward to mine arriving on Friday, but I do NOT think it will kill the competition. To the contrary, I think it will spur more innovation and therefore competition like the Palm Pre adding Video Recording, etc. In fact, I hope that it does NOT kill the competition. I imagine that most people (Apple Fanboys excluded) feel this way. Think about it. If the competition went away, who would innovate and why?