I downloaded and installed the latest iPhone update from Apple last night after dinner. It did what was expected: it wiped all the custom applications I had previously installed. I wasn't surprised nor was I heart-broken. I liked playing around installing programs, custom ringtones, various wallpaper, etc. but the iPhone is rock solid all by itself without all the extras. That, and the fact that it's only a matter of time before the hackers figure out how to do it all over again. :-)

As I sit here looking at my newly restored iPhone (with the newest features) I smiled. How smart is Apple? Hmm... let's see. Some are upset that they dropped the price by $200 only two months after release. Apple responded by offering $100 store credits at their retail outlets. Not everyone will take advantage of the credits or will miss the redemption window. Those who redeem them will be doing so right back at Apple, and probably tagging on a few extra dollars to cover the difference between the credit and what they're purchasing. Score: Apple. And don't forget that the price drop will undoubtedly bring more iPhone purchasers through the lucrative holiday season.

Earlier this week Apple came out with news that forewarned those who had taken matters into their own hands and unlocked their iPhones to work with other carriers besides AT&T;. The message: proceed at your own risk; your experimentation may likely result in an inoperable phone. From the early reports it seems they lived up to their threats helpful advice.

So how does this help Apple (besides helping AT&T;'s worries lessen a little)? It solidifies their position as a trusted secure platform. It sends the signal to shareholders that iPhone will stand firm in it's exclusivity for at least the not-so-distant future.

Oh, yeah - almost forgot about the iTunes WiFi Store - the much heralded cornerstone of the newest iPhone update. Let's see, if Apple has sold over a million iPhones so far... and people, like me, are updating their phones & receiving the new iTunes-to-go software... and people, like me, are going to at least buy one song on this new gadget for a mere 99 cents to see how cool it is & how easy it works... that makes today's update worth at least $1 million dollars of new iTunes sales - in the next few days!

Yeah, Apple is smart.

UPDATE: Bought my first song via the new iTunes WiFi Store, and my first iTunes ringtone as well. It was "I Only Have Eyes for You" by The Flamingos (my default ringtone for when Andrea calls me). It was incredibly easy & really fast over the WiFi in our home. The ringtones creation process was simple as well: just click on the ringtone icon next to a song, use the tool to set start/end times (you can set fade in/out and the gap in-between loops, as well) and click buy. Now I have one custom ringtone on my phone! (Lost all the others with the upgrade)