Spinning the absence of a software development kit (SDK) for the iPhone, Jobs suggested that AJAX and other open standards UI programming principles for the Web would allow developers to create content that looks and behaves exactly like apps and would further mean users and developers alike wouldn't have to compromise on security, reliability or, for that matter, the ecosystem strategy Apple is grafting onto the iPhone from its hegemonic iTunes/iPod franchise.

With the Grammy awards last night bouncing back in the ratings (though I still didn't watch it, they at least had the sense not to go up against American Idol like last year), the RIAA was in full effect and showing their rebel streak by blue-stating the Dixie Chicks with honors they'd never see at the Country Music Awards.

For the first time since Eric Clapton in 1993 bestowing upon the DCs FIVE awards, including album of the year, record of the year and song of the year. WHEW!

Even as mainstream pop waxed, rap records were waning as hip-hop got no love from the Recording Academy with zero nominations outside the rap category for the first time in years. Perhaps there is still hope for America's youth.

Why do I think the Dixie Chicks won for "Not Ready to Make Nice"?

Their co-author of course: Dan Wilson, Minneapolitan songwriter from Semisonic and Trip Shakespeare shared the honors.

What's interesting in all this music industry PR wasn't the reunion of The Police (though cool), but that it came even as Apple's extraordinary sense of timing has just finished forcing media companies of every ilk to bow before the iPod monopoly of consumers similarly locked into the iTunes digital distribution channel. (read more)

Wow. I'm a little stunned, as I'm pretty sure their competitors all are as well. This could be game-changing - a totally gorgeous device. The bigger question is ... who would ever want anything else?

MY ANALYSIS: Well, now that I'm coming to my senses again, what's the catch? Maybe, the price - $499 for the 4GB / $599 for the 8GB - which isn't out of this world but still more than most people are used to paying for a phone.

The big problem that'll hold this back is getting stuck with Apple's carrier partner - Cingular or AT&T or whatever they're called now. Not that the service is bad - I have it and it's great pretty much everywhere I travel.

But traditional telecoms are yesterday's business model and I think it's a critical error for Apple not to offer an unlocked version of the device at a premium. Unfortunately, you will not be able to buy an iPhone (presumably) without having AT&T/Cingular service bolted onto it. This sucks. Why no unlocked version you ask?

Because then it'd be a $1000 device... the carrier subsidy is just too important apparently. Anyways... maybe in 2008. But in the meantime, competitors just breathed a sigh of relief.

The other issue is the phone feature-set itself - while the user experience looks great and the UI is the slickest I've ever seen, there's no 3G network available, no WiMax, etc. - in surfing around comments on some of the blogs today there are decidedly mixed reactions from this introduction... plus, it's not out until June, so it's still vaporware. (read more)