SAN FRANCISCO -- Saying the maker of the unbiquitous iPods was going to "reinvent" telecommunications,
Apple CEO Steve Jobs today unveiled a long-rumored iPhone and a set-top box that handles videostreaming from PCs to TVs.
Speaking at the MacWorld trade show, Jobs showed off "Apple TV," which comes with a 40 GB hard drive and an
Intel chip and is priced at $299.
He also debuted the iPhone, a 0.5" thick handheld device that
automatically syncs a user's email, MP3, and other files, and for good
measure comes with a 2 MP digital camera, headphones and SIM card
jacks. The iPhone is priced at $499 for the 4GB version and $599 for the 8GB device.
The phone allows users to make a
call by simply pointing a finger at a name or number in their address
book, a favorites list or a call log. It automatically syncs all
contacts from a PC, Mac or Internet service. Users can also select and listen to voicemail messages in whatever order they chose, as they would email.
Apple has a long history of making consumers swoon. Its entry into the
handset market is almost certain to pose problems for major OEMs like
Nokia, Motorola, Samsung and
LG.
This much is for sure. The name on the door -- Apple Computer -- is becoming a misnomer.