Today Apple's latest iPhone, the 3Gs, arrives in stores. Most of the reviews I've read - gizmodo, cnet, WSJ [via ProQuest], and the NYT, to name a few - say this version isn't the must-have upgrade that the 3G was over the original model. With so many people still with time to go in their contract with AT&T before they can get the discounted upgrade price, that might be a good thing. The increased speed will appeal to some but many great improvements will come just by downloading the free software upgrade to version 3.0. However problems have been reported with overloaded servers at Apple in recent days as the hordes have tried to update their software. If you haven't yet updated, you might want to wait a few days to do so.

As I'm finally out of contract with my mobile provider, I decided to make the switch to the iPhone. This is my first smartphone and I'm eager to try the apps and internet access. Hopefully the iPhone will allow me to leave the laptop at home when I visit my parents in the Land of the Lost. I ordered mine online and it arrived today via FedEx at no extra charge. Thank goodness I didn't plan on picking it up at the Apple store - the line was around the block this morning at 7:30 am!