Does the iPhone Store Credit Expire?

I finally got around to getting my iPhone store credit via Apple.com. While I haven’t decided how to spend it yet, I was curious if it would expire. The answer is no, according to the FAQ on Apple’s store credit page:

“How long is my Apple Store credit valid?

Once your credit is issued, it does not expire.”

You do have to claim it by November 30, 2007, but have until forever to spend it. So, maybe I'll keep it to buy version 4 of the iPhone.

Steve Jobs Announces iPhone SDK on Apple.com

Steve Jobs is such a tease. Why didn’t he just tell us this from the beginning? I was surprised how I felt when I read the news, like the world just changed. It’s the same way I felt when he introduced the iPhone, so I guess this is an extension of that moment. It’s the realization of what the iPhone first promised. Of course, there’s a mountain between the theory and the practice, but with so much creative excitement behind an open iPhone, you know some fun things are going to happen. It’ll be fun to look back a year from now.

Apple Agrees to Sell Unlocked iPhones....in France!

Apple is going to sell unlocked iPhones in France. It's not clear what software and hardware changes will make French iPhones "unlocked," but it likely make them a highly sought export around the world. I'd like to see their unlocked-phone law be exported around the world.

CNET Reviews the HTC Touch

While the price of the HTC Touch is right ($249 after $100 rebate and 2-year contract), everything else seems wrong. Check out the video review and full article at CNET.com.

Still Have That $100 iPhone Store Credit?

I have to admit, I’m tempted to use my $100 iPhone credit on the new Leopard release. I’m going to wait for reports of how well Leopard performs on a MacBook before I decide. I’m still yearning for a decent pair of iPhone earphones though.

Pairing Apple's Wireless Keyboard With the iPhone

AppleInsider has a thorough review of Apple's Wireless keyboard. Toward the end of the review, the reviewer comes up with a brilliant request for Apple,

"One feature I'd like to see added requires new software support on the iPhone: the ability to pair the phone to the Bluetooth keyboard. Imagine using the duo as a hyper thin traveling companion for taping out notes.

That, my friend, is a genius idea, especially if they create an attachment to perch the iPhone as shown. Make it happen Apple.

Maybe like this:

Lack of Earphones and the Nike Sport Kit for the iPhone

There have been two surprises in the world of iPhone accessories so far, or should I say, lack of surprises. The first and biggest is the missing iPhone-compatible headsets from leading iPod headset makers. Many early adopters such as myself have a $100 dollar credit to give to a leading headset maker like Etymotic or Shure to replace my current Apple iPhone earphones. The delay for these earphones probably has to do with typical bureaucracy and the fact that iPod accessories remain a business priority. But still, there is money being left on the table. The leading earphone makers need to get products onto shelves for the Holidays.

Another surprise is the lack of a Nike Sport Kit for the iPhone. It may be that, like a normal iPod, Apple feels an iPhone is too bulky for use in exercise. But as an owner of the iPhone, I would beg to differ, having worked out and jogged with my iPhone comfortably in tow. The Sports Kit would be a perfect fit and would help sell the iPhone, as it has done for the Nano. How absolutely convenient it would be to carry your phone and your iPod with you on a jog or workout and stay connected with the world. One less burden to working out. Again, it would seem there is money being left on the table.