I'm glad you added the phrase "In my humble opinion" because your opinion should be ignored by Steve Jobs. You see, Steve knows more about what will sell than some PC World techno-weenie-loser wanting the device to be all things to all nerds. Every single one of the complaints we have heard since day one about the iPhone come from wanna-be design, software, and marketing "experts" while all of the actual iPhone users I have encountered are perfectly satisfied with the device. So as Fake Steve Jobs might say, "Siooma" PC World, we'll do it my way." Same as always.

Only geeks and dorks have to put up with a lot on the iPhone because they want all possible features and the kitchen sink.
The rest of us LOVE the iPhone as is. And it will only get better.

1. The bigger keyboard exists - it is the landscape keyboard. Future updates will allow it to be used in any applications. But really: forget your thumbs. Use your forefinger. That was what the iPhone was made for - your natural pointer. The thumb is not a pointer.

2. 3G iPhones are already on the way. But Wi-Fi is way faster.

3. GPS chip will only be added if it won't make the iPhone fatter like the other phones. I prefer a dedicated GPS so that all the maps are already built-in. Thus the Garmin or Tom-Tom models with batteries built-in but usable in a car are way better than GPS in an iPhone.

4. Forget about Flash. Unless Adobe can demonstrate that Flash can run fast enough on an iPhone, it is a NO-GO. Flash also is NOT A STANDARD. Apple doesn't have the source code to flash. It is not open source. It would make iPhone development dependent on Adobe - which is a BAD IDEA. Apple has to control its destiny on the iPhone in order to move it lightyears faster than other phone makers. Look at how many updates there have been to the iPhone software. Apple updates its software far more frequently than other manufacturers - who are stuck. For Flash to be on the iPhone, either Adobe makes Flash open source and a standard, or Apple buys Adobe. Otherwise, the iPhone has already league leading multimedia tools - look at it s fantastic graphics capabilities! This is going to be a boon for games.

5. The iPhone is opening - but not to the point you and your geek friends will mess things up and allow malware, adware, and viruses on the iPhone. Besides, if you want a fully open iPhone, you can already unlock it and jailbreak it without Apple's permission. Duh. When you do so, you take full responsibility for bricking your iPhone. Its your fault.

5 things iPhone REALLY needs. 1. Can opener. You need to be able to have a beer while you're listening to music. Better yet, include an entire Swiss Army Knife with 100 or so attachments. 2. Air pump. What if you get a flat tire while driving? 3. Guitar pick. Those things are really easy to lose. 4. Paper clip. I can never find one when I need it. 5. Jennifer Connelly. After all, shouldn't such a cool device be able to do EVERYTHING?

Before someone starts with the strawman argument that I'm opposed to improving the iPhone, let me clarify the above comment. Apple understands an unrelenting focus on usability. I bought the iPhone because of its exceptional usability. Anything that detracts from that (like a pull out keyboard) is a negative in Apple's view (and my view). When they are able to add GPS, 3G, Flash, etc WITHOUT IMPACTING USABILITY, I'll be all for it. But until then, the tradeoffs aren't worth it.

1. Suzie Homemaker Oven - for those snacks when you need them.
2. Leatherman Multitool - makes the iPhone even more useful - such as when you need to open a can or beer.
3. Fold-out, Zero-gravity lounge chair - makes it so much more comfortable to surf the net while waiting at the airport.
4. 1000 Lumen projector - for those times when you need to do a Powerpoint presentation in the smallest package possible.
5. ATM - when you need some extra cash and cards won't work.

These are THE MUST HAVES.

Jameskatt---I don't see anything in the article which makes it look like it's tongue-in-cheek. The author seemed to believe it. Your response which mirrors the original article confirms that it wasn't a joke.

I posted a response earlier which somehow got deleted which addressed this. I bought the iPhone because of its incredible ease of use and functionality. Apple has developed a culture with unrelenting focus on ease of use and I do not want to see that go away.

If (more likely, 'when') they are able to put in a GPS chip, 3G, etc without interfering with the functionality, I'd be happy to see it. But, for now, they can't do that. My preference would be to leave them out rather than to make the device clunky, inefficient, and quick to deplete the batteries.

I own a lot of Apple stock.
I love the Mac. I own over 20 that I have bought since the original Mac 128 in 1984 - buying it over the original IBM PC.
I supported Apple through its good and bad days.
I develop software on the Mac.
I love my iPhone.

I get Apple's philosophy and spirit.

The author obviously does not. The article is an anathema to what Apple is.

To make my point, I extended his philosophy to the extreme. My 5 must-haves was not a joke. It is a classic argument in logic.