In a series of ads that ran during last night's 60 Minutes, Apple confirmed June 29th as the release date of the much-hyped iPhone, offering viewers a closer glimpse at the gadget than ever before.
The New York Times also made note of the impending release date, noting that anticipation, as well as anxiety behind-the-scenes, is building as it approaches:
“The anticipation, which is intense even by Jobsian standards, has led to some quiet, behind-the-scenes anxiety at Apple. Some Apple executives worry privately that expectations for the one-button phones may be too high and that first-generation buyers will end up disappointed. Certainly there are skeptics. The high price will limit the phones' appeal to true believers. The cellular network that the iPhone operates on is slower than those of many of its rivals. Several of Apple's handset competitors hope that its decision not to include a keyboard, relying instead on a touch-screen virtual keyboard, will limit the attractiveness of the iPhone in text-intensive business markets. ‘It's very media-centric,' said a director at a handset competitor who declined to be identified, saying that his company did not want to elicit comparisons with the iPhone. ‘It will hit one sweet spot, but not necessarily all of the sweet spots — we hope.'”
Mac fanatics have been quick to pick apart the ads, making note of a “mystery app” which is unseen in one shot, but seems to have pushed down the icons.
Apple's Worldwide Developer's Conference is set for next week in San Francisco.
