You know, one of the best things about the whole iPhone launch is the feeding frenzy. As Charles wrote today, it's setting new records for achieving unprecedented levels of hype/dismay before even being released.
But it's also brought an incredible number of people out of the woodwork who fancy freeloading on the public relations whirlwind that Apple's created. I've lost count of the number of shonky nobodies who have suddenly declared that they want to discuss some "important" aspect of the iPhone - my inbox is overflowing with them.
The reason it's so funny is because, of course, it's almost certain that none of these pundits with apparently unique insights have ever seen an iPhone in the flesh - let alone used one. Not only are their insights into the iPhone likely to be startlingly unoriginal (and I can do that kind of thing all by myself, thanks very much), but they're very often not even people who track this sort of stuff on a day-to-day basis.
But, quality aside, some of it is just comedy gold. Take this headline:
"Fifteen Percent of Online Americans Ages 13 To 64 Say They Are At Least Somewhat Likely To Buy iPhone... Ninety-Six Percent of Those At Least Somewhat Likely to Buy Will Wait Before Buying."
Yes, it's real. And it doesn't stop there.
I can't take credit for this - I nicked it from PR blogger The World's Leading (who has the rest of the release too). But, well, it's got to rank as one of the most terrible attempts to jump on somebody else's publicity, no?
Anyway, in a remarkable bit of completely imperfect timing, I'm taking my girlfriend to Paris for her birthday tomorrow. Sod you, iPhone!
