If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Apple’s executives were crazy happy today after the stock hit over $200 mark for the first time in Apple’s illustrious history. Apple’s stock has been going strong for weeks now, but with iPhone, and iMac doing so well, there was no doubt Apple would get there. I believe the challenge for Apple now is to continue innovating. While I expect Apple to continue this trend, it will be hard as Apple wanna-be’s will continue imitating Apple in everything it does. Will Apple ever reach the $500 mark? That remains to be seen!

We have talked about in the past about the possibility of Apple adding Radio functionality to its beloved iPod touch and iPhone lines. But would Apple actually consider XM or Sirius Satellite Radio functionality now that its rivals are starting to provide that feature? For one, adding XM to iPod touch would definitely end the debate on what could kill iPod. Players such as Zune that point out to Radio functionality to differentiate themselves from iPod would really have nothing to hold on to. Will Apple actually do this? Unlikely for now, but as iPhone/iPod killers start to offer these features, Apple may seriously consider it.

Year 2007 was a great year for us Apple fans with iPhone, iPod Touch, and new pretty iMacs coming out throughout the year. iPhone is perhaps the most innovative product of the bunch as it added a new meaning to a digital powerhouse phone. But iPhone is not perfect and while we are all thankful to powers that be for giving us the iPhone, here are the things I am hoping to see Santa bring to iPhone by the end of next year:

• 3G Compatibility: While I understand why Apple decided to go with EDGE for 2007, 2008 should be the year of 3G for iPhone. I wonder what iPhone naysayers would have to say if iPhone supported 3G.
• Cool SDK: We all know iPhone’s SDK is coming out soon, but I still wonder what we can and can’t do with this so called SDK. Here is hoping for “almost anything.”
• GPS: iPhone Gen 2 should definitely come with a GPS feature. It is a shame that such a gorgeous phone does not with GPS functionality but don’t bet on it lasting for too long. iPhone does not need GPS to be superior to other phones, but it is a nice luxury to have.
• Touch & Type: while Apple has made its competitors follow its suit and come up with more touch-based phones, Apple’s touch-based system could surely be easier to use. While we are being a little bit picky here, it is one of the flaws that some of iPhone’s competitors point to!
• FM Radio: This is really subjective, but I rather have FM Radio with my iPhone and i think iPod touch should also come with FM capability. Will Apple do it? I’d say why not, but you never know.

So what features are you expecting Santa to bring you next year with iPhone?

Wonder what it takes to be an iPhone Evangelist? We have the answer for you:

1. You are an iPhone evangelist if you use your iPhone as a Wi-Fi HotSpot Finder. Sure, iPhone is too expensive in comparison to other Wi-Fi detectors but when you look at the big picture, it is all worth it to you!
2. You are an iPhone evangelist if you sold your laptop to buy an iPhone. I have heard people who have postponed buying a car to get an iPhone first. If you are one of these people, then you are definitely an iPhone evangelist!
3. An iPhone evangelist uses iPhones for more than calls and videos. If you are one of those people who use iPhone to check out how you look every morning, then you are definitely an evangelist. In some extreme cases, people have used iPhones as a way to cover their blindspots while driving. If that’s you, then you are a super iPhone evangelist!
4. You are an iPhone evangelist if you bought an iPhone and did not activate its phone plan. Not everyone can afford those hefty phone bills, but the gesture qualifies you as an iPhone evangelist.
5. Finally, you are an iPhone evangelist if you have tried to charge your hybrid car’s battery with your iPhone. I know you’ve got to be so desperate to try such thing, but if your iPhone was the first thing that came to your mind when your battery malfunctioned, then you are an evangelist.

* Being an iPhone evangelist does not indicate anything about your IQ or mental health. It is simply an indicator of your ability to use iPhone to get ahead in life. iPhone evangelism does not qualify you to be the President of the United States or anything else for that matter. Finally, iPhone evangelism does not protect you against bias from Windows maniacs and Zuneidiots!

Amazon’s top seller electronics list is out and Kindle is sitting comfortably behind iPod Nano 4GB. While I am skeptical about this list’s accuracy (as iPod Touch series should beat Kindle easily), I wonder if people would actually go such an ugly device as Kindle rather than our shiny iPhone. I guess the better question is, since Kindle is out of stock right now, how many iPhone users actually bought a Kindle… I would say the number is big but we may never know!