I got the iPhone about 3 months ago, just a little bit after the announcement of the SDK. Before that, I had a Razr. I hated the Razr, and I love my iPhone. Here are 10 things I love about my iPhone, and why it matters. As someone who thinks about systems, and have a love for product design, I can see the tremendous insights in watching how people interact with their iPhone. If you’re a developer, I hope you are able to see such insights and continue making the iPhone kick ass. If you’re an iPhone user, well, see if you agree with me.

1. Slick. The iPhone looks cool, and that’s what matters. I love carrying it around me. I typically walk around in shorts and t-shirts, so I carry the phone in my hand. And it’s a cool feel to have the phone in my palm.
2. Voicemail. I love how I can listen to any voice mail with such ease. I wondered for years why the cheap phones don’t have this.
3. Google map traffic. Yeah, it’s simple, and it actually is pretty inaccurate, but I like the idea that maybe it could get better. I’m not buying a GPS device, ever, not with my iPhone handy.
4. Stocks. It sucks that stocks are so volatile these days, but one of the first things I check in the morning are the stock prices.
5. Data security. Synchronizes contact, calendar, and bookmarks with the Mac. If my phone crashes, I have my data backed up and it is easily re-reimported.
6. Applications. I look forward to seeing applications that will are cool, and let me interact better with friends. If you’re making one, I’m down for beta testing.
7. Music. Forget about the iPod, I have my iPhone. Sure, it doesn’t store that much, but I like the convenience of just having one device that makes phone calls and let me listen to music. The headphones are great, and the batteries last a decent amount.
8. When you take out the headphone, the music stops. That’s just awesome. It is something so subtle, and I would have never expected someone to think of such a functionality.
9. Hidden features. When you click on in Safari, it goes to the address line. If you turn the simple calculator to the side, it becomes a scientific calculator.
10. It blends. (willitblend.com). Seeing that black dust rising out of the blender somehow just demonstrate the quality that the $$$ pays for.

I have thought and said in the past (and others have said it as well): there are things that you didn’t know you need until you have it. I believe this mentality will apply strongly in the next series of applications, and the successful applications will be the ones that make me think: how did I ever live without this? Is yours one of them?