A few months ago when the iPad was announced my initial thoughts were that it would be a great device for the majority of people who didn’t need a powerful computer to simply consume and share media. As well, I thought that if you had a notebook and an iPhone that you probably didn’t need an iPad.

However, after having used Uproot’s new iPad and checking out some of the great apps built for the device I’m starting to think that in fact it’s my MacBook that will be the device I won’t need very soon.

Apple says the iPhone 3.0 software detailed today will be available “this summer”. Here’s how you should decipher that: There will be a new iPhone out this summer.

I find it hard to believe Apple would allow consumers to run out and check out the new Palm Pre without first causing some necks to crane at a new piece of hardware.

Also, Apple needs iPhones in as many hands as possible. Which means it’s market share has to increase tech-knowledgeable boomers and gadget-loving kids if they want a growing piece of the mobile pie. While today’s announced software update are certainly sweet, that just won’t reign in these audiences.

Or who knows. Maybe it is good enough? After all, no one can market software as good as Apple. And we are in a recession as well. iPhones, and the plans they come with, aren’t cheap. There’s also nothing to suggest that they’re capable of building a faster, thinner, cheaper and larger iPhone right now.

So again, time will tell. But after a complete overhaul of their Mac lineup, what else will there be left to boast about come June? As “this summer”, the season that’s included the launch of the last two iPhones, draws near I won’t be surprised if Apple has more bullets in the barrel.

Apple will be hosting an event today at 1pm PT where they will announce the features of the upcoming iPhone 3.0 software. (You can follow a live blog of the event on Macworld.)

For those not a member of Apple fandom (or a shareholder), here’s what this means:

For the business, the event is aimed at keeping the luster on a product that has become the benchmark of the mobile phone industry but is at risk of losing traction as competitors come around to duplicating what made it a success. (Read: The Palm Pre)

For developers, many of whom have made careers out of developing applications for the iPhone, this will hopefully mean a few new tools they can play with to bring an even better experience to the phone. I’ve downloaded several great apps since I got my iPhone and whether I use them to tune my guitar, chat with friends, play a game, check movie listings or find a restaurant, they’ve all been worth it.

That brings us to the consumer. End users will benefit from today’s announcement in a mostly indirect way. I suspect a lot of features announced won’t be cosmetic but rather aimed at expanding the development feature set. Other than Kevin Rose’s (probably correct) prediction that copy-and-paste functionality will be included in today’s announcements, I can’t imagine there will be more tangible updates for the user to look forward to in the iPhone interface.

But of course, no one ever really knows until it happens. Especially when it comes to Apple.

Update: Macworld is reporting that Apple has over 100 features for end user including, as reported, cut, copy & paste and shake to undo. (Developers have over 1000 new features to play with including a notification system and peer-to-peer connections via WiFi or Bluetooth.)

Update 2: In the end it looks like there are a lot of great new features that users will immediately benefit from and a whole lot more that developers can sink their teeth into. Rather than summarizing all the new features here I’ll point you to the Apple site, now updated with all the features in the coming software update.

Okay, I’m finally jealous of another phone. Palm just announced the Palm Pre and it’s clear they’ve done their homework. The Pre is everything you’ve come to expect from a sophisticated mobile device – easy access to communication, media, apps and web in a touch interface – but refines it by improving the human-machine interactions and the promise of technology doing more heavy lifting to organize your information.

Things like:

• Removing the (annoying) restriction of running one app at a time,
• Replacing buggy virtual keyboards with a slide-out, hard keyboard
• Unifiying IM and SMS-based chatting
• Partnering with Microsoft, Facebook and Google to unify your inbox, contact entries and calendar information

And more…

More details and pics available on the Palm Pre site

For me, it’s one more weapon when arguing about what the the best mobile phone is at dinner parties.

I’ll have a massive link up post that’ll cover a few things I’ve been taking note of since my time back from France, including some great new Toronto eateries, sites that have caught my eye and some photography from a few friends and myself.

Keep you posted. (har har)