Ahh... the iPhone, can you even say something about it which has not already been said? The hype train keeps on streaming along, powered by a media that seems to love Apple more than themselves. A media which has basically split mp3 players into two types: an ipod or simply a mp3 player.

No other phone has received the level of hype the iPhone has received. The Nokia N95 outstrips the iPhone in features, a Sony Ericsson P1i or an 02 XDA even feature the so called 'revolutionary' use of a touch screen. To European standards the iPhone is 2 years out of date, yet it will probably sell like hotcakes over here too.

I like how Kristopher Kubicki even has a rant on the ubiquitous nature of the iphone hype.

Earlier this week I witnessed what was perhaps the most egregious iPhone offenses ever witnessed in a four hour span. The following events took place over the course of a Sunday afternoon at 36,000 feet over the Midwest.

A man five or six years my elder sits down next to be just before takeoff. He's late, but we've held the plane for takeover so the man can get all his carry-on bags in the overhead bin. I would later find out the man's name was Jim.

We've lost our place in queue for liftoff, so now the plane sits in the taxi queue awaiting a line to open up. Everyone's glaring and Jim, and he knows it. The modern day Bonaparte seizes the opportunity with rehearsed ease -- the iPhone slips out of his front pocket.

Immediately the faces of nearby passengers turn from annoyance to instant curiosity. "Is that the new Apple?" -- they gaze nearly foaming at the mouth. Nevermind that the flight crew instructed everyone to put away their phones, and nevermind that we were supposed to be in the air 30 minutes ago while we waited for Jimbo.

With coreographed skill, Jim waves his magic fingers and places a call. "The ***** airline is slow. I'm going to be late." Keep telling yourself that.

Jim has created quite a commotion at this point. The airline steward is already commenting on how bright the screen is; a cute girl two rows back asks if its hard to type. Jim's ego radiates in directions I didn't realize existed.

Twenty minutes off the ground, Jim realizes I haven't donated enough curiosity to his mobile device. He studies with perplexion as I barely knowledge him from the other side of my Newsweek. The iPhone starts playing Star Wars at full volume. I drone it out for the first 30 minutes or so.

After Newsweek I move over to The Economist, and I made the mistake of looking at Jim's iPhone. Seriously? Another hour rolled by before I could be sure. Jim's been looping the first 30 minutes or Star Wars for the last two hours, waiting desperately for the attention of anyone who hasn't noticed his phone yet. He tries different positions -- holding it sideways, up against the seat next to him, and even straight up in the air facing down. There's not a damn person on the plane that doesn't know he has an iPhone.

I thought it would be over when we finally touched down in Chicago. Jim had other plans. For the next 10 minutes I watched Jim flip through his phone book and inform his friends that he's seen Star Wars, and he might watch it again on his iPhone. In baggage claim, Jim informs other people in Chicago the weather in Chicago, which he's looked up via the iPhone.

So long sucker, I'm off to the Orange Line.

Fate is a cruel mistress. Jim plunkers down next to me on the train, inquiring if I had thought about getting an iPhone. To this I replied, "You probably wouldn't worry about what people think of you if you could know how seldom they do."

Thanks Olin Miller, you saved me one long train ride.