I don't use the headset. So I didn't know about that. I use Ultimate Ears super fi for music and Vibe for podcasts. More on that another day 🙂

As a solution for the limited space on the iPhone I use the Simplify Media app witch can access my full music at my iMac.

@Joe – the are ways you can point out your criticism without being rude.

Then again, tapping 3 times does not equate to a single press to pause/skip.

I'm sure Apple made the conscious decision to leave out the button, similar to when they left out the stop button on iPods. Everyone in the early days griped about that. Apple expects users to get used to different ways of doing things. As I will do here.

My point is still valid in that there's no single action on the iPhone to skip/pause, simply because the iPhone's primary function is not music player.

That should be pretty basic knowledge coming from someone who writes for an iPhone blog.

Once upon a time I used to think that having my entire music collection follow me around everywhere I went was a good thing. As my collection grew, this became impractical. With 10,000 songs or more, picking and choosing the songs I wanted to listen to at any particular moment was cumbersome and tedious. I'd shuffle my whole collection and then end up listening to music that were just too different from each other.

When I decided to pick the songs individually that I wanted, I found that I was spending a ton of time choosing just the right song for the moment. So I abandoned that idea and started creating playlists. Creating a playlist is just a subset of my entire collection. So it became obvious that I no longer needed my entire collection with me every time I went somewhere. A bunch of playlists would do.

I now find that I only need 1-2 gb of space to satisfy my taste in music at any particular moment. I do spend a bit of time making playlists, but now with the Genius function even this gets easier and exposes me to music I don't normally pick, but still fits with the type of music I want to listen to. The 16 gb iPhone is way more than I need since I don't load a lot of movies or video clips.

However… I don't like taking my iPhone with me when I workout or go for a run. Too big and cumbersome. I like the small form factor of the nano or shuffle. It works great with an armband holder, it weighs next to nothing and it doesn't get in the way. It does have limited capacity, but I'm only working out for a couple of hours anyway, so I don't need a huge selection of music.

I also find that if I'm using my iPhone mostly for music, it drains the battery quicker, so when I need my phone to make a call, it might have to be a very short one! I don't use the iPhone like I would an iPod so I can preserve battery life too. Thus I don't need the same functionality of an iPod in my iPhone.

So for those reasons, I'll always have 2 devices. 1 for everyday use, that just happens to be a phone and a personal organizer, and the other for specialized use when I'm at the gym, or some other activity I really only need music for.

I can agree with you on the size issue only. If/when they release a 64GB iPhone, I'm all over that. I could keep my entire library and have room for apps. w00t!

As for skipping, etc, I'm with the others … I use the mic button on my headphones. I've never needed a shuffle by album or song, because I can either go to the album directly and shuffle or go to the song list and shuffle. Plus, since storage has always been an issue for me, I tend to keep only the stuff I really want to listen to at the moment. I typically have 3 or 4 playlists I keep synced with iTunes.

For me, the features missing on the iPhone are a better camera (and maybe even a flash), and at LEAST 64GB of memory. I'd be in heaven and probably even get rid of my laptop. OK, let's not get too crazy …

I can agree with you on the size issue only. If/when they release a 64GB iPhone, I'm all over that. I could keep my entire library and have room for apps. w00t!

As for skipping, etc, I'm with the others … I use the mic button on my headphones. I've never needed a shuffle by album or song, because I can either go to the album directly and shuffle or go to the song list and shuffle. Plus, since storage has always been an issue for me, I tend to keep only the stuff I really want to listen to at the moment. I typically have 3 or 4 playlists I keep synced with iTunes.

For me, the features missing on the iPhone are a better camera (and maybe even a flash), and at LEAST 64GB of memory. I'd be in heaven and probably even get rid of my laptop. OK, let's not get too crazy …

Re: VisionXt1 I had hoped that streaming my huge Last.fm library (which is essentially my entire music library online) would be a piece of cake with the iPhone, but they have been having problems of late getting the app the work right and besides – you can't do anything besides listen with the Last.fm app. Surfing, no go.

Agree with lulugirl896 – no interruption of flow = bliss

Thanks a lot for all the comments – this way we all get insight and tips!

The iPod in the iPhone works great for me. In the car, I use a Belkin adapter that charges it and gives me line out to go into Aux input on car stereo – great sound quality. I use the supplied earphones when not in the car (exception of flying when I use earphones that seal the ear canal).

I listen primarily to Podcasts and music when the mood strikes as well as the occasional audiobook.

The one device really does do it for me.

I have 160GB ipod and my 16GB iphone so now what i do is keep all my music and podcasts on my ipod and use that when i have people over for drinks or take it on long trips ect.

My iphone is for everyday travel to and from work and update it when i get sick of the current music on it.

i cant see my iphone ever replacing my ipod completely because one the size issue but also at the end of the day it just doesn't have the battery power to do everything i want

Size – I don't have my IPhone packed with music (gotta save space for apps). Instead I stream it off my computer. There are several apps that handle this perfectly, plus Pandora = tons of tunes.

Missing Controls – I find the controls almost perfect. While browsing your favorite IPhone blog, from your IPhone, just double click the home button and the IPod controls appear, one more click and your back to entering a comment. Very unobtrusive in every app, also works from the lock screen so you can start the music without having to 'slide to unlock'.

Missing Features – For the Album shuffle, I got nothin'. But have you tried making a Genius Playlist from your favorite song?

I think the best part of the IPhone is to take one device out for a stroll while grooving to some music, realize “Oh no, the cable bill is 3 months overdue”, make an quick payment from the path, then call the wife and try to explain why we'll be watching “Lost” at a friend's place.