Well, I'm getting kind of fed up with all the iPhone hype. Apple is not a company I've ever been fond of, because I see right through their marketing machine and understand just how bad and manipulative their message actually is. When the device was initially announced, I wrote a post pointing out that the actual cost of the device would be way higher than advertised, given that you have to sign up for a minimum 2 year contract with AT&T.

Unsurprisingly, the vast majority of the mainstream media has been seduced by iPhone mania, with some even referring to it as the "Jesus Phone." As Malcolm McLaren said about 30 years ago: Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols. So here are two mobile devices that I think blow away the over-hyped iPhone.

The gadget I think is currently the world's best mobile device is the Nokia E90 Communicator. I currently have a Nokia E70, and my experience has been amazing, fostering a true appreciation of Nokia's design and approach to mobile devices. The recently released E90 is a complete all-in-one device, and I still can't get over what it's capable of.

Most people still tend to think of these devices as phones, however Nokia has evolved into seeing them for what they are: personal computers that fit in your pocket. When closed, the E90 looks like a normal phone, but when open, it feels and looks like a mini-computer.

The E90 has an incredible list of features, including Wifi, GPS, a 3.2 mega pixel camera for still and full motion video, as well as a full fold out QWERTY keyboard. It can handle email like a Blackberry, and surf the web like a normal computer, rather than your typical WAP based cell phone browser. Add to this a media player for music and video, as well as an FM receiver for radio.

A microSD slot allows for up to 2GB of memory, and the phone can also handle VoIP (i.e. Internet telephony), which combined with the Wifi capability allows for a dramatic reduction in your wireless bill. Some of the software included with the phone is an office suite and a mapping application to go with the GPS, so you'll always know where you are, and where you need to go. ;)

Another thing I really like about the Nokia E90 is its operating system. When you proceed with the assumption that your phone is now a computer, the operating system means a lot, especially with regard to 3rd party applications. It's worth pointing out here that the Apple iPhone is a totally closed system, and there's no way to add anything to the device. The Symbian O/S has a ton of free add-on applications, which allows the device to evolve with the Internet, and when new applications or crazy platforms emerge, you can install such things on your device (which you will not be able to do with your iPhone).

This brings me to the second device that I feel makes the iPhone look like an over-priced, soon to be obsolete piece of junk. The fine folks at Open Moko have released their first phone, the Neo 1973.

Even better than Nokia's Symbian O/S, the Neo runs on the free and open source GNU/Linux operating system, enabling a plethora of potential applications. And unlike the E90, but quite like the iPhone, the Neo has a touch screen. Certainly that seems to be the one thing that makes iPhone devotees go gaga. Yet the Neo has more than just a touch screen, it has the potential to obsolete the entire mobile device industry, as the power of the masses can be leveraged to produce a platform that is above and beyond all its competitors.

Similar to the E90, the Neo has Wifi, GPS, and GSM, as well as room for Micro SD memory. However unlike the E90, the completely open source Neo will dramatically grow and evolve as nerds around the world code and migrate all sorts of applications to this emerging mobile platform. The Internet is as great as it is today due to the wonders of the open source movement, and now expect such incredible innovation to manifest in the world of mobile devices thanks to Open Moko.

So there you have two devices that have all the features of an iPhone, yet run on open platforms, so they will evolve and keep up with the break-neck speed of technology development. The iPhone is already starting to catch flack for its closed system, as well as issues related to battery life, not to mention that you'll need to fork over a ton of money to AT&T just for the privilege of having one. Both the Nokia E90 and the Neo 1973 can be obtained and used without having to sign an oppressive contract with a tyrannical wireless provider. I also think they're better than any Blackberry, however that's a post for another day. :)