I've got an idea for an iPhone accessory that I'd buy in a flash when I get an iPhone.

An iPod dock designed to sit beside your bed with the following features:

• Able to sync the iPhone wirelessly from a computer on Airport network.
• Alarms are automatically taken from your iCal calendar and amplified through the built in speaker.
• Works as a charger.
• Can be used to listen to music. (reasonable quality speakers)
• Automatically put the iPhone in a state suitable for sleeping when docked. (ignore calls, alerts etc except for wake up alarms)

So does anyone else have any cool ideas?

An ethernet -> iPhone adaptor

Mainly so you can use the net when you in a motel. Oddly I am yet to come across wireless in a motel, and I've done a bit or travel.... Would also be handy, say, at work....

Good idea, but obviously you could resort to using mobile data in these situations?

And get swamped with [comparatively] massive mobile data charges when there is cheap and plentiful ethernet nearby?

Count me out.

We're talking about access on the iPhone here though... normally I'd have my powerbook with me, so not an issue in that case.

A manilla envelope cover for an iphone

You mean an Airport Express? You're right, Apple should make one of those.

Umm, not again, no. I used some data last time I was in Japan/Hong Kong, very little mind you, and on roaming cheap it aint. A little gizmo would be easier than getting a pre-paid sim card for each country, and I don't carry a laptop.

Yeah I thought about that, but was told it'd be a no go for some reason (by someone who was fairly knowledgeable in all things apple). I can't remember what he thought the problem would be though.

Next time I see him I'll see what he thinks the limiting factor would be.

Perhaps it would be difficult to configure on the road without a laptop?

***shrugs***

Never really had to configure one. My airport extreme I just sorta plugged in clicked a few okay boxes and off I went.

Your probably right though.

I'd imagine on most networks it'd just work.

On some more complicated networks it may not.

but even then we are talking about an ethernet to iphone adapter. if that is the case then theres no configuration needed.
it retains settings regardless of whether it has power or not.

so in theory, configure the airport express at home to MAKE a wireless network. the iphone stores those details...

take it to teh hotel, plug it in to power, and the ethernet.... and away you go. ethernet broadcast across your airport express to your iphone....