iPhone, meet 2005

Now that the iPhone 3G is old news, and that developers are comfortably settling into their new development digs, the time seems ripe to investigate new ways the iPhone and the Mac — or the PC — could interact together.

I have previously discussed the disappointing docking system, that seems to provide nothing to iPhone users, apart from the purely aesthetic pleasure of looking at their phones, proudly erect on their desks.

Indeed, the iPhone, when docked, and despite Apple's gushing literature, sits at an awkward angle that pretty much forbids any tactile interaction with the device. Once the syncing process completed, it rapidly enters a deep slumber from which it can only be awaken by removing it from the dock, receiving or placing a call. It's charging alright, but it's pretty much an electrified paperweight.

Here comes one of the big inconveniences of a docked iPhone. The very fact that it is docked links it to my Mac through the magic of a high-speed USB connection. Yet, my Mac seems incapable to make use of that connection except for transferring a few files over what is essentially a vanilla USB link, guarded by a music organizer.

For example, why is it impossible to place a call through the iPhone, using the Mac's sound input and outputs? I would love to use my Plantronics headset, the very one I have on my head to listen to iTunes, to receive a call or even place one, instead of having to remove the headset, plug in my iPhone earbuds and accept the call.

The ability to record calls for interviews can wait, basic integration would already be a big step forwards, if only because of the acoustic comfort provided by a proper microphone and noise-canceling headphones.

Much in the same way, why doesn't my Mac display on its screen the SMS I have received, making sure I have not overlooked any? And why is it only possible to send SMS through Address Book by pairing it with a Bluetooth phone? Not too long ago, the ability to send messages through the Mac was heralded as a leap forwards in usability and indeed, nothing beats an Apple Keyboard for text input, not even an iPhone.

Many features would be useful, among which the possibility to natively use an iPhone as a USB drive, or the ability to sync Notes and Keychains securely. Without going that far, however, I would love to see the iPhone interact with our Macs at least as well as my three-years-old Sony Ericsson did.

I'm not even asking for wireless connectivity here or Bluetooth hardware: the wire will do just fine for now. I can also live — very well — without MMS, video chat or FM tuners.

Apple has proven, by releasing the much acclaimed Remote application, that they can deliver a level of integration between the iPhone and Mac OS X, that other devices will possibly never reach with their respective platforms of choice — at least natively. All things considered, however, Remote is whipped cream on a wheat thin: before catering to home cinemas it would seem advisable to bulk up the iPhone's phone features.