Steve Jobs introduced the next generation iPhone yesterday at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in San Francisco. The new device, which will be available July 11, will have 3G wireless connectivity, which means much faster downloads of web pages, email and images. It will also have longer battery life, which means more talk time, stand-by time, and browsing time.

The new iPhone will also feature a new "multi-touch" screen that allows users to control navigation on the web and flip through photo albums with their fingers. It also lets users increase or decrease the magnification of what's on the screen with a simple motion. Another key feature is the ambient light sensor, which automatically brightens the display when its in sunlight or in a bright room. The multi-touch screen and ambient light sensor could be key features for people with low vision, difficulty remembering, or limited hand function that limits the ability to navigate menus using buttons on the keypad. Still, the impact on usability by people with disabilities remains to be demonstrated.

One area of possible disappointment is that there was no mention of tactile feedback for the touchscreen, which could be an important innovation to help people with low vision or limited hand function. Rumors were swirling in April that Apple was in talks with Immersion Corporation to license its "haptic" technology for the new device (see, for example, http://www.palluxo.com/2008/04/25/leaked-apple-to-licence-haptic-technology-for-iphone/). But, those expectations were not fulfilled with yesterday's announcement of the new iPhone.

For an interesting running blog on yesterday's iPhone launch, read CNet's coverage at:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-9960064-37.html?tag=nefd.lede.

Fortune magazine also has a quick overview of the new device: http://money.cnn.com/2008/06/09/technology/applekeynote.fortune/index.htm?postversion=2008060915