I found this interesting read by Google’s (now ex-) lead visual designer, and it struck a chord. I use Google search and make some use of GMail. I know some people love Google products, but I’ve always found something a bit clumsy about sites like Gmail. Google packs some very slick functionality into a less-than-appealing wrapper. Some don’t care. Or they tolerate the lack of beauty because the product is so functional.

Apple succeeds when it combines great function with great form. With products like Gmail, the form appears to be an afterthought, because it probably is.

Whatever Apple unveils in their iPhone 3.0 presentation on Tuesday, it’s clear that new hardware is on the way, most likely in June or July. The question is: what could be added? The leap from EDGE to 3G was obvious, but there’s no clear path for the next upgrade. 4G technology is not going to be ready. Here’s where there is some room to grow:

1. Faster processor – You can do a lot with the iPhone, but it can get sluggish when you’re switching apps rapidly, and background processing isn’t going to help.
2. Better screen – This is also a fairly easy upgrade. Higher resolution? A possibility, though it’s not really essential.
3. Digital compass – I’d be surprised if this G1 feature wasn’t also in the next iPhone – this will really boost the practicality of GPS functions.
4. Better camera – The lack of significant change in the camera from the original to the 3G iPhone was truly disappointing. I don’t care about more megapixels, but a better lens would be nice, as would true autofocus capability. Autofocus also adds practical new features, like the ability to read barcodes.
5. More storage space. I’d expect to the see the standard storage go to 16GB, with a 32GB option. Alternatively, the price could drop, but that’s not like Apple.

Apple has finally announced their announcement of iPhone 3.0 next Tuesday. While the actual software update won’t appear for several months (probably June), we’re likely to get a fairly complete tour of what’s coming. The rumors are already flying, but here’s my take. The first two are already widely rumored.

1. MMS – This picture/video analog of text messaging seems like another great way for phone companies to charge you exorbitant fees for something you can do free via email. Still, the lack of MMS has become a talking point for anti-iPhone crusaders, and the carriers are almost certainly pushing for its inclusion.

2. Tethering – The ability to use your cell phone as a modem for your computer has been around for a long time, as has the ability of phone companies to charge you extra money for it even though you thought your data plan was already “unlimited”.

3. Copy and paste – Again an item that’s discussed much more than it’s actually relevant on a device like this, but some people will continue to howl until Apple adds this. Here’s how it might work. Position the cursor as normal by holding down one finger. Then place a second finger and drag until the text you want to copy is highlighted. Release both fingers and the text is copied. To paste, hold down one finger, drag to the insertion point, and tap a second finger – you get a dialog with the last few things you’ve copied.

4. Video recording – It’s a no brainer. The ability to actually record may be limited to new hardware, given effects on battery life.

5. More text message functions – Text forwarding is a big one.

6. Google Latitude.

7. Background processes – My bet is that these will be limited, and will be throttled by the OS to prevent them from killing your phone. Some sort of internet radio functionality might be demoed to show the ability to continue to stream audio while you are doing other things on the phone. IM is an obvious use for this as well.

8. Improved performance – a.k.a. “the snappy”

9. Interface polishing – maybe the main interface will be something other than pages and pages of icons. Some sort of organizational system is key. Look for the equivalent of folders, and the ability to organize via iTunes.

10. Lock screen functionality – look for the ability to add additional info to your lock screen (e.g. upcoming events in your calendar).

We’ll see how much of this pans out on Tuesday.

Of course, there will be a new phone in July as well, but more on that later.

Each day I tell myself, “I’ve had too much dark chocolate peanut butter. Never again.” Yet, each day I find myself eating more. And earlier in the day. And more frequently.

I tell myself that it’s healthy: peanut butter is loaded with cholesterol-lowering unsaturated fats, and dark chocolate has been shown to lower blood pressure…but it just seems…wrong. Yet so right.