Since its debut last Wednesday, the iPhone 4 has quickly become a phenomenon. In just three days, 1.7 million phones flew off the shelves.

At first glance, the only noticeable difference seems to be its rectangular shape. But the real changes lie within. We were among the first to get our hands on an iPhone 4, and we just can’t manage to put it down. Among our initial observations is the fact that the camera takes photos that are so crisp and clear you’d think they were taken on a serious Nikon. Plus…with just the flick of a finger, you’ve got a quality HD video camera in your grips. Shooting home movies will never be the same.

Another major improvement is that the iPhone 4 allows for multi-tasking. By clicking the home button twice, two applications can be used at once.

The new video chatting feature, FaceTime, answers the prayers of everyone who thought just talking wasn’t enough. Surprisingly, the video comes through crystal clear. Even video chatting on a MacBook can produce the occasional pixels. Unfortunately, FaceTime only works between iPhones. That’s a minor problem that will likely be adjusted in future models.

Many users have experienced problems with dropped calls, as the antenna is located on the edge of the phone. It’s more of a minor annoyance than a major manufacturing error. This can be solved simply by keeping your hands off of the lower left hand corner of the phone.

While examining the minor flaws, why not examine the little triumphs, like the incredibly strong battery. With the iPhone 4, you can listen to music and read a few articles from the New York Times on the train and barely waste any battery at all. No more rushing to a charger after just a few hours.

The iPhone 4, like everything Apple creates, changes the game. It allows you to carry an entire world of information in your front pocket. Now, if only they could just move that antenna. ~Ian Phillips