For a second there I got all excited, thinking my long lost and lamented iCards (from the old iTools) was coming back. Instead, it's just a dead trees solution with the same function that apps like Postino have offered for years. Oh well.

When they first said iCards my heart skipped a beat and I thought this would be Apple's version of a mobile electronic wallet. Then I saw they were gunning for Hallmark.

Lame.

Because, foolish advertising spambot, this is Apple. The cards will be high quality, the designs will be first rate, the interface to make them will be a fricking piece of cake, and the account used to pay for them is already in one place on the device.

Absolutely right. These "convenience" services will also likely be tied to Siri, so you could set a card to be ordered and delivered for various birthdays, or other occasions.

Should integrate beautifully with the entire iOS experience. AAMOF, I could easily see Siri integration and cross-promotions with every service that Siri can identify (that's just about every listing in the phone book, folks!)....

Imagine if Siri gets HANDS FREE. Imagine if Siri becomes VOICE-ACTIVATED as well as controlled. Just call it by name and it will do crap for you. That way, if you're doing something (say, in the kitchen with filthy hands), you don't have to go out of your way to get stuff done.

Siri: Sir, you set a reminder to tell you to do something for your niece's birthday.

You: Oh, okay, Siri, when is my niece's birthday?

Siri: Today, sir.

You: Frick. Um, Siri, send my niece a birthday card with iCards.

Siri: iCards is open, sir. What would you like to say?

You: Happy birthday, Katelyn! I hope your birthday is wonderful! Love, your uncle.

Siri: *reads it back*

You: Er... heaven's sake, Siri, how old is Katelyn?

Siri: Katelyn is ten.

You: Siri, modify the message. Change 'I hope your birthday is wonderful' to 'I hope your tenth birthday is wonderful'.

Siri: *reads it back*

You: Good. Siri, choose the 'Kid's Party' template.

Siri: Template chosen, sir.

You: Siri, send it.

Siri: Message sent, sir.

You: Ah... I better call her, too. Siri, call Katelyn.

Siri is going to be a revolution. Conversational voice control.

But when it's always listening for you, THEN it will be truly astounding.

And "Siri" is phonetically unique enough to not get confused with much else and operate as a good command delineator.

We just sent out a whole heaps of cards for our wedding using iPhoto and the quality is amazing.

Not sure if having this on the iOS devices is a good thing although I can see it working well on the iPad.

yep this is just an iOS version of that iPhoto feature.

as a feature in and of itself it is perhaps not that thrilling. But as a sign that Apple is opening up to making iOS is little more computer like where it is suited (creating mailboxes, photo albums, being able to delete media etc), it is more exciting.

Great. Now maybe those Send Out Cards idiots can shrivel up and blow away.

Heh. You have to love the irony.

Hallmark just started selling cards for the unemployed, and then Apple makes a play to put them out of business.

This should also boost old school mail delivery around the world which has been declining due to the internet/email. Perhaps create jobs. I'd much prefer to receive a physical card than an electronic one.