With the launch of the iPhone feeling like an age away with pre-order and release dates fast approaching, it feels like about time to reflect on Apple’s latest addition to their smartphone lineage.

Many of the features announced by Steve Jobs at the high-profile launch last week came as little surprise to those in the know due to a combination of a lot of German beer, Gizmodo and the fact since the last iPhone, smartphones have come a long way.

Now that we have had time to take in the revelations about Facetime, retina display, iAds and everything else that came out from the WWDC,  there are still some things that definitely need clearing up.

1. What will UK customers pay?

O2 have had previous iPhone launches to themselves. This time all the other major networks will be joining them. But how much will the iPhone 4 cost in the UK and what tariffs will be offered? iPad prices were about 2.5 per cent higher than their US equivalents after VAT was taken into account. If iPhone prices convert the same way then we can expect the 32GB model to cost around £250 and the 16GB to cost about £165. However, these prices are likely to be affected by the tariffs available, the details of which should be released imminently.

2. What does this mean for the iPod touch?

Apple typically updates its iPod range in September. Since the iPod touch has so far followed the form factor of the iPhone fairly closely, what can we expect to see this year? Will the new iPod touch get the same new look as the iPhone? Will it get two cameras, considering that it doesn’t yet have any? Will it get increased memory even though the iPhone hasn’t? And will it get a SIM card to allow iPad-style data-only plans? If I had to guess, I would say we’ll see a iPhone-style form factor, more memory and two cameras but no SIM cards. By all means, try this game at home.

3. Do you need one if you have an iPad?

This is a subjective one: before the iPad launch, sceptics asked whether you really needed an iPad if you already have an iPod touch. How about we reverse that? If you’re now a happy iPad user, used to browsing, emailing, tweeting and gaming on a larger screen, all with a handy 3G data plan, are you using your iPhone less? If you are – and I know I am – then is the idea of spending £200 or so on a new iPhone that appealing? For many the higher resolution screen, better camera and improved battery life will make the iPhone 4 a necessity but some will be content to hang on to an older smartphone and an iPad.

4. When will the retina screen come to the iPad?

However, we can take question 3 the other way around too. The iPad screen does not match the quality of the current iPhone screen so it’s fair to say that the iPhone 4 represents a big leap forward. It would be astonishing if the next version of the iPad didn’t have a Retina screen. So has Apple just given hesitant iPad buyers a reason to wait for version 2?

5. Will video calling take off?

I wasn’t the only person following the iPhone 4 keynote to find the video calling feature, which Apple names FaceTime, reminiscent of Infinite Jest, David Foster Wallace’s excellent novel. In it he explains how – in his imagined future America- video calling failed:

Callers now found they had to compose the same sort of earnest, slightly overintense listener’s expression they had to compose for in-person exchanges. Those callers who out of unconscious habit succumbed to fuguelike doodling or pants-crease-adjustment now came off looking extra rude, absentminded, or childishly self-absorbed. Callers who even more unconsciously blemish-scanned or nostril explored looked up to find horrified expressions on the video-faces at the other end. All of which resulted in videophonic stress.