A new, all-encompassing, iPhone/iPod patent surfaced today, and it gives some interesting insights into Apple's vision of the future.  Some of the more interesting bits:

• Instant messaging integration.  This has the real possibility of being the de facto standard to a Twitter-type conversation cloud.
• Flash.  They seem determined to get this, and some very interesting communication capabilities arise in the browser when you can run Flash.
• Voice-activated commands and voice capture.  Aside from being extremely cool, a built-in voice recognition system would just be even cooler.  Voice becomes the new interface.
• A built-in front-facing camera for video conferencing.  Apple will make this work.  They will make lots of money doing it as well.
• Velocity and acceleration detectors.  They're turning it into a Wii controller!  You can do some cool things with a Wii remote, and this type of user input really blurs the line between the physical and the virtual.
• GPS.  No self-respecting mobile device should be without it.

It's telling that Steve Jobs had himself listed as the first inventor on this patent.  If it is built, this will be the ultimate communications device.  No, it will be the ultimate user I/O device.  If he actually builds a Wii controller with the brains of an iPhone it will be an incredible thing to watch in action.  He will and should be proud if/when this thing is actually produced.

Adobe has said it's willing to offer Flash for the iPhone, but says it would need access beyond that of the official SDK, which bars plug-ins.

I believe Apple will buy Adobe before it lets this stop them.