Cool idea. These guys attached an iPhone to a balloon, along with a parachute for recovery, turned on the HD camera and let 'er rip. Some insulation and hand-warming wire kept it from freezing for almost the whole trip, and the built-in GPS function allowed them to quickly locate it after landing. One of the neatest DIY projects I've seen lately.

 

Check it out, with video, here:

http://www.i4u.com/41078/what-else-can-iphone-4-do-how-about-record-video-space

Not to rain on the parade, but as commenters on the article said, the iPhone was for GPS, the HD video was a video camera, not a phone.

 

Very cool project though. Kudos to the dad.

If you read carefully, they used an HD camcorder. The iphone was merely there for the GPS tracking capability. Aditionally, I'm surprised that the handwarmers actually did anything given that they require oxygen to get hot and the atmosphere gets thin, quick. While the thinner atmosphere is more insulating,the 100mph winds certainly would help rob the container of it's warmth.

Good catch. Obviously that would not be a good risk for a brand new iPhone 4!