Cell phones forum: Poll: Time naming the iPhone "Invention of the year"

Making stem cells out of skin cells sounds like an invention to me. iPhone is innovative, true, especially next year when it finally will (?) have UMTS, and can begin to compete with the market leaders.

The IPhone is a result of a companys production. Claiming "invention" is self inflation of ego. All aspects of this product already existed. There definitely were some brilliant engineers who amazingly put them together but that doesn't qualify as invention. If it does then you have to assume that the eagle invented flight. The "Maker" of the eagle invented flight, the eagle just does what it was designed to do.

It is certainly not the first phone to pull so many functions together. They were able to make it a bit fancier, yet it is certainly still lacking. The big question is,"How does this phone constitute an invention of the year?" It certainly doesn't improve the quality of peoples lives. I believe that would be the most important factor. It allows people to listen to music and talk to people... well wow I can do that with my ipod/mp3 player and my regular phone before the iphone was around. Once again, how does this invention/merge of inventions qualify as The Invention of the Year???

INVENTION OF THE YEAR?? About as stupid & idiotic as Al Gore getting the Nobel peace prize for his fiction book on Global Warming. It's all bout $$$$ And whom you know. Al Gore did invented the internet or so he claims! Apple did not invent the phone, if you mac people didn't know it has already been done a couple of years ago! All it is,is a well marketed improvement on an old idea and the i-phone ain't all that ether!!

Doesn't something have to be new to be invented... we've had cell phones for a number of years now.

it is a development ... not a new invention.

Might as well call the edsel an invention (though it probably wouldn't make invention of the year)

I certainly think so because they simply created a technological and aesthetic reference "landmark" in phone technology which will certainly mark the path for other phone manufacturers to follow in all aspects. You can already see it in other brand phones and products. Undoubtedly a good choice rightfully deserved as well.

Since when does Time know anything? Those folks have not gotten it right in 40 years.

Yes, as a matter of fact, I do watch Youtube on my phone. It's a Palm Treo which has been around for a while. So, nothing new there. By the way, it's on a quicker network than AT&T.

When I was out on the road the other day, I needed a pdf file from my home computer, so I logged into my machine remotely, downloaded the file, and read it. Try that with an iPhone.

Whats an iPhone?

i'm sick of anything i'ish. a really good invention would be the anti-hype-o-vision

Why is it so easy to dump on Apple?
While the I phone is just one of a number of great products for the year (High Efficiency Solar Cells, Nano-tubes, and on and on) this IS a leap forward towards my long held view of Anything, Anytime, Anywhere (AAA) as the Final Destination, the Holy Grail, of communication and the Internet.
Reasonable people may debate that AAA is a worthwhile goal, even suppose that it is a negative-do you want anyone to be able to talk to you, Anytime, Anywhere. The IRS, your mother-in-law?
But, it appears to be an excellent product, offer much in the way of innovative software, and I speculate the next generation will be even better-virtual reality, heads-up display eyepiece, more, more, more.
In technology, not all is good..or bad. But if the choice is lead, follow, or get out of the way, Apple is a leader, with more to follow.
I don't own Apple stock or a MAC, but I DO appreciate creativity, and they've got LOADS!

IT is a good idea. It is cool if you are an idiot but for most folks it is not even close to #1. How about some of the new CPUs and GPUs instead. Lots more technology than the Iphone and deserving of an aknolagment.
If you do not think so try making a quad core CPU and try makeing an
Iphone. The CPU will not be something you are likely to make happen. Those folks are smart and the technology advance itself is way beyond a phone with a screen on it.
Good god folks. Think before you come up with what is best of the year.
Look into what it takes to make something and get it to market.
AMD and Intel and IBM Toshiba sony etc.. All are way out there with the new chips and the cell chip could possibly be the starting point to change the world with such power in a CPU. You try makeing one.
Jim Davison
Sacramento

IPhone is an old constuction. A phone without 3G can newer be "invention of the year". IPhone and Mac people is like an religious sect who is brainwashed by its leader and pay owerprice for mediocre products. /Peo

Apple did not invent the cell phone or the touch screen! I also find it odd how Time always raves about Mac computer as well. I think there is something behind the things here.