Time Magazine has named the Apple iPhone the invention of the year in a move that has many people cheering and a few wondering if the magazine has given in to the hype.
Although I don’t know all of the inventions that were finalists in this competition (some of the contenders include the autonomous automobile, the compacted City Car invented at MIT, and a hybrid steam car engine), Time Magazine has seemed to make its decision with its eyes open. The article announcing the Apple iPhone as the invention of the year seems almost apologetic, and the writer concerned with not being seen as the average plebeian wowed by all of the hype. He starts out listing all of the things that he finds wrong with the iPhone, such as it being hard to type on, it’s too big and its too slow. etc. These are all flaws that could also be attached to almost any current phone or PDA, and the text doesn’t sound like it is trying to be too convincing.
When it gets down to it, Time Magazine chose five reasons why “Apple’s iPhone is still the best thing invented this year.”
What are those reasons?
1) The iPhone is pretty
“Most high-tech companies don’t take design seriously…In the world of technology, surface really is depth.”
2) It’s touchy-feely
“It’s part of a new way of relating to computers.”
3) It will make other phones better
“Now other phone makers are jealous. They’re demanding the same freedoms. That means better, more innovative phones for all.”
4) It’s not a phone, it’s a platform
“It’s a genuine handheld, walk-around computer, the first device that really deserves the name.”
5) It is but the ghost of iPhones yet to come.
“The iPhone has sold enough units—more than 1.4 million at press time—that it’ll be around for a while, and with all that room to develop and its infinitely updatable, all-software interface, the iPhone is built to evolve.”
Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.
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