You appear to have couched your comments in vaguely negative terms.
But I don't see any problem with profit motive spurring investment in R&D, and marketing driving public desires. That's Free Market Capitalism at its finest. Right?
Not actually true. I am not trying to be negative here. I just prefer to keep the record straight. Apple's marketing success mostly with the iPhone series of devices transformed it into the most valuable corporate entity in human history.
But I don't see any problem with profit motive spurring investment in R&D, and marketing driving public desires. That's Free Market Capitalism at its finest. Right?
That is the way that it works! That is capitalism, the most successful means of advancing and enhancing the human condition and human aspirations.
My objection is to the mythology that has been created and facts that are ignored or altered to further a false narrative. I object to the true innovators being unappreciated and forgotten because a giant conglomerate and its followers wants to steal all of the glory for themselves.
Technologically, the first iPhone was an evolutionary development that “borrowed” its features from previous devices. It had a slightly larger and higher resolution screen and it had an incrementally better touch input system. In many other ways it was deficient when compared to other devices from the time period both functionally and based on its actual specifications.
The only thing that was truly “revolutionary” about the first iPhone was its marketing success and the way that Apple was able to keep building on that marketing success. In the technology sector and every other sector in our economy, ultimately successful marketing is the most important aspect of success. There are numerous examples of great products that have been forgotten. I own quite a few in my vast collection of vintage technological marvels. LOL
So no, I am not being negative about the first iPhone... I am merely trying to point out the reality vs. the myth. Because of its marketing success, billions of dollars have been spent improving later iPhones and their competitors in the phone market. So it is true that the first iPhone was incredibly important and ground breaking just not for the reasons that are commonly cited.
Those who argue otherwise here are generally deluding themselves, but they should not be concerned because as this article proves once again... they have won the battle of perception in our society. There are now just a handful of us crusty old tech curmudgeons left who remember a more accurate version of history. And despite this heresy to the tenants of the Church of Apple we will continue to speak out.