Has Apple Really Ever Invented Anything?

[jman]

Thought some of you would enjoy this! kinda long - nearly 20min long, but informative.


http://youtu.be/wFeC25BM9E0

[stefan]

it's okay but could do without the attitude (as most things go). could be better with more information and less commentary.

i think most people think of apple as an innovator/designer of basic devices like computers, phones, tablets etc. rather than an inventor of them. however, i think these guys take the word 'invent' a bit far in some cases. for example, apple did invent the specific device that is iphone (because it didn't exist before) but apple did not invent the generic device that is the smart phone. in many cases throughout they conflate the specific vs. generic which makes their arguments awkward.

although the details aren't out yet, the new A6 is believed to be designed by apple (though it'll be interesting to see how much it differs from arm chips). http://www.anandtech.com/show/6292/iphone-5-a6-not-a15-custom-core

(as an aside, i disagree with the guy who comments about the unibody process, it wasn't only for aesthetics but also for strength and for less materials/weight. the alu shavings also are melted down and reused. it goes without saying that apple was trying to be bold in product development when they introduced it.)

[Sombeech]

Actually I think the general uninformed public thinks of Apple as an inventor. In a few years few will know what a blackberry is and will think the iPhone was the first ever phone with internet.

[Iceaxe]

I'm just about finished reading the Steve Jobs book and I will say I found it very interesting and enlightening. Jobs never claims to have invented much, his claim to fame is seeing a new technology and then understanding how it can be implemented and integrated into a useful product.

[jman]

I'm just about finished reading the Steve Jobs book and I will say I found it very interesting and enlightening. Jobs never claims to have invented much, his claim to fame is seeing a new technology and then understanding how it can be implemented and integrated into a useful product.

Right, but this is not what the public interprets. A lot of people claim that Apple invented the iPad. That's not true. They just improved its design so it is incredibly easy and straight-forward. That's just one example of what the vid was trying to explain.

[stefan]

Right, but this is not what the public interprets. A lot of people claim that Apple invented the iPad. That's not true. They just improved its design so it is incredibly easy and straight-forward. That's just one example of what the vid was trying to explain.

they did invent the iPad. they didn't invent the tablet. a better question is how different is the iPad from what previously existed.

[Sombeech]

http://www.empowernetwork.com/sandor/files/2012/06/Microsoft_Apple-Tablet_iPad-History-600px.jpg

[jman]

they did invent the iPad. they didn't invent the tablet. a better question is how different is the iPad from what previously existed.

True - good Clarification. That's what I meant in my head but came out wrong.

[stefan]

http://www.empowernetwork.com/sandor/files/2012/06/Microsoft_Apple-Tablet_iPad-History-600px.jpg


although a commentary on apple/MS, that image could have the GRiDpad 1900 on the left (1989) with other tablets/pdas in between


http://www.pinoytechnologies.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/GRiD-Computer-Systems-GRiDPad-1900.jpg

[stefan]

apple just received a patent for their bezel antennae on the iPhone (yes the one with the issues which they ultimately fixed). can't say i know whether or not anything similar has ever existed but this might be considered a hardware invention.

http://images.anandtech.com/reviews/gadgets/apple/iPhone4/dd3v33sr_169ch3mkvf8_b.jpg

[accadacca]

I dont have time to listen to the entire video, but I understand where they are going. The public can think what they want and if it benefits Apple and increases sales, then they have done their job. Sure Apple didn't invent everything. Did Starbucks invent coffee? Did Nike invent shoes? Nope, but they dominate those areas and their marketing is top notch.

To me Apple is a marketing company first and a technology company second. Microsoft is a technology company.

[Iceaxe]

59807

[accadacca]

"Invention" or not...

"Apple Now Most Valuable Company in History"

http://www.forbes.com/sites/benzingainsights/2012/08/21/apple-now-most-valuable-company-in-history/

[accadacca]

Related article:

The Surprising Patents of Steve Jobs
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/10/steve-jobs-patents/