Time magazine lauds iPhone as 'Invention of the Year'

It may come as scant little surprise to many, but renowned print publication Time has this week furthered the reach of modern technology by bestowing Apple’s iconic iPhone handset with the honour of being "Invention of the Year," reports the Associated Press. epa01051643 Print publication Time magazine has chosen Apple's iconic touch-screen iPhone smartphone as its

epa01051643 Print publication Time magazine has chosen Apple's iconic touch-screen iPhone smartphone as its "Invention of the Year". EPA/JUSTIN LANEWith Google-owned YouTube stepping aside as last year’s recipient of the award, the sexy touch-screen iPhone smartphone has moved from being 2007’s most talked about consumer electronics device to being the year’s most outstanding invention.Surpassing the appeal of various other candidates, which included creations in scientific, robotic, military, and environmentally friendly fields, Apple Inc.’s eagerly anticipated debut entry into the mobile phone industry took the acclaim through a blend of its gorgeous design and its wide-ranging features and functions.Lev Grossman of Time magazine writes that although the likes of Intel Corporation’s new 45nm technology is "a serious deal" its importance lacks the glamorous edge of the iPhone, not to mention its far-reaching effect on the portable computer industry, its multi-functional abilities, and its genuinely user-friendly interface. While noting that the iPhone’s collective features may not be wholly groundbreaking – its touch-screen technology, for example – Grossman offers that Apple was perfectly positioned with its iPhone. Indeed, in an unprecedented move that saw Apple building the iPhone without any outside interference from carriers, the California-based computer company was able to best deliver what the customer wanted through a mixture of innovative design and intuitive interfacing.It wasn’t all bright lights and glory for the iPhone however, with Time also making a point of revealing some of the smartphone’s less desirable qualities, including: the difficulties associated with typing via the on-screen keyboard; the handset’s physical sizing preventing it from being a genuinely convenient mobile phone; its inexplicable lack of instant messaging; and that users are contractually forced to sign up with exclusive U.S. carrier AT&T.Of course, the latter point of detraction can be quickly and easily overcome if users know where to look. And, with Apple recently revealing that around 250,000 of the 1.4 million iPhones sold since its June 29 launch have been unlocked from AT&T, it would appear that plenty of customers are not deterred by the supposed restriction of carrier exclusivity.

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techNov 4th, 2007 - 14:01:27

Maybe oneday the Gaiacomm International 4G terahertz technology will be reconized, only after ATT, etc are pushed out of control.

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PhillNov 4th, 2007 - 20:15:35

The Iphone would have been good if it was released 3/4 years ago, as it is now it lacks the technology you would expect from a new phone. 2MP camera ? why even bother giving it a camera, lol.

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Simon TaylorNov 4th, 2007 - 20:19:29

Exactly what did they invent? My existing phone does everything the iPhone does - oh, and a lot more. So the interace is funky - but where's the innovation?

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AlfonsoXNov 4th, 2007 - 20:26:55

Apart from a stylish shell what is the difference between the iphone and one of the many windows mobile PDA phones that are out. How can apple say the iPhone is a revolution when it just isn't.

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Chad HNov 5th, 2007 - 08:49:34

@ Simon: The Interface IS the invention! The interface of mobile phones had been stuck since the Black Dot matrix screen days. The Touch screen is one of the most natural interfaces around, and the touch screen tech is much better than most other touch screen devices. Until the Iphone, Touch screen had been a Novelty, now its natural.

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maxwellNov 5th, 2007 - 10:45:59

Chad, be honest, you just wrote that comment on your mac, didn't you?

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