Time names iPhone "Invention Of the Year"

Apple's "love it," "hate it" or "hack it to pieces" iPhone is Time's "Invention Of the Year," following up last year's YouTube win. Nothing more to say about this thing that hasn't been said a million times, but don't worry, Time is careful to retread it all just in case you've been in a coma since January.

[blade417 @ Nov 1st 2007 11:09AM]

that huge iPhone in the picture is clearly an iPhone ripoff.

[Jake @ Nov 1st 2007 2:10PM]

Apparently someone needs to teach Time the difference between an invention, an innovation and a product.

I mean cripes, I've been using YouTube since 2005. How could it be "invented" in 2006 when 1) it existed before then; 2) there was nothing invented.

Idiots.

Of course, both the iPhone & YouTube are great, highly successful products.

[Phreak511 @ Nov 1st 2007 2:30PM]

I thought Time Magazine went bankrupt. Does anybody actually subscribe, much less, READ that old media fossil?

And we're all expected to believe this garbage?


Next thing you know, five Swedes will give a Nobel Peace Prize to Al Gore for his Power Point presentation....oh wait...

[Andir3.0 @ Nov 1st 2007 2:50PM]

"Apparently someone needs to teach Time the difference between an invention, an innovation and a product."

Besides, it's not really an invention. It's a PDA/MP3 Player/Phone. It's like calling a bead necklace an invention because they combined beads, string, and a knot.

[bama @ Nov 1st 2007 4:24PM]

Would you call a cellphone an invention?

Hell it's just the fusion of cellular communication electronics and a phone. Nah, your right, this can't be an invention either.

But surely the phone was an invention right?

That magic phone that instantly transmits your voice to someone else. What a gas that phone is. It's not like it relies on speakers, or microphones, or some sort of input device, or materials and material processes. No, it must not be an invention then since it's just a mashup of other inventions.

But wait, is the keypad on a phone an invention? I mean humans have been pressing shit with their fingers for millions of years. Hell that's not an invention either since someone's already done it in some other fashion.

So let's see.......according to your stringent requirements, the only things you could maybe argue as inventions are subatomic particles, but even those may have shit inside of them.

Damn logic.

[FatSweatSuitWearer @ Nov 1st 2007 11:10AM]

and let the anti-Apple crowd chime in in
3
2
1
GO!

[Corndog @ Nov 1st 2007 11:36AM]

Omg apple sux stupid iphone isnt as good as my alarm clock by my bed steve jobs is a total tool etc etc.

Actually, very much being an apple non-lover, I bought an iphone to develop for it recently, and while it is nowhere near as function as my n95, it is very slick and I find myself trying harder and harder to dislike it. When this thing gets a better camera, 3g, and an API, it will be pretty tough to beat.

[mike @ Nov 1st 2007 1:14PM]

Um... why would you try to dislike a product you obviously like?

[JAmerican @ Nov 2nd 2007 12:17AM]

I think the HTC Kaiser deserves such a title! GPS, 3MP camera, tilting screen, productivity applications, huge range of WM applications to run on 128MB of RAM. The Kaiser does what the iPhone can. It may not have an accelerometer, the fact that it does what the iPhone can + more makes the difference. TIME magazine just like CNN has dumbed down over the years to get more readers/viewers. Very sad.

[MikeTV @ Nov 1st 2007 11:13AM]

Apparently Lev Grossman is an idiot. It's Touchy Feely? Is he serious? It's many shortcomings are ignored because it is "pretty"???? "It's not a phone it's a platform"?? Somehow squished all of OSX into it?

Who is this guy and .. and.. and.. I'm just amazed????

[Derry Quinn @ Nov 1st 2007 12:05PM]

No my dear friend, YOU are the idiot. The only one talking sense here is rv. Good man rv.

[Sam @ Nov 1st 2007 11:14AM]

invention of the year? its more like "greatest collaboration of emerging and current technologies wrapped up in a sexy package that makes big bucks"
not that that's a bad thing.

[zip22 @ Nov 1st 2007 11:28AM]

that sounds like invention to me. the wikipedia definition is good
"An invention is an object, process, or technique which displays an element of novelty. An invention may sometimes be based on earlier developments, collaborations or ideas, and the process of invention requires at least the awareness that an existing concept or method can be modified or transformed into an invention."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invention

[rv @ Nov 1st 2007 11:34AM]

No, it is an innovation, not an invention. There have been all in one phones in the past. The iphone is just a better smartphone. In fact, you might not even call it an innovation, because like I said, there have been all in one phones in the past, this is just the first one to use multi-touch and a large amount of built in flash memory.

[Derek @ Nov 1st 2007 11:59AM]

So... the guy who invented the car, didn't really invent it? He just mashed together a bunch of existing technologies?

You guys are idiots.

[Derry Quinn @ Nov 1st 2007 12:06PM]

No my dear friend, YOU are the idiot. The only one talking sense here is rv. Good man rv.
Woops! I meant to post down here!(I guess I'm the idiot then)

[Gar @ Nov 1st 2007 12:15PM]

@Derek

No, it's not.

It's like saying Henry Ford invented the automobile. That's completely untrue. Automobiles were around in many varieties before his Model-T. Some better, some worse. All he did was revolutionize production standards and bring better, cheaper cars to market.

You can't even draw a comparisson like that with Apple and the iPhone. They have not revolutionized anything. All that's new is the multi-touch. There have already been iTunes phones, already been other phones that have done all of this.

Nothing to see that even remotely resembles the word invention here. Move along.

[anonymouspimp @ Nov 1st 2007 12:23PM]

Well... look at the source. Time magazine named a website that shows user uploaded videos "invention of he year" last year. Nothing invented there, either.

Its simply a poorly named award for "Most Buzzworthy Gadget of the Year"

[zip22 @ Nov 1st 2007 1:41PM]

so rv, you're saying that the iphone was a collection of things available in various forms in the past, and then apple added an in multitouch and a lot of built in memory? i think we're in agreement, it fits the wikipedia definition of invention pretty well.

[Derbeste @ Nov 1st 2007 2:38PM]

in·ven·tion /ɪnˈvɛnʃən/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[in-ven-shuhn] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun 1. the act of inventing.
2. U.S. Patent Law. a new, useful process, machine, improvement, etc., that did not exist previously and that is recognized as the product of some unique intuition or genius, as distinguished from ordinary mechanical skill or craftsmanship.
3. anything invented or devised.
4. the power or faculty of inventing, devising, or originating.
5. an act or instance of creating or producing by exercise of the imagination, esp. in art, music, etc.
6. something fabricated, as a false statement.
7. Sociology. the creation of a new culture trait, pattern, etc.
8. Music. a short piece, contrapuntal in nature, generally based on one subject.
9. Rhetoric. (traditionally) one of the five steps in speech preparation, the process of choosing ideas appropriate to the subject, audience, and occasion.
10. Archaic. the act of finding.

www.dictionary.com

I may not like the iPhone, but it clearly fits one or more of these definitions of "invention".

It may be built from previously similar ideas, but the product is, itself, unique. That is the key word really. They made something unique. And that does, in fact, qualify it under the technical definition.

Whether it is "invention of the year", is up for subjective opinion.

That it is TIME'S "invention of the year".....is not.

But it IS an invention. And it has arguably had the most impact so far this year (though one could make a solid argument for Halo 3 or even WoW: TBC which sold just as many units.)

What I want to know is.....when is Al Gore going to get his time's award for inventing the Internet?

[Rob @ Nov 1st 2007 3:25PM]

no, its not like saying the automobile wasn't invented. smartphones have been around for a long time. its like saying the 2007 Ford Mustang is the invention of the year, because it looks cool and works.

[facebookfake @ Nov 1st 2007 5:37PM]

@zip22

Why would you ever cite wikipedia as your source? Way to lend yourself some credibility.

[ark_v2 @ Nov 1st 2007 8:16PM]

@zip22: A lot of built-in memory? How many decades old is your HDD to come to this conclusion?

[Eric Leung @ Nov 2nd 2007 3:04AM]

@Gar

technically, even the multi-touch screen has been on other phones before... apple just put it in a much prettier package

NOT an invention... just a remake... like a new model of a car
(i still want an iphone though)

[FrankTheCrank @ Nov 1st 2007 11:15AM]

Anybody who loves tech and has had the pleasure of playing with an iPhone knows this is clearly deserved.

[enemes @ Nov 1st 2007 12:11PM]

I have an iPhone. No, it's not deserved. It's pretty, but the UI is VERY dysfunctional. A phone that requires both hands to operate? 4 clicks to make a simple phone call? Is this innovation? Decent web-browser. OK mp3 player. Is this an award worthy device? Have any of you seen Idiocracy?

[t-bone @ Nov 1st 2007 1:00PM]

@enemes: I have an iPhone and it most definitely does not require two hands. You must have hands the size of a 2-year-old's hands.

[dj-kenpo @ Nov 1st 2007 1:38PM]

@enemes "cuz it has electrolytes?"

[enemes @ Nov 1st 2007 3:34PM]

and please tell me how you can check your email with a single hand without sliding the phone in your hand or stretching your thumb? No, I don't have small hands. I don't have huge hands either though.

[Xzavier @ Nov 1st 2007 4:32PM]

I love Tech and I surf the web... So where was Time when Al Gore Invented the Internet? Now I know that article is bias!

:P

[iomatic @ Nov 1st 2007 11:15AM]

Hehe; true true. Here they come...

"How much experience have you had with the iPhone, but still feel compelled to trash it? What? None? Just as we thought..."

[loci @ Nov 1st 2007 11:23AM]

How much experience have you had with the iPhone, but still feel compelled to defend it? What? None? Just as we thought...

[John @ Nov 1st 2007 11:32AM]

Actually, I went down to an Apple store after the crowds were dying down following the release and toyed around with one of the display ones. The iPod functionality was nice, but really, I just carry my iPod and my very, very basic cellphone around. It was nice, to be sure, but there was nothing that made me say, I gotta get me one of these. The iPhone wasn't something new that changed the way people think about a device - it's just Apple's methodology applied to a phone; control the software, control the hardware, and make it simple enough to use that you don't prevent part of the market from buying one.

[iomatic @ Nov 3rd 2007 3:14PM]

I do have one.

STFU.

[Steve Jobs @ Nov 1st 2007 11:16AM]

Thanks LG!

[SteveMB @ Nov 1st 2007 7:55PM]

+1

[cr0ft @ Nov 1st 2007 11:17AM]

It was kind of funny to watch the UK show "The Gadget Show"... they tend to do a bit, uh, unorthodox testing. They put the Nokia N95 and the iPhone head to head and while the iPhone won some coolness points, it could not be used to text message while swinging in a rope after a bridge jump, even using both hands; it could be used to dial and call with, but not as fast as the N95 (and they didn't even use the voice dialing in new Nokias which would have been even faster); it could only take garbage quality photos while they were out on a party night in Barcelona compared to the N95 and could do no video at all due to the supremely crappy camera chip.

So basically it's cool but not very usable under those everyday conditions as mentioned above. ;)

[Dave95 @ Nov 1st 2007 12:54PM]

Sorry did not know "swinging in a rope after a bridge jump" was an everyday condition. Yeah!

Let me guess - are you one of those that text while driving on the highway?

[manimal @ Nov 4th 2007 5:38AM]

@Dave95 - no, but its alot cooler that the nokia CAN do that.. incase the situation were to arise.. "hey Mah, I'mma callin you frum a roppe! heh ehe heh" ..

[Engine @ Nov 1st 2007 11:18AM]

Yeah, I can't really condone calling the iPhone an invention; there have been countless smart-phones in the past that have allowed internet browsing and MP3 playback. Just because the iPhone does it well doesn't mean they're the first ones to do it!

[loci @ Nov 1st 2007 11:20AM]

sorry, what was invented?

[DickHardknocks @ Nov 1st 2007 11:20AM]

But what exactly was the competition?

Granted the Iphone is a NICE TOY, I would have gladly picked Halo 3 or BIOSHOCK over it as an invention (art form/ electronica)

[Lance @ Nov 1st 2007 11:22AM]

I usually do not take the time to comment because I really do not think most people read through the comments before they make their own comment. Most people just want to heard, and they do not take the time to listen. Could we please handle one discussion in a positive and effective way where people actually listen to one other? Just a thought...

[loci @ Nov 1st 2007 11:25AM]

hahahahahahaa ah bless you *rubs lances's head*

[Boynamedsue @ Nov 1st 2007 11:56AM]

yes lance, because if i have something to say about something i should be obligated to wade through each and every comment before i can contribute.

[Lance @ Nov 1st 2007 12:21PM]

@loci

LOL!

@Boynamedsue

I think there would be less to wade through if people would read before commenting. In addition, what good is your contribution if the point has already been made?

[Boynamedsue @ Nov 1st 2007 12:44PM]

cause i talk pretty.

and i didn't implore anyone to hold hands and get all touchy feely. Its a fucking gadget blog. it's works completely fine without you trying to turn it into an ashram.

[Lance @ Nov 1st 2007 1:22PM]

@Boynamedsue

Ashram? Clever, but no. I am just trying to point out that if people want to be heard that they have to listen first. What good is it to say anything if no one is listening?

Anyway, I enjoy the latest gadgets, and Engadget is one of the best sites on the Internet. However, it would be nice to see some real discussions where people could debate subject matter respectfully.

[josh @ Nov 1st 2007 1:45PM]

You express a nice sentiment, and one I wish would actually permiate the blog comments, but several of the commentors (Boynamedsue for one) seem more concerned that their viewpoint is heard and validated rather than having anything concerning meaningful discourse on the topic. I suspect their behavior would change (or we just wouldn't notice them) if the comment system actually allowed you to view comments based on ranking, e.g. view just highly ranked and above. I know I would certainly enjoy the comments more if I could read just the polite and well presented ones.

[The Aggie CEO%u2122 @ Nov 1st 2007 11:23AM]

thats not fair........the year isnt finished yet...........lol

I have yet to get out my "death star" prototype