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The Gadget Wars, Who Won/Lost Last Week?
Posted by Mark Wilson at 7:50 AM on November 4, 2007
Every week is a crazy, unbelievable Battle Royale between companies, PR, reporters and consumers. Like this one time, a guy at the bar was in line in front of me for the bathroom. Another guy left the bathroom, but the guy in front of me was too engrossed in some conversation he was having to step up. So I politely asked, "Hey, could I go ahead?" And then he stuck his chest out and wanted to fight.
OK, that isn't like the gadget wars at all, but let's just say I went to the bathroom without a hitch (and not in my pants).
+ Linux
Asus released their highly anticipated eee PC, a 2lb Linux-derivative laptop that runs just $400. The reason they get the plus? Early reviews have been quite positive. (We'll give you a full rundown next week when the verdict's in.)
Then Wal-Mart starts offering the Everex $200 Linux PC. Since 5% of the Wal-Mart computer buyers are looking for their first computer, why not try something without an Apple or Microsoft badge of approval?
+ Eye-Fi
Out of seemingly nowhere, this littleSD card that adds Wi-Fi to almost any digital camera reminded us that the little guys can still ruffle the feathers of the electronics industry.
= iPhone
Time names the iPhone Invention of the Year. It's tough to disagree, but yet more positive press isn't going to spur iPhone sales. Buyers will...and Christmas might, too.
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
discounteggroll
Posted 10:41 PM 3/11/07
just like summer camp activities; everyone's a winner!
discounteggroll
spinner
Posted 10:24 PM 3/11/07
@freeway8989:
@jordan.w.s:
Let's all play a game of semantics.
We're all smart enough to know what Time is saying, but best "Consumer Electronics, Gadget or Thing" just isn't as catchy.
All that said I'm sure there are more worthy, world changing Consumer Electronics, Gadgets or Things that have been released to market in the past 12 months. Maybe something that noticeably improves the quality of life for those in third world countries. Or something.
A phone, no matter how awesome, seems a bit trite to be on this particular pedestal. That said: Apple FTW!
spinner
burnblue
Posted 8:44 PM 3/11/07
Basically, I wouldn't say it's that tough to disagree.
burnblue
burnblue
Posted 8:41 PM 3/11/07
The iPhone an invention? Are they serious? Multi-touch is an invention. The mp3 player is an invention. The iPhone is another touchscreen handheld computer/phone that plays music. Can't believe this stuff.
If the iPhone was an 'invention', fanboys wouldn't be Photoshop drafting their own version a year before it was announced.
burnblue
jordan.w.s
Posted 8:41 PM 3/11/07
@freeway8989: Actually, you don't seem to get it.
Just as a car does not have a definitive start point, neither does anything else you mention.
Prior to the light bulb there were electric arc lights and tesla coils. the ground work for 'lighting via electricity' had already been done.
Same goes for the telephone (fax machines and telegraph were prior), Radio (again, telegraph) and most other 'inventions'.
My point is that invention is a loose definition, and applies just as well to the iPhone as anything else. It took previous ideas and rincarnated them into something new.
jordan.w.s
freeway8989
Posted 8:30 PM 3/11/07
@Jordan.W.S:
You don't seem to get it.
An invention is the first of it's kind to ever see the light of day. In other words, an invention is a product that has a definite birth. An invention has no predecessors.
A car is an invention while at the same time it isn't. There's no definite birth for it. Plus, each car in history has a predecessor, so it difficult to determine exactly where it originated. Plus, it'd difficult to define a car in the first place. What is a car? An engined-powered vehicle? So if I attach an engine to a board with wheels, is it a car?
The light bulb resulted from a lifetime of work, yet one can definitely point out the first time the world had ever seen one. Same with the telephone, radio, and most other inventions.
The iPhone is NOT the first touch screen PMP/phone the world has seen. Therefore, it is NOT an invention.
freeway8989
fota
Posted 8:25 PM 3/11/07
We should just retire the word "invention" until someone comes up with a fusion reactor that works or a solar cell that can power the country on the cheap. Something like that that might be worthy of the term again. A consumer gadget is not.
fota
jordan.w.s
Posted 8:04 PM 3/11/07
@EX3CUTIONR: When will people finally realize that the automobile is NOT an invention but more or less just a buggy with an engine?
There's nothing new under the sun; pretty much all 'inventions' are revisions and advancements of the 'inventions' before them. There's a few exceptions when something completely revolutionary comes down the pipe... I'm thinking maybe the Telegraph, and maybe the wheel, but those probably both had predecessors as well.
So get over it.. The iPhone took a bunch of working concepts, and put them together into a new product that works well and differently than anything that came before. Ergo, a new 'invention'.
jordan.w.s
peacebyanymeans
Posted 7:09 PM 3/11/07
Linux + Eye-Fi = iPhone.
Got it.
peacebyanymeans
EX3CUTIONR
Posted 6:20 PM 3/11/07
when will people finally realize that the iPhone is NOT an invention but more or less is just a touch screen based phone
if you think about it, what did the iPhone have that was SO revolutionary. The only things that come to mind are really multi-touch (which already existed) and Visual Voicemail (which REALLY, at least to me, is not that usefull of a feature)
I mean, sure the interface is nice and all, but what exactly did the iPhone do that no other phone had already done? All iPhone did was take the best features from multiple phones, combined them, and made them look nice
So, is the iPhone really the invention of the year? no.
Is it probably the best product of the year? probably yes
EX3CUTIONR
ideaman2020
Posted 1:59 PM 4/11/07
Who invented Time?
ideaman2020
Collins1
Posted 1:38 PM 4/11/07
I wonder if Time knows what an invention is...
Collins1
Sixdust
Posted 2:29 PM 4/11/07
The invention of the year should be the one that involves using radio waves and salt water as fuel. I think they made some sort of invention or are in the process of doing it. This year, I also have seen cell phones powered by water on Gizmodo, really paper thin flexible LCD screens,and many green technologies. The iphone is a piece of shit compared to anything else that was actually invented this year. Time magazine is fucking nuts for thinking the iphone is the best invention of this year.
Sixdust
daftrok
Posted 2:16 PM 4/11/07
Apple did.
daftrok
LastAndLeast
Posted 5:30 PM 4/11/07
Time just had a strange way of saying "The iPhone is the most popular touchscreen based phone of the past year." My dad has a Treo...same thing.
LastAndLeast