I was actually musing on this very point in the pub earlier, having re-read an article on Apple's novel-ish approach to the SIM card (i.e., not having one) and

I was actually musing on this very point in the pub earlier, having re-read an article on Apple's novel-ish approach to the SIM card (i.e., not having one) and what that means from a business perspective. What people seem to gloss over is that Apple's major innovations come more from (or as much from) business revolutions than from hardware: - iTunes: re-invented MP3 distribution (it was even DRM'd at first, remember) - iPhone: screw you, carriers, it's going down like this from now on - iOS: we've got any app you can ever imagine - our devices will make you happy. They also innovate by knowing what their customers truly want: - Do you really want a keyboard on that phone? Wouldn't you prefer it thinner? - Do you really need a CD drive with that laptop? Wouldn't you prefer a bigger battery and thinner? - Do you really need that much RAM and CPU when apps instant-resume and you have a Flash system drive? Plus, they innovate in manufacturing (unibody, advanced castings and extrusions, laser-machining) and marketing and sales (direct-to-consumer, store layouts, try-all-you-like). Ok, so some of the approaches they use are bought/licensed (processors, casting tech, hardening tech) and many are out-sourced. But I really don't see anyone else in the public light who are pushing hard at so many new approaches right now. How many other companies are filing so many patents in everything from chip design to UI to manufacturing methods? So... I think I basically disagree with you :P