Right - but I think you may have slightly missed my point. You're weighing the iPhone against android - they're similar devices, but with significantly differe

Right - but I think you may have slightly missed my point. You're weighing the iPhone against android - they're similar devices, but with significantly different philosophies. My point is that apple's devices appeal to people who want to use them simply as tools to achieve a task. Android is bloody fantastic, as is arduino - and they aren't going to go anywhere, and you're going to be able to tinker on them 'til kingdom come. Apple do things their way, because they can - and it's a philosophy that works very well for them, and so long as there are other, open, devices, I don't see how apple's design and market philosophy is any hurdle to innovation. Also - I'm not talking about my friends (although plenty of them are), I'm talking about well known, well respected, extremely proficient industry leaders.