> That’s one reason analysts thought Apple could never maintain its technical lead as other companies could easily replicate the tech. They didn’t factor in the

> That’s one reason analysts thought Apple could never maintain its technical lead as other companies could easily replicate the tech. They didn’t factor in the sophistication of the software, but that couldn’t necessarily hold indefinitely. Something that was also overlooked: talent. Apple was able to attract some of the best talent in the world. I don't think other companies were as successful (BlackBerry/Samsung to Apple was seen as a step up, the opposite was almost unheard of).