Ah, but the iPod paved the way for the iPhone. Where Apple succeeds is in creating products that people covet. White earbuds were a status symbol for some time

Ah, but the iPod paved the way for the iPhone. Where Apple succeeds is in creating products that people covet. White earbuds were a status symbol for some time until the knockoffs came. They signaled that you had enough disposable income for an expensive MP3 player. Now they've made something you wear -- so there's no missing the signal. And yes, I totally fall for it every time -- but as a developer I have a convenient alibi :)