Few mobiles elicit the red-hot love and ice-cold hate that the iPhone does. In the passionate world of mobile phones, where a new Nokia can bring tears to the eyes of grown men, the iPhone has managed to stay the latest and greatest since the moment it spawned from the labyrinthine mind of Steve Jobs. Here's why I think it should be crowned the Greatest Gadget of the 21st Century.
Mobile phones have influenced the 21st century so much it's hard to even remember what it used to be like, flailing to get through on a landline or scrawl a message on the wall of a cave with mud. The first mobiles plied their trade at the back end of the 20th century, but it took till the 21st for a phone that would change everything.
The iPhone took mobile phones to the next level -- smart phones. Smart phones may have started with the epic Nokia N95, but its joys were only available to the alchemists who could plumb its fathomless depths of features. Not only did the iPhone popularise phones with touchscreens instead of keyboards, it made smart phones what they are today -- and what they're evolving into.
Surfing the Web, updating Facebook and checking your emails have surpassed making boring old phone calls. Which is lucky, because the iPhone isn't very good at making them. The iPhone made it just as likely that we'll order pizza online while checking in on Foursquare, as quietly ring someone.
The iPhone also created the app revolution. Finger-friendly and designed for a phone's tiny screen, apps allowed us to go beyond the browser and keep playing even when we're offline.
So the iPhone made smart phones worth having, that were fun and easy to use, started the touchscreen trend and introduced us to app addiction. But the real secret of the iPhone's success lurks beyond what we humble users see. With iTunes on board, we can buy songs, games and apps right from the phone. There were low-res ringtone Web shops and apps for sale before the iPhone, but they were tricky to find, install and pay for.
It may hurt to hand over our hard-earned dosh to iTunes and the App Store, but without it, we wouldn't have the thriving smart-phone ecosystem that has exploded in the last two years. Developers know they have a swinging chance at making some money from their work, and 300,000 iPhone apps later we all reap the benefits. Not just iPhone users, either -- users of Android phones, BlackBerrys, Nokias, and everyone else who enjoys a spot of Angry Birds now and then.
I'm not saying the iPhone is for everyone. It has its flaws, and it costs more than some major surgical procedures. But if you have any doubts whether the iPhone is the greatest gadget of the 21st century, just look around you.
Every gadget, from PDAs to sat-navs to compact cameras to MP3 players, has been subsumed into mobile phones. And every phone is trying to be -- or beat -- the iPhone. Touchscreens are the touchstone, apps are where it's at, and we're all caught in the the mobile Web. Love it or hate it, the iPhone started that wave, and it's still riding the crest today.
- Agree? Disagree? Let us know in the comments section below. Then make sure to head over to our Greatest Gadget of the 21st Century tournament page to vote for your champion.
- Every time you vote, you'll be entered into a draw to win an Arcam rCube, a BlackBerry Bold 9700, a Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 and a MiFi from Three or one of ten Idapt i4 multi-gadget chargers.
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Comments 34
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Anonymous 2 November, 2010 11:12
Ok. I'll get it started.
'You can buy better but you can't pay more.'
anonymous 2 November, 2010 11:15
Codswallop. It's the worst phone ever. You said so yourself. That means it's only any good for apps and internet access. And I can think of tonne of other gadgets that do those better than the iPhone. The greatest gadget of all time is the USB KEY!
Anonymous 2 November, 2010 11:16
Agreed, it started a revalution! Just the social impact alone should give it top honors, the iPod however still remains a mp3/4 player that created a hype, the difference is that the iPhone is so much more than just a phone! It's the one product all competitors wish they thought of.
Rich Trenholm 2 November, 2010 11:21
"only any good for apps and internet access"
That's all I ever use it for. Talking to people is for loooooserrrrs
anonymous 2 November, 2010 11:39
You're only saying that because you're a loser because nobody talks to you. USB KEY FOR THE WIN!
amh15 2 November, 2010 11:50
It started a revolution and it's the cleanest of the user interfaces out there. But ultimately I couldn't live with its restrictions. It's a phone to get you into smartphones, not something a power user can live with forever. As a podcast listening device it's particularly terrible because of the ridiculous iTunes sync model.
And once you own it, it gets worse over time as the updates make it grind to a halt - while Android phones get better over time almost without exception. I'm not sure the Desire HD deserves the "greatest gadget" accolade but I still prefer it over the iPhone I used to own.
anonymous 2 November, 2010 11:56
It might not be the best phone at the minute. But in terms of impact and importance, it clearly wins in the phone category.
When I voted, it came down to a close call between flash sticks and the iPhone. I think between the two, the flash stick will win out. Its had a much deeper impact than the phone has had. The phone itself probably owes it's existence to the flash stick for making flash memory more used.
Anonymous 2 November, 2010 12:03
Good point Peter, maybe the winner will be something as simple as the flash stick. You've given me some food for thought there....
Anonymous 2 November, 2010 12:14
Iphone brought nothing new to the table, Windows mobile (as poor as it was) had apps before the iphone came out, my Siemens SL had MP3 playback back in 2001/2. Far better camera phones have been around before the iphone, and there are better phones for surfing the web
All its done is brought the "tech for tards" ethos to phones, and that alone isnt enough to make it gadget of the 21st Century
I agree with the flash memory/usb stick vote - far more useful and has made way more of a difference to peoples lives.
anonymous 2 November, 2010 12:29
I have two words for you suckers.
ROBOSAPIEN.
Yes, that was in fact one word. That's just one example of how Robosapien is ruthlessly efficient in every respect.
tursiops 2 November, 2010 12:41
It was hard not to let my fanboyism take the lead when I voted, but still in the end it came up in the last round between the iphone and the xbox 360. And by my count the 360 wins.
rj07thomas 2 November, 2010 13:16
Pity. My choice isn't on there. OLPC. I've no doubt the hardware doesn't match an iPhone or anything else, but as a noble vision it's unbeatable. I would rather still be using my 6230i and know that technology was available across the board (and no, I'm not an iFanBoy, I'm an nFanBoy :)
Anonymous 2 November, 2010 15:00
iphone never started of anything, smartphones were around long before Jobs started copying them and then I.dictating to everyone that uses them. The sad reality is the fan base he exploits who will pay over the odds for inferior products because it has an apple badge.
slaguru666 2 November, 2010 16:21
I think its unfair for Apple to have any gadgets up on the list, they should have their own list, as Apple have single handed made gadgets popular for the masses.
Have a separate list for all the Apple Bashing single minded Google fanboys and their crashy Android fragmented iPhone wannaby phones.
Gauntlet thrown.
iPhone - best gadget without doubt.
Anonymous 2 November, 2010 16:32
Are you the pot or the kettle here? Noones mentioned Android handsets, in fact the general concensus is that flash memory and usb sticks are the greatest gadgets - they're original and actually have a use (and are actually suitable for the intended)
Theres only one fanboy here and its you my friend
stanjackos 2 November, 2010 16:40
Whos Flora Graham, anyway no matter, because what does matter is that the iphone must be something unbelievably fantastic. Where else could you spend nearly £500 for something that needs annother bit to make it work properly.
Therefore it gets my vote for the best useless fashion accessory.
slaguru666 2 November, 2010 16:41
Rubbish.
Usb sticks, seriously ?!?!?!?!
Anonymous 2 November, 2010 16:48
Yeah - they have the added bonus of not telling you what you can and cant store on them...
Remember the iphone is just a phone, there were plenty before it and there''ll be plenty after. You know how pop music is mostly complete crap yet loads buy it? Just because something sells, doesn't mean its actually any good
Anonymous 2 November, 2010 17:27
Yes, the iPhone 4 is the greatest gadget mankind has ever produced, and very empowering. It's like a swiss army knife, in that it does so many things well. For instance, it has a GPS receiver, two cameras, does HD video recording, runs 300,000 apps, can sense orientation, acceleration, and rotation, has the highest resolution display of any consumer device, which looks absolutely gorgeous, does eBooks, music, videos, the internet, and is the best cell phone I've ever owned for making voice calls, and I've owned a number of different models of Motorola and Sony cell phones to compare against, all on AT&T's network.
Anonymous 2 November, 2010 17:33
I don't have a iPhone, but I do have a iPod and iPad. I agree - talking is way over rated. I just recently bought a Samsung Rugby and when I get a call, I usually ignore or hit the don't accept button. The only call I will pick up on is my wife and certain family members. I don't see a need for a Smartphone. iPad rocks! And yes, iPhone started it all and deserves the respect of Android users.
Anonymous 2 November, 2010 17:48
I have never had any problem with making phone calls on any of my iPhones. The people that do probably live in New York and San Francisco, I'm thinking.
Yes, Apple should have a separate list. It's like having a battle of wits with an unarmed man otherwise.
Sure, nothing new about the [Macbook, iMac, Mac Mini, iPod, iPhone, iPad]. They just tend to dominate their market segments is all. Go figure. Apple will never win the race to the bottom, because they're not even in it.
Sunny Guy
Anonymous 2 November, 2010 18:19
Best Gadgets of the 21st Century?
There's 89 and a bit years to go yet!
anonymous 2 November, 2010 18:57
for fanboys iPhone, for everyone else ... ANDROID baby
daydreamer01 2 November, 2010 20:26
Can she be any more Apple biased?
Mark Anderson 2 November, 2010 21:28
My word, is the 21st century over already?
Anyway, has to be the iPod. The iPhone and iPad are merely logical extensions of the original idea.
Anonymous 2 November, 2010 21:36
this competition is about supporting what you want to win - if your choice doesn't win, you don't get a crack at the prize. I'm sure they will have other people supporting other products. I reckon the USB drive should get it.
ilovetech 2 November, 2010 22:25
USB KEY!! My finals ended up between the iphone and usb, and then i thought of how badly i would've been told off for not doing my homework if i didn't have one!!!
Anonymous 3 November, 2010 00:00
Actually, not a single gadget currently CAN be elected for 'greatest of the 21st century"
First, we have to wait until the 21st century has ended, thus IN 90 YEARS. THEN we can tell which gadged might have been the best of the 21st century
and by then, there'll be iPhone 94 etc.
Useless debate here.
mlee2808 3 November, 2010 02:04
it has to be the ipod (because it did change the way we listen to music) or USB key (because it changed how we carry and back up information) but i think we should wait until the year 2100.
But i'm not surprised you picked the iphone judging from your bias phone reviews.
EvilJoe39 3 November, 2010 08:35
Everybody has been getting away with awarding things before the period is done for yonks, best of the year awards voted for before the year is done and the like. Did the NOW *insert year here* music compilations start the trend?
Anonymous 3 November, 2010 11:13
I think Graham McDowel is the best iPhone user in the 21st century. He is a solid finisher and could clearly kick Tiger's android butt any day. We will see this weekend.
Anonymous 3 November, 2010 13:09
What would "journalists" write about then if they had to wait until 2100 before they could wind up the masses and get the the flames flying?
Anonymous 3 November, 2010 13:28
Ok, so lets get this straight:
iPhone wasnt the first smartphone:
"Smart phones may have started with the epic Nokia N95"
iPhone isnt the best smartphone:
"because the iPhone isn't very good at making [phone calls]" (presumably this ought to be a pretty big factor in best smartphone)
iPhone isnt the most accessible smartphone:
"it costs more than some major surgical procedures"
iPhone isnt the most popular smartphone:
http://mobilephonedevelopment.com/wp-content/images/symbianq3smartphoneshare.gif
iPhone is however the most talked about smartphone; because of this my vote goes to the Apple marketing department.
Anonymous 3 November, 2010 14:08
hmm: not very good at making calls? I don't have an iphone, so I thought I would read the linked review of the iphone call experience quality.
The review is 12 months old. 12 MONTHS! The 3GS? Come on, how much credibility do you expect to keep here. There is a new version of just about every phone every year. How is the ear piece, the microphone, the speaker phone on the iphone 4? I already know that reception was improved. What about everything else you found wanting?