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The New iPhone: Invention or Iteration?

Not too long ago, the announcement of a new iPhone by new Apple CEO Tim Cook was announced. And while we don’t know for sure what the announcement will hold, we can be certain of one thing: the next iPhone will be an iteration, not an invention. Said another way, the next iPhone will feature several improvements but few innovations. Good or bad, I think that’s just the reality of the situation.

When the original iPhone was unveiled in January 2007, it was a true invention. It was sleek, it was thin, it was a touch device without a stylus. It made the BlackBerry and Windows Mobile offerings of the day seem clunky and antiquated. The intuitive interface, robust Web browser, and accelerometer seemed like magic. We hadn’t seen anything like it, and for the purposes of this post, that’s how I’m defining invention.

The iPhone 3G, 3GS, and 4 have each been substantially better devices than their predecessors, but they have all been iPhones. They’re iterations — part of a lineage. What I mean is that these new iPhones haven’t been sold on mystique or revolutionary game-changer status. Instead, they’ve been sold on significant improvements over previous models. This iteration boasts a faster cellular radio; this iteration boasts a faster processor to support better apps. The iPhone 4 was faster and thinner with a better camera (and an additional camera) as well as the Retina Display, but it was still an iteration.

Maybe the new iPhone will have this wicked cool Assistant. Maybe not. Whatever today’s announcement brings, we already know a lot about the iPhone 5 or iPhone 4S. We know its basic shape (even if it features a slight teardrop taper, we’re talking about mere millimeters) and size. We know its approximate weight and storage capacity. We know it’ll feature two cameras and three or four physical buttons. We know how to unlock it and browse through apps, and for the most part, we know what these apps are capable of. Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited about today’s announcement. (I’m ready to ditch my aging 3GS.) It’s just that I’m expecting an iteration, not an invention.

Of course, inventions are much sexier than iterations, so expect a lot of people to “meh” the next iPhone if they’re not sufficiently tantalized. That happens. But that doesn’t mean the next iPhone won’t be a great phone or that Apple should’ve delayed a product line update until they had something groundbreaking to unveil. Iteration is necessary, even if it doesn’t get the glory of invention.

For you and me, I think the invention-iteration dichotomy is important. When we have the opportunity to invent, we ought to take full advantage. We ought to create the best and most original organizations, ministries, resources, and sites that we possibly can. But after that begins the hard work of iteration.

Invention is good for attracting attention, but it’s in wise iteration that we find growth, sustainability, and trust.