Apple has in fact created entire industries. Apple created the modern smartphone. Previous to the iPhone, all phones were feature phones, though of course many were advertised as "smartphones" because they had simple PDA functionality. The android phone was a copy of the RIMM phone with the keyboard which was much like a treo. Now they are all making touch screen phones with appstores, and aping all of the other features of this product. Sure, things with CPUs in them have existed long before the digital phone and before the laptop, etc. But the iPhone did create a new industry-- the touch based phone.

The iPad also created the tablet industry. Sure, people had tried tablets before, even Apple did with the actually quite successful newton (though this was stylus based like the palm pilot, and other copies.) But the computer tablet industry that is taking share away from laptops didn't exist before this year.

Apple created two industries. I'm a fan of apple because they are always innovative, always honest, and they always try to ship quality products. They're about the only company I can say that about.

I don't know why people should diminish that. This is a gold standard we should all attempt to emulate (And I don't mean by copying their products, but by copying their methods and standards.)