An innovative product is something that is new and different. It is something that people didn't think about before but now go "Oooo, I see a use for that." For example the microwave was an innovative product. It cooked food in a completely different way, using a different technology.

The Microwave oven was invented when Percy Spencer realised that his active radar set was melting his chocolate bar. Radar was discovered independently by eight different powers, but was based on the invention of the radio. The radio was invented by Thomas Edison when he noticed high frequency electromagnetic waves while experimenting with his Acoustic telegraph. The acoustic telegraph could not have been invented without the pioneering discovery of Heinrich Hertz, who was the first to discover the photoelectric effect, and later developed the first dipole receiver. Hertz could not have made this discovery without the work of Michael Faraday, who discovered electromechanical induction. Without the work of Simon Ohm on the discovery of electromotive force, he probably wouldn't have got that far, but only after Wilhelm Weber improved upon Johann Schweigger's newly invented galvanometer. Probably skipping a few steps up the chain, but these developments could not have occured without the discovery by Alessandro Volta of the electric battery. William Watson and Benjamin Franklin discovered electrical potentials, without which none of the preceding could have occurred. In fact, you can go right back to Gerolamo Cardano who was the first to have really discovered electricity in the 16th Century.

My point here, is that all inventions and innovation is built on work that proceeds it. That includes the iPhone. That innovation is something that is so totally original and isolated from all other inventions is ridiculous, as I think that my potted history of the Microwave Oven shows. Thus, the iPhone, which builds on and brings together a lot of different technologies, is a truly innovative device.

Someone want inform the digitizor admins?

...ethnic...

Typo of the century! I think you meant "then" :-)

"I challenge you to name another tech company that innovates like Apple--with game-changing technologies like the iPod, iTunes, iPhone, and iPad."

VMWare. It's owned 80% by EMC, which is a behomoth and totally innovation free. Yet VMWare puts out a lot of very innovative products.

Fair enough, I'm not trying to convince you one way or the other, I'm just trying to find out your sources. I, also, don't trust Tony Abbott and I won't be voting for him. It's just my lack of trust is based on other things than yours, that's all.

However, I have to note that Hansard is unreliable in this respect, because anyone can say anything they want as they are under immunity from libel law while in the Parliament, and thus can say what they like without any need to back their statements with fact. Sure, there's the Privileges Committee, but it is rare that anyone is referred to this.

Secondly, I don't trust much of what is reported in newspapers - they have not exactly been accurate sources of information over time. It's quite possible that Abbott doesn't prosecute as a libel case would look far worse than just keeping a dignified silence. Politicians have thick skins, and and Abbott probably more so than the average.

You can get that right now from Cable.

Yeah, cause Cable is ubiquitous.

...I have to vote,

Why?

Voting is compulsory in Australia.

Like I said above (before you changed the topic), how do you know that? He left on his own accord - nobody kicked him out. Their is nowhere on record that says he was "asked to leave", or even that we was expelled from the seminary. Where are you getting your information from?

It's funny you say that. Have your taxes increased recently?

I'll tell you something now: if they can cable up homes to have the potential to go 1GB as technology matures, then it will be a lot cheaper to do it right the first place than do it later. And I'll personally be happy to get 0.03GB/sec - that's still a tremendous data rate!

Yeah, I know - those darned miners and farmers! Anyone would think that they provided something useful to the economy, like raw materials for export overseas, or food or natural materials for clothing. Honestly! What do they provide the economy? Total welfare sponges, every one of them. I agree and in fact in the next election that will be my campaign platform: no more roads, telecommunications or electricity for those who "choose" to leave in regional areas. Bludgers!

Don't for one instant mistake me for being a supporter of Tony Abbott. But the sexual assault charge that you speak of was thrown out of court - over 30 years ago! You are somehow associating this with him leaving the seminary. I cannot see the connection, especially as the court case happened in 1978 and Abbott joined the seminary in 1983. Methinks that if it was a case that they asked him to leave, they probably would have first asked him not to enter.

You know this great insight because you were there?

The other advantage of a State monopoly is that it will provide services in areas that may not necessarily be profitable for a private company. That's important for infrastructure where you need universality of coverage to have an equitable society.

Tony Abbott was never thrown out of the seminary. He left there all by himself. As one who seems so interested in truth, perhaps a little of your own might be a good tonic?