Eight Apple Products and Services Make Fortune's List of Top 100 'Greatest Designs of Modern Times'

[MacRumors]

Fortune today published a list of the 100 "greatest designs of modern times," featuring products that have made people's lives simpler, better, and more stylish.

Apple's iPhone, which first came out in 2007 and has since been updated every year, made the number one spot on the list for the way that it has "transformed human communication" and impacted almost every aspect of our lives.

"An iPod, a phone, an Internet communicator" was how the late Steve Jobs announced the iPhone to the world in 2007. At the time it was an impressive claim. Now it seems like a massive understatement for a device that changed how we live. Analysts were initially skeptical that Apple could succeed selling a premium phone for $499 in a market in which most devices were subsidized or given away by carriers. But by relentlessly pushing the envelope of hardware and software design, adding a professional-grade camera, and creating an ecosystem of apps and services, Apple has sold more than 2 billion iPhones--and in the process has become the most valuable company in the world.

Another Apple product, the 1984 Macintosh, made the second spot on the list for defining the personal computer revolution.

Six other Apple products were also included on the list in various spots. The 2001 iPod came in 10th, the 2006 MacBook Pro took the 14th spot, the App Store was 22nd, iOS is in the 29th spot, the Apple Watch made the list at spot number 46, and Apple Pay was also included as the 64th product on the list.

For its list, Fortune teamed up with the IIT Institute of Design and polled educators, influencers, freelance designers, and corporate design teams on the designs they consider "truly great," using that information to compile a top 100 list.

The complete list, which also includes products and services like Google Search, the Sony Walkman, Uber, Netflix, Google Maps, the Tesla Model S, and more, can be found on Fortune's website.

Article Link: Eight Apple Products and Services Make Fortune's List of Top 100 'Greatest Designs of Modern Times'

 

[CrazyForCashews]

This list is accurate as the iPhone is number 1.

 

[mazz0]

No iPad?!

 

[_charlie]

fun fact: the womb chair (#82 on the list), is more than $4,000. the steve jobs theater has a bunch in its lobby

 

[44267547]

For me, the Apple Watch and iPod Touch are my top favorite devices. The iPod has a lengthy history of maturing and being a device that has very few hardware issues over the years.

And the Apple Watch? It’s surprised all of us how quickly It’s far more than a ‘communication device’ from where it was in April 2015, the health features alone are appealing enough to all ages from fall detection to even a wheelchair accessibility option, plus EKG. It’s the one device that has the most potential moving forward, which will eventually coincide with Augmented reality/Apples ‘AR glasses.’

 

[Seanm87]

How is Apple Pay a "design"?

 

[julesme]

Wow, looks like Fortune finally re-made their website. It was basically unreadable for years, thanks to an obnoxious floating video screen following their articles around.

How did they leave iPad off their list?

 

[jayducharme]

No iPad?!

It's just a big iPhone....

That is impressive, though, for a single company to have so many transformational products.

 

[laz232]

It's just a big iPhone....

That is impressive, though, for a single company to have so many transformational products.

Agree on the iPhone and 1984 Mac - The others I'm not so sure about, and... Apple Pay?
I guess the magazine needed some sweet sweet apple clicks...

 

[calzon65]

I refused to use a Blackberry when everyone had a love affair with them, but when I saw the iPhone, I knew at that moment, that was the future versus the Blackberry with all its buttons.

Apple and Steve Jobs hit a home-run with the iPhone design ... it set the stage for ALL smartphones and tablets of today.

 

[jayducharme]

Apple Pay?

I can see that. Before Apple Pay, mobile payment solutions were clunky to use (when they worked at all). The result was that they never caught on. Apple did what it does best -- it made the experience seamless so that people actually wanted to use it. And with that, they're ushering in a new era of cashless (and cardless) payment.

 

[sw1tcher]

What does it take to become a design icon? There‘s more to it than good looks. These 100 products have made our lives simpler, better, and yes, more stylish.

Did I scroll too fast? Didn't see a single home gaming console (Atari 2600 or Nintendo NES) on the list.

Not even a VCR

 

[gixxerfool]

I can see that. Before Apple Pay, mobile payment solutions were clunky to use (when they worked at all). The result was that they never caught on. Apple did what it does best -- it made the experience seamless so that people actually wanted to use it. And with that, they're ushering in a new era of cashless (and cardless) payment.

Not to mention the tokenization they put into it to obscure your real card number. Tie all that into some solid biometric security it really helped NFC finally gain a foothold in the US.

 

[Feyl]

I would replace that MacBook Pro with MacBook Air.

 

[coolfactor]

How is Apple Pay a "design"?

Design is more than physical. Quality services must also be designed.

 

[AppleFanBoyForever]

I refused to use a Blackberry when everyone had a love affair with them, but when I saw the iPhone, I knew at that moment, that was the future versus the Blackberry with all its buttons.

Apple and Steve Jobs hit a home-run with the iPhone design ... it set the stage for ALL smartphones and tablets of today.

Yea, thanks Steve for turning the world into a bunch of zombies. Glued to their phones with no concept of reality. Am I in your way? Sorry, I was so wrapped up in just standing here trying to figure nothing out that I was oblivious to everyone around me. Yea? ****off.

 

[wordup60]

Great list. I would have chosen the 2008 unibody Macbook Pro over the 2006 model though. The single piece of aluminium body is still the benchmark in laptop design, and apart from minor tweaks, has held up to this day.

 

[DeepIn2U]

This list is accurate as the iPhone is number 1.

hmm. I’d say the Macintosh should be number #1 and OS X should be #2 for Apple as both was needed before the iPhone could take place. Took Apple 3 yrs before a “professional grade camera” was added - iPhone4. (iPhone 3G/3GS having a VGA camera while others already had 3-5mp cameras with decent quality is NOT professional all pics where blurry as crap).

2006 MacBook Pro? I keep forgettingMBP existed before the 2008 unibody designs.

 

[I7guy]

While the list is interesting and subjective the iPhone deserves its’ place.

 

[maerz001]

Design is more than physical. Quality services must also be designed.

Well than i miss thai massage on the list

 

[tophercronin]

I'm torn. The 1984 Macintosh was revolutionary, but the 1998 iMac arguably changed the personal computer from ugly beige boxes to design works of art (not to mention it probably saved Apple).

 

[fairuz]

A great list, but they forgot one simple, reliable, iconic design that's held up for 73 years with minimal changes.

[automerge]1584502129[/automerge]

Great list. I would have chosen the 2008 unibody Macbook Pro over the 2006 model though. The single piece of aluminium body is still the benchmark in laptop design, and apart from minor tweaks, has held up to this day.

Same, the 2006 one was nothing too special, especially since it was based on the PowerBook G4 design. It also didn't work amazingly well. 2008 made people start caring about the MBP, which became a gold standard until 2016.
[automerge]1584502544[/automerge]

Yea, thanks Steve for turning the world into a bunch of zombies. Glued to their phones with no concept of reality. Am I in your way? Sorry, I was so wrapped up in just standing here trying to figure nothing out that I was oblivious to everyone around me. Yea? ****off.

It wasn't meant to do that. I hate how the iPhone was used, but it's still a great design. Same with what I posted above.

 

[laz232]

I can see that. Before Apple Pay, mobile payment solutions were clunky to use (when they worked at all). The result was that they never caught on. Apple did what it does best -- it made the experience seamless so that people actually wanted to use it. And with that, they're ushering in a new era of cashless (and cardless) payment.

Here we have used other solutions that work fine...