If that were true for Apple then they are in trouble. I do not believe it is true, however (other than for ideas and concepts, many of which will never see the light of day).Yes.
In general, consumer tech products take about 4-5 years to make.
http://www.businessweek.com/printer...g-became-the-worlds-no-dot-1-smartphone-makerWhen we released the Galaxy S III, our research showed that, for some people in some markets, the handset was too big, says DJ Lee. So we were able to create the same phone with a 4-inch screen, and we called it the Galaxy S III mini. Getting the smaller device into production took about four to six months, says DJ Lee. We watch the market, and we immediately respond, he says. The new Galaxy S 4 is coming out only nine months after the GS3.
Michael