Smartphones also totally marginalized GPS devices, portable music players, point and shoot cameras, portable gaming devices, heck even flashlights are less commonly used than a decade or two ago. (of course all of these products still exist in meaningful ways, but they are certainly a fraction of their former market size)
You could also say that the iPhone had a direct relation to the loss of millions of jobs at RIM/blackberry and Palm.
I don't think i agree with the parent, however, that a company should ultimately be responsible for the losses a product can create in the economy, that would create a huge disincentive for any kind of innovation. and frankly, the effects of products in this way are likely incalculable.
Certainly, but an old cell phone camera wasn't a threat to a point and shoot - with features like facial recognition, flash, zoom (whether its optical or digital), video capabilities, expandable storage, ease of syncing with computer, night and other various modes.
Smartphones ushered all of those features into the device you already always carry with you.
And as i said, these markets still all exist in significant ways, but are a fraction of what they were at their height before strong competition from cell phones.
You could also say that the iPhone had a direct relation to the loss of millions of jobs at RIM/blackberry and Palm.
I don't think i agree with the parent, however, that a company should ultimately be responsible for the losses a product can create in the economy, that would create a huge disincentive for any kind of innovation. and frankly, the effects of products in this way are likely incalculable.