Since Steve Jobs' name is (still) being shouted from every rooftop and he is still being hailed as a genius and this generation's da Vinci or Edison, I decided to do some research and make a list of his inventions:
Hmm, that's a short list. Maybe it's better to list the things he DIDN'T invent:
The personal computer
The computer graphical interface
The computer mouse
The MP3 player
Pixar
The smartphone
The tablet computer
Anything else Apple has ever sold or ever will sell
Did his company make great products? I don't know, I never bought one, but for the sake of argument I'll say, yes, sure, they made GREAT products. They certainly make the most expensive products. Are they beautiful? Well, as beautiful as a phone or a computer can be, sure. I'll give you that too.
But putting other people's inventions into pretty boxes and selling them for a premium isn't genius. It's really kind of cynical and underhanded when you think about it. And "changing the world"? I don't see Apple computers in the One Laptop per Child program, and I don't see a Steve Jobs foundation dedicated to education or ending world hunger.
Not only was Jobs no da Vinci or Edison, he wasn't even a Bill Gates. I can't find evidence of anything Steve Jobs ever did that wasn't strictly in the interest of Steve Jobs. Let's call a spade a spade, shall we? The Emperor has no clothes.
I'm open to the idea that I'm completely wrong and I missed something incredible somewhere, so by all means, feel free to correct me and provide me with a list of Jobs' genius accomplishments. Outside of marketing.
I'll be waiting.