In a move sure to increase the bushels of geek mail accumulating at Time Magazine, the publication has declared the Apple iPhone the Invention of the Year. You can almost hear legions of casual Time readers foaming at the mouth, wondering if perhaps someone didn't create a new AIDS drug, a food substance that might help battle world hunger, or a Linux-based OS that wouldn't make Jen DeLeo go running back to Windows.

OK, so maybe it's not so divisive as when the magazine chose "you" as the Person of the Year, or the year it split the decision between Bill Clinton and Kenneth Starr, or the second time it picked George W. Bush--but the iPhone has had more than its fair share of detractors, long before the thing was even announced. Plus, beginning your numbered arguments with "the iPhone is pretty" is a sure way to ruffle some pocket protectors.

One thing's for sure, though: In terms of consumer electronics, the iPhone was certainly this year's most hyped. And as far as how we'll interact with our devices in the coming years, it was one of the most significant.