Was the iPod a successful product because it was the best MP3 player on the market in terms of specs and features?
No, the iPod succeeded because it combined a great technology (iPod) with a great business model (iTunes).
Being a great digital companies today means no longer treating software development as separate from the business.
Technically great products by themselves are a novelty. Great business models by themselves are just nice presentations.
Together they can change a company and industry like Apple has.
