Ever since Apple Inc. developed and released the first iPhone in June of 2007, the California-based technology giant has been at the cutting edge of advances in smartphone technology. If Apple isn’t actually driving the vehicle of change and creativity in the industry, the fear that they’ll come out with something bigger and better drives others to try and innovate as quickly and effectively as Apple. That Apple remained at the top of the industry for as long as it did was no small feat. While competing Android devices were available in several models from various manufacturers (Samsung, HTC, LG),…