The Evolution of Smartphones: A Look Back at the Original iPhone

Prior to 2007, smartphones were big, clunky, and lacking in full-featured capabilities. This all changed on January 9, 2007, when Steve Jobs walked into the Macworld stage to announce three new products: a widescreen iPod with touch controls, a revolutionary mobile phone, and a breakthrough internet device. By this point, it should be clear that Jobs was talking about just one phone—the original iPhone.

The iPhone was never about specs; its impact was felt long before any technical details were revealed. The device featured a 3.5-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 320 by 480 pixels and an 163 PPI rating. It was quad-band 2G and edge-only, as well as featuring Bluetooth 802.11 connectivity at B/G speed. A 2-megapixel camera was also included, although this was likely seen as underwhelming for the time.

One of the most significant features of the iPhone was its ability to be charged and synced with a computer using the same 30-pin connector found in iPods. This feature allowed users to easily transfer music, photos, and other data between their device and their computers. However, there were some notable limitations to the original iPhone. It did not support CDMA networks, which meant that Verizon and Sprint customers were out of luck when it came to using the device on these carriers.

The iPhone was also locked to a specific GSM technology, making it incompatible with T-Mobile. Despite this, many people were eager to get their hands on the new device, particularly those interested in music playback capabilities. The original iPhone was initially priced at $499 and $599 for 4 GB and 8 GB models, respectively. These prices may seem reasonable now, but they were still quite steep at the time.

In September 2007, Steve Jobs took to the stage once again to announce another major change to the iPhone's lineup. The company would be releasing a new iPod touch, which was essentially an iPhone without the phone part. This move was seen as a response to customer complaints about the high price of the original iPhone and the lack of features such as video recording capabilities.

The news of the upcoming price drop sparked controversy among some customers who had purchased the original iPhone at full price. Apple responded by offering a $200 credit to customers who had bought the device within a 14-day window. This move was seen as an attempt by the company to appease its customers and ease the backlash from those who felt they had been taken advantage of.

In hindsight, it's clear that the original iPhone was revolutionary for its time. Despite its limitations, the device set a new standard for smartphones and paved the way for the sleek, feature-rich devices we use today. The iPhone's impact on the mobile industry cannot be overstated, and its legacy continues to shape the way we interact with technology.

One of the most significant ways in which the original iPhone changed the game was by popularizing the concept of web-based applications. Steve Jobs famously referred to this approach as "web apps," arguing that these apps would be more accessible and user-friendly than traditional software downloads. This vision proved to be correct, as many developers began creating web-based apps specifically for the iPhone.

The original iPhone's operating system, dubbed "iPhone OS," was designed from the ground up with mobile devices in mind. It featured a simple, intuitive interface that allowed users to easily navigate and access various features. Although this approach may seem basic by today's standards, it laid the foundation for future iOS updates, which have continued to build upon this foundation.

The design of the original iPhone was also noteworthy. The device featured a stainless steel frame with a black plastic bottom, giving it a distinctive look that has been emulated by many other smartphones since its release. The iPhone's physical construction may seem clunky compared to modern standards, but it still retains an undeniable charm that has contributed to its enduring popularity.

Despite the passage of time, the original iPhone remains a beloved device among many fans. Its legacy can be seen in the sleek designs and feature-rich capabilities of modern smartphones. However, it's also worth acknowledging the limitations and quirks of this early device, which were often overshadowed by its revolutionary impact on the mobile industry.

Today, as we look back at the original iPhone, it's clear that its influence extends far beyond its own design and features. The iPhone helped to change the way we interact with technology, paving the way for a new generation of smartphones that are more powerful, convenient, and accessible than ever before.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enprior to 2007 smartphones meant blackberry Windows Mobile and Symbian they were big they were clunky and they were not full-featured well that changed on January 9 2007 when Steve Jobs walked into the Macworld stage to announce three new products widescreen iPod with touch controls a revolutionary mobile phone and a breakthrough internet device by this point you should know he was talking about just one phone the original iPhone and as the iPhone 7 is upon us that was a good time to look back at the original iPhone how that changed a mobile landscape what that meant for Android and what that meant for how our lives you're going to change the iPhones never been about specs and that was definitely true back in 2007 nothing here is going to blow you away then or now 3.5 inch LCD screen with resolution of 320 by 480 163 PPI it was quad-band 2g edge only and at 802 11 only B&G and a 2 megapixel camera and perhaps the most important feature of the iPhone is that it could be charged and synced your computer with iTunes using the same 30 pin connector found in iPods the original iPhone was a lot of things one thing it wasn't though with CDMA which meant no verizon Sprint's and it was locked not even t-mobile choose the same GSM technology could use it the og iPhone would with singular or bust the despite being announced in January the phone wasn't shipped until June 28 2007 initially priced at 499 and $5.99 for a 4 gigabyte an 8 gigabyte model respectively and those prices well they might seem reasonable now were unheard of at the time but in 600 bucks for a phone seemed out of this world for a lot of consumers so despite the marketing hype and then reality distortion field around the phone the price kept the phone from getting to a lot of consumers hands so in September 5th 2007 at the beat goes on music event Steve Jobs not only introduced the first ipod touch he doubts they were dropping the 4 gig phone completely they were going to drop the price the aching model to $399 who said purchased the iPhone and the 14-day period before that event we're eligible for $200 price protection rebate Apple or AT&T so yeah people were pissed a few months after the announcement Apple goes and drops a model and cuts the price responds to customer complaints a day out for the beat goes on events of September 6th Steve Jobs and open lettered iPhone customers every one who purchased an iPhone at the high price is not receiving a rebate or other consideration would get $100 credit redeemed in stores or online history has been really kind to the iPhone and I think it should be but at the time of its announcement the phone was equally known for what it lacked as for what it revolutionized there was no hardware keyboard here no stylus the iPhone wasn't rocking a pretty common removable use replaceable battery or even some sort of expandable storage support none of that made the power users happy nor the absence of any sort of file system cut copy and paste video recording not to mention that insane recessed headphone jack and me plugging in most on Apple headphones next to impossible seems like Apple's had have been dead against a headphone jack since the first day it's hard to think of the iPhone now without the App Store but that was not parley virginal iPhones plans in fact Steve Jobs headed web apps as the future the original software in the iPhone dubbed iPhone OS one set the stage for current iOS 10 looks like if you look back with that original OS look like versus now say for being able to change the background and some icons being modified things still look very familiar the design the iPhone think it's held up pretty well it doesn't look as modern as it once did I'm so not the biggest fan of the black plastic bit at the bottom so with the RF through the aluminum still feels nice in the hand and the phone is oddly still zippy despite all the drama at the iPhone there's no doubt it changed who we are and how we use electronics how we perceive electronics not to mention Capote shook up how phones were bought and took power away from the carriers with the motors and manufacturers now my allegiances may have changed and swayed over the years but I'll always remember with the iPhone meant to me and how it changed my life and my careerprior to 2007 smartphones meant blackberry Windows Mobile and Symbian they were big they were clunky and they were not full-featured well that changed on January 9 2007 when Steve Jobs walked into the Macworld stage to announce three new products widescreen iPod with touch controls a revolutionary mobile phone and a breakthrough internet device by this point you should know he was talking about just one phone the original iPhone and as the iPhone 7 is upon us that was a good time to look back at the original iPhone how that changed a mobile landscape what that meant for Android and what that meant for how our lives you're going to change the iPhones never been about specs and that was definitely true back in 2007 nothing here is going to blow you away then or now 3.5 inch LCD screen with resolution of 320 by 480 163 PPI it was quad-band 2g edge only and at 802 11 only B&G and a 2 megapixel camera and perhaps the most important feature of the iPhone is that it could be charged and synced your computer with iTunes using the same 30 pin connector found in iPods the original iPhone was a lot of things one thing it wasn't though with CDMA which meant no verizon Sprint's and it was locked not even t-mobile choose the same GSM technology could use it the og iPhone would with singular or bust the despite being announced in January the phone wasn't shipped until June 28 2007 initially priced at 499 and $5.99 for a 4 gigabyte an 8 gigabyte model respectively and those prices well they might seem reasonable now were unheard of at the time but in 600 bucks for a phone seemed out of this world for a lot of consumers so despite the marketing hype and then reality distortion field around the phone the price kept the phone from getting to a lot of consumers hands so in September 5th 2007 at the beat goes on music event Steve Jobs not only introduced the first ipod touch he doubts they were dropping the 4 gig phone completely they were going to drop the price the aching model to $399 who said purchased the iPhone and the 14-day period before that event we're eligible for $200 price protection rebate Apple or AT&T so yeah people were pissed a few months after the announcement Apple goes and drops a model and cuts the price responds to customer complaints a day out for the beat goes on events of September 6th Steve Jobs and open lettered iPhone customers every one who purchased an iPhone at the high price is not receiving a rebate or other consideration would get $100 credit redeemed in stores or online history has been really kind to the iPhone and I think it should be but at the time of its announcement the phone was equally known for what it lacked as for what it revolutionized there was no hardware keyboard here no stylus the iPhone wasn't rocking a pretty common removable use replaceable battery or even some sort of expandable storage support none of that made the power users happy nor the absence of any sort of file system cut copy and paste video recording not to mention that insane recessed headphone jack and me plugging in most on Apple headphones next to impossible seems like Apple's had have been dead against a headphone jack since the first day it's hard to think of the iPhone now without the App Store but that was not parley virginal iPhones plans in fact Steve Jobs headed web apps as the future the original software in the iPhone dubbed iPhone OS one set the stage for current iOS 10 looks like if you look back with that original OS look like versus now say for being able to change the background and some icons being modified things still look very familiar the design the iPhone think it's held up pretty well it doesn't look as modern as it once did I'm so not the biggest fan of the black plastic bit at the bottom so with the RF through the aluminum still feels nice in the hand and the phone is oddly still zippy despite all the drama at the iPhone there's no doubt it changed who we are and how we use electronics how we perceive electronics not to mention Capote shook up how phones were bought and took power away from the carriers with the motors and manufacturers now my allegiances may have changed and swayed over the years but I'll always remember with the iPhone meant to me and how it changed my life and my career\n"