It was June 29, 2007 when the first iPhone was launched on the market. Here's how it's changed in ten years and how it will change in the next decade
Ten years for a person's life may be a few, but for an electronic device it's a lot. Take the iPhone: in ten years the "revolutionary" smartphone launched by Steve Jobs has totally changed its face. It was June 29, 2007 when the first iPhone arrived in stores and in ten years we can say that the device has changed our lives and has created a sector, that of smartphones, which makes billions of euros every year.
If in people's eyes the first iPhone seemed to be a device from the future, in the hands of a teenager today may seem an old device. And how can you blame them. The screen of the first iPhone model is only 3.5 inches and, despite the presence of the iOS operating system, it was impossible to install applications. For Millenials who grew up with "giant" screens and the myth of "free" apps, we're talking about another era. And to think that only 10 years have passed.
Ten years in which the iPhone has changed its face and launched new fashions and technologies, copied by all major rivals. Thinking about how the iPhone will be in a decade is very complicated, but some clues we have them available. There is a lot of talk about foldable screen and virtual reality: in the next decade we can bet that the iPhone, or whoever it is, will implement these two technologies. Although, are we sure that in ten years we will still talk about smartphones and iPhone? Hard to give an answer. In the meantime, happy birthday iPhone for your first ten years.
How was the iPhone 10 years ago
It was January 9, 2007 when Steve Jobs took the stage at the Macworld Conference & Expo in San Francisco and showed the whole world the first iPhone. The then CEO of Apple gave appointment to the fans to June 29, 2007, the official day of the launch of the first smartphone branded Apple. The first iPhone was a revolutionary device: it allowed to perform on a single device actions that previously required the use of different tools. In addition to being a phone, it allowed to connect to the Internet and interact with the user interface through a touch screen. Ten years ago, for a phone, that was amazing. Though there was no shortage of flaws. For example, the first version of iOS, the operating system installed on the smartphone, was not really user-friendly and only with the help of its users, Apple managed to improve the OS. Moreover, to connect to the Internet, the iPhone used the EDGE protocol, which was much slower than the UMTS protocol found on other cell phones.
How is the iPhone now
In ten years, many things have changed. From the design, to the operating system, to the features the iPhone offers. But one thing has remained: the company doesn't introduce more than two smartphones every year. The iPhone remains a device designed for the user, but it doesn't need major changes: it's usually revolutionized every three to four years. The latest iPhone launched (the 7), has a much larger screen than the first model (3.5 inches compared to the current 5.5''), an operating system truly user-friendly and above all makes available over two billion applications. The main limitation of the first model, was precisely the small number of apps, while now it is the strong point. In this decade, the Cupertino company has been able to build a sector that didn't exist before: that of applications and their development. This is probably the biggest footprint left in these first ten years.
How will the iPhone
After the first triumphant decade, everyone would expect another ten years of success. But are we sure that in 2027 we will still be talking about the iPhone? The smartphone industry is changing every year and we are approaching an era where smartphones, tablets and home assistants will merge into one device. And Apple will definitely not stand by and launch its own device there as well, which will most likely not be called the iPhone. Ready for a new adventure?