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Apple iPhone evolution
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NOTE: We’ve updated this video to include the new iPhone 5S and 5C. Check out the revamped video here.
Brace yourself for a burst of tech nostalgia, as we investigate the origins and evolution of Apple’s iPhone, charting this iconic mobile’s past and future, as well as its greatest hits — and most catastrophic missteps.
Where did the iPhone come from, and where is it going? Hit play on the video above to find out, as we take you on a stroll down memory lane, all the way back to the mid-noughties.
It was an age when the smartest of smart phones were unusable chunks of fiddly plastic, and a world of touchscreen devices was nothing more than a science-fiction fan’s dream. In the race to achieve Star Trek-worthy tech perfection, mobile phones were getting us nowhere.
That all changed in 2007 though, when Steve Jobs took the wrapping off a media gadget that doubled up as a phone. It was called the iPhone, and it had a massive touchscreen display that you were supposed to use for Web browsing, typing and zooming-in on photos.
To the chagrin of then-champions Nokia and BlackBerry, the iPhone’s popularity exploded. Apple improved and refined its phone year on year, introducing us to the iPhone 3G and 3GS, then the iPhone 4, 4S and — eventually — the iPhone 5 that currently lines shop shelves.
Though it added new features at a furious pace, eventually rivals like HTC and Samsung began to deliver tempting alternatives to Apple’s own mobile.
Today the playing field is more level than ever — has Apple’s most significant invention run out of steam, or will Tim Cook and company manage to surprise us again? We want to know your opinions, as well as which iPhone was your personal favourite. Stick your thoughts in the comments, or over on our Facebook wall.
- Not that into Apple? Check out our evolution of the Samsung Galaxy S phones video.
