Apple's iPhone came out 18 years ago and changed the world

[RAMd®d]

Apple's iPhone came out 18 years ago and changed the world .

Compared to today's iPhone 16 Pro Max and what we know of the forthcoming iPhone 17 range, the very first iPhone that went on sale 18 years ago today was startlingly slow and incredibly limited — yet it changed the world. 

It was on June 29, 2007, that the original iPhone went on sale in the US, and arguably that was the day that it truly began shaking up what users expected from a phone. 

We and the phone industry had already known all about it for over five months. But it wasn't until you could buy it that the impact of this little device began to be felt — even inside Apple. 

"[Going on sale] is a happy moment, but it's also a stressful one," Apple's Tony Fadell told the Wall Street Journal for a video released in 2022. "What's going to happen when it goes out into the world?" 


This is an interesting, if not thorough, retrospective of the development of the 'Phone. 

There probably won't be an new material for those who've followed development closely, but I saw a couple of thing I hadn't seen so it was worth my time.

Much more at https://appleinsider.com/articles/21/06/...-years-ago

[chopper]

Xeni Jardin at Boing Boing got one and after the first weekend with it she called it "the Jesus phone" which was applicable.

[RonT (aka Ombligo)]

Today's high school seniors have never known a world without an iPhone.

Of all the iPhones, I still find the original to be the most comfortable to hold.

[chopper]

Today's high school seniors have never known a world without an iPhone.

Of all the iPhones, I still find the original to be the most comfortable to hold.

Well, the existence of the iPhone yes.

My just graduated high school senior never had an iPhone of his own until just before 11th grade.

[Buzz]

I still have a couple of NIB(ag) OG iPhone promo t-shirts.... Our old neighbor was a mgr at an (almost) local Apple Store at the time, and she was a great source of Apple kit. When she lost her tenant at her Newport Beach condo, she moved from the Santa Monica apartment, here, into her condo, and gave up AS mgmt within ~a year, or so. She managed the AS in the Beverly Center, a sort of step-child to the AS flagship store at The Grove, less than a mile and a half away..... which make those two stores likely the two physically closest AS's in the country.

 
==

[rgG]

I remember posting on the thread during the announcement that day.
Boy, was I wrong about what the phone would eventually morf into.

[chopper]

I remember posting on the thread during the announcement that day.
Boy, was I wrong about what the phone would eventually morf into.

Who still has an original iPhone?

[RAMd®d]

I remember posting on the thread during the announcement that day.
Boy, was I wrong about what the phone would eventually morf into.

So did I.

I don't remember if my post(s) said anything about its future, but I knew long even before it was officially announced, that I wanted it and would get one.

So I did, and I still have it.

I was at a lunch-meeting with some big-wigs of a company my company did business with. 

At one point, the iPhone was mentioned, and every one was laughing.

Then I said 'I have one'.

YOU DO??

Everyone wanted to see it, and not one bad word.

They all had company issued BBs, but were clearly intrigued.

I had a few phones prior to The iPhone, but only 'Phones since.

[Lew Zealand]

I remember posting on the thread during the announcement that day.
Boy, was I wrong about what the phone would eventually morf into.

Who still has an original iPhone?

I have two, both original 4GB models.  Plugged in one after retrieving it from Mom a couple of months ago but the battery is so shot that even while being plugged in, it doesn't want to fully start up, getting to the home screen and then immediately shutting off.  I should try the other one.

[Acer]