It is 10 years since the launch of the first iPhone. Apple marked the occasion by launching three new iPhones: the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and the iPhone X (spoken as "ten"). The 2007 iPhone was a pet project of Steve Jobs, and delivered on his promise that it would "reinvent the phone". The funny thing is that it wasn’t the first smartphone (not by a long way), the first touch-screen device, or the first phone running apps. So how did it shake up the industry like it did? The first iPhone — which looks tiny, chunky, and underpowered by current standards — was deceptively simple. It was intuitive, and made purchasing device-compatible apps seamless. It put a computer in the palm of your hand that looked just space-age-enough to impress, while remaining inherently usable. It totally disrupted the competition, and set the tone for a decade-long narrative that continues to pit Apple against all other manufacturers even when sales figures tell conflicting tales. The new iPhone 8 and 8 Plus ar...

Subscribe now to unlock this article.

Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).

There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.

Cancel anytime.

Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.