iPhone
The iPhone, introduced by Apple in 2007, revolutionized the smartphone market and established new industry standards for mobile devices. Initially designed as a combination phone, web browser, and iPod, the iPhone featured a glass touchscreen, multitouch capability, and an innovative design that appealed to consumers. Its successful launch was aided by Apple's previous popularity through the iPod, and it quickly gained a loyal customer base, selling nearly two million units by the end of its first year.
Over the years, the iPhone has undergone numerous iterations, each adding features such as improved cameras, faster processing, and new technology like facial recognition and wireless charging. Models such as the iPhone 3G, 4, and later versions like the iPhone X and 11 showcased advancements in connectivity, design, and user experience. Despite facing criticism regarding issues like planned obsolescence and working conditions in manufacturing, the iPhone has consistently shaped consumer expectations and influenced the mobile application landscape. Its ongoing evolution continues to impact the wireless industry, with newer generations focusing on enhancements in battery life, camera capabilities, and overall performance.
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iPhone
The iPhone transformed wireless communications and brought smartphone usage to the mainstream, all while securing record profits for Apple. In many ways, the iPhone set industry standards for smartphones.
The iPhone was announced by Apple in January 2007 and made available for sale in June of that year. Its appealing design, aggressive marketing, and ease of use made the iPhone the first smartphone to gain widespread consumer adoption. The iPod, an MP3 player released by Apple in 2001, had already attracted many consumers to use Apple products, setting the stage for the iPhone’s popularity. After a failed collaboration with Motorola on the ROKR E1 music phone in 2005, Apple decided to design its own phone internally. The project started in 2005 and reportedly cost $150 million to develop.
Notable iPhone features included a glass touch screen (most phones at the time had plastic screens), unprecedented support for multitouch interactions and gestures, aluminum backing, 2.0-megapixel camera, an accelerometer to adjust orientation, web browsing, visual voicemail, and a music player that integrated with iTunes, Apple’s online music store. The iPhone was billed as a phone, web browser, and iPod all in one. The first iPhone offered GSM/EDGE cellular network access, Bluetooth wireless connectivity, and Wi-Fi, and could initially be purchased with 4 or 8 gigabytes of memory for $499 or $599 respectively (a pricier 16-gigabyte model was added later).
The iPhone was initially available only on the AT&T cellular network, frustrating consumers under contract with other providers. Apple arranged a revenue-sharing agreement with AT&T for a cut of every customer’s monthly plan, and the iPhone’s popularity empowered cell phone manufacturers in negotiating deals with wireless carriers. The original iPhone was an immediate and sustained success. Consumers waited in long lines on release day, and the phone sold rapidly, moving nearly two million units by the end of 2007. By the fourth quarter of 2008, Apple was selling nearly seven million iPhones each quarter, and twenty-one million iPhones had been sold internationally by the end of 2009.
The iPhone 3G was released in June 2008 with 3G, third generation telecommunications technology, and assisted global positioning system (A-GPS) capabilities. The iPhone 3GS came out in June 2009, adding a compass, 3.2-megapixel video camera, and improved processing speeds. In 2010, the rectangular iPhone 4 was released followed by the iPhone 4s in 2011, which included new features such as the iCloud, iMessage, and intelligent personal assistant, Siri.
Thinner and lighter than its predecessors, the iPhone 5 was released in 2012. The following year, Apple released the iPhone 5c, a replica of the well-received iPhone 5 but in a more colorful case. The iPhones 6 and 6s were released in 2015, featuring pressure-sensitive 3D Touch technology and an improved 12MP camera. The iPhone 7 was released in September 2016, along with the larger-format 7 Plus. These models included some new features, such as water resistance and the lack of a traditional 3.5 millimeter headphone jack. Some have criticized Apple for building “planned obsolescence” into devices with its frequent new releases. Apple also drew criticism after several companies that manufactured iPhone components, most notably Foxconn in China, were investigated for deplorable working conditions.
In late 2017, the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus were announced, offering relatively minor feature improvements. At the same time the iPhone X was announced, though it was released slightly later and in initially limited numbers. Promoted as the most radical update of the iPhone yet, the premium iPhone X included features such as a facial recognition system and wireless charging capability. It also pushed the iPhone to a new price point, debuting at $999. Still making adjustments to compete with other smartphone software such as Android, by 2018 Apple had begun selling its iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max models, boasting further advancements such as an A12 Bionic chip for even faster processing. That same year saw the launch of the iPhone XR, a model slightly less expensive than the Xs and Xs Max, that went on to become one of 2019's most popular and best-selling smartphones. Apple's 2019 iPhone generation products, the iPhone 11 and its Pro versions, were followed by 2020's iPhone 12, 2021's iPhone 13, 2022's iPhone 14, 2023's iPhone 14, and 2024's iPhone 16 along with their respective mini and Pro versions. Throughout these generations, alterations and improvements largely centered around battery life, camera system advancements, and processing power. At the same time, some reviewers noted that Apple's upgrades had tended to become increasingly more incremental by that time, as was typically the case with other makers of smartphones.
Impact
The iPhone transformed consumer expectations regarding mobile communications devices, disrupted the wireless industry, and opened up mobile application development. With features like the App Store, which brought access to well-designed apps that can be easily acquired, and Siri, the intelligent personal assistant, Apple proved its leadership in smartphone technology.
Bibliography
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