Buzz
It's hard for today's phone users to imagine those 'smartphones' without Android or iOS.
Since its inception, the iPhone has sparked a global technology revolution, reshaping phone user habits. Nowadays, it seems almost unthinkable to live without the mobile device that has made Apple famous.
From PDAs to brick-like smartphones
With Ben Lovejoy's pen from 9to5mac, he used to rely on pen and paper to store notes, contacts, or important information. He carried around a spiral-bound notebook to easily add or remove pages as needed. Previous users often used PDAs to store information and work.
Later, he decided to switch to using personal digital assistant (PDA) devices for information storage. His first product was the Psion Organiser introduced in 1984. It's considered the first true handheld personal computer in the world and the precursor to the open-source Symbian mobile operating system used today.
The device resembles a mini computer with alphabetic keys instead of a numeric keypad. Psion Organiser also features a monochrome LCD screen and a protective plastic casing for the alphabetic keyboard. However, its drawback lies in the lack of telephony capabilities, requiring an additional peripheral device for connectivity.
In 1988, Casio Digital Diary was introduced. According to Ben Lovejoy, this pocket computer was much more compact than its predecessors but had a rather cumbersome user interface, causing inconvenience to users.
The penultimate personal digital assistant (PDA) that 9to5mac's writer hasn't used is the Apple Newton. Dubbed as the predecessor of the iPad, Newton boasted a touchscreen controlled by a stylus, its compact size allowing users to work on the go.
However, during that time, most people were accustomed to working on computers, so the idea of directly jotting down notes onto the computer screen seemed unpopular.
Subsequently, he switched to using the Psion 5mx in 1999. This was the first PDA with Internet connectivity. Additionally, it had a smooth-operating keyboard and a sleek design resembling today's laptops but still compact enough to fit in a pocket.
Over time, PDAs gradually faded into obscurity. Instead, users tended to shift towards smartphones with operating systems. Ben Lovejoy's first smartphone was the Nokia 9210 Communicator, essentially a blend of the Psion 5mx and a phone, in 2001.
Nokia 9210 Communicator stands as one of the pioneering products amalgamating PDA features with a phone.
Externally resembling a phone, the device truly embodies the essence of a personal digital assistant. However, its drawback lies in the poorly functioning keyboard and user-unfriendly interface.
In 2002, he transitioned to using Handspring Treo 180 with a stylus and a flip cover to reveal the keyboard. By 2005, 9to5mac's author adopted a smartphone bearing a striking resemblance to the Nokia Communicator but smaller and featuring a sliding keyboard. It was the HTC Apache.
The design language of this product bears striking similarities to PDAs with a protruding section for the antenna. However, the silver plastic body evokes nostalgia for the outdated design of desktop machines from previous decades.
iPhone - a smartphone revolution
In 2007, a device that would revolutionize the smartphone market emerged - the Apple iPhone 2G. At that time, the iPhone was such a novel concept that Steve Jobs likened it to an iPod with a touchscreen, capable of calls and Internet connectivity.
Despite its small screen size, thick frame, large bezels, and a mere 2 MP camera, the first-generation iPhone still managed to make a mark in the market.
Thanks to the iPhone, technologies like touchscreen displays and swipe gestures became commonplace, altering the way users interacted with their phones.
During its unveiling, Steve Jobs criticized the outdated appearance of smartphones from Nokia or HTC. He asserted that nobody would want to use a stylus if they could navigate with their fingers, also stating that physical keyboards took up too much space.
Time has proven the founder of Apple right. The iPhone has become a trailblazer and a role model that the entire smartphone market emulates.
