The first iPhone turns 18

On January 9, 2007, Steve Jobs took the stage at the Macworld Expo in San Francisco to present two products that would mark the history of technology: the first iPhone and the first Apple TV.

Although few would have imagined then, that moment would represent the beginning of a new era in mobile communication and digital entertainment.

“Today, Apple will reinvent the phone”

In front of a packed room, Jobs a present iPhone as the device that can combine three essential functions in one product: an iPod with touch controls, a telephone and a revolutionary device for Internet communications.

The device was distinguished by its elegant aluminum and plastic design, but above all by its 3.5-inch multi-touch screen that eliminated the need for a physical keyboard.

The first generation iPhone came equipped with a 2 megapixel camera and ran the iPhone OS operating system, offering significantly superior functionality to existing phones at the time.

Apple initially launched two models: a 4GB model priced at $499 (€484) and an 8GB model priced at $599 (€581).

Phenomenal success

Although it only arrived in stores on June 29, 2007, it left impressive queues in front of Apple stores.

In the first three months after the official debut, the company sold almost 1.4 million units.

Apple TV: The first step towards modern streaming

On the same day, the company also introduced Apple TV, a device that allowed users to wirelessly stream movies, TV shows, music, and photos from their Mac or PC directly to their TV.

Equipped with a 40GB hard drive for local storage and capable of playing HD content at 720p resolution via HDMI or component video output, the Apple TV cost $299 (the equivalent of €290).

More than computers

A significant detail of the event was the change of the company’s name from “Apple Computer, Inc.” in “Apple Inc.”.

This seemingly minor change actually symbolized Apple’s transformation from a computer manufacturer to a company that would revolutionize multiple electronic product categories for years to come.

Looking back at these defining moments in 2007, the iPhone set the standard for modern smartphones, while the Apple TV paved the way for the streaming experiences we know today.