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Wednesday, 18 January 2012 | (8) Leave A Comment

Steve Jobs: A touch that changed it all

How that touch happened and how it changed our expectations of a phone

By: Vivian Koh Jia En

What mobile phone do you remember having when you were younger? I remember receiving my first phone for my 12^th birthday – a Nokia 2100. Joy would be the word to describe how I felt when I held the simple phone in my hands, but how many people would feel happy getting that phone now?

My first mobile phone - a Nokia 2100

Source: TechTree

If you look back through the years since mobile phones were first invented, you’ll see that we’ve come a long way since. With each passing year, the mobile phones on the market only gets better, with new functions, applications and even slimmer phones. Despite there being a large range of designs, these phones all have one goal in common, to meet the needs of our increasingly hectic lifestyles.

And as phones continue to improve, we consumers have definitely become more demanding in terms of what comes with our phones.

The iBrain behind the phone

One man decided to make an impact in that timeline. With recognizable greyish hair, usually sporting a black turtleneck and blue-washed jeans, yes, I’m talking about Steve Jobs, with his iBrain, I would call it. Shortly after releasing the iPod, he wanted to venture further.

A mind-map of the actions which his iBrain came up with

See a larger version of the mind-map

Source: Flickr user paz.ca (under CC license)

Knowing that consumers would choose the convenience of one device instead of carrying both their phones and music players, he speculated that other companies would eventually create phones with such functions. He did not want his new product line to falter and in 2002, that’s where the idea of an iPhone first started.

It was a long and difficult process which took his idea about 5 years to realise. The first iPhone was finally released in 2007. It had a number of downsides including the initial high price of US$599 (which has been brought down to US$399) and the inability to record videos. However, the product successfully opened up the wireless world and brought benefits to their stakeholders. Its success could already be seen from the start as it was listed as ‘Invention of the Year’ by Time Magazine in the year it was released.

The issue of Time Magazine which featured the iPhone

Source: Wordpress of Scott Mindeaux

Not the first touchscreen phone

Let’s admit it, before the iPhone, touchscreen phones were not that popular. Many of us were not even aware of such phones. The iPhone was outstanding as it did not need styluses. A light finger tap was all it needed to click on an application. Such sensitivity and multi-touch has allowed developers to create great experiences for users.

Thousands of applications have been created and distributed thanks to the iPhone

Source: Bindapple

With all its functions and cool design, it has certainly won over the hearts of many. It also didn’t help that the iPhone had an advantage over other brands as Apple distributed apps and music through only one store. It made it easier for its users to download new apps into their iPhones and iPod Touch, making it even more convenient.

Less clutter, more beauty

Jobs saw that consumers did not mind paying more if a product made their life easier and simpler. He made sure that Apple was always consistent with the phrase that “less is more”, which explains the simplicity of the iPhone only having a single main button.

In short, he revolutionized what consumers expect from their phones, leading to similar smartphones being created by companies like HTC, Samsung and others as consumers now want lighter, convenient phones which can offer them the same, if not, better functions. I think many will agree that Steve Jobs was definitely someone to look up to as he followed his heart and had a strong passion.

The man behind the touch takes a break away from his usual style of clothing

Source: Flickr user lwpkommunikacio (under CC license)

How has the iPhone changed what you expect from your phone? Leave your comments in the comment box above!

Labels: #Steve Jobs #Apple #Mobile phones #Technology #Future #Expectations