Looking back to Apple’s Journey till now
It’s been a decade since the evolution of iOS that brought us to where we are today, so let’s look back and see what happened a decade before.
Apple launched its first iOS (that time OS X) on June 29, 2007, with the launch of its very first iPhone.
Since then this mobile operating system has gone through some major upgrades and all this didn’t happen overnight.
Every year in summer Apple introduces its more advanced iOS with new features and redefines what’s possible on its all iPhones.
Latest iOS 11 was released to the public on September 22, 2017 and is now available for download on the iPhone 5s and later, the iPad mini 2 and later, the iPad Air and later, all iPad Pro models, and the sixth-generation iPod touch.
iOS 1
With the release of first iPhone on June 29th2007, the operating system in it didn’t have a name until the SDK (Software Development Kit or Devkit) was released in March 2008 then the name changed to iPhone OS 1.
Before that, it was denoted as a mobile version of OS X because it shared similar UNIX core like the full-fledged desktop version.
The first version of iPhone OS was so bounded that it didn’t even have an app store or any other way to add third party application.
The main OS provided some basic apps like phone dialer, messaging client, notes, web browser, mail, iPod, camera and few more apps.
The email was limited to IMAP and POP so it was clear that first iPhone was for consumer and not for the enterprise market.
The iPhone should be sync with the iPod for music experience.
The first iPhone was the most important gadget of all the time. It introduced the basic springboard app, a grid of app on the screen that hasn’t changed in 10 years.
It also got multi-touch and the operating systems was a major success because it had a unique idea to sell an iPod, camera, phone and the internet machine packed into one device that fits in your pocket.
Key New Features:
Multitouch interface
iOS 2
The major feature of iPhone 2 was the introduction of the App store with the support of third party application, the count of the apps since then has reached millions from creative iOS app developers. Now, the businesses could create the application and begin to optimize the iPhone for work purpose.
Location service was added with the help of newly adapted GPS unit on iPhone 3G.
The encryption part was still missing from iPhone OS 2, so the iPhone still had a long way to go to compete with that time dominant player BlackBerry.
iPhone OS was the big bang for mobile computing.
Apple just barely beat Google to the idea of the app market. Google Android launched Android market the predecessor of today’s Play Store a month later. iTunes was still required sync for activation so iPhone OS wasn’t a much enterprise success.
Apple also introduced MobileMe cloud software, but it didn’t go well.
Key New Features:
Improved Maps app
ios 3
This version didn’t bring any major change but resolved some small critical improvements.
It was released on June 19th, 2009 and finally got the demanded feature cut, copy and paste since other mobile operating system had it for years.
Apple also improved its GPS accuracy by adding a magnetic compass to its map app.
Video recording came into existence and the message app got an additional support of MMS.
An updated version of OS 3 was launched on 3rd April 2010 called iPhone OS 3.2 which allowed the user to change home screen backgrounds as well as the support of landscape mode was also introduced.
With the release of iPhone OS 3.2, Apple also released its first iPad. Since then iPad is proving itself as an important tool for businesses over the years.
Key New Features:
iOS 4
Apple changed the name of its mobile operating system from iPhone OS to iOS with the release of version 24 in June 2010.
iOS gave IT department the ability to manage iPhone wirelessly over the Air (OTA).This was important because with this it became much easier to manage the iPhone remotely and give better control of the iPhones to companies.
Another important feature was the multitasking now one could easily switch between multiple apps quickly, but it’s well-known competitor Android has implemented years before.
iOS 4 also gave video chatting capability on FaceTime making the futuristic concept of video phones a reality.
eBooks were also introduced with this version and this was the first time that native support for the eBooks on iOS was launched.
Now one can create folders on the home screen for apps and iOS 4 also introduced Game Center.
Key New Features:
System-wide spellcheck
Unified inbox in Mail app
iBooks app
Dropped Support For:
Orignal iPhone
1st Gen. iPod touch
iOS 5
This was one of the biggest updates as compared to previous versions.Many new features (exactly 200) was introduced.
iPhone got a new notification center and iMessage was released with iOS 5.
The camera app got edit feature.
The new iPhone was made PC independent, with the help of wireless sync.
Twitter for sharing content was another feature introduced with this version.
Apple also introduced one of its key feature “Siri”, besides these major update Apple brought iCloud and a more functional lock screen.
Apple joined with a new budding messaging app called WhatsApp which began to popularize after Apple opened push notifications to third party apps two years prior.
Siri was unimpressive in front of Google assistant. But back in 2011 Siri was an unbelievable idea and this idea still needed some work but one thing was clear that Siri was the future of mobile computing.
Key New Features:
PC-free activation: prior to iOS 5, you had to connect your iPhone to a computer in order to set it up
Syncing over Wi-Fi: again, a physical connection to a computer was required
iMessage for text messaging
Access Camera app from lockscreen
Remiders app
iPod app split into separate Music and Videos apps.
Dropped Support For:
iPhone 3G
1st gen. iPad
2nd gen. iPod touch
3rd gen. iPod touch
iOS 6
iOS 6 was released in September 2012, the US Department of Defense approved the use of iOS 6.
Previously there were 470,000 BlackBerry devices and just 41,000 apple devices in use by the Department of Defense. So, this approval was a major win for Apple.
Google and Apple were no longer friends, Apple removed Google map service from iOS.
Apple introduced its own mapping service called Apple Maps, which provides turn-by-turn navigation and flyover 3D modeling of certain cities along with Passbook for storing plane tickets and coupons.
With Apple map, Apple challenged Google’s sovereignty. Unluckily, Apple launched a less competitive competitor, even Tim Cook (Apple’s current CEO) stated that Apple Map doesn’t meet up to the company standards. The phone app’s keypad got redesigned.
Facebook and Twitter integration was introduced with iOS 6 and created its own notification widget (as usual a little late than Android).
Another major change with OS was Apple fine-tuned Siri and got some much-needed update.
Key New Features:
Passbook (now Wallet)
Dropped Support For:
None, but iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, and iPad 2 couldn’t use all features of iOS 6
iOS 7
With the release of iOS 7 in 2013 iPhone got a biggest visual redesign.The user interface got colorful gradients, amazing graphics and sliding transparent panes.
Every aspect was redesigned to improvise look and feel, it also got a pull-up menu which enables the user to toggle between Wifi, Bluetooth, airplane mode and many other settings.
It also allowed to quickly launch flashlight, calculator or camera.
iTunes radio was another highlight of iOS 7, Apple also adds Airdrop to share pictures, driving directions and video.
The OS was completely refurbished with flatter icons and Helvetic font. Apps got the edge to edge designs along with a new parallax scrolling home screen. iOS 7 also faced a lot of criticism but it became the new and modern face of iPhone.
Key New Features:
Dropped Support For:
iPhone 3GS
iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, 3rd gen. iPad, and iPad 2 couldn’t use all features of iOS 7
iOS 8
Apple described iOS 8 as the biggest release since the App Store, iOS 8 brought Apple health, improvements in messaging app and photos, development language Swift, a beta release for public and much more.
Enterprise feature included the ability to sign and encrypt messages via S/MIME, more advanced MDM capabilities and corporate document controls.
Apple’s messaging app got a feature to send Audio and Video messages and iOS 8 added iCloud drive which offers cloud storage like Dropbox and OneDrive.
It also integrated predictive typing in its virtual keyboard that suggests several options for next word.
Apple launched Testflight, a way for developers to run a beta version of iOS which allows them to dig deeper into its operating system.
Apple Pay, a mobile payment platform was introduced for the first time. Though iPhone still lacks the same customisability option as Android, the gap is filling very fast.
Key New Features:
iCloud Drive
Dropped Support For:
iPhone 4
iOS 9
Content blocking extensions for Safari browser was introduced with iOS 9 which gave the user to control over what content is being loaded and how they are being tracked.
The OS got a news app which displays news from various sources such as CNN, ESPN, The New York Times.
iOS 9 update made Siri smarter with Proactive (what Apple calls it) which was just a slightly less powerful version of Google Now.
Music app and 3D touch got a major overhaul, iPad received multi-window support and software download size was trimmed down as compared to previous releases.
A couple of new enterprise features were also introduced like IT admin control over the home screen and the ability to blacklist apps.
Key New Features:
Dropped Support For:
N/A
iOS 10
iOS 10 was focused on the enterprise market with further integration of business service into the OS.
The lock screen got a fresh new look and the screen lits up when a user lifts it to the face.
Notification bar got a new look. With this new version, with the help of digital touch, the user can send drawings, heartbeats, and other taps.
In WWDC Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook claimed that iOS 10 is “mother of all updates” and it is true up to an extent.
The Apple music went through a major redesign and integrated with simple navigation and easy access to download content.
The biggest update was to open software development kit to developers for the first times with Siri, maps, and iMessages.
With the help of new third-party integration, Siri can grow more frequently, same is with iMessages which are giving a tough competition to apps like Snap Chat and Facebook messenger.
This iOS update unlocked many possible ways to outgrow its fellow competitor Android.
It’s now clear that iOS has become a critical part of many successful businesses. Some major examples are the construction industry, farming, marine, airlines, retail sales, financial institutions and much more.
Apple is all set for its 10th anniversary of its iPhone launch. A major redesigning and changes in the current product line is anticipated.
Key New Features:
Dropped Support For:
iPhone 4S
5th gen. iPod touch
iPad 2
1st gen. iPad mini
iOS 11
Introduced on June 5, 2017 at the Worldwide Developers Conference, iOS 11 is the next-generation version of iOS. As Apple CEO Tim Cook said on stage, the update takes the best and most advanced operating system and turns it up to 11.
iOS 11 was released to the public on September 22, 2017 and is now available for download on the iPhone 5s and later, the iPad mini 2 and later, the iPad Air and later, all iPad Pro models, and the sixth-generation iPod touch.
iOS 11 brings subtle design changes to interface elements throughout the operating system. Text is bolder, apps like Calculator and Phone have a new look, and the Lock screen and Control Center have been entirely redesigned.
As for the Lock screen, it’s been merged with Notification Center. Swiping down on the screen to access notifications now brings up the Lock screen. Today view continues to be available with a side swipe, and everything generally looks the same — there’s just no separate Notification Center anymore.
Siri has a more natural voice and is more intelligent than ever. Siri learns user preferences and syncs that information across multiple devices, allowing the personal assistant to learn more about you and anticipate what you want. Siri can also translate English into different languages like Spanish and Chinese, and there’s deeper Siri integration with Apple Music.
For the iPad, Apple has introduced a host of new features that make it more capable than ever before. A persistent Dock at the bottom of the display a makes it easy to launch and switch between apps, and there’s a new App Switcher that’s similar to Mission Control on the Mac, letting you see everything you’re working on at a glance. For iPad Pro owners, the Apple Pencil does more, and several apps, like Mail and Notes, support inline drawing.
Drag and Drop lets you drag content like images and links from one app and drop it in another, and on both the iPad and the iPhone, there’s a new Finder-style Files app for managing files. Files lists all files stored locally, in iCloud Drive, in apps, and in third-party cloud services like Dropbox and Google Drive.
There are new keyboard features, like a one-handed keyboard on the iPhone and a “Flick” option for typing numbers and symbols more quickly on the iPad, and many of the built-in Apple apps have new functionality and feature updates.
Notes includes searchable handwriting and document scanning, Maps gains lane guidance, speed limit info, and indoor maps for malls and airports, while Apple Music includes a new feature that lets you see what your friends are listening to and share your own music. The Memories feature in Photos is smarter than ever, and in the Camera app, Portrait Mode and Live Photos have been improved with new capabilities.
HomeKit now supports speakers and there’s a new AirPlay 2 protocol that includes multi-room functionality. Do Not Disturb has been expanded to encompass driving, muting notifications while a vehicle is in motion, and Messages has been improved with a new App Drawer that makes it easier to access Messages apps and stickers.
Messages is also gaining support for a new person-to-person Apple Pay feature that lets you send money to friends and family right through an iMessage, and iMessages themselves will be stored in iCloud, with both features coming in a future iOS 11 update. Photos and videos also take up less space through the adoption of new HEIF and HEVC formats.
The App Store has been completely revamped in iOS 11, and there are now two distinct sections for apps and games. There’s also a new “Today” view that features new content on a daily basis to make it easier to discover fresh apps and games.
Apps can do a whole lot more thanks to several new APIs Apple is introducing, including CoreML and ARKit. CoreML provides machine learning tools to developers, while ARKit lets developers build complex and richly detailed augmented reality features into their apps.
Key New Features:
AirPlay 2
Dropped Support For:
iPhone 5C
iPhone 5
iPad 4
iPad 3
iOS X
This iPhone is completely different from all traditional iPhone devices. An iPhone that is entirely screen.
It can respond to a tap, your voice, and even a glance. With iPhone X OLED Screen , Face ID and Animoji are born.
The traditional home button is removed. Similar to iPhone 8 it also comes with Apple A11 Bionic processor. With four efficiency cores that are up to 70 percent faster than A10 Fusion. It includes all new 5.8‑inch super Retina screen display. A larger and faster 12MP camera sensor with new color filter and a new telephoto camera with OIS. The all new Wireless charging and augmented reality experiences never before possible.
iPhone X : The future of smartphone
And here’s what a decade of incremental innovation looks like: 2007’s original iPhone, compared against 2017’s iPhone 8 and iPhone X . These iPhone’s has marked a decade since the birth of the original iPhone. With 2017 models Apple has come a long way, it has transformed life with its iPhone evolution.
Thank you for getting this far. Please reach out with any questions , comments or suggestions for future posts. Thanks for the reading !!! 📚
