10 years of iPhone: watch Steve Jobs introduce Apple's first ever smartphone

It's hard now to imagine a world without smartphones but, with few notable exceptions, it took Apple and its iPhone to really popularise the concept - and revolutionise the world of personal electronics in the process.

You may then find it even harder to comprehend that the iPhone is only 10 years old - a landmark which it reaches today with the anniversary of its unveiling at the 2007 Macworld expo.

Want to see the future being written? Feast your eyes on the late Steve Jobs below as he gives the world its first glimpse of the original iPhone:

A lasting legacy

Ambitious as it was to deliver “a widescreen iPod with touch controls, a revolutionary mobile phone and a breakthrough internet communications device,” all in one back in 2007, it all seems rather quaint now - even down to the relative lack of bombast and polish that would surround a modern iPhone launch. Just check out poor Stan Sigman of Singular - he wouldn't get away with stumbling over flashcard prompts at a global Apple event these days.

But Apple knew it was onto something special - today also marks the 10 years since it changed its name from Apple Computers Inc to simply Apple Inc, acknowledging that the lines between what a computer could be were about to change dramatically.

“iPhone is an essential part of our customers' lives, and today more than ever it is redefining the way we communicate, entertain, work and live,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s current CEO, of the anniversary. 

“iPhone set the standard for mobile computing in its first decade and we are just getting started. The best is yet to come.”

Gerald Lynch

Gerald is Editor-in-Chief of iMore.com. Previously he was the Executive Editor for TechRadar, taking care of the site's home cinema, gaming, smart home, entertainment and audio output. He loves gaming, but don't expect him to play with you unless your console is hooked up to a 4K HDR screen and a 7.1 surround system. Before TechRadar, Gerald was Editor of Gizmodo UK. He is also the author of 'Get Technology: Upgrade Your Future', published by Aurum Press.