Media explosion
Before the iPhone, most people used their smartphones to send text messages, answer emails and occasionally browse the web. Hardly anyone watched YouTube, TV shows, or sporting events on their phone. That all changed when Apple introduced the iPhone. You didn’t have to squint anymore to watch a video on a small screen. Photos and videos looked incredible on the full-length display. Media companies took advantage of this newfound distribution platform.
The original iPhone was also a camera phone and redefined consumer photography. Not only could you watch videos on your iPhone, but you could also produce them using the iPhone’s industry-leading camera hardware and software. The iPhone changed how people captured their lives. Instead of carrying a bevy of cameras and lenses, people only needed their phones.