Flashback to the Past: iOS

(Source: http://images.anandtech.com/doci/6330/iPhone5-3899.jpg) iPhones from all generations (from left to right: iPhone 5 White, iPhone 5 Black, iPhone 4S. iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G, Original iPhone)

(Source: http://fs01.androidpit.info/userfiles/4471351
/image/Translations/ios7good.jpg)
 iOS 7 look

In the world today, when you walk around the roads, you would normally see people carrying smartphones. One of the most prevalent phone that you will see around is none other than the iPhone, stated to be the phone that have revolutionised the smartphone industry back in 2007. And the operating system on the iPhone is none other than Apple's proprietary mobile operating system iOS. iOS, which as of 2013, is in its 7th iteration, is stated to be the most simplest and easiest to use mobile operating system around the world.
So, how did iOS and iPhone started?

Back in 2005, the iPod is one of the most popular music device in the world with a total of 20 million sold in that year itself, and accounts for 45% of Apple's revenue.
This made then Apple CEO, Steve Jobs, worried that it would eventually cause Apple to fall. As such, he started searching for an alternative way to further boost Apple and reduce their reliance on the iPod, as well as what could make people not get an iPod. Then, he realized that what could possibly accomplish that, is none other than the cell phone. Hence, he started trying to resolve this. He initially tried to partner with Motorola to create a phone much like the RAZR back then, which will come with an iPod built in. That phone, the ROKR, eventually turned out to be a failure. This, coupled with a lot more problems related to cellular network companies etc, eventually made Jobs decide to just create a phone themselves.

First iPhone prototype

Initially, they planned to modify the iPod, where the user will somehow use the track wheel to scroll through phone options. But it was soon found out that it was not a natural fit, and especially horrible when it comes to entering anything.

Later, Jobs went to a birthday party of one of his friend, who happens to be a engineer at Microsoft who created a tablet computer for Microsoft, that has a touch screen interacted by a stylus, and is constantly badgering Jobs about it. Jobs became annoyed and decided to create his own touch screen, one that does not require a stylus. So, he, and Johnathon Ivy managed to create a way to use the fingers to control the screen and accept multiple input. Hence, natural multitouch is created.

For the screen glass itself, he wasn't happy with the then available glasses available. That is, until he heard about what Wendell Weeks, then CEO of Corning Glass, was developing a chemical they dubbed "Gorilla Glass". However, Weeks felt that they might not be able to make the glass as fast as Jobs wanted. After continued persuasion by Jobs, Weeks decided to try their best developing and producing it. And they did it in under 6 months.

Then, with just a few months till their announcement of the iPhone, Jobs suddenly decided that he does not like the design. Hence, the design engineers started working day and night and finally managed to design an iPhone look, that will exist for 3 years before another refresh to the iPhone occurs.

The Original iPhone announcement back in 2007
(Source: http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2007/01/dsc_0165.jpg)

Finally, the announcement came, in 9 January 2007, at the annual MacWorld event. Jobs took to the stage telling the audience about the Mac and the iPod. He goes on saying that they will be introducing "three new revolutionary products of the class. The first is a wide screen iPod with touch control, the second is a revolutionary mobile phone and the third is a breakthrough Internet communications device". And he goes on to say that its not 3 separate device, but a single device, and thus born the iPhone.

Source: Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson (Biography Book)