Apple at 50: Three products that changed how we live – and three that really didn’t

Apple at 50: Three Products That Redefined Technology and Three That Stayed in the Shadows

Apple, turning 50 this week, has left an indelible mark on how technology integrates into daily life. Founded by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in a San Francisco garage, the company’s trajectory has been marked by groundbreaking successes and missteps. Today, nearly one-third of the world’s population owns an Apple device, a feat attributed by Emma Wall, Hargreaves Lansdown’s chief investment strategist, to the company’s powerful branding. “They sold a dream,” she explained, emphasizing that Apple “introduced the idea that branding was as crucial as the product itself.”

Revolutionary Innovations That Shaped the Modern World

The iPod, launched in 2001, remains a defining symbol of Apple’s influence. Craig Pickerell of The Apple Geek called it “one of Apple’s most iconic products” not just for its function but for its transformative impact. “MP3 players were clunky, storage was limited, and managing music felt like a task,” he noted. The iPod’s click-wheel interface and iTunes ecosystem revolutionized how people accessed digital music, making it a cultural touchstone.

“The iPod changed all of that almost overnight.”

Released in 2007, the iPhone redefined mobile technology. Though not the first smartphone, its design and marketing catapulted it to global dominance. Ben Wood of CCS Insight dubbed it the “Hotel California of smartphones”—once owned, users rarely abandon the Apple ecosystem. Steve Jobs, showcasing the first model, described it as “a phone, an internet communicator, and an iPod… all in one device.”

“It made you think of it not as a tech device, but a device of romance.”

The Apple Watch, introduced in 2015, continues Apple’s legacy of wearable innovation. Despite being a later entry in the smartwatch market, it generated $15bn in revenue and surpassed traditional Swiss watch sales annually. Ben Wood highlighted its significance: “As a standalone business, Apple Watch would rank among the top 250 to 300 largest companies in America.” Future iterations also pioneered health monitoring, including ECG and fall detection, solidifying its role in fitness tech.

Innovations That Largely Fell Short of Impact

Apple’s early ventures weren’t all hits. The Apple Lisa, a 1983 personal computer, was the first to feature a graphical interface and mouse. Yet, its $10,000 price tag, equivalent to £6,600 at the time, made it inaccessible to most. Paolo Pescatore, a tech analyst, said the Lisa’s commercial failure showed “how ahead of the curve Apple could be, but also how expensive.”

The Newton, Apple’s first tablet in the 1990s, was a vision ahead of its time. With handwriting recognition and a touchscreen, it laid groundwork for future devices like the iPad. However, its limited appeal and high cost prevented it from achieving widespread success. Similarly, the Apple TV, introduced in 2007, was a pioneering attempt at streaming but failed to gain traction against competitors like Roku and Amazon Fire.

Though these products didn’t redefine the tech landscape, they highlight Apple’s willingness to experiment. As Tim Cook, Apple’s current CEO, has demonstrated, the company’s ability to adapt remains key to its enduring relevance. Yet, for some fans, the absence of Steve Jobs’ visionary flair has left a lingering gap in excitement.