We just thought that we would take a bit of a walk down the tech history lane and so was just ruffling through the older archives of the TIME when I came across this.

In a chronological history of 12 most influential gadgets of all time, the last one in line was Apple’s original iPhone. How was the scene like before the launch of the iPhone? Here is what the TIME had to say about it then:

The first device to integrate a video iPod with a cell phone and a Web browser garnered more hype before its public release than any of Apple’s previous product launches.

Incidentally the list has three other Apple products as well- iPod, the now forgotten Newton Messagepad, and the Macintosh.
Speaks volumes about the spirit of innovation and turning the innovation to great business.