Original iPhone's First Four Reviewers Reminisce About Getting Their Hands on It for the First Time

With the iPhone's tenth birthday coming up this week, CBS Sunday Morning aired a segment today taking a look back at the development and launch of the original iPhone.


The segment from David Pogue includes a roundtable session with Pogue, Walt Mossberg, Steven Levy, and Ed Baig, the four journalists who received review units of the iPhone in 2007 just prior to its launch.

"After three days," said Mossberg, "I was ready to throw this thing out of the window for trying to type on glass."

"It's ten years later," said Levy, "and half the emails I get still have a little message underneath saying, 'Typed on phone, forgive typos'!"

Pogue also sits down for a brief interview with Bas Ording, one of the key Apple engineers behind the first iPhone.

Part of what made the iPhone a hit was that objects in that touchscreen world have their own physics. You can thank Bas Ording for some of it, like how lists have momentum when you flick them, or how they do a little bounce when you get to the end.

"And now, a billion people are using your idea," said Pogue.

"Is it a billion? That's a lot!" Ording laughed.

"Did anyone, at the time, on this team, have any idea how big this could be?"

"Oh, no, not at all. I didn't, for sure."

The segment doesn't break any new ground on the background of the iPhone, but it's a nice piece highlighting the milestone anniversary of the device that changed the world.

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro 3 4ths Perspective Aluminum Camera Module 1

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features

Sunday April 13, 2025 7:52 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of April 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...
Apple 2025 Thumb 1

10 Products Still Coming From Apple in 2025

Friday April 11, 2025 4:14 pm PDT by
Apple may have updated several iPads and Macs late last year and early this year, but there are still multiple new devices that we're looking forward to seeing in 2025. Most will come in September or October, but there could be a few surprises before then. We've rounded up a list of everything that we're still waiting to see from Apple in 2025. iPhone 17, 17 Air, and 17 Pro - We get...
iOS 18 Siri Personal Context

Report Reveals Internal Chaos Behind Apple's Siri Failure

Thursday April 10, 2025 7:15 am PDT by
A new report from The Information today reveals much of the internal turmoil behind Apple Intelligence's revamped version of Siri. Apple apparently weighed up multiple options for the backend of Apple Intelligence. One initial idea was to build both small and large language models, dubbed "Mini Mouse" and "Mighty Mouse," to run locally on iPhones and in the cloud, respectively. Siri's...
M6 MacBook Pro Feature 1

Waiting for the Perfect MacBook Pro? 2026 Might Be the Year

Thursday April 10, 2025 4:19 am PDT by
Apple in October 2024 overhauled its 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, adding M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips, Thunderbolt 5 ports on higher-end models, display changes, and more. That's quite a lot of updates in one go, but if you think this means a further major refresh for the MacBook Pro is now several years away, think again. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has said he expects only a small...
maxresdefault

The MacRumors Show: New iOS 19, iPhone 17, and Apple Watch Ultra 3 Leaks

Friday April 11, 2025 7:13 am PDT by
On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we catch up on the latest iOS 19 and watchOS 12 rumors, upcoming devices, and more. Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos Detailed new renders from leaker Jon Prosser claim to provide the best look yet at the complete redesign rumored to arrive in iOS 19, showing more rounded elements, lighting effects, translucency, and...
iPad Pro iPadOS

iPadOS 19 Will Be 'More Like macOS' in Three Ways

Sunday April 13, 2025 6:43 am PDT by
A common complaint about the iPad Pro is that the iPadOS software platform fails to fully take advantage of the device's powerful hardware. That could soon change. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today said that iPadOS 19 will be "more like macOS." Gurman said that iPadOS 19 will be "more like a Mac" in three ways:Improved productivity Improved multitasking Improved app window management...
apple intelligence black

NYT: Apple's AI Struggles Began with 2023 Chip Budget Dispute

Friday April 11, 2025 4:33 am PDT by
Apple's current struggles with Apple Intelligence and Siri began in early 2023 when AI head John Giannandrea sought approval from CEO Tim Cook to purchase more AI chips for development, according to a new report from The New York Times. Cook initially approved doubling the team's chip budget, but CFO Luca Maestri reportedly reduced the increase to less than half that amount, and instead...
iOS 18 Siri Personal Context

Apple Plans to Release Delayed Apple Intelligence ‌Siri‌ Features This Fall

Friday April 11, 2025 4:53 am PDT by
Apple plans to release its delayed Apple Intelligence Siri features in the fall, according to a new report by The New York Times. In early March, Apple said that it was going to take longer than expected to roll out the more personalized ‌Siri‌ experience, and that these features would be rolled out "in the coming year." Subsequently, Reuters reported that the ‌Apple Intelligence‌...
top stories 2025 04 12

Top Stories: iOS 19 and iPhone 17 Pro Rumors, Siri Revamp Turmoil, and More

Saturday April 12, 2025 6:00 am PDT by
It was a big week for leaks and rumors in the Apple world, with fresh claims about iOS 19, the iPhone 17 Pro, and even the 20th anniversary iPhone coming a couple of years from now. Sources also spilled the tea on the inner turmoil at Apple around the Apple Intelligence-driven Siri revamp that has seen significant delays, so read on below for all the details on these stories and more! iOS ...

Top Rated Comments

yanksfan114 Avatar
102 months ago
It really puts it in perspective watching this video just how much has changed since the iPhone came. Today we have phones that break over 100mbps on LTE, screens with such high resolutions that we can't see the pixels, sharing messages and photos with the tap of a finger, tapping on ANY song you want to listen to and have it play instantly, and taking pictures we would have never thought possible without a high-end camera. The iPhone truly has made the world a better place. Even with Android still in it ;) just kidding
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
robertpatryk Avatar
102 months ago
"how they do a little bounce when you get to the end."

I remember that as I got my first iPhone in 2008 and I immediately felt in love.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Hastings101 Avatar
102 months ago
ok, who here likes the original interface as opposed to iOS 7+ more?
I do, I'm not really a fan of the flat and lifeless trend anymore. I think Microsoft started it with Windows Phone and now it's everywhere. I will take glossy, colorful "skeuomorphism" over it any day.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BigHonkingDeal Avatar
102 months ago
I remember watching Steve's keynote and said if this thing can do half of what it promised I need to have one.... Was in line on day one and have not looked back. (well side ways maybe)
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Sunny1990 Avatar
102 months ago
iPhone really changed the world.it was a class leading product of its time.

I do remember what it's was like to hold the original iPhone for the first time.:)
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
blueflame Avatar
102 months ago
I remember being there. I had a press pass. Was doing a macworld promo as it was one of the last.

Had to be in the hall at 3am backstage.

I could literally feel the tention. There was large food tables set up behind the the stage in a large loading area. Filled with breakfast coffee and juice.

About 5am, steve jobs came in witn phil schiller and john mayer. I didnt really know who mayer was at the time. I am not really musical.

All three sat at a table and shook hands.'talking. Not one of them took a drink or ate.

They were so focused. You could tell this was a big moment.

When by 6am. Long lines outside the center to get in. Tons of journalist. It was so special being back there. Before anyone else was let in for hours. Feeling it. Seeing the setup. EMpty display tables and a empty glass case.

I watched the keynote from the left side of the stage. Watched the reveal in awe.

Even being here that early, i never saw the phone until after the presentstion. Then led out to all the glass encased displays. You could tell. Even unfinished. This was a change in tech.

Really feel lucky to have been there for the reveal. This shifted communication for the rest of history.

Lookingn back it feels like inwas there for thr launch of the first manned mission to the moon.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)