‘Every once in a while a revolutionary product comes along that changes everything.” These were the words of Steve Jobs, the head of Apple, in June 2007, 10 years ago yesterday, as he launched the first iPhone. Jobs’ words were not hyperbole: the iPhone really did revolutionise the industry.
Many industries, in fact. The iPhone set in motion widespread adoption of phones that looked like iPhones. Gone were the keyboards and small screens that came with the BlackBerrys of the world. In their place was a large screen that responded to touch. With a matter of years, these smartphones became the norm. Companies like Samsung rose on the back of their products and companies like BlackBerry fell. Instead of programmes, apps came, offering tens of thousands of ways to interact with the iPhone. The cameras on phones became a selling point and with that sales of portable cameras plunged. Separate GPS devices in cars were replaced by smartphones.
Yet the greater impact wasn’t on the companies and their products, but on the way people interacted with their phones, and through their phones, the world. Having a computer – not merely a mini-computer, but a device with significant processing power – in the pockets of millions of people changed what companies could offer. Video-calling became common. Music, at first with hundreds of songs stored in phones, and then with on-demand streaming, became a significant selling point for phones. So did video, at first stored, then streamed. iPhones changed relationships within the family, too, as every member of the family had a separate screen. And companies, already eager to collect every piece of data they could on consumers, found a bonanza as customers happily revealed where they were at every moment of the day. This change wasn’t merely down to Apple; but the iPhone set the ball rolling.
The way information was accessed changed too. Our own business was impacted: instead of reading a newspaper once a day, news was absorbed all day long. Media companies – including The National – adapted. The way people interacted with the world changed, and the way we tell you about those changes also changed. From next week, as The National relaunches, it will change again.
Stage 5 results
1 Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates 3:48:53
2 Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ) Astana Pro Team -
3 Adam Yates (GBR) Mitchelton-Scott -
4 David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 0:00:04
5 Ilnur Zakarin (RUS) CCC Team 0:00:07
General Classification:
1 Adam Yates (GBR) Mitchelton-Scott 20:35:04
2 Tadej Pogacar (SlO) UAE Team Emirates 0:01:01
3 Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ) Astana Pro Team 0:01:33
4 David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama-FDJ 0:01:48
5 Rafał Majka (POL) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:02:11
More from Armen Sarkissian
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
What is a Ponzi scheme?
A fraudulent investment operation where the scammer provides fake reports and generates returns for old investors through money paid by new investors, rather than through ligitimate business activities.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Know your camel milk:
Flavour: Similar to goat’s milk, although less pungent. Vaguely sweet with a subtle, salty aftertaste.
Texture: Smooth and creamy, with a slightly thinner consistency than cow’s milk.
Use it: In your morning coffee, to add flavour to homemade ice cream and milk-heavy desserts, smoothies, spiced camel-milk hot chocolate.
Goes well with: chocolate and caramel, saffron, cardamom and cloves. Also works well with honey and dates.
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
