Happy Birthday, iPhone! Take a Look Back at 8 Years of the Smartphone

Jan 14, 2015

Remember the times when you could easily tell the AT&T users apart from everyone else? That was already eight years ago. Yup, it’s been eight years since the idea of exchanging a physical phone keyboard for a touchscreen boggled our minds. This past Friday the iPhone turned eight! So we decided to celebrate the growth and evolution of one of our all-time favorite tech pieces ever with a “scroll” down (8 gigabytes of) memory lane ;)

First Gen iPhone

When the iPhone first came out, we thought it could do it all. On top of replacing tiny keyboards from our Blackberrys and bulky ones from our Sidekicks, the iPhone 3 replaced our CD players and iPods. We were able to listen to music and watch music videos. It also gave us an awesome, whopping (at the time) 2.0-megapixel camera! (Take that, flip phone.) Sending and receiving emails became a quicker process because the iPhone gave people a way to check their emails quickly. All these features were great, but the best part was going on the Internet, because Safari didn’t show a watered down HTML-looking version of a webpage or a lame mobile version. It showed what you’d see on a computer. And the fact that you could zoom using your fingers blew everyone’s minds. (Photo via Gadget)

iPhone 3G

As the name gives away, the iPhone 3G added a 3G data capability. With the iPhone OS 2.0, a built-in GPS allowed you to use Maps to get around. It’s crazy to think that at one point there were no such thing as iPhone apps. No games, no photo editing apps and no productivity apps (we’d die without ours right now). (Photo via Trusted Reviews)

iPhone 3GS

By now, we all know that whenever Apple adds an “S” to the end of their products, it’s an amped up version of its predecessor. This baby packed an impressive three megapixel camera, voice control and could even download small files. (Photo via Tuaw)

iPhone 4

Finally, AT&T users weren’t the only ones with an iPhone anymore. The iPhone 4’s design was beautiful inside and out. It had a high resolution retina display and an updated sleek design with a flat back. It was the thinnest smartphone at the time. The iPhone 4 gave birth to the first selfie with its 0.3 MP front camera. Along with the addition of the front camera came FaceTime video chat. Now, FaceTime is used in everyday life for business meetings, long distance relationships and even just to say hello.

iPhone 4S

The most notable feature on the iPhone 4S was Siri. She helped us find the nearest gas stations, told us where we were when we were lost, gave us the weather and was even a little sassy. iOS 5 brought on many great app additions to the iPhone’s UI: iCloud, iMessage, Notification Center and Reminders. And of course can’t forget the high-def, Sony-made 8-megapixel camera that allowed 1080p video recording capabilities.

iPhone 5

Why the long face? Oh, we’re not sad — we’re just trying to mimic the iPhone 5’s elongated screen. But that wasn’t the only design change. The aluminum body made the phone thinner and lighter too. The back camera remained the same, but the front camera got upgraded to 1.2-megapixels. This was also the iPhone that came out with the lightning cable charger, LTE support and iOS 6, which introduced the Passbook app. (Photo via Apple Insider)

iPhone 5S

With all these design updates, obviously the home button was feeling pretty left out. So with the iPhone 5S, the home button was made from laser-cut sapphire and had Touch ID functions. Obviously all the cool kids got the iPhone 5S in the newly introduced color Champagne, “protected” with a thin, clear plastic case to show off the gold aluminum. Beneath the HD retina that displayed the beautiful new flat look of the iOS 7 was the first 64-processor to be used on a smartphone, a built-in accelerometer and a gyroscope. Oh and we can’t forget the camera’s larger aperture and dual LED flash.

iPhone 5C

Sure there was no Touch ID home button, but the fact that this phone had five different color options made up for it. You can probably already guess that we wanted to get all five. This phone had a hard-coated polycarbonate casing which gave the backing a glossier finish than the aluminum 5 and 5S models.

iPhone 6 and 6 Plus

Now here we are. It’s been eight years and the iPhone is thinner than ever before, has a larger screen, faster processor, over 1.2 million apps in the App Store and we can make mobile payments with our thumbprint.

We can’t wait to see where the iPhone 7 and beyond takes us, but until then: Happy 8th birthday, iPhone!

Which iPhone model was your favorite? What’s your favorite iPhone feature? Favorite iOS app? Talk to us in the comments!

Rihanna Just Addressed Early Rumors About Her & A$AP Rocky's Relationship

We hear a lot about celebrity breakups, but thankfully this doesn't apply to Rihanna and A$AP Rocky. Their relationship hass blossomed before our eyes like a modern day fairy tale, and we're here for our pop culture king and queen. It seems like just yesterday the loving couple welcomed their second baby while dodging marriage rumors.

Rumors have circulated about whether the pair are married or not, but they've been pretty quiet about it. What Rihanna has done is open up about how her relationship with A$AP Rocky began in a new candid interview. Below, she covers everything from that infamous VMA's performance to what's in store for their growing family

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky's Relationship Timeline

Image via Kevin Winter/Getty Images

2012

While going down memory lane with Interview's Editori-in-Chief Mel Ottenberg, Rihanna opened up about her and A$AP Rocky's relationship timeline. She revealed the two didn't know each other prior to her 2012 VMA's performance of her single "Cockiness." No one can forget that A$AP Rocky was a part of her set and that he managed to spice things up by grabbing a handful of her bottom onstage.

2013

Although people assumed the two were dating when she appeared in the video for A$AP Rocky's song "Fashion Killa," Rihanna admits they weren't. It's easy to see how people would've assumed that because they've always had chemistry. She told Ottenberg that their friendship throughout the years was due to having similar perspectives. "We saw fashion the same. We saw creative the same. We ended up in the same circles a lot. And past that, when we grew up, we ended up supporting each other’s brands and products and creative all the time. I would wear his shit, he would show up to my launches."

Image via Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

2019

Although it would be juicy if Rihanna and A$AP Rocky's relationship stemmed from a steamy text, she alluded in her conversation with Interview that their love was more organic. She said, "We’ve known each other for a long time. I’ve seen him in relationships. He’s seen me in relationships. We’ve seen each other outside of relationships. We knew what we’re capable of, and the trouble that we could bring to each other’s lives. We can make or break each other’s hearts. And so, we started dating with a lot of caution."

She also said COVID had a huge impact of the solidifying their romantic relationship and that she doesn't regret how things unfolded for them.

2021

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky debuted their love — and style — on the red carpet of the 2021 Met Gala. By then, it was undeniable how they felt about each other.

Image via Rich Fury/Getty Images for Fenty Beauty & Fenty Skin

2022 — 2023

The couple welcomed their sons — Rza and Riot — between 2022 and 2023, something they love gushing about. They're not shy about expressing their adoration for their growing family and have even admitted they're open to having more children if that's in the cards for them. Rihanna specifically told Interview, "I don’t know what god wants, but I would go for more than two. I would try for my girl. But of course if it’s another boy, it’s another boy."

Did A$AP Rocky call Rihanna his wife?

Image via Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

Yes! During his performance at the 2023 Cannes Lions Festival, Rihanna was seen grooving to her love's music. Once he reached the second half of his performance, he gave her a huge, shocking shoutout. “I’d like to dedicate this song to my beautiful wife in the motherf–king building!”

Um, are you kidding us right now? His "beautiful wife?" We could hardly contain our excitement when we learned the news, and it seems Rihanna couldn't either because she was seen with a huge grin on her face. Ah, to be in love!

Image via Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

We can't help but wonder if their latest Met Gala look was a nod to their nuptials. I mean, a white dress and a tux? At fashion's biggest event? Seems suspicious, if you ask us!

Still, Rihanna and A$AP Rocky haven't issued a statement to the media about their marriage or a wedding ceremony. While we respect their privacy, we would be open to fawning over the beautiful bride and groom if they ever decide to release pictures.

Image via Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

As if that wasn't enough, A$AP Rocky released a song last year called "Riot (Rowdy Pipe'n)" that gives a little more relationship insight. In one lyric, he raps, "My wife is erotic, I’m smokin’ exotic."

We think they've been telling the world - "What's understood doesn't have to be explained."

Touché Rihanna and A$AP Rocky.

How do you feel about Rihanna and A$AP Rocky's uncertain future? Share your thoughts with us and follow us on Facebook for more updates!

This post has been updated with new information.

Lead image via Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images

"Bridget Jones 4" Is Officially On Its Way

If you're a rom-com fan who also can't get enough of Jane Austen's books, you've probably seen the Bridget Jones movies. The story (which is loosely based on Pride & Prejudice) follows the titular Bridget Jones, a 30-something who sets out on a mission to improve herself over the course of a year while she looks for a partner. And, in true romantic movie form, she keeps a diary the whole time. Not only can we rewatch the original trilogy as many times as we want, but we're also getting a fourth movie! Here's everything we know about Bridget Jones 4.