Apple’s iPhone turns 5 today

What were you doing five years ago today?

Apple CEO Steve Jobs with the original iPhone Jan. 9, 2007.

If you’re a techie, you may have been listening to Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveil the first iPhone.

AppleInsider takes us back to that day, Jan. 9, 2007, which Jobs rightly called “historic.”

“Every once in a while a revolutionary product comes along that changes everything,” said Jobs.

Even the most ardent Android fan would have to agree — the iPhone, after all, helped transform Apple into the world’s largest company according to market value.

Jobs may not have invented the MP3 player or the smartphone, but he found the popcorn kernel of truth in Orville Redenbacher’s business philosophy still holds true: “produce the best quality and sell in quality retail outlets.”

In 1996, when Jobs returned to Apple, the company was in a shambles. Cheap PCs running Windows had destroyed Apple’s computer sales.

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, believe it or not, gave Apple the $150 million it needed to market and produce the iMac, which didn’t run Windows but the operating system of Apple’s future — NeXT.

The cash cow known as the iPod was unveiled in 2001, further fueling Apple’s phoenix-like rise from the ashes.

Now, Apple has new challenges. Android phone specs have overtaken the iPhone. And Samsung is now the world’s largest manufacturer of smartphones.

What will Apple do next? Rumors are the TV will be the next device Apple improves, but they’ve tried before with minimal success.

Or perhaps it will be the iPhone 5 that puts Apple back firmly atop the smartphone ecosystem? New rumors are flying almost every day.

One thing’s for sure, whatever Apple releases next will have plenty of imitators. If you don’t believe me, look at the phone in your pocket.