Top 10 Groundbreaking Apple Innovations

Criticized by some upon its release as overhyped, unnecessary and “just a big iPhone,” the iPad proved detractors very, very wrong. Basically pioneering the idea of the tablet, the original, 9.7-inch screen iPad was a cross between the iPod Touch and the MacBook, and it could do almost everything you’d ever want it to do. Take pictures and shoot video? Sure. Play games and music? Of course. Browse the internet? Duh. Introduced in 2010 as proof that Steve Jobs and Apple were not done innovating, over 200-million iPads have been sold since it first hit the market, with new editions like the Air and the Mini coming along to fill even more new niches.

Not only did the colors make them look super-cool and ahead of their time, the 1998 release of the iMac was arguably the defining moment of Steve Jobs’ return to Apple. But they weren’t all style and no substance: brought to fruition by famed Apple designer Jony Ive, the original iMac not only dropped beige plastic as the desktop standard, but also eliminated the floppy disk drive in favor of a little something called the USB. The result was a product that revived Apple’s struggling sales and remains popular as a home computer model. Plus, it was the first Apple product to bear the “i” prefix in its name.

Apple’s always wanted to make their computers as user-friendly and as uncomplicated as possible; but until 1984 computing involved code, command prompts and – for many laymen – confusion. All that changed with the introduction of the Macintosh and its evolved version of the Graphical User Interface – or “gooey.” Rather than having users enter all kinds of coding to navigate their computers, Apple instead let people access their data from a “desktop,” which has been the standard way to use a Mac ever since. Introduced with an equally innovative advertising campaign, this product represented the future of home computing.

You may see iTunes as a way to store and buy songs and backup your iPhone. And it certainly does all that. But more importantly, it’s likely that iTunes was the product that introduced you to Apple and proved their products weren’t nearly as scary as you thought. Launched in 2001 a few months before the introduction of the first iPod, iTunes was instrumental not only in enticing PC users over to the Mac side; it also changed the way music was consumed by selling whole albums as well as individual songs digitally. It’s a vital branch of the Apple tree.

It’s gone through many evolutions over the years, but even the first iteration of the iPod impacted how people listened to music. Introduced in 2001, right around the time when MP3 players, digital music and – gasp – illegal file sharing were first making their mark, the iPod killed portable CD players, CDs and even stereos. With a wheel that allowed you to shuffle through your songs and playlists with ease, and a set of signature white earbuds, the iPod gave purpose to the iTunes music store and pushed digital music even further. It also proved that Apple could do far more than just computers. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: - Apple Store - Retina Display - Apple Newton - Siri

Back in 2007 when the Blackberry was seemingly the only smartphone game in town, a cocky young upstart put out by Apple decided to challenge the status quo. And, those infamous Apple Store lines began with the intro of the first-gen iPhone, even though its camera was subpar and it couldn’t copy-paste text. But, this smartphone combined a cell, MP3 player, camera and essentially a computer with Apple’s intuitive interface and multi-touch technology, and packed it all into a handheld, pocket-friendly package. With the App Store released about a year after the first iPhone hit stores, the possibilities for this phone expanded exponentially. No wonder it’s the world’s best-selling phone. Do you agree with our list? What do you think is Apple’s greatest ever innovation? With new top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.