Exactly twelve years have passed since Apple first announced its revolutionary media download and management software, iTunes 1.0. The release of the original iTunes, along with the iPod, were perhaps the two biggest contributing factors to Apple’s turnaround from its struggles in the 90′s. And now, just a little more than a decade later, Apple has become one of the biggest companies on the planet, and arguably the most influential.

By the way, in case you didn’t know, Apple’s Safari browser turned 10 years of age just two days ago. More info on that here.

The original iTunes 1.0

It’s important to consider just how big of an impact iTunes had on Apple and its success. What really set apart the iPhone from its competitors were two things:

1. It’s revolutionary design, with a full-sized touch screen
2. Apps, and the ease at which they could be downloaded

iTunes was a strong platform that already was in existence for many years before the iPhone was released, and millions of people already had iTunes accounts. It wasn’t any trouble for them to simply connect their iPhone with their iTunes accounts and begin installing new software straight from their phone. iTunes as a platform was just as important to the iPhone’s success as the design of the phone itself.

And we all know how it went down from there, with the iPhone being released in 2007 and an open developer-driven App Store in 2008. In 2010 came the iPad, and in late 2011, Apple became, for the first time, the most valuable company in the world.

Yep, it all really comes back to iTunes. Happy 12th birthday, and may you have many more in the future!

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