Multi-Functional Hand-Held Device

Filed December 28th, 2007

This drawing is from a patent filing covering a “multi-functional hand-held device” that’s clearly the iPhone. The filing explains that the “multi-functional hand-held device” combines the functions of a phone  (which looks like a 1990s Nokia), a PDA (apparently a PalmPilot), and a music player (recognize the one shown here?). It’s a neat visual summary of just how much the world of gadgetry has changed in the last decade–thanks as much to Apple’s ideas as those of any other single company. Which makes it an appropriate note on which to end this gallery.