David Pogue Tells the Origin Story of the iPhone in Wired’s Excerpt of His Upcoming History of Apple

Key Takeaways

• FingerWorks built large multi‑touch pad in 2003
• Prototype used projector, LCD, and white paper overlay
• Gestures like pinch‑to‑zoom were tested pre‑iPhone
• Excerpt reveals Apple’s secretive R&D culture
• Book releases March 10, detailing Apple’s first 50 years

Summary

David Pogue’s forthcoming "Apple: The First 50 Years" offers an in‑depth look at the iPhone’s origin, and Wired has released an exclusive excerpt. The piece spotlights a 2003 collaboration with FingerWorks that produced a large multi‑touch pad, complete with projector‑based testing and early gesture experiments. Pogue’s narrative weaves quotes from engineers to illustrate how Apple’s secret prototyping paved the way for the 2007 launch. The full 600‑page book arrives on March 10 and is already available for pre‑order.

Pulse Analysis

The release of David Pogue’s "Apple: The First 50 Years" arrives at a moment when corporate histories are in high demand, especially those that decode iconic products like the iPhone. Pogue, a veteran technology journalist, leverages decades of access to Apple insiders, delivering a narrative that blends meticulous research with storytelling flair. By partnering with Wired for an early excerpt, the book gains immediate credibility and reaches a tech‑savvy audience eager for behind‑the‑scenes details that go beyond standard press releases.

The excerpt focuses on a 2003 prototype built by FingerWorks, a company Apple contracted to scale up its multi‑touch pad. Engineers set up a test rig that projected images onto a white‑paper‑covered trackpad, allowing them to experiment with gestures such as sliding, pinching, and two‑handed manipulation. This hands‑on approach pre‑dated the iPhone’s public debut by several years, illustrating Apple’s iterative design philosophy and willingness to invest in unproven interfaces. The technical description—projector, Power Mac, and a large LCD surface—provides a vivid snapshot of the experimental environment that birthed the touch paradigm now ubiquitous across devices.

Understanding these early development stages matters to investors, product managers, and competitors alike. It highlights how Apple’s secretive R&D culture can translate exploratory prototypes into market‑defining products, reinforcing the company’s reputation for long‑term vision. Readers seeking deeper insight into Apple’s innovation engine will find Pogue’s book a valuable resource, while the pre‑order links ensure they can secure a copy before the March 10 launch. The narrative not only chronicles past achievements but also offers lessons on fostering breakthrough technology within a large organization.