As a technology enthusiast, there was no escaping this book. I refer to
technology rather than a company because I have never been an ardent Apple or
Google fan, having
only recently switched from Android to iOS.
At the same, it wasn't a case of eagerness to read the book as it was the fact
that I was bombarded with references to the book wherever I went, be it on
podcasts or tech sites. Hence, I was able to put the book further down my
reading list until I finally came across it a few days back.
Going by the book's name and the timing of its release, it would be valid to
presume that it has the blessings of Apple and would offer candid insights from
the who’s who of the iPhone team. However, as the book makes it clear upfront,
Apple's veil of secrecy extends to the extent that no current (and some former)
employee can share their story on the record. Hence, the book instead relies on
the recounting by other industry stalwarts as well as anonymous Apple sources.
This kind of anonymity can impact the credibility of some of the stories but in
this case, it can't be helped and it certainly seems to fit the narrative. The
other aspect is that one may be beguiled in to thinking that the book would
only be focussed on the immediate story of the device's inception, however that
is thankfully left to the eponymous last chapter of the book. As a result, the
book is able to tell a much more holistic story than would have been possible
if it had been focussed on the device alone.
As soon as you start reading the book, it becomes evident that the author is
extending a thread from
Steve Jobs' biography with his
allusion to the "lone inventor" and the author admits to as much.
While being repetitive, it is essential to do so because one must see past the
mist of Steve Jobs to understand the significantly substantial efforts put in
by thousands of others. In fact, the hard headedness of Steve meant that others
had to put in far more onerous efforts to help him see the light of the day,
only for him to take all the credit. At the same time, Steve paved the highway
to success that few other leaders can, bogged down by the immense bureaucracy
within the company.
The initial chapters of the book make it amply clear than the iPhone was a
significant evolution than
the revolution it was proclaimed to be.
Another case of
standing on the shoulders of giants.
This is essentially the premise of the book as it unearths the origins of all
that made the iPhone possible. It is humbling to think that
century-old satire rather than science
fiction accurately portrayed the state of affairs in the 21st century. Even
then, the patent arts littered throughout the book indicate how ideas have to
wait for years in order for technology to catch up and portray them as
revolutionary.
A couple of topics that have always been associated with Apple and the
iPhone are conflict mining and the state of working conditions in factories.
Both these aspects are covered in detail in the chapters
"Minephones", "Lion Batteries" and "Designed in
California, Made in China". It is in a way mortifying to think of the
people, especially children, whose livelihood depends on cheating death daily to
ship the materials for the iPhone. The book is even replete with an adventure
in Foxconn City, a humbling insight in to the human price of the iPhone. Of
course, Apple has taken steps to ensure better working conditions but that
doesn't help those who continue to work in abject conditions for other
manufacturers, especially Chinese ones that have less regard for human rights.
As much as users may be pedantic over the iPhone's appearance, it is
heartening to see the same level of attention being shown to its components by
the author. Hence, the later chapters focus on the origins of Gorilla Glass,
multi touch, image stabilization, sensors, processors, antenna, Siri and
security enclave. This makes for an interesting read and again emphasizes the
notion that the iPhone was more evolutionary than revolutionary as it managed
to reap the benefits of miniaturization over the decades and integrate them in
a rather appealing package. At the same time, it seems that the author tries a
bit too hard in associating modern technology with erstwhile relics like the
volvelle because it fits the narrative from his perspective. The book also
captures the once prolific jailbreaking scene which has since slowed to a crawl
with incremental feature and security updates in iOS. Nonetheless, it was great
to hear from the various personalities involved in it as my exposure was simply
limited to running the tools bearing their name.
As I have glossed over previously, those expecting an origin story of the
iPhone, ought to find solace in the last chapter of the book. Of course, the
build up to it is scattered across the chapters, without which you wouldn't be
able to identify the characters involved. However, the emphasis once again is
on the sacrifice of the unsung heroes involved in the creation of the device.
While the sufferings of the designers in US might not have been at the same level as those
involved in mining and assembly, there isn't denying the fact that the one
device has claimed its fair share of victims along the way.
Reflecting on the book, it is apparent it was meant to be a reference on the
iPhone and not so much about an iPhone. It is historic in context and therefore
will stand the test of time as an accurate reflection of the iPhone's legacy on
its 10th anniversary, much more than
Apple's pretentious photo book.
However, the book is by no means a page turner and could have benefited
significantly from being tauter. While a good story has certainly been told, it
hasn't been done in a particularly engaging manner. Still. this is a
recommended read for anyone interested in technology and smartphones, rather
than just the iPhone.
