The Tablet That Came Before the Phone
Believe it or not, the iPad was born before the iPhone. In the early 2000s, Apple's design team, led by Jony Ive, was experimenting with a multi-touch tablet. Steve Jobs himself recalled seeing an early demonstration of a glass display you could type
on and realizing its potential. However, a strategic pivot put the tablet project on hold. Jobs decided that the core technology was more immediately crucial for revolutionizing the mobile phone market. The tablet concept, codenamed K48 or "035," was shelved as Apple poured its resources into creating the iPhone, which launched in 2007. Only after the iPhone became a certified hit did Apple return to its original tablet idea, armed with a mature mobile operating system and a world now accustomed to multi-touch.
A Thicker, Plastic Body
The first-generation iPad's anodized aluminum back felt premium and durable, setting it apart from the plastic gadgets of the era. But that wasn't always the plan. Photos of early prototypes from between 2002 and 2004, revealed during a court battle, showed a much bulkier device with a thick, white plastic shell. This early version resembled an oversized, first-generation iPod more than the sleek tablet that would eventually ship. The device was significantly thicker, almost an inch deep, and lacked the iconic single home button. Choosing aluminum was a key decision that elevated the iPad from just another gadget to a premium piece of industrial design, a philosophy Jony Ive championed by focusing on materials and the manufacturing process itself.
Just a Big iPod Touch?
One of the loudest criticisms lobbed at the iPad upon its reveal was that it was "just a big iPod Touch." It was a perception Apple worked hard to avoid. Internally, there was a significant push to ensure the iPad offered a unique experience that wasn't simply a scaled-up phone interface. While the iPad did run iPhone OS 3.2 and could run existing iPhone apps, Apple heavily encouraged developers to redesign their software to take advantage of the larger 9.7-inch screen. Apple itself led the way, creating new versions of its own apps like Mail, Calendar, and Photos that used multi-panel layouts and other interface elements that wouldn't be possible on a smaller device, setting the stage for the iPad as a distinct platform.
The Kickstand and Extra Port That Vanished
To make the iPad a true productivity and media device, Apple's engineers experimented with features that would have completely changed its iconic silhouette. One later-stage prototype reportedly included two 30-pin dock connectors instead of one. This would have allowed the iPad to be docked and charged in both portrait and landscape orientations, a feature that might have been useful but would have complicated the clean, unibody design. Even more telling was the exploration of a built-in kickstand. The idea was to let the device stand on its own for watching video or typing, but this was ultimately rejected. The focus remained on creating a pure, simple slate, leaving accessories like stands to third-party manufacturers and, later, Apple's own Smart Cover.
