One of the most important companies in the history of computers, smartphones, and tablets, Apple is a name that needs no introduction. Since the 1970s, Apple has been at the forefront of the computer world and has a long history with innovations like the mouse and user interface.
The history of Apple.com is also one of the tech world’s biggest fascinations, as the website has come a long way over the last 20 years. If you turn back the clock, before the iPhone, when Apple was best known as the iPod company, it’s a wonderful walk down memory lane.
The reality is that Apple’s website isn’t as different layout-wise today as it was 20 years ago. This is a company known for minimalism, and this hasn’t changed. Thankfully, to get a truly accurate picture of the 20-year time difference, we can use the Wayback Machine to turn back the clock to December 2004.
The Main Feature
One thing that hasn’t changed with Apple is the main feature on its website. Back on December 15, 2004, it was more than clear that the iPod Photo was Apple’s biggest product priority. Boasting storage for 25,000 photos, the iPod Photo was first launched on October 26, 2004, so it was unquestionably the company’s main focus for the holiday season.
Jump ahead to December 17, 2024, and while Apple’s website has certainly improved its navigation experience, one product is still the main focus. In this case, it’s the iPhone 16 Pro, which Apple is highlighting alongside its Apple Intelligence AI product. Of course, 2024 takes it a step further, where there is room to highlight the iPhone 16, iPad Air, and even family gifts.
The Menu Bar
In 2004, Apple’s website was a tab-based experience, with each product category that the company focused on having a “tab” on the website. This included one for its store, iPod + iTunes, Mac, QuickTime, Support, and Mac OS X. Right below are some additional options, including switching to Mac, separate categories for hardware and software, and highlights for Education, Pro, and Business.
The menu bar on today’s Apple website is more simplified and loses the actual “tab,” but it’s not all that different. The website’s style has become more modern, but it’s still broken out into categories; there are just more categories of products today than Apple had 20 years ago. This includes Mac, iPad, iPhone, Watch, Vision, AirPods, and other options like Entertainment and Accessories.
News Headlines
It’s curious to look back on Apple’s website through the Wayback Machine and see that the company included “Hot News Headlines” back in the day. This surprisingly includes news that Apple undoubtedly cherry-picked this purpose, like one article from USA Today highlighting how popular Apple stores are or the opening of a new Apple store in London. There are also a few different tips and tricks directly from Apple on how to better handle your Apple products.
In today’s world, Apple’s relationship with posting media headlines on its website seems far-fetched. There isn’t a headline anywhere on Apple’s homepage, and you likely won’t see one until you jump into the company’s newsroom. Even then, you’re only going to see what Apple wants you to read, which includes its headlines around 2024 App Store Award Winners and the like.
iPod Special Edition
Apple’s relationship with U2 is well-known for good and bad reasons, but the highlights in not one but two places on its website in 2004 feel noteworthy. Not only does Apple have a U2-colored “Special Edition” iPod, but it also highlights the availability of The Complete U2 collection as an iTunes exclusive. While iTunes feels like a distant memory in the Apple Music world, there is something simple about this time in Apple’s history.
The website of today’s Apple in 2024 makes no such relationship with any third party known and likely wouldn’t outside of its newsroom. Apple hasn’t had a specialized relationship with anyone since U2, which resulted in a specific product, except for maybe Product Red. However, that was more charitable focused than an outright endorsement, as with U2.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©canadastock/Shutterstock.com.