# Why 2014 was Apple's breakout year (HT Tech) > Just when everyone was writing Apple off for its phones with miniscule screens and tightly-closed operating system, the Cupertino giant silenced critics by releasing radical new products and services. # Why 2014 was Apple's breakout year ## Just when everyone was writing Apple off for its phones with miniscule screens and tightly-closed operating system, the Cupertino giant silenced critics by releasing radical new products and services. Dec 26 2014, 19:23 IST ![Follow on Facebook](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/follow-us-facebook.png) ![Follow on Facebook](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/follow-us-facebook-hover.png) ![Share](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/Share.png) ![Share](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/Shareclicked.png) ![Share on WhatsApp](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/whatsapp.png) ![Share on WhatsApp](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/whatsapp-hover.png) ![Share on Twitter](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/twitter.png) ![Share on Twitter](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/twitter-hover.png) ![Share on Facebook](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/facebook.png) ![Share on Facebook](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/facebook-hover.png) ![Bookmark](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/Bookmark.png) ![Bookmarked](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/Bookmarked.png) ![image caption](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/rf/image_size_800x600/HT/p1/2014/09/03/Incoming/Pictures/1259496_Wallpaper2.jpg) ![Author Photo](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/HTTech-new-circle-logo.png) ### By PRANAV DIXIT Last year, even hardcore Apple fanboys were starting to write off the Cupertino giant for being a laggard. In a world dominated by phablets, the iPhone looked miniscule. And Google's Android, which was massively rehauled this year, was starting to look much more feature-rich and mature. Then, Apple came through with a one-two punch that made everyone sit up and take notice. Here's what happened. The iPhone finally went big For a company that calls every product it releases 'revolutionary,' Apple is surprisingly conservative. The original iPhone's 3.5-inch screen was massive compared to everything else out there. But that was back in 2007. Companies like Samsung quickly released phones that were over 4 and then 5 inches big. Phablets became a thing. Also read click here. ![image caption](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/Images/popup/2014/12/iPhone6_Apple.jpg) Apple didn't bother changing the size of the iPhone's screen till 2012 -- the iPhone 5 had a slightly larger 4-inch screen -- but in 2014, we finally got what we wanted: a large iPhone, the iPhone 6 with a 4.7-inch display, and an Apple Phablet, the iPhone 6 Plus, with a gigantic 5.5-inch face. In true Apple style, the increase in sizes came with thoughtful features like the ability double tap the Home button to shrink down the screen to use the phones one-handed. We finally got an iWatch OK, so they called it Apple Watch. Big Deal. It's the iWatch, as far as we're concerned. The rumour mill had been predicting an Apple wearable for years, and this time, Apple didn't disappoint. ![image caption](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/ht-tech-bg-img-245-140.png) The Apple Watch, which will be released early next year, is easily one of the most feature-packed smartwatches to hit the market. It not only tracks your workouts via an integrated heart rate monitor, it also acts as a full-featured companion to your iPhone by allowing you to make and receive calls, send text messages and navigate maps. Apple had been criticised for simply iterating on the success of its previous products -- the iPhone, iPad and iPod -- each year. With the launch of the Apple Watch, the company has finally released a brand new product line. Wall Street seems satisfied. For now. Apple acquired Beats for $3 billion -- its biggest acquisition yet ![image caption](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/ht-tech-bg-img-245-140.png) No one knows why Apple bought Beats, the company that makes those flashy, overpriced headphones that are a common sight on streets all over the United States -- and Apple certainly isn't saying. One school of thought is this: the world is listening to music on streaming services like Spotify and Pandora and people just aren't buying enough music from iTunes anymore. In addition to its headphones business, Beats also owns a popular music streaming service, which Apple can leverage. Plus, the company is run by Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre -- two of the coolest and most connected people in the music industry. Apple' Beats acquisition, which was completed in August, is shrouded in mystery. But there's no doubt that it's the company's boldest buy yet. Apple Pay is pretty revolutionary When it revealed the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus in September, Apple also introduced Apple Pay, a service that lets you use your phone to pay wirelessly in stores without fumbling for your credit card. Apple is by no means the first company to do this -- others like Google and Square are already in that business -- but it is probably the first company to do it right. Apple Pay was supported by hundreds and thousands of stores across the U.S. right from launch and Apple made sure it tied up with all major banks and credit card services to make sure it worked seamlessly right from day one. iOS 8 is more open then ever before Apple's operating system for its phones, tablets and the iPod Touch was notorious for being restrictive in ways that its rival Android was not. Android users, for instance, have always been able to install third-party keyboards, home screen widgets and other tweaks to add new capabilities to their phones. With iOS 8, Apple finally opened up the system that lets users do all these things and more on their iPhones. This isn't just a technological change. By finally giving users the option to make their devices work in ways that they want -- not just how Apple thinks they should work -- it's a philosophical change. Catch all the Latest Tech News, Mobile News, Laptop News, Gaming news, Wearables News , How To News, also keep up with us on Whatsapp channel,Twitter, Facebook, Google News, and Instagram. For our latest videos, subscribe to our YouTube channel. 24 Dec, 11:24 IST 71,589,382,134,495 NEXT ARTICLE BEGINS ![View all](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/view-all-icon.png) ## Tips & Tricks ![Ghibli-style art](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/img/2025/03/28/414x233/ChatGPT_Ghibli_style_images_1743161814450_1743161814596.jpg) ### How to turn your photos into Ghibli-style art with ChatGPT for free: Step-by-step guide ![How to create an invitation using iPhone’s new Apple Invites app- Step-by-step guide](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/img/2025/02/14/414x233/invites_1738728829564_1739543695649.png) ### How to create an invitation using iPhone’s new Apple Invites app- Step-by-step guide ![Apple TV app arrives on Android phones and tablets: What you get and how to install it](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/img/2025/02/13/414x233/unnamed_1739426557335_1739426567634.jpg) ### Apple TV app arrives on Android phones and tablets: What you get and how to install it ![Vodafone Idea OTT plans](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/ht-tech-bg-img-90-66.png) ### Vodafone Idea users can now stream 17 OTT apps with one subscription: Here's how ![Android data transfer methods](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/ht-tech-bg-img-90-66.png) ### How to transfer data from one Android to another using Google backup, USB-C cable, and more ## Editor’s Pick ![iPhone 16e launched with A18 chip, Apple AI—bringing flagship power on a budget: Check specs, price](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/ht-tech-bg-img-90-66.png) ### iPhone 16e launched in India: All details about the new budget mobile from Apple ![DeepSeek was founded in China with only a fraction of the budget of the top AI companies in the US.](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/ht-tech-bg-img-90-66.png) ### DeepSeek AI: How it works, who’s behind it, how it’s different from ChatGPT, and its big US market impact explained ![iPhone 17 Air likely to get this feature that iPhone 17 Pro models may miss out on](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/ht-tech-bg-img-90-66.png) ### iPhone 17 Air likely to get this feature that iPhone 17 Pro models may miss out on ![Google Whisk AI explained: How remixing works, availability, and how it differs from Gemini](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/ht-tech-bg-img-90-66.png) ### Google Whisk AI explained: How remixing works, availability, and how it differs from Gemini ![iOS 18.4 beta arriving soon: Know why it is the biggest iPhone update](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/ht-tech-bg-img-90-66.png) ### iOS 18.4 beta arriving soon: Know why it is the biggest iPhone update ## Trending Stories ![Airtel 5G SIM card will now be delivered in 10 minutes with Blinkit- How to order](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/ht-tech-bg-img-90-66.png) ### Airtel 5G SIM card will now be delivered in 10 minutes with Blinkit- How to order ![Infinix Note 50s 5G+](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/ht-tech-bg-img-90-66.png) ### Infinix Note 50s 5G+ set to launch in India with 64MP camera and MediaTek Dimensity 7300 SoC ![Xiaomi X Pro QLED Series sale starts in India: Check price, availability, and more](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/ht-tech-bg-img-90-66.png) ### Xiaomi X Pro QLED Series sale starts in India: Check price, availability, and more ![Apple Intelligence AI training](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/ht-tech-bg-img-90-66.png) ### Apple plans to train AI using your on-device data without accessing personal content or emails: Report ![CMF Buds 2](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/ht-tech-bg-img-90-66.png) ### CMF Buds 2 key features and price revealed ahead of April 28 launch: Details inside keep up with tech ![Facebook](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/tech-facebook.png) ![Twitter](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/tech-twitter.png) ![WhatsApp](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/tech-whatsApp.png) ![Facebook](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/tech-facebook.png) ## Gaming ![Check out these five gaming monitors under ₹20,000,](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/ht-tech-bg-img-90-66.png) ### Top 5 gaming monitors under ₹20000 you should consider ![gaming consoles](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/ht-tech-bg-img-90-66.png) ### Grab gaming consoles at discounted rates during Amazon Great Indian Festival: Up to 72% off ![Pokémon GO Wild Area 2025](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/ht-tech-bg-img-90-66.png) ### Pokémon GO Wild Area 2025 to bring Grimmsnarl family, Shiny Hatenna, and global challenges ![Shade Silver](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/ht-tech-bg-img-90-66.png) ### Shade Silver free on Steam for a limited time: Here’s how to get it ![Call of duty](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/ht-tech-bg-img-90-66.png) ### Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 skips Switch 2 at launch, release date and price leak ![View all](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/view-all-icon.png) ## Trending News ### Airtel 5G SIM card will now be delivered in 10 minutes with Blinkit- How to order ![Airtel 5G SIM card will now be delivered in 10 minutes with Blinkit- How to order](https://images.livemint.com/static/static/1x1_img.gif) ### Infinix Note 50s 5G+ set to launch in India with 64MP camera and MediaTek Dimensity 7300 SoC ![Infinix Note 50s 5G+](https://images.livemint.com/static/static/1x1_img.gif) ### Xiaomi X Pro QLED Series sale starts in India: Check price, availability, and more ![Xiaomi X Pro QLED Series sale starts in India: Check price, availability, and more](https://images.livemint.com/static/static/1x1_img.gif) ### Apple plans to train AI using your on-device data without accessing personal content or emails: Report ![Apple Intelligence AI training](https://images.livemint.com/static/static/1x1_img.gif) ### CMF Buds 2 key features and price revealed ahead of April 28 launch: Details inside ![CMF Buds 2](https://images.livemint.com/static/static/1x1_img.gif) ## Trending Gadgets Mobiles Laptops Tablets ![HT Tech](https://images.hindustantimes.com/tech/static/revamp/images/png/HT_tech-new.gif) - https://tech.hindustantimes.com/tech/news/why-2014-was-apple-s-breakout-year-story-wRi8JabMQBdSe4MG0ODfLP.html