Tech History: How Steve Jobs Taught His Engineers a Lesson by Dousing the First iPod in a Fish Tank

Apple today is one of the world’s biggest tech companies, and much of its success is credited to Steve Jobs’ vision and philosophy. One famous story from Apple’s early days illustrates how Jobs pushed his engineers to turn the impossible into reality—using a fish tank and the first iPod prototype.

The iPod Story
When Apple’s first iPod was under development, Jobs wanted it ultra-thin. However, the engineers believed they had already made it as slim as possible and told Jobs it was “impossible” to make it thinner.

Jobs had a creative way of teaching them a lesson. He took the prototype and dropped it into a nearby fish tank. As the device sank, air bubbles rose to the surface, and Jobs pointed to them, saying:

“These bubbles mean there is still empty space inside. We can make it even thinner.”

Turning the Impossible into Reality
For Jobs, “impossible” was never an excuse—it was simply a challenge. After the fish tank demonstration, the engineers had no choice but to go back to the drawing board. They worked to eliminate unnecessary internal space, eventually creating the first Apple iPod, a design that would revolutionize portable music.

Jobs’ Legacy Lives On: From iPod to iPhone Air
Decades later, the same minimalist philosophy is evident in the iPhone 17 Air. Apple’s thinnest iPhone proves that where other companies see limits, Apple sees opportunities to innovate. The device is not just a gadget—it’s the embodiment of Jobs’ vision: technology that is simple, elegant, and minimalist.

This story remains a classic example in tech history of how Steve Jobs refused to accept excuses, turning bold design visions into reality.