Apple Inc. History and Key Milestones
Founding of Apple Inc.
- Date & Place: Founded on April 1, 1976, in a garage in Palo Alto, California.
- Founders: Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak.
- Initial Funding:
- Steve Jobs sold his Volkswagen.
- Steve Wozniak sold his HP computer.
- Partnership with Ronald Wayne who later sold his 10% stake for $800.
Early Products
- Apple I: Sold without a monitor, keyboard, or case initially.
- Apple II: Launched with a monitor, open architecture, and colorful graphics.
- Apple III: Developed in collaboration with IBM.
Key Developments
- Apple Lisa (1983): First personal computer with a graphical interface; commercially unsuccessful.
- Macintosh 128K (1984): Initial success but later saw a decline.
- NeXT and Jobs' Departure (1985): Steve Jobs left Apple to found NeXT, later returning as CEO in 1997.
Major Product Launches
- iMac (1998): Sold over 800,000 units in the first five months.
- iPod (2001): Portable media player introduced.
- iTunes (2003): First digital music platform, quickly became market leader.
- iPhone (2007): Touchscreen phone, highly successful.
- iPad (2010): Tablet that could replace a computer.
- Siri Virtual Assistant (2011): Introduced post-Steve Jobs' era.
- Apple Watch (2015): Entry into wearable technology.
Leadership Transition
- Steve Jobs' Illness: Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2003, passed away in 2011.
- Tim Cook: Took over as CEO, proving Apple's continued growth and innovation.
Financial Standing
- Net Value (2020): $65.34 billion.
- Market Capitalization (2021): $2.08 trillion as of March 15, 2021.
Cultural Impact
- Apple is compared to a religion due to its cult-like following and influence beyond just products.
Conclusion
- Despite initial struggles and leadership changes, Apple remains one of the most valuable and innovative companies in the world.
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