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.

Note: Don't forget to subscribe and share this content. See you in the next video!