Apple is the full name of the company. History of Apple

“The apple does not fall far from the tree,” says folk wisdom. We have an excellent opportunity to investigate how right the Russian proverb is. After all, today's article is dedicated to legendary Apple (from the English "apple"), which was founded by no less famous.

We introduced this person to our readers earlier, and now it's time to get acquainted with his "brainchild" - Apple, the largest manufacturer of personal and tablet computers, audio players, mobile phones and software.

Apple was founded in 1976 Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne. She has already crossed her 35-year milestone and boasts some achievements.

At the time the company was founded, Steve Jobs was 21, Steve Wozniak was 25, and Ronald Wayne was 41. This significant event took place in the house of foster parents of Steve Jobs, or rather in the garage:

Please pay special attention to this fact. Many well-known global brands that are worth billions of dollars started their journey in an ordinary garage.

Many newcomers who want to open their own business think that it takes a lot of money to open their own business, that they need to rent a business premises, purchase goods or equipment, and hire a bunch of staff.

As a result, even at the start, a rather large amount accumulates, which the beginner simply does not have. And this amount usually scares a person away. Of course, there are types of businesses that need fabulous money to open from the first days.

Look for ideas that don't require a lot of money to implement, and that this business can be started in your parents' garage or even right in your room. But back to Apple.

Apple is the most powerful brand in the world and the most valuable company in the world

In May 2011, according to the ranking of the research agency Millward Brown, the Apple brand was named the most valuable brand in the world. According to Forbes data for October 2012, the Apple brand broke into the lead in the ranking of "most influential", ahead of brands such as, and IBM.

In November 2013, the market capitalization of the company, that is, its actual value, is about 472 billion dollars, and the company reached its maximum capitalization in September 2012, when its market value was estimated at more than $700 billion., making Apple the most valuable company in history!

Apple is headquartered in the small town of Cupertino., which is 75 km from San Francisco, California. Interestingly, the number of people in Cupertino is even smaller than the number of Apple employees - the company currently employs 60,400 employees!

What distinguishes the multi-thousandth Apple company from its competitors and allows it to earn billions of dollars?

The company, historically a manufacturer of PCs and software, has expanded its market segments in the 21st century, entering the next development orbit with new audio players, smartphones and tablet computers.

Apple is certainly a leading company, an innovator company, and in this it is very similar to its co-founder Steve Jobs.

The merits of Apple are undeniable, because iPod audio player made a real breakthrough in the world of digital music, iPhone smartphone turned our vision of mobile phones upside down, and iPad tablet set the vector for the development of the digital devices market.

All these “i-gadgets” have become an integral part of the image of a businesslike, respectable and successful person. I won’t be surprised if smart “Apple” devices with an “ai” prefix generally displace such names as “audio player”, “telephone” and “tablet computer” from everyday life.

Tim Cook, Apple's CEO since 2011, said he was very proud that the company was entering the holiday season "with the best iPhones, iPads, Macs, iPods ever and full confidence in the potential of our new product line."

The production of these new products, which are in high demand around the world, really improved the financial situation of Apple dramatically.

As Steve Jobs said at the presentation of the first iPhone in 2007: “We didn’t create a new phone, we reinvented it”

And at the presentation of the Internet tablet iPad 2 in 2011, he announced the advent of the era of post-computer devices.

According to him, they are simpler and more understandable than conventional PCs, and it is behind them that he sees the future, while his competitors are only "trying to find the optimal balance in new PC models."

And even if these same competitors in the person of the founder of Microsoft call the iPad just “a good reader and no more”, time will tell who is right.

And therein lies the essence of Apple. More precisely, one of many. After all, if you unravel the secret formula for the success of an apple company and master the art of creating such popular and beloved products and devices, you can become fabulously rich.

I note that after the appearance of the tablet, some online publications began developing special applications for it, for example, the most popular magazine in the United States, Time, developed a whole concept for its iPad version.

However, is it really only innovation and high technology that helped Apple reach the pedestal on which the company is comfortably located today?

After all, now Apple is more than new IT technologies and modern production. Apple is about aesthetic design, unique reputation, recognizable style, successful image and a whole culture in the consumer electronics industry. In a word, Apple is a legend.

And let them say that "it's easy to find out if a person has an iPhone - he himself will boast of it in the first five minutes of meeting" and "the main purpose of the iPad is to show that you can afford an iPad."

There is some truth in every joke, and the fact that “apple” jokes have appeared indicates that all these “i-things” have leaked into our market, have taken root there and have fallen in love.

Although this is true. Today, Apple products are, first of all, a symbol of the wealth and prosperity of its owner. People who buy an iPhone for the first time do not do so because of its technical features, but because of the status.

After all, if you figure it out like this, then for the same price you can buy a gadget that is more sophisticated in technical terms, but whose name is not so well known. Perhaps this feature should be adopted.

If you are running a business or planning to create one, then you need to aim not only at the technical parameters of your product or service, but also at its social aspects. If you manage to create a product that is cool to own, then your business will work as it should.

To dot the “i” in this “Apple” set-top box, I’ll say that Apple is even more than a manufacturer of i-gadgets.

After all, the company stood at the origins of the creation of personal computers, its history is complex and interesting.

One of the merits of Apple is that it was this company that paved the way for the production of personal computers with its Apple II series of PCs. In addition, Apple was the first to see the great possibilities of the graphical interface and the computer mouse, introducing them into its products.

Let's outline the important stages of Apple's long journey in order:

1976 is the year of foundation of the company.

One version of the origin of the name says that Steve Jobs wanted to see the company on the front pages of the telephone directory, hence the name on "a", and according to the second version, he simply carried out his threat to name the company "Apple", because nothing better was invented.

By the way, this is what the first Apple Computer logo looked like.

By the way, this logo was invented by the third Apple co-founder Ronald Wayne(Ronald Gerald Wayne). He is also called one of the biggest losers in the world, because he lost a tenth of the company for just $2,300.

The fact is that when they opened Apple, Ronald Wayne did not have confidence in the favorable future of this company. In addition, he had property that he risked if things in this business went wrong.

Legally, all members of the company were liable for any debts of the company, even if they arose through the fault of another partner. Jobs and Wozniak had nothing at the time. They risked almost nothing, and Wayne could lose his property, which could go to the benefit of creditors if things went wrong.

Let me remind you that officially the company Apple Computer Inc. was registered on April 1, 1976, and Wayne gave up his share on April 12, that is, less than 2 weeks later. Thus, he deprived himself of a potential fortune of 70 billion dollars!

Let me remind you that in September 2012, Apple was worth more than $700 billion, and 10% of this amount is $70 billion. And we will return to the history of the company, or rather the logo.

The logo created by Ron Wayne did not take root in the company. It was used for about a year, after which they decided to replace it with something simpler and more understandable. As a result, Steve Jobs turned to designer Rob Janoff, who created this logo:

This logo was created in just a week, and it was bitten so that it was strongly associated with an apple, because without a bite it could be confused with a tomato.

The Apple logo is simple, clear and recognizable. He flashes in films, in meeting places successful people and increasingly in everyday life. They say that even the president of Samsung, Apple's main competitor in the smartphone market, is afraid of eating apples in crowded places: what if the paparazzi take a picture of him with a bite?

By the way, this logo existed in the company from 1976 to 1998, after which it was replaced with a monochrome one:

Now let's get back to Apple's history. In 1976, the Apple I programmable computer was launched.

1977-93 - release of various models of Apple II computers. It became the company's first mass-produced computer.

1980 Apple is holding the largest IPO in history since 1956 (the year Ford went public).

Thus, Apple becomes a public company, and now its shares are traded on the NASDAQ stock market and the London Stock Exchange. In 2012, the company's shares for the first time exceeded $500, and in the same year electronic auction NASDAQ, they hit $700.

1980 - characterized by the disastrous release of the Apple III PC. This computer turned out to be quite raw. It constantly broke down, and besides, there were very few offers for it on the computer software market.

Problems with their sales lead to the fact that Jobs lays off 40 employees, and the media talk about the imminent collapse of the company.

By that time, Jobs had lost interest in the Apple III project and turned all his attention to the Apple Lisa project. And around the same time, Jobs begins the first “graters” with other co-owners of the company and the board of directors.

Jobs was a tough enough man. He always wanted it to be the way he wanted, which is why conflicts arose with employees, engineers and partners.

The fact is that for the development of a project in companies like Apple create special working groups that solve the tasks. Each group has its own leader. And Jobs used to get into the affairs of this or that group and make significant amendments to previously developed projects.

Something like this happened with the Lisa project. Imagine that a computer project has been developed and work is in full swing on it. Then Jobs appears and orders everything to be done differently. Naturally, all this terribly slowed down the work, and since Jobs was a perfectionist, he did not calm down until he brought every little thing to an ideal state.

This led to delays in the delivery of projects and, accordingly, to a shortfall in the company's profit, which was terribly disliked by shareholders. As a result, Jobs was removed from the Lisa project. which upset him greatly.

1983 - Steve Jobs invites the highly experienced John Scully to the post of company president, at that time CEO PepsiCo. The phrase with which Jobs managed to "poach" a top manager of Pepsi into the director's chair of Apple has become one of the most famous sayings in business - "Are you going to sell soda for the rest of your life or do you want to come with me and change the world?". Scully chooses Apple and leads the company until 1993.

True, Jobs would soon regret it, saying that hiring Scully was the worst decision of his life.

1984 – Apple introduces a new 32-bit Macintosh computer, named by developer Jeff Raskin after his favorite variety of apples. True, Jeff led the project at the beginning, and then he was sent on a forced vacation, and the project was headed by Steve Jobs.

The release of Macintosh computers strengthened Jobs's position in the company, since thanks to the release of this model, it was possible to increase the company's profits.

After that, the company ceases production of the uncompetitive Apple III family of PCs. The Macintosh series becomes the company's core business.

1985 - Due to conflicts in the leadership, the company leaves its co-founder Steve Jobs. Although leaving the company does not sound quite right. In fact, he was fired from his own company.

Despite the fact that the Macintosh sold, but not as well as planned. Shareholders accused Steve Jobs of building uncompetitive computers, and Jobs accused shareholders and executives of overpricing the Macintosh.

Jobs considered the main villain to be Scully, who had once been dragged from Pepsi. As a result of this confrontation, the board of directors chose John Scully as a more experienced leader who could improve Apple's business.

In the same year, Jobs founded NeXT. Later, in 2005, in a speech to the alumni of Stanford University, Jobs would say that leaving Apple was the best and right decision at that moment.

Working with Scully does not bring Apple much success. All this time, the company has been teetering on the brink of survival. As a result, after a significant drop in Apple's market value, John Scully is fired by the board of directors.

Jobs at NeXT is also doing pretty well. As a result, Apple's new management decides that the company needs a drastic change and that only Jobs can spearhead that change.

It is worth noting that NeXT was doing so badly that Jobs had to curtail all computer production, leaving only software development afloat.

Subsequently, the developments made became the basis of the Mac OS operating system.

1996 Returns to Apple's director's chair. The company buys Jobs' NeXT for as much as $430 million. I note that over the years of its existence, Apple has repeatedly absorbed various companies operating in the IT technology market - Siri, Anobit Technologies, etc.

From 1996 to 1998 Apple has changed dramatically. It was decided to abandon many projects. More than 3,000 employees were laid off. The company has focused its efforts on four main areas:

• stationary models of computers for professionals Power Macintosh G3
• portable computer models for professionals PowerBook G3
• stationary models of computers for ordinary consumers iMac
• portable computer models for ordinary consumers iBook

1998 – As a result of the work done in the arena of computer technology, a new futuristic model iMac G3, which became the fastest-selling computer in the history of Apple, appears.

In parallel, Jobs begins to hatch the idea of ​​​​creating his own chain of stores that will sell apple products. He was not happy with the fact that Apple products are on the same shelf with other brands.

He wanted his products to be sold in a special way. So that sellers do not put it on a par with other goods.

And this is another highlight that makes Apple products above their competitors. When you believe that your product is special and try to make it so, then it will be so. Jobs didn't like mediocrity. And he always tried to combine elegant design and the latest technology in his products.

2000 - the collapse of the dot-coms. Dotcom literally translates to “.com”. Dotcoms are companies related to the Internet. Apple has never been a company that can be called dot-com. But it was very dependent on this market, because Apple products are focused on PC users, and with the advent of the Internet in our lives, “computer and Internet” have become practically inseparable words.

So, in 2000 in the United States there was a collapse of companies related to the Internet. The value of shares of such companies began to fall, including the value of Apple shares.

This crisis has spilled over to other sectors of the economy. In general, there is an opinion that it was the collapse of dot-coms that provoked the subsequent collapse of the global economy in 2007-2008, the consequences of which we still feel.

I wrote more about the collapse of dot-coms and the crisis here:

Why am I even now writing about the crisis? What does the crisis, dot-coms and Apple have to do with it, you might ask?

In fact, this is very important, because it was the crisis that served to change the direction of Apple's development. It was the collapse of the dot-coms that forced Steve Jobs to look for new markets, thanks to which his company could not only survive, but also prosper.

As a result of the search for new technological solutions, such devices as the iPod, iPhone, iPad appeared, as well as various software that users of apple products love so much.

According to Jobs, the computer in the future should become a multifunctional complex, consisting not only of a monitor, system unit and keyboard, but also of various peripheral devices such as a player, telephone, etc.

Jobs began to embody his idea with the creation of high-quality software. among which I would especially like to note the emergence of a universal media player iTunes.

It was with the advent of this software that Apple became one of the key players in the music market. The fact is that the music market then also experienced not the most better times.

With the development of the Internet and the advent of the mp-3 format, pirates have bitten the music market. And the appearance of iTunes, or rather the iTunes Store. which will be discussed below, allowed to increase sales of legal content.

With the advent of iTunes, there was an urgent need for a music device that would work with this software. And so the iPod was born.

2001 - presentation of the iPod audio player.

Parallel to the launch of the iPod, Apple opens the first two Apple Stores. Experts predicted the failure of this idea, but as of September 2013, 413 stores are open and successfully operating in 14 countries around the world.

The Apple Store isn't just a hardware store - it's a geek's paradise!

2003 - presentation of the iTunes Store online music store.

The key feature of this store was that it was possible to buy songs by the piece, and not the whole album, as was customary before, and also that the main buyers were the owners of apple products.

The iTunes Store predicted a million sales in its first 6 months of operation. As a result, a million songs were sold out in 6 days of work.

2007 - the release of the iPhone smartphone, which was announced by Steve Jobs himself.

It was under his leadership that Apple was able to open up new market segments. In the same year, the company changes its official name from Apple Computer to simply Apple, in connection with entering the consumer electronics market.

The appearance of the iPhone is due to the fact that with the development of mobile technology, the demand for cameras and digital cameras has fallen. The developers of mobile devices began to combine the phone, camera and audio players.

Jobs understood that the market for audio players was doomed and would soon be swallowed up by phones that combined all these devices. And then he set the task for his subordinates to develop a new phone that would combine all these functions and, according to the Apple tradition, be elegant and convenient.

Time Magazine will subsequently recognize the iPhone as Invention of the Year!

2008 – iPhone ranks 2nd in the ranking of the most useful modern technologies, according to PCWorld.

2008 - Apple releases the world's thinnest laptop called the MacBook Air

The 2000s were a real triumph for Jobs and his team. Almost every year Apple surprises the world with something and makes the army of its fans more and more.

2010 - Apple releases the iPad tablet computer.

The most interesting thing is that the idea of ​​tablet computers with a touch screen was proposed back in 1988 by students at the University of Illinois. They then worked on the theme "What will be the personal computer of the year 2000" as part of a competition held by Apple.

By the way, it looked like this:

In the same 2010, the iPhone 4 takes 1st place in the list of the best phones in the Bestseller and Image categories according to Mobile-Review.com.

2011 - Steve Jobs leaves in August for health reasons, and in November he died.

Love for their work in many ways ensured the company's success. The “parent” inherited some of his individual character traits to his “apple” - this is a love of innovation, creativity, courage and style.

From September 2012 year, the iPhone 5 goes on official sale.

They joke that the iPhone is the smartest phone, and it has the highest percentage of owners who are much dumber than their phone)

I don’t know about the IQ of smartphone owners, but the fact that there are a lot of them is a fact. The number of pre-orders for the fifth iPhone reached 2 million per day!

Evgeny Chichvarkin, the former founder of Euroset, who now lives in London, is probably among the happy owners of the smartphone. According to him, he intended to change the iPhone 4S to the iPhone 5 as soon as its sales begin in Foggy Albion.

As for Russia, Apple's smartphones have won a wide audience here too. Although some argue that the iPhone would have sold better if the Russian market went under the translated name "yaMobilko"

However, Apple is already widely known in our territory. It positions itself as a manufacturer of simple devices designed for the convenience, communication and entertainment of people. Although all this technology of the future, sold already in the present, is very, very expensive.

If you look at the official Russian site www.apple.com/ru, you can see that keywords in the description of the company's goods are not dry specifications, but enthusiastic glossy epithets.

Apple doesn't just have "12 megapixels, 17 inches, 3GB", it has limitless possibilities, amazing quality, a great display and the world's most advanced operating system!

Everything from Apple works automatically, easily and discreetly - laptops are "faster than you can imagine", iPhones "do everything for you" and iPods that "sword fights become sharper and zombie hunting more effective!"

Apple protects its technical developments very jealously. The company monitors the quality of its brand, opens brand stores and creates an entire ecosystem of software and numerous applications.

Regarding Apple, they say that the company has "patented a patent for patenting a patent." Quite a truthful remark, because as of October 2012, the company received 5440 patents for its inventions and design projects!

Protecting intellectual property rights, Apple sues one firm, then another, while winning and losing litigation. So, Nokia accused Apple of violating 10 patents, and Apple filed a lawsuit against Samsung. She, however, was found not guilty by a British court, but patent battles continue.

Apple now has the highest margin, both in terms of sales and prestige and design. The company is not going to stop there. In fact, Apple "fruits" with real "golden apples", and I will wait with interest what other "i-gadget" the company's developers will surprise us with. So, Apple, step behind you.

P.S. By the way, do you know what the “i” prefix means in the name of Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod, iMac)? The answer is simple - internet

Our colleagues at CBSNews take a look at the evolution of Apple products over 36 years. What has been done during this time? A little over 36 years ago, in 1976, Apple launched its first, if you please, Apple I, a hobby computer with clock frequency processor 1 MHz. Someone still remembers its modest wooden case with a carved Apple Computer logo.

In contact with

Apple I. Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs introduced this computer in April 1976

True, there are quite a few such people - after all, only about 200 such computers were assembled. By the way, Apple I is recognized by many as the first computer that went on sale in assembled form. Agree, such a design cannot but cause tenderness?

Apple II. 1977

Then there was the Apple II, the first Apple computer to go into mass production - up to 6 million of these computers were assembled. The processor frequency and the amount of RAM remained the same - 1 MHz and 4 kb, respectively (however, the amount of RAM could be expanded up to 48 kb). But in many ways it was a first: take the color Apple logo, which first appeared on this model, to emphasize support for color graphics. Interestingly, it was on the basis of one of the Apple II models (to be precise, on the basis of the Apple II +) that the first Soviet serial personal computer, Agat, and the Bulgarian Pravets computer were developed. Older readers may be able to recall these creations of socialist industry.

Apple Disk II. 1978

In 1978, to replace the inconvenient interface using a cassette recorder, Steven Wozniak developed the Disk II, which was used in the Apple II series computers.

Apple II Plus. 1979

1980 was remembered by someone for the Olympics, someone for the death of Vladimir Vysotsky ... Few people associate this year with the appearance of the Apple III, which is no wonder: this model failed miserably on the market. Perhaps one of the reasons for this was the absence of Steve Wozniak in the list of developers, who at that time was engaged exclusively in finalizing the Apple II. The development of the Apple III was led by Dr. Wendell Sender. The result was disappointing: a large number of shortcomings and shortcomings forced the Apple III to let its competitor, the IBM PC, go ahead.

Apple III. 1980

To regain its first place among the market participants, Apple developed the Lisa computer, which was released in 1983. The project did not bring significant commercial success (not least because of its cost - Lisa 1 was sold at a price of $ 9995), but among the customers was such an organization as NASA. Not so bad if you think about it. In addition, in the same 1983, the “mouse” controller went on sale, so familiar to the current user and so unknown at that time.

Apple Lisa. 1983 It is believed that Steve Jobs named the computer after his daughter Lisa, but officially Lisa stood for "Local Integrated Software Architecture"

Apple IIc. 1984

Apple Macintosh. 1984

The mouse was also used in the first computer of the Macintosh line, which was released in 1984 and became the first personal computer to use a graphical user interface.

Apple's first mouse has been used to work with the Apple Lisa computer

The Macintosh XL came out in 1985, the Macintosh Plus in 1986, the Macintosh SE in 1987, and the Macintosh SE/30 and Macintosh portable in 1989. By the way, it was with the help of Macintosh portable that the first electronic message was sent from space.

Macintosh XL. 1985

Apple Macintosh Plus. 1986

Apple Macintosh SE/30. 1989

Macintosh Portable is Apple's first laptop. 1989

Macintosh Portable - Apple's first laptop, Osborne 1 "laptop" (when folded) and Mac Book Air

In the same 1987, the development of the first device that we would now call a “pocket computer” began - the Apple Newton. In fact, it did not fit in an ordinary pocket, which to a certain extent was the reason for the lack of commercial success of this development. These devices were sold from 1993 to 1998.

Pocket computer Apple Newton. 1987

Apple Macintosh IIfx. 1990

After that, Apple was mainly engaged in the release of new modifications of the Macintosh until 1998, when the first batches of the iMac G3 entered the market. Such a break made it possible to decide on the future design and select the appropriate creative shots to make future Apple devices extraordinary and recognizable.

Macintosh PowerBook 140. 1991

Apple Macintosh LC 575. 1993

Apple PowerBook 5300. 1995

Apple Power Macintosh 7220. 1996

Apple Twentieth Anniversary Mac (TAM). 1997

And it paid off: the iMac G3 turned out to be really non-standard: the original layout and nice design could not fail to ensure commercial success for this development.

Apple iMac G3 - the first computer "all in one" - 1998. year

Apple Power Macintosh G3. 1999

1999 was marked by the release of the iBook, in 2001 the first iPod came out, in 2007 the iPhone and Apple TV, in 2008 the MacBook Air, and in 2010 the iPad. This is where Apple's past ends and the future begins.

Apple iBook. 1999

Apple Macintosh G4 Cube. year 2000

First iPod introduced in 2001

Apple iMac G4. 2002

Apple iBook G4. 2003

Apple Power Mac G5. 2003

iPod mini. 2004

Apple iMac G5. 2004

iPod nano. 2005 year

iPod shuffle. 2005 year

Mac mini. 2005 year

Macbook Pro. 2006

Apple iMac. 2007

First iPhone. 2007

iPod touch. 2007

Macbook Air. 2008

Apple iPad. 2010

iPhone 4. 2010

Macbook Pro with Retina display. year 2012

iPhone 5. 2012

iPod touch 5g. year 2012

iMac. year 2012

iPad mini. year 2012

In Apple's ambiguous history from all points of view, there was a place for both sharp rises and sensitive falls. Sales volumes have grown from 200 pieces to many, many millions of copies, the Apple brand is known all over the world. It is obvious that now the company is back on the wave of its success. When will this success end, or will it end at all? Only time will tell, and we can only wait for the next presentations, after which we will admire new developments. Or look with bewilderment at those who admire. Everyone decides for himself.

Apple Corporation is an American multinational corporation that develops and sells consumer electronics, software and personal computers. The company's best-known hardware products are Macintosh series computers, iPod multimedia portable players, iPhone smartphones, and iPad tablet computers. The company has more than 300 stores worldwide and an online store where you can purchase both hardware and software products. Apple is one of the largest companies in the world and the most valuable technology company, surpassing even Microsoft in this ranking.

History of Apple

The beginning of the 1980s was a difficult test for the company. After the release of the Apple III personal computer, this model was not successful. Steve Jobs even had to massively fire about 40 people to avoid the complete collapse of the company. Steve Wozniak, meanwhile, was recovering from a severe car accident in 1981. In 1983, Steve Jobs, unable to cope with the financial and other difficulties that arose, invited John Scully, who at that time held a similar position at PepsiCo, to become president of the company. Later, disagreements began to arise between Jobs and Sculley. In 1984, Apple introduced the new 32-bit Macintosh computer. The release of computers of this series became the main business of the company for the next 20 years. In 1985, Ronald Reagan awarded Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak the Development Medals. technical progress.

Initially (the first 30 years) the company was called Apple Computer, Inc, however, the word "computer" had to be removed in January 2007 in view of the company's current expansion in the field of consumer electronics. In addition to its traditional focus on personal computers, the company is expanding into music players, mobile phones and accessories. As of September 2010, Apple had approximately 46,600 full-time employees and 2,800 temporary employees worldwide. Apple has been named the most the best company in the United States of America in 2008, and worldwide in 2008, 2009 and 2010 by Fortune magazine. Director Robert Zemeckis mentioned the company in his film masterpiece Forrest Gump. According to the script of the film, the protagonist "invested all the money in some kind of fruit company ...", referring to Apple.

Thanks to the unique appearance Apple has built a unique reputation in the consumer electronics industry with its technology and unorthodox application of technology, and is hugely popular around the world. As a rule, before the presentation of the next new product of the company, a serious hype flares up, a lot of controversy and rumors arise, however, Apple itself keeps all the details absolutely secret until the day of the presentation.

Apple logo

Apple products

Apple Software

One of the most valuable companies for 2014 is Apple. According to the Fortune Global 500, "Yabloko" took an honorable fifteenth place in 2014, losing a couple of positions to Samsung Electronics. But in 2012, when Apple hit $500 billion in net worth, beating oil and gas company Exxon Mobil, Fortun ranked Apple first. But even $500 billion is not a record for them, because on February 10, 2015, the maximum world record was set in stock trading - $122 per paper, the estimated value of the company was more than seven hundred billion dollars.

From the first birthday, Yabloko had many managers, including Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple, who entered the Guinness Book of Records as the lowest paid executive director with a daily salary of $ 1.

During the existence of Yabloko, the company's financial indicators either grew rapidly or fell down with the same desire, and the company's managers influenced the technological direction.

Among the significant figures was Steve Wozniak, who became the founder of Apple.

According to statistics from various research centers, the main growth of "Yabloko" was observed during the reign of Steve Jobs, and declines - in the years of his absence. Therefore, we can safely call Steve Jobs the main key figure in the development of the company.

Apple Founders

Over the years of existence and growth, there has been a lot of debate about who is the founder of Apple - Wozniak or Jobs. And is it true that the first Apple computer was assembled in a garage, or is it still in a student laboratory where both Steves worked.

Some authoritative publications, collecting historical references, interviewing and answering the question of who is the founder of Apple, they wrote "Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak", while others - "Steve Jobs is the only founder of the company."

But both Steves, answering the journalists' question, evasively evaded the answer, not taking on the sole function of the creator. So who became the founder of Apple officially, according to the papers? Most sources say that after all, Steve Jobs is the official and sole creator of the company.

From historical background

The official registration of the company took place in April 1976, although Jobs and Wozniak began their activities much earlier, meeting in the garage and assembling the first computer based on the MOS 6502 Technology eight-bit microprocessor.

Many print media that wrote and write articles about the history of the creation of Apple, opposite the question "who is the founder of apple" indicate: Steve Jobs, although Jobs himself always said:

Steve Wozniak and I worked together to build the first Apple computer.

After the official registration of the company, the first Apple-1 computer saw the light, and a little later - Apple-2, which sold millions of copies.

The Apple-2 industry continued until 1993, improving somewhat from release to release.

Since Apple-2 computers had few competitors in the 80s, the main peak of the popularization of the personal computer from the "Apple" came precisely during this period, more than five million devices were sold.

However, at the same time, the company was also experiencing a failure, releasing an unsuccessful model of the Apple-3 computer, which, surprisingly, did not in the least affect the sale of the first shares of the Yabloko company.

Failures continued to haunt the company in 1981, when Steve Wozniak left the company due to a plane crash, and Jobs was forced to lay off more than 50 employees from the state. The mass layoff was associated with the failed Apple-3 project.

To raise the company from the bottom, Jobs invited John Scully to the position of president of the company.

But business relationship between Jobs and Scully did not work out, and Jobs leaves the "Yabloko" by creating the company Next.

Birth of the Macintosh

The famous Macintosh computer first saw the light of day in 1984. For twenty years, the Yabloko company has been releasing these computers as its main product, using Motorolla processors and its own Mac OS operating system.

In the mid-90s, Apple licenses the right to use its own OS to other computer manufacturers, but the licenses were soon revoked.

In 1996, the Yabloko company was on the verge of bankruptcy. Losses amount to more than two billion dollars.

In 1997, the one who is the founder of Apple, Steve Jobs, returns to the Yabloko, after which the company's business is going uphill. The company begins to develop new technologies that are not related to computers, and already in 2001 the first iPod music player saw the light.

In 2007, Apple releases the sensational iPhone, and Steve Jobs begins to be called the first person in the world who provided users with pocket Internet.

Three years later, Apple releases the first iPad.

The last three new products released by the company are fundamentally changing the financial situation, and Apple is becoming the most successful manufacturer in the market for modern gadgets.

Litigation

The stunning success of Yabloko gave rise to envious people, and caring competitors one after another began to flood the company with lawsuits.

Even the Finnish company Nokia did not stand aside and in 2009 filed a lawsuit against Yabloko, accusing it of infringing several patents. The court then satisfied the claim from Nokia, and ordered Yabloko to pay compensation.

While 2 giants were suing, the world saw a line of gadgets from Samsung Galaxy, like two drops of water similar to the IPhone and iPad. Apple filed a lawsuit against Samsung with the wording "copying the software, interface and design" of the aforementioned gadgets, but in response, Samsung filed a lawsuit against the "apple" companies with the same wording that Nokia filed and won in 2009.

The court recognized both companies as violators, having satisfied all claims, and ordered them to pay compensation to each other, and also banned the sale of popular gadgets on their territory by both companies (litigations took place in South Korea).

Death of Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs died in 2011 from an incurable disease. Apple has continued its work and successfully releases new innovative devices.

American company Apple In c.today one of the most famous corporations. Its products are known all over the world, and these are not only computers. Today the company is releasing Cell phones, tablet computers, audio players, software. High popularity of branded productsApple primarily due to the company's own innovative technologies

The consumer electronics branded under the company's logo have a very attractive design, state-of-the-art features, and are produced according to the latest technologies. Therefore, products Apple was and remains very popular and appreciated in many countries. In fact, the corporation Apple in the consumer electronics market has managed to create a reputation so high that it can be considered a cult. The company itself is now valued at over $500 billion. This is one of the most valuable companies in the world. Apple's competitor in the IT field at that time was the company Microsoft .

Start " Apple Computer Inc..» 1976. Creation of the first Apple computers

Company Apple was born April 1, 1976. Its original name was Apple Computer Inc. .". The apple became the logo of the company, this symbol also corresponded to its name: “apple” is translated from English as “apple”.

The company's area of ​​interest for 30 years or more remained computer technology, in the future this focus became more blurred, covering the expanded field of consumer electronics, and on January 9, 2007, the word "Computer" from the name reasonably disappeared.

(Fun fact: the name " Apple» was chosen Steve Jobs , because in the telephone directory it was higher than the name " Atari ».)

Organizing a company Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs began to collect computers and sell them. Less than 200 computers were originally sold apple 1 . Actually, apple 1 was a board with microcircuits. And the personal computer, in the full sense of the word, was the following development - apple 2 .

1977 Sale of Apple computers 2

The young company was not the only one producing personal computers (and selling them by the tens of hundreds) by Tandy Radio Shack and Commodore. However, it is sales apple 2 amounted to several million copies, making it very popular in different countries. At first, Apple 2 computers had 8 bits, later production began and 16-bit models. It is believed that the production of personal computers, as a market segment, appeared precisely with apple 2 .

These computers had a power supply, keyboard, color display. They were in one-piece plastic cases - this was an innovation. apple 2 could work with both graphics and sound.

More than five million computers were produced and sold from 1977 to 1993 different models apple 2 .

1980 The failure of the Apple 3 project and the LISA computer.

There were two major events this year. The first is the initial public offering made by the company. In terms of volume, this placement was the largest at that time. This made the company public, its shares can be bought both on the London Stock Exchange and on the NASDAQ stock market.

Second significant event years - project failure Apple 3(not successful and Lisa computer ). Serious sales failure Apple 3 provoked journalists to make statements about the imminent ruin of the company. Despite this, Apple retained a number of strong positions in the market.

1983 John Scully is the new president of Apple.

At the beginning of the year, a new president of the company appeared Apple –John Scully. Before that, he worked in PepsiCo holding the same position. This personnel reshuffle happened due to problems in the company that he could not cope with. Steve Jobs.

1984 Apple Macintosh computer

A new computer has arrived Macintosh which has been in development since the late 1970s. This series of 32-bit computers was produced subsequently for almost twenty years. It was these computers that formed the basis of the company's business. Apple . Macintosh had an original operating system, and processors were used for their production Motorola .

(Interesting fact: " Macintosh' is an American apple cultivar. It was him preferred by Jeff Raskin, former leader project Macintosh. After him managerial position passed to Jobs.)

Computers Macintosh differed from computers of other firms in a well-developed graphical interface and the active use of a computer mouse. It was Apple that first introduced graphics into the daily work of users.

Due to the different vision of the company's prospects, a conflict situation has developed between Steve Jobs and John Scully .

1985 Steve Jobs left Apple

For the development of technological progress Jobs and Wozniak were awarded medals by US President Ronald Reagan.

In the same year, Steve Jobs left the company and began work in a new company - NeXT, specializing in the development of software products. He was involved in the development of animation projects. Over time, NeXT was acquired by Apple .

1997 Steve Jobs is back at Apple.

By this time the position Apple changed a lot - and for the worse. The company suffered heavy losses. From 1995 to 1997, their amount was about 1.86 billion dollars. Then he returned to the company Steve Jobs, and affairs Apple gradually began to improve.

year 2001. Presentation of the iPod music player

Company Apple surprised the audience with her new device - an audio player iPod. He actively recruited fans, and as a result took a leading position in the market.

2003 Opening the iTunes Store.

An online store was specially created to support the audio player iTunes Store, which sold at a reasonable price digital music content for listening in iPod. The average price was one dollar per audio track. It was also possible to purchase ready-made collections and albums. In addition, it was possible to buy game and video media content in this supermarket.

2007 - Release of the iPhone.

This year was marked by the launch of a fundamentally new product on the market - a mobile phone. iPhone which had a touch screen. It made a revolution. It was assumed that users would want to buy and install useful applications on their smartphone. With this calculation, the operating system was made iPhone .

2008 Opening of the App Store

The company opened an online store App Store, through which she began selling additional programs for her smartphone. The turnover of this store by 2011 was 250 million dollars. Its payment system was no different from a store iTunes.

year 2009. Patent war between Apple and Nokia

Apple lost to the company Nokia patent litigation. She was found to have infringed 10 patents by using some inventions in iPhone.

2010 iPad tablet output

Another novelty was introduced to the market. The advent of the iPad tablet computer marked the beginning of a new segment of the computer equipment market, which iPad and led.

2011. Apple is the most valuable brand in the world.

High sales volumes of three new products - iPhone, iPod and iPad- brought the company a very high profit, and its financial condition improved markedly.

MAY . Millward Brown, a well-known international research agency, has made an assessment of the value of the Apple brand. In the May rating, it was estimated at 153.3 billion dollars and recognized this brand as the most expensive in the world.

AUGUST. The market value (capitalization) of Apple on August 10 was $338.8 billion. She managed to outrun the oil company ExxonMobil and became known as the most valuable company in the world.

This year Apple lost to the company Motorola Mobility patent litigation. She was found to have infringed that company's patent by using his technology in her devices.

year 2012. Sales and patent disputes.

FEBRUARY. The total value of the company's shares at the beginning of the month was $456 billion. In fact, it was more than the combined capitalization of Microsoft and Google (which are considered the closest competitors Apple). And at the end of the month, Apple's capitalization was more than $500 billion.

In Q2, the company sold 4 million Macs and 7.7 million iPods. iPad sales during the quarter were 11.8 million, while quarterly iPhone sales reached 35.1 million. According to the results of the financial statements, for the 2nd quarter, Apple's revenues reached $39.2 billion, and the net income was $11.6 billion (in terms of a share, it was $12.3).

AUGUST . Apple defeated Samsung in a patent dispute. After this event, the value of Apple increased and amounted to more than 600 billion dollars. The price of the company's shares became 1.9% higher.

OCTOBER . The number of the corporation's own patents for design projects and inventions has reached 5440.

year 2013. Release of 64-bit chips.

Company Apple first launched 64-bit chips ARM architectures .

To date, the corporation has a network of its own stores in a number of countries - the USA, England, Japan and others.

Company takeovers

IT- the market is very volatile. Many companies appear and work successfully, and then they are taken over by more powerful companies. Apple Corporation for many years of its existence has carried out many successful acquisitions of IT companies. It should be noted the acquisition of the largest of them.

1996 - NeXT($430 million)

April 2008 - P.A. Semi($280 million)

2010, January - Quattro Wireless($274 million)

April 2010 - Siri($200 million)

2012, January - Anobit Technologies(400-500 million dollars)

Apple in Russia

The first store opened Apple Center in Russia

At the end of the fiscal year, sales of audio players iPod amounted to 240 thousand copies.

Representation opened Apple in Russia

The corporation registered the company " Apple Rus”, which is engaged in trade in equipment - both retail and wholesale.

Apple products today

Corporation Apple known not only as a manufacturer of high-quality consumer electronics. It owns popular web services and sells software tools.

The range of technical devices produced by the company is quite wide: multimedia players and players, mobile phones and tablet computers, servers and monitors, desktop computers and laptops. Acquiring them for many is a matter of prestige. A company Apple continues to develop, remaining a company with a high reputation and high profitability.

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