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In this article, I am going to try to go quickly through both Apple and Steve Jobs’ history, focusing on the huge role that Steve Jobs played in shaping Apple, Inc. as we know it today. Much of the historical events and dates listed in this article are from different wikipedia articles and Steve Jobs’ biography.
A Bit of History: Founding Apple
After co-founding Apple in 1976, Steve Jobs worked with Steve Wozniak on creating the first Macintosh, the first commercially successful small computer with a GUI.
Later at 1985, during the period where Steve was heading the Macintosh division, John Scully -previously the president of Pepsi-Cola, and CEO of Apple at the time- dismissed Jobs from his duties after an internal power struggle.
Later, Jobs founded NeXT, which introduced the NeXTcube -described by Steve as an interpersonal computer. In 1993, after having sold 50.000 machines only, NeXT transitioned to software development fully.
Pixar was Steve’s next adventure, where -after buying it from Lucasfilm’s computer graphics devision- Steve contracted with Disney to produce some of their computer-animated motion pictures. The successful relationship with Disney led to an announcement by Pixar’s Jobs and Disney’s Iger in 2006 that Disney had agreed to purchase Pixar in an all-stock transaction worth $7.4 billion.
In July 1996, Gil Amelio was ousted as CEO of Apple after multiple failed attempts to revive the Mac OS and a three-year record-low stock price and crippling financial loses. In September 1997, and in a $429 million acquisition of Steve’s NeXT, Steve was officially named interim chief executive of Apple.Steve is Back!
After joining Apple again, Jobs ended multiple projects, like Newton, Cyberdog, and OpenDoc. On the 15th of August, 1998, Apple introduced the iMac, which focused on appealing design and powerful branding. The iMac line of computers was the first signal of Apple’s return to profitability, and its design was the mark of Apple’s next-generation products.
In 1998, Apple got into the digital video editing software business, by purchasing Macromedia’s Final Cut program. Apple then released two programs: iMovie for general audience and Final Cut Pro for professionals. Later, Apple also purchased Nothing Real’s advanced digital composting application: Shake, and Emagic’s music productivity software: Logic, which later helped creating the iLife software suite that included GarageBand: a consumer-level audio editing software, and photos management application: iPhoto.
In 1998, Apple got into the digital video editing software business, by purchasing Macromedia’s Final Cut program. Apple then released two programs: iMovie for general audience and Final Cut Pro for professionals. Later, Apple also purchased Nothing Real’s advanced digital composting application: Shake, and Emagic’s music productivity software: Logic, which later helped creating the iLife software suite that included GarageBand: a consumer-level audio editing software, and photos management application: iPhoto.
In 2001, Apple released its new OS, named OS X. Apple’s new OS -aimed at both professionals and general consumers- had the stability, security, and reliability of Unix, with an easy-to-use graphical user interface. In 2001 Apple also opened its first official Apple Retail Stores in Virgina and California.
The iPod
On the 23rd of October, 2001, Apple announced the iPod, a phenomenally successful portable digital audio player. Over 100 million iPods were sold in the first six months. Apple continued on the streak of success in the digital music industry by introducing its iTunes Store in 2003, which offered online music downloads for $0.99 a song, and integrating it with the iPod.
Apple continued updating their line of computers. Design-wise, they first started with dropping the translucent colored plastics they used for the first iMac G3 model, then followed it by the titanium PowerBook, and later the white polycarbonate iBook and the flat panel iMac. Hardware-wise, in 2006, Apple introduced their Intel-based Mac computers, and by August of the same year Apple had transitioned the entire Mac products line to Intel processors.
Apple continued updating their line of computers. Design-wise, they first started with dropping the translucent colored plastics they used for the first iMac G3 model, then followed it by the titanium PowerBook, and later the white polycarbonate iBook and the flat panel iMac. Hardware-wise, in 2006, Apple introduced their Intel-based Mac computers, and by August of the same year Apple had transitioned the entire Mac products line to Intel processors.
The iPhone and Apple TV
In 2007, and specifically during Macworld Expo, Steve announced that Apple is no longer called Apple Computers, Inc. but rather, Apple, Inc. because computers were no longer the main focus of the company. That event held the announcement of the revolutionary iPhone and the Apple TV.
Later that year, Apple announced the launch of the App Store to sell apps and games on the iPhone and iPod Touch, which quickly proved to be successful and became a billion dollar business for Apple three months later. Due to the popularity of the iPhone, Apple became the third-largest handset supplier in the world.
Later that year, Apple announced the launch of the App Store to sell apps and games on the iPhone and iPod Touch, which quickly proved to be successful and became a billion dollar business for Apple three months later. Due to the popularity of the iPhone, Apple became the third-largest handset supplier in the world.
The iPad
Early 2010, held the announcement of the iPad. A tablet computer that used the same operating system running the iPhone and the iPod Touch, and incorporated the Apple Store for people to find and purchase apps. iPad sales reached 500.000 units by the end of the first week of its launch on the 3rd of April, 2010.
Apple’s Financial History: A Quick Walk-through (Source)
- (1997) Net Profits: -1,045 Million US Dollars
- (1998) Net Profits: 309 Million US Dollars
- (2000) Net Profits: 786 Million US Dollars
- (2005) Net Profits: 1,328 Million US Dollars
- (2008) Net Profits: 6,119 Million US Dollars
- (2008) Net Profits: 6,119 Million US Dollars
- (2010) Net Profits: 14,013 Million US Dollars
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