Apple Inc.
| Headquarters | 1 Infinite Loop Cupertino , CA 95014 United States |
|---|
Apple Inc. (formerly known as Apple Computer) is an American corporation that primarily specializes in the creation of software, computers, and consumer electronics. The company's most notable products are the Macintosh line of computers, the Mac OS X operating system, the iPod media player, and the iPhone.
Company history
Apple was founded by "the two Steves" Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne on April 1, 1976 in California as Apple Computer, Inc. The first product was a kit computer that sold in small numbers to hobbyists. After the release of the Apple II in 1977, Apple became one of the top three popular manufacturers of early personal computers (along with Commodore and Tandy) before the IBM PC and its clones caught on in the mid-1980s.
Apple's most significant and enduring achievement was the development of its Macintosh line of computers, released in 1984, which were the first mass-produced and successful systems with a mouse-driven graphical user interface (GUI). Apple desktop computers to this day still carry a variation on the name "Mac."
The success of Microsoft's Windows operating system, which provided a graphical interface for IBM PC-compatible computers, began to erode the distinctive characteristics of the Macintosh in the early 1990s. The release of Windows 95 was one of many factors that resulted in Apple's low point around 1996.
On January 9th, 2007, Steve Jobs announced Apple would remove the "Computer" from its name at the MacWorld Expo to reflect the company's diversification into consumer electronics markets.[1]
Consumer loyalty
Apple has long benefited from an unusually high level of consumer devotion and product loyalty. This phenomenon is often referred to as the "Cult of Mac."
Criticism
- Apple has had a number of highly publicized legal battles, including the long-running trademark disputes with the Beatles' record company, Apple Corps Ltd., and the recent stock option backdating scandal.
- Wikiscanner reveals that people at Apple have edited Wikipedia articles about Microsoft to add more negative comments about their rival[2].
- Apple has been criticized for locking-in its customers who own an iPod, making it impossible for them to buy music somewhere else than at the iTunes Music Store[3].
- In 2006, sweatshop conditions were reported in Chinese iPod factories, with people working for 15-hour shifts, sleeping in dormitories and earning a 50$ a month salary.[4]
- Apple was also criticized for not having a full-fledged recycling program like its competitors.[5]
- Activists protested against DRM used for iPods[6].
- Two class-action lawsuits were filed against Apple in San Jose on October 5th. In both cases, Apple is accused of unfair business practices and violations of antitrust, telecommunications and warranty laws. The federal lawsuit alleges that AT&T and Apple conspired from the very beginning to maintain their monopoly[7].
References
- ↑ SEC filing of the name change.
- ↑ ZDNet, "The Apple core", Wikiscanner reveals Apple’s Wikipedia edits, Jason D. O'Grady, August 15, 2007.
- ↑ BBC News, "Time for Apple to face the music?", Bill Thompson, September 19, 2007.
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Sweatshop Conditions at IPod Factory Reported", Mike Musgrove, June 16, 2006.
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Sweatshop Conditions at IPod Factory Reported", Mike Musgrove, June 16, 2006.
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Sweatshop Conditions at IPod Factory Reported", Mike Musgrove, June 16, 2006.
- ↑ MSNBC, Apple, AT&T sued over iPhone restrictions, Associated Press, October 10, 2007.
Related Topics
Subtopics
- Apple I
- Apple II
- Apple Lisa
- NeXT, a company founded by Steve Jobs after he left Apple
- iPod, Apple's portable music player
- iPhone, Apple's self-acclaimed next generation mobile device
- Mac OS X, Apple's current operating system
- Macintosh
- Steve Jobs