Apple Inc.
Apple Inc.
Apple Inc. is an American multinational technology company headquartered in Cupertino, California. It is one of the world's largest technology companies by revenue and market capitalization. Apple designs, develops, and sells consumer electronics, computer software, and online services. Its best-known hardware products include the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and AirPods. Major software and services include iOS, macOS, iCloud, and the App Store.
History
Apple was founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne to develop and sell personal computers. The company's first product, the Apple I, was sold as a assembled circuit board. The following year, the Apple II became one of the first highly successful mass-produced microcomputers. In 1984, Apple introduced the Macintosh, the first personal computer with a graphical user interface and a mouse.
After a period of declining sales and internal turmoil, Jobs returned to Apple in 1997 and led a turnaround that included the launch of the iMac, iPod, iPhone, and iPad. The iPhone, introduced in 2007, revolutionized the smartphone industry and became Apple's most important product. Following Jobs' death in 2011, Tim Cook took over as CEO. Under Cook, Apple expanded its services segment, introduced the Apple Watch and AirPods, and continued to develop its own silicon chips for Macs.
Products and services
Hardware
- 0 – a line of smartphones running iOS.
- 0 – a line of tablet computers.
- 0 – a line of personal computers including MacBook, iMac, Mac Mini, Mac Pro, and Mac Studio.
- 0 – a smartwatch with health and fitness features.
- 0 – a line of wireless earbuds.
- 0 – a digital media player and streaming device.
- 0 – a smart speaker.
Software
- 0 – mobile operating system for iPhone and iPod Touch.
- 0 – operating system for iPad.
- 0 – operating system for Mac computers.
- 0 – operating system for Apple Watch.
- 0 – operating system for Apple TV.
- 0 – operating system for Apple Vision Pro.
Services
- 0 – digital distribution platform for mobile apps.
- 0 – cloud storage and computing service.
- 0 – music streaming service.
- 0 – video streaming subscription service.
- 0 – mobile payment and digital wallet service.
- 0 – video game subscription service.
- 0 – news and magazine subscription service.
- 0 – fitness subscription service.
Corporate structure
Apple's board of directors includes Tim Cook (CEO), Arthur Levinson (chairman), and other independent members. The company is known for its vertical integration, controlling both hardware and software design, and for its emphasis on product design and user experience. Apple operates retail stores in many countries, an online store, and a large network of suppliers and manufacturers, primarily in Asia.
Environmental and social initiatives
Apple has committed to becoming carbon neutral across its entire supply chain and product life cycle by 2030. The company uses recycled materials in many products and runs its global corporate operations on 100% renewable energy. Apple also enforces strict privacy policies, notably with its App Tracking Transparency framework, and has been a vocal advocate for user data protection.