Apple is crowned the world’s largest phone manufacturer, overtaking rival Samsung for the first time in twelve years
1976: Founders Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne founded the company on April 1, 1976 when they began selling computer kits to hobbyists, all built by Wozniak.
The first product was the Apple I.
1977: Apple released the Apple II in June, the first PC made for the mass market.
Steve Jobs unveils the new Macintosh from Apple Computer Corporation on February 6, 1984 in California.
1981: Jobs became chairman.
1984: The Macintosh was introduced during a commercial break before the Super Bowl and later officially unveiled at a launch event. A year later it was discontinued and Jobs left the company.
1987: Apple released the Macintosh II, the first color Mac.
1997: Apple announces it will acquire NeXT software in a $400 million deal, with Jobs returning to Apple as interim CEO. He officially took on the role in 2000.
Apple’s then CEO, Steve Jobs, with the iPhone
2001: Apple introduced iTunes, OS
The first iPod MP3 music player was released on October 23, 2001 at an event in Cupertino and could hold up to 1,000 songs.
2007: Apple unveils the iPhone.
2010: The first iPad was unveiled.
2011: Jobs resigned in 2011 due to illness, passing the CEO title to Tim Cook. Jobs died in October of pancreatic cancer.
2014: Apple has unveiled the Apple Watch. It also unveiled its first larger iPhones: the 6 and 6 Plus.
2015: After purchasing Beats from Dr. Dre launched Apple Apple Music to compete with Spotify and other music streaming services.
2016: Apple returned to its roots and announced the 4-inch iPhone SE. Meanwhile, the company is embroiled in a legal battle with the FBI, with the agency demanding access to the locked phone used by Syed Farook, who was killed in a shootout after carrying out a deadly December attack in San Bernardino, California with his wife. The court order was lifted on March 28 after the FBI said a third party was able to unlock the device.
2017: Apple introduces the iPhone
Apple CEO Steve Jobs speaks at an Apple event at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, California.
2018: In a first for the company, Apple is introducing new features in its latest operating system, iOS 12, that encourage users to manage their devices and spend less time on them. The move came in the wake of a strongly worded letter from shareholders urging the company to tackle the growing problem of smartphone addiction among children and teens.
2019: In January, Apple reports its first sales and profit decline in a decade. CEO Tim Cook partly blamed the sharp decline in sales from China.
2020: In March, Apple will close all its physical stores outside China in response to the coronavirus.
2021: During an online virtual event in April, CEO Tim Cook stated Apple’s goal of becoming carbon neutral by Earth Day. Later that year, the iPhone 13 was announced.
2022: The iPhone 14 was announced in September. Among the new features included a new sensor that detects if a user has been in a car accident, and an improved camera system.
2023: So far this year, Apple has brought back its ‘Home Pod’ after the first generation was discontinued. The ‘Home Pod’ can be seen as an alternative to Amazon’s Alexa or Google Home as it is powered by voice commands.