Apple Inc.

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Apple Inc. is an American multinational technology company headquartered in Cupertino, California, that designs, develops, and sells consumer electronics, computer software, and online services. It is considered one of the Big Five companies in the U.S. information technology industry, along with Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Facebook.[1][2]

Steve Jobs.png

History

Apple was founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne in April 1976 to develop and sell Wozniak's Apple I personal computer, though Wayne sold his share back within 12 days. It was incorporated as Apple Computer, Inc., in January 1977, and sales of its computers, including the Apple I and Apple II, grew quickly.

Jobs and Wozniak hired a staff of computer designers and had a production line starting in Jobs' garage. Apple went public in 1980 to instant financial success. Over the next few years, Apple shipped new computers featuring innovative graphical user interfaces, such as the original Macintosh in 1984, and Apple's marketing advertisements for its products received widespread critical acclaim. However, the high price of its products and limited application library caused problems, as did power struggles between executives. In 1985, Wozniak departed Apple amicably and remained an honorary employee,[3] while Jobs resigned to found NeXT, taking a few co-workers with him.[4]

As the market for personal computers expanded and evolved through the 1990s, Apple lost considerable market share to the lower-priced duopoly of Microsoft Windows on Intel PC clones. The board recruited CEO Gil Amelio to what would be a 500-day attempt to rehabilitate the financially troubled company—reshaping it with layoffs, executive restructuring, and product focus. He led Apple to buy NeXT in 1997, solving a failed operating system strategy and bringing Jobs back.

Jobs regained leadership status, becoming CEO in 2000. Apple swiftly returned to profitability under the revitalizing Think different campaign, rebuilding Apple's status by launching the iMac in 1998, opening a retail chain of Apple Stores in 2001, and acquiring numerous companies to broaden the software portfolio. The company was renamed to Apple Inc. in 2007, reflecting a focus toward consumer electronics, and launched the iPhone to critical acclaim and financial success. In August 2011, Jobs resigned as CEO due to health complications, and Tim Cook became the new CEO. Two months later, Jobs died, marking the end of an era for the company. In June 2019, Jony Ive, Apple's CDO, left the company to start his own firm, but stated he would work with Apple as its primary client.

Products

Apple hardware products include the iPhone smartphone, the iPad tablet computer, the Mac personal computer, the iPod portable media player, the Apple Watch smartwatch, the Apple TV digital media player, the AirPods wireless earbuds, the AirPods Max headphones, and the HomePod smart speaker line.
Apple's software includes iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS operating systems, the iTunes media player, the Safari web browser, the Shazam music identifier, and the iLife and iWork creativity and productivity suites, as well as professional applications like Final Cut Pro X, Logic Pro, and Xcode.
Apple online services include the iTunes Store, the iOS App Store, Mac App Store, Apple Arcade, Apple Music, Apple TV+, iMessage, and iCloud.
Other services include Apple Store, Genius Bar, AppleCare, Apple Pay, Apple Pay Cash, and Apple Card.[5]

Diversity

However this tech giants has faced criticism for not employing a more diverse workforce. Only 9% of its employees are black, according to Apple 2018 diversity data.[6] "For the past five years, we’ve continued to hire more women and underrepresented minorities every year", Apple wrote a commitment for inclusion and diversity yet the numbers didn't showed much different. In 2020 Apple reported only 9% total Black employees in the US although Apple hiring rate for Black people is 12%. The number of Black leaders in Apple is even sadder, only 3% of Apple leaders are Black people.[7]

As part of its $100 million Racial Equity and Justice Initiative commitment, Apple is supporting the launch of the Propel Center, an innovation hub for the entire HBCU community that will provide curriculum, internships, and mentorship opportunities. Source: Apple.com

Commitment to Fight Racism

Apple CEO said his company "must do more" to fight racism and promote diversity. "To create change, we have to reexamine our own views and actions in light of a pain that is deeply felt but too often ignored," Cook wrote. "Issues of human dignity will not abide standing on the sidelines. To the Black community – we see you. You matter and your lives matter."[6]

Apple partnered with community colleges, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), minority-serving institutions, and others through programs like AppleCare College and Apple HBCU Scholars internship program. The iPhone giant said that the program meant to create opportunities for people seeking to learn coding skills.[8]

Apple launched a $100 million initiative to promote racial equality for people of color with a focus on “education, economic equality, and criminal justice reform.” The program, named Apple’s Racial Equity and Justice Initiative, will be led by Apple VP Lisa Jackson. “The initiative will challenge the systemic barriers to opportunity and dignity that exists for communities of color and particular for the black community,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said in the video.

As part of the initiative, Apple plans to increase its spending at black-owned partners across its supply chain and increase representation of black-owned partners. Apple also plans to launch a camp for black developers and entrepreneurs to help elevate the “best ideas in the developer family.”[9]

External Link

Watch Tim Cook video about Apple’s Racial Equity and Justice Initiative here
Read Apple's diversity report here
Read Apple official press release: Apple launches major new Racial Equity and Justice Initiative projects to challenge systemic racism, advance racial equity nationwide

See Also

Apple Store - Highpoint Shopping Centre, Melbourne

References

  1. Rivas, Teresa. Ranking The Big Four Tech Stocks: Google Is No. 1, Apple Comes In Last. Barrons. 22 August 2017. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  2. Ritholtz, Barry. The Big Four of Technology. Bloomberg. 31 October 2017. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  3. I Never Left Apple. Officially Woz. 3 January 2018. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  4. Rice, Valerie (April 15, 1985). Unrecognized Apple II Employees Exit. InfoWorld. p. 35. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  5. Apple Inc.. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Brett, Molina. Apple's Tim Cook publishes open letter on racism, says company 'must do more'. Usa Today. 4 June 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  7. Different together. Apple Diversity from Apple.com. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  8. Brown, Dalvin. Apple expands coding partnership with Black schools as tech firms grapple with lack of diversity. USA Today. 16 July 2021. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  9. Kastrenakes, Jacob. [theverge.com/2020/6/11/21287999/apple-racial-equity-justice-initiative-amount-cook-lisa-jackson Apple launches $100 million Racial Equity and Justice Initiative]. The Verge. 11 June 2020. Retrived January 21, 2021.