The Unusual Terms & Conditions
Apple is an unusual company, and this is evident in its Terms & Conditions. One clause in particular stands out it specifies that Apple products must not be used to build nuclear missiles or biological weapons. This is a unique stipulation that is not found in many other companies contracts.
The Bulletproof MacBook
Apple products are renowned for their durability, but few people know that the MacBook is so well-constructed that it can stop bullets in its tracks. While it is not advisable to test this theory, it is a testament to the quality of Apples products.
No Smoking Around Apple Products
Cigarettes contain nicotine, which is classified as a hazardous substance. As such, Apple does not permit smoking near its products, as it can void the warranty. This is an example of the companys commitment to providing a safe and healthy environment for its customers and employees.
Apples Wealth
Apple is an incredibly wealthy company, generating over $300,000 in revenue per minute. In 2011, it even overtook the US government in terms of cash in hand. If its current net worth was donated, it would be enough to give every single person on the planet over $100.
The Third Co-Founder
Apple had three co-founders when it was first established, although only two of them Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak are widely known. The third co-founder, Ronald Wayne, wrote the original partnership agreement and the manual for the Apple 1 computer. However, he sold his 10% stake in the company just 12 days after it was founded for $800.
The Founding of Apple
The story of Apple began in 1976 when Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak co-founded the company. Despite the initial success of the Apple I, the company was in dire financial straits. Jobs had to resort to selling his Volkswagen van and Wozniak his scientific calculator to raise the necessary funds. The origin of the company’s name is often attributed to Jobs’ fondness for apples, as he was on a fruit-only diet at the time. However, the logo was originally a picture of Isaac Newton sitting under an apple tree, symbolizing his discovery of gravity.
The Early Years
In 1977, Apple released the Apple II, the first personal computer with a color display. The logo was changed to a rainbow-colored apple with a bite taken out of it to make it clear that it was indeed an apple. This was followed by the release of the Macintosh in 1984, which revolutionized the personal computer industry with its graphical user interface. Despite the success of the Macintosh, the company was still struggling financially.
The Return of Steve Jobs
In 1985, Steve Jobs was forced out of the company he had co-founded. However, he returned in 1997 and immediately set about turning the company around. He introduced the iMac, which was a huge success and helped to revive the company. He also introduced the iPod, iPhone, and iPad, which have become some of the most successful consumer electronics products of all time.
The Rise of Apple
Since Jobs’ return, Apple has become one of the most successful companies in the world. It is now the most valuable company in the world, with a market capitalization of over $2 trillion. It has revolutionized the way we use technology, and its products have become ubiquitous in our daily lives.
The Legacy of Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs’ legacy is one of innovation and creativity. He was a visionary who saw the potential of technology and used it to create products that have changed the world. His influence can still be seen in Apple’s products today, and his legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.
The Apple Logo
The iconic Apple logo has gone through several iterations before arriving at the one we know today. It has become increasingly simplified over time, but there is still a lot of detail that goes into it. For example, the animated flower wallpapers on the Apple Watch are all computer-generated and took hundreds of hours to create.
Attention to Detail
Apple is known for its attention to detail, even when it means taking a more difficult route. For example, in iOS 6, Apple introduced metallic buttons that reflect light differently depending on the angle. This is a small detail, but it shows the level of care that goes into their products.
Before Apple
Before Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak founded Apple, they worked together at a game development company called Atari. You can still see remnants of this in Apple products. For example, the first iPod had a hidden Easter egg where you could play the game Breakout, which was developed by the two of them in their last job.
The iPod
The iPod went through many stages of development, with lots of different shapes and sizes. When the first prototype was given to Steve Jobs, he famously dropped it into an aquarium to prove that there was still room inside and that it could be made smaller.
Siri
Apple’s virtual assistant, Siri, has become an iconic feature of the company’s devices. However, it was almost not the case. Siri was initially released as a standalone app on Apple’s App Store and was planned to be available for both Android and Blackberry. Apple then acquired the app and integrated it exclusively into their own devices. The voice of Siri was provided by Susan Bennett, but it was almost Jeff Goldblum, an actor known for his roles in various films.
Digital Color Camera
Apple was one of the first companies to develop a digital color camera. This was a revolutionary invention at the time, as people had to wait an entire week to see their photos after they were developed.
Pippin
Apple also developed a games console called the Pippin. This device was considered powerful for its time, but is now considered to be significantly less powerful than modern smartphones.
Apple Collection
In 1986, Apple launched a clothing line called the Apple Collection. This line of clothing was considered fashionable at the time, but has since become outdated.
20th Anniversary Macintosh
Perhaps the strangest product released by Apple was the 20th Anniversary Macintosh. This device was considered to be the equivalent of the Mac Pro Pro in terms of power.
Apple’s Early Days
In 1997, Apple released the 7500, a revolutionary machine that was not only expensive, but was also delivered by a limousine and set up by a man wearing a tuxedo. Apple fans may also remember that the logo on early Apple laptops was displayed upside down when opened. This was done to avoid confusion as most people would try to open the laptop from the base of the Apple logo. After much resistance, Apple eventually flipped the logo as it looked odd.
The Command Key
The command key found on Apple keyboards has an alien-looking symbol on it. This symbol is actually borrowed from a Swedish road sign, which means a place of interest.
The iPhone
In 2007, the iPhone was unveiled. However, the trademark for iPhone and iOS was not owned by Apple, but instead by a networking company called Cisco. Apple has been paying Cisco for a license to use the trademarks. Additionally, for the past 10 years, Apple has lost the rights to use the iPhone trademark in Brazil as there was already a company called Gradient that had their own line of iPhones. This meant that Apple was allowed to sell the iPhone in Brazil, but did not have exclusive rights.
The Birth of Gorilla Glass
The unveiling of the first iPhone in 2007 was a momentous occasion for Apple, and for the world. What made the name even more interesting was that the iPhone that was shown on stage had a plastic display. It was only after the announcement that Steve Jobs picked up the phone and looked at the display, realizing it had scratches. He then told the team that by the time this phone launches, it has to be glass. This was the birth of Gorilla Glass, as we know it. The company Corning had actually developed this technology, this durable glass, 40 years ago, but had just been sitting on a shelf because they had no use for it until the iPhone.
Apple’s Internal Secrecy
Another really interesting thing about this first phone was that it didn’t leak. When Steve Jobs announced the iPhone, the world was genuinely taken aback, and the reason for that is just how seriously Apple took the secrecy internally. It was given the codename M68 and Apple made sure that the hardware engineers never saw the software and that the software engineers never saw the hardware. Instead of handing out prototype phones for testing, Apple handed out developer boards that just contained all the iPhone’s components. You could connect this board to iTunes and it would be picked up as an iPhone that’s pretty cool.
Apple’s First Smartphone
But let’s take a step back, because Apple’s first technically ‘smartphone’ was actually conceptualized well before 2007. Initial mock-ups as early as 1983 detailed a landline with smart functionality, kind of like a phone and an iPad joined together. This device was never released, but it showed that Apple had been thinking about the concept of a smartphone long before the iPhone was released.
The first was to create a little company called NeXT, which was a computer company that ended up being bought by Apple in 1996. The second was to buy a little company called Pixar, which he then turned into the most successful animation studio in the world.
Ahead of its Time
Apple has always been known for its cutting-edge technology and innovative products. One of the most impressive examples of this is the fact that the company had an idea for a product that never ended up seeing the light of day. While the specifics of this product remain unknown, it is clear that the concept was ahead of its time.
Product Pricing
The pricing of Apple products varies dramatically depending on the region in which they are purchased. This is due to a combination of import duties, taxes, and the company’s own pricing decisions. For instance, the 256 gig model of the iPhone 10s Max was $1250 in the US, but it cost over $1700 in India and around $2000 in Brazil.
75 Elements
An iPhone is made up of as many as 75 elements, which is two thirds of the entire periodic table of elements known to man. This is why an iPhone contains small amounts of gold, silver, and platinum.
Touch ID
The way Touch ID works is through capacitive technology. This technology relies on the fact that our bodies conduct electricity, meaning that a dead person’s hand or a 3D mock-up would not be able to unlock an iPhone, even if the fingerprint was a match. However, this technology would work on the optical scanners being built into many phone displays.
Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs was the figurehead of Apple and was labeled as everything from a visionary and a genius to a difficult person to work with. At one stage, he was forced to leave Apple, the company he had helped to build. During this time, Jobs created a computer company called NeXT, which was bought by Apple in 1996. He also bought a small company called Pixar, which he then turned into the most successful animation studio in the world.
This was actually part of his wardrobe. He had a few of these turtlenecks made in different colors and he would wear them all the time.
The Early Years of Apple
Apple, the iconic technology company, was founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne. Jobs and Wozniak had a vision to create a computer that was accessible to the average consumer. The Apple I was the first product released by the company and was sold as a motherboard with a CPU, RAM, and basic textual-video chips. The Apple I was a success and the company soon released the Apple II, which was the first personal computer to feature color graphics and a keyboard.
Steve Jobs and Pixar
Steve Jobs was a key figure in the early success of Apple. He helped fund a small computer graphics company known as the Graphics Group at the time, which later became known as Pixar. Through his funding, Pixar created the iconic movie Toy Story.
The Creation of NeXT
Jobs also created a completely new computer company called NeXT. It was only a matter of time before Apple ended up buying this company, which brought Jobs right back into Apple.
Steve Jobs’ Quirky Personality
Steve Jobs was known for his quirky personality. As is tradition, companies hand out employee numbers to every person who works there. Jobs was supposedly offended that he was given the label of employee number two, whereas Wozniak got number one. Refusing to play second fiddle, Jobs requested that his number be changed to employee number zero.
Steve Jobs’ Attention to Detail
Jobs had a real eye for detail. He called the VP of engineering at Google one Sunday morning, just to tell him that he had noticed the color of yellow on the second “O” in Google was slightly off on his iPhone and for Google to fix it ASAP.
Steve Jobs’ Low Salary
For a large part of his time at Apple, Steve Jobs only took a salary of $1 per year. He was so committed to the success of the company that he chose to leave millions inside Apple as opposed to take it for himself and instead just banked on earning from the shares he had in the company.
Steve Jobs’ Signature Style
You might have also noticed that Steve Jobs almost always wore what looks like the exact same turtleneck. This was actually part of his wardrobe. He had a few of these turtlenecks made in different colors and he would wear them all the time.
Steve Jobs’ Inspiration
Steve Jobs was supposedly inspired by Sony’s strict, uniform policy and wanted to introduce this into Apple. After being booed offstage for even suggesting the idea, he settled on at least having a consistent image for himself.
Steve Jobs’ Diagnosis
Jobs was soon to be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Tim Cook, the current CEO, got himself tested and found out that his blood type matched Steve’s. He offered to donate a part of his liver, but Steve turned it down. He then passed away in October 2011, the day after the iPhone 4s was announced.
Steve Wozniak’s Difficult Past
Steve Wozniak, on paper, reported only two jobs. After Steve’s passing, Wozniak could naturally be fired from the company. He was also involved in a plane crash while at Apple and suffered major head injuries, resulting in his short term memory being almost wiped. He did, thankfully, eventually recover.
Apple’s First Product
Contrary to popular belief, Apple’s first product was not a smartphone or an iPod. It was a computer called the Apple One, whose selling point was the fact that it came preassembled, unlike most computers at the time. It came with a single 1 MHz chip inside, which is a thousandth of what a gigahertz is. This was a huge leap from the Apple One to its successor.
The Product That Put Apple On The Map
Apple’s first product, the Apple 3, was a revolutionary game-changer that propelled the company to instant success. However, the product was not without its flaws, as it was designed with no air vents, resulting in overheating of every single unit sold.
The Macintosh
The Macintosh, or Mac, was one of the first computers to ship with a mouse. The keyboard was designed without arrow keys, which was intentional, as it forced both users and developers to get used to the Mac.
Apple and Samsung’s Codependency
Despite their long history of suing each other, Apple and Samsung are actually quite codependent. Apple sources its OLED displays from Samsung, which is beneficial to both companies; Apple gets a high-quality display, while Samsung’s display business is fed. The microcontroller inside the charger of a new MacBook Pro is as powerful as the entire Macintosh.
Apple’s OLED Display
Apple’s OLED displays are made to the company’s exact specifications and quality control standards by Samsung. This ensures that the display is completely owned by Apple, as Samsung cannot just use the same panel.
The Unboxing Experience
Apple is renowned for its unboxing experience, and the company has a secret packaging room where hundreds of box prototypes are tested to ensure they give the desired sensory experience. Every detail, from the acceleration of the lid being pulled off to the direction the seals open on the phones, is taken into account.
Tim Cook
Tim Cook, Apple’s current CEO, has had a remarkable career. Coming from a humble background, he began his working life delivering newspapers and is still known for his dedication to the cause, sending emails as early as 4:30am.
Transportation of Products
Apple products are primarily manufactured in China and are transported across the globe in two ways. While many companies use ships, Apple almost exclusively sends products by air, despite the cost being up to ten times more expensive, due to the speed of delivery.
Apple’s Manhattan Store
Apple’s Manhattan store opened with an unprecedented 10,000 applicants for a job, yet only 200 were accepted. This equates to a two percent acceptance rate, and as of 2013, the average Apple employee was earning over $120,000 per year.
The 9:41 Reveal
Apple has traditionally shown new iPhones with the time at 9:41, but this is not just a coincidence. Apple’s launch events often start at 9:00 a.m., and the phone reveal occurs roughly 40 minutes into that presentation. This was the brainchild of Steve Jobs, who insisted that the time shown on the phone screen when it was announced should completely match what the actual time was, with one extra minute given for breathing room. It is this kind of attention to detail that sets Apple apart from other companies.
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