The Ways Apple Has Shaped Technology Today
Apple Incorporated was created by Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs on April 1, 1976. Surprisingly, Wozniak and Jobs were college dropouts. The goal of Apple computers was to change the conceptions people had about computers and computer software. Jobs and Wozniak wanted to make computers small enough for people to enjoy inside their homes or offices. The two wanted a machine that was user-friendly, easily accessible, and an adequate size. Jobs and Wozniak started out building their primary product, the Apple I, in Jobs' garage and sold them without a monitor, keyboard, or casing. The Apple II revolutionized the computer market with the introduction of the first color computer. Sales jumped from $7.8 million to $117 million in two years after Apple went into the stock market. Wozniak proceeded to leave Apple in 1983 due to a diminishing interest in running Apple Computers. Jobs then hired PepsiCo's president, John Sculley. However, this backfired after a large series of serious controversy with Sculley. Jobs then left Apple in 1985 and went on to new and bigger things by creating his own company NeXT Software.
After the business was bought, Jobs’ next career move was to purchase Pixar from George Lucas. Pixar has produced many movies, such as Toy Story, A Bug's Life, Monsters, Inc., and Finding Nemo. The start of the 1980’s signaled success for Apple as many of the pivotal industry changes occurred during this decade. In the 80s, Apple had made its highest profits yet. This was due to the rigorous and innovative plans that Jobs had set in motion before he left. His most significant deal was with the company, Adobe, who had created the Adobe Portable Document Format, which is now known as a PDF File. Together, Apple and Adobe created the still popular phenomenon known as desktop publishing.
The nineties began to signal distress for Apple, as stock prices began a tumultuous rise and fall. Over the course of 6 years, Apple's market stock market price suffered after its peak in 1990. By 1996, stock experts believed the company was doomed due to no new products having been released for an extended period of time. Apple needed an operating system, therefore Apple’s board of directors decided to ask for some help from an old friend. Jobs became an interim CEO, or iCEO as he called himself, to the company he once founded. Jobs chose to ally with Microsoft to create a Mac version of Microsoft’s popular office software. Not long after this decision Jobs revamped the computers and introduced the iBook. He also started branching out into mp3 players and media player software, which was arguably Jobs’ best move for the company.
Apple had also recently released the iPhone, a cellular phone, which was the first full touch screen and music player. Now, years later, the iPhone has been released through several generations, all the way to the iPhone X. Arguably the most pivotal way Apple excels in the technological world is through the stock market. While stocks plummeted in the early 1990’s, Apple has regained its footing and grasped a firm hold of the current stock market situation. Jack Nicas writes an article for The New York Times entitled “Apple Says It Will Buy Back $100 Billion in Stock”, Nicas details the true grip of Apple on the stock market. In January of 2018, Apple stated that they would “bring back most of the $252 billion it held abroad under the new tax law” (Nicas). With this large sum of money, both analysts and investors were quite curious as to how the money would be utilized, and whether or not it would bring along effectivity or chaos.
Analysts eventually found out the true nature of the money’s purpose, as in the last month Apple has announced that it will purchase over $100 billion additional dollars in stock. While analysts were left with no timeline as to when the purchases would be made, it is clear that Apple has a plan to upgrade its stock division, as this is the largest increase the market has seen in some time. Nicas additionally stated that “Apple also increased its dividend by 16 percent to 73 cents a share, pushing past Exxon Mobil to become the largest dividend payer, according to the S&P Dow Jones Indices.” The trend of Apple’s large stock buyback seems to fall in line with the recent trend in which companies have been using the “financial windfall from Trump’s tax cut to reward their shareholders exclusively.” Many analysts are in heavy critique of this plan as they say that investors should focus solely on investing in the people of their company rather than their stock market share prices. One of the key issues that the industry is facing is in the competition with similar markets. In a consumerist society, there is a constant need to upgrade. Consumers want the biggest, best, and newest piece of technology, and they may switch companies in order to achieve this goal.
One of the biggest technological rivalries occurs between Samsung and Apple. Both known for their smartphones, proponents on both sides have very valid arguments as to why the technology on their side is inarguably more effective. Consumer Reports states that “in the ranking of consumer satisfaction, Apple gets a reader score of 78 percent. Dell and Lenovo tied at 59 percent, with Acer, Asus, eMachines, HP, Gateway, and Toshiba grouped together between 56 to 54 percent. That's a significant difference in customer perception.” Apples constant outlook of improving technology, is what keeps their advocates brand loyal. This is exactly where their improvement in technology and their company’s dependability on technology comes into place. Apple relies specifically on their technology and what it can do. Their technology not only affects them as a company, but the billions of people who own an apple phone, computer, or music player. Apple runs day to day IT checks and balances to ensure that they are running in pristine condition. Apple continues to release updates to increase their products functions such as battery life, timing, and user interface. Without their software updates, they would be unable to compete with other companies and unable to run their systems at maximum capacity. Apple's software updates have always been known as a game changer due to the high popularity of their products. With these updates, they are able to manipulate the market by causing new customers to turn towards their products.
Apple is not only the best when it comes to products and software, but they are the best in educating their employees and their customers. Apple recently created a website for Apple Education alone, where users can join their classes to learn more about their products and learn about how to manage and create them. Apple invites all consumers and employees to use Apple School Manager, where you can “log in with your Apple ID and set up devices, get apps and books, enable teachers with tools to create and engage learning experience, and organize yourself and your business.” When you use Apple School Manager, you’re using a full range of Apple services. Apples IT service allows young minds to learn how software can affect them and everyone around them by using their simple program. Apple's business environment is run by only IT and businessmen who have IT experience, so it is well shown that IT is an important part in their business. Without the use of technology, the company would be unable to run their products, provide their services, create new devices, and be unable to run their business successfully. They require technology every moment of the day to provide them with the tools for their business.
Apple Inc. has pioneered its way through the computer industry multiple times throughout its existence. It believes in pushing the limits of creativity to produce interesting and valuable products for society. After more than 30 years, it is undeniable that Apple "has had a profound impact on technology, innovating and influencing not only how we use computers but the activities for which what we use them." As of now, Apple has had a profound impact on both our technological footprint as well as our daily lives.
