Apple Inc.

Apple Inc. is a global technology corporation headquartered in Cupertino, California, that specialises in consumer devices, computer software, and internet services. Apple is the world's biggest technology firm in terms of sales (with a total of $274.5 billion in 2020) and has been the world's most valuable corporation since January 2021. In terms of unit sales, Apple is the fourth-largest PC vendor in the world, and the fourth-largest smartphone maker as of 2021. Among the Big Five American information technology firms are Amazon (with Google), Microsoft (with Facebook), Google (with Microsoft), and Facebook (with Facebook).

Founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne to build and market Wozniak's Apple I personal computer, Apple has grown to become the world's largest computer company. When Jobs and Wozniak created Apple Computer, Inc. in 1977, sales of the company's computers, notably the Apple II, increased rapidly. Apple Computer, Inc. is still in business today. Upon its initial public offering (IPO) in 1980, it was an immediate financial success. The next several years saw Apple launch new computers with cutting-edge graphical user interfaces, most notably the first Macintosh, which was introduced in the highly acclaimed commercial "1984". However, the high cost of its goods and the restricted application library, as well as power conflicts among its executives, created difficulties for it. In 1985, Wozniak and Jobs left ways amicably, and Jobs went on to establish NeXT, bringing with him several of his former Apple colleagues.

The personal computer industry grew and changed during the 1990s, with Apple losing significant market share to the lower-priced duopoly of Microsoft Windows on Intel PC clones and Apple Macintosh computers. The board of directors hired CEO Gil Amelio, who, during his 500-day tenure, transformed the failing business into a model for long-term success via significant reforms, product focus, and layoffs. Later that year, Amelio purchased NeXT in an attempt to correct Apple's failed operating system strategy and bring back Steve Jobs, who succeeded Amelio as the company's chief executive. Apple regained profitability under the rejuvenating "Think different" campaign, which included the introduction of the iMac and iPod, the establishment of a retail network of Apple Stores in 2001, and the acquisition of several software businesses to expand their product offering. The iPhone was introduced in 2007 to widespread critical acclaim as well as significant commercial success. Jobs resigned from his position as CEO in 2011 owing to health problems, and he died two months later. Tim Cook took over as his successor.

Apple became the first publicly listed company in the United States to be valued at more than $1 trillion in August 2018, and the first to be valued at more than $2 trillion two years later. There are 1.65 billion Apple devices in use globally as of January 2021, indicating that the company has significant levels of brand loyalty and is regarded as the world's most valuable brand. However, the firm has received considerable criticism over the labour abuses of its contractors, its environmental policies, and corporate ethics, including anti-competitive conduct and the sourcing of raw materials, among other issues.