Background
Apple Computer, Inc. was created by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in April 1976. It started as a computer software and hardware manufacturer. Apple Computer, Inc. is famous for having one of the largest and most loyal customer bases that have helped to make concrete consistent growth for the company (Yoffie, Slind, 2008). In 2007 Apple Computer Inc., became Apple Inc. to mirror its expansion into the consumer electronics market while still upholding its traditional focus on the personal computer. Apple Inc. has changed from being known as strictly a computer company into a diverse technology company that is known for its art, video, graphics, and always pushing the envelope as a content creator. CEO Steve Jobs is not only the company leader he is one of its major creators. Jobs latest creation is the iPhone. He refers to it as a magical device that will change the world (Boykin, Fiorini, Tanaka, & Webb, 2008).
Present Day Apple, Inc. (21st Century)
A fast-increasing portion of Apple’s hub operations involved non-Macintosh business areas that were less than a decade old (iPod, iTunes) or, indeed, less than a year old (Apple TV, iPhone). These product lines set Apple on a path to becoming a qualified digital convergence company (Yoffie, Slind, 2008).
Apple introduced the iPod, a portable digital music player based on the MP3 compression standard, in November 2001. Thanks to its sleek design, it soon became a symbol of the Digital Age (Yoffie, Slind, 2008). Initially, the iPod could only be compatible with Macs. But in August 2002 Apple introduced an iPod for Windows. The company 's approach to developing and marketing the iPod was less closed than its longtime approach to deploying the Macintosh (Yoffie, Slind, 2008).
Apple and its distribution partner, the mobile operator AT&T Mobility (formerly called Cingular Wireless), began selling the iPhone in late June 2007. The iPhone was Apple 's effort to
References: Boykin, R., Fiorini, A., Tanaka, L., & Webb, M., (2008), Apple, Inc., Retrieved June 05, 2011, from http://74.6.238.254/search/srpcache?ei=UTF-8&p=Apple%2C+Inc.+2008+problems+and+issues&fr=b1ie7&u=http://cc.bingj.com/cache.aspx?q=Apple%2c+Inc.+2008+problems+and+issues&d=5026778389285352&mkt=en-US&setlang=en-US&w=763d4b38,660dab06&icp=1&.intl=us&sig=8.8I5eWJvypdvvUZySn8HQ-- Yoffie, D., & Slind, M., (2008), Apple, Inc 2008, Retrieved June 05, 2011, from http://74.6.238.254/search/srpcache?ei=UTF-8&p=Apple+Inc.%2C+2008&fr=b1ie7&u=http://cc.bingj.com/cache.aspx?q=Apple+Inc.%2c+2008&d=4553498776897120&mkt=en-US&setlang=en-US&w=7e790027,1be1087f&icp=1&.intl=us&sig=16gnjpqRTWYVFXDTJv8lDw-- Yoffie, D. & Slind, M. (2008), Apple Inc., 2008, Harvard Business Review.