It wasn’t a smooth journey, however. Apple didn’t become the giant it is today by releasing one make of computer and calling it a day. Instead, Apple has continued to broaden its horizons and made big splashes in other areas of the tech industry. Every time this happened, there was a tectonic shift in the way we all view these industries. You could say that each of these innovations allowed Apple to change the world.
iMac G3
The first big product that Apple released came out in 1998, twenty-two years after the company was founded. Nicknamed by tech experts as the grapefruit, the iMac G3, was a Macintosh-branded computer that cost the consumer over $1,000 at the time of release.
Apple’s brand of Macintosh computers was known for being extremely user-friendly, and the iMac G3 was no different. It was the first home computer that was capable of displaying five colors, and it had a much more advanced hard drive. This means that the consumer did not have to call for IT support from a specialist like Totality Services when using this type of device. It may seem inferior compared to today’s technology, but the iMac G3 saved Apple from financial ruin at the time so they could carry on making further innovations in the tech industry.
iPod
personal computers weren’t the only thing that Apple wanted to share with the world. In 2001, the company managed to merge its brand of user-friendly computer technology with music when it released the first iPod.
This portable music player came with iTunes software, which allowed the owner to download music and store it on the computer as a digital file. This music was then transferred to the iPod to be listened to at the user’s leisure. Since the digital iTunes files were so small, it allowed iPod to hold up to one thousand songs. This was a huge improvement over the twenty or so songs that the previous tech model, the CD, was able to hold.
The release of the first iPod spurred the release of MP3 players and other music devices that are used today. Like the iMac, the iPod seems primitive by today’s standards. However, there are many people today that cannot imagine a time when music wasn’t obtained through online downloads. These consumers have the Apple iPod to thank for this change in the music industry. Thankfully, they do not remember the struggle of having to carry around a CD player and trying to prevent the songs from skipping.
iPhone
By the time the iPod was released, mobile phones were nothing new. In fact, most people in the UK had access to both a mobile phone and a portable music player. Again, this is something that most people do not have to think about today. However, it took until innovative thinking at Apple could combine these two devices into what we now know as the smartphone.
The iPhone was released in 2007, with the idea being to combine the capabilities of the iPod and a standard mobile phone. This means that iPhone owners would be able to carry around thousands of songs and communicate with their friends using the same device. However, the development of the iPhone 1 took on a life of its own. not only did the first iPhone include a music player and calling capabilities, but it also came with:
- Multi-Touchscreen
- Microphone
- Internet access
- Headset controls
If these applications sound familiar, it is because these are the same specs used in modern smartphones. Therefore, it is safe to say that the current smartphones and all they bring would not be possible without the release of the revolutionary iPhone.
iPad
the first iPad was released in 2010 by Apple as a way to improve upon the current portable computer market. Many critics viewed the Apple iPad as an unnecessary release and stated that it was just a bigger version of the iPhone. However, the touchscreen technology resonated with consumers, and the tablet quickly took off.
So many people now choose to use a tablet instead a laptop because it goes back to the old user-friendly motif that Apple still stands for. You probably can’t imagine not using your tablet at work, as an entertainment device for the kids, or as a means of communication. Once again, you have Apple to thank for this world-changing innovation.
With Apple launching a new streaming service and rumored to buy Disney, it doesn’t look like the company is ready to slow down any time soon.
However, it doesn’t matter what happens in the future. Apple has already made its mark.
