Apple, a success based on innovation

The CEO of Google recognizes it, Apple is the company that was best able to innovate and move ahead of all, about things that users need.
This is from the origin with the Apple II.

The TV ad for MacIntosh was inpired by 1984, the story of Orwell. The idea what that Apple wanted to bring liberty. But actually it brings only dream. This is why it is so successfull in China. The article points out some similarities between Apple, the company, and the way China is ruled. Tim O'Reilly wonder too how a company with so much cash can try so hard to "squeeze every last cent out of manufacturing costs".

In 2011, Apple employs 60,000 people. 80000 in 2013.

From Apple II to IPad

Apple Mac 1984 facing Xerox Star with graphical interface in 1981

The Xerox company having offered him a tour of its research center in Palo Alto in 1979, Steve Jobs discovers the Xerox Alto (produced in 1973) with the first graphical interface and a unique instrument, called the mouse.
The demonstrators were fascinated to see that the visitor understand immediately what mean these technologies so that their own leaders found no interest in them.
Jobs wants to immediately implement what will give birth to Lisa in 1983 and the Macintosh in 1984.
Contrary to what is said, Apple has never licensed the interface and actually Xerox sued it in 1990.

The Xerox Alto was intended for internal use and universities, thousands of copies have been produced, but no commercial interest had been considered.

We see here what is the secret of Apple : new technologies are put into practice to create new products for the public. This will be found throughout the history of the firm, more recently with the iPhone and iPad.

Technological successes

The successes of Apple are actually successes of Steve Jobs. The firm was on the verge of bankruptcy before his return in 1997. He brings with him a new operating system and his ability to imagine popular products.

iPad (2010).
Rather than to launch a netbook, Apple popularized the Tablet PC successfully.
iPhone (2007).
One of the best selling mobile phones, the first popular smartphone. After purchasing FingerWorks which mastered touch interfaces, Apple applies its principles to the mobile phone.
iPod (2001)
Portable media player and data storage device. The original idea came from Kane Kramer in 1979.
iTunes (2000).
YouTube for iPhones. Was created in 1999 and bought by Apple in 2000.
MacIntosh (1984).
First popular computer with GUI.
Apple II (1977).
Designed by Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs is one of the first personal computer. Completely open and extensible, it was very successful.

Failures

Ping (2010).
Social music site that made a false note after other Apple's successes.
Newton (1998).
Created after the departure of Jobs, the personal assistant was very innovative but expensive and impractical to use.
Lisa (1983).
The first commercial computer with a graphical user interface. Too expensive, it did not sell. The lesson will be kept in mind with the Macintosh.
Apple III (1980).
Released too late, the 16-bit computer was malfunctioning and did not sell. The emergence of the IBM PC in 1981 consumed his loss.

We see that the successes are often renewed experiences that had learned from the failures: The Macintosh is an affordable and lighter Lisa, the iPhone is a Newton closer to the average user.

Criticism

Apple has come over time to the most closed systems, especially in the field of mobile where IOS and conditions of access to the AppStore are very restrictive, given the open systems such as Android, WebOS, Meego. This is the main source of criticism.

Tim Bray, Developer Advocate at Google for Android and who worked for the W3C.

The iPhone vision of the mobile Internet's future omits controversy, sex, and freedom, but includes strict limits on who can know what and who can say what. It's a sterile Disney-fied walled garden surrounded by sharp-toothed lawyers. The people who create the apps serve at the landlord's pleasure and fear his anger. I hate it.

Apple apparently thinks you can have the benefits of the Internet while at the same time controlling what programs can be run and what parts of the stack can be accessed and what developers can say to each other. I think they're wrong and see this job as a chance to help prove it.

Apple is also one of the few companies to do trials when it is doing well. Microsoft made trials in the field of mobile where its market share is insignificant, it does not make it in the console market. Yahoo! sued Facebook because its business is in freefall. SCO tried to obtain incomes from patents it did not have when it went bankrupt. The court is usually the last resort of a failed company. Except for Apple.
The war against "copies" of the iPhone is it justified? The article Apple against Android provides an history to attempts to see clearly.