Steve Jobs founded NeXT after leaving Apple in 1985. The company was created to develop advanced computers for higher education and business users.
NeXT introduced its first workstation, the NeXT Computer, in 1988. Its black magnesium cube case became an instantly recognizable design, but the machine’s high price limited its market. NeXT later shifted emphasis toward software and developed the NeXTSTEP operating system.
NeXT’s technology became crucial to Apple’s future. Apple acquired NeXT in 1997, bringing Jobs back to the company he had co-founded. NeXTSTEP formed the technical foundation of Mac OS X, and its influence continued through later Apple operating systems such as iOS.