Apple introduced the Macintosh computer in 1984 and became one of the world’s most valuable firms by market capitalization.
The Macintosh was launched on January 24, 1984, after a memorable Super Bowl advertisement directed by Ridley Scott. Unlike many computers of its time, it emphasized a graphical user interface and a mouse rather than typed commands.
Apple’s later growth came from a sequence of major products and services, including the iPod, iPhone, iPad, Mac, and App Store. The iPhone, introduced in 2007, became the company’s most important product and helped transform Apple into a global consumer-technology ecosystem.
Apple is sometimes confused with Apple Records, the music label founded by the Beatles. They are unrelated organizations. Apple Inc. was founded in California in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne.