Apple

1976-1980: APPLE'S EARLY YEARS

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"Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower." 

—Steve Jobs

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1976: Founding

• April: Apple Computer founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne. Apple I prototype completed.
• June: The Apple I computer sold to Byte Shop computer store for $666.66. First Apple I sold to Paul Terrell of Byte Shop for $666.66.
• August: Apple moves into its first office on Stevens Creek Blvd.
• September: Apple I added to Sears Business Catalog for $595.
• November: Apple I production moved from Job's garage to a larger facility.

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1977: Apple II

• January: First single-board Apple II prototype completed.
• February: Mike Markkula invests $92,000 and draws up a business plan.
• May: First Japanese Apple II users group formed. 
• June: Apple II computer unveiled at West Coast Computer Faire.
• July: Apple II production begins in Cupertino, California.
• August: Apple II featured on the cover of influential Byte magazine.
• September: Apple II starts shipping, sells thousands of units in the first year.  
• October: Apple expands into a 7,624 sq ft office at 10260 Bandley Dr.
• December: Apple Japan established to handle Far East distribution.

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1978: Operational Expansion

• February: Disk II floppy drive add-on introduced for Apple II.
• April: Apple begins manufacturing in Ireland to expand overseas.
• June: Apple begins national advertising campaign for Apple II.
• August: Tax exempt stock deal helps start Apple employee stock plan.
• October: New automated Apple II production line operational.
• December: Apple II Plus with more memory and features released.

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1979: Growth

• February: Apple exhibits at 1st national computer show, creating buzz.
• May: Software contracts signed to bundle VisiCalc with Apple II.
• July: New order system activated to manage booming Apple II demand.
• August: Software firm VisiCorp releases VisiCalc spreadsheet app for Apple II.
• September: Apple II circuit boards now made in Singapore and Ireland.
• November: Apple offices span 7 buildings in Cupertino to house growth.  
• December: Jobs and team visit Xerox PARC, inspiring GUI design.

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1980: IPO of Apple

• January: Apple retail store opens on West Coast run by Paul Turnbull.
• February: Apple exhibits at 1st national computer show, creating buzz.
• May: Software contracts signed to bundle VisiCalc with Apple II.
• July: New order system activated to manage booming Apple II demand.
• December: Apple goes public, creating over 300 millionaires overnight.

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1981-1985: EARLY SUCCESSES 

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The ones who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do."

—Steve Jobs

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1981: Apple III Failure

• January: Apple III discontinued after disappointing sales and issues.
• September: First IBM PC released, rivalry begins.

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1982: Stock Gains

• February: Apple’s IPO biggest since Ford.
• June: Apple III re-launched to try fixing issues.

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1983: John Sculley

• January: Lisa computer launched with GUI, but high price and limited software.
• April: Former Pepsi CEO John Sculley becomes Apple CEO.

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1984: Super Bowl XVIII Comercial 

• January: Iconic "1984" Macintosh commercial during Super Bowl XVIII.
• April: Apple IIc provides compact Apple II with new design.
• September: First Macintosh upgrades release fixes issues.
• November: Macintosh Office suite announced but delayed by bugs.

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1985: Steve Jobs Resigns 

• January: Jobs and Wozniak awarded the National Medal of Technology.
• April: Microsoft invests $150 million into Apple amid turmoil.
• May: John Sculley reorganizes. Jobs is kicked off Lisa/Mac teams.
• September: Jobs resigns from Apple. He founds NeXT Computer.
• December: Microsoft reveals Windows 1.0 to rival Mac GUI.

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1986-1996: DECLINE AND STRUGGLES

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"Stay hungry, stay foolish."

—Steve Jobs

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1986: PowerBook

• February: Mac Plus released with more memory and SCSI support.
• March: Macworld Expo becomes Apple's big annual conference.
• September: Apple Programmers and Developers Association formed.
• December: PowerBook prototypes with proto touch screens made.

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1987: Logistical Expansion

• February: Mac II released, expands modular expandability.
• March: AppleShare network server software allows file sharing.
• July: First Apple distribution center opens in the Netherlands.
• November: Apple headquarters expands in Cupertino again.

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1988: Microsoft Lawsuit

• September: Apple sues Microsoft and HP for GUI copyright issues.

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1990: Upgrades

• June: System 7 OS announced with major upgrades to Mac OS.
• October: New Macs released cheaper Classic, LC, and IIsi models.

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1991: PowerBook Released

• March 1991: PowerBook 100 unveiled as early laptop success.
• May 1991: Apple allies with IBM and Motorola on PowerPC chips.
• October 1991: First 7 retail stores open in the US to sell Macs.

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1992: John Sculley Resignation 

• March: Macs reaching 5% global PC market share yearly.
• July: Apple alliance creates advanced CHRP platform specs.
• October: John Sculley resigns. Michael Spindler becomes the new CEO.

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1994: Mac Line Expanded

• February 1994: Power Macintosh line introduced with PowerPC.
• September 1994: Apple allows Mac cloning aiming for growth.

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1996: Steve Jobs Returns

• March: CEO Michael Spindler replaced with Gil Amelio.
• November: Apple acquires NeXT. Jobs returns to Apple.
• December: Apple's market share falls below 4%.

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1997-2011: RECOVERY & DOMINATION

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"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life." 

—Steve Jobs

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1997: iMac

• May: Steve Jobs becomes interim CEO of Apple.
• August: Microsoft invests $150 million in Apple.
• November: Apple Online Store launched for direct sales.
• May: Successful iMac introduced, leads Apple's comeback.

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1999: iBook

• January: iBook consumer laptop unveiled.
• October: iMovie software launched for digital video editing.

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2001: iPod

• May: Two Apple Retail Stores opened in VA and CA.
• October: iPod MP3 player introduced, revolutionary success.

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2004: iPod Line Expansion

• January 2004: iPod mini and iPod shuffle introduced.

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2005: Intel Partnership

• January: MacWorld keynote announces transition to Intel chips.
• September: Apple switches to using Intel processors.

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2007: iPhone

• January: iPhone unveiled and launched, disrupting industry.
• June: Apple TV introduced for video streaming.

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2008: App Store

• July: App Store ecosystem launched for iOS apps.
• October: MacBook and MacBook Pro laptops redesigned.

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2010: iPad

• January: iPad tablet introduced, kicking off the post-PC era.
• June: iPhone 4 launched to record sales numbers.

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2011: Steve Jobs Dies

• January: Jobs takes medical leave. Tim Cook steps in.
• August: Jobs resigns as CEO. Remains as chairman.
• October: Jobs passes away after resigning as CEO. Tim Cook officially becomes the new CEO of Apple.

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2012-PRESENT: TIM COOK ERA 

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"The best way to predict the future is to create it."

—Steve Jobs

2012: iPod Mini

• September: iPhone 5 released with larger 4" display.
• October: iPad Mini announced as smaller tablet.

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2013: iOS 7

• June 2013: iOS 7 announced as major software redesign.

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2014: Apple Watch

• September: Apple Watch announced, released in 2015.
• September: Apple Pay mobile payments announced.

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2017: iPhone X

• September: iPhone X with edge-to-edge display.
• November: iPhone X uses facial recognition.

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2018: $1 Trillion

• October: Apple leads US company value at $1 trillion.

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2019: Camera Upgrades

• September: iPhone 11 Pro introduces triple camera.

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2020: M1 Chips

• June: Transition announced from Intel to Apple silicon.
• November: First Macs released with M1 Apple chips.

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2021: AirTag

• April: AirTag trackers and purple iPhone 12 unveiled.
• June: Podcast Subscriptions and Apple Privacy features.

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2022: iPhone 14

• September: iPhone 14 and new Apple Watches released.

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2023: Vision Pro

• June: Vision Pro announced and self-driving car plans.