Today Marks the 44th Anniversary of Apple's Founding

44 years ago today, on April 1, 1976, Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne signed a contract founding the Apple Computer Company.

apple original logo
Days later, Ronald Wayne bowed out and received $800, leaving Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak to launch the Apple I that led to Apple revolutionizing the personal computer industry before moving on to other markets and becoming one of the most successful companies in modern history.

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Steve Wozniak left Apple in 1985, leaving Steve Jobs at the helm. Under Jobs' leadership, and after weathering a few hiccups like Jobs' time at NeXT, Apple launched iconic products like the iMac G3, the MacBook, the iPod, the original iPhone, and the iPad, along with services like the App Store and iTunes.

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After Steve Jobs passed away in 2011, Tim Cook took over and kept Jobs' legacy alive, launching new iPhones and iPads and new product lines, such as the Apple Watch, HomePod, and AirPods. Cook also oversaw Apple's deep foray into services with the launches of Apple News+, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and Apple Music.

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Today Apple is weathering a storm and has temporarily shuttered its stores outside of China, and device sales are seeing a drastic dip as a result. It will take Apple some time to recover, but there are many innovative products on the horizon, such as the 5G iPhones, Macs with Apple designed Arm-based processors, AR glasses, and more, some of which will come this year and some of which are slated to launch over the course of the next few years. As it has in the past, Apple will bounce back.

April 1st, in addition to being the day Apple was founded, is also April Fools' Day. Given the current situation, MacRumors will not be sharing the April Fools' pranks that typically circulate, and many companies, such as Google, have bowed out of jokes this year. We wanted MacRumors readers to be aware of the date to avoid falling for any ill-timed pranks or joke products.

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Top Rated Comments

macsba Avatar
64 months ago
May Apple have many more successful years.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MacLappy Avatar
64 months ago

Sadly, Apple view of innovation has changed in the worst possible way from 2017-2020.
Don't understand why you would feel this way. Apple has released some of it's best devices in recent years, including the Macbook Pro 16", iPhone XR and the Airpods Pro, hardly cause for shaming. If anything, I hope they will push out more products that cater to the needs of the people, as they are doing right now.

P.S. Happy birthday Apple, keep up the good work.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Wanted797 Avatar
64 months ago
People who think innovation stopped when Steve died. Let me list a few great things that came out after 2011.


* Apple Watch
* AirPods
* Retina MacBook and iMac
* Most iPad innovation. When Steve died the current iPad was the iPad 2.
* Most iPhone Changes (Face ID). The last iPhone Steve saw was likely the 5/5s
* Apple Music



Sure Apple made some mistakes. But I can go for a walk without my phone and listen to any song streaming from my cellular Apple Watch linked wirelessly to my AirPods. I don’t know about you... but I think Steve would have called that magic.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
fokmik Avatar
64 months ago
And after 200 years from now...we will celebrate its 244th birthday...


Too bad AirPower is a joke.
how a thing that never got released, can be a joke?!
Apple probably didn't released it to avoid being a joke !
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DinkThifferent Avatar
64 months ago
Happy Appleversary! The influence and legacy of Apple on industries is hard to ignore. Cheers to all thousands of employees for making us happy Apple users! ?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lamerica80 Avatar
64 months ago
This aint going nowhere...better grab those 800 bucks while I still can!
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)