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Apple was founded 50 years ago today, and the company has celebrated the milestone in a variety of ways over the past few weeks, as outlined below.

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Apple's CEO Tim Cook kicked things off by sharing a letter titled "50 Years of Thinking Different" on Apple's website. The letter touches on the 50th anniversary and says that "the world is moved forward by people who think different."

"Think Different" was a famous slogan used by Apple in the late 1990s to early 2000s.

"At Apple, we're more focused on building tomorrow than remembering yesterday," a part of Cook's letter reads. "But we couldn't let this milestone pass without thanking the millions of people who make Apple what it is today."

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Second, Apple celebrated the anniversary by hosting surprise concerts and events around the world in the second half of March. Alicia Keys performed at Apple's store inside New York's Grand Central Terminal, Mumford & Sons took the stage outside of Apple's UK headquarters at the former Battersea Power Station in London, models walked around a catwalk set up in front of Apple's Jing'an store as part of Shanghai Fashion Week, Apple illuminated iPad artwork on the Sydney Opera House's sails, and much more.

Third, much of Apple's senior leadership gathered at Apple Park to ring the Nasdaq stock market index's opening bell on Tuesday morning. Apple executives in attendance included Cook, operations chief Sabih Khan, services chief Eddy Cue, retail chief Deirdre O'Brien, marketing chief Greg Joswiak, financial chief Kevan Parekh, hardware engineering chief John Ternus, hardware design chief Molly Anderson, and others.


Fourth, Apple set up various installations inside Apple Park, including a showcase of some iMac designs released between 1998 and 2021.


Fifth, Apple's employees received 50th-anniversary merchandise, including a commemorative t-shirt, a limited-edition poster, and a "50" pin.

Sixth, Apple's employees were invited to watch legendary musician Paul McCartney perform under the rainbow arches at Apple Park on Tuesday evening.

And finally, Apple marked its 50th anniversary today by updating the homepage of its website with an animation and sharing a rewind video.


Apple may have a few other things in store for us, but with it now being April 1, the anniversary celebrations are likely wrapping up. So far, the company has not publicly released any special products or merchandise to mark the occasion.

Related Reading: Apple Turns 50 Today: Reflecting on Each Decade's Biggest Moments

Article Link: Apple Celebrates 50th Anniversary in Seven Ways
 
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The letter touches on the 50th anniversary and says that "the world is moved forward by people who think different."
Congrats on 50 years, but slapping ads throughout your products is not thinking different. It's the way an old tired and boring company led by bean counters think.

What Steve Jobs said about prioritizing profits over product quality:

What happened at Apple, to be honest, over the years was… the goal used to be to make the best computers in the world. And that was goal one. And goal two we got from Hewlett-Packard actually, which was “we have to make a profit.” Because if we don’t make a profit we can’t do goal one.

So, yeah, I mean we enjoyed making a profit, but the purpose of making a profit was so we can make the best computers in the world. Along the way somewhere those two got reversed. ‘The goal is to make a lot of money and well, if we have to make some good computers, well OK we’ll do that because we can make a lot of money doing that.’

And, it’s very subtle. It’s very subtle at first. But it turns out it’s everything. That one little subtle flip takes 5 years to see it, but that one little subtle flip in 5 years means everything. So we’ve put those things in their proper order again.
 
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Yep... and that's what keeps Apple's 1+ Billion happy/active/repeat customers coming back today purchasing Apple products, propelling Apple to becoming one of the most successful consumer tech companies in the world.

You repeat almost verbatim an awful lot. It makes pretty easy way to ignore the not-so-great things Apple is doing, I guess.

Their success has no bearing on my experience using their devices day-to-day.
 
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You almost repeat verbatim an awful lot. It makes pretty easy way to ignore the not-so-great things Apple is doing, I guess.

Their success has no bearing on my experience using their devices day-to-day.
At the end of the day, Apple is not focused on the crazy fringe that complain about anything/everything they do or product they release. Their products and services aren't targeted for those customers, they are targeted at the masses that want easy to use products/services. They are very successful in that space.

Is Apple perfect? No, but the majority of this board acts like they put out bad products/service and are run by an incompetent fool.
 
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No, but the majority of this board acts like the put out bad products/service and are run by an incompetent fool.
Not sure it's an actual majority of MR posters, but like all of social media MR also draws in the malcontents who find meaning in their life complaining about minor things.

It's one thing to be a contrarian (and I am often such), it is another to simply hate for the sake of the emotional rush.
 
Not sure it's an actual majority of MR posters, but like all of social media MR also draws in the malcontents who find meaning in their life complaining about minor things.

It's one thing to be a contrarian (and I am often such), it is another to simply hate for the sake of the emotional rush.
I bet its 65/35 complainers, but maybe it just feels like that because the negativity/complaining is in every single thread. Agree 100%, social media/MR brings them out!

Some are happiest when they have something to complain about; I just couldn't imagine living my life like that.
 
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You repeat almost verbatim an awful lot. It makes pretty easy way to ignore the not-so-great things Apple is doing, I guess.

Their success has no bearing on my experience using their devices day-to-day.

Nothing to ignore. I don't have anything to report with respect to Apple doing not-so-great things. All of my Apple products work great and meet my needs.

If you're unhappy with Apple and Apple products, the good news is there are other tech companies that would welcome your computer/phone/etc purchases.
 
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Nothing to ignore. I don't have anything to report with respect to Apple doing not-so-great things. All of my Apple products work great and meet my needs.

If you're unhappy with Apple and Apple products, the good news is there are other tech companies that would welcome your computer/phone/etc purchases.

I'd rather share my frustrations, send feedback, and press for changes rather than just walk away, but you do you.
 
I'd rather share my frustrations, send feedback, and press for changes rather than just walk away, but you do you.

If I had frustrations I'd certainly first send feedback and press for changes. And not walk away as you suggest.

Again, I have zero issues/frustrations with Apple or my Apple products. They all work great and meet my needs. If they didn't, and if Apple didn't respond to my suggestions, I'd quickly go with an Apple competitor.

But as you say... you do you and stay frustrated.
 
Not sure it's an actual majority of MR posters, but like all of social media MR also draws in the malcontents who find meaning in their life complaining about minor things.

It's one thing to be a contrarian (and I am often such), it is another to simply hate for the sake of the emotional rush.

Spot-on. You nailed it. It's an empowering feel good rush.
 
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Happy birthday Apple. You have done way more good than bad and created some truly amazing products.

Let's celebrate you for the good - and there's so much of that - and hold you to account for the bad.
 
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