35 Amazing Facts About Apple You Didn't Know
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Steve Jobs Cried When He Read The Time Magazine 1982 Man Of The Year
Steve Jobs was a candidate for Time Magazine's 1982 Man of the Year. The magazine even sent a reporter to interview him. However, there was another choice: the personal computer.
In the end, Time went with Machine of the Year. This marked the first time that the magazine gave an award to a non-human recipient. Planet Earth was the second non-human awardee in 1988.
No one told Jobs, so when he received the mail, he was shocked to see a computer instead of his photo. He went on to read the article about him, which he described as so awful that he cried.
Steve Jobs Cried When He Read The Time Magazine 1982 Man Of The Year
Steve Jobs was a candidate for Time Magazine's 1982 Man of the Year. The magazine even sent a reporter to interview him. However, there was another choice: the personal computer.
In the end, Time went with Machine of the Year. This marked the first time that the magazine gave an award to a non-human recipient. Planet Earth was the second non-human awardee in 1988.
No one told Jobs, so when he received the mail, he was shocked to see a computer instead of his photo. He went on to read the article about him, which he described as so awful that he cried.
The iPhone And iMac Always Show The Same Time
All iPhones after the first one always show 9:41 in advertisements and official photos, which can be clearly seen when it is on the lock screen. The same is true even for iPads and other iOS devices. Even at the homepage or in apps, the time 9:41 can be seen along the top.
This is because 9:41 is the time when Steve Jobs announced the first iPhone.
The time on Macs, including the iMac and MacBooks, can be a little bit harder to see, but they show the same time, though it was set to 10:50 during Jobs' era.
The Apple Watch Also Shows The Same Time
Following on that note, the hands on the Apple Watch are always pointing to 10:09. It's a minute short of 10:10, which is what can be commonly seen on watches. The reason that this is the case for watches is so that the hands are in the perfect position to frame the brand. Having them point to 1:20, for example, would cover up the logo. Setting them out of the way, on the other hand, isn't as appealing to buyers. But what about the iWatch?
Unlike the iPhone, this is not the time that it was revealed. There's seemingly no reason for the hands point to 10:09, but a theory suggests that Apple wants to show that it's a minute ahead.
Steve Jobs Iconic Black Turtleneck Look Is His Uniform
When people think of Steve Jobs, he is almost always wearing a black turtleneck. Apparently, he liked the style so much that his wardrobe consists of over 100 black long-sleeved turtlenecks.
However, his fashion taste is not the real reason why he has so many of the same item. He wanted Apple to have a uniform, which was inspired by Sony's culture in Japan. He asked the fashion designer who created the garb to make one for Apple, which employees didn't like at all.
He still liked the idea, though, so he asked Issey Miyake to go ahead and create some classic black turtlenecks. He received hundreds, which he commented was enough to last his lifetime.
Smoking Near An Apple Computer Might Invalidate The Warranty
Numerous reports indicated that Apple stores will not honor the warranty if they deem the computer to be contaminated, i.e. containing tar from smoking near it. Even if the owner has AppleCare, Apple would not repair the computer due to risks of second-hand smoke.
The issue in 2009 even escalated to Steve Jobs' office, which gave an explanation why Apple is refusing to work on any computer that it labels as a biohazard.
"Nicotine is on OSHA’s list of hazardous substances and Apple would not require an employee to repair anything deemed hazardous to their health," according to a complainant.
Apple Logo Was Inspired By Its Slogan
"Byte into an Apple" was the company's first slogan.
This then inspired the design of the current logo, which features a silver apple with part of it bitten off. However, it was more colorful when it was first designed by Rob Janoff in 1977. It was even dubbed the "rainbow apple" then.
He used multiple colors to commemorate the separation of light, which was an experiment of Isaac Newton that led to the current understanding of light and colors.
The logo stuck until today, but Apple did away with the colors at one point, specifically in 1998, when it was changed to an all-black color scheme.
The First Apple Logo Featured Isaac Newton
Apple's logo had not always been a bitten apple. The first logo was designed by Ronald Wayne, the other cofounder, in 1976.
The first iteration featured a detailed drawing of Isaac Newton sitting under an apple tree, from which an apple is about to fall on his head. The logo even had a scenery in the background and a book in Newton's hands.
Ribbon ornaments surround the picture frame, where the words "Apple Computer Co." were inscribed. On the edges of the frame itself was a quotation from Wordsworth.
"Newton ... a mind forever voyaging through strange seas of thought ... alone," the quote reads.
The company eventually deemed it too detailed to work on small prints, and so it was changed.
The Apple I Sold For $66666
The Apple I, the very first computer sold by the company in 1976, was hand-built by Steve Wozniak himself and came with a wooden shell. He later worked out the retail price to be $667, which was a third over the wholesale price of $500. He changed it to $666.66 because he liked repeating numbers and it was "easier" to write.
He did not realize the satanic connotations of the number at that time. Nevertheless, it continued to sell for that price until April 1977, when Apple dropped the price to $475 in time for the release of Apple II. In October 1977, the computer was officially discontinued.
The iPod Almost When To Philips
Tony Fadell, the father of the iPod, started having ideas for a portable hardware when he was working at General Magic. When it failed, he tried to take his ideas to Philips Electronic and RealNetworks, both of which turned him down.
The reason? They couldn't see a future in it.
He then took it to Apple. Steve Jobs supported Fadell's endeavor of creating a portable music device that's PC-compatible as well. Together with his team, he created 18 versions of what is known today as the iPod, the "Walkman of the 21st century." The team only developed it for a year before it was officially unveiled in October 2001.
The iPhone Was Codenamed M68
The iPhone was understandably a super-secret project that even those who worked on it did not fully know the end product until it was unveiled. Those who were working on the hardware were kept separate from those working on the software.
They were also invited to meetings secretly, and they were trained to attend them quietly. During the development of the iPhone, employees simply referred to it as the M68 when talking about it in the office. Of course, someone will eventually hear of it and ask what M68 is, so they also had to keep an eye out for those who were curious.
The iPod Was Almost Not White In Color
Jonathan Ive was a fan of white even before he came to Apple, but Steve Jobs was not. After leading the team who designed the iMac in 1998, he went on to design the iPod, which, of course, was white in color.
Steve Jobs wasn't too keen on having white as the primary color of Apple's products at first. However, Ive was able to convince him when he was shown a shade called "moon grey." Apple eventually offered a black option in 2005 with the fifth generation. It wasn't until 2007 when the sixth-generation iPod was released in silver, replacing the "iPod white" color.
Apple Is Called Apple Because Steve Jobs Is Fond Of The Fruit
Apple's name origin wasn't too complex. Steve Jobs simply liked the fruit too much that he decided to name his company after it. According to his biography, Jobs was a fruitarian at the time and only ate fruit. He came up with the name after having gone to an apple orchard. The name, to him, sounded fun and spirited.
Jobs then suggested it to Steve Wozniak, who claimed that after it was suggested, they couldn't come up with a better name. Apple Computer sounded much better, and so they stuck with it. It didn't have to do anything with Apple Records, the label owned by the Beatles.
Macintosh Is A Type Of Apple
Apple launched many products before the Macintosh, which eventually spelled Apple's ultra-successful line of computers today. It was in 1984 when the company ditched the Apple branding of its computers, after Apple III, to use the name Macintosh.
The new name did not stray away from the theme, however, as it was named after a variety of Apple. The Mcintosh, or Mac as it is colloquially called in Canada, was the favorite Apple Jef Raskin, the computer scientist that started the Macintosh project. There was clearly something in the name that stuck, or it was Raskin's vision of creating an easy-to-use computer.
Apple Tried To Take On PlayStation
Apple had lots of failed products in its time, and that includes the huge mistake called Pippin. The company collaborated with Bandai to create 100,000 units of a console that also works as a network computer. It ran on Mac OS 7, which required the controller to have a mouse trackball.
Its poor performance contributed to the low sales of 42,000 units in its lifetime, which isn't that long, as it was discontinued within a year. It didn't help that it cost $600, while its much more powerful rivals were cheaper, such as the original PlayStation that sold for $300. At the time, $600 had the buying power of a little less than $1,000 today.
Apple Has A Crew Of Carpenters
When Apple is working on a new product, it makes everyone swear to maximum secrecy. That's why it goes the extra mile to hire a team of carpenters that will build enclosures around the employees' desks.
The carpenters finish the job quickly: walls are built, security doors are installed, and windows are frosted. Sometimes, there's not even a single window at all. This is called a lockdown room, where everything that should stay in, stays in.
This is a regular occurrence that when this happens, employees would know that Apple is working on something new. After the carpenters have finished their job, everyone would go about their usual routine.
Steve Wozniak Is Still An Apple Employee
After four decades, cofounder Steve Wozniak is technically still an Apple employee, as he's still included in the payroll.
"I'm the only person who's been on the payroll since day one," he said at a panel in the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California.
According to him, he still reports to Steve Jobs. Since his cofounder died in 2011, no one else can't fire him. Even so, he claims that what he receives is a small amount compared to what he was earning when he was still an executive. Today, it's estimated that he receives about $120,000 worth of stipend a year.
Steve Jobs Tried To Ride On A Space Shuttle
When Steve Jobs was exiled from Apple, which will be discussed in item number 34, he wandered around getting depressed and wondering what went wrong with the company. At some point, he applied to be on the space shuttle as a civilian. His girlfriend at the time was even worried that he might be suicidal.
That space shuttle he was trying to ride was rumored to be the Challenger in 1986, which killed the seven crew members it was carrying 73 seconds after launching. The civilian that was chosen instead of Jobs was a teacher named Christa McAuliffe. Fortunately for Apple, that didn't work out for its cofounder.
Apple Didn't Start In A Garage
Fans would rather hear that Apple was founded in a garage like rock bands, but it wasn't so. It's a common misconception, but Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs started the company in a more comfortable location: Jobs' bedroom.
This is where Jobs did most of the work: the business, getting parts, marketing, sales, and more. According to Woz, they only ever brought the finished products to the garage with all the designing taking place somewhere else. The garage only had a bench, which was only needed for checking if the boards work. After that, they will drive the products to the store.
Apple Being Founded In April Fool's Day Is Murky
Fans may have heard at one point that Apple's anniversary is on April 1, but cofounder Steve Wozniak doesn't believe so. Apparently, they filed a partnership on that date in 1976, which was different from the corporation they filed days later. The partnership included Ron Wayne, who backed out before the company even became official.
Technically, the Apple today didn't start on April 1, but it's essentially the same company. The only differences are the legal title and the removal of Wayne's name. So as Woz describes it, it's murky. Nonetheless, the industry still considers April Fool's Day as Apple's real Day One and celebrates its anniversary on that day.
Tim Cook Randomly Eats Lunch With Employees
Current Apple CEO Tim Cook is the type to work out at another gym to avoid his coworkers. He avoided personal dealings with anyone, and he often ate out alone during lunchtime.
However, as CEO, he made a point to randomly sit down in the cafeteria and eat with his employees. It's unknown whether he was trying to be an approachable CEO or if just liked eating with someone at some points.
At least that's one thing that Steve Jobs wasn't able to do when he was the CEO. Jobs generally liked eating with Jonathan Ive, Apple's chief design officer, at lunch.
Apple's HQ Has A Secret Packaging Room
Apple is obsessed with everything, and that includes the packaging of the phone. Many might have noticed the premium feel of opening a new iPhone, for example. If they liked it, they have the secret packaging designers team to thank.
These designers operate in a supposedly secret room. They spend hours opening boxes, trying to find the right design that will elicit the type of emotional response they're looking for.
In Adam Lashinsky's book "Inside Apple," he described the level of obsession each designer has.
"One after another, the designer created and tested an endless series of arrows, colors, and tapes for a tiny tab designed to show the consumer where to pull back the invisible, full-bleed sticker adhered to the top of the clear iPod box," he wrote.
The Idea Of A Touchscreen Tablet Precedes The iPhone Launch
The original iPhone was released in 2007, but three years prior, Apple already filed a patent for a touchscreen tablet. According to Steve Jobs' biography by Walter Isaacson, he became motivated to create his own after getting sick of all the bragging of a Microsoft engineer about the tablet PC.
However, Jonathan Ive claims that the interface had been in the works even before Jobs had any input. His team used the work they had done on multi-touch trackpads to develop the interface.
Microsoft's tablet PCs didn't turn out much when it was released in 2002, but the iPad became an instant hit when it was released in 2010.
Steve Jobs Recruited CEO Of Then-PepsiCo
John Sculley was a former CEO of Apple, but before that, he was the CEO of a beverage company that was then called the PepsiCo. It was Steve Jobs who recruited him, who was described by Sculley as the best recruiter he ever met.
It only took two questions for Sculley to jump ship.
"Do you want to sell sugar water for the rest of your life? Or do you want to come with me and change the world?" Jobs asked Sculley.
Jobs also went after other top talents, particularly in the tech industry. It didn't always work out, Sculley noted, but that didn't stop him from trying nonetheless.
Apple Gets Its iPhone And iPad Supplies From Its Rivals
Apple's products are always pitted against the South Korean company Samsung, which is perhaps its biggest rival in the mobile scene. However, Samsung is actually one of Apple's biggest suppliers, with the other one being LG, another South Korean tech company.
This year alone, Samsung will be the primary supplier for the OLED panels of the 5.8-inch iPhone X. Meanwhile, LG will supply the OLED panels for the rumored 6.5-inch Plus variant.
It's not actually a surprise, as these companies have their own branches dedicated to manufacturing displays for other companies. One of their customers just happened to be Apple.
Steve Jobs Bought Pixar Then Sold It To Disney
At one point, Steve Jobs tried to convince Apple to buy Pixar, but that was the time when he wasn't in good terms with the board. He bought it still but without Apple.
At the time in 1986, it was Lucasfilm's computer graphics division that Jobs acquired. He later renamed it to Pixar Animation Studios and remained as its CEO until he sold it to The Walt Disney Company.
He bought the division for $10 million, but when he sold it off, he allegedly got $7.4 billion out of the deal. This includes Disney shares via share-swap and a seat at the board.
Apple Only Has 8 Board Of Directors
Apple is a big name in the industry, yet while everyone expects it to have a large board of directors, it keeps the circle tight by only having eight board of directors. This places it on the lower end of the spectrum.
Currently, the board of directors consists of Tim Cook as CEO, Arthur D. Levinson PhD as chairman of the board, James A. Bell, Albert Gore Jr., Robert A. Iger, Andrea Jung, Ronald D. Sugar, Ph. D, and Susan L. Wagner.
Most of these might ring a bell, such as Gore Jr., who previously served as the vice president of the United States.
Steve Wozniak Illegally Created The 'Blue Box' With Steve Jobs
Sixteen-year-old Steve Wozniak met Steve Jobs when the latter was 21 years old. Since then, they tweaked and created a lot of electronic gadgets together, but they weren't always playing by the rules. In fact, they were quite the prankster.
At one point, they created the first digital "blue box," which allowed them to make calls on public phones for free. This was illegal, of course, but that didn't stop them from selling these boxes.
It was apparently Jobs' idea to sell these. He was later quoted as saying that there wouldn't be an Apple if it weren't for the blue boxes.
Tim Cook Is Calm Yet Devastating
Tim Cook was not one to grill his employees with colorful words. Rather, he will repeat the question over and over until he receives a satisfactory answer. He also likes staring too, waiting for the right answer to come out of the employees' mouth.
"Your numbers make me want to jump out that window over there," he reportedly said in a calm manner to a planner on one occasion.
He can also make an executive book a flight to China from California in an instant. During a discussion about a problem in Asia, he commented that the executive should be there instead to fix the problem. About 30 minutes later, he calmly asked why the executive was still there.
John Appleseed Is Believed To Be Inspired By A Real Person
John Appleseed is sort of like Apple's mascot having appeared at demos of the iPhone and other products. The name sounds like what one would expect from an imaginary character from Apple, but it is actually based on a real historical person.
Johnny Appleseed was a semi-nomadic man who planted apple seeds across America, hence his name. His real name was John Chapman, who was a businessman merely trying to sell the nurseries, not someone who was spreading the seeds just to see trees grow.
However, the real reason he was loved was that the apples were primarily for hard cider. He was bringing alcohol, which made him welcome everywhere.
Apple Ships Its Products Worldwide By Air
Anyone who has tried shipping a product overseas would know that it's cheaper by sea than air. The same would be true on a large scale, but Apple strictly delivers all its products worldwide by air.
Why? Because it's actually cheaper when the time is included in the equation.
If Apple chooses to send its products by a boat, it will take 30 days for the stocks to arrive at the destination. Meanwhile, a plane can accomplish that in 15 hours. Furthermore, this ensures that the products will arrive safely because it only takes a few hours in 30 days for the whole ship to go down.
Apple Products Official Photos Are Not Computer-Generated
Product shots that a consumer sees on advertisements are usually generated by a computer. This way, the product looks polished and more attractive.
Apple's not one of the companies who do this, however. This means that the photos on its advertisements and even the website are of the
actual products.
Instead, they take hundreds of high-resolution close-up pictures with narrow depths of field. They then blend these together in a way that's similar to how HDR achieves the end result by blending photos with different exposures. Both ways result in a high-resolution image that looks flawless and perhaps more appealing as a computer-generated image.
Steve Wozniak Was Previously Involved In A Plane Crash
Steve Wozniak once lost control of a single-engine plane in 1981, which resulted in many passengers getting injured. One of those injured was himself, who suffered a form of memory loss following the crash.
He couldn't remember the crash and some of his daily life. He later recovered and credited his recovery to using logical thought processes. Because of the event, he was out of the Macintosh project most of the time. According to him, he only made a small contribution, which included throwing around ideas. He said he also made a small technical contribution by working on a bit-slice processor design.
Steve Jobs Got Fired Before Coming Back To Save Apple
Steve Jobs was a cofounder, but that didn't stop John Sculley from taking over when he needed to. When Jobs-led Apple released the Lisa computer, it didn't receive much recognition. The Macintosh followed and did a little better on the market. Still, that wasn't enough to convince the board the Jobs was doing a good job.
Jobs was moved away from the Macintosh project, which eventually led to him being fired or him leaving, whichever version was the truth. Apple did great for the most part after his departure, while Jobs founded NeXT, but both didn't last long.
After a series of wrong decisions, Apple eventually accepted Jobs back as interim CEO. At the time, he made peace with his rival Bill Gates, who made a sizable $150 million investment. The iMac was then released in 1998, which was the start of Apple's turnaround. Two years after, Jobs became the full-fledged CEO and steered the company in the direction it went today.
Steve Jobs Last Word Was 'Wow'
Steve Jobs died at age 56 of pancreatic cancer. Before that, he spent his time alive trying to shape the future of technology and doing speeches, from which he was often quoted.
In his last minutes on Earth, however, he was left with two syllables that he repeated three times. According to his sister, Mona Simpson, he looked at his family before he breathed his last breath.
"Before embarking, he'd looked at his sister Patty, then for a long time at his children, then at his life's partner, Laurene, and then over their shoulders past them," she said.
"Steve's final words were: 'Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow.'"
