This article is about the computer company. For other companies named "Apple", see Apple (disambiguation).
Apple Inc.
TypePublic (NASDAQ: AAPL)
S&P 500 Component
IndustryComputer hardware
Computer software
Consumer electronics
Digital distribution
PredecessorApple Computer, Inc. (January 9, 2007)
FoundedCupertino, California, U.S. (April 1, 1976)
Founder(s)Steve Jobs
Steve Wozniak
Ronald Wayne[1]
Headquarters1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, California, U.S.
Number of locations300 (August 2010)[2]
Area servedWorldwide
Key peopleSteve Jobs (Co-founder, Chairman, CEO)
Tim Cook (COO, acting CEO)
Peter Oppenheimer (CFO)
Bob Mansfield
(Mac and iPhone Hardware Engineering)
Jonathan Ive (Industrial Design)[3]
ProductsMac (Pro, Mini · iMac · MacBook, Air, Pro · Xserve),iPod (Shuffle, Nano, Classic, Touch),iPhone (Original · 3G · 3GS · 4),iPad, Apple TV, accessories,Mac OS X (Server), iLife, iWork, iOS
ServicesStores (retail, online, App, iTunes, iBooks)
MobileMe
Revenueincrease $65.23 billion (FY 2010)[4]
Profitincrease $14.01 billion (FY 2010)[4]
Total assetsincrease $75.18 billion (FY 2010)[4]
Total equityincrease $47.79 billion (FY 2010)[4]
Employees49,400 (2010)[4]
SubsidiariesBraeburn Capital, FileMaker Inc.
WebsiteApple.com

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL; previously Apple Computer, Inc.) is an American multinational corporation that designs and marketsconsumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad. Apple software includes the Mac OS X operating system; the iTunes media browser; the iLifesuite of multimedia and creativity software; the iWork suite of productivity software; Aperture, a professional photography package; Final Cut Studio, a suite of professional audio and film-industry software products; Logic Studio, a suite of music production tools; the Safari internet browser; and iOS, a mobile operating system. As of August 2010, the company operates 301 retail stores[5] in ten countries,[6] and an online store where hardware and software products are sold. As of May 2010, Apple is one of the largest companies in the world and the most valuable technology company in the world, having surpassed Microsoft.[7]

Established on April 1, 1976 in Cupertino, California, and incorporated January 3, 1977,[8] the company was previously named Apple Computer, Inc., for its first 30 years, but removed the word "Computer" on January 9, 2007,[9] to reflect the company's ongoing expansion into theconsumer electronics market in addition to its traditional focus on personal computers.[10] As of September 2010, Apple had 46,600 full time employees and 2,800 temporary full time employees worldwide[4] and had worldwide annual sales of $65.23 billion.[4]

For reasons as various as its philosophy of comprehensive aesthetic design to its distinctive advertising campaigns, Apple has established a unique reputation in the consumer electronics industry. This includes a customer base that is devoted to the company and its brand, particularly in the United States.[11] Fortune magazine named Apple the most admired company in the United States in 2008, and in the world in 2008, 2009, and 2010.[12][13][14] The company has also received widespread criticism for its contractors' labor, environmental, and business