Apple(US:AAPL) The Economic Times·2026-02-22 20:59Core Insights - The essence of progress lies in action rather than regret, emphasizing the importance of focusing on future opportunities instead of past mistakes [1][10] - Companies can become complacent after a product's success, but challenging old ideas is crucial for innovation, as demonstrated by Jobs' leadership at Apple [2][10] Company History - Steve Jobs co-founded Apple in 1976 with Steve Wozniak, starting from a garage and achieving commercial success with the Apple II, leading to the company's public offering in 1980 [3][4] - Internal conflicts led to Jobs' departure from Apple in 1985, driven by his intense management style, which created tension within the leadership [5][10] - After leaving, Jobs founded NeXT and acquired Pixar, with Pixar achieving global success through films like Toy Story, while NeXT's technology later became significant for Apple [6][10] Product Development - Jobs' return to Apple in 1997 marked a pivotal moment, as he streamlined product lines and focused on branding, which revitalized the struggling company [6][10] - Under Jobs' leadership, Apple launched groundbreaking products such as the iMac, iPod, iTunes, and the iPhone in 2007, which transformed mobile device usage and set new industry standards [7][10] - The introduction of the iPad further expanded Apple's market reach, showcasing the effectiveness of Jobs' forward-thinking approach [8][10] Legacy - Steve Jobs passed away on October 5, 2011, but his philosophy of innovation and focus on future possibilities continues to influence the tech industry [9][10]