I have the current version and the initial proposal for reference. I was going to paste the proposal over the old version but we'd lose all the citations, and the jury is still out on whether we need them or not, so my idea was to merge the ideas of the proposal into the current version, copied under Communal draft. That's the one we can all work on. Hopefully this is useful, HereToHelp (talk to me) 13:14, 27 August 2010 (UTC)
Current version
editApple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL; previously Apple Computer, Inc.) is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad. Apple software includes the Mac OS X operating system; the iTunes media browser; the iLife suite 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 and its iOS Mobile Operating System. As of August 2010, the company operates 300 retail stores[1] in ten countries,[2] and an online store where hardware and software products are sold.
Established on April 1, 1976 in Cupertino, California, and incorporated January 3, 1977,[3] the company was previously named Apple Computer, Inc., for its first 30 years, but removed the word "Computer" on January 9, 2007,[4] to reflect the company's ongoing expansion into the consumer electronics market in addition to its traditional focus on personal computers.[5] As of September 26, 2009, Apple had 34,300 full time employees and 2,500 temporary full time employees worldwide[6] and had worldwide annual sales of $42.91 billion in its fiscal year ending September 26, 2009.[7]
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.[8] Fortune magazine named Apple the most admired company in the United States in 2008, and in the world in 2008, 2009, and 2010.[9][10][11] The company has also received widespread criticism for its labor, environmental, and business practices.[12][13]
Ryan Norton's proposal
editApple Inc. is a public multinational corporation headquartered in Cupertino, California that designs, markets, and produces consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. Established on April 1, 1976 and incorporated January 3, 1977 as "Apple Computer, Inc.", the company rose to prominance in the late 1980s with its Macintosh line of personal computers and associated Mac OS operating system. Later, Apple would dominate the digital music player market with the iPod as well as establish footholds in other related markets with the iPhone and iPad, although it would come under fire for its labor practices when reports of possible child labor and poor working conditions in its outsourced manufacturing surfaced.
The company also produces various types of software such as the iTunes media browser, the iWork suite of productivity software, the Aperture professional photography package, and the Final Cut Studio suite of professional audio and film-industry software products. A chain of retail stores and corresponding online store is also ran by the company, under the Apple Store brand. It is known for being one of the companies bucking the traditional corporate culture of the 1970s, such as formal attire. Over the years Apple has received criticism for the vertical integration of its products, having limited compatability in general with non-Apple products.
For reasons as various as its philosophy of comprehensive aesthetic industrial design to its distinctive advertising campaigns, Apple has established a unique reputation in the consumer electronics industry, including a customer base that is unusually devoted to the company and its brand. The advertising compaigns launched various musicians into stardom; some of more well-known campaigns include the 1984 Super Bowl commercial and the 'Get a Mac' campaign, the latter of which drew criticism for potentially misleading statements. Apple has a mixed environmental record, especially in comparison with other electronics companies.
Communal draft
editApple Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL) is an American public multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad. Apple software includes the Mac OS X operating system; the iTunes media browser; the iLife suite 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 and its iOS Mobile Operating System. As of August 2010, the company operates 300 retail stores[1] in ten countries,[2] and an online store where hardware and software products are sold.
Established on April 1, 1976 in Cupertino, California, and incorporated January 3, 1977,[3] the company was previously named Apple Computer, Inc., for its first 30 years, but removed the word "Computer" on January 9, 2007,[14] to reflect the company's ongoing expansion into the consumer electronics market in addition to its traditional focus on personal computers.[15] As of September 26, 2009, Apple had 34,300 full time employees and 2,500 temporary full time employees worldwide[6] and had worldwide annual sales of $42.91 billion in its fiscal year ending September 26, 2009.[7]
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.[16] Fortune magazine named Apple the most admired company in the United States in 2008, and in the world in 2008, 2009, and 2010.[17][18][19] The company has also received widespread criticism for its labor, environmental, and business practices.[12][13]
- ^ a b "Macworld UK – Grand opening of Apple's 300th retail store brings Covent Garden to a standstill". Macworld UK. Retrieved August 7, 2010.
- ^ a b "Apple Store—Store List". Apple Inc. Retrieved August 7, 2010.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
orgincprwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Form 8-K SEC Filing" (PDF). January 10, 2007. Retrieved December 8, 2007.
- ^ Markoff, John (January 9, 2007). "New Mobile Phone Signals Apple's Ambition". The New York Times. Retrieved January 9, 2007.
- ^ a b "phx.corporate-ir.net/External.File?item=UGFyZW50SUQ9MTg1OTB8Q2 hpbGRJRD0tMXxUeXBlPTM=&t=1".
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
AppleRevisedQuarterlySales100125was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Apple, Google tops in loyalty survey". MacNN. July 11, 2006. Retrieved August 18, 2008.
- ^ Fisher, Anne (March 17, 2008). "America's Most Admired Companies". Fortune. 157 (5): 65–67.
{{cite journal}}: More than one of|work=and|journal=specified (help) - ^ Colvin, Geoff (March 16, 2009). "The World's Most Admired Companies 2009". Fortune. 159 (5): 76.
- ^ "World's Most Admired Companies". Fortune. March 2010. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
{{cite journal}}: More than one of|work=and|journal=specified (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
wpsweatshopwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
iwclimatewas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Form 8-K SEC Filing" (PDF). January 10, 2007. Retrieved December 8, 2007.
- ^ Markoff, John (January 9, 2007). "New Mobile Phone Signals Apple's Ambition". The New York Times. Retrieved January 9, 2007.
- ^ "Apple, Google tops in loyalty survey". MacNN. July 11, 2006. Retrieved August 18, 2008.
- ^ Fisher, Anne (March 17, 2008). "America's Most Admired Companies". Fortune. 157 (5): 65–67.
{{cite journal}}: More than one of|work=and|journal=specified (help) - ^ Colvin, Geoff (March 16, 2009). "The World's Most Admired Companies 2009". Fortune. 159 (5): 76.
- ^ "World's Most Admired Companies". Fortune. March 2010. Retrieved March 7, 2010.
{{cite journal}}: More than one of|work=and|journal=specified (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)