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17 incredible facts you probably didn't know about Apple

Apple was founded on April 1st, or April Fool's Day, in 1976. It wasn't until 2011's posthumous biography "Steve Jobs" that we found out where it got its name: Turns out, Steve Jobs had been on a "fruitarian" kick and just really liked apples.

17 incredible facts you probably didn't know about Apple

Apple had a third cofounder named Ronald Wayne, who left the company less than a year later in 1977. Wayne designed the company's very first logo, seen here. He ended up selling Jobs and Wozniak his stake in Apple for $800.

Apple had a third cofounder named Ronald Wayne, who left the company less than a year later in 1977. Wayne designed the company

Apple's first computer, the Apple 1, was actually a "do-it-yourself" kit that required people to build their own case. It retailed for an extremely devilish $666.66.

Apple

If you had bought 100 shares of Apple stock for $22 each at its 1982 IPO, it would be worth around $600,000 today — before dividends.

If you had bought 100 shares of Apple stock for $22 each at its 1982 IPO, it would be worth around $600,000 today — before dividends.

Those calculations come from Forbes.

In the early eighties, Steve Jobs led the design of the Apple Lisa, the first computer with a graphical user interface. It flopped due to its high price.

In the early eighties, Steve Jobs led the design of the Apple Lisa, the first computer with a graphical user interface. It flopped due to its high price.

Apple's famous "1984" commercial introducing the first Macintosh computer, which aired at January 1984's Super Bowl XVIII, was directed by Ridley Scott — the same man who also directed "Alien," "Blade Runner," and "The Martian."

Apple

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The rivalry between Steve Jobs and Bill Gates began in 1983, when Microsoft bailed on making Macintosh software after it revealed its own Microsoft Windows operating system — a direct competitor to the Mac.

The rivalry between Steve Jobs and Bill Gates began in 1983, when Microsoft bailed on making Macintosh software after it revealed its own Microsoft Windows operating system — a direct competitor to the Mac.

In 1985, Steve Jobs tried to rally Apple's board to oust Apple CEO John Sculley. Instead, the board voted to strip Jobs of all of his responsibility. Jobs ended up quitting to start his own company, NeXT.

In 1985, Steve Jobs tried to rally Apple

In the eighties and nineties, facing continually shrinking Mac sales, Apple tried making everything from digital cameras, like the Apple QuickTake...

In the eighties and nineties, facing continually shrinking Mac sales, Apple tried making everything from digital cameras, like the Apple QuickTake...

...to video game consoles, like the Apple Pippin...

...to video game consoles, like the Apple Pippin...

...to clothing lines. Seriously.

...to clothing lines. Seriously.

When Steve Jobs came back to Apple as CEO in 1997, the company was in such bad shape that his first Macworld keynote included the news that Microsoft was investing $150 million in the company — delivered by a gigantic video of Bill Gates towering over the assembly. "We need all the help we can get," Jobs said, to boos from the audience.

When Steve Jobs came back to Apple as CEO in 1997, the company was in such bad shape that his first Macworld keynote included the news that Microsoft was investing $150 million in the company — delivered by a gigantic video of Bill Gates towering over the assembly. "We need all the help we can get," Jobs said, to boos from the audience.

In fact, by 1997, Apple's financial situation was so dire that Dell CEO and founder Michael Dell, one of Microsoft's biggest partners, once said that if he were in Jobs' shoes, he'd "shut it down and give the money back to the shareholders."

In fact, by 1997, Apple

But in early 1998, at yet another Macworld Expo in San Francisco, Jobs ended his keynote with the first of his soon-to-be ubiquitous "One More Thing" announcements: Thanks to Jobs' efforts in refocusing the company on the Mac, and Microsoft's help, Apple was finally profitable again.

But in early 1998, at yet another Macworld Expo in San Francisco, Jobs ended his keynote with the first of his soon-to-be ubiquitous "One More Thing" announcements: Thanks to Jobs

One of Jobs' first acts as CEO was to ban pets on the Apple campus. In return, he gave employees much better food in the cafe.

One of Jobs

The "i" in 1998's "iMac" is for "Internet." since it originally took only two steps to connect to the web, in case you were wondering. But Apple has also said it stands for "individuality" and "innovation." The naming scheme would stick around through the iPhone and iPad.

The "i" in 1998

In 2011, Apple made waves when it came out that it had more cash in the bank than the US treasury.

In 2011, Apple made waves when it came out that it had more cash in the bank than the US treasury.

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