As part of its 50th anniversary celebration, Apple invited Ben Cohen from the Wall Street Journal to meet CEO Tim Cookat Apple Park.
Cohen and Cook examined rare archival material from Apple's early days, some of which was not even known to Cook himself. The CEO said he saw many of the devices for the first time while preparing for Apple's 50th anniversary.
Exhibits included the first patent filed by Apple, which was for the Apple II, the original iPod from 2001, early iPhone components and prototypes, the Apple Watch that Cook wore on stage when he announced the device, and more.
See also: Apple celebrates its 50th anniversary with an animated homepage
Tim Cook's favorite moment at Apple
According to Cook, the launch of the iPhone was his favorite moment at Apple. When asked why, he said it was because the phone was something everyone at Apple used every day.
“We were using the smartphone of the time, and it was such a bad experience. And I loved the fact that suddenly we had this touch interface, and it worked like your brain worked“.
Cook declined to talk about future products, but hinted that Apple's next big thing would be something that "lies at the intersection of hardware, software and services." Cook also declined to comment on rumors of his departure. "My answer to that is, when the day comes, I'll know," he said.
See also: Apple is preparing the 'Biggest Changes' in iPhone History
50 years of Apple
Apple celebrated its 50th anniversary with a Paul McCartney for employees. Yesterday, in addition to speaking with the Wall Street Journal, Tim Cook sent a touching letter to employees.
“Today is officially Apple’s 50th anniversary. And as we celebrate this milestone this month, I reflect on some important words from Steve: ‘When you grow up, you tend to be told that the world is the way it is,’ he said. “But life can be so much broader when you discover one simple fact: everything around you, which you call life, was created by people who were no smarter than you. You can change it, you can influence it, you can create your own things that other people can use. When you learn that, you’ll never be the same again.”
This is the ethos that brought Apple into the world in 1976 – and for fifty years, it is what has attracted the smartest, most passionate, most creative and most dedicated people to this company.
We come here to do the best work of our lives and to reach beyond what we could do on our own. To be part of a culture that asks us to remain curious, to collaborate deeply, to demand excellence from ourselves and those around us, and to believe – really believe – that we can do the impossible.
Across all our teams and across generations, we are united by a simple belief: the future is not something you wait for. It is something you create. And it is staggering to think about all that we have created together.
Fifty years ago, there was just one prototype computer in a garage. Today, there are 2.5 billion active Apple devices in the hands of people in every corner of the world – helping them create, communicate, learn and connect in ways that would have seemed unimaginable back then.
It's impossible to fully quantify the profound impact this company and its people have on the world. And it's truly special to do what we do every day knowing that our work is focused on empowering people and enriching their lives.
Whether you joined this year or have been here for decades, I hope you will take a moment to reflect on how important your work is. Thank you.
Thank you for pushing yourself further than you thought you could reach. Thank you for believing in our mission and holding fast to our values. Thank you for dedicating yourself to something so much bigger than any of us.
As wonderful as it is to reflect on the past fifty years, what excites me most is what comes next. The opportunities before us are some of the greatest we have ever seen – and there is no team in the world better positioned to meet them.
Thank you for everything and here's to the next fifty years“.
Apple also celebrated its 50th anniversary with a series of concerts and events around the world.
See also: Engineer adds Lightning port to iPhone 17 Pro
Overall, Apple’s 50th anniversary is not just a celebration of the past, but a reminder of its enduring ability to redefine the future of technology. Through the memories, iconic products, and words of both Tim Cook and the late Steve Jobs, a philosophy emerges that transcends devices: the belief that innovation is born when you dare to challenge the status quo. As Apple moves into its next chapter, its real challenge is not just to create the next great product, but to continue to inspire people around the world to think differently and actively shape their futures.
