Apple Computer Inc. is no more. This week, along with the announcement of their new "iPhone" gadget, the growing and diversifying company decided to shed the "computer" part of it's corporate title. This should better reflect the ways in which Apple Inc (it's new name) is positioning itself not only in the competetive personal computer market, but in the music, communication and other fields as well.
And in my opinion, Apple has done a brilliant job in "reinventing" itself. It seemed, about a decade ago, that Apple would soon be amongst the bulk of "dotcom" busts as the windows based "PC " format of the personal computer began to squeeze Apple out of the market.
But with the return of Steve Jobs and a brilliant marketing plan, Apple seems to be poised to be a dominant business force in the coming years. In fact, analysts like Jim Cramer say that Apple should be amongst the handful of "must own" stocks.
Apple's popularity over the last decade has been boosted in the computer realm with built in programs like "iLife" which has revolutionized the way we use computers. The "Garageband" portion of the software alone, which allows users to enjoy nearly professional level of home recording for musicians and even non musicians alike, has been especially popular causing the entire home recording industry on the other side to respond with many imitators. Unfortunately, none of them share garageband's intuitiveness and ease of use, tho some more "professional" level software programs have been developed like Pro Tools and Ableton's "Live" series of software.
"iLife" also allows many other useful functions like making slicker than usual home movies, slide shows and other multi media presentations without being a programmer or a computer ace.
Then came the iPod. The iPod is no less revolutionary product than the walkman was for Sony. In fact, Apple has enjoyed even greater brand loyalty than Sony did utilizing the combination of iPods with their "iTunes" online service which has done for downloading what the 45rpm single did for rock and roll. Of course Microsoft has tried to duplicate Apple's success only to fall flat on it's face with their mp3 player and downloading service.
Indeed, the Apple brand is worth it's weight in gold a decade after many had written them off. It may be that this is an Apple world and we are merely living in it. Only time will tell. With the shedding of it's "computer" monicker, Apple seems poised to lead, rather than follow others into the rest of the 21st century.