Year in review: Apple sings a new tune
The computer maker saw its focus move from Macs to music as iPod mania continued.
Apple sings a new tune
It's the iPod, stupid.
Apple Computer, which rolled the dice three years ago with a hand-size MP3 player the size of a deck of cards, came up boxcars.
This year, Apple was largely doubling down on the bet it made in 2001. At Macworld Expo in January, Apple took the iPod and made it a mini.
Sales of the iPod rivaled those of the Mac for much of the year, before ultimately dwarfing those of the Mac in the October quarter, at least in number of units sold. Expectations for holiday sales grew into the millions as the iPod topped Christmas wish lists.
Apple also expanded its iTunes Music Store--first to England, Germany and France, then to most of the rest of Europe and eventually to Canada. Canadians had to wait, but they wound up paying barely half of what the Brits do for songs bought through iTunes.
Apple's iTunes store was so popular, the company found that even silence could sell for 99 cents. It was so popular that Jobs felt compelled to rebuff calls from RealNetworks and others to open things up. About the only thing Apple discovered it couldn't do right was give away music.
Even as Apple enjoyed the profitable sounds coming from its music efforts, the company didn't ignore the Mac.
The Panther operating system remained the top cat for 2004, though Apple did announce that it was expecting its baby Tiger to arrive next year, with enhanced search the main new trick. Apple also said the new cats may be a little slower in arriving after a recent spate of kittens.
Most notably on the hardware side, Apple unveiled a replacement for its desk-lamp iMac. The G5 iMac came a little later than Apple would have liked but won plaudits for its power and small size.
Although Apple shares struck a sour chord after the iMac delay, the stock hit new high notes during the second half of the year, topping $50 a share in October, soaring above $60 by November and flirting with $70 in December.
The only big jolt to the Mac world came in August, when Jobs announced that he had undergone surgery for pancreatic cancer. But, in typical Jobsian fashion, he used the e-mail he sent from his hospital room to plug the PowerBook and was back on the job by September.
Some concerns did emerge that Apple's success with the iPod and iTunes could prove fleeting unless the company partnered more. Apple did make some moves in that direction, allowing HP to sell a version of the iPod and crafting a deal with Motorola to include a slimmed-down version of iTunes on forthcoming cell phones.
--Ina Fried
Apple unveils smaller iPod, new software
Steve Jobs previews a smaller, less-expensive iPod, as well as software including Microsoft Office 2004 and the 'GarageBand' audio recording application.January 6, 2004
Apple continues modest move into clusters
Not known for high-performance computers, Apple saw a cluster of Macs leap into the upper reaches of the supercomputing realm last year. Its ambitions, however, remain humble.January 7, 2004
Apple's diplomatic core
As the Macintosh celebrates its 20th anniversary, the iPod may define the company's new era of an open strategy.January 23, 2004
Crank it! iTunes sells sounds of silence--for real
Nevermind the Simon & Garfunkel chestnut. Now, thanks to Apple Computer's online music store, you can download the genuine article for a mere 99 cents.February 5, 2004
Apple's Jobs nixes iPod partnerships
Apple Computer CEO Steve Jobs publicly dismisses an overture from RealNetworks to allow Apple's popular digital music player to work with music services other than iTunes.April 22, 2004
iTunes ushers in a year of change
One year after its launch, Apple's song store has changed the way the music industry views online distribution--and the way Americans buy music.April 26, 2004
Apple to slow pace of Mac OS X tweaks
Apple Computer plans to continue rapidly bringing out new versions of the operating system, but it won't continue at quite the pace it's maintained in recent years.May 18, 2004
For Mac security, communication is key
Apple's operating system has seen fewer bugs than Windows, but some say a recent flaw shows the tight-lipped company must communicate better on security and move faster to fix holes.June 3, 2004
For Apple's Tiger, the keyword is search
The upcoming operating system is designed to let Mac users quickly find any file--and to beat Microsoft to the punch.June 28, 2004
Apple delays new iMac
All-new machine won't be available until September, well after stock of current model runs out.July 1, 2004
Dimmer fades on desk-lamp iMac
It may have been "flat-out cool," but "flat" had also begun to describe sales of the just-discontinued second-generation iMac.July 2, 2004
Jobs has surgery for cancer
After having a cancerous tumor removed, Apple's CEO tells employees he expects to return to work in September.August 1, 2004
New iMac tries to play it cool
Hot G5 chip requires some serious effort to avoid overheating in all-in-one desktop design.August 31, 2004
Apple vs. Apple: Perfect harmony?
Can Steve Jobs turn around a tough legal problem and get his beloved Beatles in an iTunes exclusive?September 23, 2004
Apple whistles a happy iTunes
This week's earnings report is expected to shed light on the impact of iTunes for Windows, which launched one year ago.October 13, 2004
Apple sings a new tune
It's the iPod, stupid.
Apple Computer, which rolled the dice three years ago with a hand-size MP3 player the size of a deck of cards, came up boxcars.
This year, Apple was largely doubling down on the bet it made in 2001. At Macworld Expo in January, Apple took the iPod and made it a mini.
Sales of the iPod rivaled those of the Mac for much of the year, before ultimately dwarfing those of the Mac in the October quarter, at least in number of units sold. Expectations for holiday sales grew into the millions as the iPod topped Christmas wish lists.
Apple also expanded its iTunes Music Store--first to England, Germany and France, then to most of the rest of Europe and eventually to Canada. Canadians had to wait, but they wound up paying barely half of what the Brits do for songs bought through iTunes.
Apple's iTunes store was so popular, the company found that even silence could sell for 99 cents. It was so popular that Jobs felt compelled to rebuff calls from RealNetworks and others to open things up. About the only thing Apple discovered it couldn't do right was give away music.
Even as Apple enjoyed the profitable sounds coming from its music efforts, the company didn't ignore the Mac.
The Panther operating system remained the top cat for 2004, though Apple did announce that it was expecting its baby Tiger to arrive next year, with enhanced search the main new trick. Apple also said the new cats may be a little slower in arriving after a recent spate of kittens.
Most notably on the hardware side, Apple unveiled a replacement for its desk-lamp iMac. The G5 iMac came a little later than Apple would have liked but won plaudits for its power and small size.
Although Apple shares struck a sour chord after the iMac delay, the stock hit new high notes during the second half of the year, topping $50 a share in October, soaring above $60 by November and flirting with $70 in December.
The only big jolt to the Mac world came in August, when Jobs announced that he had undergone surgery for pancreatic cancer. But, in typical Jobsian fashion, he used the e-mail he sent from his hospital room to plug the PowerBook and was back on the job by September.
Some concerns did emerge that Apple's success with the iPod and iTunes could prove fleeting unless the company partnered more. Apple did make some moves in that direction, allowing HP to sell a version of the iPod and crafting a deal with Motorola to include a slimmed-down version of iTunes on forthcoming cell phones.
--Ina Fried
Apple unveils smaller iPod, new software
Steve Jobs previews a smaller, less-expensive iPod, as well as software including Microsoft Office 2004 and the 'GarageBand' audio recording application.January 6, 2004
Apple continues modest move into clusters
Not known for high-performance computers, Apple saw a cluster of Macs leap into the upper reaches of the supercomputing realm last year. Its ambitions, however, remain humble.January 7, 2004
Apple's diplomatic core
As the Macintosh celebrates its 20th anniversary, the iPod may define the company's new era of an open strategy.January 23, 2004
Crank it! iTunes sells sounds of silence--for real
Nevermind the Simon & Garfunkel chestnut. Now, thanks to Apple Computer's online music store, you can download the genuine article for a mere 99 cents.February 5, 2004
Apple's Jobs nixes iPod partnerships
Apple Computer CEO Steve Jobs publicly dismisses an overture from RealNetworks to allow Apple's popular digital music player to work with music services other than iTunes.April 22, 2004
iTunes ushers in a year of change
One year after its launch, Apple's song store has changed the way the music industry views online distribution--and the way Americans buy music.April 26, 2004
Apple to slow pace of Mac OS X tweaks
Apple Computer plans to continue rapidly bringing out new versions of the operating system, but it won't continue at quite the pace it's maintained in recent years.May 18, 2004
For Mac security, communication is key
Apple's operating system has seen fewer bugs than Windows, but some say a recent flaw shows the tight-lipped company must communicate better on security and move faster to fix holes.June 3, 2004
For Apple's Tiger, the keyword is search
The upcoming operating system is designed to let Mac users quickly find any file--and to beat Microsoft to the punch.June 28, 2004
Apple delays new iMac
All-new machine won't be available until September, well after stock of current model runs out.July 1, 2004
Dimmer fades on desk-lamp iMac
It may have been "flat-out cool," but "flat" had also begun to describe sales of the just-discontinued second-generation iMac.July 2, 2004
Jobs has surgery for cancer
After having a cancerous tumor removed, Apple's CEO tells employees he expects to return to work in September.August 1, 2004
New iMac tries to play it cool
Hot G5 chip requires some serious effort to avoid overheating in all-in-one desktop design.August 31, 2004
Apple vs. Apple: Perfect harmony?
Can Steve Jobs turn around a tough legal problem and get his beloved Beatles in an iTunes exclusive?September 23, 2004
Apple whistles a happy iTunes
This week's earnings report is expected to shed light on the impact of iTunes for Windows, which launched one year ago.October 13, 2004