*January/February*
Apple started the year off right by introducing a game-changing product that was an instant hit. The iPad was introduced by Steve Jobs, and while the name was universally critiqued, it seems natural now as millions have been sold.
Demand outstripped supply from the very start, and tens of thousands of innovative apps made the iPad a useful tool right out of the gate. I used it while traveling to China shortly after it became available and left my Mac at home. Hey, this product was so popular that my 90-year old mom had her doctor write me a prescription for an iPad for her (of course, Hapy and I filled that!).
While it is big news, Apple’s financial results were also historic and record-breaking! They sold 3.4 million Macs, 8.7 million iPhones and 21 million iPods!
*March/April*
iPads started shipping and selling as fast as we could get them in the door. Apple posted record earnings again with the best non-holiday quarterly results ever.
Apple not only makes the most exciting and innovative products on the planet, but also has one of the most effective management teams in place to manage this astronomical growth. While many times, Steve Jobs gets the credit for Apple’s success, I know that even a visionary leader like Steve needs the management team to make it work.
Tim Cook, John Brandon, Peter Oppenheimer and others on the team must also have visionary leadership to coordinate development, production, distribution and promotion. Just think of all the pieces that went into the very successful iPad launch. Even though every company feels their new product will be a smashing success, you never truly know until the orders roll in. Will 200,000 units be enough or 2,000,000
*May/June*
Apple’s market capitalization topped Microsoft’s for the first time in a very long while. Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone 4 at the World Wide Developers conference and another Apple hit was born! Apple upgraded the venerable Mac mini, OS X 10.6.4, Safari and MobileMe.
*July/ August*
Apple got caught in antenna-gate, even though almost all cell phones suffer from the same malady. By the end of August, antenna-gate was history, iPhone 4 was selling like crazy and everyone was past that except for the misguided gnomes at Consumer Reports.
Apple released a slew of upgrades including the iMacs, Magic Trackpad and 12-core Mac Pros!
Oh yeah, and Apple posted record revenue and earnings (yawn)…
*September/October*
iPods! Apple introduced new iPod shuffles, going back a generation to put the controls back on the iPod. They also introduced new iPod nanos that are smaller than ever, but lose the video function, and a new iPod touch that became the hottest selling iPod ever.
Small Dog opens their newest store in the Mall of New Hampshire and immediately does simultaneous ewaste collections in New Hampshire and Vermont maintaining our distinction as the only electronics retailer that has recycled more electronics than we have sold.
Apple released the awesome new MacBook Air with a new 11-inch size and faster processors, faster boot times and larger flash ram for drives. I immediately ordered up my 13-inch!
Apple also announced the Mac App Store that will open in January and previewed Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, set to drop in 2011. The Mac Store will offer Apple apps such as the iWork suite and more for download. We will see soon what the impact of this is!
Oh yeah, once again, Apple posted record revenue and earnings…
*November/December*
With everything that Apple has introduced this year, the holiday season line-up has proved to be pretty powerful and diverse in its options for everyone (and at great price points–I know so many people who have purchased Apple TVs as the go-to gift for under $100). We expect that this momentum will continue through the new year. We’ve never been more excited to sell all these amazing new toys and tools!
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