CBS Sunday Morning

Apple: The First 50 Years

The video commemorates Apple’s 50‑year journey, tracing its evolution from a modest garage project in Cupertino to a global powerhouse whose products are used by more than 2.5 billion people—surpassing the population of China. Key milestones highlighted include the Apple II’s six‑million‑unit sales, the 1984 Macintosh debut, the 1997 turnaround after Steve Jobs returned, and the successive launches of the iMac, iPod, iPhone and iPad that reshaped consumer electronics. Under Tim Cook, services such as Apple Pay, Apple TV and Apple Music now generate over $100 billion annually, and the company’s market value has risen roughly 1,600 %. The film features memorable remarks, such as Jobs telling Cook, "Never ask what I would do—just do the right thing," and design chief Jony Ive’s daily obsession with detail, a philosophy that earned Apple a permanent place in MoMA’s collection. Analysts see Apple’s blend of hardware excellence, ecosystem lock‑in and expanding services as a template for future tech giants, while looming risks—China‑centric supply chains, tariff exposure and lagging AI—could test the company’s resilience.