Apple 1

The apple has become a symbol of temptation, and giving in to it.
The fruit in Genesis isn't actually named, but that's the tradition.
Apple is also the name of the world's most successful technology company. Which this year became, briefly, simply the world's most valuable company. Some readers here are very familiar with the company. If you're one then you can probably skip this post and read the next one, where I'll look at Apple Inc. from a theological point of view.

Today I'm just posting a quick summary of what the company's been up to:

For many years Apple made computers. They were often a bit quirky, but came to be beloved of the creative computer using community. There was a certain snobbishness of some Apple users who looked down on 'lesser' Personal Computers which used DOS and then Windows.

Apple made a breakthrough 10 years ago with the first iPod. This used a computer hard disk to store music, which was played back through headphones. You could now copy most if not all your music off your CDs and keep it all instantly accessible on a device that fits in your pocket. This was a resounding success.

Apple continued to develop their range of computers too, to the point where they now offer the best machine in any category, albeit at a premium price.

But the big breakthrough was the iPhone - gadget combining a phone, iPod, internet, camera, and many many other functions. This was always going to sell in volume because phones sell in volume. The iPhone redefined what a phone could do, and everyone else has had to copy it.

Last year came the iPad - which invented a new category of device between phone and laptop. Apple have been remarkably inventive, and have reaped the rewards.

Despite all this, Apple's real strength has been combing software and hardware. They created excellent, user-friendly software for all their devices, inventing new user interfaces as they went.

And Apple changed the way the music industry works. Their online iTunes store is the way people buy music nowadays, rather than going to a "record shop". The next step is to do the same with video - and they're well on the way. Apple have skipped the Blu-Ray format entirely - it's no longer necessary. .

Apple's world domination should lead us to ask questions.
Why are they so successful?
Is that a good thing or not?
Are they leading us all into temptation with their shiny technology?
Is there a hidden cost to what they produce?

And a big question, which sounds a bit odd until you go a bit deeper:
Is Apple a religion?

After this substantial preamble I will look at that question in the next post.







Genesis 3:2-3
2 "We may eat the fruit of any tree in the garden," the woman answered, 3 "except the tree in the middle of it. God told us not to eat the fruit of that tree or even touch it; if we do, we will die."

Location:Cupertino