Apple at 50: a visual history

This is part of our package about Apple’s 50th anniversary, read more here.

It’s difficult to picture a world without Apple. The company’s influence at the heart of technology and culture is so profound that even the era before the iPhone can now seem like a distant memory — and Apple existed more than 30 years before the iPhone.

So, on Apple’s 50th anniversary, here’s a trip down memory lane. Back when Steve Jobs was wearing a bow tie. Back in 1984, when, on behalf of the Macintosh revolution, a woman defiantly threw a sledgehammer at the face of IBM. Back when iMacs were beautiful giants with tinted plastic cases. Even back when, not so long ago, people were eagerly lining up outside of stores to be the first to get their hands on Apple’s latest and greatest devices.

Apple’s journey from rebel startup to global domination has been as colorful as its gadgets. Let’s take a closer look.