I've tracked Apple for nearly 50 years: How a garage rebel became a multitrillion-dollar empire

Opinion: On Apple's 50th anniversary, here's a look at what the company gained - and lost - on its journey from a tech geeks' dream to a luxury device brand.

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ZDNET's key takeaways

• Apple celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.
• Without Steve Jobs, there would be no Mac or iPhone.
• Apple has launched no major new products since the Apple Watch.

Apple turns 50 on April 1, 2026. You'd think this would be a celebration not only of the company and its many landmark products -- the Apple II, the Mac, and the iPhone -- but also of its legendary founders, Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs.

In neither Apple's official 50th-anniversary announcement nor CEO Tim Cook's birthday letter are either of the two founders mentioned. While Cook praises "The ...