Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL; previously Apple Computer, Inc.) is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company’s best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad. Apple software includes the Mac OS X operating system; the iTunes media browser; the iLife suite of multimedia and creativity software; the iWork suite of productivity software; Aperture, a professional photography package; Final Cut Studio, a suite of professional audio and film-industry software products; Logic Studio, a suite of music production tools; and iOS, a mobile operating system. As of August 2010, the company operates 301 retail stores in ten countries,and an online store where hardware and software products are sold.

Established on April 1, 1976 in Cupertino, California, and incorporated January 3, 1977, the company was previously named Apple Computer, Inc., for its first 30 years, but removed the word “Computer” on January 9, 2007, to reflect the company’s ongoing expansion into the consumer electronics market in addition to its traditional focus on personal computers. As of September 25, 2010, Apple had 46,600 full time employees and 2,800 temporary full time employees worldwide and had worldwide annual sales of .23 billion

For reasons as various as its philosophy of comprehensive aesthetic design to its distinctive advertising campaigns, Apple has established a unique reputation in the consumer electronics industry. This includes a customer base that is devoted to the company and its brand, particularly in the United States. Fortune magazine named Apple the most admired company in the United States in 2008, and in the world in 2008, 2009, and 2010 The company has also received widespread criticism for its contractors’ labor, environmental, and business practices

The iPod Touch (stylized, trademarked, and marketed as iPod touch) is a portable media player, personal digital assistant, and Wi-Fi mobile platform designed and marketed by Apple Inc. The product was launched on September 5, 2007, at an event called The Beat Goes On. The iPod Touch adds the multi-touch graphical user interface to the iPod line. It is the first iPod with wireless access to the iTunes Store, and also has access to Apple’s App Store, enabling content to be purchased and downloaded directly on the device. Apple Inc. has sold over 45 million iPod Touch units as of September 2009.

The second generation iPod Touch features external volume controls, a built-in speaker, a contoured back, built-in Nike+, Bluetooth support, and the ability to connect a microphone. It was unveiled on September 9, 2008, at the “Let’s Rock” keynote presentation.

The 3rd generation iPod Touch with iPhone OS 3.1 was announced and subsequently released on September 9, 2009.It is available with 32GB or 64GB of flash memory. Apple also continued offering the 2nd generation 8 GB version.The new 3rd generation iPod Touch includes faster hardware (the same microprocessors, graphics engine, and RAM as the iPhone 3GS), a slightly lower battery life, voice control, light sensor, and bundled earphones with a remote and microphone. The 2nd and 3rd generation iPod Touch can now be updated to iOS 4.x for free, but cannot take advantage of features using the iPhone’s camera or GPS receiver.

Apple unveiled the 4th generation iPod Touch on September 1, 2010. It features Apple’s Retina display and two cameras; one front-facing camera for FaceTime, photos and HD video recording and one rear-facing camera for photos and HD video recording. It also contains Apple’s A4 for faster processing, a microphone for communication and voice memos and a three-axis gyroscopic sensor which enables the device to recognize approximately how far, fast, and in which direction it has moved in space. The device originally shipped with iOS 4.1, which added Game Center to iOS along with the ability to use FaceTime through Wi-Fi.

The home screen, called SpringBoard, has a grid of icons for the available applications. All iPod Touch models include applications such as Music, Videos, and Photos (collectively duplicating the standard functions of the iPod Classic), iTunes (providing access to the iTunes Music Store), Safari, YouTube, Calendar, Contacts, Clock, Calculator, and Settings. Later models added Mail (accessing POP/IMAP/SMTP e-mail), Maps, Stocks, Notes, and Weather, which could also be added to the earlier models with the purchase of a software upgrade. The user can add direct links to Web sites, called “Web Clips”, to the home screen. All iPod Touch models are equipped with Wi-Fi 802.11b/g. The 4th Generation Model is equipped with Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n (2.4 GHz only).

On July 11, 2008, the iPhone OS 2.0 Software Update was released for purchase for the iPod Touch. The update allowed 1st generation iPod Touch devices access to the App Store to download third-party applications, in addition to a host of minor bug fixes.

On June 17, 2009, the iPhone OS 3.0 Software Update was released for purchase for the iPod Touch. The update allowed the devices to use new apps, and unlocked the Bluetooth functionality of the 2nd generation iPod Touch, enabling A2DP and P2P apps, as well as file transfer to other (non Apple) devices such as bluetooth-enabled mobile phones or jailbroken iPods using software such as iBlueNova.

On June 21, 2010, the new iOS 4.0 software update was released to second and third generation iPod Touch users for free. It includes multitasking, app folders, backgrounds, iAd, and much more. However, second generation iPod touch devices did not receive multitasking, backgrounds, and Bluetooth keyboard support. iOS 4 is not supported on the first-generation iPod touch, and further software update support has been discontinued.

On November 25, 2010, the new  iOS 4.2 software was released to second, third, and fourth generations iPod Touch users for free. It includes multitasking, more room for apps, airprint, airplay, access to Find my iPhone (or iPod, iPad), and much more. However find my iPhone is not available for the second and third generation iPod Touch. iOS 4.2 is not supported on the first generation iPod Touch. Software update is still available.

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