The Back Page: The big five-uh-oh

Here at Apple, we don’t like looking back—only ruthlessly forward. But certain milestones demand recognition, which is why we’re taking a hard look in the mirror as we prepare for our imminent arrival at the half-century mark.

In just three short months, Apple will turn 50. Hard to believe: the life expectancies of many of our contemporaries was often measured in months or years, not decades. Some vanished. Some were acquired by bigger companies. But Apple has persisted. And we’ve seen tremendous rewards, because in this business you either die the ignominious death of the foolhardy or live long enough to see yourself become the hero. Pretty sure that’s right.

But in recent quiet moments, when we’re doing a mindfulness exercise or heeding the Apple Watch’s reminders to breathe, we find our thoughts wandering backwards through the past and wonder what the Apple of today really has in common with Apple of 50 years ago?…