Fortnite’s parent company Epic Games Inc. is no stranger to controversies. It was not long ago when the company had made headlines when it slapped a lawsuit against Apple for anti-competitive behavior. Now, the company is going head to head against Google stating that the company paid off developers a hefty amount to prevent them from developing alternate app stores on the Android platform. Check out all the details about this new development below:
Epic Games sues Google
The charges root in Google’s Project Hug which was later renamed to ‘Apps and Games Velocity Program.’ To the unversed, Google has been alleged of spending millions of dollars to keep some Android developers on the Play Store. Epic Games filed a complaint last year, and the motion states that some of the agreements made by Google were intended to stop developers from launching competing app stores. By this, Epic Games has suggested that Google has violated the United States’ primary antitrust law known as the Sherman Act, which is a big allegation to slap on a company.
Google, on the other hand, has reportedly stated that it will be opposing the motion. A spokesperson from Google has stated that Epic is adding inaccurate claims to their failing lawsuits and that the company looks forward to setting the record straight in court. The spokesperson stated furthermore that the program Epic Games is fighting against is actually designed to give Android developers incentives and users early access whenever new content is launched. Google states that Android users already have access to alternate app stores thus Epic Games’ allegations have little merit.
The Epic-Google lawsuit has now been long-running. At its core, Epic is alleging that Google illegally forces app developers to use its payment processing system which charges a mandatory commission fee of up to 30%. Epic also sued Apple over a similar issue but ended up losing the first major round in court. The lawsuits certainly put light on anti-trust practices that possibly go around at big tech companies and how they can be tackled. However, Epic seems to be catching failures here with the tech giants coming up with strong opposing arguments about the same.
Google recently issued a press release where it announced the release of three new Chromebooks. These new Chromebooks have been designed in partnership with Acer, Asus, and Lenovo. The newly released Chromebooks include the Acer Chromebook 516 GE, ASUS Chromebook Vibe CX55 flip, and Lenovo’s IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook. In the press release, Google shared that “new Chromebooks bring together gaming hardware features, access to the latest games with cutting edge graphics through the cloud, and software designed to make gaming fast and easy.” Check out all the details about the new Chromebooks below –
Google’s new Chromebooks
Acer’s Chromebook 516 GE comes with a high refresh 120Hz WQXGA display with an anti=ghosting RGB keyboard. It comes equipped with Wi-Fi 6E connectivity, force-canceling, and DTS speakers. It comes with a few configurations in the RAM department with up to 16GB LPDDR4X and up to 256 GB storage option of NVMe SSD. It also comes with two CPU options, Intel Core i5-1240P or i7-1260P.
Google’s second collab with the Asus Chromebook Vibe CX55 flip comes with an advanced 144Hz FHD display. It also features an anti-ghosting keyboard. Besides Wi-Fi 6 connectivity and a 720p camera, it also comes with Harmon Kardon-certified dual speakers. Asus has shared that the Chromebook can be configured up to the 11th Gen Core i7. It features 16GB LPDDR4X RAM and 512GB of SSD storage.
lenovo’s IdeaPad Chromebook comes with a 120Hz WQXGA display, 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM, Wi-Fi 6E Connectivity, a quad-speaker setup with Wave audio tuning, and an RGB anti-ghosting keyboard. The IdeaPad Chromebook comes with either the Intel Core i3 or i5 CPU both being 12th Gen. It also comes with multiple storage options of 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB. The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook is priced at $599.
Google’s latest launches the Google Pixel 7 and 7 Pro have become the talk of the town. The devices promise the best Android experience as they come straight from Google; the house of Android. The Pixel 7 lineup is also going head-to-head against the iPhone 14 lineup as they have launched just under a month apart. As one would expect from flagship devices, the Pixel 7 was also said on the internet to come with 4nm chips, which is standard for Samsung and Apple’s flagship devices. However, the truth is something else!
Google Pixel 7’s chip size
There were many articles floating around on the internet claiming that Google’s Tensor G2 chip is a 4nm chip. However, Android Authority has now jumped on and cleared out any doubts by reaching out to Google. A spokesperson from Google has told Android Authority that the chip is indeed based on 5nm. This might come as a shocker to tech enthusiasts who were expecting Google to keep up with all the latest hardware trends in the smartphone arena. Be it Apple’s latest A16 Bionic chipset or Samsung’s Exynos 2200 processor, both are based on 4nm form factors. Is this a big deal? for some yes, for others, not so much! The average user may not even care about the size of their mobile processor chip as long as the device provides good performance.
Even before Google’s confirmation about the Pixel 7 chipset size, there were a lot of hints that it was based on 5nm. There was a lack of a major clock-speed increase as the Tensor G2 runs at 2.85Ghz Arm Cortex-X1 cores. This is only a 50Hz increase from the original Tensor’s 2.80Ghz. One would expect a bigger bump in power from a new processor but that was not the case here.
Google is making its search engine better! In 2022, there are multiple ways users search for content. Now, instead of going on Google, users prefer to hop on Instagram to search for a restaurant or a tourist attraction to check if the place is social media-worthy. Google now exists on a much more interactive and visual internet which strives upon how visually pleasing a web page is. While Google is catching up to the latest trends on the internet, it has not entirely strayed away from its traditional search engine prowess. Check out all the new changes coming to Google soon:
New Shortcuts
Google wants to change how you interact with its search engine and to do the same it has introduced shortcuts. The tech giant is aware that the younger generation grew up on social media and is used to shopping, identifying music, and more in just one click. Thus, the Google app now has various search tools placed right below the search bar. The search options include a variety of shortcuts for translation, image search in the camera roll, shopping, and much more. The feature will soon be rolling out in the Google app for iOS and Android.
Multisearch Near Me
Google had previously introduced the ‘Multisearch’ option which allowed users to take a picture or upload a screenshot and add text to it to get better search results. The company is now making this feature much more advanced with the ‘Multisearch Near Me.’ With this feature, users will now be able to snap a picture of any product ranging from an iPhone to a coffee cup, and find anywhere it is available nearby. The company claims that the new search option will allow users to connect to local businesses and support them.
Improved Google Lens
With the advancements in machine learning, Google Lens will now be able to blend translated text into complex images. A real-world use case of this feature is that if you translate an English text on a film poster or any promotional content, it can now display the translated text in a font similar to the original text, making it much more natural looking. The company claims that the advancement in technology has allowed them to achieve the output in just 100 milliseconds, shorter than the blink of an eye!
Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS are two different forces to reckon with. While on one hand, some Android fans are vocal about their dislike of iOS, Apple loyalists love to stick by it. However, there are some cross-platform supported apps in both operating systems. Apple’s Music application works on Android just fine and all Google applications like Drive, Chrome, and more are supported on Apple devices. With the recent launch of the iOS 16, Google has announced that it will be releasing new widgets for the iPhone.
Google’s new widgets for iOS 16
The iPhone lock screen has been updated with the release of iOS 16. Users can now customize the lock screen by tapping on the ‘Customize’ option. This is a new way for users to interact with the iPhone rather than having a lock screen which only showcases notifications. Google in its official blog post stated, “Your Lock Screen is the first thing you see when you pick up your phone, and Lock Screen widgets for lots of Google apps are on the way. You’ll be able to unlock your device to access your favourite Google features with just one tap — and even see some updates right on your Lock Screen.” Here are the details of the upcoming widgets:
Chrome
Google will be rolling out a lock screen widget that allows users to launch Chrome instantly. Users will be able to search using voice commands or launch the incognito mode through the widget itself.
Drive
The dedicated lock screen widget for Drive allows users to access their files easily. A single tap on the Drive widget in iOS 16 will allow users to open starred files, folders and suggested files in an instant.
Google Search
This is more of an obvious addition to the Google iOS 16 widgets. Users can instantly enter their queries in the Google Search widget. Users will also get an option to search with voice or camera features.
Gmail
Gmail has also been added to the Google iOS 16 widgets. The widget showcases new messages in the user’s inbox automatically. The inbox messages can be customized as per categories too.
Just a month after Google rolled out Android 13 for Pixel devices, the tech giant has now released its first update of the latest OS. Pixel users from Pixel 4 to Pixel 6a need to be on a look out for the update as it brings in important security patches.
The update is currently available for almost all Pixel devices except for Pixel 6a. Owners of the Pixel 6a will be receiving the update later this month. Users receiving the September update will be getting a few bug fixes, as per Google’s community post: Read below to check out the entire security patch:
Google September 2022 update compatible devices:
Pixel 4 (XL): TP1A.220905.004
Pixel 4a: TP1A.220905.004
Pixel 4a (5G): TP1A.220905.004
Pixel 5: TP1A.220905.004
Pixel 5a (5G): TP1A.220905.004
Pixel 6: TP1A.220905.004
Pixel 6 Pro: TP1A.220905.004
Battery & Charging
Fix for issue occasionally causing increased battery drain from certain launcher background activities
Fix for issue preventing wireless charging mode to activate in certain conditions *[1]
Biometrics
Additional improvements for fingerprint recognition and response in certain conditions *[2]
Bluetooth
Fix for issue occasionally preventing certain Bluetooth devices or accessories from connecting
User Interface
Fix for issue occasionally causing notifications to appear truncated on the lock screen
Device Applicability
Fixes are available for all supported Pixel devices unless otherwise indicated below.
*[1] Included on Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL, Pixel 5, Pixel 6 & Pixel 6 Pro
*[2] Included on Pixel 6a
The latest update has patched biometrics fix exclusively for the Pixel 6a. The newly launched device had fingerprint issues where users were reportedly able to unlock the device with unregistered fingerprints. However, the fix will be coming in later this month. For all other Pixel devices, the update should bump the software to TP1A.220905.004 and will continue to roll out over the next week.
Google Photos has a new plan, which will make it simpler for clients to find and share photographs. Google said it will begin carrying out new updates to its well-known assistance to simplify clients to “sort through your collections, import photographs and recordings you have saved elsewhere, see your common substance and find screen captures.”
First and foremost, the tech behemoth is revamping the app’s interface so that you may view collections of photos as a lattice or a list that you can sort by kinds, such as collections, shared collections, top selections, and on-device envelopes. Then, in the primary menu, you’ll see a new “import images” section that will help you move photographs from several administrations, such as Facebook and iCloud. The new tool will also simplify copying files from a camera and digitizing old photos and videos. It also features a feature that allows you to scan tangible images with your phone. Starting this week, you’ll discover more defined sections labelled “partner sharing,” “shared albums,” and “conversations” under the sharing menu on Android. Soon, the parts will be added to the iOS app.
Google Photos makes it easy to share with people and control those sharing permissions and is one of the most fantastic photo editing tools. The revamped sharing menu now includes areas for partner sharing, shared albums, and even conversations that began after an album was shared. The brand new variations of Google Photos for each Android and iOS had been launched on March 17, so if it has been some time because you are up to date with the app, then now is a great time to seize the modern build.
What do people usually wish to have after they become a billionaire? A luxury car, a luxurious villa at a prime location- possibly with a helipad, tickets to outer space, private planes, private islands, luxurious superyachts, and the list goes on, but a vast majority of people definitely want to own a luxury car. However, if you look at the list of top billionaires of the world, most of these moguls prefer affordable cars over luxury cars, a strange choice isn’t it?
Being an Indian, the majority of times, we assume a person’s status or their richness on the basis of what car they drive? We have a very straightforward and lame way of thinking on this one. A person driving or travelling in a Lamborghini or Mercedes car can’t be an ordinary fellow, and a person driving or travelling in a Honda or Ford car can’t be a billionaire. However, the reality is way too different from your predictions, and we’re here to disclose the reality.
Jeff Bezos
The Amazon founder, chairman, and CEO, Jeff Bezos has no less status than a celebrity, but when we talk about celebrities, we usually assume either they’re travelling in luxury cars or flying from one place to another by their private jets and choppers, but in the case of Jeff Bezos the results are contradictory. You’ll not believe it, but the man who’s currently on the list of top 5 richest persons in the world surprisingly drives the Honda Accord, which is one of the decent but affordable cars in the market.
Jeff Bezos used to work at Wall Street before he founded the largest online retailer in the world. Before you give it a second thought that he’s driving a newly launched Honda Accord, then hold your horses, it’s not a recent one. He’s been driving the Honda Accord, which he bought in the year 1999, which gives us clarity that Amazon only spends money on things that matter to the customer. Also, in one of his interviews, when asked about the reason behind this unobvious choice of ride, the man who has a wealth of close to $200 billion smiled and answered, “it’s quite a good ride”.
Mark Zuckerberg
The second billionaire who prefers an affordable car over a luxury car is quite an obvious name to guess, and everyone knows why? The next person on the list is the man behind the glorious success of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg and if you don’t know why it is an obvious name, have you ever noticed the Facebook founder and CEO in a different outfit than his regular plain grey Hanes t-shirt and blue jeans? Obviously not! Now think, if a man who owns several top social media platforms prefers simple outfits for his everyday outing, then why would he invest a hell of a lot more money for a regular ride?
The millennial software mogul was often spotted driving a black Acura TSX (approx. priced at 25 lacs) and Honda Fit, which is marketed as Jazz in India. Along with these two cars, he was even spotted driving an Italian-made car, Pagani Huayra, on some occasions. When asked why he prefers Acura TSX, he said, “it’s safe, comfortable and not ostentatious.” About Mark Zuckerberg, the millennial software mogul, almost everyone knows he prefers to live below his means, and he never misses to show it to the world.
Alice Walton
Alice Walton is not a very common name when it comes to billionaires, but you can always guess about someone’s family background by taking a look at their last name. The co-heir to the fortunes of Wal-Mart and daughter of Sam Walton, founder of Wal-Mart, is the second wealthiest woman in the world, after L’Oréal heiress Françoise Bettencourt Meyers. Alice, the current board member of Amon Carter Museum, owns over US$13 billion in Walmart shares, but when it comes to spending some, she’s a pretty economical person.
Alice drives a newer but still considerably older 2006 Ford F-150 King Ranch, but her reason for driving the car is a bit more sentimental. Her father, Sam Walton, used to drive a 1979 Ford F-150 before his passing, and that’s why she has an emotional attachment with the Ford F-150 cars. Another angle behind preferring the Ford F-150 might be her involvement in multiple automobile accidents. In one of them, she lost control of a rented Jeep during 1983, shattering her leg, and in the later years, she once overspeeded and killed 50-year-old Oleta Hardin, and in 1998, she hit a gas meter while driving under the influence of alcohol.
Warren Buffet
Warren Buffet is an American business tycoon, investor, and philanthropist who likes steaks, Coco cola and candies from See’s that Berkshire owns. Mr Buffet serves as the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway and is famous for making billions on Wall Street with some serious investments. Warren Buffet is known for spending a minimal amount on almost everything; for example, he never spends more than $3.17 on breakfast, and he lives in the same house he bought for $31,500 in 1958.
Warren Buffet is not the guy who will waste a dollar on materialistic items, and he proved it by driving domestic cars. He drove a 2006 Cadillac DTS for nearly a decade, and recently he purchased, a new 2014 Cadillac XTS when his daughter convinced him it was embarrassing. When it comes to the share market Warren Buffet has a keen eye for when and when not to spend cash, but about cars, he’s not much interested in having luxury models. When asked for the justification, he said, “I only drive about 3,500 miles a year so I will buy a new car very infrequently.”
Steve Ballmer
Steve Ballmer is a former CEO of Microsoft and owner of the Los Angeles Clippers. He served as the CEO of Microsoft from 2000 to 2014, and just like several other billionaire Microsoft executives, he prefers to drive a cheap car. The American business tycoon and investor is a loyal Ford customer and has proudly driven Ford cars for most of his life because his father was a manager at Ford Motor Company. In 2009, Ford CEO at the time, Alan Mulally, personally delivered a new Ford Fusion Hybrid car in celebration of their one-millionth vehicle equipped with SYNC, an in-vehicle communications and entertainment system.
Larry Page & Sergey Brin
Larry Page and Sergey Brin together founded Google in 1998 and Alphabet in 2015. Since their Stanford University days, these two have been working together and have achieved massive success in their profession. Larry Page and Sergey Brin have a net worth of over $50 billion each, but their similarities don’t end there, as they both opt to drive Toyota Prius for a while now. Speaking about individuality, Larry Page is the 8th richest person in the world and only takes an annual salary of $1, and he’s very unconcerned about the low pay while Sergey Brin, the president of Google’s parent company, Alphabet and the brother-in-law of Susan Wojcicki, CEO of YouTube, shares his partner’s fondness for the eco-friendly hybrid vehicle.
Dustin Moskovitz
If you’ve seen David Fincher’s 2010 release movie, The Social Network, closely, then you might have an idea of who’s Dustin Moskovitz. He is one of the young wizards associated with founding the world’s biggest social media site, Facebook. After his exit from Facebook in 2008, he cofounded Asana, a web and mobile application designed to help teams organize, track, and manage their work. In March 2011, Forbes reported Moskovitz to be the youngest self-made billionaire in history, and he only holds a 2.34% share in Facebook. Despite having a net worth of over $25 billion, Dustin Moskovitz prefers to live like an ordinary guy and drives a Volkswagen R32.
The penetration and outreach of cyber threats are incomparable. You don’t know the vulnerability every application brings with itself. And Google has come up with the same alert and alarm signals. Android smartphone users, this news is for you! Recently Google announced that it is banning almost 150 mobile apps due to the security risks of these platforms and applications. To get more information on this scoop, pump up your patience and read more from this piece.
More About News
Zimperium, a top-notch and renowned mobile security provider, alerted Google about various mobile applications floating in Google’s flagship product, Play Store. Zimperium stated that they discovered a particular kind of malware called GriftHorse. Once infecting the device, this malware is encroaching their privacy by making unauthorized subscriptions in the user’s name. For example, you have installed one of the apps banned by Google recently. Now such an app may sign you up for a Netflix account and avail of a subscription.
Working of GriftHorse
The Trojan GriftHorse gets attached with harmless applications which a user like you installs. Once entered into the system, this GriftHorse starts sending messages related to cashback, prize money, and other lucrative offers. The frequency of such messages is no less than 5 in an hour. Users who fall into this trap are redirected to a web page where they are only asked for their mobile number to claim the prize money. After obtaining user’s mobile numbers, the hackers submit these details to let users avail themselves of premium SMS services. The value of these subscriptions starts at €30 (£25) per month (around 2.588k INR /-).
Names of Some of the Banned Apps
The Exhibit team is exclusively providing the names of some of the apps as following:
Handy Translator Pro
Fingerprint Changer
Heart Rate and Pulse Tracker
Amazing Video Editor
OFFRoaders
Bus Metrolis 2021
SnapLens
Bus Driving Simulator
For other names, you can directly check the blog section of the Zimperium website, where all apps are listed.
Final Conclusion
Considering the subscription pricing, it seems like the malware is currently hovering in and around Europe and North America. However, it is necessary for regulating authorities like CERT-In to take steps and deter such digital attacks. Also, as a responsible citizen, Exhibit will request not to install any of these mobile apps on your smartphone.
The secret of getting ahead is getting started, and not every multinational company begins with huge sophisticated office spaces and wealthy founders. Some of them start their journey with hope and passion, and when it comes to choosing a start-up place within a budget, no place is better than a household garage.
Famous founders, who we idolise today, were once ordinary people who decided to achieve their dreams with exceptional drive and motivation but how they started their journey is still the talk of the town. So, here are the top 10 popular companies who began their journey from a garage and proved that great ideas could come from anywhere but works adequately if the place is your garage.
Amazon
Founder: Jeff Bezos
We all know about Amazon and who owns it, thanks to its worldwide reach and customer friendly service. It all started with one dream when Mr Bezos quit his job at a Wall Street investment firm and moved to Seattle to try his hands in the online bookselling industry, and the rest you know is history.
Currently, Amazon is the world’s largest e-commerce marketplace, but to your surprise, when Mr Jeff Bezos started Amazon in 1994, it was just an online bookstore and used to deal with only book-related sales and operations right from Bezos’ household garage in Bellevue, Washington.
Today, Jeff Bezos is one of the wealthiest guys in the world, and Amazon is one of the biggest companies in the world, but the initial days of Amazon were packed with struggle as it took them an entire year to sell their first book, which makes sense to the quote, patience is the key element to success.
Amazon began as an online bookstore and has since expanded to various other e-commerce products and services, including audio and video streaming, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence. Mr Bezos has announced he would step down from his role as CEO of Amazon on 5th July 2021 and fly to space on 20th July 2021 along with his brother, Mark Bezos.
Disney
Founders: Disney Brothers
The Walt Disney Company is well-known as a pioneer of animated cartoon films and famous for creating iconic cartoon characters like Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. In 1923, Walt and his brother Roy moved to Los Angeles to their uncle’s house and set up their first studio, Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, in the one-car garage and started operating from there, looks like a very humble and dedicated beginning.
The first-ever film they shot in this tiny garage was Alice Comedies, which would later inspire Disney’s Alice in Wonderland. Later on, in 1926, they changed the company’s name to The Walt Disney Company. Disney faced a lot of sorrows in its journey toward prosperity but conquered all the combats and became one of the world’s most popular and biggest entertainment conglomerates, with current worth over $200 billion.
Google
Founders: Larry Page & Sergey Brin
The world is made up of tiny matters, and you won’t believe it, but Google also followed the same path. Yes, the world’s most famous search engine and the basic need of modern life began its official journey in current YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki’s 2,000-foot Menlo Park garage in September 1998.
Two Stanford Graduate students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, started Google as a research project in January 1996, and after a couple of years, they decided to register the domain name www.google.com on 15th September 1997. The main goal behind creating Google was to organize and maintain all kinds of information on a single platform accessible to all people worldwide.
In March 1999, the company shifted its base along with its eight employees to Palo Alto, California, home to several prominent Silicon Valley technology start-ups. Today, Google is the most trafficked site in the world and has also launched other helpful websites, applications and devices like Gmail, Google+, Google Drive, Pixel phones and Google Nest.
Harley Davidson
Founders: William Harley & Davidson Brothers
Everyone knows about the unique and distinctive sound of Harley Davidson Motorcycles, but not everyone knows that the world’s first Harley Davidson was built in a 10 by the 15-foot wooden shed at Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The shed was equivalent to a garage because they didn’t have cars.
In 1901, 20-year-old William Harley outlined layouts for a small engine designed for use in a regular pedal-bicycle frame and started working on a motor-bicycle project for a couple of years along with his childhood friend Arthur Davidson. The project was completed in 1903 with the help of Arthur’s brother Walter Davidson, and soon they officially founded Harley-Davidson in 1903.
Harley Davidson was one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression along with the Indian Motorcycle Manufacturing Company. Today, Harley Davidson is the most well-known and respectable motorcycle brand in the world. Their engines’ deep, rumbling and muscular sound still make people go crazy to buy these motorcycles.
Hewlett-Packard (HP)
Founders: Bill Hewlett & David Packard
Stanford University has something with developing future-oriented students, and we’re back again with another founder duo from Stanford. Bill Hewlett & David Packard were students of electrical engineering at Stanford, who later on founded Hewlett-Packard, popularly known as HP, in 1939, inside Packard’s 12 by 18 foot rented garage in Palo Alto, California, with an initial investment of $538, equivalent to $9,891 in 2020. Today, the Packard’s garage is recognised as the birthplace of HP and Silicon Valley.
The very first product HP developed was an audio oscillator (HP200A), and one of their first clients was Bud Hawkins, Chief Sound Engineer for Walt Disney Studios, who bought eight audio oscillators for testifying the surround sound systems installed in theatres for their motion picture Fantasia. Following its inception, HP has evolved into a robust and active company, developing numerous computers, laptops, printers, 3D printing solutions, and other computer-centric accessories with advanced technologies.
Apple
Founders: Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak & Ronald Wayne
Without standards, there can be no improvement, and one should learn how to set high standards and win hearts from Apple, which is currently amongst the group of insanely popular international brands. However, it is widely believed that it was founded in the household garage in 1976 by a trio Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak & Ronald Wayne. Apple’s first product was the Apple I computer which was designed and hand-built entirely by Wozniak.
One of their first big orders was from a local retailer who ordered 50 units of Wozniak’s Apple I computer at $500 apiece, which they hand-built in 30 days. Ronald Wayne gave up on the company before it finished the first-ever order. The first big order helped the company achieve more, and shortly the team continued to create the Apple II computer. Later on, they built a Macintosh line of products which made them millionaires.
Steve Wozniak permanently left Apple in early 1985, stating the company had been going in the wrong direction, but time proved who was going in the wrong direction. Today, Apple is worth $2.2 trillion and leading a technological revolution with its devices like iPhones, iPods, iPads, Macbooks and Mac computers; special thanks to the late Steve Jobs, who helped transform the world of computers through Apple.
Microsoft
Founders: Bill Gates and Paul Allen
Microsoft is a household name, and if you’re not aware of it, you must be living in an alternate dimension, existing in parallel to the human world. When childhood friends Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded Microsoft in 1975, they had a small garage, and they thought it’s enough space to start a coding company.
Bill Gates and Paul Allen were keen on developing programming language and software operations; they collaborated with IBM and built their first operating system and licensed it for $80,000. They decided to name the company Microsoft, short for micro-computer software, which was a suggestion from Paul Allen.
Furthermore, they developed their most popular operating system, called Windows, which currently runs on 80% of the computers in the world. Recently, the company launched its latest OS, Windows 11, the most advanced version of Windows. Today, Microsoft is worth $1 trillion, and its co-founder Bill Gates is the 2nd richest person in the world.
Dell
Founder: Michael Dell
Dell is one of the largest technology corporations in the world that develops, sells, repairs, and supports computers and related products. Still, its founder Michael Dell is not a familiar name for us like we know Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, though he’s also a college dropout like them who made a name in the computer world by designing customized computers for people. Michael Dell dropped out of school to focus full-time on his business and founded Dell Computer Corporation in 1984, headquartered in his dorm room.
The company designed the first computer of its design in 1985, the Turbo PC, and sold it for $795. Later on, Michael moved to North Austin to expand the company from his own office, which he acquired through the early profits. Over the years, Dell grew up as one of the trustworthy brands in the computer world. Currently, Dell is worth $78.05 billion and competing fairly with several computer manufacturing opponents like HP, Lenovo and Acer.
Lotus Cars
Founder: Colin Chapman
If you are a fan of competitive racing and sports cars, you must be aware of the Lotus Cars, which manufactures lightweight and fine handling sports and racing cars. The Norfolk headquartered British automotive company was founded in 1948 by then 20-years old Colin Chapman in a garage where he built his first racing car, and the first factory was situated in old stables next to the railway hotel in Hornsey, London.
Over the next few decades, Lotus emerged as one of the top racing and sports car manufacturing companies where Lotus was also involved in Formula One racing via Team Lotus, winning the Formula One World Championship seven times. Lotus encountered financial troubles after the death of Colin Chapman, and later on, it was bought by General Motors. Currently, Lotus is owned by Chinese multinational group Geely which holds a 51% controlling stake in Lotus and the remaining 49% were acquired by Etika Automotive.
Along with these 9 companies, several other companies started their journey from a Garage or even smaller space, including Mattel – a toy manufacturing company founded in 1945 and popular for products like Barbie, Hot Wheels, and more. The next on the list is Maglite – a flashlight manufacturing company which Anthony Maglica founded in 1979, and last but not least is Nike, which began as Blue Ribbon Sports in 1964 and started its journey from the trunk of a car, which is way smaller than a garage.
