Apple's crop

On the hardware side, Apple Inc - which dropped the "Computer" from its name last January - makes a mix of computers, iPod digital…

On the hardware side, Apple Inc - which dropped the "Computer" from its name last January - makes a mix of computers, iPod digital music players, a digital TV device and, most recently, the iPhone mobile handset.

The average consumer most associates the Apple brand with the iPod, which dominates the music-player market. Models include the entry-level Shuffle, the pint-sized Nano, the full-size Classic and the new Touch, which has the iPhone's touchscreen interface.

The computer line-up comprises five models: two laptops, MacBook and MacBook Pro; desktop systems iMac and Mac Pro; and a tiny budget desktop called Mac Mini which comes without keyboard, mouse or monitor.

The iPhone is perhaps the most heavily-hyped electronics product of the decade, with its announcement and debut receiving feverish coverage.

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New financial figures from Apple indicate that the hype is being backed by solid sales. Apple TV, which allows downloaded content on a Mac to be shown on a TV, got lost in the iPhone hype (it was launched at the same time). Sales are modest, but the product indicates Apple intends keeping its fingers in several media pies.

The company also operates iTunes, the download store which started with music but has spread into video, TV and audio books.

And Apple sells a range of software designed for the Mac, including its iLife lifestyle applications suite (for music, movies, photos and websites) and its iWork productivity suite (an Office rival, with word processing, presentation and spreadsheet programmes).