Apple Company History from 1996-1997

By Glen Sanford
Source: apple-history.com

Gil Amelio & Steve Jobs

Amelio made a strong effort to bring Apple back to profitability, but his efforts would prove to be largely unsuccessful. Following his first 100 days as CEO, Amelio announced broad changes in the corporate structure of the company. The company was to be split into 7 separate divisions, each responsible for its own profit or loss. He has also made an effort to keep developers and customers better informed about the day-to-day affairs of the company. Although the company announced a staggering $740 million loss for Q1 1996, they brought that loss down to $33 million for Q2, beating all estimates by the best financial experts. In Q3 Apple profited nearly $30 million, again astounding financial experts, who had predicted a loss of as much. (Apple lost considerably more in Q4.)

In late december 1996, Apple made an industry-shattering announcement that…

Read the Full Story at apple-history.com

 

Disclaimer: Urbanfloor is not related or affiliated with Apple, Inc. and does not gain any monetary benefit by referring Apple products.  Recommendations are voluntary and solely based on our own experience. iMac, iPad, iPod Touch and Apple, Inc. are registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Apple Company History from 1993- 1996

By Glen Sanford
Source: apple-history.com

Michael Spindler

Spindler, by all accounts, was the wrong man for the job. A fairly impersonal man, Spindler’s office was nearly impossible to get into. However, in his two and a half years as CEO, Spindler oversaw several accomplishments.

In 1994 Apple announced the PowerMac family, the first Macs to be based on the PowerPC chip, an extremely fast processor co-developed with IBM and Motorola. The PowerPC processor allowed Macs to compete with, and in many cases surpass, the speed of Intel’s newer processors.

Spindler also decided to…

Read the Full Story at apple-history.com

 

Disclaimer: Urbanfloor is not related or affiliated with Apple, Inc. and does not gain any monetary benefit by referring Apple products.  Recommendations are voluntary and solely based on our own experience. iMac, iPad, iPod Touch and Apple, Inc. are registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Apple Company History from 1985- 1993

By Glen Sanford
Source: apple-history.com

Sculley became the de facto head of Apple in May 1985. Over the next few months, Apple was forced to lay off a fifth of its work force, some 1,200 employees. The company also posted its first quarterly loss. All this, and the resignation of Jobs, served to erode confidence in Sculley’s abilities as CEO of Apple.

At the same time, Sculley became locked in a battle with Microsoft’s Bill Gates over the introduction of Windows 1.0, which had many similarities to the Mac GUI. Gates finally agreed to sign a statement to the effect that Microsoft would not use Mac technology in Windows 1.0–it said nothing of future versions of Windows, and Gates’ lawyers made sure it was airtight. Apple had effectively lost exclusive rights to its interface design. This would prove to be an important document in future lawsuits between Apple and Microsoft, involving the Windows interface.

What brought Mac out of the hole were the twin introductions of the LaserWriter, the first affordable PostScript laser printer for the Mac, and PageMaker, one of the first Desktop Publishing programs ever. These two in tandem made the Mac an ideal solution for inexpensive publishing, and the Mac became an overnight success, again.

In 1987, Apple introduced the…
Read the Full Story at apple-history.com

 

Disclaimer: Urbanfloor is not related or affiliated with Apple, Inc. and does not gain any monetary benefit by referring Apple products.  Recommendations are voluntary and solely based on our own experience. iMac, iPad, iPod Touch and Apple, Inc. are registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Apple Company History from 1983- 1985

By Glen Sanford
Source: apple-history.com

Steve Jobs and John Sculley

Although a successful businessman, it soon became clear that Sculley did not know much about the computer industry. He and Jobs were at odds almost immediately. As the announcement of the Macintosh drew closer, Jobs went into hyperdrive. He worked hard to get developers to write programs for the upcoming machine–Jobs had realized that the Mac would ultimately be made or broken by the software industry.

On January 22nd, 1984, during the third quarter of the Super Bowl, Apple aired its infamous 60 second commercial (13.4 MB) introducing the…

Read the Full Story at apple-history.com

 

Disclaimer: Urbanfloor is not related or affiliated with Apple, Inc. and does not gain any monetary benefit by referring Apple products.  Recommendations are voluntary and solely based on our own experience. iMac, iPad, iPod Touch and Apple, Inc. are registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Apple Company History From 1981- 1983

Steve Jobs

By Glen Sanford
Source: apple-history.com

Following the historic visit to Xerox PARC in 1979, Jobs and several other engineers began to develop the Lisa, which would redefine personal computing. Jobs, however, proved to be a poor project manager, and was taken off the Lisa by Mike Markkula, then president of Apple, and one of the major stockholders. Jobs, who owned only 11% of Apple, decided to take over someone else’s project, and began working with the Macintosh–which had started as…

Read the Full Story at apple-history.com

 

Disclaimer: Urbanfloor is not related or affiliated with Apple, Inc. and does not gain any monetary benefit by referring Apple products.  Recommendations are voluntary and solely based on our own experience. iMac, iPad, iPod Touch and Apple, Inc. are registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Apple Company History From 1976-1981

Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak- History Being Made!

By Glen Sanford
Source: apple-history.com

Steven Wozniak and Steve Jobs had been friends in high school.  They had both been interested in electronics, and both had been perceived as outsiders.  They kept in touch after graduation, and both ended up dropping out of school and getting jobs working for companies in Silicon Valley. (Wozniak for Hewlett-Packard, Jobs for Atari)

Wozniak had been dabbling in computer-design for some time when, in 1976, he designed what would become the Apple I. Jobs, who had an eye for the future, insisted that he and Wozniak try to sell the machine, and on April 1, 1976, Apple Computer was born.

Hobbyists did not take the Apple I very seriously, and Apple did not begin to take off until…

Read the Full Story at apple-history.com

 

Disclaimer: Urbanfloor is not related or affiliated with Apple, Inc. and does not gain any monetary benefit by referring Apple products.  Recommendations are voluntary and solely based on our own experience. iMac, iPad, iPod Touch and Apple, Inc. are registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Summer and Apples Official Rules

Sweepstakes Rules

NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. ALL FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, AND MUNICIPAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS APPLY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED.

 

1. Eligibility

Urban Floor Summer and Apples Sweepstakes (the Sweepstakes) is open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia who are at least eighteen (18) years old at the time of entry. Employees of Urban Floor and other companies associated with the promotion of the Sweepstakes, and their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates and advertising and promotion agencies as well as the immediate family (spouse, parents, siblings, and children) and household members of each such employee are not eligible. The Sweepstakes is subject to federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

 

2. Sponsor

The Sweepstakes is sponsored by Urban Floor, located at 3707 Capitol Ave, City of Industry, California 90601.

 

3. Agreement to Official Rules

Participation in the Sweepstakes constitutes entrants full and unconditional agreement to and acceptance of these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor, which are final and binding. Winning a prize is contingent upon being compliant with these Official Rules and fulfilling all other requirements set forth herein.

 

4. Sweepstakes Period

The Sweepstakes begins on July 4, 2012 at 12:00pm PST and ends on August 31, 2012 at 12:00pm PST (the Sweepstakes Period). Entries that are submitted before or after the Sweepstakes Period will be disqualified. Submissions will be accepted for the duration of the Sweepstakes using any of the following methods: Online Sweepstakes.

 

5. How to Enter

Online: This method of entry will be available by visiting our website (www.urbanfloor.com) and following the directions provided to fill out the entry information, and submit.

Limit one (1) entry per person, per email address, and per household for the duration of the Sweepstakes Period, regardless of method of entry. Entries received from any person, e-mail address, or household in excess of the stated limitation will be void. All entries become the property of Sponsor and will not be acknowledged or returned.

 

6. Prize Drawing

On or about August 31, 2012, the Sponsor will select potential winners in a random drawing from among all eligible entries received. The odds of being selected depend on the number of entries received. The Sponsor will attempt to notify the potential winner via telephone or email on or about August 31, 2012. If the potential winner cannot be contacted within five (5) days after the date of the first attempt to contact him/her, the Sponsor may select an alternate potential winner in his/her place at random from the remaining non-winning, eligible entries.

 

7. Winner Notification

The potential winners will be notified by email, mail or phone. Each potential Grand, Second Prize and Third Prize winner (parent/legal guardian if a minor in his/her state of residence) will be required to complete, electronically sign and submit a Declaration of Compliance within five (5) days of the date notice or attempted notice is sent, in order to claim his/her prize. If a potential winner cannot be contacted, or fails to submit the Declaration of Compliance within the required time period (if applicable), or prize is returned as undeliverable, potential winner forfeits prize. If the potential winner is at least 18 but still considered a minor in his/her jurisdiction of residence, Sponsor reserves the right to award the prize in the name of his/her parent or legal guardian, who will be required to sign the Declaration of Compliance on the potential winners behalf and fulfill any other requirements imposed on winner set forth herein. Potential winners must continue to comply with all terms and conditions of these Official Rules, and winning is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements. In the event that a potential winner is disqualified for any reason, Sponsor will award the applicable prize to an alternate winner by random drawing from among all remaining eligible entries. Only three (3) alternate drawings will be held, after which the prize will remain un-awarded. Prizes will be fulfilled approximately 8-10 weeks after the conclusion of the Sweepstakes.

Winner must provide legal proof of age/identity and proof of residence inside the United States of America or Canada. Valid government issued identification (Driver License, Passport or Birth Certificate) and a copy of the utility bill with the winner’s name on it will be accepted as compliant.

 

8. Prizes

Grand Prize: 21.5″ 2.5Gh iMac ($1199 Value)

Second Prize: The New iPad 16GB Wi-Fi ($499 Value)

Third Prize: 8GB iPod Touch ($199 Value)

 

9. General Conditions

In the event that the operation, security, or administration of the Sweepstakes is impaired in any way for any reason, including, but not limited to fraud, virus, bug, worm, unauthorized human intervention or other technical problem, or in the event the Sweepstakes is unable to run as planned for any other reason, as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion, the Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, either (a) suspend the Sweepstakes to address the impairment and then resume the Sweepstakes in a manner that best conforms to the spirit of these Official Rules or (b) terminate the Sweepstakes and, in the event of termination, award the prize at random from among the eligible, non-suspect entries received up to the time of the impairment. The Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any individual it finds to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Sweepstakes or to be acting in violation of these Official Rules or in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner. Any attempt by any person to damage the website or undermine the legitimate operation of the Sweepstakes may be a violation of criminal and civil law, and, should such an attempt be made, the Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages (including attorneys fees) and any other remedies from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. Failure by the Sponsor to enforce any provision of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision.

 

10. Release and Limitations of Liability

By participating in the Sweepstakes, entrants agree to release and hold harmless the Sponsor, and each of their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, advertising and promotion agencies, other companies associated with the Sweepstakes, and each of their respective officers, directors, employees, shareholders, representatives, and agents (the Released Parties) from and against any claim or cause of action arising out of participation in the Sweepstakes or receipt or use of the prize (including any travel or activity related thereto), including, but not limited to: (a) any technical errors associated with the Sweepstakes, including lost, interrupted or unavailable Internet Service Provider (ISP), network, server, wireless service provider, or other connections, availability or accessibility or miscommunications or failed computer, satellite, telephone, cellular tower or cable transmissions, lines, or technical failure or jumbled, scrambled, delayed, or misdirected transmissions or computer hardware or software malfunctions, failures or difficulties; (b) unauthorized human intervention in the Sweepstakes; (c) mechanical, network, electronic, computer, human, printing or typographical errors; (d)application downloads, (e) any other errors or problems in connection with the Sweepstakes, including, without limitation, errors that may occur in the administration of the Sweepstakes, the announcement of the winner, the cancellation or postponement of the event and/or the flyover, if applicable, the incorrect downloading of the application the processing of entries application downloads or in any Sweepstakes-related materials; or (f) injury, death, losses or damages of any kind, to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from entrants participation in the Sweepstakes or acceptance, receipt or misuse of the prize (including any travel or activity related thereto). Entrant further agrees that in any cause of action, the Released Parties liability will be limited to the cost of entering and participating in the Sweepstakes, and in no event shall the entrant be entitled to receive attorneys fees. Released Parties are also not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by site users, tampering, hacking, or by any equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Sweepstakes. Entrant waives the right to claim any damages whatsoever, including, but not limited to, punitive, consequential, direct, or indirect damages.

 

11. Disputes

Except where prohibited, each entrant agrees that any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of, or connected with, the Sweepstakes or any prize awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by the appropriate court located in California. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, entrants rights and obligations, or the rights and obligations of the Sponsor in connection with the Sweepstakes, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of California, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules, which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than California.

 

12. Privacy

Information collected from entrants is subject to sponsors privacy policy.

 

13. Winner List

To request the name of the winner send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to _________________, _________________, _________________, _________________. Winner List requests will only be accepted after the promotion end date (listed above). For the Winner List, you can also send an email

14. Facebook Disclaimer

A. This sweepstakes is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.

B. As a participant you are providing information to Urbanfloor and not to Facebook.


Housing Market 180 According to Harvard Study

After several false starts, there is reason to believe that 2012 will mark the beginning of a true housing market recovery.  Sustained employment growth remains key, providing the stimulus for stronger household growth and bringing relief to some distressed homeowners.  Many rental markets have already turned the corner, giving a lift to multifamily construction but also eroding affordability for many low-income households.  While gaining ground, the homeowner market still faces multiple challenges.  If the broader economy weakens in the short term, the housing rebound could again stall…

Read More: HERE

Source: The Joint Center For Housing Studies For Harvard University

Visiting the Lazio Region of Italy

Thursday, June 7, 2012
by Dan Simon

The Lazio Region of Italy is located in the central area of the Italian peninsula and is the divide between the north and the south.  The west coast of this region overlooks the Tyrrhenian Sea.  Since the country of Italy is commonly known as the shape of a boot…  to get an idea of its geographic location just look down at your leg and it would be located just above and below your knee.  The name Lazio (pronounced ‘lattsjo) comes from the Latin, LATIUM.  Lazio is divided into five Provinces – Frosinone (FR), Latina (LT), Rieti (RT), Roma (RM), and Viterbo (VT).

Lazio Region and Provinces

The Lazio region is rich in culture and history perhaps most famously for being the center of the Roman Empire as well it is the world center of the Catholic religion home to the Vatican. The foundation of ancient Rome begins in the 8th century BC.  Outside of Rome this region is mostly plains and hills with a mountain region located in the Province of Rieti.

More than have the population of the entire region live in or around the city of Rome.  Lazio is the third most populated and the second richest region of Italy.  Rome has pioneered many engineering feats that have been the foundation of the technologies we benefit from today.  The area has inspired countless motion pictures like Gladiator.

There is no argument that can be made how much this region has influenced and inspired the world for centuries and that influence has even stretched to Urbanfloor and our Villa Caprisi Collection and hence the name ‘Lazio’  as the name of one of the 8-colors in this collection.  To view photos and get more details simply visit HERE.