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LOGO-ING OFF...

People are just realizing that Apple had a hideous first logo – with a very clever meaning

APPLE'S fruity logo is instantly recognizable – but you've probably never seen the strange first attempt.

The original Apple logo wasn't always so clean and sleek.

The original Apple logo, as drawn by company co-founder Ronald Wayne
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The original Apple logo, as drawn by company co-founder Ronald WayneCredit: Apple / Wikimedia Commons

Original Apple logo

The Apple Computer Company was founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne on April 1, 1976.

Apple founder Steve Jobs originally chose the name Apple for the company after visiting an orchard while on a "fruitarian diet".

And the original logo was drawn up at some time before 1976.

It was created by co-founder Ronald Wayne and depicted Sir Isaac Newton sitting under an apple tree.

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That's a reference to the famous story of the British scientist "discovering" gravity by an apple falling on his head.

The logo was used in very early Apple 1 manuals and advertisements.

But thankfully it was scrapped for a much cleaner logo.

The world-famous apple icon that we know today was created by US graphic designer Rob Janoff in 1977.

That was the same year that Jobs incorporated Apple Computer, Inc.

The new logo featured a bold rainbow color scheme that was retained for more than two decades.

Importantly, the apple has a bite taken out of it.

Rob Janoff, who designed the logo, said that it was designed with a bite so that it wouldn't be confused with a cherry.

The rainbow colour scheme was chosen to "humanise" the company, at Apple founder Steve Jobs' request.

It was followed by aqua and then glass logos.

And in modern times, the logo – seen on millions of iPhones – is generally either white, black or silver.

Would Apple have been as successful if it had kept its original logo?

The rainbow logo that replaced the original Apple icon in 1977
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The rainbow logo that replaced the original Apple icon in 1977Credit: Apple / Wikimedia Commons
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