Apple Opens 50th Anniversary Festivities in Grand Central Terminal

Alicia Keys was on hand to help celebrate.

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Managing Editor Josh Goldman is a laptop expert and has been writing about and reviewing them since built-in Wi-Fi was an optional feature. He also covers almost anything connected to a PC, including keyboards, mice, USB-C docks and PC gaming accessories. In addition, he writes about cameras, including action cams and drones. And while he doesn't consider himself a gamer, he spends entirely too much time playing them.

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Corinne Reichert (she/her) grew up in Sydney, Australia and moved to California in 2019. She holds degrees in law and communications, and currently writes news, analysis and features for CNET across the topics of electric vehicles, broadband networks, mobile devices, big tech, artificial intelligence, home technology and entertainment. In her spare time, she watches soccer games and F1 races, and goes to Disneyland as often as possible.

I've been covering technology and mobile for 12 years, first as a telecommunications reporter and assistant editor at ZDNet in Australia, then as CNET's West Coast head of breaking news, and now in the Thought Leadership team.

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Corinne Reichert

March 13, 2026 12:20 p.m. PT

2 min read

Bridget Carey/CNET

Apple's had a busy couple of weeks. First came a burst of new device announcements. Next came the reviews for the new iPhone 17E, iPad Air, MacBook Air and Pro models and the all-new MacBook Neo. And now, Apple is capping it all off with the start of celebrations for its 50th anniversary.

"In the coming weeks, Apple and its global community will celebrate the company's 50th anniversary, recognizing the creativity, innovation, and impact that people around the world have made possible with Apple technology," Apple said in a post to its news site.

The first event was on Friday at Grand Central Terminal in New York City, and everyone from content creators and journalists to Apple executives, including CEO Tim Cook, was in attendance. Alicia Keys was also there for the celebration, performing a set of her hits on a bright pink Yamaha grand piano.

alicia keys playing on a piano with a music ensemble — Alicia Keys performs for Apple's 50th anniversary celebration at Grand Central Terminal.
Bridget Carey/CNET

Keys has been involved with Apple for some time, participating in several Apple Music projects, including being the first artist on the Apple Vision Pro with an immersive show.

Apple hasn't said when or where other 50th-anniversary events will happen, just that there will be more celebrations around the world.

Watch this: Celebrating Apple's 50th Anniversary With a Montage

05:49

The tech giant was founded in April 1976, and its impact on the world and culture is undeniable. In the five decades since Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak created what has become one of the biggest tech companies in the world, its devices have spanned the 8-bit Apple I all the way to the Apple Vision Pro VR headset, with the Macintosh, iPod, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and Apple Watch in between. Its software services have also been hugely successful -- including the App Store, iCloud and Apple Music -- alongside its foray into streaming TV with original content.

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