When Amazon.com introduced the Kindle Fire in 2011, it was a budget-friendly game-changer for the growing tablet market that certainly shook the Apple tree.

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Festivities kick-off with an inaugural tree lighting ceremony, and guests will enjoy warm apple cider while being entertained by strolling candy cane stilt walkers, Santa, puppets, jugglers, magicians, and more.

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The company name Apple fell from a tree, dropping right into Jobs' vision of what a computer should be--simple and approachable.

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But if iPod's sales ultimately disappoint, it's because Apple's industry-leading marketing expertise makes every product launch like Christmas morning, but the presents under the tree never quite measure up to the ones in your imagination.

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