Apple also told analysts it would include non-GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) results in its earnings announcements. The company made the move because the iPhone has grown to be a significant part of its business--39 percent of the company's total business, according to Jobs. Under GAAP, Apple accounts for its iPhone and Apple TV revenue on a subscription basis, spreading out that revenue over a two-year period.

Under its non-GAAP results, Apple's fourth-quarter revenue hit $11.68 billion, 48 percent more than the $7.9 billion it reported. Adjusted net income for the quarter was $2.44 billion.

"So we have an adjusted net income that's more than double our reported income. If this isn't stunning, I don't know what is," Jobs said. "And it's all due to the incredible success of the iPhone 3G."

Apple shipped 2.6 million Macs for the quarter, a 21 percent unit growth and 17 percent revenue growth over the year-ago quarter, and a 5 percent growth in units over the third quarter. Those 2.6 million units represent the most Macs Apple has sold in a quarter--the fifth time Apple has shattered that record in the last six quarters.

Apple reached that record even as customers were putting off purchases in anticipation of a new product release, according to Oppenheimer. (Apple updated its laptop line a week ago.) Mac sales were also affected by cutbacks in education budgets, according to Apple.