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AppId is over the quota
Apple and Google have held their top spots as the planet's most valuable brands, according to ranking firm Interbrand.

Interbrand

Apple and Google are the world's most valuable brands, according to fresh rankings from brand evaluation firm Interbrand.

The iPhone-maker held its grip on the top spot, having last year nudged Coca-Cola from number one. Google similarly held steady with a second-place ranking. Both firms have an estimated brand value of over 100 million dollars. Figures are calculated by analysing the financial performance of each brand, the role that the brand itself plays in influencing shopper decisions, and how important a is brand to a company's power to make money, or charge a premium price for its products.

Six of the top ten brands are tech firms, with IBM taking fourth place, Microsoft taking fifth and Samsung claiming the number six spot. Amazon and Facebook, which placed 15th and 29th respectively, were both deemed "top risers" by Interbrand.

A new entrant to the top-100 ranking is Huawei, the first Chinese company to ever enter Interbrand's rankings, placing 94th. Best known to shoppers for its low-price Android smartphones, Interbrand writes, "The company is working to change its image in the mobile handset market from that of the low-cost alternative to one of a more premium brand."

Francisco Jeronimo, analyst at IDC told CNET that Huawei has been "recognised by consumers as a strong brand that provides affordable products but with quality, which was not the case a few years ago, when we tended to associate Chinese brands with low price and low quality."

"Using a Huawei handset provides an experience similar to many other devices from top brands," Jeronimo added. "I can get a good experience and good specs for a much lower price." Jeronimo also noted that it was surprising to see Huawei ranked ahead of Nokia (which appeared 98th in the top 100 list).

Luke Westaway Luke Westaway is a senior editor at CNET and writer/ presenter of Adventures in Tech, a thrilling gadget show produced in our London office. Luke's focus is on keeping you in the loop with a mix of video, features, expert opinion and analysis. See full bio

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AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
In an open letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook, activist investor Carl Icahn says the stock is worth double its current trading price.

Apple CEO Tim Cook unveils the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus during an event last month. James Martin/CNET

Carl Icahn is again calling for Apple to buy back its own stock, arguing that the iPhone maker's shares should be worth twice as much as their current trading level.

The billionaire activist investor on Thursday published an open letter to Apple CEO Tim Cook, just as he vowed (a day earlier on Twitter) to do. In the letter, Icahn calls for Apple to use its cash position to accelerate and increase the magnitude of stock repurchases through a tender offer, which is an open call to all investors to sell their stock -- usually at a premium.

"You have said before that the company likes to be 'opportunistic' when repurchasing shares and we appreciate that," Icahn said. "With this letter we simply hope to express to you that now is a very opportunistic time to do so."

Apple shares inched up less than 1 percent to $101.65 in premarket trading. Apple's stock hit an all-time high of $103.74 on Sept. 2, a week before the company introduced the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. Icahn said the stock should be valued at $203 based on his calculations.

It's the second time Icahn has called for Apple to boost its existing stock buyback program. The investor had backed off of his last proposal in February, but has returned to his previous position. If Apple does offer to buy back more shares, Icahn said he would commit to not shedding his own position, reiterating his belief that the stock is undervalued.

The letter comes a month after Apple released its newest smartphones and a week before it's poised to host another event, likely to reveal new iPads and Macs. The company is counting on its new devices to help it attract new customers and keep current users coming back. The iPhone continues to sell at record numbers, but the iPad has had some troubles. Sales for the tablet have declined and missed analysts' estimates for the past two quarters.

Icahn praised the significantly upgraded iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, which feature larger screens, improved specifications, and the capability to make mobile payments, noting that he believed the phones would take market share in the premium category. He compared the iPhone and Samsung Galaxy S5 dynamic to a choice between a Mercedes and a Volkswagen -- at roughly the same price.

Apple said it would take Icahn's feedback.

"We always appreciate hearing from our shareholders," said a company spokeswoman. "Since 2013 we've been aggressively executing the largest capital return program in corporate history. As we've said before, we will review the program annually and take into account the input from all of our shareholders."

Apple, which nearly declared bankruptcy before Steve Jobs returned to the helm in 1997, now is the most valuable company in the US. Its market capitalization of more than $600 billion tops Exxon Mobil, Microsoft, and IBM, all giants in their own right. In Apple's last fiscal year, ended Sept. 28, 2013, the company generated $170.91 billion in sales and $37.04 billion in profits.

Its current capital return program calls for returning $130 billion in value to shareholders in 2015 through buybacks and dividends.

Jobs largely ignored shareholders, but Cook has taken a more investor-friendly approach. He met with Icahn a year ago after after the investor built a large stake in Apple shares. At the time, Icahn criticized Apple's buyback program as too small and said he wanted Apple to buy back $50 billion worth of shares. He dropped his proposal in February after saying Apple was close to fulfilling his requested repurchase target.

Since the talks a year ago, Apple has significantly increased its share repurchase plans and boosted its dividend. The company in June also gave investors six additional shares of stock for every Apple share they owned as of June 2. Because of the split, shares now trade at a much lower level than in the past, but it also makes the stock more accessible to investors. It's much cheaper to own a chunk of Apple at about $100 versus $600.

Carl Icahn is a vocal investor.

The extent to which Apple buys back shares is important to Icahn and other investors. The more shares a company buys back relative to its total outstanding shares, the more the move can affect a stock price. In this case, it would mean that Apple's shares would rise as the total stock supply falls and demand continues to stay strong.

In Thursday's open letter, Icahn weighed in on Apple's various product lines, including the newly introduced Apple Watch. The investor believes the smartwatch "will have a significant impact on Apple's growth" over the next three years. He also said he believes that Apple will release an UltraHD television set in fiscal 2016, although he also acknowledged that it may never happen.

The activist investor has had a knack for getting what he wants. His pressure on Motorola after it failed to capitalize on the original Razr's success in 2008 led to then CEO Edward Zander stepping down and the business splitting. Last week, eBay said it would spin off its PayPal unit, a proposal first urged by Icahn earlier this year.

Icahn concluded his new letter by praising Cook and his team from an operational level. But he believes the stock remains undervalued by investors.

"At today's price, Apple is one of the best investments we have ever seen from a risk reward perspective, and the size of our position is a testament to this," he said.

Updated at 7:40 am P.T.: To include a response from Apple.

Roger Cheng Roger Cheng is the executive editor in charge of breaking news for CNET News. Prior to this, he was on the telecommunications beat and wrote for Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal for nearly a decade. He's a devoted Trojan alum and Los Angeles Lakers fan. See full bio

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AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
The tech giant considers shrinking down the user interface on your TV and putting it on your phone as a way to navigate Apple TV.

A drawing used in Apple's patent application to describe a new kind of digital remote control. US Patent and Trademark Office

Apple says today's remote control is outdated.

The numbered buttons on the remote were great when channels had numbers, but now many streaming services instead use graphic interfaces to show off channels, movies and TV shows. Also, searching for something to watch by repeatedly typing in 1s and 2s can be cumbersome.

With that in mind, Apple laid out in a patent application published Thursday a new kind of digital remote control for its Apple TV set-top box that uses icons and pictures, similar to those graphic interfaces on TV, but shrunken down and customized for a smartphone or tablet computer. Apple filed the application with the US Patent and Trademark Office last March.

Apple already recreated the physical remote control, offering up a slim remote for the Apple TV with only a few buttons to navigate videos and music. The new patent application shows the company could one day remake the physical controller again by doing away with it completely. Such an idea would be similar to Google's Chromecast, a dongle with no physical remote that's controlled using a mobile devices.

The concepts in the patent application go a step further than the current Remote app from Apple, which lets people navigate Apple TV with a program that's similar to the mobile iTunes library interface. Instead, the new interface appears to be much more complex, with more graphics and features, and can be used on a smartphone, tablet or laptop.

The Apple TV and remote. CNET An Apple representative didn't respond to a request for comment.

The $99 Apple TV, which connects to televisions to stream video over the Internet, has been less of a focus for the tech giant than its primary moneymakers, the iPhone smartphone and iPad tablet. More than two years have passed without a hardware update to Apple TV. Apple has also been slow to add channels to the device, especially when compared with competitors such as Roku, which has hundreds more channels. A software update, such as the new interface mentioned in the patent application, could increase interest in Apple TV, though the device still remains well behind in content partners.

Correction, 10:51 a.m. PT: Corrects that the document published Thursday is a patent application, not a patent, as stated in the original story.

Ben Fox Rubin Ben Fox Rubin is a staff writer for CNET, covering component suppliers, mobile and general technology. He previously wrote for The Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones Newswires. Ben grew up in Philly, where he developed an affinity for the Eagles and Rocky-style exercise montages. See full bio

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AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
3:58 / October 1, 2014

Bill Detwiler cracks open the iPhone 6 and shows you how Apple made the phone easier to open and repair.

Transcription not available for Cracking Open: Apple iPhone 6.

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AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
The company is expected to announce new tablets this month and add a gold version to its current silver and gray models.

The gold iPhone 6 Plus James Martin/CNET

Apple is expected to unveil a new iPad this month -- and it may come in a new color this time around.

Apple plans to launch a gold version of its 9.7-inch iPad, Bloomberg reported Wednesday, citing people who claim to have knowledge of the company's plans. The gold version, which would come with a white face, will flank the silver and gray models already available, according to the report.

Rumors have been swirling for months that Apple is working on the sixth generation of iPads. While major design changes are not expected, the new iPads is rumored to feature Apple's new A8 processor and updated specs.

By offering a gold version of the iPad, Apple would bring its tablets in line with its iPhones. The company's iPhone 5S and iPhone 6 models both come in gold versions. Several other companies, including LG, have also offered gold versions of their mobile devices. What the appetite is for gold models, however, has never been fully revealed by device makers.

In addition to launching a gold iPad, Apple may also boost the size of its upcoming tablet. The company is reportedly working on a model with a 12.9-inch screen. That device would be unveiled next year, according to Bloomberg's sources.

The idea of Apple designing a larger iPad doesn't seem especially outlandish. The company last month launched two new iPhone sizes -- a 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus. For now, it appears bigger is better at Apple -- at least in smartphones.

Apple did immediately respond to a request for comment.

Don Reisinger Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who has covered everything from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Besides his work with CNET, Don's work has been featured in a variety of other publications including PC World and a host of Ziff-Davis publications. See full bio

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Apples iPhone 5 s. Apple

Benzol und n-Hexan sind Chemikalien, die gedacht, um Krebs und Nerven schädigen, und sie beide in der Endmontage von Apples iPhones, iPads, iPods und Macs--bis jetzt verwendet wurden.

Die Tech-Riese teilte am Mittwoch, dass es die Verwendung von Benzol und n-Hexan in der Endmontage aller seiner Geräte verbietet nach The Associated Press. Das Verbot soll Teil Apples Bemühungen, Fabrikarbeiter zu schützen, die ihre Geräte zu bauen sein.

Während beide Chemikalien potentiell gefährlich sind, wird Apple führte eine viermonatige Untersuchung in 22 Werken und kam zu dem Schluss, dass keiner die 500.000 Beschäftigten diese Pflanzen gefährden sie Laut The Associated Press. In der Tat, die Chemikalien fanden nur vier der Fabriken und Apple bestimmt sie mit im normalen Sicherheitsniveaus. Trotz dieser Ergebnisse setzte Apple das Verbot.

Vor fünf Monaten bat Aktivistengruppen China Labor Watch und Green Amerika Apple auf den Einsatz von zwei Chemikalien. Sie zitierten Benzol von der US Environmental Protection Agency als karzinogen riskant eingestuft wird, die Leukämie und andere Blutkrankheiten und n-Hexan wie seiend mit Nervenschäden verursachen können.

Ähnliche Geschichten, dass China Labor Watch züchtigt Fabrik machen "billig" iPhone Apple sagt kein Nachweis der Mac Pro Benzol-Emissionen, die Apple gelobt, Amazon beschämt in Greenpeace-Bericht auf saubere Energie Undercover Reporter Details arbeite bei Foxconn's iPhone Anlage

Während Apple noch die Stoffe in den frühen Produktionsphasen seiner Geräte zulässt, senkt es die maximale Menge erlaubt, nach The Associated Press. Die Chemikalien sind in der Regel in Reinigungsmittel gefunden.

"Dies macht alles, was wir denken können zu tun, um chemische Belichtungen ein Schnippchen zu schlagen und reagieren zu bedenken," Apples Vice President von Umweltinitiativen Lisa Jackson sagte The Associated Press. "Wir denken, dass es wirklich wichtig, dass wir einige Führung zeigen und wirklich grüner Chemie zu verwenden versucht in die Zukunft schauen."

Das Verbot kommt, nachdem Apple kritisiert hat, wegschauen gegenüber Verletzungen der Arbeit in ihren Zulieferbetrieben, einschließlich Überstunden, niedrige Löhne und schlechte Lebensbedingungen. Apple hat da Prüfungen bei diesen Herstellern durchgeführt und hält es ist verpflichtet, eine sichere und faire Arbeitsbedingungen in der gesamten Lieferkette.

CNET kontaktiert Apple für Kommentar. Wir werden die Geschichte aktualisieren, wenn wir mehr Informationen haben.

Tags: Tech Industrie Tech Kultur Mobile iPad Mini Mac Pro über den Autor

HealthKit der Enthüllung im Juni. Tim Stevens/CNET

Apple wurde angeblich in Gesprächen mit einer Vielzahl von Gesundheits-Anbieter über HealthKit, der iPhone-Hersteller-Software, der Verbraucher, die gesundheitsbezogene Daten verfolgen läßt.

Die Cupertino, Kalifornien ansässige Tech-Riesen die neue Plattform mit Berg Sinai, der Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins, sowie medizinischen Aufzeichnungen Anbieter Allscripts und Epic-Systeme diskutiert, berichtete die Nachrichtenagentur Reuters Montag. Während Reuters stellte fest, dass die Gespräche nicht zu etwas Materielles führen können, unterstreichen die Diskussionen weiter Apples gesundheitsbezogene Ambitionen.

Vorgestellt auf der Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco im Juni, ist HealthKit soll ein Zentrum für Gesundheit-Benutzerdaten Tracking. Als Bestandteil von Apples iOS 8 enthalten HealthKit eine entsprechende app namens Gesundheit, die mit Drittanbieter-Fitness-Geräten verwendet werden kann.

LINKS zum Thema Google zielt auf Apples HealthKit mit neuen Fitness-Service-Apple-Übungen einen neuen HealthKit-Muskel

Apple sagte bei HealthKits Enthüllung, dass viele medizinische Einrichtungen als Partner, einschließlich der Mayo Clinic, die eine Integration mit HealthKit, der geht hat um zu arbeiten, wenn der Patient, Dinge tun wie Überprüfung ihrer Blutdruck-Bewertung bereits angemeldet hatte. Die Software automatisch überprüfen, um festzustellen, ob die Bewertung innerhalb der eingestellten Parameter ist, und das Krankenhaus Benachrichtigen, wenn es ist nicht so, dass Ärzte mit ihren Patienten schneller einchecken können.

Gesundheit ist ein großer Schwerpunkt in der Technologiesektor für Unternehmen geworden. Einige haben Gesundheit-orientierte Geräte, wie Samsung Gear Fit und Kieferknochen Up24, eingeführt und unzählige andere Arbeiten an intelligenten Blutzuckermessgeräte und ähnliche Produkte. Andere Firmen sehen Gelegenheit meine Patientendaten oder Lesungen auf Individuen Vorhersagen, wann sie krank und Behandlung maßgeschneiderte zu sammeln.

Apple Erzrivalen Samsung, einerseits erzielt einen großen Schub in Gesundheit mit ihren mobilen Geräten. Sein Smartphone Galaxy S5 und Getriebe passen integrieren-Pulsmesser und Gesundheit ausgerichtete apps, und es hat auch enthüllt Bemühungen, neue Sensoren und eine Cloud-basierte Plattform für die Erhebung von Gesundheitsdaten zu entwickeln.

CNET hat Apple für Kommentar kontaktiert und dieser Bericht wird aktualisiert werden, wenn wir mehr lernen.

Tags: Mobile Apps über den Autor

Apple hat wieder eine Schiffsladung von neue Patente vergeben, aber man zeichnet sich durch seine Veralterung.

Das US Patent and Trademark Office am Dienstag gewährt Apple ein Patent auf eine Anmeldung, die bis 2008 auf die Integration einer Kamera in einem mobilen Gerät zurückgeht. Interessanterweise enthält das Patent auch eine Standalone-Kamera eingebaut in einen kleinen, rechteckigen Gerät, das schnelle Foto-einrasten ermöglichen würde.

Das Patent selbst viel was Kunden von einer Kamera ausgerichtete Anmeldung erwarten würde, beschreiben die Möglichkeiten Tasten, ein Objektiv und alle Kameragehäuse zu interagieren, um Fotos zu drehen. Tatsächlich gibt es nichts bahnbrechendes im Patent. Stattdessen beschreibt es eine einfache Kameratechnologie, die wahrscheinlich Teil des ersten iPhone im Jahr 2007 war.

Apples Kameras, zusammen mit denen, die in Geräte von anderen Firmen gebündelt wurden haben haben in den letzten Jahren einen langen Weg zurückgelegt. Während die Technologie beschrieben diese Patentanmeldung nicht machen den Weg für weitere Geräte, die Tatsache, dass Apple es nach sechs Jahren des Wartens gesichert hat ist eine gute Nachricht für ein Unternehmen, das sich weiterhin seine Patente-Portfolio pad.

Wie viele andere Unternehmen, Apple-Dateien für Patente auf einem schnellen Clip. In der Technologiebranche ist schnell sichern eine Erfindung mit einem Patent der beste Weg um sicherzustellen, dass kein anderes Unternehmen Oberhand gewinnt. Die jüngste Geschichte hat gezeigt, arm solcher Patente Unternehmen, um Prozesse zu starten oder gegen sie zu verteidigen.

(Über Patently Apple)

Tags: Mobile über den Autor

Steve Jobs shows off the MacBook Air. Wikimedia Commons

In a class called "What Makes Apple, Apple," an instructor shows Apple employees a slide of a 78-button remote control for Google TV. He then shows an Apple TV remote, which has just three buttons.

That story, which illustrates Apple's strive towards simplicity, is part of a rare look inside the company's secretive training program, known as Apple University, written Monday by The New York Times. Three Apple employees who have taken classes described elements of the program to the publication, agreeing to speak about it anonymously.

Apple declined to provide the Times with details about the program or make instructors -- some hailing from Harvard, Yale, and MIT -- available for interview. The Times noted that no pictures of the classes have come out publicly. An Apple representative didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from CNET.

Apple University was established in 2008 by late co-founder and CEO Steve Jobs, who hired Joel Podolny, then the dean of Yale School of Management, to head up the new program. The training program followed a similar program for animation studio Pixar, another company Jobs co-founded, called Pixar University. Both are among a handful of company training programs, such as McDonald's Hamburger University.

Related stories US Patent Office rejects Apple autocomplete patent used against Samsung Yosemite's new Notification features have no competition Apple patent considers controls on the back of an iPad Apple taps Beats Music CEO as iTunes Radio's band leader

Apple University could take on new significance in helping maintain Jobs' approach to simplifying products, even as the company grows. The program could also be a useful tool in integrating the hundreds of new employees the company took on when it closed its $3 billion acquisition of headphones company Beats this month, it's biggest deal ever.

The Times story describes one class, "Communicating at Apple," in which the instructor shows 11 pictures from Picasso's "The Bull." Each progressive slide in the series strips away details of the bull until just a stick figure remains.

"You go through more iterations until you can simply deliver your message in a very concise way, and that is true to the Apple brand and everything we do," one person who took the course recalled to the Times.

The concept of simplification is present throughout the company, from Jobs' basic attire to its spartan retail stores to its devices -- with the iPhone and iPad stripping away the keyboard and mouse for one flat touch screen and circular home button.

The classes are taught on Apple's campus in well-lit stadium-seating rooms built in a trapezoid shape, the Times reported. Some courses teach employees about business decisions the company took, such as the choice to make the iPod and iTunes compatible on Windows. That issue was hotly debated issue among executives, with Jobs repellent to the idea of sharing Apple technology with Windows. However, the decision eventually led to the iPod's rapid growth and paved the way for the iPhone's success.

Apple's philosophy of simplicity, now under CEO Tim Cook, hasn't changed much since Jobs' death in 2011, as evidenced by the few drastic changes in the company's products. Apple University may have lent a steadying hand to the corporate culture.

Tags: Apple Computers Apple TV About the author

It might as well rain until September. Todd Hamilton

Many in the tech world spent Friday clutching their wrists as word emerged that Apple might launch its rumored iWatch in September. Unfortunately, for those looking forward to an Apple smartwatch, this prediction was apparently made in jest.

On Friday, influential Apple blogger John Gruber weighed in on an article from The Verge about Motorola's upcoming Moto 360 smartwatch, saying: "It looks like Motorola's designers tried to draw as much attention as they could to the 360's stupid flat-tire display shape. The only way this could get funnier would be if it doesn't even ship until after Apple announces their wrist wearable thing next month."

There it was. A man who has often been right about many things Apple was revealing that "next month" the iPhone maker would be announcing its "wrist wearable thing." The headlines began to pour out.

There were few supporting facts, but excitement raged. After all, Apple is reportedly going to have a media event on September 9.

A slight dampener was tossed, however, by Gruber himself. In response to The Verge's Casey Newton on Twitter, Gruber seemed to clarify his perspective: "By the way, I have no idea whether Apple is planning wrist thing for September or October, just making a joke."

More Technically Incorrect Samsung: You're scared to admit you want to switch Peter Frampton tosses fan's phone away during concert iPhone 6 running Android? You'd better (not) believe it

Some will, no doubt, feel this was a false alarm. Others will wonder whether this isn't a brilliant double-bluff: he knows, he lets word slip, he says it was just a joke. This is a classic ruse played by so many baggy-eyed men at the World Series of Poker.

So, here's what we can conclude. There will be a wearable thing. It may come from Apple, or not, it may be called the iWatch, or not, and it may be announced on September 9, or not.

For myself, I don't think it'll be called the iWatch, nor do I think it will emerge on September 9. But please don't quote me.

Tags: Technically Incorrect Tech Culture Wearable Tech About the author