MacSurfer's Headline News™

Apple/Macintosh

"Interbrand Releases 14Th Annual Best Global Brands Report" ["For the first time in the history of Interbrand's Best Global Brands report, there is a new #1 brand: Apple. ... Apple has appeared on Interbrand's Best Global Brands ranking since 2000, when the ranking debuted. In 2000, Apple ranked #36 and had a brand value of USD $6.6 billion. Today, Apple's brand value is USD $98.3 billion– almost 15 times the amount of its brand value in 2000. Apple's meteoric rise in brand value can be attributed to the way it has created a seamless omnichannel experience for customers. By keeping consumers at the center of everything it does, Apple is able to anticipate what they want next and break new ground in terms of both design and performance. With 72 million Macs in use and record-breaking sales of both the iPhone and iPad, Apple has made history by unseating Coca-Cola and becoming Interbrand's most valuable global brand of 2013."] Interbrand 7:33 AM

"Interbrand Releases 14th Annual Best Global Brands Report: Apple takes the #1 spot and Google jumps to #2 – the first brands to unseat Coca-Cola in the history of Best Global Brands" Business Wire 8:47 AM

"Apple's more valuable than Coke as tech consumes pop culture" The Verge 8:22 AM

"Apple ends Coca-Cola's reign as the world's most valuable brand" IDG News Service 8:27 AM

"Apple may be forced to drop Lightning connector for MicroUSB: European law makers may force Apple to drop the Lightning connector for charging the iPad and iPhone in Europe" ["A European Parliament's consumer protection committee has voted to standardize smartphone connectors in a move to reduce waste. As a result it is possible that Apple will have to abandon the Lightning connector at the base of the iPad and iPhone that is used for charging. Certain accessories are also plugged in to the devices using the Lightning port."] Macworld UK 8:21 AM

"Apple could be forced to ditch its latest charger under EU plans to create universal device that charges ALL phones" Daily Mail (UK) 10:03 AM

"Apple's Passbook Ecosystem: How Retailers, Sports Teams, And Brands Have Made It Work For Them" Business Insider 3:39 PM

"iPhone 5s demand healthy, margins for 5s and 5c higher than iPhone 5, analyst says" AppleInsider 9:14 AM

"Apple's spaceship finally getting ready to land" ["After years of planning what promises to be Silicon Valley's most iconic landmark, Apple this week enters the final stretch in its plan to open its new saucer-shaped headquarters in Cupertino. On Tuesday afternoon, the company and city officials will hold a public discussion that could help determine the building's fate, allowing political leaders and the public to weigh in on the completed environmental impact study and learn how Apple intends to address concerns that have been raised."] San Jose Mercury News [Free Registration Required] 7:03 PM

"Apple case thrown out of court in fight over in-app purchase patents: Tech company's attempt to protect small developers from patent trolls rejected by Texas judge" The Guardian 8:23 AM

"Lodsys Free to Continue Patent Threats Against Developers After Judge Tosses Apple's Legal Challenge" MacRumors 8:16 AM

"Texas messes with Apple's effort to protect app makers from notorious patent troll" GigaOM 8:45 AM

"Spectre of an iWatch looms over the smartwatch market: As in previous computing eras, giants like Apple and Google will try to keep their winning streaks going, while the upstarts hope to disrupt the incumbents." CNET News 7:27 PM