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BW: Apple is World's Most Innovative Company

by , 2:50 PM EDT, April 18th, 2008

BusinessWeek ranked Apple as the world's most innovative company in a special report on Friday. Google was ranked #2 and Microsoft #5.

The major report, with multiple segments and background details on the methodology, included a list of the top 50 most innovative companies in the world.

Other notable companies in the top 50 included: Sony (#9), Nokia (#10), Amazon (#11), IBM (#12), Hewlett-Packard (#15), Walt Disney (#17) and AT&T (#27). Dell was ranked #46.

"Once again, Apple's design whizzes lead our list, followed by Google’s search geniuses and Toyota's hybrid car mavens," BusinessWeek reported.

BW brought up the debatable issue of slashing research and development money in these tough economic times. However, truly innovative companies don't think that way. Apple proved in the past that innovating while others cut R&D money positions a company very well against its competitors when things get back to normal.

"Strong companies understand this, and during a recession, they invest," said Eric Schmidt, chairman and CEO of Google. "And they get pummeled for it: 'How could you do this? You're arrogant. The world is falling apart,'" Mr. Schmidt said, mimicking those who want to put their head in the sand during tough economic times.

Another way to look at it is in terms of constraints. "Constraints drive innovation," said Jeff Bezos of Amazon. Amazon knows something about innovation as well. They placed #11 on BW's list.

Observer Comments

Show: Subjects Only | Full Comments
View Name:Guest
Subject: more credit than it deserves
Close Name:jwarren2001 Posts: 64 Joined: 29 Jan 2008
Subject:

Quote
Guest wrote:
http://www.apple.com/mightymouse/

I mean really, a scroll ball is innovative? In 2008? It wasn't even innovative in 2000.


Hating wasn't innovative in 2000 either.

View Name:Guest
Subject: Hmmm
Close Name:Intruder -   TMO Mac Specialist Posts: 2993 Joined: 07 Jul 2004
Subject: Re: Hmmm

Quote
Anonymous wrote:
Let me see...first to release a personal computer with a GUI, first to incorporate a mouse, first reasonably priced release of a laser printer, released the Powerbook line which the industry has used as the standard for ergonomics and layout, one of the first digital cameras, the first PDA, first to remove the floppy from their designs, one of the first computer companies to start using USB and Firewire, online music service leader, released the iPod which no one has even come close with their 'iPod Killers', released the iPhone which has set another industry standard for smart phones (and this is just their first release)...just to name a few...oh...and a scroll ball in the mighty mouse. I'd say that is mighty impressive and quite innovative myself.


Naah. Apple never did any of those things. Remember, they stole all of them from other companies and have never created anything in their sorry, pathetic lives. At least that's what all of the trolls are going to say in

3...

2....

1,,,,,

View Name:Guest
Subject:
Close Name:Intruder -   TMO Mac Specialist Posts: 2993 Joined: 07 Jul 2004
Subject:

Oh, please. I'm not starting with name-calling. I was being sarcastic.

Read some of the posts around here lately. Many bonafide troll posts.

Yes, Apple has bought some of their technology. They have also created a bunch (so has Microsoft). Some give Apple too much credit. Many give Apple no credit at all. Same goes for Microsoft.

Or did you think that my comment was directed specifically at you and you think you are a troll?

View Name:Guest
Subject:
View Name:Guest
Subject: Microsoft is #5 ??????
Close Name:Terrin Posts: 377 Joined: 29 Jan 2006
Subject:

Apple by the way, invented Firewire. I'd also the Mightymouse is pretty cool. It allowed Apple to appease both die hard Apple users who insist on a one button mouse and others who prefer two button mouses.

Close Name:Terrin Posts: 377 Joined: 29 Jan 2006
Subject:

Why is innovation always equated with the first company to come up with an idea, as opposed to improving another idea?

As far as Apple and Xerox is concerned, your facts are out of context. Yes, Apple paid for access to Parc so that it could see some of Xerox's secret GUI work in action. The GUI concept, however, far predates Xerox and goes back to at least 1945 when Vanaver Bush discussed such an idea (Apple visited Parc in 1979). In the 50's, Douglas Engelbart took Bush's idea and began to work on making it a reality (this guy was also the inventor of the mouse). Engelbart worked for the Department of Defense. Eventually he lost his funding and lost many of his employees to Xerox's PARC.

However, prior to Apple's visit to Parc some employee's of Apple were already working on a GUI based OS. Apple's Lisa project was predicated on such a concept. As some former Apple employees tell the story, the trip to Xerox was necessary to get Jobs on board to further pursue the concept by making an even cheaper version of the Lisa project.

More importantly, Apple didn't get any access to any of the source code for Xerox's IP, and Apple had to figure out how to bring the concept to relatively inexpensive and low powered machines. Xerox's original Alto computer (the one Apple peeked at) would have cost $40, 000 if brought to market). So, much of the original ideas developed by Apple were figuring out how to bring make the concept Xerox had been working on affordable. Xerox eventually brought it's concept to market itself in 1981, but the product was $16, 000.

My point in all this is that Apple's innovation has always been about improving upon other's ideas. In my view, Apple's success is more about Apple's willingness to take chances when others are not so willing. Apple is also good at recognizing potential when other companies are not. It is not enough to be inventive without the foresight to recognize a good idea and the guts to further develop it for market.

Quote
Intruder wrote:
Steal, no, bought, yes. But you already know that Apple paid Xerox in Apple stock for access to the GUI & mouse, hence you preemptively struck with name calling. Classic!

I'm not saying they have never done anything innovative (I bought an iPod back in the day but after it died just out of warranty I bought one of the products on the market that offered me more freedom). I am just saying that they get way more credit and get a free pass at claiming 80s tech as today's innovations.

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