• Apple Surpasses Google as World’s Most Valuable Brand


    Apple has overtaken Google as the world’s most valuable brand, ending a four-year reign by the Internet search leader, according to a new study by global brands agency Millward Brown. Apple’s brand is now worth $153 billion, almost half Apple’s market capitalization, says the annual BrandZ study of the world’s top 100 brands.

    Apple’s portfolio of coveted consumer goods propelled it past Microsoft to become the world’s most valuable technology company last year.

    Peter Walshe, global brands director of Millward Brown, says Apple’s meticulous attention to detail, along with an increasing presence of its gadgets in corporate environments, have allowed it to behave differently from other consumer-electronics makers and went on to say:

    Apple is breaking the rules in terms of its pricing model. It’s doing what luxury brands do, where the higher price the brand is, the more it seems to underpin and reinforce the desire. Obviously, it has to be allied to great products and a great experience, and Apple has nurtured that.

    Other Top-100 list companies including: Apple (1), Google (2), IBM (3), Microsoft (5), AT&T (7), Coca-Cola (6), McDonalds (4). Facebook entered the top 100 at number 35 and No. 10 spot on the top tech brands with a brand valued at $19.1 billion. Here is top tech brands list:

    Download Full Millward Brown’s 2011 BrandZ study – PDF 11.8MB

    [Via Reuters]

  • Apple Introduces New Quad-Core iMacs


    The online Apple Store has just came back, new iMacs rolled out. As speculated, the latest refresh to Apple’s all-in-one desktop computer brings second generation quad-core Intel Sandy Bridge series of Core i processors, and the new Thunderbolt I/O port, along with a number of other enhancements.

    Here are the detailed specs for each base configuration:

    • 21.5-inch, 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5, 4 GB RAM, 500 GB 7200 RPM HD, AMD Radeon HD 6750M
    • 21.5-inch, 2.7 GHz Intel Core i5, 4 GB RAM, 1 TB 7200 RPM HD, AMD Radeon HD 6770M
    • 27-inch, 2.7 GHz Intel Core i5, 4 GB RAM, 1 TB 7200 RPM HD, AMD Radeon HD 6770M
    • 27-inch, 3.1 GHz Intel Core i5, 4 GB RAM, 1 TB 7200 RPM HD, AMD Radeon HD 6970M
    The new iMacs also all incorporate Thunderbolt ports, including two on all 27-inch models, and an SDXC card slot, in addition to one FireWire 800 port, four USB ports, a slot-loading dual-layer SuperDrive, audio in/out ports and an Ethernet connector. New iMacs are currently available in Apple’s online store.
  • Apple Store Is Down… New iMacs?


    Yesterday we posted that Apple will today introduce an iMac refresh. Apple is now busy updating the App Store and probably to unveil the new iMacs. Its believed the new devices will have Thunderbolt and SandyBridge processors which are extremely likely with other enhancements to the camera and maybe the possibility of an SSD drive. lets wait and see Apple.

  • New Sandy Bridge iMacs Coming Tomorrow?


    Citing sources “familiar with the matter,” a new report suggests Apple will launch its new lineup of iMacs tomorrow, May 3rd, featuring Intel’s newest family of Sandy Bridge processors, and the company’s high-speed Thunderbolt port in place of the current Mini DisplayPort.

    According to cultofmac, Apple has recently been taking steps to ensure a smooth roll-out of the new iMacs, according to the same sources, who apparently continue to provide accurate information when it comes to Apple’s plans, says the AppleInsider report. One confirmed that a “visual night” is scheduled for the early morning hours of May 3rd, “so it is highly likely that whatever new product that is going to be refreshed or introduced will be done on [that day].”

    A “visual night” is when several Apple retail employees are called in to work throughout the evening and into the early hours of the morning to make changes to store layouts, often removing old products to make room for new ones.

    Previous reports have already speculated that Apple was getting ready for the imminent launch of updated iMacs, and stock of the current generation all-in-one is slowly diminishing. The last time the iMac family was updated was some 9 months ago.