Apple Named World's Most Innovative Company Due to Focus on Hardware and Software Integration

[MacRumors]

Fast Company today published its annual rankings of the 50 most innovative companies in the world, and this year, Apple is the number one company on the list for "delivering the future today."

Apple was picked for its impressive list of accomplishments in 2017, which included the iPhone X, the Apple Watch Series 3, ARKit, and its unique focus on hardware and software integration that sets it apart from its competitors. Apple designs its own chips that are optimized for its operating systems, resulting in performance that blows the competition away.

But creativity is more than skin deep--and Apple's approach to the hardware and software engineering that creates its experiences has never been more ambitious. Other makers of phones and tablets buy the same off-the-shelf chips as their competitors. Apple, by contrast, designs its own chips--so an iPhone packs a processor designed specifically optimized for Apple's operating system, apps, display, camera, and touch sensor. The company has gotten so good at chip design that the A10 Fusion inside the iPhone 7 trounces rival processors in independent speed benchmarks.

Apple also topped the list for its focus on privacy-based artificial intelligence advancements, its growing entertainment business, and its work to improve medical care with CareKit and ResearchKit. Its accomplishments boosted it up three spots from last year, when it was ranked the number four most valuable company in the 2017 list.

To create these rankings, Fast Company says that more than three dozen editors, reporters, and contributors surveyed thousands of companies to identify the most notable innovations of the year and trace their impact on businesses, industries, and the larger culture.

Other companies that made the top 10 list include Netflix, Square, Tencent, Amazon, Patagonia, CVS Health, The Washington Post, Spotify, and the NBA.

In addition to a master list, Fast Company publishes a breakdown of most innovative companies by sector. Apple also topped the list in the "Consumer Electronics" category, beating out companies like Amazon, Nintendo, and Sony.

Article Link: Apple Named World's Most Innovative Company Due to Focus on Hardware and Software Integration

 

[farewelwilliams]

to the bottom left is an updated mac mini ready to be manufactured but tim is looking the other way.

 

[Andres Cantu]

Hardware and Software integration does not mean much when you have to update your device almost every single week

I'm still hopeful for iOS 12.

 

[Michael Goff]

Hardware and Software integration does not mean much when you have to update your device literally every single week

I'm still hopeful for iOS 12.

Literally?

 

[idunn]

Obviously not based on the current state of the MacBook Pro, either hardware or software.

Otherwise, congratulations.

 

[benroberts3]

There is no denying that Apple deserves this recognition. While iOS 11 and High Sierra have been riddled with bugs and promised features have been delayed for months no one does hardware and software integration better.

Android has become the Microsoft of mobile. Fragmented & virus prone.

 

[ghost187]

The comments will be epic! Hold on let me make make some popcorn

 

[btrach144]

Reporter: "Congrats on the award Tim. What's going to be your next move?"

Tim: "We're going to remove AirPlay 2 from iOS because we haven't figured it out yet."

Fast Company: "We're going to need our award back Tim."

 

[M.PaulCezanne]

I’m sure someone will call me a hater, but...

Amazon - because we all want our fresh food decisions made by warehousers with a dumpster fire of an e-commerce site

CVS Health - because the worst retail experience in America should be providing our healthcare

The Washington Post - because quality journalism is too expensive when top 7 lists and zero writing skills come cheap!

I’ll vote for Apple when I see more than $1,200 devices for animating poop emojis.

 

[SoApple]

Yes yes, ios and mac bugs exist. It’s software. Bugs happen.

You live and you learn.

 

[zahuh]

I miss the SJ days when the gap between Apple (#1) and anyone else (#2) was much wider. But still grateful and excited every time there’s an Apple announcement!

 

[Tapiture]

In my opinion, Amazon has displayed far more innovation than Apple. This is a really great article describing their incredible innovations in 2017.
https://www.fastcompany.com/3067455/why-amazon-is-the-worlds-most-innovative-company-of-2017

 

[Danoc]

-

 

[Aluminum213]

Touch bar was truly the greatest innovation in history

 

[javco]

Hardware and Software integration does not mean much when you have to update your device almost every single week

I'm still hopeful for iOS 12.

Maybe you should quit de Beta program.

 

[Michael Goff]

Reporter: "Congrats on the award Tim. What's going to be your next move?"

Tim: "We're going to remove AirPlay 2 from iOS because we haven't figured it out yet."

Fast Company: "We're going to need our award back Tim."

I'd rather they pull it for now and only push it when it works than throw it out and have it work poorly.

 

[Black Tiger]

Hardware and Software integration does not mean much when you have to update your device almost every single week

I'm still hopeful for iOS 12.

I hardly see how the Android abandonment of older hardware is preferable.

 

[Michael Goff]

Maybe you should quit de Beta program.

They don't even update the beta every week .

 

[WiiDSmoker]

Did they miss the POS but riddled iOS 11?

 

[Black Tiger]

Obviously not based on the current state of the MacBook Pro, either hardware or software.

Otherwise, congratulations.

Is that right? Interesting how the competitors are copying Apple’s key decisions on that product line, such as moving to All USB C.

 

[ErikGrim]

“Can’t innovate more my ass"

 

[Music Ambulance]

That portrait of Cook.

There you go, now he’s really looking to the pinnacle. Martin Luther Cook

 

[cmwade77]

LOL.....how much did Apple pay them for this honor?
iPhone X = Note 8
HomePod = Amazon Echo (And amazon integrates software just as well as they do)
Apple Watch 3 = Samsung Gear Watch

The list goes on and on, really they haven't been innovative in a very long time, even the original iPhone was simple an improvement on the smart phones that existed at the time.

Let's look at what Amazon has managed to do by comparison:
eReaders - Hands down they win on this one, they are easier to read on than tablets, yes they do only one thing, but they do it incredibly well.

Fire Tablets - Honestly their performance compares to the iPad and is substantially cheaper. Although this isn't truly innovative, what is innovative is the Mayday button that can summon live help within about 30 seconds and the help can fix about 98% of all issues on the first call.

Amazon Echo - This invented the category of smart speakers, so can't really call Apple innovative on this one.

Then Google has come up with wireless earbuds that will translate in real time and look nicer than Apple's airpods.
[doublepost=1519172753][/doublepost]

“Can’t innovate more my ass"

What have they done in the past 5 years that has actually been innovative? Even Facial ID is copied from preexisting technology.

 

[Cosmosent]

I call ******** on that !

Clearly whoever authored that article has NO clue about the details !

 

[Michael Goff]

LOL.....how much did Apple pay them for this honor?
iPhone X = Note 8
HomePod = Amazon Echo (And amazon integrates software just as well as they do)
Apple Watch 3 = Samsung Gear Watch

The list goes on and on, really they haven't been innovative in a very long time, even the original iPhone was simple an improvement on the smart phones that existed at the time.

Let's look at what Amazon has managed to do by comparison:
eReaders - Hands down they win on this one, they are easier to read on than tablets, yes they do only one thing, but they do it incredibly well.

Fire Tablets - Honestly their performance compares to the iPad and is substantially cheaper. Although this isn't truly innovative, what is innovative is the Mayday button that can summon live help within about 30 seconds and the help can fix about 98% of all issues on the first call.

Amazon Echo - This invented the category of smart speakers, so can't really call Apple innovative on this one.

Then Google has come up with wireless earbuds that will translate in real time and look nicer than Apple's airpods.
[doublepost=1519172753][/doublepost]
What have they done in the past 5 years that has actually been innovative? Even Facial ID is copied from preexisting technology.

Innovate vs invent.