14 DAY TRIAL // Fortune is giving Apple the award of World’s Most Admired Company for the seventh year in a row, with a keen eye on its next revolutionary release, be it in wearables, automobiles, or television.
For the seventh year in a row, Apple is topping Fortune Magazine’s “World's Most Admired Companies” chart. Followed by Amazon in second place, and Google in third, Apple’s pole position seems well-deserved.
Erika Fry’s description of the tech giant reveals Fortune’s keen interest in the next big thing from Cupertino, but it also gives away the magazine’s affinity for companies that are juggling immense amounts of cash (referring to Apple’s valuation on Wall Street).
“The iconic tech company known for the iPhone and other stylish and user-friendly products is back in the top spot on this year's list, for the seventh year in a row,” writes Fry.
“Apple, the most valuable brand on the planet according to Interbrand, brought in $171 billion in revenues in FY2013 and is flush with cash, but fan boys and girls (not to mention the market) are getting antsy to see its next big product. Bets are on a smartwatch or AppleTV, but the company is also reportedly turning its attention to cars and medical devices.”
Indeed, Apple this year is set to disrupt new markets, much like it did with the iPod in the early 2000s, the iPhone in 2007, and the iPad in 2010. If history is any indication, 2014 will bring a new game changer to the tech industry, one that only Apple can sell to an audience tens of millions strong.
Most bets are on the iWatch, as Fry herself points out. Apple is said to have hired hundreds of specialists in every area of interest for creating a powerful wearable computer that not only looks good but also offers true value, unlike traditional “smartwatches,” such as the Pebble and Samsung’s Gear.
Apple wants this product to be able to sense every one of your vital/health signs, from blood pressure and hydration levels, to sleep patterns and even signs of an impending heart attack. Some have speculated that it should also include sensors for tracking glucose levels, but that rumor has been shot down as of late.
Led by Tim Cook as CEO, Apple this year will make a new attempt to keep its reputation of one of the few Silicon Valley juggernauts with a crystal clear vision of the future and, perhaps just as important, the ability to deliver on promise.