To say that Apple has changed the world we live in is an understatement. It virtually singlehandedly brought in a new generation of smartphones with its iPhone, launched the popularity of the tablet with its iPad, filled millions of ears with portable music with its iPod players, and equipped people with one of the best multimedia players with its iPod iTouch.
For a company so rich in ground-breaking technology, it’s hard to take the recent news from Forbes that the mighty Apple has fallen from the invention tree and now occupies spot 79 out of 100 for companies that are considered innovative.
The metrics for judging which companies are strong in innovation are based upon the expected growth of a company in relation to its existing business product lines, and the ratio of cash flow value to market development.
Fall from grace
The Forbes Top 100 List for Innovative Companies ranks the leaders in areas that are considered cutting edge and pioneering in their respective fields. Among the top 30 you’ll find familiar firms such as Starbucks, Estee Lauder, Amazon.com, Hershey, and Procter and Gamble.
But Apple, that once held the number 5 position in 2011 on the Forbes list, has plummeted to number 79 in 2013. Previous years saw a steady decline as well. In 2012, it ranked number 56.
Hitting the wall
The incredible amount of new products from Apple in the past, which many ascribe to Steve Jobs’ uncanny ability to foster and develop new product ideas, may have peaked for the company; this sort of genius innovation may not be seen ever again from the company unless another visionary can help steer product development.
This sentiment was voiced by Bruce Upbin, managing editor of Forbes:
"Apple's already done so much. What could they do that would top the iPhone and iPad?"
Unrealistic expectations?
There are no doubts in many people’s minds that Apple is a great electronics company. The point of contention for some is whether Apple has lost its golden touch. Some would argue that expecting unique new products every few years is now beyond Apple’s grasp, and that incremental upgrades to existing products is as good as it gets.
But according statements made by Apple CEO Tim Cook earlier this year, there are still lots of good stuff to come out from the company that Jobs and Wozniak built.
Whether what Cook says is true can be easy enough to prove; all we have to do is wait and see.
Source: ComputerWorld
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