Millward Brown and WPP’s latest 2015 report on the world’s most valuable brands has Apple surpassing Google for the number one spot. According to the report, Apple has increased its brand value to $247 billion — a 67% increase from 2014. On the other hand, Google increased their brand value by just 9% to $173.3 billion. Last year’s ranking had Google overtaking Apple for the top spot. The report notes that Apple’s iPhone 6 was the main driver of the strong growth in brand equity. “Apple continues to ‘own’ its category by innovating and leading the curve in a way that generates real benefits for consumers. It meets their rational and emotional needs, and makes life easier in a fun and relevant way. Apple is clear on what it stands for, and never stops refreshing its message to sustain the difference that makes it so desirable,” said Doreen Wand, Millward’s global head of BrandZ. Over a ten year span, the top three performers included Apple (+1,446%), AT&T (+1,240%) and Amazon (+941%). The value of the top 10 brands now stands at $3.3 trillion — a 14% increase from 2014 and a 126% increase over the past 10 years.Share Article:Facebook,   Twitter,   LinkedIn,   Google Plus,   Email,   Reddit,   Digg,   Delicious,   StumbleUponFollow iClarified:Facebook,   Twitter,   LinkedIn,   Google Plus,   Newsletter,   App Store,   YouTubeAdvertise Here

Source: iClarified Read More: Apple Overtakes Google as the World's Most Valuable Brand [Chart]

A bug in the way iOS handles certain unicode text causes the iPhone to crash when receiving a message. The string of text has been making its way around the Internet after it was first discovered on Reddit earlier this afternoon.effective. Power?????????????????? ? ?h ? ??If you send the string of text to anyone with an iPhone, the device will respring and reboot. Jailbroken users will be forced in Safe Mode. If the Messages app was opened to the list view, then the Messages app will become useless as opening it will always result in a crash. Share Article:Facebook,   Twitter,   LinkedIn,   Google Plus,   Email,   Reddit,   Digg,   Delicious,   StumbleUponFollow iClarified:Facebook,   Twitter,   LinkedIn,   Google Plus,   Newsletter,   App Store,   YouTubeAdvertise Here

Source: iClarified Read More: This Text Message Can Crash Any iPhone [Video]

In Apple’s fourth beta of OS X Yosemite 10.10.4, which was seeded to developers today, Apple made a significant change to the way the operating system handles network management. The latest beta replaces the plagued ‘discoveryd’ process with the more stable mDNSResponder that Mac OS X has used for over 12 years. Discoveryd was introduced in OS X Yosemite and replaced mDNSResponder — both handling network management, specifically DNS services for OS X, iOS, and more. Apple has been trying to fix the poor Yosemite’s Wi-Fi performance in almost every Yosemite release (10.10.1, 10.10.2, 10.10.3), but problems have still persisted; however, today’s removal of discoveryd will hopefully alleviate many of the network issues users have been experiencing. As outlined by ArsTechnica, discoveryd would cause a wide range of network issues including random DNS resolving errors, duplicate machine names (Apple TV 3, etc), inconsistent wake on demand, and very flaky bonjour registration. Share Article:Facebook,   Twitter,   LinkedIn,   Google Plus,   Email,   Reddit,   Digg,   Delicious,   StumbleUponFollow iClarified:Facebook,   Twitter,   LinkedIn,   Google Plus,   Newsletter,   App Store,   YouTubeAdvertise Here

Source: iClarified Read More: Apple Replaces Discoveryd With More Stable mDNSResponder in Latest OS X 10.10.4 Beta

Apple’s Maps application is rumored to receive some improvements with iOS 9, including Transit directions. Unfortunately, the initial rollout of the cities that will be supported with Apple Transit may be much more limited than what some had hoped. Despite being absent from Maps for three years now, 9to5mac says Apple Maps will only support transit directions for six cities at launch.In the United States, the planned launch cities are San Francisco and New York, two major metropolitan areas that are known for public transportation, while Toronto will be likely Canada’s sole representative for the iOS 9 Maps Transit feature at launch. In Europe, Apple is said to be gearing up to first launch the feature in London, Paris, and Berlin.Apple has accumulated its own data for North America and Europe, but the company is working with longtime partner AutoNavi to source data for China. The report notes that while only six cities are planned for iOS 9’s launch in the Fall, but Apple is already working on the next wave of cities. Boston, Massachusetts and Tokyo, Japan are Apple’s two top priorities. Share Article:Facebook,   Twitter,   LinkedIn,   Google Plus,   Email,   Reddit,   Digg,   Delicious,   StumbleUponFollow iClarified:Facebook,   Twitter,   LinkedIn,   Google Plus,   Newsletter,   App Store,   YouTubeAdvertise Here

Source: iClarified Read More: Apple to Initially Launch Transit Directions in Just Six Cities With iOS 9

Apple is reportedly considering issuing about 200 billion yen ($1.62 billion) in bonds as early as June in Japan, reports Nikkei. The sale of the bonds would be the first fundraising activity for Apple in Japan. Early this month, Apple started gauging potential demand for the yen-denominated bonds among regional banks, life insurers and other institutional investors. The bonds will target Japanese investors but will likely be sold to overseas investors as well.Despite having over $200 billion in cash, Apple still issues bonds so that it can procure funds at low interest rates, which helps create a tax shield that generates shareholder value. Share Article:Facebook,   Twitter,   LinkedIn,   Google Plus,   Email,   Reddit,   Digg,   Delicious,   StumbleUponFollow iClarified:Facebook,   Twitter,   LinkedIn,   Google Plus,   Newsletter,   App Store,   YouTubeAdvertise Here

Source: iClarified Read More: Apple Planning .6 Billion Bond Sale in Japan?

Emergency crews are responding to a fire that has broken out at Apple’s Mesa Arizona facility, which it acquired through the failed sapphire production deal with GT Advanced. ABC News reports that the fire started around 11:30am on the solar panels that were on the roof. The fire did not appear to be burning the inside of the building itself.The fire appeared to be on solar panels on the roof of the building over a loading dock. The fire did not appear to be burning inside the building itself, officials said. Crews from Mesa, Gilbert and Superstition Fire worked together to get the fire knocked down in 35 minutes.12 people were evacuated and thankfully there were no reports of any injuries. Apple previously announced its $2 billion plans to convert the sapphire plant to a data center that would make it one of its largest global data “command centers.”Share Article:Facebook,   Twitter,   LinkedIn,   Google Plus,   Email,   Reddit,   Digg,   Delicious,   StumbleUponFollow iClarified:Facebook,   Twitter,   LinkedIn,   Google Plus,   Newsletter,   App Store,   YouTubeAdvertise Here

Source: iClarified Read More: Fire Breaks Out at Apple Facility in Mesa, Arizona

Sky Guide, the award winning app that lets you view the stars in the sky on your iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, is available for free through the Apple Store App. To download the Sky Guide App for free, simply download the Apple Store App, navigate to the ‘Store’ tab and scroll down all the way until you see the ‘Learn your night sky’ banner. The app will be free for Apple Store app users until June 30, 2015Is it a star or Saturn? Learning what’s in your night sky is now effortless with Sky Guide. Hold your iPhone or iPad up and Sky Guide automatically aligns itself to the stars above you — no setup or Wi-Fi required! Sky Guide is now available for Apple Watch. See a calendar of upcoming astronomical events — the full moon, meteor showers, eclipses, and more. And it will even alert you when the International space Station is due to fly over — and let you tweet one of its astronauts.Share Article:Facebook,   Twitter,   LinkedIn,   Google Plus,   Email,   Reddit,   Digg,   Delicious,   StumbleUponFollow iClarified:Facebook,   Twitter,   LinkedIn,   Google Plus,   Newsletter,   App Store,   YouTubeAdvertise Here

Source: iClarified Read More: Star Gazing App Sky Guide Available For Free Through Apple Store App

The PayPal app has been updated with Touch ID support, enabling users to log into the PayPal app using just their fingerprint. PayPal was one of the first companies to mention it was working on bringing Touch ID support after Apple unveiled the developer API last year. Pay Smarter. Pay Simpler. Pay Anywhere. The world’s safest way to pay online is now at your favorite restaurants, stores, and more. Introducing your new digital wallet.PayPal Now Accepted in StoresTake PayPal with you to local stores, cafes, restaurants and more. Use the app to pay with your phone. Even better, use the PayPal app to order ahead.Share Article:Facebook,   Twitter,   LinkedIn,   Google Plus,   Email,   Reddit,   Digg,   Delicious,   StumbleUponFollow iClarified:Facebook,   Twitter,   LinkedIn,   Google Plus,   Newsletter,   App Store,   YouTubeAdvertise Here

Source: iClarified Read More: PayPal App for iPhone Updated With Touch ID Support for Login

Apple was granted a patent Tuesday describing a dual-purpose keyboard that can detect both conventional keystrokes as well as a multitouch gesture control. The “fusion keyboard” would feature capacitive touch sensors and depressible mechanic keys with multistage switches. The end result is a user simply swiping and using gestures across the touch-sensitive keyboard. For example, users could point, click, select, drag, zoom, and scroll all while simply moving their fingers over the touch sensitive keyboard.Touch sensitive mechanical keyboards for detecting touch events and key depressions on the keyboard are provided. The keyboard can include a set of individually depressible mechanical keys having a touch sensitive area located on their surface. A touch sensor can be included to detect touch events on the surface of the keys. A keypad can also be included to detect a depression of the mechanical keys. One or more of the depressible mechanical keys can be multi-purpose keys capable of being depressed to multiple levels. The touch sensitive mechanical keyboard can receive key depression input, touch event input, or combinations thereof at the same time. The touch sensitive mechanical keyboard can further include a processor for distinguishing detected touch events from detected key depressions. The processor can generate a key depression command or a touch event command in response to the detected touch events and key depressions.Input from each of the user’s hands is processes separately, enabling one hand to enter text through traditional key presses, while the other manages cursor control through touches. Notably, the patent describes the keyboard as both an integrated and external accessory, meaning the product could come to both MacBooks and standalone iMacs. Share Article:Facebook,   Twitter,   LinkedIn,   Google Plus,   Email,   Reddit,   Digg,   Delicious,   StumbleUponFollow iClarified:Facebook,   Twitter,   LinkedIn,   Google Plus,   Newsletter,   App Store,   YouTubeAdvertise Here

Source: iClarified Read More: Apple Patent Describes Dual-Purpose Keyboard That Could Replace Touchpads

According to supply chain rumors in Taiwan, chipmaker TSMC, which already produces some A-processor chips for iPhones, is looking to establish a 10nm pilot line by next month. The 10nm production could be expanded to the A10 chip that would eventually go in the iPhone 7 and other future iOS devices.The report claims that TSMC will establish this 10nm pilot line in 12 factories located in Hsinchu. Sources say that TSMC would be ready to sign up with potential clients (in this case Apple) by the end of the year. Industry analysts believe that TSMC’s 10nm chip production factories will be crucial for securing orders for Apple’s A10 processor.While rumors of Apple’s A10 chip production have already started, Apple’s A9 chip, presumably what will power the iPhone 6s, still has yet to launch. It was initially reported that TSMC and Samsung would share orders for the 14nm A9 chip; however, a recent report indicated that Samsung had won the orders because TSMC could not shrink the size of the transistors to 14nm. Share Article:Facebook,   Twitter,   LinkedIn,   Google Plus,   Email,   Reddit,   Digg,   Delicious,   StumbleUponFollow iClarified:Facebook,   Twitter,   LinkedIn,   Google Plus,   Newsletter,   App Store,   YouTubeAdvertise Here

Source: iClarified Read More: TSMC Looks to Establish 10nm Pilot Line Ahead of iPhone 7 Launch Next Year