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Apple Surpasses Microsoft as Most Valuable Technology Company

As reported by the New York Times, Apple, the maker of iPods, iPhones and iPads, overtook Microsoft, the computer software giant, on Wednesday to become the world’s most valuable technology company.

In intraday trading in the afternoon session, Apple shares rose 1.8 percent, which gave the company a value of $227.1 billion. Shares of Microsoft declined about 1 percent, giving the company a market capitalization of $226.3 billion.

This changing of the guard caps one of the most stunning turnarounds in business history, as Apple had been given up for dead only a decade earlier. But the rapidly rising value attached to Apple by investors also heralds a cultural shift: Consumer tastes have overtaken the needs of business as the leading force shaping technology.

Read More:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/27/technology/27apple.html?emc=na

Apple “Give(s) a sister a break” and changes no-cash policy.

In order to ensure that everyone who wants an iPad can get an iPad, Apple had a no-cash policy when it came to purchasing an iPad. Well that has changed thanks to Diane Campbell. After KGO-TV San Francisco featured Campbell’s story, Apple responded. Ron Johnson, Apple’s senior vice president of retail, spoke with the newscast to reveal that Apple would no longer continue its credit-only policy. See below. And Diane, for her troubles, got a free iPad from Apple. Way to go, Steve!

Apple Updates MacBooks

Apple on Tuesday quietly updated its low-end MacBook, giving the entry-level hardware a 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor Nvidia GeForce 320M graphics, and a reported 10 hours of battery life.

The new hardware packs many of the same features as the MacBook redesign released in 2009, including an LED-backlit display, polycarbonate unibody enclosure, and a built-in battery. The hardware also comes standard with 2GB of 1066MHz DDR3 RAM, a 250GB 5400 RPM hard drive, 1280×800 pixel widescreen display, and an 8x double-layer SuperDrive.

The new MacBook, with its updated processor and mobile graphics, is said to achieve up to 10 hours of uptime with its built-in battery. It also gets the improved, streamlined MagSafe connector found in the latest MacBook Pro models, which points the adapter cord backward rather than perpendicular from the body. The $999 hardware is available immediately.

Apple last updated its entry level MacBook line in October of 2009, giving the $999 machine a polycarbonate unibody design, LED-backlit display, multi-touch trackpad, and built-in battery with 7 hours of run time.

Printing to come to iPad

So Steve Jobs has been emailing users answers to their questions recently. Here’s his latest on when users will be able to print from iPads:

Well, it’s short and sweet. Gotta love it.