STEVE JOBS

Apple has become the most valuable company in the U.S., passing Exxon Mobil. Here's five reasons why.

Apple topped Exxon Mobil as the world's most valuable company on Wednesday, but can the company be able to keep up the momentum if the country's economy continues to slip?

These two iconic corporations are going in decidedly different directions.

Apple's market shares could double or even triple in the next few years, according to a new analysis.In a note to investors on Wednesday, Sterne Agee's analyst Shaw Wu called Apple's growth the "ultimate platform adopting story."

The battle for the world's most valuable company has heated up between Apple and Exxon Mobile, as Apple took over the crown during Wednesday trading.

Apple's delayed launch of the highly-anticipated iPhone 5 is a marketing strategy that reeks of brilliance.

Apple Inc on Tuesday surpassed Exxon Mobile Corp, if only briefly, to become the most valuable company in the United States. With a market cap of almost $342 billion, Apple's sales have been increasing 80 percent a year, coupled with even faster profit.

Apple beat oil company Exxon Mobil to briefly became the most valuable business in America, with a jaw-dropping $338 billion dollars on Tuesday. Exxon's stock was down earlier Tuesday, which allowed the Cupertino-based tech company to grab the top spot. Just last year, Apple took Microsoft's number two spot, and on Tuesday became the official most valuable company in America as the ipad, iphone and Macbooks continue to sell successfully.

In another victory for Apple's legal team, courts in Germany ruled against rival Samsung Electronics, barring it from selling its competing tablet computer in most of the European Union.

The latest in a series of patent lawsuit against Apple has to do with the speed booting method of Mac OS X.Two weeks ago, Operating Systems Solutions, a company whose identity remains unknown, has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against the tech giant for Mac OS X startup process.

Consumer technology giant Apple is set to gain share in the computing market during the second half, helped by new operating systems in desktop and mobile space.

At a time when multiple fake Apple stores have been uncovered in China, Apple turned its attention on retail stores in the Chinatown section of Queens, New York, that sell cases and other accessories for Apple products like the iPhone, iPod and iPad, with a trademark lawsuit.

Facebook has one up on Apple in the recent polls, unfortunately the competitive category is less than flattering. According to the latest issue of GQ magazine, Facebook's CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been named the worst dressed among a group of 15 other Silicon Valley CEOs. Coming in second was Apple's Steve Jobs. The ranking is among the various publications listed by magazines such as GQ, Vanity Fair, and Esquire.

According to research firm, International Data Corporation, Apple's sales of 20.3 million iPhones worldwide during the second quarter of 2011 helped the company secure 19.1 percent of the market share and lead all other vendors.

Forget all the speculations about iPhone 5, the latest from the rumor mill is Apple could launch its HDTV modeled after Bose VideoWave in March 2012.

Apple's (AAPL) revenue from China hit $3.8 billion in the June quarter to record a 600 percent annual growth. But Tim Cook, the acting CEO, said Apple was only "just scratching the surface" considering the huge opportunity in China.

Barclays Capital believes iCloud is a major differentiating factor for Apple Inc. -- facilitating convenience, ease of use and compatibility across its entire ecosystem. Apple's iCloud is nearing its official launch, which is still expected to be available with iOS 5 this fall, as iCloud.com went live this week.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) is looking to merge iOS (iPhones/iPads) with OS X (Macs) into a single platform for apps and cloud services starting in 2012-2013, said Jefferies, a global securities and investment banking group.

Apple is setting the stage for the launch of its iCloud service, with the company reaching out to app creators through a new iCloud beta on Tuesday as it gave developers access to the beta version of the service.

Apple has launched iCloud for programmers, but the consumer version should launch in the Fall.

Apple's control over design wins customers and also assures high profit margins