Besides that, the company’s focus on hardware and software integration as well as on privacy-based artificial intelligence advancements also contributed in its elevation to the top.
“For a company routinely slagged for not having had a hit since the iPad in 2010, Apple had a notable 2017: Its wireless AirPods became ubiquitous around the country; the Apple Watch Series 3 is a bestseller; developers embraced ARKit, its AR framework; and even skeptics were blown away by the iPhone X with its facial recognition, camera quality, bezel-to-bezel screen, and new user interface,” Fast Company wrote in an article on its website which explains why the company has topped the list.
Apple has secured top spot in the list thanks to the release of Apple Watch Series 3, ARKit,iPhone X, Air Pods and HomePod.
Curtailing dependence on Dialog Semiconductor, Apple has begun designing its own chips this year for the iPhones that are optimized for its flagship operating system iOS, apps, touch sensor, display and camera and microphone.
“Other makers of phones and tablets buy the same off-the-shelf chips as their competitors. Apple, by contrast, designs its own chips—so an iPhone packs a processor designed specifically optimized for Apple’s operating system, apps, display, camera, and touch sensor,” the outlet added.
Fast Company also lauded Apple’s health and medical venture CareKit,an open-source framework for developing apps that help the people maintain their health and fitness.
Apple was ranked fourth in the list in 2017, moving up three spots from seventh position, due to its extended focus on chip manufacturing.
In this year’s list, Apple is followed by Netflix, Square, Tencent, Amazon, Patagonia, CVS Health, The Washington Post, Spotify, and the NBA, Marvel Studios and Instagram.
Walmart is present on 15th while Nintendo on 18th positions. Gucci and Graduate Hotels are ranked 30th and 50th respectively.
Around 30 companies, including Stitch Fix, Patreon, Ford Foundation and Diamond Foundry, have made their debut appearance in the list.
Only six companies, Apple, Amazon, Spotify, Netflix and Tencent, Slack, have been included in both 2017 and 2018’s lists:
According to Fast Company, the list is created by “more than three dozen editors of the company, reporters and contributors who survey thousands of companies.”
