Last year, for the first time, spending by Apple and Google on patent lawsuits and unusually big-dollar patent purchases exceeded spending on research and development of new products, according to public filings. Via Yglesias

Apple today posted the largest quarterly earnings of any company in recorded history. In real dollars, not using silly inflation-ignoring numbers.

via Yglesias

Apple Corporation is now only 13% less valuable than the world's most valuable corporation, Exxon-Mobil. If current projections hold, Apple could become the most valuable company in the world in about twelve months.

Apple is currently at ~$358.7 billion, a mere 13% behind Exxon Mobil at $410.3 billion.

Apple is also sitting on about $76 billion ( Read more... )