Apple

NEW YORK - Apple spoiled the stock market's party on Friday. Stocks shot higher in the early morning, after the government reported that the United States added jobs in November. But Apple Inc., which has been flailing in recent weeks as investors wonder how long its momentum can continue, dragged down certain indexes. The Dow Jones industrial average, which doesn't include Apple, rose 81.09, or 0.6 percent, to close at 13,155.13. The Standard & Poor's 500 and Nasdaq, which do, were less impressive.

NEW YORK - Apple briefly surpassed Exxon Mobil yesterday as the nation's most valuable company. The iPhone and iPad maker had the lead for much of the afternoon before its stock closed just behind Exxon's. The two companies are so close that Apple is likely to keep the top spot soon. Apple Inc.'s stock gained 5.9 percent to $374.01 yesterday, bringing its market capitalization to about $347 billion. Exxon Mobil Corp.'s stock, meanwhile, closed up 2.1 percent at $71.64.

Computerware Inc. has been chosen by Apple's education division as its exclusive sales organization for all Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware school districts. "Our education team worked long and intense hours to deliver the best proposal to Apple," said John Kovalcik, president of Computerware, noting that there was heavy competition. As Apple's representative in the area, Computerware will offer consulting and technology planning services, as well as increased support, service and configuration options, to education customers.

Q. I baked blueberry muffins with Jiffy Muffin Mix and they were good, but on the box it says "imitation blueberries. " What in the world are imitation blueberries? Mary Solek Tuckerton, N.J. A. Ruth Stone of the Chelsea Milling Company's customer relations department tells us that the blueberries in the mix are actually little bits of apples which are flavored and colored to look and taste like blueberries. Why does Jiffy do this? Two reasons are given. "An apple," says Stone, "is a very nutritious and healthful food, and we chose that from which to make our blueberries for that reason.

BEIJING - Apple issued an apology to Chinese consumers Monday after government media attacked its repair policies for two weeks in a campaign that reeked of economic nationalism. A statement Apple posted in Chinese on its website Monday said the complaints had prompted "deep reflection" and convinced the company of the need to revamp its repair policies, boost communication with Chinese consumers and strengthen oversight of authorized resellers. The ruling party's flagship newspaper, People's Daily , had accused Apple of arrogance, greed and exploiting the Chinese consumer.

NEW YORK - Apple said Monday that an independent group, the Fair Labor Association, had started inspecting working conditions in the Chinese factories where its iPads and iPhones are assembled. Amid growing criticism over labor and environmental practices - especially in China - Apple last month for the first time disclosed a list of suppliers for its gadgets. The Fair Labor team began the inspections Monday at Foxconn City in Shenzhen, China, Apple said. The complex employs and houses hundreds of thousands of workers.

Apple Inc. and the FBI denied claims by hackers who said they stole information on 12 million Apple Inc. user accounts from an FBI computer. Many of the hackers' claims were posted this week in a long, online missive from the group calling itself Anonymous. The FBI said in a statement Tuesday that there was "no evidence indicating that an FBI laptop was compromised or that the FBI either sought or obtained this data. " Apple said it did not provide any user information to the FBI or other organizations.

On a ridge above the Delaware River in northern Bucks County, an orchard's first Winesaps of the season were picked this week. The hillside apple orchard has already produced its Macouns and Empires and Jonathans, more than 20 kinds so far this year. Only two more tastes of autumn remain, still ripening, up there above the river. And by the middle of November, even the still-untouched trees, the ones heavy with Romes and Granny Smiths, will have been stripped. "We're very late this year . . . maybe 15 days later than last year," said William Erkes, walking along that ridge line one afternoon this week.

When Fiona Apple finished singing the aptly titled "Sullen Girl" Wednesday at the Theatre of Living Arts, she turned her attention, somewhat reluctantly, to the capacity crowd. "OhmyGod, "Ohmigod, I don't know what to say," she gushed, seeming genuinely flustered. "I don't know if you know, but tonight is the last night of this tour. It's my first tour as a headliner, and I just want to be straight with you, I'm kind of freaking out. I've really not been handling it that well. I used to freak out before, but I was by myself.

Peter Beik, 16, has noticed an ad campaign from Samsung for its Galaxy S III smartphone, but the iPhone user doubts that it will dent Apple's dominance of the industry. "Samsung's ad campaign for the GS III, it's not so much saying, 'Look at how cool our product is,' but rather, 'Hey guys, we make phones, too,' " said Beik, a junior at Masterman High School. Like many consumers, he believes that Apple will continue to dominate the global information technology race, with other companies playing catch-up.

Apps for a pet? You bet. Smartphone applications will help you choose the right sort, find one for you to buy, and then coach you on feeding and training. What kind of dog would suit your lifestyle? Try Perfect Dog - Ultimate Breed Guide to Dogs , for iPhone and Android. The Perfect Dog app opens to an alphabetical listing of breeds, but tap "Group" and you see the breeds listed under categories such as "companion," "herding," and "designer. " To get more specific, tap "Match" and begin choosing the canine characteristics you think you are looking for: size, living space, need for exercise, behavior type, and so on. Then tap "Go. " The results I got ranged from "Pretty good matches" to "So-so" to "Probably not for you. " If you see a dog while you are out and about and are baffled about its breed, you could ask the owner.

NEW YORK - The Boston Marathon bombers were headed for Times Square to blow up the rest of their explosives, authorities said yesterday, in what they portrayed as a chilling, spur-of-the-moment scheme that fell apart when the brothers realized the car they hijacked was low on gas. "New York City was next on their list of targets," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said. New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said Dzhokhar Tsarnaev told interrogators from his hospital bed that he and his older brother decided on the spot last Thursday to drive to New York and launch an attack.

WHEN IT comes to cracking down on gun violence, New York has become America's model city. Word is out that police and prosecutors in the Big Apple don't mess around when they catch people who carry or use illegal weapons. It is unlawful to carry a gun without a New York license, even if the owner has a permit from another municipality. Hunters avoid driving through the city, fearing they could get nabbed. And punishment is swift and harsh. In 2007, New York passed a 3 1/2-year mandatory-minimum sentence for illegal gun possession.

Have you ever noticed people so glued to their smart phone that the mobile device appears as if were a part of them? One would think that the iPhone was the greatest invention since, well, the iPhone. Check it out the next time you are at a food court in the mall, or at school, or waiting to see your doctor - we are so caught up in our high-tech world that we might often miss some of the simple, fleeting moments of life. A recent survey found that some of us interact with our mobile devices an average of 40 to 80 times a day. That leaves very little time to inhale and smell the roses.

Peter Beik, 16, has noticed an ad campaign from Samsung for its Galaxy S III smartphone, but the iPhone user doubts that it will dent Apple's dominance of the industry. "Samsung's ad campaign for the GS III, it's not so much saying, 'Look at how cool our product is,' but rather, 'Hey guys, we make phones, too,' " said Beik, a junior at Masterman High School. Like many consumers, he believes that Apple will continue to dominate the global information technology race, with other companies playing catch-up.

BEIJING - Apple issued an apology to Chinese consumers Monday after government media attacked its repair policies for two weeks in a campaign that reeked of economic nationalism. A statement Apple posted in Chinese on its website Monday said the complaints had prompted "deep reflection" and convinced the company of the need to revamp its repair policies, boost communication with Chinese consumers and strengthen oversight of authorized resellers. The ruling party's flagship newspaper, People's Daily , had accused Apple of arrogance, greed and exploiting the Chinese consumer.

On the northern coast of Spain in Basque country and Asturias, a taste for hard cider instead of wine reaches its height in April, when cider houses called sagardotegi celebrate with calls for "Txotx!" (say: "choach!") and casks are tapped, sending newly fermented fall sidra streaming from holes in the barrel straight into revelers' glasses. Tinto is having its own Txotx party Thursday, and it's an ideal moment to taste how fascinatingly different these ciders are - low in carbonation and vivid with earthy apple essence.

Samsung Electronics Co. fired the first of three smartphone salvos this year aimed at hurting Apple Inc. in its home market, releasing a bigger and faster Galaxy S4 that reviewers said may only glance its target. The device announced Thursday night is lighter than predecessor S3 and has software to track movement of the eyes and waves of the hands. The Galaxy S4 will be able to take photos in two directions, monitor sleeping habits, and translate commands into different languages as the South Korean company tries to lure customers in a slowing global smartphone market.

In the era of serial Washington budget crises, you don't have to be a wonk to find the real numbers behind politicians' walls of words (like sequester ). Just use these smartphone applications about the state of the economy. FRED Economic Data , free from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, is available for Apple and Android devices. "Take the economy with you wherever you go," suggests the Fed. Want to see the bank's latest data on inflation, gross domestic product, unemployment, or any of the myriad of statistics kept by the Fed?

In the era of serial Washington budget crises, you don't have to be a wonk to find the real numbers behind politicians' walls of words (like sequester ). Just use these smartphone applications about the state of the economy. FRED Economic Data , free from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, is available for Apple and Android devices. "Take the economy with you wherever you go," suggests the Fed. Want to see the bank's latest data on inflation, gross domestic product, unemployment, or any of the myriad of statistics kept by the Fed?