In your most recent poll: "Which Logo works best?" Apple was the clear, almost runaway leader. I think voters were confusing liking the company for liking the logo. If you were to show Apple's logo to someone who had never heard of the company, what would they be able to learn about Apple? Would they have a clue as to what Apple did or what they were selling or that the graphic is telling them the company's name? Nope.

Fill the apple with binary code and there would be a clue. I am not saying one needs to do that, just that it would raise the information content of the logo.

The Amazon logo, while more than a little kludgy, shows people where to learn more (the url is the logo). There is also an "A to Z" graphic element which doesn't tell you what Amazon.com sells but at least indicates comprehensiveness. There is some direction here, some information.

Apple needs to be praised for developing their brand and their logo, but a stylized apple only speaks to people who already know the company.