Computers and hardware

LOS ANGELES--When Apple first released the iPad tablet, there was an instant burst of debate over whether it could or would replace Netbooks as the portable computing platform of choice. After all, both classes of devices have similar smalls screens and use low-power parts to provide long battery life, far beyond the average 15-inch laptop.

My initial view was that the iPad was not a Netbook killer. Despite its strengths, it lacked the software flexibility, and the traditional keyboard/touch pad input scheme, that most productivity tasks require. At the same time, figuring out how to substitute a small, lightweight iPad in situations where one would normally carry a laptop seemed like appealing challenge. … Read more

While Apple and Google have been getting the lion's share of attention in the smartphone world of late, Research In Motion isn't going quietly, according to a report.

The Wall Street Journal reports that RIM has a new touchscreen version of its BlackBerry smartphone up its sleeve, this time with a slide-out keyboard. The operating system running on the test device is also new: BlackBerry OS 6, which the company previewed earlier this year. It has some of the same features as Apple's iOS, which allows swiping and pinching motions on screen, as well as a new … Read more

The iPhone and iPod Touch still dominate mobile Web usage, but new monthly data shows Android is making some inroads.

Devices featuring Apple's iOS mobile operating system lead all other mobile devices with 58.8 percent of mobile Web traffic in the U.S. Android is far behind, but still in second place with 19.9 percent. Next is "other" with 10.9 percent, and after that is Research In Motion with 10.4 percent, according to data released by Quantcast on Monday.

Though Android has a ways to go to catch up with Apple's iOS, … Read more

Developers working with the iOS platform got a small concession when Apple recently updated the developer agreement.

Apple threw more gas on the fire in its feud with Adobe last month when it quietly updated its developer agreement to say that "Applications that link to Documented APIs through an intermediary translation or compatibility layer or tool are prohibited."

That was widely interpreted to preclude using other platforms that allow developers to make one application that runs on multiple devices--for example, not just on Apple's iPhone, but on its competitors' devices as well. That included, among others, Adobe'… Read more

Best Buy will carry the iPhone 4 starting June 24, the first day of the gadget's availability anywhere, the retailer confirmed Monday.

That means Best Buy joins Apple Stores, AT&T, Radio Shack, and Wal-Mart in being the first to sell the latest iPhone.

Best Buy says it will be offering the same option to preorder the phone as Apple and AT&T. Orders can be placed starting Tuesday, June 15, at any Best Buy Mobile or Best Buy store.

Apple doesn't usually give other retailers first crack at its most highly anticipated products, but this … Read more

A GPS device is only as good as its maps, so you want to make sure that you have the newest, most accurate map data available before you hit the road. This week, we're taking a look at the process of updating the map data on Garmin's Nuvi line of portable navigation devices. In the weeks that follow, we'll be covering how to update devices from TomTom and Magellan, among others.

Updating the maps on your GPS device used to be a complete pain in the butt. You'd have to order your update on CD, DVD, … Read more

As a result of the federal investigation of accounting fraud at Dell, the PC maker said Thursday it will take a $100 million charge on its first quarter 2011 earnings.

Dell and the Securities and Exchange Commission agreed on a settlement, which includes the liability payment and a civil injunctive action against the company. It's a result of Dell's violation of federal securities laws related to its accounting practices and a separate investigation into its relationship with Intel. The $100 million payment will establish a reserve as the SEC and Dell work out the final tally of fines … Read more

Two of the best new and improved features in Photoshop CS5 are the new content-aware fill feature and the overhauled high-dynamic range tools. Available in both Photoshop CS5 basic (Windows | Mac) and Photoshop CS5 Extended (Windows | Mac), the two tools enhance features that Photoshop has already had in ways that make them more useful and easier to use.

In the first video, we cover how to use the content-aware feature to remove both small objects, such as telephone wires, and large objects, such as an entire person.

In the second video, we go over the massive changes made to the … Read more

SAN FRANCISCO--At WWDC Monday there was something amiss besides the overloaded demo-disrupting public Wi-Fi. At the conference for Apple developers, there was not a single mention of the company's core desktop operating system, Mac OS X, nor any hint of when the next version would be coming.

It's very possible the closed-door sessions this week will include a lot of Mac OS talk. It's also possible Apple could give those developers a preview this week or next. Or that Apple could be waiting to host an entirely separate event for the Mac, as it does for the … Read more