James Watson, email: [email protected]

TOKYO: The rising popularity of smartphones is stifling demand for point-and-shoot cameras, threatening the once-buoyant sector as companies scramble to hit back with web-friendly features and boost quality, analysts say. A sharp drop in digital compact camera sales makes them the latest victim of smartphones, as video game consoles and portable music players also battle …

Smartphones are crushing the point-and-shoot camera market Read More »

Singapore: Google on Thursday launched a service it hopes will bring millions of people in the developing world to access the internet — and Google’s ads — via basic mobile phones. Google launches the service called Free Zone first in the Philippines through a local provider. The service allows phones with an Internet connection but …

With Free Zone, Google reaches the “next billion” Read More »

Microsoft’s first homebuilt tablet, the Surface, costs about $267 in parts and labor if you exclude the optional keyboard cover. It went on sale on October 26 at a price of $499 with a profit margin of around 46%. Surface comes with a 10.6-inch (26.9 cm) screen, measured diagonally, and can only access the internet …

Microsoft, Apple tablets have the most profit margins Read More »

microsoft corp announced on Monday that Xbox Music, a digital music service designed to compete with Apple Inc.’s iTunes and Amazon.com Inc.’s Cloud Player, will be available for its Xbox gaming consoles on Tuesday. The service will be expanded to Windows software-based computers and tablets, including the upcoming Surface tablet, starting October 26, when Microsoft …

Microsoft launches Xbox music service to take on Apple Read More »

Apple Inc. is expected to unveil its much-anticipated mini iPad at an Oct. 23 invitation-only event, tech blog AllThingsD reported on Friday, citing sources familiar with the company are. The event would take place before Microsoft Corp. will be introducing its latest operating system, Windows 8, and its new Surface tablet on October 26th. An …

“Apple will probably introduce iPad mini on October 23” Read More »

New York: Facebook Inc. has proposed a revised $20 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit accusing it of violating users’ rights through its Sponsored Stories advertising feature after a US judge ruled a had rejected earlier agreement. The new settlement agreement, filed Saturday in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, drops provisions that would provide …

Facebook proposes new $20 million deal for ‘sponsored stories’ Read More »

The rare apology follows Apple’s launch of its own maps service earlier this month, when it began selling the iPhone 5 and introduced iOS 6, the much-anticipated update to its mobile software platform. Users complained that the new Maps service – based on data from Dutch navigation device and digital map maker TomTom NV – …

Apple CEO apologizes for Maps bug Read More »

RIM, based in Waterloo, Ontario, a pioneer in the smartphone space, has lost market share in North America in recent years to Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd, whose more versatile and user-friendly devices have taken off. RIM is trying to reinvent itself through a line of beefed up smartphones that will run on …

RIM spurs optimism with surprising growth and new phone Read More »

Apple Inc. has asked for a court order permanently banning Samsung Electronics from selling Samsung Electronics products it claims infringed its patents, as well as additional damages of $707 million on top of the billion-dollar judgment that the iPhone maker achieved in the last month. Samsung has responded and asked for a new trial version. …

Apple demands US sales ban for Samsung, further $707 million in damages Read More »