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Apple overtakes HP as biggest PC-maker

The late great Steve Jobs may have declared it the “post-PC era,” but Apple just became the biggest maker of personal computers in the world. Apple pulled ahead of Hewlett Packard in the fourth quarter of last year to become the largest vendor of personal computers, due in large part to the extraordinary demand for its iPad. According to a report by market research firm Canalys, Apple shipped more than 15 million iPads and 5 million Mac computers in the quarter ending 31 December 2011 – representing 17 per cent of the total 120 million client PCs shipped globally in Q4. The client PC market – including desktops, netbooks, notebooks and pads – grew 16 per cent year-on-year; however, take away pads from the equation and the PC market declined by 0.4 per cent. Of the other top five PC vendors, only Lenovo managed to increase its market share – growing by just two points in comparison to Apple’s six-point gain. Acer, Dell and HP all lost market share. Now the second largest PC vendor, HP was the hardest hit as the company struggles to keep up with competitors following the end of its Touchpad. “Currently, HP is pursuing a Windows strategy for its pad portfolio, producing enterprise-focused products, such as the recently launched Slate 2, until the launch of Windows 8,” said Canalys Analyst Tim Coulling in the company’s official press release .

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Apple overtakes HP as biggest PC-maker

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Samsung denies RIM rumours

Samsung has gone into denial – at least in terms of denying the company was ever interested in buying Research in Motion. The world’s second largest handset maker, Samsung Electronics Co, has firmly stated it is neither interested in acquiring the ailing BlackBerry maker, Research in Motion, nor licensing its operating system. “We haven’t considered acquiring the firm and a not interested in (buying RIM),” Samsung spokesman James Chung said. He also added that Samsung had not been approached by the Canadian-based firm for a takeover.

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Yahoo co-founder steps down

In the latest management shuffle, Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang has stepped down from the board of executives and resigned his post as ‘Chief Yahoo .’ “The time has come for me to pursue other interests outside of Yahoo ,” Yang said in a statement . “As I leave the company I co-founded nearly 17 years ago, I am enthusiastic about the appointment of Scott Thompson as chief executive officer and his ability, along with the entire Yahoo leadership team, to guide Yahoo into an exciting and successful feature.” Yang served as chief executive at the flagging internet giant from June 2007 to January 2009 before being replaced by Carol Bartz. He is widely criticised for turning down a lucrative deal from Microsoft to purchase the company for $44.6 billion (

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Tobii interface lets users eyeball Windows 8

Technology firm Tobii has unveiled its eye control system for Microsoft Windows 8 PC. The Swedish technology company will introduce and demonstrate its Tobii Gaze interface for Windows 8 at the 2012 International Consumers Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Microsoft Windows 8 was formally introduced and detailed at Microsoft’s BUILD Conference for Windows developers in September 2011, and has been hailed for its touchscreen capabilities. Tobii has taken the forthcoming operating system and made it operable with eye movement. The company said in an official press release : “With its large tiles, Windows 8 Metro has been praised as a great interface for handheld touch devices. “However, using your hands on a touch screen-enabled laptop or desktop computer is not an ideal ergonomic solution, and your hands would also interfere with the objects you would like to click on, drag, rotate or zoom.” Tobii’s technology uses a sensor to track tiny eye movements to control a mouse pointer to around a quarter of an inch accuracy. Users can scroll, point and ‘click’ by blinking.

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Google sued by BT over Android OS

British Telecom has now entered the legal fray over smart phone patent infringement, lashing out at Google’s Android. The telecommunications giant is suing Google for billions of dollars over claims the Android operating system infringes on a number of its key patents, adding to the intellectual property actions already taken by Apple, Oracle, Microsoft, eBay and Gemalto against Mountain View. The lawsuit was filed in the US District Court for Delaware and relates to six patents, which BT said are infringed by Google Maps, Google Music, location-based advertising and Android Market products on Android. According to the lawsuit, “BT brings this action to recover the just compensation it is owed and to prevent Google from continuing to benefit from BT’s inventions without authorization.” The filing goes on to name a number of US patents BT applied for and, except for one, were granted in the 1990s, which it alleges Android is infringing on. If successful, the suit could mean Google or the mobile’s handset makers will have to pay BT royalties on each Android handset in use and that is produced. That could be expensive business – Android is currently the bestselling smartphone globally, with its handsets making up more than 40 per cent of sales and more than 40 million produced every quarter. Florian Mueller, an independent expert who closely follows international patent litigation, said: “Android already had more than enough intellectual problems anyway. Now Google faces one more large organisation that believes its rights are infringed

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Timeline lands in New Zealand

The tides of change have arrived at the social network, as Facebook officially debuts its Timeline feature to users in New Zealand. “Starting today, we are making Timeline more widely available as we measure speed and other types of performance. We’ll begin by making it available to people in New Zealand and then roll it out more broadly in the near future,” product manager Samuel Lessin wrote on the Facebook blog . Following the announcement of the social network’s new look and feel at the f8 developer conference in September, Facebook rolled out the Timeline feature to a test group of developers and users – promising to eventually roll out gradually to its 800 million users worldwide. The timeline will reorganise the way information is presented and allow users to set custom photos on their profile pages, hide stories and share others widescreen, listen to music and share ‘apps’ with their friends. “Back in the early days of Facebook, your profile was pretty basic – just your name, a photo, where you went to school…

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Timeline lands in New Zealand

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Microsoft gets in on the app action

Microsoft is looking to get in on the app action, taking on Apple and Google with the launch of their own “app store.” The Windows Store is slated for a late February opening along with the release of a test version of Microsoft’s next generation Windows 8 operating system. “I think we are going to do great,” Windows Web Services vice president Antoine Leblond said. “The reach of Windows is absolutely huge and can’t be matched.” To date, Windows has only had a small presence on smartphones and tablets, where the majority of third-party applications are bought. As a result, applications written for the Windows Store will work on any devices powered by the Microsoft Software – allowing them to be downloaded to smartphones and tablet devices as soon as they become available on the market. Additionally, the Windows Store is being pitched as a welcomed alternative to the Apple App Store – which notoriously puts applications through a strict vetting process before approving them to be sold online and requiring financial transactions to be done in-house. “Today, one of the most frustrating things for building apps are the constraints on what you can do and what you can sell,” said Leblond. “Developers create apps to put in Apple’s App Store only to have Apple stand between them and the customer while taking 30 per cent. We won’t get in the way of your app and your business model.” The Windows Store will let developers set their own prices for applications in a range from $1.49 to $999.99, and will also support free applications that make their money through advertising. Microsoft will take 30 per cent of the revenue from application sales, but after selling $25,000 worth of applications, the developer’s share will increase to 80 per cent

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Microsoft says Yahoo!

Reports that Microsoft may be eyeing a stake in Yahoo surfaced for a second time as rumours continue to circulate that several groups are preparing to bid for a minority stake to help return Yahoo to its halcyon days. According to CNET , Microsoft is just one of several high-profile investors teaming up in a venture led by equity firm Silver Lake to bid for a stake in the company. Though reports remain officially unconfirmed, sources close to deal are reporting that Yahoo’s financial advisors set a deadline for bids early this week, and the board of directors is expected to discuss potential deals immediately. Since the departure of Bartz in September, reports Yahoo was “open to selling itself to the right bidder” have circulated, with industry experts speculating a number of different options going forward – including sale and restructuring. “The question is whether Yahoo can be a growth company again,” said a source close to the situation . “And that is still unclear.” One of the most significant changes in the rumoured deal would see investor and Netscape co-founder Andreessen Horowitz – who already serves on the board of directors at Hewlett Packard – installed as chief executive.

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Gaming and social media on agenda for ‘Next Gen’

Tech-savvy learners may soon have the opportunity to get hands-on with computer science and development at an earlier age. Creative industries minister Ed Vaizey has called for reform in school curriculum relating to IT and computer sciences lessons, following recommendations in a report conducted earlier this year. The minister believes changes to the school curriculum incorporating a wider range of technologies, including video games and social media, could help keep the UK “at the forefront” of that business sector. Vaizey’s comments were set out in the ‘Next Gen’ report – an independent study commissioned by the Department for Culture, Media and Sports in July 2010 and published earlier this year. The report contains 20 detailed recommendations for the government, industry and schools to consider. “The economic and cultural value of the UK’s video games and VFX sectors is clear and the long-term potential of their global markets present a great opportunity for UK-based businesses,” Vaizey said . “It is an industry that has real potential to create the high quality jobs of the future that will be so important as we recover from the recession

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HMV to offer online film rentals

Entertainment retail chain HMV has announced the launch of its online rental service to prop up dwindling sales from its retail stores. The retailer is teaming up with FilmFlex to offer film rentals of new releases at hmvon-demand – the new site devoted to the rentals initiative. Despite expanding its in-store offerings – HMV now offers everything from music and film to books, electronics and merchandise – stiff competition from online retailers has caused sales to plummet. Last year, the retailer’s pre-tax profits tumbled from

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