BUSINESS

The U.S. Patent Office granted on Tuesday to Apple a patent for a system that implements multi-touch in a mobile device even if the display is not actively displaying any images, Tech Crunch reported. At the same time it helps save battery life.

Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO), the second-largest miner in the world, is having problems over rising costs at its Oyu Tolgoi copper mine as well as a planned progressive royalty scheme being introduced.

We’ll get to see first the second generation Nexus 7 and the Motorola X-Phone, likely the bearer of Google’s Key Lime Pie, prior to the anticipated release of the Nexus 5 smartphone, a new report said.

Move over, 7-inch and 14-inch tablets. Large-screen computing devices are being introduced into the market as Dell rolled out this week its XPS 18 model which features an 18.4-inch touchscreen, while InfoTouch rolled out its 55-inch AiO desktop.

Apple’s iPad 5 and iPad Mini 2 release date is reportedly delayed due to a supplier’s component shortage. Nissha, the main supplier of thin-film touch sensors for the Apple devices, revealed that the lack of production capacity caused the release date be pushed back to Q4 of 2013.

“Blame it on the camera,” is the apparent narrative behind the funky release date for the HTC One, which new reports said will likely take place late April 2013.

Early trade on Wednesday has seen an improved tone compared to recent days. Investors have chosen to focus on the improved economic readings from the US in the last 24 hours rather than lingering European concerns. In Europe overnight there were modest gains for core markets (France, Germany, and UK etc.). Although financial stocks dragged the Spanish and Italian markets lower. In the aftermath of the Cypriot bailout, investors continue to reflect on the possibility that depositors could abandon...

U.S. carrier T-Mobile has indicated that Samsung’s Galaxy S4 will hit its distribution channels by May 1 with starting price of $US100 while in the United Kingdom the new Android handset goes on sale beginning April 26.

'Can you by legislation add one farthing to the wealth of the country?' Richard Cobden asked the House of Commons on 27 February 1846.

T-Mobile, the fourth largest cellular network in the U.S., is attempting to change the rules of the game in the telecom industry by ditching the two-year mobile phone contracts. The company introduced on Tuesday a different pricing structure in a bid to regain 500,000 postpaid customers it had lost.

Natural Death of Sundance Takeover?

BlackBerry is attempting to regain its lost crown in the smartphone market by even advertising the BB 10 in rival mobile units that operate on competing OS, particularly the iOS and Android.

By Greg PeelThe Dow rose 111 points, or 0.8%, while the S&P gained 0.8% to 1563 (2 points shy) and the Nasdaq added 0.

HTC One is a crucial device carrying the future of its maker and is expected to change tide, refining the design to near perfection. HTC hired the best engineers and put every single effort to create a groundbreaking device to compete with Samsung's Galaxy S4.

Local stocks fell back into the red today, after the Dutch Finance Minister spooked investor sentiment claiming the Eurozone bailout for Cyprus could establish a template for other EU nations needing financial rescue. He then tried to backtrack, saying each case would be dealt with on a merit basis, but the damage was done with US markets closing lower.

The state government of Victoria has appealed to its Victorian teachers to accept its latest and final counteroffer of 2.5 per cent a year pay rise over three years plus extra for productivity gains if only to put an end to their long-running industrial dispute as well as to avert the planned mass work stoppage by the teachers on April 30.

Online leaks of the upcoming Windows Blue, the next version of Windows, indicate that it would have features that would make it easier to use both its Metro and Desktop interfaces.

There are three reasons why Blackberry Z10 is better than the iPhone 5 in the area of repairability. ifixit, a tech repair Web site, just gave the BB Z10 an 8 out of 10 score, beating iPhone 5's 7.

Global markets have seen volatile trade in the last 24 hours. European stock indices rose in the early part of their session as investors celebrate the announcement of a Cypriot bailout. The celebrations were short lived. Market turned south after Eurogroup Chairman Dijsselbloem suggested that the Cypriot deal should be used as a template for future Eurozone bank "bail-ins". Previously rhetoric from officials had made the point that the Cypriot measures, particularly around depositors, wer...

It looks like budget phones will create a considerable scene this year and Nokia will not be left behind as the Finnish mobile device maker is all set for the global rollout of the Nokia Lumia 520, which is the Lumia 521 for U.S. buyers.

Sony’s latest gaming console, the PlayStation 4, will soon deliver its promised high-level and new entertainment environment but the box it will replace remains a must-buy and with the release of new titles plus more in the pipeline, a PlayStation 3 purchase today has never been more compelling.

The state government of ACT on Tuesday unveiled plans to extend Canberra's central business district, which will include a set of new swimming facilities, residential apartments, commercial spaces, a convention centre and a sports stadium.

The testing for Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean has began, and devices from 4.0 ICS going to Jelly Bean under the Galaxy tab 2 line up should received their updates in September 2013 if nothing goes wrong with the performance testing.

Canon announced the availability in Australia of the PowerShot SX280 HS that features the brand's proprietary High Sensitivity (HS) system known for providing good performance despite low light.

By Andrew NelsonThe focus has started to shift from Asia to the US as the hoped for driver of economic momentum, but Asia is by no means dead yet.

By Greg PeelThe only nuclear reactors operating in Japan today are units 3 and 4 at Ohi. They restarted generation in June last year a following the government's reassessment of its nuclear power industry but preceding the establishment of a new Nuclear Regulatory Authority in the country.

The two biggest mining companies in Australia are expanding their driverless trucks fleet to protect their profits from the volatility of commodity prices in the international market.

By Greg PeelThe Dow closed down 64 points, or 0.4%, while the S&P fell 0.3% to 1551 and the Nasdaq dropped 0.

The tiny island nation of Cyprus appears to have secured a bailout, reaching a deal with its international creditors. It means Cyprus won't have to leave the Eurozone which has alleviated some contagion fears. As part of the deal, - Cyprus's second largest bank will be closed and the government will receive €10 billion in financing from the Eurozone. Today's breakthrough saw the Euro rise, along with Asian markets today.