COMPANIES

National Australia Bank's (NAB) weak UK business caused the company's yearly profit to go down 22 per cent by $1.1 billion to $4.1 billion in the year to Sept 30, NAB reported on Wednesday.

The Australia Post announced on Tuesday the launch of its digital mailbox, which would serve as a digital storage vault for Australians and would connect consumers with banks, utility companies and government agencies.

New smartphone and similar devices had been released recently by familiar names in the technology business such as Samsung, Apple, ASUS and Microsoft, bearing different flagships from three operating systems - Android, iOS and Windows. But they are not the only ones competing in the tech war, Sony, LG, and Motorola have their own devices with Android OS to join the fray for enthusiasts and users, the Xperia SL, Optimus G and RAZR I, respectively.

Heading into the last quarter of 2012, the smartphone industry remains largely a duopoly by Apple and Samsung, with the two giants gobbling 108 per cent shares of profits as of September 2012.

How is Windows 8 faring so far? If Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer is to be believed, products running the cross-platform operating system are getting their shares of ‘wow’ compliments from admirers.

Google unwrapped on Monday three fresh devices that were meant to make shopping a tad more exciting for the holidays and they came emblazoned with the now popular Nexus brand, which means Google engineering prowess has been poured bit time for these gadgets.

A few years ago, Nokia was the top mobile phone with users comparing one Nokia model with another handset from the same Finnish company. Nokia attempts to recapture its glory, lost to Apple and Samsung mainly, by launching its Lumia series.

Microsoft’s Windows 8 has so far generated mixed reviews though tech experts were somewhat in agreement that the cross-platform OS was not as intuitive as that of Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android.

Nokia is waging war and making a beachhead first is foremost to the Finnish firm's near-term goal of at least surviving in the smartphone territory, which at the moment is presently dominated by Apple and Android handsets.

There are several changes and improvements from Windows 7 to Windows 8 on computers, tablets and smartphones. Windows 8 has allowed these three classifications of devices to sync with each other and even allows one another to use features that are normally exclusive to just one type.

LG recently released a new addition to its Optimus line of smartphones, offering a high speed, latest technology and durable device.

The Electrical Trades Union (ETU) has ordered its members of stop working on electric meters in homes constructed before 1983. The order is in response to a hazard warning that Sydney-based company, Endeavor Energy, issued to its workers due to risks from asbestos exposure.

American PC maker Dell is gearing up for a price war with the newly released Microsoft Surface by placing on its Web site the XPS 10, its 10.1-inch Windows RT table, as available for pre-order.

Due to Australia's geographical location, Aussies were among the first in the world to purchase the rolled out Windows 8 operation system by Microsoft, as well as new devices that run on the OS.

For two quarters in a row, Apple failed to even equal market expectations, departing from its famed reputation of measuring up or even exceeding the figures churned out by market analysts.

Samsung Electronics has again romped its way to record sales numbers in Q3 2012, pocketing $US7.4 billion in operating profits mostly on the back of close to 60 million Android smartphones the tech giant has shipped out in the period.

Cupertino-based Apple, after dominating the larger tablet market it popularized, has turned its attention to the slightly smaller screen. The 7.9-inch iPad Mini has Apple's attention to style and detail behind it, but it certainly isn't the only gadget that size worth looking into, especially with the Mini's stepped-down processor and screen resolution.

Samsung continues to attempt to provide one of the most robust smartphone line-ups ever through gadgets devices like the Galaxy S3 Mini that offer consumers more Android smartphone options. One new handset, the Galaxy Premier, has surfaced with the first actual picture of the phone finally leaked.

Personal computers will inevitably be relegated behind the pacesetting smartphones and tablet computers, research firm Gartner said in a new report made public on Wednesday, adding that mobile phones are likely to emerge as the preferred computing tool by 2013.

The spotlight is on Microsoft this time as it launches Windows 8, leaving the tech world wondering if smartphones and tablet computers running on the new operating system would measure up with Apple and Android devices.

Droppings from Blantyre Farm's 22,000 pigs helped the enterprise be on record as Australia's first farm eligible to earn carbon credits under the Gillard government's carbon farming initiative. The hog manure is converted to methane through the commercial-scale system built by Quantum Power that the farm operator installed.

The ANZ Banking Group will have less believable reason not to pass in full any future overnight cash rate cuts to be made by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) since it reported on Thursday another record-breaking profit.

Gina Rinehart, Australia's richest woman, had her sweet revenge on Wednesday against the Fairfax Media board which slammed the door on her face a few weeks ago when she sought a director's seat.

While Apple and Samsung were generating so much hoopla in the mobile devices industry, a silent but key player was gradually creeping in and by Q3 2012, South Korea’s LG Electronics is back in black.

With the official release of Windows 8 on Friday, Microsoft has created a tablet PC to compete with other similar devices from iOS and Android and even from other manufacturers that will use the same operating system.

The Optimus G, since it was designed to a flagship standard and powered by the latest in handheld computing, cannot hope for a warm welcome from its competitors. However, it is due every bit of their respect. Although LG is not asking for it, the technology giant is apparently ready to earn it.

Apple recently added three attractive colours to the latest iPod Touch edition, giving consumers more funky options to best represent their unique taste and apparently making it easier for them to buy the upgraded gadget.

Apple has officially unleashed the iPad Mini with company executives insisting that global consumers will not be getting a watered-down version of its bigger sibling – what will be rolled out come Nov 2 is an entirely new gadget, said the tech titan.

While Australian consumers are reeling from spiraling electricity bills by up to 60 per cent, power utilities are raking it in by overcharging households and businesses by up to $3 billion.