COMPANIES

The United States's Department of Defense or Pentagon is considering ditching its exclusive contract with Canada-based Research in Motion (RIM), maker of the BlackBerry mobile phone, in favour of new deals with makers of the iPhone and Android cellphones.

Nokia was the holder for several years of the crown of having the most number of mobile phone users in the world. It all changed with the introduction of smartphones, powered by the regal system iOS, and the democratic approach of the Android Project. Nokia has joined the fray with Symbian; however, the phone line ups with this OS didn't last long.

Windows Surface has been released recently together with new Windows version - Windows 8. A lot of computer brands likewise rolled out their own devices such as smartphones and notebooks with the new OS.

The Star Wars storyline will remain faithful to its roots despite fears from hardcore fans that George Lucas yielding the franchise baton to Disney could lead to artistic decline.

Windows 8 is rolling out in stunning fashion, attracting millions to install the newest version of the Microsoft operating system barely a week after its launch, company chief executive Steve Ballmer said on Wednesday.

Apple’s iPad Mini will reign supreme in the 7-plus inch tablet class but it will not kill competitors like Amazon’s Kindle Fire and Google’s Nexus 7 – the smaller iPad is way too pricey to do that.

With Windows 8 launched late this October and several famous brands such as Lenovo, ASUS, Dell, and Microsoft itself releasing new devices that will run on the new OS, Samsung has made a new line of devices exclusively using Windows 8, which make this set of devices sync to each other. Samsung will tap in this new generation of Windows together with its features and amazing power.

Microsoft has officially launched the new version of Windows Operating System - the Windows 8, and many users of Windows have experienced and still more are experiencing the feeling of the OS.

Chip technology firm ARM spilled out on Tuesday its new line of processors that were aimed to capture more tech market segments apart from its present dominance in the mobile device sector.

The earth shook in the Apple board room this week and the disruption claimed two senior executives deemed by the Board of Directors to leave the company.

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.