IBM executive says PC era is in its twilight

IBM executive says PC era is in its twilight
Dean continues. "When I helped design the PC, I didn't think I'd live long enough to witness its decline. But, while PCs will continue to be much-used devices, they're no longer at the leading edge of computing. They're going the way of the vacuum tube, typewriter, vinyl records, CRT and incandescent light bulbs." So, what's replacing the PC? While Dean mentions the obvious candidates--tablets and smartphones--he claims it's not really the devices but "that innovation flourishes best not on devices but in the social spaces between them, where people and ideas meet and interact. It is there that computing can have the most powerful impact on economy, society and people's lives." Dean adds that IBM is building up its service and software capabilities through acquisitions, especially in analytics. Since 2001, IBM has acquired more than 127 companies for a combined total of $33 billion, he wrote. Needless to say, this isn't the first time a tech industry luminary has declared that the PC is dead.In fact, Former IBM CEO Lou Gerstner said something eerily similar back in 1999.But somehow the PC goes on.And I suspect will continue to thrive in the form of the Ultrabook and MacBook Air or any number of new laptop designs that come out over the next few years.

HTC to be at One with gold hue, too-

HTC to be at One with gold hue, too?
Apple's iPhone 5S might not be the only gold-colored smartphone on store shelves soon.A China-based Sina Weibo user on Friday published photos of what the person says is a new HTC One featuring a gold finish. The part in the image appears to be authentic, but it's impossible to know for sure if it's the real thing or simply a prototype that will never come out.However, according to Engadget, which earlier reported on the image, the person who posted the gold-colored HTC One also showed off a Blue HTC One that was subsequently announced by the company, so he or she has some credibility.That HTC could be working on a gold-tinted smartphone indicates that the market might soon follow Apple's lead and offer the color to customers, as well. Apple announced the iPhone 5S earlier this week and is offering it in black and in white, as well as the gold finish. The "gold," however, is more champagne-colored than anything else. The device shown in the leaked Sina Weibo image appears to have about the same tone.CNET has contacted HTC for comment on the image leak. We will update this story when we have more information.

HTC takes Apple patent battle to U.K.

HTC takes Apple patent battle to U.K.
Bloombergreported today that the suit was filed on Friday in London. The suit comes two weeks after HTC suffered a blow when the U.S. International Trade Commission made an initial ruling that the Taiwanese company had violated two of Apple's patents. The U.K. suit represents a heightening of the tensions between the two companies even as HTC has said it was willing to talk with Apple to resolve the dispute outside of the courtroom. The U.K. notice didn't specify the nature of the lawsuit, Bloomberg said. For Apple, this is just the latest in a long line of legal developments. Earlier today, it had successfully gotten Samsung to halt sales of the U.S. version of its Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Australia, pending the resolution of its suit there. HTC, meanwhile, has attempted to shore its position with the pending acquisition of S3 Graphics, which has some patents that Apple is allegedly using without permission. As one of the primary beneficiaries of the rise in interest for Android smartphones, HTC was Apple's first target as it went after smartphone makers. The move is seen as a way by Apple to intimidate and slow down its competitors, many of which are gaining ground on the company. Apple wasn't immediately available to comment on the latest lawsuit.