New Tech Sinks or Swims Based on Whims

Walt Mossberg looks back on two decades of reviews

(NEWSER) - Remember when revolutionary dial-up modems arrived on the computer scene or when America Online debuted? Walt Mossberg does, and the Wall Street Journal tech reviewer looks back on 20 years' of columns. Some of the milestones he picks out:

• His first line in 1991: "Personal computers are just too hard to use, and it's not your fault."
• First "pocket" phone: In 1992, he called Motorola's MicroTac Lite the first pocket-size mobile. It was an inch thick, weighed under half-a-pound—and cost about $2,000.

With Steve Jobs' ailing health, company looking at options: Journal

(NEWSER) - As much as Apple fans might believe otherwise, Steve Jobs might not be able to run the company forever. With the company CEO on another medical leave , some board members have held discussions with recruiters and the head of another big tech company to talk about succession, says the Wall Street Journal . It describes the talks as an "informal exploration of options." More»

Light shines through dark background, new owners complain

(NEWSER) - The iPad 2 is still brand spankin' new to the market, but glitch reports are already coming in: Apple's latest darling may have a “bleeding” problem, Gizmodo reports. Check out the video in the gallery: Light shines oddly from the side of the machine, cutting through an image that’s supposed to be all black. It’s not yet known whether this is a general problem or just an issue in a few machines—but with blogs like Engadget also reporting the story, Apple may be in for a headache. More»

Recessions don't kill innovation

(NEWSER) - Who says the worst recession since the 1930s means you can't debut a great product? The Huffington Post lists 9 hugely successful ones launched in tough economic times:

• iPod: Apple unveiled it less than 2 months after the September 11 attacks, amid the resulting recession.
• Microsoft Office: Bill Gates launched it at the end of the downturn of the late '80s, and HuffPo notes that the company itself began amid recession in 1975.

Apple's new music offerings a mixed bag

(NEWSER) - Apple’s new line of iPods is up to its usual high standards, but the Ping social networking service that comes along with it is “socially awkward,” writes Katherine Boehret of the Wall Street Journal . The new “remarkably thin” iPod Touch has nifty new features, like front- and back-facing cameras capable of taking “beautiful HD video,” while the revamped Nano gets a touch screen, while shrinking to half the size of the last model. More»