Microsoft's Courier Tablet Is 'Astonishing'

Political workaround unlikely to go anywhere

(NEWSER) - The US has officially cut off all funding to the UN’s Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization over its acceptance of Palestine as a full member. The impact will be felt immediately, because the US had a $60 million dues payment due in November, the AP reports. The Obama administration’s hands are effectively tied by an existing law prohibiting the US from supporting a UN agency that accepts Palestine, though a State Department spokesman hinted that it might "work with Congress" to get around the law, Politico reports. More»

Shift illustrates tech industry's move away from PCs

(NEWSER) - Microsoft, once the world’s most valuable tech company, has now fallen to third place. IBM surpassed Microsoft yesterday to take the second-place spot, as its market value rose to $214 billion and Microsoft’s fell to $213.2 billion. It marked the first time IBM’s closing prices exceeded Microsoft’s since 1996, Bloomberg reports. The new rankings illustrate the industry’s shift away from the personal computer: IBM sold its PC business six years ago and now focuses on software and services for the government and corporations; Apple, of course, surged past Microsoft to claim the No. 1 spot last year thanks to its iPhones, iPods, and iPads. More»

Flash lovers, rejoice!

(NEWSER) - Surely you’ve heard by know that Amazon’s Kindle Fire tablet isn’t an iPad killer . But it does have a few desirable traits that the iPad doesn’t. The Huffington Post lists six of them:

• It supports Flash: Many iPad and iPhone users wish that Apple would take a page from Amazon’s playbook when it comes to this.
• It’s cheaper: A Kindle Fire (which does not offer 3G) will run you $199. For the cheapest iPad 2 model, which also does not offer 3G, you’ll shell out $499.

It'll be a competitor, but Apple has little to fear

(NEWSER) - Amazon’s new Kindle Fire has been getting a lot of hype as an “iPad killer,” but Apple shouldn’t exactly be quaking in its boots, opines John Paul Titlow of ReadWriteWeb . “As far as hardware is concerned, the Kindle Fire looks more like a cross between the Nook and the BlackBerry Playbook than an iPad copycat.” It’s got no camera, no 3G, no microphone, no accelerometer, and it’s smaller to boot. More»

Petitions prompt Microsoft, Apple to cut connection to charity group

(NEWSER) - Apple, Microsoft, and an array of other online retailers have found themselves at the center of a gay-rights battle, the New York Times reports. The retailers have been tied to an Internet marketer, the Charity Giveback Group, that receives a commission when it sends the retailers an online customer. There's nothing unusual about the arrangement—except that part of that commission goes to a Christian charity selected by the customer, and the list of charities said customer has to choose from includes Christian groups that loudly oppose homosexuality. More»