New Tech Toys Boost Laptop, iPhone

FLA to audit working conditions at Apple suppliers

(NEWSER) - Apple, facing worldwide protests over conditions for workers who make its gadgets, says it has opened up its supply chain to a level of scrutiny unprecedented in the electronics industry. An outside group, the Fair Labor Association in Washington, DC, has been asked to audit conditions at the plants where most Apple products are made, and to make its findings public starting next month. More»

Users complain it's 'unusable'

(NEWSER) - Google finally released its long-awaited stand-alone Gmail client for iPhones, iPads, and iPods today—only to immediately pull it down after a flood of complaints over bugs. “The iOS app we launched today contained a bug with notifications. We have pulled the app to fix the problem,” Gmail’s official Twitter account said. “Sorry we messed up.” A brief message on Gmail’s blog said much the same thing. More»

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»

Apple also unveils new version of Mac OS

(NEWSER) - Steve Jobs took a break from his medical leave to show off some major new Apple software today, including its hotly anticipated new cloud computing service. The service, predictably dubbed “iCloud,” lets users keep all manner of data online, including books, apps, and music, syncing it all across multiple devices instantly. “We are going to demote the PC to just be a device,” Jobs said, according to the New York Times . “We are going to move… the center of your digital life into the cloud.” More»

The iKey? Why not?

(NEWSER) - Steve Jobs may be stepping back , but that’s no reason to stop being jazzed about all things Apple: The company snagged a whopping 563 patents last year, some of which are sure to eventually see the light of day. Mashable reports on 10 you should be particularly excited about:

• iBike: A smart bike concept that tracks data like your heart rate, the bike’s speed, and distance on your iPod or iPhone.
• Wand remote: A remote control for your Apple TV that functions like a Wii remote, using motion control.