Mourning the loss of a tech icon (week in review)
Apple co-founder Steve Jobs dies, while Apple disappoints some with new iPhone. Also: Yahoo and RIM back in play?
Steve Jobs, an iconoclast who changed the way we do everything, from how we listen to music and watch movies to how we teach our children, died this week at age 56.
The Apple co-founder and most recently chairman of the company had been suffering from various health issues following the seventh anniversary of his surgery for a rare form of pancreatic cancer in August 2004. One of the most legendary businessmen in American history, Jobs turned three separate industries on their heads in the 35 years he was involved in technology.
• Friends, rivals, officials mourn
It's difficult to overstate how dramatically Jobs reshaped how we interact with computers. The irascible, brilliant impresario led a transition from minicomputers and IBM PCs squashed into beige metal boxes to the Macintosh, the iPhone, and the concept that technology should be fun to use.
• With Pixar, Steve Jobs changed the film industry forever
• Steve Jobs and the business of design
• Jobs' lesson: 'Stay hungry, stay foolish'
• An Apple without Steve Jobs
• Complete CNET coverage
A day earlier, Apple unveiled it much-anticipated new iPhone, which will sport a dual-core A5 processor, offering the device twice the processing power and seven times the graphics power of its predecessor. And it also will have a new 8-megapixel camera with face detection. The upgraded camera will also be able to record video in full HD (1080p) at up to 30 frames per second.
Even though the announcement of the new iPhone 4S may have disappointed some fans because it was not the hoped for redesign known as the iPhone 5, the new device is an improvement over the previous version of the iPhone.
• The Apple iPhone 4S letdown: Why it doesn't matter
• The real reason there's no iPhone 5: The carriers
• Complete Apple iPhone 4S coverage
Apple demonstrated an intelligent voice recognition app called Siri that turns the iPhone 4S into a personal assistant. The app, which uses natural language, is still in beta tests. But it will likely become a feature on the soon-to-be-released iPhone 4S.
More headlines
Microsoft reportedly mulling bid for Yahoo
Redmond may be interested in a second run at buying the troubled Internet portal, though this time it may have more competition.• Yahoo no longer playing hard-to-get, report says
Ice Cream Sandwich to launch next week
The next version of Google's mobile operating system is expected to be released at the Samsung Unpacked event, according to a placeholder on an official developers channel.• Android widens smartphone market lead over iOS
• Mango available for half of all Windows Phone users
• Samsung's next Android phone looks a lot swoopier
• Android running as test app on HP TouchPad
Microsoft to bring cable programming to Xbox
The software giant announces long-rumored deals with 40 television content providers to bring cable content to Xbox Live.• Big day for film fans: Netflix earnings on Oct. 24
RIM just looks like a bargain
The BlackBerry maker would seem to be an attractive acquisition target. Unfortunately, a takeover is unlikely, leading one analyst to maintain his negative view on the company.• RIM execs don't want to buy stock either, report says
Benioff removed as speaker at OpenWorld
Marc Benioff, Salesforce CEO and onetime close friend of Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, blames the Oracle boss for the move.• Benioff: Oracle should just have ignored me
Also of note
• Google senior management not using Google+?
• Microsoft delivers Zune player's last rites
• Google paying $100 million for YouTube content, report says