B & B

NEW YORK: With consumers eagerly awaiting the release of two new iPhones this week, the more dramatic change may be in the software, not the hardware. The new mobile operating system called iOS 7 became available Wednesday, providing users of iPhones and iPads a bolder look, which may be a shock for some, but which Apple hopes will keep its fans happy and draw new customers. "It is a major upgrade," said Gerry Purdy, analyst and consultant with Compass Intelligence who follows mobile technology. "This...

NEW YORK: BlackBerry on Friday said it would cut 4,500 jobs as the struggling Canadian smartphone maker retrenches in the face of hefty losses and weak sales of its new handsets. BlackBerry said it expects a loss of US$950 to US$995 million in second quarter mostly due to writedowns linked to poor sales of its Z10 smartphone, the device aimed at reviving its fortunes in a market dominated by Android and Apple. The company's highly-publicised launch of the BlackBerry 10 platform earlier...

SEOUL: Samsung said Wednesday it would unveil a smartphone with a curved display in October -- a technological innovation aimed at maintaining its lead in a lucrative but increasingly saturated market. Curved displays are at a nascent stage in display technology which is shifting towards flexible panels that are bendable or can even be rolled or folded. "We will introduce a smartphone with a curved display in October," Samsung mobile business head of strategic marketing D.J. Lee told reporters. He...

MOFFETT FIELD: NASA is preparing to launch a 3-D printer into space next year, a toaster-sized game changer that greatly reduces the need for astronauts to load up with every tool, spare part or supply they might ever need. The printers would serve as a flying factory of infinite designs, creating objects by extruding layer upon layer of plastic from long strands coiled around large spools. Doctors use them to make replacement joints and artists use them to build exquisite jewelry. In...

The Galaxy Note 3 release date revealed tons of killer features for the third-gen phablet but beyond the monster quad-core processing chips and its massive Super AMOLED 5.7-inch display screen, two new functionalities deserve more than a second look. One of the easily noticeable distinctions of the Note 3 from its Sammy cousin, the Galaxy S4, or any other handsets already out in the market is the large connectivity port located at the bottom of the device. According to Droid Life,...

At first glance, unemployment statistics in the United States suggest that the country is beginning to experience a period of sustained economic growth. From a starting point of 7.9% in January of this year, the national rate of unemployment tumbled to 7.6% in June as a growing number of firms continued to hire steadily and without interruption. Even as unemployment benefit applications rose by 16,000 during the first week of June, this was consistent with the level of tentative growth that...

For many people, being able to work at home gives them the best of both worlds; they have the job security and income of a regular full-time job, without the time, expense and hassle of going to an office. The financial industry has seen an increasing number of jobs in this sector moving to become...

With accusations flying that Facebook is gaming its own algorithms so that users have to pay for ads to reach followers who used to see their stories automatically, many companies are looking at alternatives for online marketing. The situation isn't that simple, and Facebook will likely remain an effective marketing tool in the future, but it may be worth diversifying a company's marketing strategies now while the opportunity presents itself. There are plenty of alternatives out there,...

Many people dream of starting their own businesses, but not everyone is cut out for this line of work. Being employed by someone else offers a slew of advantages, from health insurance and matching retirement contributions to a regular schedule and the company of coworkers. If you're thinking...

An entrepreneur is a person who organizes, manages and assumes the risk of a business venture or idea for the sake of profits. Entrepreneurs have awareness to spot opportunities, the creativity to innovate, the confidence to take risks and the tenacity to turn concepts into successful businesses....