2010: The tech world in January

0Daniel Ionescu • 9th Jan 2010 • PC World

This year has started in force, with a great bunch of posts for PC World, some more controversial than others. Here’s a recap of the first ten days of 2010 (newest at the top).

Google Nexus Two Phone to Focus on Business
The Nexus One smartphone might be a delight for consumers, but Google plans to approach the business-minded customers as well in a future iteration of the product, says Google’s Andy Rubin, quoted by Reuters.

Palm On the Right Path With Pre Plus, Pixi Plus
Competition in the smartphone market continues to heat up, with Google’s Nexus One ready to take on Apple’s iPhone. But Palm is not sitting idly by. At the Consumer Electronics Show this week, Palm announced upgraded versions of its Pre and Pixi smartphones, and announced that its devices would be coming to more carriers.

Apple Puts Lala Music Service to Work
Apple has put to use its acquisition of the Lala service from late last year, now allowing 30-second song previews in the Web-based version of the iTunes Charts. The quietly-launched feature completes the experience of the iTunes Web preview, initially launched in November 2009.

Why the Microsoft-HP Tablet Is a Big Disappointment
Apple must be patting themselves on the back, as the Hewlett-Packard (HP) tablet unveiled by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer on Wednesday night failed to wow those expecting a true competitor to the mythical Apple tablet.

Microsoft Tablet to Beat Apple to the Punch?
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is ready to introduce on Wednesday night a slate form-factor computer to rival the yet-unannounced Apple Tablet, according to reports. It’s not the first time Microsoft has delved into tablets, but the Redmond company hopes it will be luckier the second time running.

Why the Nexus One Makes Other Android Phones Obsolete
The Google Nexus One, unveiled on Tuesday, has all the bells and whistles to challenge Apple’s ever-popular iPhone — thanks in large part to the slick new version of the Android OS that it runs. But if you use an earlier Google Android phone, don’t hold your breath waiting for the latest version of Android to make its way to your handset. It will likely be a while before you get to taste the entire Nexus bonanza.

An Affordable $199 Tablet for Everyone — And It’s Not From Apple
Just as the rumors of a pricey Apple tablet computer have reached a high-water mark, Freescale Semiconductor on Monday showcased reference designs of an affordable, lightweight tablet computer, set to hit the market later this year.