InformationWeek: The Business Value of Technology

HP TouchPad Tablet: Visual Tour

The newest competitor in the tablet wars has finally arrived. HP's TouchPad running WebOS is a very compelling hardware and software combination that proves easy to use. It's not completely polished, however. Here's a look at the star features.

14 Cool Mobile Apps From Uncle Sam

From a NASA app that keeps you up to date on space news to a Smithsonian app that shows what you'd look like as a caveman, federal agencies have cooked up innovative mobile apps for iPhone, Android and BlackBerry users. Here are 14 of the most popular.

Apple iCloud Purchasing First Look

Apple's iCloud will give you the ability to see all apps you've purchased on any of your iOS devices and download them to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch without a wire in sight. Join BYTE executive editor Brian Burgess for a look at the service that will show you what to expect.

Sony Xperia Play Teardown

UBM TechInsights looks inside the Android-based Xperia Play from Sony Ericsson, the first "PlayStation Certified" smartphone.

12 Hot Mobile Medical Apps

Mobile medicine is everywhere. There's the iPhone app that lets you cut away images of muscle layers to see what lies beneath, an e-health record system for the iPad, and a smartphone-based blood pressure monitor. Here are a dozen innovative ones.

Lookout Mobile Security Protects Android Smartphones

For a while now, it seems as if malware that targets smartphones has been more of a theoretical exercise as opposed to a real threat. And mobile security software is one of the last things that many people and businesses think they need. But the recent outbreak of Android-based malware, which has led to reportedly tens of thousands of people becoming infected by malware found in more than fifty apps in the Android Market, could be the first sign of the new age of mobile threats.

RIM BlackBerry PlayBook Teardown

UBM TechInsights takes a look under the hood at yet another tablet. Inside RIM's new BlackBerry tablet is the TI OMAP 4 processor, a six-axis gyro and some other fun hardware goodies.

Top 10 Mobile Apps For Business Collaboration

Collaboration is one of today's strongest business trends, fueled in part by advances in (and employees' experiences with) social media. The ability to exchange ideas and communicate about activities has proven wildly popular in the social sphere -- why not in the business one as well? And recognizing this demand, vendors are making tools available that enable teams to keep track of each others' progress on a group project, exchange information about tasks and contacts, and otherwise work together more smoothly and conveniently. At the same time, though, the trend toward worker mobility continues to grow. More and more workers find themselves working out of the office, on the road or telecommuting, and keeping in touch via their smartphone. These 10 mobile apps will keep the collaborative momentum going no matter where you are.

NFC, Pico & Audio: Mobile Chips In Full View

Many new mobile technology enhancements, from NFC to 4G to just plain old audio calling, are possible thanks to the silicon that makes it all so. At Mobile World Congress, there are as many chip manufacturers as any other mobile ecosystem player, and we met with everyone from Samsung to Intel to Qualcomm to Texas Instruments. Everyone's heard of them, but some of the most innovative advancements come from companies that are a bit more behind the scenes. Here are a few of our favorites from this year's event.

Mobile Wow: NTT Docomo's 3D Touchable Display & More

Mobile World Congress has its fair share of prototype technology, which is always a good way to get inspired about the future of mobile computing. NTT Docomo's advanced technology concepts always bring a big crowd and this year was no exception with its 3D touchable display. We also saw an interesting demonstration of remote printing from HP, and we revisited one of our favorite new technologies, the Motorola Atrix with Laptop Dock. And of course, our slide show wouldn't be complete without a cameo from some of our crew.

As Seen At Mobile World Congress, Day 2

It is nearly impossible to see every product spinning through the eight halls that make up the massive Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. But not for us! This event is typically a chance for the entire mobile ecosystem to gather -- mobile operators, handset manufacturers, software providers, mobile service companies, carrier equipment manufacturers and mobile operating system vendors. Most of the new technology is incremental in nature, but it's always fun to see what new ideas pop up. What follows is just a small handful of the products we've seen so far. More to come.

Mobile World Congress: Samsung Announces GalaxyS II Phone, Galaxy Tab 10.1

Samsung is using Mobile World Congress as its own personal stage. Before the world's biggest mobile event kicked off, the company putting on quite a show itself, with dancers, a live orchestra and, oh, yes, some new devices, too. Namely, a second generation smart phone (Galaxy S II) and a 10-inch tablet (Galaxy Tab 10.1). These devices will be available in February and March, respectively, but, in typical Samsung fashion, only in Asia and Europe at first. The company will make a North American announcement here as well. We were there to capture the event (and nibble on some food), and we were also whisked away to play with the new products.

Slideshow: HP Tablet Announced

We are here at beautiful Fort Mason in San Francisco on a spectacular day. The Bay is sparkling, Alcatraz beckons (for some of us), and somewhere inside the theater HP is making all the final preparations. The line to get in is already pretty long, and growing. We are about to see the launch of a new lineup of HP mobile products based on the company's WebOS platform.

12 Money Saving Tech Tips For SMBs

Smaller companies are under constant pressure to maximize their performance with minimal resources. However, you can't do business without technology -- and tech means spending money, something there never seems to be quite enough of for growing businesses. You keep a vigilant eye on costs as a matter of course. So you need to be creative to get what you and your employees need -- from phone service to software to desks and chairs -- without busting the budget. No matter what your business needs, with a bit of effort and due diligence you'll find that you can have your tech and save on it, too. Here are 12 ideas for reducing the budget burden of the business tools you need to succeed.

Top 10 SMB Predictions For 2011

We dusted off an old piece of tech -- the crystal ball -- to see what the New Year has in store for small and midsize business. 2011 will without a doubt be the year when "trend" becomes "normal" in a variety of business areas, from mobility to virtualization to social marketing. And while certain industry lingo might simply become part of the everyday vocabulary, the term "SMB" itself is likely to be thrown around even more loosely than it was in 2010, by vendors, politicians, and a host of other interested parties. Here's 10 calls about what SMBs should expect to see in the coming year, with some thoughts on how these trends may impact them.

15 Green Tech Innovations

Cost-savings and energy efficiencies go hand-in-hand. The poor economy and a collective awareness of the finite resources available to the world are encouraging businesses to invest in green technologies. In fact, 60% of companies now have green criteria for their technology purchases, a Forrester Research study found. Cutting costs is the primary motivator, while real or anticipated regulatory issues and pressure from buyers also ranked high, the report said. Only 30% were driven by their desire for environmental stewardship, Forrester said. Economic realities and environmental commitments have spurred businesses to invest in green technologies and practices to boost the bottom line and appeal to increasingly eco-conscious customers. These 15 leading green technologies that have big potential or are already making an impact.

Obama's Tech Tools

As a candidate, Barack Obama benefited greatly from the power of the Internet, tapping Web tools to reach, motivate, and collect funds from millions of people across the country. As president, Obama has cemented his role as the nation's most connected president to-date, incorporating technology as a cornerstone of key initiatives from healthcare reform to education. Taking a page from corporate America, Obama hired a chief technology officer to oversee the nation's IT direction. And, though he has publicly claimed ignorance about iPads, iPods, and popular gaming systems, Obama has long been known for his reliance on a BlackBerry, an addiction that required approval from the Secret Service for security reasons.

Top 10 Mobile Stories Of 2010

As the workforce became increasingly mobile, developers hustled to ensure their phones, tablets, and notebooks were the products of choice for these increasingly dispersed employees. The smartphone wars heated up, as Apple, Google, Research In Motion, Nokia, and Microsoft battled for dominance. In addition to facing-off over hardware features and capabilities, many phone operating system developers competed over retail outlets and handset manufacturers. They also lured developers to build applications -- both commercial and free -- for their platforms, resulting in tens of thousands of apps addressing everything from business to entertainment to the absurd. The world of mobile computing was on a roll this past year, as vendors vied for unfettered consumers and workers through a slew of increasingly sophisticated devices. Here's are 10 of the biggest mobile stories of the past year.