Tablet Computers

Thailand plans to distribute about 1.7 million tablet computers to students and teachers this year in the world's largest handout of the devices for education, officials said Thursday.

A judge Monday ordered a 41-month prison sentence for a self-described "security research" hacker for breaking into the AT&T online network in a case criticized by digital rights activists.

Locked in a fierce battle in the smartphone market, South Korean giant Samsung unveils its latest device aimed at challenging Apple in its home market.

Amazon.com on Wednesday ramped up its challenge to Apple's iPads by trimming the price of its large-screen Kindle Fire and making the tablets available in Japan and Europe.

Andy Rubin, the brains behind the Google Android operating system which has become the dominant mobile platform, is stepping down as head of that division, the company said Wednesday.

Small tablet computers are marketplace hits, with economically-priced devices powered by Google's Android software taking share from Apple iPads, according to International Data Corporation.

News Corp. took the wraps off its new tablet computer for the school market Wednesday, saying the device would use "digital innovation to transform teaching and learning."

South Korean electronics giant Samsung is set to buy a three-percent stake in struggling Japanese rival Sharp via a capital increase, a press report said Tuesday, a deal that would give Samsung greater access to smartphone and tablet computer screens.

A booming market for smartphones and tablet computers was expected to drive the German IT sector higher in 2013, although growth was slowing slightly, said industry lobby BITKOM on the eve of the world's top high-tech fair.

A judge cut $450 million from a $1 billion award to be paid by Samsung in a landmark patent lawsuit from Apple, saying a jury had wrongly calculated the damages.

A judge invalidated some $450 million of a $1 billion award to be paid by Samsung in a landmark patent lawsuit from Apple, saying the calculation came from an "impermissible legal theory."

Jonathan Coon turned heads Wednesday with iPad software that lets people try on sunglasses by manipulating 3-D images of themselves from the neck up.

Hewlett-Packard on Monday said it is selling its webOS mobile operating system to South Korean consumer electronics titan LG to use in Internet-connected televisions.

Samsung on Sunday unveiled an eight-inch tablet with phonecall capability to rival Apple's recently launched iPad mini and to cement its market dominance by offering devices in a variety of sizes.

Facebook allowed users on Friday to make free calls to friends at the leading social network using its application tailored for iPhones or iPads.

Taiwan-based electronics maker HTC settled charges with US regulators that it failed to provide adequate security for smartphones and tablet computers sold to Americans, officials said Friday.

The global market for tablet computers surged 78.4 percent last year, with 128 million of the devices shipped, a survey showed Thursday.

Apple remains ahead of its rivals in the ability to innovate and "create magic" despite tougher competition in key sectors like smartphones and tablets, chief executive Tim Cook said Tuesday.

Apple is testing a watch-like device which could perform some smartphone functions, US media reports said Monday.

Google began letting businesses target mobile ads based on how close smartphone users might be to shops or what they might be craving at certain times of day.