A computer is a machine for manipulating data according to a list of instructions known as a program.

Computers are extremely versatile. In fact, they are universal information-processing machines. According to the Church–Turing thesis, a computer with a certain minimum threshold capability is in principle capable of performing the tasks of any other computer, from those of a personal digital assistant to a supercomputer, as long as time and memory capacity are not considerations. Therefore, the same computer designs may be adapted for tasks ranging from processing company payrolls to controlling unmanned spaceflights. Due to technological advancement, modern electronic computers are exponentially more capable than those of preceding generations (a phenomenon partially described by Moore's Law).

Computers take numerous physical forms. Early electronic computers were the size of a large room, and such enormous computing facilities still exist for specialized scientific computation — supercomputers — and for the transaction processing requirements of large companies, generally called mainframes. Smaller computers for individual use, called personal computers, and their portable equivalent, the laptop computer, are ubiquitous information-processing and communication tools and are perhaps what most non-experts think of as "a computer". However, the most common form of computer in use today is the embedded computer, small computers used to control another device. Embedded computers control machines from fighter aircraft to digital cameras.

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Apple iPhone 4S: 10 Alternatives to Consider Before You Buy One
Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:14:49 -0500
Theres little debating that the iPhone 4S is an outstanding device. The smartphone comes with Apples Retina Display, an 8-megapixel camera and support for the virtual personal assistant Siri. Depending on a customers desire, it might just come with many of the features theyre looking for, and at a price of just $199 with a two-year contract, its a worthwhile option. However, just because the iPhone 4S is a worthwhile purchase, it doesnt mean that it should be the automatic choice of people shopping for new mobile products. There is a crowd of companies offering highly sought-after devices that, in one way or another, could be a better option for the average consumer than Apples iPhone 4S. But its not just todays products. One should also consider that in the coming months, several devices will be launching that might just make the iPhone 4S look rather obsolete by comparison. One of the best options might turn out to be Apples next smartphone release, the iPhone 5. This eWEEK slide show looks at some of the products you should take a look at before the iPhone 4S: - ...
Motorola Shipped 1 Million Android Tablets in 2011
Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:08:09 -0500
Motorola Mobility saw an $80 million loss for the fourth quarter, largely due to costs from its impending acquisition by Google. - Owing to write-off costs from its impending acquisition by Google, Motorola Mobility (NYSE:MMI) Jan. 27 reported a net loss of $80 million for the fourth quarter 2011 on 27 cents earnings per share (EPS), compared to a profit of $80 million for Q4 2010. The Android phone and tablet maker's r...
Gigamon Expands Traffic Visibility Portfolio
Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:39:52 -0500
The products double the density for the Gigamon H Series family and deliver 40Gb connectivity in preparation for the next upgrade cycle. - Traffic visibility solutions specialist Gigamon announced that it has expanded its portfolio of solutions to further help enterprise managers to gain visibility of all traffic traversing their networks. The launch of two products, the GigaVue-TA1 and the GigaPort-Q02X32 H Series line-card, which com...
Small Business Knowledge of Cloud Capabilities Grows: Fonality
Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:38:04 -0500
The study concluded that cloud-based unified communications (UC) could eliminate productivity shortfalls among SMBs. - Small businesses are increasingly becoming educated about the benefits cloud computing holds for their companies, according to a report from Fonality, a business communications company. Fonality released the results of a survey conducted by Webtorials, which measured 2012 communications goals...
Enterprises Are Embracing BYOD, Not Resisting It: Study
Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:00:36 -0500
An Avanade survey finds that IT administrators and business executives are embracing the dual ideas of the consumerization of IT and BYOD. The resistance to these charges is a "myth." - The idea that IT professionals and business leaders are resisting the consumerization of IT and the trend of bringing your own device (BYOD) to work is myth. On the contrary, more and more people are embracing these notions and trying to incorporate them into the workday, according to a recent s...
Google Tells Android Developers to Stop Using the Menu Button
Fri, 27 Jan 2012 02:36:15 -0500
Google is telling Android developers to stop using the Menu button when building apps and move to the Action Bar, which was introduced with Android 3.0 Honeycomb. - Google is telling Android developers to stop using its Menu button and begin using the Action Bar that was introduced with the Android 3.0 Honeycomb release. Scott Main, lead tech writer for developer.android.com, penned a Jan. 26 blog post titled quot;Say Goodbye to the menu Button quot; to ...

The Seattle Times: Business & Technology

Finance chiefs reassure CEOs over European crisis
Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:19:10 -0800
Leading finance chiefs sought to reassure anxious global business leaders on Friday that Europe is on track to solve its crippling debt crisis before it drags the world's economies down. Europe's top banker said investors, burned after trusting the region's governments too much, now trust them too little.
Economy grew modest 2.8 pct. in Q4, best in 2011
Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:18:08 -0800
The U.S. economy grew at a 2.8 percent annual rate in the final three months of last year, the fastest growth in 2011.
Eastman Chemical buying Solutia for about $3.38B
Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:17:17 -0800
Specialty chemical company Eastman Chemical Co. is buying Solutia Inc. in a cash-and-stock deal valued at about $3.38 billion to broaden its presence in the Asia Pacific region and other emerging markets while expanding its product offerings.

NYT > Technology

For $2 a Star, a Retailer Gets 5-Star Reviews
By DAVID STREITFELD Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:33:02 -0000
Agencies like the Federal Trade Commission have been trying to crack down on online product reviews that do not disclose the connection between a merchant and the person doling out the praise.
Victory on Antipiracy Issue Buoys Internet Lobby
By SOMINI SENGUPTA Fri, 27 Jan 2012 06:31:02 -0000
With their success against antipiracy legislation in Congress, the Internet industry and its allies are weighing their future as a political force.
AT&T Posts $6.7 Billion Loss on Failure of T-Mobile Deal
By JENNA WORTHAM Fri, 27 Jan 2012 06:00:35 -0000
AT&T posted a substantial $6.68 billion loss for the fourth quarter, primarily from the breakup fees incurred after the company’s failed bid to buy T-Mobile USA.

CNN.com - Technology

Twitter to delete posts if countries request it
Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:32:27 -0500
Online social networking site Twitter said Thursday it will begin deleting users' tweets in countries that require it -- but it will still keep those deleted tweets visible to the rest of the world.
Pinterest helps users catalog their passions
Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:05:04 -0500
For Heather Neroy, it used to be a tedious process: Whenever she came across an interesting arts-and-crafts project or recipe on the Internet, she would save it for later by copying the link, pasting it into an e-mail and sending it to herself.
We're losing control of our digital privacy
Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:26:59 -0500
The millions of Americans who stood up against the Stop Online Privacy Act and the Senate's related anti-piracy bill should also be asking tough questions about the government's expanding surveillance powers.

Technology

Other File-Sharing Sites: 'We're Not Megaupload'
Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:01:00 -0500
The now-shuttered website's uploader rewards program paid those who put up the most-downloaded content — what might be seen as incentivizing piracy. Now, sites like MediaFire and RapidShare are trying to distance themselves from Megaupload's legal issues and make clear they don't run a similar program.
Apple Continues To Be Plagued By Reports On Labor Conditions
Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:38:00 -0500
Apple has been taking a lot of heat lately for working conditions at plants making its products in China. Some of the tech giant's largest suppliers are repeat offenders.
Google Revises Its Privacy Policy
Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:00:00 -0500
Google is revising its privacy policies and making it clear that information collected by one part of the company will be shared throughout Google's online empire. Privacy. advocates are criticizing the move.

BBC News - Technology

EU official quits in piracy row
Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:24:09 -0000
A European Parliament rapporteur stands down in protest as a controversial anti-piracy agreement is signed by several countries.
Twitter 'can censor by country'
Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:22:09 -0000
Twitter says it now has the technology to censor tweets on a country by country basis, as it continues to expand internationally.
FBI social network scraping app
Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:46:40 -0000
The FBI asks contractors to suggest a system that can "scrape" information from social networks to build alert maps.

Reuters Video: Technology

Samsung posts record Q4 earnings
Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:55:00 -0500
Jan. 27 - Samsung's quarterly earnings up 76 percent, with smartphones and chips driving profits. Arnold Gay reports.
Google at your own risk
Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:29:00 -0500
Jan 26 - Google's revised privacy policy is raising new concerns about consumers rights to their information on the internet and other connected products. Bobbi Rebell reports.
FACTBOX: Apple earnings send stock, expectations soaring
Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:06:00 -0500
Jan. 26 - Apple's stunning results for Q1 pushed its stock up and its market cap to $416 billion.

AP Top Technology News At 10:33 a.m. EST

Twitter may censor tweets in individual countries
By MICHAEL LIEDTKE Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:09:16 -0000
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Twitter has refined its technology so it can censor messages on a country-by-country basis....
Samsung 4Q profit rises 17 pct on smartphone sales
By SAM KIM Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:57:42 -0000
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- Samsung Electronics Co. reported a 17 percent jump in fourth quarter profit on t Subscribe to Computers RSS feed