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.

More on [ Computer ]

eWeek - RSS Feed

RIM BlackBerry 6 Details Continue to Emerge
Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:19:56 -0400
Building up to its BlackBerry 6 OS rollout, RIM continues to share details, in an effort to build excitement. Users can expect a new home screen design thats “fresh, but familiar.” - Research In Motion continues to work to build excitement around BlackBerry 6, its newest operating system, slated to debut in the third quarter. Slicker than its predecessor, BlackBerry 6 is part of RIMs plan to more effectively compete against the Apple iPhone and the growing number of high-powered...
Adobe to Buy Day Software for $240 Million
Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:34:36 -0400
Adobe Systems has announced plans to acquire web content management software provider Day Software for $240 million. - In a move to beef up its ongoing play for the attentions and purse strings of enterprise, Adobe Systems has announced plans to acquire web content management software provider Day Software for $240 million. In a press release announcing the acquisition, Adobe said its acquisition of Day will streng...
Jurisdiction and Cloud Security Location Location Location
Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:34:03 -0400
When data is hosted on your property, there is a level of protection from law enforcement agencies and civil suits. By moving data to a cloud you may be decreasing your protection from search by law enforcement and civil plaintiffs. In several recent cases, law enforcement agencies have gone after the digital assets of a company suspected of criminal activities. And in the process, they seized assets of uninvolved companies simply because their applications or data shared the same server or equipment rack. - Video Content.
Web 20 Security Concerns on the Rise
Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:33:59 -0400
The benefits of Web 2.0 applications are being embraced by workers for their information sharing and collaborative capabilities. Unfortunately, the security issues associated with this class of applications is becoming an ever-growing concern. In many cases, the lack of company oversight and inability to enforce of corporate policies can expose a company to risk. - Video Content.
Leveraging Presence to Speed Business Processes
Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:33:56 -0400
Most organizations have formal business processes for handling everything from approving vacation days to authorizing purchasing agreements. In many cases, these processes are automated where electronic documents are routed to the correct person based on pre-set policies. This video will discuss how such common processes can be refined and optimized by introducing an element of presence awareness to ensure the right person is available as critical documents and multi-step tasks flow through an organization. - Video Content.
FCC Consumer Website Offers Telecom Information
Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:05:23 -0400
Want to know more about SAR levels? Bill Shock? Broadband rates? The FCC has launched a Consumer Help Center portal, empowering consumers to read up, leave comments or file complaints themselves. - The Federal Communications Commission is launcing a Consumer Help Center site, where consumers can get the latest information about telecommunications issues raised before the FCC, seek tips before making communications purchases, add their opinions to issues that interest them and file complaints a...

The Seattle Times: Business & Technology

Review: Hulu Plus takes television to your pocket
Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:58:06 -0700
Hulu, the popular website with TV shows, now comes as a subscription-based application for iPhones and iPads. Although it isn't perfect, it works well enough that it may make you wonder if the TV's reign as the center of family life is coming to an end.
How the major stock indexes fared on Wednesday
Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:57:08 -0700
Investors cashed in some of their recent gains Wednesday after the Federal Reserve gave them more confirmation that the economic recovery is slowing. The Dow Jones industrial average fell almost 40 points after the Fed released its regional survey of the economy, a report known as the "beige book."
ICG reports lower Q2 profit due to one-time costs
Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:56:06 -0700
International Coal Group says second-quarter net income fell nearly 57 percent due to the cost of ending a supply contract early and refinancing debt.

NYT > Technology

Telefónica Wins Control of Brazilian Operator After Raising Bid
By RAPHAEL MINDER Wed, 28 Jul 2010 11:20:02 -0000
The Spanish company managed to overcome opposition from the Portuguese government to buy out the stake held by Portugal Telecom.
Sprint Nextel Reports Gain in Subscribers
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:23:37 -0000
Despite the overall gain in customers, the wireless phone provider posted a quarterly loss because of tax issues.
G.M. Puts $41,000 Price Tag on the Volt
By NICK BUNKLEY Wed, 28 Jul 2010 06:21:53 -0000
The carmaker has begun taking orders for the plug-in vehicle, which is expected to be at dealers in November.

CNN.com - Technology

Three common e-mail blunders to avoid
Wed, 28 Jul 2010 09:47:11 -0400
Composing an e-mail is kind of like making out: Everyone assumes they know what they're doing, but in reality plenty of people could use some pointers.
'StarCraft II' lives up to 11 years of hype
Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:21:56 -0400
Few games live up to 11 years of anticipation, but "StarCraft II's" slick upgrades mean the sequel's got a shot.
Angry 'Winnebago Man' a hit on web, in film
Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:04:58 -0400
It's hard to remember, but viral videos actually existed before YouTube.

NPR Topics: Technology

Logging On Helps People Lose Weight
Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:25:00 -0400
People who regularly checked in online, participated in weight loss chatrooms and emailed with experts kept more weight off than those who didn't.
Redefining Empathy In Light Of Web's Long Memory
Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:00:00 -0400
In an era when 75% of employers research applicants online, erasing youthful indiscretions is next to impossible. Jeffrey Rosen accepts that parts of private lives become public on the Internet, but hopes that it will lead us to be more forgiving of one another's missteps.
Report: Google Developing Facebook Rival
Wed, 28 Jul 2010 08:45:00 -0400
The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that Google has been talking to companies that make social networking games. Games like Farmville, which is played within Facebook, draw tens of millions of players a month and are potentially lucrative for the sites that host them. Earlier this year, Google unveiled a networking service called Buzz, but critics complained about privacy concerns.

BBC News - Technology

100m Facebook users' data published
Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:13:06 -0000
Details of more than 100 million Facebook users have been harvested and published on the net by a security researcher.
Nintendo game copiers 'illegal'
Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:10:50 -0000
A High Court has ruled that devices that allow gamers to play pirated video games on the Nintendo DS console are illegal in the UK.
Legal action on 'zombie cookies'
Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:39:54 -0000
Lawsuit filed in San Francisco district court after firms resurrected deleted browser cookies.

Reuters Video: Technology

Potato battery -- new and improved
Wed, 28 Jul 2010 13:01:01 -0400
July 28 - Israeli researchers develop a more efficient version of the age-old child's science experiment, the potato battery, which could provide a cheap source of electricity in the developing world. Stuart McDill reports.
Panasonic launches 3D camcorder
Wed, 28 Jul 2010 05:56:01 -0400
Jul. 28 - Reuters Television is the first media outlet to get a hands on demonstration of the world's first 3D camcorder which has just been officially unveiled by Panasonic.
Studying a shark's sense of smell
Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:01:38 -0400
July 26 - Scientists are studying a hammerhead shark's sense of smell, using the first detailed model of the inside of a shark's head. The results could help devise ultra-sensitive sniffing devices. Jim Drury reports.

AP Top Technology News At 5 p.m. EDT

Review: Hulu Plus takes television to your pocket
PETER SVENSSON Wed, 28 Jul 2010 20:57:16 -0000
By PETER SVENSSON 2010-07-28T20:57:16Z NEW YORK (AP) -- Hulu, the popular website with TV shows, now comes as a subscription-based application for iPhones and iPads. Although it isn't perfect, it works well enough that it may make you wonder if the TV's reign as the center of family life is coming to an end....
WikiLeaks: We don't know source of leaked data
By RAPHAEL G. SATTER Wed, 28 Jul 2010 20:22:43 -0000
By RAPHAEL G. SATTER 2010-07-28T20:22:43Z LONDON (AP) -- WikiLeaks' editor-in-chief claims his organization doesn't know who sent it some 91,000 secret U.S. military documents, telling journalists that the Web site was set up to hide the source of its data from those who receive it....
What your phone app doesn't say: It's watching
By JORDAN ROBERTSON Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:15:27 -0000
By JORDAN ROBERTSON 2010-07-28T19:15:27Z LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Your smart phone applications are watching you - much more closely than you might like....

CNET News.com

Subscribe to Computers RSS feed