The Story Behind The Blackberry Fall

(Credits: Jon Fingas/Engadget.com)

BlackBerry is in dire straits. The smartphone maker was riding high in market share and profits just a few years ago, but it's now having trouble securing rescue money. It's yet again pinning its hopes on a new CEO who's tasked with saving a struggling industry giant. How did BlackBerry decline so quickly, though? And what might happen to the company when seemingly every option is on the table? As it turns out, BlackBerry's descent into trivial market share figures andsustained losses stems from a mixture of hubris, sluggishness and misplaced effort -- and there's no clear solution in sight. READ MORE

iPad Air Receiving Positive Reviews

(Credits: Apple Hot News)

The first iPad Air reviews are in from The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The New York Times, and others. And the reaction is overwhelmingly positive.

Walt Mossberg of The Wall Street Journal says iPad Air is “raising the bar,” calling the redesign a “feat of design and engineering.” He notes the battery test “far exceeded Apple’s claim” and “blew me away.”

Ed Baig of USA Today declares iPad Air the best yet and “better than its already best of breed predecessors, superior still to each and every rival big screen slate that I’ve tested. Apple dominates the tablet apps ecosystem. Its tablet remains the easiest to use.”

Damon Darlin at The New York Times writes, “Compared with the other tablets on the market, Apple still holds the edge.” He highlights many of iPad Air’s key features including size, battery life, processing power, storage, and Wi-Fi with MIMO.

On his blog, David Pogue is impressed with the battery life, speed, and design of iPad Air, stating, “Somehow, Apple was able to put the iPad on such a radical diet without sacrificing any of its features.” READ MORE

Google Maps updated for iOS 7 with new features

(Credits: Michael Grothaus)

Google has updated Google Maps for iOS, adopting iOS 7 design elements and some additional features. While the app has been iOS 7-compatible since the new OS became available, it still featured older iOS 6 elements, most noticeably in the iOS 6-style keyboard.

Version 2.4.3 features the new translucent iOS 7 menu bar as well as the iOS 7-style keyboard. But design tweaks aren't the only change. Google has also introduced a few new features, including the ability to quickly access the map and upcoming departures in transit directions preview and an improved hotel search.

Keep in mind that hotel search results now display sponsored rates and booking links (i.e., ads), but this is Google, after all, and advertising is its bread and butter. READ MORE

Android 4.4 KitKat renewed photo editor

(Credit: Nicolas Roard Google+)

Google revealed many things about Android 4.4 KitKat on the software's launch day, but it glossed over one of the sweetest treats for shutterbugs: a much more advanced photo editor. As the company's Nicolas Roard demonstrates, creatives can now apply effects, filters and adjustments at very precise levels, down to specific color channels and regions. Mobile artists can create presets, and every change is non-destructive -- it takes just a a couple of taps to revert to the original image. The new tool is built into KitKat's Gallery app, so just about any Android device that uses the standard photo browsing interface will reap the rewards. READ MORE