Features

• Review: Apple's new 21.5-in. iMac

  There's something different about Apple's latest iMac, and it's obvious even before you see it. The peculiarly shaped box it ships in hints at the design changes made to this model, which was unveiled by Apple in October and is only now shipping in significant numbers.

• The pros and cons of an Apple-Intel divorce

  There's no need for an OS X-iOS merger, but Apple could ditch Intel in its Macs -- or adopt Intel in the iPhone and iPad

• The pros and cons of an Apple-Intel divorce

  There's no need for an OS X-iOS merger, but Apple could ditch Intel in its Macs -- or adopt Intel in the iPhone and iPad

• New smartphone OSes bet on Web techs and improved UIs

  In the next 12 months, smartphones with five new operating systems are scheduled to go on sale, leaning on Web technologies and improved user interfaces to try and make a dent in the dominance of Apple's iOS and Google's Android.

• Dude, we're gonna need more wireless

  If this year's CES demonstrated anything, it's that we're going to need bigger, less expensive wireless networks to accommodate the wave of products, apps and services on display in Las Vegas

• No Microsoft at CES 2013? No problem

  Microsoft won't have its signature mega-booth at International CES 2013 starting next week in Las Vegas, but that's not expected to lessen the trade show's impact, or largesse.

• 2012: The year Android truly challenged iOS

  Android 'Jelly Bean,' Samsung's Notes, and Google's Nexuses finally delivered compelling capabilities as Apple stalled

• Patent cases color mobile market, to continue in 2013

  Over the past year, patent battles have been fought by tech companies in courtrooms all over the world. The litigation is far from over though, however, and will continue throughout 2013. This is what's at stake on the patent battlefield in the near future.

• A short history of NFC

  To understand where the technology is going, it's helpful to understand where it's been. And a bit about how it works, too.

• Despite Apple, NFC is catching on -- just not for payments quite yet

  Near Field Communication will become widespread at some point, most observers agree, especially if Apple eventually puts NFC in an iPhone.

• In pictures: Google Maps for iOS

  Google has finally released its long-awaited Maps application for iOS.

• 2012: The year in quotes

  Some of the most memorable IT-related quotes were uttered in courtrooms this year, which involved a steady stream of legal challenges about intellectual property. In no particular order, these are some of the comments that stuck with us as 2012 winds to a close.

• Worst security snafus of 2012

  The first half of 2012 was pretty bad - from the embarrassing hack of a conversation between the FBI and Scotland Yard to a plethora of data breaches - and the second half wasn't much better, with events including Symantec's antivirus update mess and periodic attacks from hactivists at Anonymous.

• Apple's iMac on the road to irrelevance

  Sales of Apple's iMac, the computer often credited with saving the company, have peaked and by the end of 2014 will account for approximately 2% of the firm's revenues, analysts now say.

• Opinion: Apple after Jobs ... a whiff of "slapdashery"

  If there's one thing there's an inexhaustible supply of it's negligence. The Big N appears everywhere and it's indefatigable. As soon as you let your guard down for a second, it jumps up, slaps you upside the head, and runs around causing chaos.