Features

• Google woos developers as software becomes more important

  Google did its best to court developers at this year's I/O conference with a much-needed integrated developer environment, API for better games and the ability to more easily translate apps. Their allegiance will become increasingly important as smartphone and tablet hardware sees fewer dramatic improvements.

• Analysts challenge Microsoft's commitment to Windows RT

  One of Microsoft's top Windows executives this week said the company remains bullish about Windows RT, but analysts remain suspicious of RT's chances unless Microsoft makes changes.

• Opinion: What I learned living abroad as a digital nomad

  Digital nomad Mike Elgan returns to the US. after 10 months of travel and shares these tips for working and living abroad.

• Blackberry CEO's comments ignite debate on future of personal computing

  BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins' prediction that tablets would decline in popularity provoked debate on what will happen over the next five to 10 years to smartphones, tablets and laptops -- even wearable computers -- and what devices users might eventually prefer.

• Apple confident about iPad Mini despite low margins

  Six months after its launch, the iPad Mini is a drain on Apple's profits, but the company is willing to endure the financial strain as long as it can sell more iPads, analysts said.

• Mac sales growth stalls -- here's why Apple doesn't care

  Apple's Mac has been punished by shifting consumer tastes just as has the overall PC industry, data from the company's earnings statements show.

• Is Android in the business world to stay?

  It's official, and it's been official for a while -- Android is far and away the most popular smartphone OS in America. Ever since January 2011, when the platform surpassed RIM to take the top spot for the first time in comScore's monthly market share rankings, Google's operating system has continued to grow its user base, which accounts for 52% of the market as of this January.

• Wello aims to bring the gym home through live training service

  Maggie Perkins was mulling whether to give up her gym membership when she tried out Wello, whose fitness trainers offer workouts through live two-way video feeds. Four months later, she has no regrets about her decision to forego the gym.

• Back up, wipe and restore your iPad

  If you're planning to sell or give away your iPad, then it is essential that your personal information and data be erased from it. If it's running sluggish after a few years, sometimes backing up your data, erasing it from the tablet and restoring it might improve performance.

• Opinion: iPad vs. PC - sometimes the accepted wisdom is right

  It's clear that hardware makers are experimenting far more with Windows devices than Apple is with the iPad. But that does that herald a revival of the PC?

• Opinion: To Surface or not to Surface

  Microsoft needs to make up its mind whether it wants to stay a software company or if it's really serious about being a hardware power as well.

• The lazy geek's guide to building a home media center

  Anything less than a DIY digital home entertainment project means making the most of Apple TV

• Mac sales tank in 4Q from iMac shortages, cannibalization

  Mac sales plummeted in the fourth quarter of 2012, falling 22% from the same period the year before, with computer sales accounting for a record low percentage of Apple's total revenue of $54.5 billion.

• Preview: Sony Xperia Tablet Z

  Sony has lifted the lid on its latest Android tablet, a 10.1in device that's thinner than Apple's iPad mini.

• AMD passing on phones, focusing on tablets and hybrids

  The PC market may be taking a beating but chip maker Advanced Micro Devices is has no plans to move toward the hot new market: smartphones.