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AP Technology NewsBrief at 4:33 p.m. EDT(Associated Press Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Apple's magic enthralls Main Street., Wall StreetSAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ It's easy to forget now, but Apple's magnetism was once confined to a cult-like following of geeks seduced by the elegance and simplicity of the company's computers. Over the past decade, though, Apple has emerged as a trendsetter and a wealth-making machine _ the rare company that appeals to the cool cats hanging out in hip cafes and the fat cats looking to make another killing on Wall Street. Without Jobs, Apple must show it can still deliverSAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ With Steve Jobs bowing out as CEO, Apple Inc. must persuade investors and consumers that it doesn't need the force behind the iMac, iPod, iPhone and iPad in charge to keep the technology hits coming. Tim Cook, his hand-picked successor, has handled the top job repeatedly in the absence of the ailing Jobs, who resigned as chief executive Wednesday and was elected chairman of Apple's board. Though not nearly as recognizable as Jobs, Cook had been running Apple since January. The company's stock rose 62 percent when Cook was in charge in the first half of 2009, and it gained 8 percent since Jobs announced his most recent leave. Apple stock recovers from shock of Jobs resigningNEW YORK (AP) _ Apple shareholders on Thursday appeared to be getting over the sudden resignation of Steve Jobs. Apple Inc. shares fell $4.03, or about 1 percent, to $372.16 in midday trading, but the entire market was down by an equal amount as well. In extended trading Thursday evening, the fell more than 5 percent after Apple said Jobs would step down as CEO and hand the job to chief operating officer Tim Cook. With Jobs out as CEO, Apple looks to the futureSAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ Since Steve Jobs' return to Apple Inc. in 1997 as CEO, the company has been on an unparalleled upswing, highlighted by the immense popularity of the iPad and iPhone. Now, with Jobs no longer leading, Apple will have to prove it can keep its momentum. If the recent past is any indication, the company will continue to move forward. AMD names new CEO from LenovoNEW YORK (AP) _ Chip maker Advanced Micro Devices Inc. has named an executive from PC maker Lenovo Group as its new CEO Thursday, giving him a mission to improve the struggling company's finances and turn the rise of smartphones and tablets into an opportunity rather than a threat. Rory P. Read, who was Lenovo's chief operating officer, takes the helm of AMD from Chief Financial Officer Thomas Seifert, who had served as interim CEO since January, when Dirk Meyer was ousted. Seifert remains the company's CFO. Insulin pump maker identified after hacking talkSAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ When Jay Radcliffe revealed three weeks ago that he'd found serious security holes in a popular type of insulin pump that diabetics wear, he kept two important details secret: the pump maker's name, and the specific technique he used to hack the device. The problems he found carry exceptional risks, such as being able to program a special remote control to command strangers' pumps to dispense the wrong dosage of insulin. But Radcliffe said he was ignored in repeated attempts to alert the company to the defects. On Thursday he identified the company _ Medtronic Inc. _ in an effort to apply public pressure to fix the vulnerabilities. Review: Sifteo a fun but pricey new way to playNEW YORK (AP) _ I am sliding three little cubes around my desk. My goal is to help a penguin named Booker collect a bunch of eggs and avoid being eaten by a horrific creature named Owlbear. It's a lot of fun. This new form of entertainment is called Sifteo Cubes. These blocks, about the size and shape of a small jewelry box, exist in that rare but intriguing realm between digital video games and hands-on-toys, an experience that's both on-screen and tactile. Social media firms meet UK govt for riot talksLONDON (AP) _ More than two weeks after riots, Britain's government and police met social media executives Thursday to discuss how to prevent their services from being used to plot violence. But authorities did not seek new powers to shut down Facebook, Twitter or BlackBerry Messenger in times of crisis. In Jobs' second act with Apple, a dramatic revivalSAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ Steve Jobs' resignation as Apple Inc.'s CEO on Wednesday was freighted with sentimental significance, the curtain call on a dramatic 14-year performance in which he rescued one of the world's most beloved brands from the brink of technological irrelevance. As second chances go, Jobs' stewardship of Apple since returning in 1997 to the company he created with a high school friend in a Silicon Valley garage in the 1970s is widely seen as nothing short of first-class. And his job isn't done; he's staying on as chairman, where it remains to be seen how meaningfully his role in product design will change. Apple fans: Company is more than Steve JobsNEW YORK (AP) _ Apple fans and would-be customers seemed to agree that while Steve Jobs' charisma and innovative genius is one-of-a-kind, the company he built will survive without him. After he resigned as CEO of the iconic gadget maker, Jobs was not the topic of conversation. (c) 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |