portable device

Japanese electronics giant Sony has been busy developing new handheld devices in an effort to better compete in the mobile market. Under way is a suite of new devices, including a PlayStation game-playing phone.

For decades Sony has kept its focus on consumer electronics. When the company wanted to compete in the mobile-phone market, it formed a joint venture with Ericsson. Now Sony is expanding its presence in the smartphone and portable-device market.

Even as rumors spread about the iPhone coming to new carriers next year, Rockstar Games has announced plans to bring its blockbuster franchise to Apple's iPhone this fall. But will App Store reviewers approve the violent game?

Rockstar Games, the publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, said it's bringing Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars to the iPhone and iPod touch. Rockstar also announced its Beaterator is coming to the Apple devices.

As netbooks gain market share, industry observers have been asking if Apple is going to jump into this product category. According to The Wall Street Journal, the company may be preparing to do just that -- with the guidance of CEO Steve Jobs.

Android, Google's open-source operating system for mobile devices, is beginning to spread to other devices. According to a report in Sunday's New York Times, T-Mobile is planning to take the lead in that migration, rolling out Android on a variety of new consumer devices.

The world's top virus hunters are watching every move made by the attacker in control of a nasty new Internet worm -- referred to as "downadup" or "conficker."

What worries them most is that the person, or group, controlling the worm could at any time direct the PCs to carry out criminal activities on an unprecedented scale. And there's not much anyone can do to stop them.

The attackers could use the infected PCs to steal data, spread spam or commit other routine cybercrimes.

The world's biggest to-do list, on the desk of President Barack Obama, now has one less item. Obama will keep his BlackBerry.

Among the many issues the new president faced, the tug-of-war with his security team on continuing to use his portable device received more than its share of attention. But, in the post-partisan manner favored by the 44th president, a compromise was announced on Thursday.

'Use Will Be Limited'

Android, the open-source mobile platform spearheaded by Google, is gaining favor with developers and online media. At its Google I/O conference in San Francisco last week, Google showed off a variety of new Android tricks to the nearly 3,000 developers in attendance. According to news reports, the developers were favorably impressed, and media outlets are teeming with reports on the conference.

Movement-Sensitive Street View

A big hit was a demonstration of Google Maps Street View and a touchscreen interface with a unique navigational approach.

Microsoft placed a bigger bet on Zune this week, as it announced enhancements it hopes will solidify Zune as "the company's all-in-one digital entertainment brand." The Zune brand includes digital audio players, software, and an online music store.