GPS

Almost every worker has done it: gotten in a little Facebook updating, personal e-mailing, YouTube watching and friend calling while on the clock.

Such indiscretions often went undetected by company management everywhere but the most secure and highly proprietary companies or governmental agencies. Not anymore.

Firms have become sharp-eyed, keenly eared watchdogs as they try to squeeze every penny's worth of their employees' salaries and to ensure they have the most professional and lawsuit-proof workplaces.

Competitors in the fast-moving tablet-computer category are lining up to take on Apple's iPad. Hewlett-Packard is the latest to preview its upcoming slate product, and other companies like Lenovo, Sony, Dell and Acer are similarly positioning their products.

The HP tablet runs Windows 7, and was first previewed by Microsoft at the Consumer Electronics Show in January. HP published some details on its company blog last month and updated the information with a posting Monday that includes two promotional videos. The videos show a tablet device running Flash and responding to hand gestures.

The old-school practice of American graffiti may have met its match in some high-tech prevention programs designed to spot, report and remove the blight from city and private property.

The latest weapon comes in the form of an iPhone application, developed by a Los Angeles company, that will allow cities to catalog graffiti, dispatch cleanup crews and provide key evidence to police.

Dave Munger in Seed Magazine:

Apple's new iPad tablet computer may be fine for surfing the web and watching surfing movies, but Panasonic Computer Solutions thinks many field workers need a tougher companion. On Wednesday, the maker of Toughbook mobile computers released its Toughbook H1 Field, described as "the world's most rugged handheld tablet computer."

The new model is targeted at field sales personnel, first responders, supervisors, inspectors, maintenance workers, and other mobile professionals.

No Wimp

The 2010 rendition of the Macworld Expo kicked off in San Francisco today, although this time without a major Apple presence. The annual five-day event will showcase hundreds of Mac products and services, expert advice, and demonstrations -- but this year mobile apps may steal the show.

According to expo organizers, Macworld 2010 is hosting the largest viewing of applications for Apple's iPhone and iPod touch. Attendees can test-drive more than 100 of the hottest apps from companies like TomTom, Tap 11, and BeeJive.

Apple Launches Aperture 3

Verizon Wireless said Wednesday that it will launch another Android-based smartphone from Motorola next month. The Motorola Devour will be the first phone on Verizon's national network to feature MOTOBLUR -- an application and service suite that provides users with dynamically pushed Internet content via a unique user interface.

Sony Ericsson has taken the wraps off a new smartphone called Aspen that is based on the latest release of Windows Mobile from Microsoft. Together with Sony Ericsson's recently announced Android-based XPERIA X10 device, the new Aspen handset forms part of the company's new strategy for addressing the lack of a significant smartphone in its product portfolio.

Sony Ericsson has taken the wraps off a new smart-book device called Aspen that is based on the latest release of Windows Mobile from Microsoft. Together with Sony Ericsson's recently announced Android-based XPERIA X10 device, the new Aspen handset forms part of the company's new strategy for addressing the lack of a significant smart-book device in its product portfolio.

Google on Thursday launched a click-to-call feature for its mobile advertisements. The new function works with the iPhone, Android-based devices, and other smartphones. The AdWords function lets consumers call a vendor by clicking on a link that displays the phone number rather than clicking through to a web site and searching for the number.