Ryan: Apple "the world's biggest technology company"

Apple has pushed past arch-rival Microsoft to become the world's biggest technology company.

Changes in the share price values of the two in Wednesday's choppy trading left the total value of Apple at $222bn (£154bn).

Microsoft is now valued by investors at $219bn.

The worth, known as market capitalisation, is calculated by multiplying the number of shares in a company by the current share price.

Although Apple shares closed down 0.4%, Microsoft fell by 4%.

Apple, which makes computers, iPods, iPhones and now iPads, almost went out of business in the 1990s.

Its growth is partly owing to the launch of the stylish iPod in 2001.

Its compatibility with existing - but not mass-selling - Apple computers lead customers to engage with them, just as Microsoft's products looked set for long-term dominance.

Hey-day

Apple has to look back to late 1989 to see the last time it was ahead of Microsoft.

Microsoft, whose operating system runs on more than 90% of the world's personal computers, has not been able to match growth rates from its hey-day of the 1990s, although its last sales figures were still higher than Apple's.

This week sees the launch in Britain and eight other countries of Apple's iPad tablet computer.

Next month will see the unveiling of the next generation of the iPhone, something that has brought internet access on the move to the mass market, and led to an explosion in downloadable mobile "apps" - applications that enable a huge range of activities, from map reading to booking restaurants.

Ryan: newmacgeek YouTube channel recieves Partnership while YouTube hits 5 years

With great excitement I want to announce that the newmacgeek YouTube channel has been accepted into the YouTube partners program!

It has taken 2 years of hard work to get the channel to this level and we would not be there without your support and continued following!

I have released a video on YouTube to celebrate this ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Nb1U3c7q78 )

Also this week YouTube has reached 5 years of age and is now maturing it to the most commonly know resource for entertainment and research. So newmacgeek would like to thank and also congratulate YouTube and here is to the next 5 years!

Ryan: David Cameron take his place as the PM of the UK

Conservative leader David Cameron has become the new UK prime minister after the resignation of Gordon Brown.

Mr Cameron, 43, entered 10 Downing Street after travelling to Buckingham Palace to formally accept the Queen's request to form the next government.

He said he aimed to form a "proper and full coalition" with the Lib Dems to provide "strong, stable government".

His party won the most seats in the general election last week, but not an overall majority.

In a speech outside his new Downing Street home, Mr Cameron said he and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg would "put aside party differences and work hard for the common good and the national interest".

Ryan: Apple release UK iPad prices

Apple has revealed that the iPad, which will go on sale in the UK on 28 May, will cost £429 for the basic version. Prices go all the way up to £699 for the top of the range 64GB device with both Wi-Fi and 3G network access.

The Californian technology company, which has already seen sales of the iPad sail past the 1m mark after just a month in the shops, will open its website for pre-orders of the device to British gadget fans from Monday next week. Alongside the UK, the tablet computer will also be available on 28 May in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain and Switzerland.

Apple pushed back the international launch of the device last month, citing "surprisingly strong US demand". More than 500,000 were delivered to American retailers and customers in its first week on sale.

In the US, Apple has already sold more than 1m iPads and customers have downloaded more than 12m apps from the App Store, as well as more than 1.5m ebooks from the new iBookstore, Apple added.

In the past, Apple has come in for criticism for the difference between the prices of its products in Europe compared with the US. In the US the basic iPad costs $499, which at the current pound-dollar exchange rate is £338. Apple points out that there are different, and higher, taxes in Europe – the prices it is quoting include VAT – as well as increased transport and other costs.

Apple's price for the 16GB version of the Wi-Fi only iPad is £429 (including VAT) while the 32GB version is £499 and 64GB is £599. For the Wi-Fi and 3G version of the iPad, the 16GB device will be £529 (including VAT), the 32GB device £599 and the largest 64GB Wi-Fi and 3G iPad will be £699.

The corresponding US prices are $499/$599/$699 and $629/$729/$829. There are also numerous peripherals to push up the price: case ($39), keyboard dock ($69), iPad dock ($29), camera connection kit ($29), USB power adapter ($29), VGA adaptor ($29), wireless keyboard ($69), Mobile Me ($69) and AppleCare ($99).

O2, Orange and Vodafone will all be offering mobile data plans for UK consumers who buy the 3G-enabled iPad, but details have yet to be released.

Apple plans to release iPad in Austria, Belgium, Hong Kong, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand and Singapore in July and will announce availability, local pricing and pre-order plans for these nine additional countries at a later date.

Ryan: Unboxing the Apple iPad

Enjoy this iPad unboxing - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-L1vds20vng