When the first iPhone came out on June 29, 2007, it didn’t have a keyboard, no copy and paste, had only limited e-mail options and cost $600 a piece. Since then, Apple has sold 217 million iPhones worldwide. The Apple culture is imbedded in our society and the younger generation can’t get enough of it.

The author of iDisorder: Understanding Our Obsession with Technology and Overcoming Its Hold on Us states that “The iPhone has changed everything about how we relate to technology”. He further states that 30 percent of people born after 1980 get anxious if they can’t check Facebook every few minutes. It has become an obsession.

The Cupertino, California based Apple’s revenue increased from $24 billion in 2007 to $108 billion in 2011. Telecommunication companies such as AT&T are also benefitted from the Apple success during this time period. The Apple’s App Store generates more jobs and handsome revenue to many app developers. The App Store currently offers over 650,000 apps that covers almost all aspect of our lives.

In the near future there will be more mobile phones than the world population. The iPhone will continue to enhance our lives and help the humanity during crisis such as natural disasters.

Once a powerful technological company Sony is fading away under the intense competition, introduction of new products by others and new technology. Sony brand was unmatchable for decades and it appears that it is losing its commanding position since 2007.

Sony introduced the mobile music concept to the world. However, it lost its dominance to Apple’s iPod.

Sony introduced the home gaming systems to the world and lost its prominence to Microsoft’s Xbox 360.

Sony was also known for its good quality TVs and lost its dominance to Samsung Electronics. Samsung outsells Sony by two to one.

Apple commands the tablet computing market with more than 60 percent of the market share. Sony’s Tablet S even with a new style had become an “also ran” product.

In the smartphone market, Apple and Samsung have the lion share of 46 percent. Sony recently bought Ericsson to compete with Apple as well as mobile phones run on Google’s Android software, it sells far fewer phones and the completion is fears due to Motorola Mobility, HTC, and Huawei.

In the meantime, Sony continues to lose revenue month after month. Due to strong competition from others, moving forward Sony is expecting to concentrate on digital imaging, mobile and videogames.

The world renowned Computex 2012 will be held in Taipei in June 2012. Host of Windows 8 based devices including ultrabooks, smartphones and tablets are expected to be showcased at the event. A widely circulating rumor indicate that Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer has a 80-inch tablet in his office that runs on Windows 8 which operates on touch interface. Windows 8’s multi-touch capability will be the most sought after feature by customers of tablets and smartphones. However, it will be available for those who still use keyboard and mouse.

If all current Windows based devices are converted to Windows 8, it will amount to 500 million devices worldwide. It is up to current customers whether they want to convert to the new operating system or not. The capability of touch optimization will increase the use of Windows 8 in tablets and smartphones where Microsoft was behind the curve in the past.

Windows 8, Microsoft’s next version of operating system will be one of the main events in 2012. It will have tile based start screen replacing the previous Windows menu. It will allow easier switching between running screens. It will enhance touch-optimized browsing while working well with mouse and keyboard. Yet, it will be fully compatible with Windows 7 PCs, software and peripherals.