Abigail Waraker has recently been appointed editor of Computing. Abigail takes charge of Computing print and online from 4th January 2010. Abigail was previously managing editor of Informa’s Intellectual Property portfolio where she had overall editorial responsibility for seven business publications and their accompanying website. Previously, Abigail was editor of Computing Which? for two years and also worked in various editorial roles at VNU Business Publications, Ziff-Davis, and ComputerWire. Until Abigail’s arrival, the editorial team will be led by freelance editor Andrew Charlesworth.

ZDNet reports that Twitter isn’t looking at advertising to answer the long-awaiting question about how it makes money from its 17 million users.  Instead, the talk is of tools under development that users might buy to enhance their experience.  Quite how this will keep step with the army of app developers out there is an interesting question, but good to see the business thinking laterally.  (more…)

Following its core principle that “It’s the second mouse that gets the cheese”, Microsoft is bringing the wonders of touch screen technology, a la iPhone, to a PC near you.  At least, it will in 2010 when Windows 7 launches.  All the early buzz about Windows 7 has been very positive and the inclusion of touch screen control is hugely sexy, as this video from the BBC shows.  I predict a major surge in the PC market around then.  Next stop, tricorders…

We’ve been banging on for a while now about the Amazon Kindle e-reader and how it offers perhaps the best chance to rescue the ailing newspaper industry from its structural financial decline.  The idea is getting some more airtime now following the launch of the second generation Kindle, which improves on many of the features of its forerunner.  The Economist recently gave its views on the topic and now PR uber-blogger Steve Rubel has weighed in on his MicroPersuasion blog. (more…)

A postscript to my previous comments on the BlackBerry Storm. After a week of serious frustration trying to type anything quickly, highlight text or get through the day without the battery dying on me, my Storm and I will today part company.  In its place will come a spiffy new Bold.  Slightly less ‘of the moment’, but a product that hopefully does BlackBerries are renowned for.

What has come out of this is a new respect for Vodafone – those guys have jumped right on it in arranging a swap.  That’s the kind of behaviour that really underpins a brand.  I’m impressed.