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from MediaFile:

Bye bye BlackBerry?

As Research In Motion deals with the fallout from service disruptions that have affected millions of BlackBerry users around the world this week, a survey by Aite Group shows that out of 402 financial advisers polled, 45 percent say they would choose an Apple iPhone or iPad, while 14 percent would pick a BlackBerry.

What do you want to see in a passenger bill of rights?

• Extra legroom
• Time stuck on tarmac should not exceed 1.5 hours
• Carry on one bag for free
• Freedom to rebook if flight is delayed over 3 hours
• Restore smoking privileges

from MediaFile:

Will you buy the new Apple iPhone?

Apple took the wraps off a new iPhone on Tuesday but may have left some fans and investors wishing for more than an updated version of last year's iPhone 4 smartphone.

Apple CEO Tim Cook, who took the reins from the co-founder Steve Jobs in August, and his executive team showed off a souped-up device that comes with voice recognition and a better camera, but it looked identical to the last phone and did little to lift the bar for smartphones. Let us know below what you think of Apple's latest device.

Should the president permit offshore drilling for oil and natural gas?

• Yes
• No

What would you want in a new iPad?

People are still waiting to unwrap their first-generation iPads for Christmas and news is already leaking about what features Apple plans to include on its next version of the popular tablet computer.

One of Apple’s component suppliers confirmed the retooled iPad will come equipped with two cameras, one mounted on the rear for photography and another on the front presumably meant to enable FaceTime video chatting. Another said the revamped model will be slimmer, lighter and boast a better resolution screen display.

A separate supply chain source said Apple was preparing a significantly smaller iPad that is almost half the size of the current model. The current iPad has a 9.7-inch screen.

Apple has yet to announce or even confirm the existence of the iPad 2, but a report earlier this week said the device could be ready to ship from manufacturers as early as February.

Apple-watchers at fan blogs MacRumors and iLounge also spotted images this week of third-party cases purported to be for the iPad 2 posted on Asian websites. The photos show a hole for a rear camera and another rectangular opening that could be for an SD-card slot, which would give users more room to store images.

Other features reported to be included are a USB port for easy connection to other devices, a three-axis gyroscope for motion sensitivity to enhance gaming and a hardware refresh to increase speed and boost graphics support and memory.

Chances are, Apple fans will be stuck waiting until next year before finding out whether any of these rumors are true. The company announced its first iPad last January and could trot out its revamped version at a similar time next year.

from Global Investing:

Who’s next for the Dow?

Arzu Cevik, director at Thomson Reuters Strategic Research, writes:

"With Citi shares trading below $1, the first time since 1970 that a “penny stock” traded on the Dow Jones Industrial Average, it is widely expected that it will be removed from the index.

"The company was added to the Dow in 1997 when it was still known as Travelers, and the last company to be removed from the Dow was AIG last September (when its stock hovered above $1) and was replaced by Kraft Foods.

"It’s also expected that General Motors may be removed from the Dow. GM shares are trading slightly above $1 and there’s speculation it may be headed toward bankruptcy.

"There are other stocks in the Dow that are now a part of Wall Street's Dollar Menu. In fact, there are currently five Dow stocks trading in the single digit range.

"Who will take their place in the Dow? Mostly likely, another company whose stock is faring better or relatively better in this recessionary environment.

"There aren’t too many of those but if I had to guess, I’d say it would have to be a company with a strong brand name and one that is viewed as influential. Also, one whose shares aren't trading in the single digits.