Microsoft releasing Windows 8.1, a year in making

Microsoft is releasing its long-awaited Windows 8.1 upgrade as a free download starting Thursday. It addresses some of the gripes people have had with Windows 8, the dramatically different operating system that attempts to bridge the divide between tablets and PCs.

Windows 8.1 still features the dual worlds that Windows 8 created when it came out last October. On one hand, it features a touch-enabled tile interface resembling what's found in tablet computers. On the other, there's the old desktop mode where the keyboard and mouse still reign. The update adds some new finger- and gesture-friendly shortcuts for touch-based apps, while restoring some respect for the desktop mode that a billion PC users have become accustomed to.

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$649 iPhone 5s Costs Apple $199

The new iPhone 5s costs Apple about the same to build as last year's iPhone 5, according to a report from IHS. The company has torn down both the iPhone 5s and 5c, and assessed where the internals came from and what they cost.

The bill of materials for the 16-GB iPhone 5s comes to about $191. The device costs about $8 to manufacture, bringing the total to $199. The 64-GB model costs Apple only $19 more to make, for a total of $218. The full retail price of the 16-GB 5s is $649, while the 64-GB 5s goes for $849.

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Apple's Next iPad: Gateway To Mobile Revolution

In a little over a week, Apple is expected to update both its iPad and its iPad Mini, along with its OS X desktop operating system and its long-neglected Mac Pro hardware.

The fifth-generation iPad isn't likely to surprise. It should be thinner and lighter. It might be available in new colors -- silver, gold, and gray -- to match the iPhone 5s. It will probably be available with a new Apple Smart Cover keyboard (because the old one won't fit the revised dimensions) that will seem a bit more expensive than you'd prefer.

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Sony Challenges Samsung With SmartWatch 2

Sony's SmartWatch 2, the company's second-generation smartwatch, is available to U.S. consumers beginning Tuesday. The device can be purchased directly from Sony's Web store or other online retailers. The SmartWatch 2, announced earlier this year, costs $199.99 and outclasses Samsung's Galaxy Gear smartwatch in several key features.

The SmartWatch 2 has a larger, higher-resolution screen than the original. It measures 1.6 inches and includes 220 x 176 pixels. Sony says it uses a transflective screen that has improved brightness for outdoor viewing. The user interface has been reworked to more closely mimic Android. Pairing with other devices is a snap due to built-in NFC and Bluetooth, and the SmartWatch 2 is resistant to water and sweat so it will serve well as a workout buddy.

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Coke exec: Diet Coke under pressure

 Diet Coke, the country's No. 2 soda, may be losing some of its pop.

During a conference call with analysts Tuesday, a Coca-Cola executive noted that Diet Coke is "under a bit of pressure" because of people's concerns over its ingredients, alluding to the growing wariness of artificial sweeteners in recent years.

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