TechBytes: BlackBerry Torch Unveiled

Apple's security flaw, adding touch to desktops, Bing calculates cab fare.

ByABC News
August 4, 2010, 10:52 AM

Aug. 4, 2010— -- A touchscreen and keyboard have come together on a BlackBerry for the first time. Research in Motion introduced the BlackBerry Torch Tuesday.

The keyboard slides out from underneath the touchscreen, giving users two ways to tap out e-mails. The Torch runs on new software that gives it many of the same features as competing smart phones. It will be available exclusively through AT&T for $199 beginning next Thursday.

Security experts are warning about a newly discovered flaw that could make Apple's most popular products vulnerable to hackers. The flaw affects the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, and could allow hackers to take complete control of the devices with a tainted PDF document. Apple says it's investigating.

Apple is also bringing some of the magic of the devices to its desktop computers. It recently introduced the Magic Trackpad, which allows you to use the same touch gestures on its desktops that are found on the iPhone and its laptops. The Wall Street Journal's Katie Boehret said it's natural to use.

"I sat down with some of my relatives and they've used my MacBook, which has the same trackpad built into the laptop," Boehret said. "Some of them are very computer illiterate and they just immediately understood what they were doing so the idea of bringing the trackpad to the desktop, I think, gives people some more options."

The Magic Trackpad costs $69. And you can read Katie's full review on the Wall Street Journal's website.

Ever go on vacation and wonder if you're getting ripped off by taxi drivers? Thanks to a new app on Bing Maps, you can calculate your cab fare before leaving home. Taxi Fare Calculator maps out the shortest route and gives you a fare estimate based on normal rates for cabs in the area.