The present generation of factory robots is akin to early mainframe computers in offices, reckons Rodney Brooks, a co-founder of iRobot, an American firm whose products include the Roomba, a robotic vacuum-cleaner, as well as military robots.

ECONOMIST: Automation

In those days lots of things were sold from the privacy of your front porch milk and other dairy products, baked goods, fruit and vegetables, vacuum cleaners, awnings, carpet, aluminum siding, even life insurance.

FORBES: Social Relationship Management...Is in Your Future

Also, Apple's secrecy about new products and strategies might be a great marketing strategy, but it creates an information vacuum, which is filled with rumors and fantasy.

CNN: Making sense of Apple stock's roller coaster ride