China surpasses U.S. as world’s largest consumer of PCs

China has passed an important technological milestone: It became the world’s biggest consumer of PCs in the second quarter, according to new market research by IDC.

Computer makers shipped about 18.5 million PCs in China in the second quarter, compared with 17.7 million in the U.S.

The U.S. is still expected to be the world’s largest market for the full year, but it will likely lose that distinction next year. IDC forecasts that 85.2 million PCs will be shipped in China compared with 76.6 million in the U.S. in 2012.

Pilots to receive iPads

United and Continental airlines are replacing pilots’ paper flight manuals with 11,000 iPads, which the airlines say will reduce weight and save fuel.

United Continental Holdings Inc. said that it will also give pilots paperless navigation charts through an iPad application.

The company said it began distributing the Apple Inc. handheld wireless devices this month and all pilots will have one by the end of the year.

New BlackBerry Curves revealed

Research In Motion Ltd. announced three new models in its popular low-end BlackBerry Curve range, featuring its new BlackBerry 7 operating system.

The Canadian company last week showed off high-end models updated with the new software three weeks ago.

The new Curve models — 9350, 9360 and 9370 — will go on sale in Canada this month and in the rest of the world in September. In the U.S., Sprint Nextel Corp. said it will start selling the 9350 on Sept. 9 for $80 after a $50 mail-in rebate.

Magazines added to Nook

People, Fortune and other leading magazines are coming to the Nook.

Barnes & Noble Inc. says it has agreed with Time to make all 21 of its U.S. releases available on its Nook Color e-reader by the end of the year. People, Fortune, Time and Sports Illustrated were added last week to the Nook Newsstand.