EMC layoffs loom ... Level 3 buying Broadwing for $1.4 billion

HIGHLIGHTS

News: EMC layoffs loom
News: Level 3 buying Broadwing for $1.4 billion
News: Intel shows off new low-cost laptops
News: Sony to recall Vaio laptop batteries
Opinion: Innovation thru constraint
Interview: Beyond skill: Building a career in IT
ITwhirled: Brits baffled by geekspeak


NEWS UPDATES

EMC layoffs loom
Even as EMC Corp. expands beyond network storage technology into security, virtualization and content management, it is preparing to cut as many as 1,250 jobs.

Level 3 buying Broadwing for $1.4 billion
Internet backbone provider Level 3 Communications Inc. will acquire Broadwing Corp., a provider of voice, data and media services, in a cash and stock deal worth about $1.4 billion.

Intel shows off new low-cost laptops
Intel Corp. showed off two notebooks based on its low-cost reference design on Tuesday at its Developer Forum in Taipei. The PCs are aimed at poor countries as part of a five-year $1 billion global program meant to ensure nobody is left behind in the digital age.

Sony to recall Vaio laptop batteries
Sony Corp. has added its name to a growing list of computer makers recalling laptop PC batteries made by one of its own subsidiaries.

Microsoft frees virtualization tech from licensing
In a move aimed at allowing more computers to run different software systems simultaneously alongside Windows, Microsoft said Tuesday it is making the specification for its virtualization format software freely available to all software developers and customers.

SRAM industry probe hits Toshiba
Toshiba Corp. has been contacted by investigators from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) who are looking into the SRAM (static RAM) chip market, the company said Tuesday, bringing to four the number of SRAM-makers that have received subpoenas or requests for assistance from the DOJ.

MySQL automates database tasks
MySQL has introduced a new automation service that could help enterprises cut administration costs. The service, called MySQL Enterprise will assist with the typical daily tasks of a database administrator, such as performance and tuning, troubleshooting, security planning, upgrades, patch installation, migration and scripting.

Study: Intel processors help Macs gain marketshare
A new study from ChangeWave Research finds that 37% of people are more likely to buy a Mac now they are powered by Intel processors. Since the initial rollout of the Intel Macs, Apple's share has climbed steadily -- from 4 percent in January 2006 to the current 12 percent.

Spamhaus appeals possible shutdown ruling
The Spamhaus Project Ltd. has told a U.S. court that it plans to appeal a recent ruling that threatened the volunteer organization with millions of dollars in legal fines and a possible shutdown of its database of known spammers.

Sun thinks inside the box for data center system
To help enterprises with expanding data center needs, Sun Microsystems Inc. decided to think inside the box. Sun's Project Blackbox crams multiple servers and storage hardware into a box the size of a semi-trailer truck that can be literally driven up to a company, plugged in and turned on.


OPINION

Innovation thru constraint
By Sean McGrath

This morning I had a thought which was roughly speaking, fifty percent interesting and fifty percent horrifying. Actually no. That latter fifty percent should be split into twenty five percent for horror and twenty five percent for depression. Actually no, that twenty five percent for depression should be split...Maybe this would be easier if I just explained what the thought was? I think so. Then the complex mix of emotions I experienced should hopefully be self explanatory.

Read the full article here


INTERVIEW

Beyond skill: Building a career in IT
The IT market and IT technology are constantly evolving, a characteristic that Steve Bjorg, Co-founder, President and CTO of MindTouch believes keeps a career in IT exciting. In this interview, Bjorg discusses the essential elements of a great career in IT.


ITWHIRLED

Brits baffled by geekspeak
A recent survey in the United Kingdom revealed that while the British public love gadgets and computers, they can't recognize the terms used to identify many technology concepts. Which leads to the obvious question: if they don't know what they're called, how do they buy them?