MS re-issues botched IE patch ... EFF sues Barney over free speech ... Apple recalls 1.8 million laptop batteries
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Judge penalizes Microsoft $25 million in patent case
News: Intel wireless patch a memory hog
News: Microsoft finally re-issues botched IE patch
News: Apple recalls 1.8 million laptop batteries
News: U.S. court protects confidentiality in piracy reports
News: IE 7 for XP first release candidate available
News: EFF sues dinosaur Barney over free speech
NEWS UPDATES
Judge penalizes Microsoft $25 million in patent case
Microsoft Corp.'s quest for a new trial in a patent-infringement case it lost has resulted in a bigger fine for the software company.
Intel wireless patch a memory hog
Microsoft Corp. isn't the only company re-issuing security patches this month. Intel Corp. plans to re-release a critical security patch for its Centrino platform because of a memory hogging bug.
Microsoft finally re-issues botched IE patch
Two days later than expected, Microsoft Corp. has re-issued a critical security update for its Internet Explorer (IE) browser.
Apple recalls 1.8 million laptop batteries
Apple Computer Inc. is recalling 1.8 million lithium-ion batteries for its iBook and PowerBook notebook PCs, just a week after Dell Inc. took a similar step.
U.S. court protects confidentiality in piracy reports
A judge in Washington, D.C., has struck down a defense contractor's efforts to find out the name of a person who reported it for alleged software piracy.
IE 7 for XP first release candidate available
Microsoft Corp. is calling on developers to ensure applications and Web sites are compatible with Internet Explorer (IE) 7 Release Candidate 1 (RC1) for Windows XP, which the company will make available on Thursday.
EFF sues dinosaur Barney over free speech
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has filed a lawsuit against the company that produces the "Barney and Friends" children's television program, saying it has harassed the creator of a Barney parody Web site with "baseless legal threats."
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Oracle gains more analytics with Sigma buy ... Apple to pay $100 million, settling iPod dispute
Today's IT News Audio Update
IBM to buy ISS for US$1.3 billion ... Apple to pay Creative $100 million to end legal squabbles ... Intel to launch Tulsa chip next week
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Oracle gains more analytics with Sigma buy
News: Lenovo launches services unit, nabs Dell exec
News: Apple to pay $100 million, settling iPod dispute
News: IBM beefs up array of Unix servers
Opinion: Encryption Convolution
ITwhirled: AOL digs for gold in spammer's backyard
NEWS UPDATES
Oracle gains more analytics with Sigma buy
Oracle Corp. plans to add more real-time predictive analytics to its business intelligence, middleware and applications after acquiring intellectual property assets from Sigma Dynamics Inc., a specialist in the field.
Lenovo launches services unit, nabs Dell exec
Lenovo Group Ltd. plans to unite its customer service operations under a new group to be based in Singapore and lead by yet another executive poached from Dell Inc.
Apple to pay $100 million, settling iPod dispute
Apple Computer Inc. will resolve its patent squabble with Creative Technology Ltd. by paying the Singapore-based company $100 million for a license to use a recently awarded patent.
IBM beefs up array of Unix servers
IBM Corp. has added new four-core processing capability to the low end of its System p Unix servers. On Wednesday, the company unveiled the System p5 505Q Express, which IBM is billing as its first 1U (4.4 centimeter thick) system with four processor cores. IBM also announced processor upgrades to its dual-core and quad-core Express systems.
Businesses to spend big on wireless data, study says
Businesses in Western Europe will spend around $12.7 billion on wireless data services by 2010, up more than 50 percent from last year, as they provide more tools for workers to be productive on the move, according to new research from Strategy Analytics Inc.
Qantas cautions on Dell laptops as Sony probes a fire
In response to a recall of 4.1 million laptop computer batteries because of a potential fire hazard issued by Dell earlier this month, Australia's Qantas Airways Ltd. is telling passengers with Dell laptops that they might not be able to recharge their machines in-flight.
OPINION
Encryption Convolution
By James Gaskin
Get ready for the US Congress to "help" the IT business with some new regulations soon. After being embarrassed by the VA laptop fiasco, when unencrypted government data wandered the countryside, our federal leaders now consider themselves data security experts and will soon start passing laws.
ITWHIRLED
AOL digs for gold in spammer's backyard
AOL won a $12.8 million dollar lawsuit against Davis Wolfgang Hawke, but Hawke has been on the lam for more than a year. Thus, the Internet giant is taking the next logical step: digging up Hawke's parents' yard looking for gold and platinum bouillon.
Today's IT News Audio Update
IBM to buy ISS for US$1.3 billion ... Apple to pay Creative $100 million to end legal squabbles ... Intel to launch Tulsa chip next week
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Oracle gains more analytics with Sigma buy
News: Lenovo launches services unit, nabs Dell exec
News: Apple to pay $100 million, settling iPod dispute
News: IBM beefs up array of Unix servers
Opinion: Encryption Convolution
ITwhirled: AOL digs for gold in spammer's backyard
NEWS UPDATES
Oracle gains more analytics with Sigma buy
Oracle Corp. plans to add more real-time predictive analytics to its business intelligence, middleware and applications after acquiring intellectual property assets from Sigma Dynamics Inc., a specialist in the field.
Lenovo launches services unit, nabs Dell exec
Lenovo Group Ltd. plans to unite its customer service operations under a new group to be based in Singapore and lead by yet another executive poached from Dell Inc.
Apple to pay $100 million, settling iPod dispute
Apple Computer Inc. will resolve its patent squabble with Creative Technology Ltd. by paying the Singapore-based company $100 million for a license to use a recently awarded patent.
IBM beefs up array of Unix servers
IBM Corp. has added new four-core processing capability to the low end of its System p Unix servers. On Wednesday, the company unveiled the System p5 505Q Express, which IBM is billing as its first 1U (4.4 centimeter thick) system with four processor cores. IBM also announced processor upgrades to its dual-core and quad-core Express systems.
Businesses to spend big on wireless data, study says
Businesses in Western Europe will spend around $12.7 billion on wireless data services by 2010, up more than 50 percent from last year, as they provide more tools for workers to be productive on the move, according to new research from Strategy Analytics Inc.
Qantas cautions on Dell laptops as Sony probes a fire
In response to a recall of 4.1 million laptop computer batteries because of a potential fire hazard issued by Dell earlier this month, Australia's Qantas Airways Ltd. is telling passengers with Dell laptops that they might not be able to recharge their machines in-flight.
OPINION
Encryption Convolution
By James Gaskin
Get ready for the US Congress to "help" the IT business with some new regulations soon. After being embarrassed by the VA laptop fiasco, when unencrypted government data wandered the countryside, our federal leaders now consider themselves data security experts and will soon start passing laws.
ITWHIRLED
AOL digs for gold in spammer's backyard
AOL won a $12.8 million dollar lawsuit against Davis Wolfgang Hawke, but Hawke has been on the lam for more than a year. Thus, the Internet giant is taking the next logical step: digging up Hawke's parents' yard looking for gold and platinum bouillon.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
IBM scoops up ISS for $1.3B ... Sony moves on Web video with Grouper buy
Today's IT News Audio Update
Microsoft delays release of security fix ... Salesforce.com and NetSuite help track online ad campaigns ... FTC to examine net neutrality concerns
HIGHLIGHTS
News: IBM to buy Internet Security Systems for $1.3 billion
News: Brazil threatens to shut down Google.br
News: Sony moves on Web video with Grouper acquisition
News: Microsoft signs ad deal with Facebook
Opinion: Open Source Escape Hatch
Research: Another use for your cell phone
ITwhirled: Geek cheat sheet
NEWS UPDATES
IBM to buy Internet Security Systems for $1.3 billion
IBM Corp. plans to buy Internet Security Systems Inc. (ISS) for $1.3 billion in a bid to better address growing IT security issues.
Brazil threatens to shut down Google.br
Federal prosecutors in Brazil are threatening to force Google Brazil to shut down and pay fines for failing to turn over customer records as part of investigations against pedophiles.
Sony moves on Web video with Grouper acquisition
Sony Pictures Entertainment is making a foray into the fast-expanding world of Web video sharing by acquiring Grouper Networks Inc., the privately-held operator of the grouper.com Web site.
Microsoft signs ad deal with Facebook
Microsoft Corp. will supply banner and text ads for Facebook, a social networking Web site, under a deal signed after the two companies only opened discussions last week, they said.
Video pirates: Watch out for fingerprints
New video fingerprinting technology from Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV could help stem the flood of movies and other video content being traded illegally on the Internet.
Sun Micro gets boost from new server share report
Sun Microsystems Inc. has rebounded in the server market, according to new numbers for the second quarter of this year released today.
Microsoft delays re-issue of IE patch
Microsoft has pushed back the re-release of a buggy Internet Explorer (IE) security update, saying that the quality of its software is still not up to snuff.
Hynix gets delay in Rambus patent lawsuit
A California judge has delayed a patent infringement trial pitting Rambus Inc. against Hynix Semiconductor Inc. while the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sorts out royalty rates for computer memory.
OPINION
Open Source Escape Hatch
By James Gaskin
Every Fortune 2000 company uses CRM tools from either PeopleSoft, Siebel, JD Edwards, Vantive, Avaya, or some combination of two or more of these application. Every Fortune 2000 company hates being locked in to these systems and getting jerked through unwanted upgrades or mergers that requires extensive reprogramming.
RESEARCH
Another use for your cell phone
By Dan Blacharski
Near-field communications technology will make it possible for you to use your cell phone to make point of purchase transactions.
ITWHIRLED
Geek cheat sheet
Oh no! With the rise of geek culture, those of you who were busy having dates in high school might need help gaining entry into geekish society. Have no fear: this guide can help you fake it.
Today's IT News Audio Update
Microsoft delays release of security fix ... Salesforce.com and NetSuite help track online ad campaigns ... FTC to examine net neutrality concerns
HIGHLIGHTS
News: IBM to buy Internet Security Systems for $1.3 billion
News: Brazil threatens to shut down Google.br
News: Sony moves on Web video with Grouper acquisition
News: Microsoft signs ad deal with Facebook
Opinion: Open Source Escape Hatch
Research: Another use for your cell phone
ITwhirled: Geek cheat sheet
NEWS UPDATES
IBM to buy Internet Security Systems for $1.3 billion
IBM Corp. plans to buy Internet Security Systems Inc. (ISS) for $1.3 billion in a bid to better address growing IT security issues.
Brazil threatens to shut down Google.br
Federal prosecutors in Brazil are threatening to force Google Brazil to shut down and pay fines for failing to turn over customer records as part of investigations against pedophiles.
Sony moves on Web video with Grouper acquisition
Sony Pictures Entertainment is making a foray into the fast-expanding world of Web video sharing by acquiring Grouper Networks Inc., the privately-held operator of the grouper.com Web site.
Microsoft signs ad deal with Facebook
Microsoft Corp. will supply banner and text ads for Facebook, a social networking Web site, under a deal signed after the two companies only opened discussions last week, they said.
Video pirates: Watch out for fingerprints
New video fingerprinting technology from Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV could help stem the flood of movies and other video content being traded illegally on the Internet.
Sun Micro gets boost from new server share report
Sun Microsystems Inc. has rebounded in the server market, according to new numbers for the second quarter of this year released today.
Microsoft delays re-issue of IE patch
Microsoft has pushed back the re-release of a buggy Internet Explorer (IE) security update, saying that the quality of its software is still not up to snuff.
Hynix gets delay in Rambus patent lawsuit
A California judge has delayed a patent infringement trial pitting Rambus Inc. against Hynix Semiconductor Inc. while the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sorts out royalty rates for computer memory.
OPINION
Open Source Escape Hatch
By James Gaskin
Every Fortune 2000 company uses CRM tools from either PeopleSoft, Siebel, JD Edwards, Vantive, Avaya, or some combination of two or more of these application. Every Fortune 2000 company hates being locked in to these systems and getting jerked through unwanted upgrades or mergers that requires extensive reprogramming.
RESEARCH
Another use for your cell phone
By Dan Blacharski
Near-field communications technology will make it possible for you to use your cell phone to make point of purchase transactions.
ITWHIRLED
Geek cheat sheet
Oh no! With the rise of geek culture, those of you who were busy having dates in high school might need help gaining entry into geekish society. Have no fear: this guide can help you fake it.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Cisco buys video-on-demand company ... IBM adds storage artillery in fight with EMC
Today's IT News Audio Update
Cisco buys video-on-demand company ... IBM adds storage artillery in fight with EMC ... Asustek goes green
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Cisco to acquire Arroyo for $92 million
News: New IBM 'Turbo' storage products target EMC
News: AOL reviews privacy policy after shakeup
News: Samsung debuts 8GB music phone
Opinion: Dell's battery recall is its fifth in six years, and Dell is not alone
ITwhirled: A great geek T-shirt could be yours. Learn how!
NEWS UPDATES
Cisco to acquire Arroyo for $92 million
Cisco Systems Inc. will acquire on-demand video software company Arroyo Video Systems Inc. for $92 million, Cisco said Monday. The buy is Cisco's second so far this month, having taken a majority stake in data center company Nuovo Systems Inc. on Aug. 10.
New IBM 'Turbo' storage products target EMC
If turbocharging makes cars faster, IBM Corp. believes turbocharging its storage products will help it pass rival EMC Corp. The high-end disk array IBM System Storage DS8000 Turbo line features what IBM calls an industry first 4 gigabits per second (Gbps) FICON throughput -- double the 2Gbps available now.
AOL reviews privacy policy after shakeup
AOL LLC on Monday announced steps it is taking to prevent another security breach like one in which subscriber search query results recently were posted online. Also Monday, the company accepted the resignation of its chief technology officer Maureen Govern.
Samsung debuts 8GB music phone
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. has developed a music-player cell phone with 8G bytes of built-in flash memory -- that's double the amount of memory in Apple Computer Inc.'s hit-iPod nano.
Wipro sets up Wi-Fi pre-certification center
Indian outsourcer Wipro Ltd. announced Tuesday that it has been selected by the Wi-Fi Alliance to set up a pre-certification test lab that will help vendors of Wi-Fi devices prepare for final certification by the Wi-Fi Alliance.
Verizon eases move to IP contact centers
Enterprises that want to run an IP (Internet Protocol) contact center over the Verizon Business network won't have to bring their own gateway anymore. Verizon Communications Inc.'s global enterprise services unit is putting the infrastructure for its Toll Free and AVR (automated voice response) services into its own network, allowing customers to plug into the services through any broadband connection or traditional leased line.
New, faster Wi-Fi commands high prices
Fast wireless LAN gear based on a draft version of the next industry standard is making inroads into the small-office and home market despite costing more than twice as much as other products.
OPINION
Dell's battery recall is its fifth in six years, and Dell is not alone
By Joel Shore
It seems everyone is piling on Dell, taking it to task for recalling 1.4 million laptop batteries. Well, I will, too: Dell has pulled this stunt before. Not once. Not twice. But five other times in the last six years. Is anybody in charge?
ITWHIRLED
There's no place like 127.0.0.1
Sign up for the weekly ITwhirled e-mail alert during the month of August and enter our drawing to win a "There's no place like 127.0.0.1" T-shirt.
Today's IT News Audio Update
Cisco buys video-on-demand company ... IBM adds storage artillery in fight with EMC ... Asustek goes green
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Cisco to acquire Arroyo for $92 million
News: New IBM 'Turbo' storage products target EMC
News: AOL reviews privacy policy after shakeup
News: Samsung debuts 8GB music phone
Opinion: Dell's battery recall is its fifth in six years, and Dell is not alone
ITwhirled: A great geek T-shirt could be yours. Learn how!
NEWS UPDATES
Cisco to acquire Arroyo for $92 million
Cisco Systems Inc. will acquire on-demand video software company Arroyo Video Systems Inc. for $92 million, Cisco said Monday. The buy is Cisco's second so far this month, having taken a majority stake in data center company Nuovo Systems Inc. on Aug. 10.
New IBM 'Turbo' storage products target EMC
If turbocharging makes cars faster, IBM Corp. believes turbocharging its storage products will help it pass rival EMC Corp. The high-end disk array IBM System Storage DS8000 Turbo line features what IBM calls an industry first 4 gigabits per second (Gbps) FICON throughput -- double the 2Gbps available now.
AOL reviews privacy policy after shakeup
AOL LLC on Monday announced steps it is taking to prevent another security breach like one in which subscriber search query results recently were posted online. Also Monday, the company accepted the resignation of its chief technology officer Maureen Govern.
Samsung debuts 8GB music phone
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. has developed a music-player cell phone with 8G bytes of built-in flash memory -- that's double the amount of memory in Apple Computer Inc.'s hit-iPod nano.
Wipro sets up Wi-Fi pre-certification center
Indian outsourcer Wipro Ltd. announced Tuesday that it has been selected by the Wi-Fi Alliance to set up a pre-certification test lab that will help vendors of Wi-Fi devices prepare for final certification by the Wi-Fi Alliance.
Verizon eases move to IP contact centers
Enterprises that want to run an IP (Internet Protocol) contact center over the Verizon Business network won't have to bring their own gateway anymore. Verizon Communications Inc.'s global enterprise services unit is putting the infrastructure for its Toll Free and AVR (automated voice response) services into its own network, allowing customers to plug into the services through any broadband connection or traditional leased line.
New, faster Wi-Fi commands high prices
Fast wireless LAN gear based on a draft version of the next industry standard is making inroads into the small-office and home market despite costing more than twice as much as other products.
OPINION
Dell's battery recall is its fifth in six years, and Dell is not alone
By Joel Shore
It seems everyone is piling on Dell, taking it to task for recalling 1.4 million laptop batteries. Well, I will, too: Dell has pulled this stunt before. Not once. Not twice. But five other times in the last six years. Is anybody in charge?
ITWHIRLED
There's no place like 127.0.0.1
Sign up for the weekly ITwhirled e-mail alert during the month of August and enter our drawing to win a "There's no place like 127.0.0.1" T-shirt.
Monday, August 21, 2006
Chipset shortage might hit Intel again ... LogicaCMG buy extends Nordic reach
Today's IT News Audio Update
Chipset shortage might hit Intel again ... LogicaCMG buy extends Nordic reach ... Microsoft could face patent issue over SQL Server
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Demand spike is causing new Intel chipset shortage
News: Timeline severs patent agreement with Microsoft
News: LogicaCMG buys Swedish IT services company
News: Google leads, Yahoo gains in U.S. Web searches
Opinion: The (non) wisdom of crowds
ITwhirled: A great geek T-shirt could be yours. Learn how!
NEWS UPDATES
Demand spike is causing new Intel chipset shortage
A spike in PC demand has created a new shortage of Intel Corp. chipsets, potentially reviving an issue blamed for causing the company to lose market share to rival Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) last year.
Timeline severs patent agreement with Microsoft
Microsoft Corp. could face another lawsuit from a patent portfolio company over technology within its SQL Server database.
LogicaCMG buys Swedish IT services company
In an effort to expand its reach, IT consultancy and outsourcing company LogicaCMG PLC said on Monday that it plans to buy WM-data Nordic AB in a deal worth £882 million (US$1.6 billion) in cash and shares.
Google leads, Yahoo gains in U.S. Web searches
Google Inc.'s Web sites continued to be the U.S.'s most-used search source in July, but lost 1 percent market share to Yahoo Inc., comScore Networks Inc. said Sunday.
WebMethods looks to Cerebra for SOA boost
WebMethods Inc. is adding Cerebra Inc.'s semantic metadata management technology to its business integration suite in order to stand out in the crowded service-oriented architecture (SOA) software market.
Samsung develops 70-inch LCD panel for TVs
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. will this week unveil what it says is the first 70-inch high-definition LCD (liquid crystal display) panel.
OPINION
The (non) wisdom of crowds
By Sean McGrath
Some years ago I read an entertaining book by James Surowiecki entitled "The Wisdom of Crowds". The central thesis of the book is that the opinion of a large number of people, when averaged out, can compare favorably with the wisdom of the experts in any given field.
ITWHIRLED
There's no place like 127.0.0.1
Sign up for the weekly ITwhirled e-mail alert during the month of August and enter our drawing to win a "There's no place like 127.0.0.1" T-shirt.
Today's IT News Audio Update
Chipset shortage might hit Intel again ... LogicaCMG buy extends Nordic reach ... Microsoft could face patent issue over SQL Server
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Demand spike is causing new Intel chipset shortage
News: Timeline severs patent agreement with Microsoft
News: LogicaCMG buys Swedish IT services company
News: Google leads, Yahoo gains in U.S. Web searches
Opinion: The (non) wisdom of crowds
ITwhirled: A great geek T-shirt could be yours. Learn how!
NEWS UPDATES
Demand spike is causing new Intel chipset shortage
A spike in PC demand has created a new shortage of Intel Corp. chipsets, potentially reviving an issue blamed for causing the company to lose market share to rival Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) last year.
Timeline severs patent agreement with Microsoft
Microsoft Corp. could face another lawsuit from a patent portfolio company over technology within its SQL Server database.
LogicaCMG buys Swedish IT services company
In an effort to expand its reach, IT consultancy and outsourcing company LogicaCMG PLC said on Monday that it plans to buy WM-data Nordic AB in a deal worth £882 million (US$1.6 billion) in cash and shares.
Google leads, Yahoo gains in U.S. Web searches
Google Inc.'s Web sites continued to be the U.S.'s most-used search source in July, but lost 1 percent market share to Yahoo Inc., comScore Networks Inc. said Sunday.
WebMethods looks to Cerebra for SOA boost
WebMethods Inc. is adding Cerebra Inc.'s semantic metadata management technology to its business integration suite in order to stand out in the crowded service-oriented architecture (SOA) software market.
Samsung develops 70-inch LCD panel for TVs
Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. will this week unveil what it says is the first 70-inch high-definition LCD (liquid crystal display) panel.
OPINION
The (non) wisdom of crowds
By Sean McGrath
Some years ago I read an entertaining book by James Surowiecki entitled "The Wisdom of Crowds". The central thesis of the book is that the opinion of a large number of people, when averaged out, can compare favorably with the wisdom of the experts in any given field.
ITWHIRLED
There's no place like 127.0.0.1
Sign up for the weekly ITwhirled e-mail alert during the month of August and enter our drawing to win a "There's no place like 127.0.0.1" T-shirt.
Thursday, August 17, 2006
ICANN's DNS contract extended ... Internet crime rises in Japan
Today's IT news audio update
ICANN's DNS contract extended ... Internet crime rises in Japan ... Unisys offers reward for missing computer
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Windows Live makes test debut in Vista
News: Google Checkout glitch disconcerts advertisers
News: US gov't extends technical contract with ICANN
News: Internet crimes hit record high in Japan
News: Yahoo Photos and Flickr may grow closer
News: Yahoo plugs security hole in Web mail service
News: HP beats street with strong PC sales
News: Smart card vendors talk up privacy
News: Vonage E911 availability nears 85 percent
News: Tropos expands municipal wireless options
ITwhirled: Do you suffer from cyberchondria?
NEWS UPDATES
Windows Live makes test debut in Vista
Microsoft Corp. has begun showing how it will integrate its Windows Live online services into Windows Vista in recent test builds of the operating system, according to sources familiar with the company's plans.
Google Checkout glitch disconcerts advertisers
Google Inc. this week temporarily attached Google Checkout icons to ads from companies that haven't signed up for the online transaction system, a glitch that caused some confusion among advertisers.
US gov't extends technical contract with ICANN
The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) has renewed its contract with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to manage technical functions for the Internet's domain name system.
Internet crimes hit record high in Japan
The number of Internet-related crimes in Japan in the first six months of this year hit a record high, according to data issued Thursday by the National Police Agency.
Yahoo Photos and Flickr may grow closer
Yahoo Inc. may build links between Yahoo Photos and Flickr, though it has no plans to consolidate the photo-sharing services.
Yahoo plugs security hole in Web mail service
Yahoo Inc. has fixed a security vulnerability in its Yahoo Mail service that could have allowed malicious hackers to hijack accounts and harm users in a variety of ways.
HP beats street with strong PC sales
Hewlett-Packard Co. (HP) posted better-than-expected financial results Wednesday that were buoyed by strong growth in the company's PC group.
Smart card vendors talk up privacy
A group of smart card and smart chip vendors are launching a campaign to talk up the security and privacy features of their products, even as researchers raise questions about their use in passports.
Vonage E911 availability nears 85 percent
Vonage Holdings Corp. has implemented enhanced 911 emergency dialing service on nearly 85 percent of its customers' lines, but the company says it continues to have problems in areas served by AT&T Inc.
Tropos expands municipal wireless options
Tropos Networks Inc., which has made its mark in municipal Wi-Fi infrastructure, is staking a claim on even more advanced networks.
ITWHIRLED
Do you suffer from cyberchondria?
With health costs rising and Internet access proliferating, more and more Americans are self-diagnosing based on information they find online. Unfortunately, they sometimes come to the conclusion that they are afflicted by illnesses they don't really have -- or that don't actually exist.
Today's IT news audio update
ICANN's DNS contract extended ... Internet crime rises in Japan ... Unisys offers reward for missing computer
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Windows Live makes test debut in Vista
News: Google Checkout glitch disconcerts advertisers
News: US gov't extends technical contract with ICANN
News: Internet crimes hit record high in Japan
News: Yahoo Photos and Flickr may grow closer
News: Yahoo plugs security hole in Web mail service
News: HP beats street with strong PC sales
News: Smart card vendors talk up privacy
News: Vonage E911 availability nears 85 percent
News: Tropos expands municipal wireless options
ITwhirled: Do you suffer from cyberchondria?
NEWS UPDATES
Windows Live makes test debut in Vista
Microsoft Corp. has begun showing how it will integrate its Windows Live online services into Windows Vista in recent test builds of the operating system, according to sources familiar with the company's plans.
Google Checkout glitch disconcerts advertisers
Google Inc. this week temporarily attached Google Checkout icons to ads from companies that haven't signed up for the online transaction system, a glitch that caused some confusion among advertisers.
US gov't extends technical contract with ICANN
The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) has renewed its contract with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to manage technical functions for the Internet's domain name system.
Internet crimes hit record high in Japan
The number of Internet-related crimes in Japan in the first six months of this year hit a record high, according to data issued Thursday by the National Police Agency.
Yahoo Photos and Flickr may grow closer
Yahoo Inc. may build links between Yahoo Photos and Flickr, though it has no plans to consolidate the photo-sharing services.
Yahoo plugs security hole in Web mail service
Yahoo Inc. has fixed a security vulnerability in its Yahoo Mail service that could have allowed malicious hackers to hijack accounts and harm users in a variety of ways.
HP beats street with strong PC sales
Hewlett-Packard Co. (HP) posted better-than-expected financial results Wednesday that were buoyed by strong growth in the company's PC group.
Smart card vendors talk up privacy
A group of smart card and smart chip vendors are launching a campaign to talk up the security and privacy features of their products, even as researchers raise questions about their use in passports.
Vonage E911 availability nears 85 percent
Vonage Holdings Corp. has implemented enhanced 911 emergency dialing service on nearly 85 percent of its customers' lines, but the company says it continues to have problems in areas served by AT&T Inc.
Tropos expands municipal wireless options
Tropos Networks Inc., which has made its mark in municipal Wi-Fi infrastructure, is staking a claim on even more advanced networks.
ITWHIRLED
Do you suffer from cyberchondria?
With health costs rising and Internet access proliferating, more and more Americans are self-diagnosing based on information they find online. Unfortunately, they sometimes come to the conclusion that they are afflicted by illnesses they don't really have -- or that don't actually exist.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
RealPlayer for Linux to play Windows Media ... Google's free WiFi in Mountain View online ... Faulty batteries likely in other products
Today's IT news audio update
RealPlayer for Linux to play Windows Media ... Google's free WiFi in Mountain View online ... Faulty batteries likely in other products
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Google launches Wi-Fi network in Mountain View
News: Microsoft will fix bum patch crashing IE 6
News: Digital image watermarks could combat trademark theft
News: Yahoo, Go2 will display mobile ads
News: Sony battery problems could go beyond Dell laptops
News: Customer satisfaction dips for Google, Yahoo, MSN
LinuxWorld SF: RealPlayer to support Windows Media on Linux
LinuxWorld SF: BPM latest app to be 'open-sourced'
LinuxWorld SF: IBM expands open-source plan beyond Linux
ITwhirled: The dark side of mobility
NEWS UPDATES
Google launches Wi-Fi network in Mountain View
The Wi-Fi network Google Inc. built for Mountain View becomes generally available on Wednesday, providing free broadband wireless access in this California city that the search engine giant calls home.
Microsoft will fix bum patch crashing IE 6
Microsoft Corp. will update a patch by next Tuesday that's causing a version of Internet Explorer (IE) to suddenly crash.
Digital image watermarks could combat trademark theft
Technology from one of Germany's renowned Fraunhofer Institutes could help companies protect pictures of their products from being stolen by groups trying to promote cheap imitations.
Yahoo, Go2 will display mobile ads
Yahoo Inc. and Go2 Directory Systems are partnering to display advertisements along with search results on mobile phones in the U.S.
Sony battery problems could go beyond Dell laptops
Faulty batteries produced by Sony Corp. like those that caused Dell Inc. to initiate a huge recall this week could be present in laptops from other companies and other portable electronics products.
Customer satisfaction dips for Google, Yahoo, MSN
U.S. residents are less satisfied with search engines like Google Inc. and news Web sites like MSNBC.com, but happier with Web portals like AOL LLC, a study from the University of Michigan and ForeSee Results Inc. has found.
RealPlayer to support Windows Media on Linux
RealNetworks Inc. will support Microsoft Corp.'s Windows Media formats in an upgraded version of its RealPlayer multimedia application for Linux systems scheduled for release in December.
BPM latest app to be 'open-sourced'
Open-source business models continue to permeate the enterprise applications market, with BPM (business performance management) the latest software to get a makeover, courtesy of formerly closed-source vendor Adaptive Planning Inc.
IBM expands open-source plan beyond Linux
IBM Corp. is expanding its open-source strategy beyond Linux by targeting eight new technology areas where it will focus open-source attention going forward.
ITWHIRLED
The dark side of mobility
According to a survey conducted by Info-Tech Research Group, 81 percent of employees feel obligated to one degree or another to be available to the office 24 hours a day. Only 19 percent of the people surveyed felt no obligation at all to stay connected around the clock. This is of course, the dark side to all the spiffy connectivity technology that's come out lately.
Today's IT news audio update
RealPlayer for Linux to play Windows Media ... Google's free WiFi in Mountain View online ... Faulty batteries likely in other products
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Google launches Wi-Fi network in Mountain View
News: Microsoft will fix bum patch crashing IE 6
News: Digital image watermarks could combat trademark theft
News: Yahoo, Go2 will display mobile ads
News: Sony battery problems could go beyond Dell laptops
News: Customer satisfaction dips for Google, Yahoo, MSN
LinuxWorld SF: RealPlayer to support Windows Media on Linux
LinuxWorld SF: BPM latest app to be 'open-sourced'
LinuxWorld SF: IBM expands open-source plan beyond Linux
ITwhirled: The dark side of mobility
NEWS UPDATES
Google launches Wi-Fi network in Mountain View
The Wi-Fi network Google Inc. built for Mountain View becomes generally available on Wednesday, providing free broadband wireless access in this California city that the search engine giant calls home.
Microsoft will fix bum patch crashing IE 6
Microsoft Corp. will update a patch by next Tuesday that's causing a version of Internet Explorer (IE) to suddenly crash.
Digital image watermarks could combat trademark theft
Technology from one of Germany's renowned Fraunhofer Institutes could help companies protect pictures of their products from being stolen by groups trying to promote cheap imitations.
Yahoo, Go2 will display mobile ads
Yahoo Inc. and Go2 Directory Systems are partnering to display advertisements along with search results on mobile phones in the U.S.
Sony battery problems could go beyond Dell laptops
Faulty batteries produced by Sony Corp. like those that caused Dell Inc. to initiate a huge recall this week could be present in laptops from other companies and other portable electronics products.
Customer satisfaction dips for Google, Yahoo, MSN
U.S. residents are less satisfied with search engines like Google Inc. and news Web sites like MSNBC.com, but happier with Web portals like AOL LLC, a study from the University of Michigan and ForeSee Results Inc. has found.
RealPlayer to support Windows Media on Linux
RealNetworks Inc. will support Microsoft Corp.'s Windows Media formats in an upgraded version of its RealPlayer multimedia application for Linux systems scheduled for release in December.
BPM latest app to be 'open-sourced'
Open-source business models continue to permeate the enterprise applications market, with BPM (business performance management) the latest software to get a makeover, courtesy of formerly closed-source vendor Adaptive Planning Inc.
IBM expands open-source plan beyond Linux
IBM Corp. is expanding its open-source strategy beyond Linux by targeting eight new technology areas where it will focus open-source attention going forward.
ITWHIRLED
The dark side of mobility
According to a survey conducted by Info-Tech Research Group, 81 percent of employees feel obligated to one degree or another to be available to the office 24 hours a day. Only 19 percent of the people surveyed felt no obligation at all to stay connected around the clock. This is of course, the dark side to all the spiffy connectivity technology that's come out lately.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Dell recalls 4.1 million batteries ... Google test Blogger upgrade ... CA lays off 1,700 as net income sinks
Today's IT news audio update
Dell recalls 4.1 million batteries ... Google test Blogger upgrade ... CA lays off 1,700 as net income sinks
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Sun inches closer to open-source Java
News: Google displays coupons on maps
News: Dell to recall batteries, cites fire hazard
News: Convera releases beta of gov't search engine
News: Google tests Blogger upgrade
News: CA to lay off about 1,700, as earnings plunge in Q1
LinuxWorld SF: Startup launches SMB Linux package in US
LinuxWorld SF: AMD launches 'Rev F' Opteron server chip
LinuxWorld SF: Lenovo debuts Linux ThinkPads
Podcast: Today's IT news audio update
ITwhirled: The real Internet
TopCoder Challenge: Try this week's coding problem ... MultiRead
NEWS UPDATES
Sun inches closer to open-source Java
Sun Microsystems Inc. launched a portal site for its Java programming language on Tuesday as the company inches closer to making the Java code open source, a company executive said Tuesday.
Google displays coupons on maps
Google Inc. enhanced its Google Maps application to include coupons that businesses can create and display free of charge.
Dell to recall batteries, cites fire hazard
Computer maker Dell Inc. is recalling 4.1 million laptop computer batteries because of a potential fire hazard, the company said Monday.
Convera releases beta of gov't search engine
Convera Corp. has released a beta version of a new search engine designed to help U.S. government workers find relevant information within the glut of data on the Internet.
Google tests Blogger upgrade
Google Inc. has started testing an enhanced version of its popular Blogger blog publishing service, adding long-awaited features such as the ability to categorize entries with labels, to control access to blogs and to make layout changes by dragging and dropping.
CA to lay off about 1,700, as earnings plunge in Q1
CA Inc. will cut about 1,700 jobs as it attempts to cut costs, after its net income fell 64 percent in its 2007 first quarter, ended June 30.
LINUXWORLD SF - SMB: Startup launches SMB Linux package in US
Startup Linux vendor Collax launched its flagship product in the U.S. at LinuxWorld Tuesday, aiming the turnkey business software package at small and medium-size business (SMB) customers that don't have much experience with the open-source OS.
LINUXWORLD SF: AMD launches 'Rev F' Opteron server chip
Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) on Tuesday released a new version of its Opteron processor, the popular server chip that has made AMD a serious competitor of rival Intel Corp.
LINUXWORLD SF: Lenovo debuts Linux ThinkPads
Lenovo Group Ltd. announced on Tuesday the availability of the ThinkPad T60p, its first laptop computer preloaded with the Linux operating system.
ITWHIRLED
The real Internet
There have been a lot of attempts to visualize or schematize what the Internet "looks" like as a whole, but not many people have seen the real physical components that make the Internet work. This picture set reveals that they look not unlike the infrastructure of the industrial age: huge pipes, low-slung building, and rooms full of ducts.
TOPCODER
This week's problem: MultiRead (Level 1)
In many computer systems, multiple processes can read from the same resource during the same clock cycle, but only a single process can write to the resource during a clock cycle. Reads and writes cannot be mixed during the same clock cycle. Given a history of the reads and writes that occurred during a particular computation as a String trace, and an int procs representing the number of processes used by the computation, calculate the minimum duration of the computation in clock cycles. The trace represents each read as an 'R' and each write as a 'W'.
Today's IT news audio update
Dell recalls 4.1 million batteries ... Google test Blogger upgrade ... CA lays off 1,700 as net income sinks
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Sun inches closer to open-source Java
News: Google displays coupons on maps
News: Dell to recall batteries, cites fire hazard
News: Convera releases beta of gov't search engine
News: Google tests Blogger upgrade
News: CA to lay off about 1,700, as earnings plunge in Q1
LinuxWorld SF: Startup launches SMB Linux package in US
LinuxWorld SF: AMD launches 'Rev F' Opteron server chip
LinuxWorld SF: Lenovo debuts Linux ThinkPads
Podcast: Today's IT news audio update
ITwhirled: The real Internet
TopCoder Challenge: Try this week's coding problem ... MultiRead
NEWS UPDATES
Sun inches closer to open-source Java
Sun Microsystems Inc. launched a portal site for its Java programming language on Tuesday as the company inches closer to making the Java code open source, a company executive said Tuesday.
Google displays coupons on maps
Google Inc. enhanced its Google Maps application to include coupons that businesses can create and display free of charge.
Dell to recall batteries, cites fire hazard
Computer maker Dell Inc. is recalling 4.1 million laptop computer batteries because of a potential fire hazard, the company said Monday.
Convera releases beta of gov't search engine
Convera Corp. has released a beta version of a new search engine designed to help U.S. government workers find relevant information within the glut of data on the Internet.
Google tests Blogger upgrade
Google Inc. has started testing an enhanced version of its popular Blogger blog publishing service, adding long-awaited features such as the ability to categorize entries with labels, to control access to blogs and to make layout changes by dragging and dropping.
CA to lay off about 1,700, as earnings plunge in Q1
CA Inc. will cut about 1,700 jobs as it attempts to cut costs, after its net income fell 64 percent in its 2007 first quarter, ended June 30.
LINUXWORLD SF - SMB: Startup launches SMB Linux package in US
Startup Linux vendor Collax launched its flagship product in the U.S. at LinuxWorld Tuesday, aiming the turnkey business software package at small and medium-size business (SMB) customers that don't have much experience with the open-source OS.
LINUXWORLD SF: AMD launches 'Rev F' Opteron server chip
Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) on Tuesday released a new version of its Opteron processor, the popular server chip that has made AMD a serious competitor of rival Intel Corp.
LINUXWORLD SF: Lenovo debuts Linux ThinkPads
Lenovo Group Ltd. announced on Tuesday the availability of the ThinkPad T60p, its first laptop computer preloaded with the Linux operating system.
ITWHIRLED
The real Internet
There have been a lot of attempts to visualize or schematize what the Internet "looks" like as a whole, but not many people have seen the real physical components that make the Internet work. This picture set reveals that they look not unlike the infrastructure of the industrial age: huge pipes, low-slung building, and rooms full of ducts.
TOPCODER
This week's problem: MultiRead (Level 1)
In many computer systems, multiple processes can read from the same resource during the same clock cycle, but only a single process can write to the resource during a clock cycle. Reads and writes cannot be mixed during the same clock cycle. Given a history of the reads and writes that occurred during a particular computation as a String trace, and an int procs representing the number of processes used by the computation, calculate the minimum duration of the computation in clock cycles. The trace represents each read as an 'R' and each write as a 'W'.
Monday, August 14, 2006
Microsoft blog tool goes into beta ... HP announces support for Debian Linux ... Hackers hunting for unpatched Microsoft computers
Today's IT news audio update
HP backs Debian Linux ... IBM porting Sametime IM to Linux ... Microsoft opens games development to all comers
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Microsoft blog tool goes into beta
News: Dell offers refund to unhappy Chinese customers
News: Hackers hunting for unpatched Microsoft computers
News: HP announces support for Debian Linux
News: Microsoft allows anyone to create XBox games
News: Nasdaq threatens to de-list Apple over late returns
News: Lenovo booted from Hong Kong's main stock index
Feature: After 25 years, PC struggles with new challenges
ITwhirled: Hoboken vs. the robot
Careers: Top 5 resume tips - #4 Your resume is not a confessional
NEWS UPDATES
Microsoft blog tool goes into beta
A new desktop application from Microsoft Corp., now in beta, lets bloggers see the look of a blog posting before uploading it online.
Dell offers refund to unhappy Chinese customers
When a group of Chinese customers complained in June that their new Dell Inc. laptops did not ship with the right processor, they vented their displeasure publicly and began plans to bring a lawsuit against the company.
Hackers hunting for unpatched Microsoft computers
Hackers are actively using exploit code to target a flaw in Microsoft Corp.'s software that generated a special warning from the U.S. government last week.
HP announces support for Debian Linux
Hewlett-Packard Co. is throwing its support behind the Debian Linux distribution, the first major hardware maker to align itself with the noncommercial community-based Linux offering.
Microsoft allows anyone to create XBox games
A new game development platform from Microsoft Corp. allows anyone to create games for its Xbox 360 console, the company said on Monday.
Nasdaq threatens to de-list Apple over late returns
Apple is being threatened with having its stock de-listed by the Nasdaq index as a result of its late filing of regulatory documents following the company's discovery of "irregularities" regarding stock option grants to senior executives going back to September 2000.
Lenovo booted from Hong Kong's main stock index
Lenovo Group Ltd. hasn't had an easy time since its takeover of IBM Corp.'s PC division, and its removal from the main index of the Hong Kong stock exchange is just the most recent sign of trouble for the company.
After 25 years, PC struggles with new challenges
Twenty-five years ago this week, IBM Corp. began selling its version of a new business tool called the PC, ushering in a new era of personal computing.
ITWHIRLED
Hoboken vs. the robot
No, it's not rampaging through the streets and shooting laser beams out of its eyeballs; it just held some cars hostage for a few days. When the city of Hoboken got into a contract dispute with the owners of a robotic parking garage, it quickly discovered that without the company's help, the garage mechanism was inoperable.
CAREERS
Top 5 resume tips - #4 Your resume is not a confessional
Susan Ireland, resume expert and author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Perfect Resume and Ready-Made Resumes Software, offers advice on creating the perfect resume, and how to market yourself into that next great job!
Today's IT news audio update
HP backs Debian Linux ... IBM porting Sametime IM to Linux ... Microsoft opens games development to all comers
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Microsoft blog tool goes into beta
News: Dell offers refund to unhappy Chinese customers
News: Hackers hunting for unpatched Microsoft computers
News: HP announces support for Debian Linux
News: Microsoft allows anyone to create XBox games
News: Nasdaq threatens to de-list Apple over late returns
News: Lenovo booted from Hong Kong's main stock index
Feature: After 25 years, PC struggles with new challenges
ITwhirled: Hoboken vs. the robot
Careers: Top 5 resume tips - #4 Your resume is not a confessional
NEWS UPDATES
Microsoft blog tool goes into beta
A new desktop application from Microsoft Corp., now in beta, lets bloggers see the look of a blog posting before uploading it online.
Dell offers refund to unhappy Chinese customers
When a group of Chinese customers complained in June that their new Dell Inc. laptops did not ship with the right processor, they vented their displeasure publicly and began plans to bring a lawsuit against the company.
Hackers hunting for unpatched Microsoft computers
Hackers are actively using exploit code to target a flaw in Microsoft Corp.'s software that generated a special warning from the U.S. government last week.
HP announces support for Debian Linux
Hewlett-Packard Co. is throwing its support behind the Debian Linux distribution, the first major hardware maker to align itself with the noncommercial community-based Linux offering.
Microsoft allows anyone to create XBox games
A new game development platform from Microsoft Corp. allows anyone to create games for its Xbox 360 console, the company said on Monday.
Nasdaq threatens to de-list Apple over late returns
Apple is being threatened with having its stock de-listed by the Nasdaq index as a result of its late filing of regulatory documents following the company's discovery of "irregularities" regarding stock option grants to senior executives going back to September 2000.
Lenovo booted from Hong Kong's main stock index
Lenovo Group Ltd. hasn't had an easy time since its takeover of IBM Corp.'s PC division, and its removal from the main index of the Hong Kong stock exchange is just the most recent sign of trouble for the company.
After 25 years, PC struggles with new challenges
Twenty-five years ago this week, IBM Corp. began selling its version of a new business tool called the PC, ushering in a new era of personal computing.
ITWHIRLED
Hoboken vs. the robot
No, it's not rampaging through the streets and shooting laser beams out of its eyeballs; it just held some cars hostage for a few days. When the city of Hoboken got into a contract dispute with the owners of a robotic parking garage, it quickly discovered that without the company's help, the garage mechanism was inoperable.
CAREERS
Top 5 resume tips - #4 Your resume is not a confessional
Susan Ireland, resume expert and author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Perfect Resume and Ready-Made Resumes Software, offers advice on creating the perfect resume, and how to market yourself into that next great job!
Friday, August 11, 2006
Vista upgrade coupon rumor spreads ... Blogger unblocked (again) in China ... Cisco acquires Nuova
Today's IT News Audio Update
U.K. bans laptops from carry-on luggage ... Software can help detect liquid explosives ... IBM makes another SOA buy
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Microsoft Vista upgrade coupon rumor spreads
News: Google's Blogger service unblocked (again) in China
News: Intel causes Q2 chip inventory spike: iSuppli
News: Cisco acquires Nuova through data center investment
Unix Tip: Using Indexed Arrays in the Korn Shell
ITwhirled: There's no place like 127.0.0.1
NEWS UPDATES
Microsoft Vista upgrade coupon rumor spreads
Unusual patterns in demand for motherboards lend weight to reports that well-known PC vendors will ship computers with free upgrade coupons for the Windows Vista OS (operating system) in the fourth quarter, say analysts. But the truth remains elusive.
Google's Blogger service unblocked (again) in China
Google Inc.'s free Web log service, Blogger, is once again accessible from Beijing without the use of a proxy server, indicating that apparent government efforts to block the site have been lifted.
Intel causes Q2 chip inventory spike: iSuppli
Semiconductor inventories soared to their highest level in years during the second quarter, but the trouble is mainly in the PC sector and namely with chips from Intel Corp., according to market researcher iSuppli Corp.
Cisco acquires Nuova through data center investment
Cisco Systems Inc. will acquire an 80 percent stake of data center company Nuova Systems Inc. through a $50 million investment, the networking company said Thursday.
Software detects difference between shampoo, explosives
Guardian Technologies International is in talks with the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to use its PinPoint image analysis software in conjunction with airport X-ray machines to tell the difference between explosives and organic items such as shampoo, clothes and food in carry-on baggage, according to a company executive.
Wall Street Beat: M&A news underscores trends
Earnings and acquisition news from Andrew Corp., Brocade Communications Systems Inc. and Cisco Systems Inc. this week underscored competitive trends in the storage, networking and telecommunications markets.
Juniper to restate earnings due to options timing
The shadow of the options-backdating scandal lengthened over Juniper Networks Inc. with the company's announcement Thursday that it will restate some past financial results.
Rambus delays filings due to options investigation
In a Thursday filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, (SEC) Rambus said it will not make the Aug. 14 deadline for filing its second quarter results. It will miss the deadline because an audit committee looking into irregularities in stock option grants had not completed its review.
UNIX TIP
Using Indexed Arrays in the Korn Shell
By Sandra Henry Stocker
One of the most convenient ways to manipulate information in scripts is to store it in an array. Arrays facilitate looping through lists of related values, keeping track of an ever changing number of items and relating descriptive text with the items that they describe. As a very simple example, consider the colors of a rainbow. You can always loop through a list of rainbow colors like this...
Read the full article here
ITWHIRLED
There's no place like 127.0.0.1
Sign up for the weekly ITwhirled e-mail alert during the month of August and enter our drawing to win a "There's no place like 127.0.0.1" T-shirt. Clicking your heels together won't get you the shirt, but clicking here just might.
Today's IT News Audio Update
U.K. bans laptops from carry-on luggage ... Software can help detect liquid explosives ... IBM makes another SOA buy
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Microsoft Vista upgrade coupon rumor spreads
News: Google's Blogger service unblocked (again) in China
News: Intel causes Q2 chip inventory spike: iSuppli
News: Cisco acquires Nuova through data center investment
Unix Tip: Using Indexed Arrays in the Korn Shell
ITwhirled: There's no place like 127.0.0.1
NEWS UPDATES
Microsoft Vista upgrade coupon rumor spreads
Unusual patterns in demand for motherboards lend weight to reports that well-known PC vendors will ship computers with free upgrade coupons for the Windows Vista OS (operating system) in the fourth quarter, say analysts. But the truth remains elusive.
Google's Blogger service unblocked (again) in China
Google Inc.'s free Web log service, Blogger, is once again accessible from Beijing without the use of a proxy server, indicating that apparent government efforts to block the site have been lifted.
Intel causes Q2 chip inventory spike: iSuppli
Semiconductor inventories soared to their highest level in years during the second quarter, but the trouble is mainly in the PC sector and namely with chips from Intel Corp., according to market researcher iSuppli Corp.
Cisco acquires Nuova through data center investment
Cisco Systems Inc. will acquire an 80 percent stake of data center company Nuova Systems Inc. through a $50 million investment, the networking company said Thursday.
Software detects difference between shampoo, explosives
Guardian Technologies International is in talks with the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to use its PinPoint image analysis software in conjunction with airport X-ray machines to tell the difference between explosives and organic items such as shampoo, clothes and food in carry-on baggage, according to a company executive.
Wall Street Beat: M&A news underscores trends
Earnings and acquisition news from Andrew Corp., Brocade Communications Systems Inc. and Cisco Systems Inc. this week underscored competitive trends in the storage, networking and telecommunications markets.
Juniper to restate earnings due to options timing
The shadow of the options-backdating scandal lengthened over Juniper Networks Inc. with the company's announcement Thursday that it will restate some past financial results.
Rambus delays filings due to options investigation
In a Thursday filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, (SEC) Rambus said it will not make the Aug. 14 deadline for filing its second quarter results. It will miss the deadline because an audit committee looking into irregularities in stock option grants had not completed its review.
UNIX TIP
Using Indexed Arrays in the Korn Shell
By Sandra Henry Stocker
One of the most convenient ways to manipulate information in scripts is to store it in an array. Arrays facilitate looping through lists of related values, keeping track of an ever changing number of items and relating descriptive text with the items that they describe. As a very simple example, consider the colors of a rainbow. You can always loop through a list of rainbow colors like this...
Read the full article here
ITWHIRLED
There's no place like 127.0.0.1
Sign up for the weekly ITwhirled e-mail alert during the month of August and enter our drawing to win a "There's no place like 127.0.0.1" T-shirt. Clicking your heels together won't get you the shirt, but clicking here just might.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Windows Live is paralyzed ... Windows worm fears raised ... Apple releases 64-bit Xcode Tools
HIGHLIGHTS
News: IBM's FileNet bid proof of ECM consolidation
News: Windows Live is paralyzed, says outgoing manager
News: Worm fears raised after release of Windows malware
News: Apple server software's stealthy Universal release
Study: Hard disks still scrapped with data intact
News: Apple releases 64-bit Xcode Tools
News: Symantec identifies Vista weaknesses
News: New U.K. rules put laptops in checked baggage
IN THE NEWS
IBM's FileNet bid proof of ECM consolidation
IBM Corp.'s intention to acquire FileNet Corp. points to a major shift underway in the enterprise content management (ECM) software market as systems infrastructure companies encroach on pure-play ECM vendors' turf.
Windows Live is paralyzed, says outgoing manager
An outgoing Microsoft Corp. manager hired to advance the company's Windows Live strategy said Thursday Microsoft failed to give him adequate support and lacks commitment for building a comprehensive online services platform.
Worm fears raised after release of Windows malware
Attack code exploiting a recently-patched vulnerability in Microsoft Corp.'s Windows operating system has been posted to the Internet, prompting concerns of a widespread attack.
Apple server software's stealthy Universal release
Apple didn't make a song and dance about its recent upgrade -- Mac OS X Server 10.4.7, which transformed Apple's server software into a Universal binary that works natively on both PowerPC and Intel-based Macs.
Study: Hard disks still scrapped with data intact
Companies are still selling on old hard drives without taking the slightest precaution to wipe business-sensitive data first, a study has found.
Apple releases 64-bit Xcode Tools
Apple has released Xcode Tools 2.4, ushering in support for 64-bit Intel processors and Universal application creation improvements.
Symantec identifies Vista weaknesses
Symantec has released a report outlining some weaknesses in the kernel protection mechanisms built into a beta version of Windows Live. The report found several potential weaknesses -- among them the tight integration of content copy protection (known as digital rights management, or DRM) into the operating system.
New U.K. rules put laptops in checked baggage
U.K. authorities banned passengers from taking electronic items on board airplanes following the arrests of 21 people Thursday in connection with an alleged plot to blow up aircraft mid-flight en route to the U.S.
HIGHLIGHTS
News: IBM's FileNet bid proof of ECM consolidation
News: Windows Live is paralyzed, says outgoing manager
News: Worm fears raised after release of Windows malware
News: Apple server software's stealthy Universal release
Study: Hard disks still scrapped with data intact
News: Apple releases 64-bit Xcode Tools
News: Symantec identifies Vista weaknesses
News: New U.K. rules put laptops in checked baggage
IN THE NEWS
IBM's FileNet bid proof of ECM consolidation
IBM Corp.'s intention to acquire FileNet Corp. points to a major shift underway in the enterprise content management (ECM) software market as systems infrastructure companies encroach on pure-play ECM vendors' turf.
Windows Live is paralyzed, says outgoing manager
An outgoing Microsoft Corp. manager hired to advance the company's Windows Live strategy said Thursday Microsoft failed to give him adequate support and lacks commitment for building a comprehensive online services platform.
Worm fears raised after release of Windows malware
Attack code exploiting a recently-patched vulnerability in Microsoft Corp.'s Windows operating system has been posted to the Internet, prompting concerns of a widespread attack.
Apple server software's stealthy Universal release
Apple didn't make a song and dance about its recent upgrade -- Mac OS X Server 10.4.7, which transformed Apple's server software into a Universal binary that works natively on both PowerPC and Intel-based Macs.
Study: Hard disks still scrapped with data intact
Companies are still selling on old hard drives without taking the slightest precaution to wipe business-sensitive data first, a study has found.
Apple releases 64-bit Xcode Tools
Apple has released Xcode Tools 2.4, ushering in support for 64-bit Intel processors and Universal application creation improvements.
Symantec identifies Vista weaknesses
Symantec has released a report outlining some weaknesses in the kernel protection mechanisms built into a beta version of Windows Live. The report found several potential weaknesses -- among them the tight integration of content copy protection (known as digital rights management, or DRM) into the operating system.
New U.K. rules put laptops in checked baggage
U.K. authorities banned passengers from taking electronic items on board airplanes following the arrests of 21 people Thursday in connection with an alleged plot to blow up aircraft mid-flight en route to the U.S.
IBM to acquire FileNet for $1.6 billion ... Oracle calls Kingdee acquisition report 'speculation'
Today's IT News Audio Update
Dept. of Homeland Security warns users of Windows vulnerability ... Nokia sues to license Qualcomm technology ... Taiwanese motherboard makers join forces
HIGHLIGHTS
News: IBM to acquire FileNet for $1.6 billion
News: Oracle calls Kingdee acquisition report 'speculation'
News: Sun launches midrange storage arrays
News: Google Checkout delays trigger complaints
Storage Tip: Continuous Data Protection to the Rescue
ITwhirled: Geek comic of the week: Dot.Com
NEWS UPDATES
IBM to acquire FileNet for $1.6 billion
IBM Corp. continued its run of SOA-related acquisitions Thursday, agreeing to buy business process and enterprise content management specialist FileNet Corp. for about $1.6 billion in cash.
Oracle calls Kingdee acquisition report 'speculation'
Oracle Corp. Thursday dismissed as speculation a report that it plans to acquire Kingdee International Software Group Co. Ltd., a Chinese ERP (enterprise resource planning) software maker.
Sun launches midrange storage arrays
Sun Microsystems Inc. announced a new family of external storage arrays Thursday to compete with Hewlett-Packard Co. and IBM Corp. for midrange business customers.
Google Checkout delays trigger complaints
Merchants and shoppers are complaining that Google Inc.'s Checkout often takes too long to complete sales transactions and sometimes cancels orders unjustifiably and without warning.
CEO: AOL breach would not happen at Google
The release of a database of online search histories that has gotten AOL LLC into so much hot water could never happen at Google Inc., CEO Eric Schmidt said on Wednesday.
Agitar software testing product will write code
Agitar Software Inc. plans to ship a software testing product next year that will test a developer’s code and, if necessary, automatically generate alternate bug-free and more efficient code, according to an executive of the company.
Eicon to buy Intel's media and signaling business
Eicon Networks Corp. plans to buy Intel Corp.'s media and signalling business. The sale comes as Intel moves to shed products outside its core computer processor business.
iPod rival Creative sings off key in Q4
Creative Technology Ltd., the leading challenger to the iPod in digital music players, reported its second consecutive quarterly loss as it battles strong competition from rivals and mobile phones with built-in music players.
Chambers: Massive router catching on
Cisco Systems Inc. says it has turned the corner in getting service providers to adopt its biggest router. Revenue from the CRS-1 (Carrier Routing System-1), the company's massive system for the core of carrier networks, was about $80 million in Cisco's fiscal fourth quarter, President and CEO John Chambers said during a quarterly results conference call Tuesday. That figure was double the revenue from a year earlier.
STORAGE TIP
Continuous Data Protection to the Rescue
By David Hill, Mesabi Group
CDP solves a long-standard problem of how to provide logical data protection for applications that require low RTO/low RPO. However, enterprises may want to consider extending CDP to not-as-time-availability-sensitive applications as well if the variable cost for expanding coverage is not that expensive. The incremental improvement in end user and IT productivity through higher availability may well justify the additional cost. In general, low RTO/low RPO technology is likely to become very popular as a complement to existing data protection technologies.
Read the full article here
ITWHIRLED
Geek comic of the week: Dot.Com
Here's an interesting bit of tech history ephemera: Contract Professional, a magazine for independent computer consultants, was riding high during the dot-com boom and commissioned a comic called 'Dot.Com. ' It followed the adventures of a computer contract professional (natch) named Dorothy Com, whose nickname was (wait for it) Dot. Dot and her cat URL have various wacky late-1990s tech adventures with recalcitrant computers, sexually harassing bosses, and the Amish.
Today's IT News Audio Update
Dept. of Homeland Security warns users of Windows vulnerability ... Nokia sues to license Qualcomm technology ... Taiwanese motherboard makers join forces
HIGHLIGHTS
News: IBM to acquire FileNet for $1.6 billion
News: Oracle calls Kingdee acquisition report 'speculation'
News: Sun launches midrange storage arrays
News: Google Checkout delays trigger complaints
Storage Tip: Continuous Data Protection to the Rescue
ITwhirled: Geek comic of the week: Dot.Com
NEWS UPDATES
IBM to acquire FileNet for $1.6 billion
IBM Corp. continued its run of SOA-related acquisitions Thursday, agreeing to buy business process and enterprise content management specialist FileNet Corp. for about $1.6 billion in cash.
Oracle calls Kingdee acquisition report 'speculation'
Oracle Corp. Thursday dismissed as speculation a report that it plans to acquire Kingdee International Software Group Co. Ltd., a Chinese ERP (enterprise resource planning) software maker.
Sun launches midrange storage arrays
Sun Microsystems Inc. announced a new family of external storage arrays Thursday to compete with Hewlett-Packard Co. and IBM Corp. for midrange business customers.
Google Checkout delays trigger complaints
Merchants and shoppers are complaining that Google Inc.'s Checkout often takes too long to complete sales transactions and sometimes cancels orders unjustifiably and without warning.
CEO: AOL breach would not happen at Google
The release of a database of online search histories that has gotten AOL LLC into so much hot water could never happen at Google Inc., CEO Eric Schmidt said on Wednesday.
Agitar software testing product will write code
Agitar Software Inc. plans to ship a software testing product next year that will test a developer’s code and, if necessary, automatically generate alternate bug-free and more efficient code, according to an executive of the company.
Eicon to buy Intel's media and signaling business
Eicon Networks Corp. plans to buy Intel Corp.'s media and signalling business. The sale comes as Intel moves to shed products outside its core computer processor business.
iPod rival Creative sings off key in Q4
Creative Technology Ltd., the leading challenger to the iPod in digital music players, reported its second consecutive quarterly loss as it battles strong competition from rivals and mobile phones with built-in music players.
Chambers: Massive router catching on
Cisco Systems Inc. says it has turned the corner in getting service providers to adopt its biggest router. Revenue from the CRS-1 (Carrier Routing System-1), the company's massive system for the core of carrier networks, was about $80 million in Cisco's fiscal fourth quarter, President and CEO John Chambers said during a quarterly results conference call Tuesday. That figure was double the revenue from a year earlier.
STORAGE TIP
Continuous Data Protection to the Rescue
By David Hill, Mesabi Group
CDP solves a long-standard problem of how to provide logical data protection for applications that require low RTO/low RPO. However, enterprises may want to consider extending CDP to not-as-time-availability-sensitive applications as well if the variable cost for expanding coverage is not that expensive. The incremental improvement in end user and IT productivity through higher availability may well justify the additional cost. In general, low RTO/low RPO technology is likely to become very popular as a complement to existing data protection technologies.
Read the full article here
ITWHIRLED
Geek comic of the week: Dot.Com
Here's an interesting bit of tech history ephemera: Contract Professional, a magazine for independent computer consultants, was riding high during the dot-com boom and commissioned a comic called 'Dot.Com. ' It followed the adventures of a computer contract professional (natch) named Dorothy Com, whose nickname was (wait for it) Dot. Dot and her cat URL have various wacky late-1990s tech adventures with recalcitrant computers, sexually harassing bosses, and the Amish.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Latest Microsoft patch prompts DHS warning ... Linspire releases Freespire 1.0 early
HIGHLIGHTS
- Latest Microsoft patch prompts DHS warning
- Former Comverse execs charged with stock-options fraud
- Linspire releases Freespire 1.0 early
- Sun signs up support for PostgreSQL
- AOL partners with Blinkx for K-12 search engine
- Windows smartphones get grown-up encryption
- Apple grows Leopard as Vista delays persist
- AOL offers free personalized e-mail domains
IN THE NEWS
Latest Microsoft patch prompts DHS warning
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) warned Wednesday that a recently patched Microsoft Corp. Windows vulnerability could put the nation's critical infrastructure at risk.
Former Comverse execs charged with stock-options fraud
Three former executives of software vendor Comverse Technology Inc. have been charged in connection with backdating millions of the company's stock options, federal officials said.
Linspire releases Freespire 1.0 early
Linspire Inc. has released Freespire 1.0, an open-source Debian version of the Linux OS, one month early, the company said Wednesday.
Sun signs up support for PostgreSQL
Sun has formed a deal with EnterpriseDB, an open source database vendor, to provide support services around Sun's PostgreSQL offering.
AOL partners with Blinkx for K-12 search engine
AOL LLC is hoping to attract schoolchildren and their parents to a new search engine designed to be a tool for helping with homework.
Apple grows Leopard as Vista delays persist
Apple seems set to add more unique features to its new Leopard OS, exploiting the delay until Microsoft ships Windows Vista, an analyst believes.
AOL offers free personalized e-mail domains
AOL LLC will offer personalized e-mail domains free to all Web users starting in September, the company announced Wednesday.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Latest Microsoft patch prompts DHS warning
- Former Comverse execs charged with stock-options fraud
- Linspire releases Freespire 1.0 early
- Sun signs up support for PostgreSQL
- AOL partners with Blinkx for K-12 search engine
- Windows smartphones get grown-up encryption
- Apple grows Leopard as Vista delays persist
- AOL offers free personalized e-mail domains
IN THE NEWS
Latest Microsoft patch prompts DHS warning
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) warned Wednesday that a recently patched Microsoft Corp. Windows vulnerability could put the nation's critical infrastructure at risk.
Former Comverse execs charged with stock-options fraud
Three former executives of software vendor Comverse Technology Inc. have been charged in connection with backdating millions of the company's stock options, federal officials said.
Linspire releases Freespire 1.0 early
Linspire Inc. has released Freespire 1.0, an open-source Debian version of the Linux OS, one month early, the company said Wednesday.
Sun signs up support for PostgreSQL
Sun has formed a deal with EnterpriseDB, an open source database vendor, to provide support services around Sun's PostgreSQL offering.
AOL partners with Blinkx for K-12 search engine
AOL LLC is hoping to attract schoolchildren and their parents to a new search engine designed to be a tool for helping with homework.
Apple grows Leopard as Vista delays persist
Apple seems set to add more unique features to its new Leopard OS, exploiting the delay until Microsoft ships Windows Vista, an analyst believes.
AOL offers free personalized e-mail domains
AOL LLC will offer personalized e-mail domains free to all Web users starting in September, the company announced Wednesday.
Microsoft patches security holes ... Trojan malware takes a bite out of BlackBerry
Today's IT News Audio Update
Microsoft patches security holes ... Researcher demonstrates BlackBerry trojan ... Nokia buys Loudeye for content delivery
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Infineon's DRAM unit lowers IPO price, lists
News: Microsoft may have multicore price edge
News: Trojan malware takes a bite out of BlackBerry
News: Skype, iSkoot sign mobile phone deal
Windows Tip: Protecting Your Default Policies
ITwhirled: 10 dumb (but effective) business ideas
NEWS UPDATES
Infineon's DRAM unit lowers IPO price, lists
The DRAM company spun off by Infineon Technologies AG earlier this year will list on the New York Stock Exchange Wednesday for about half as much as the two companies had been seeking.
Microsoft may have multicore price edge
Microsoft Corp. could have an early advantage over competitors IBM Corp. and Oracle Corp. as some software companies begin shifting pricing to accommodate servers with multicore processors, analysts said.
Trojan malware takes a bite out of BlackBerry
Security researcher Jesse D'Aguanno has developed what he bills as the first Trojan horse malware for Research in Motion Ltd.'s (RIM's) BlackBerry e-mail device.
Skype, iSkoot sign mobile phone deal
Skype Ltd. will help market an application called iSkoot that will put its contact list and VOIP (voice over Internet protocol) and instant messaging services on high-end mobile phones.
Microsoft updates fix PowerPoint, Windows flaws
Microsoft Corp. has issued nine security updates addressing critical flaws in its Office and Windows products. The updates patch two worrisome PowerPoint flaws that could allow attackers to seize control of a PC, the company said Tuesday.
Use ERP, axe office jobs, German study says
If German office workers aren't feeling a bit nervous about losing their jobs, maybe they should be. More than 100,000 administrative jobs in the private sector will disappear over the next five to 10 years as companies move to reduce operating expenses by automating and optimizing numerous administrative processes with the help of modern IT systems, in particular ERP (enterprise resource planning) software, according to a study released Tuesday by the German subsidiary of the consultancy A.T.Kearney Inc.
Sage enters healthcare market with Emdeon buy
U.K. business management software developer Sage Group PLC agreed to buy Emdeon Practice Services, a maker of software for doctors' offices, for $565 million, Sage said on Tuesday.
WINDOWS TIP
Protecting Your Default Policies
By Mitch Tulloch, MTIT Enterprises
Always leaving yourself an out is good advice when it comes to playingpoker, and it's a good idea when it comes to managing Windows networkstoo. Group Policy is one place where it's easy to back yourself into acorner. There are literally thousands of policy settings you canconfigure, and if you accidentally configure the wrong setting in yourDefault Domain Policy, you might end up with hundreds of phone calls toyour support desk asking for help. That's because any change you make to your Default Domain Policy automatically affects every user on yourWindows network.
Read the full article here
ITWHIRLED
She's a 10
10 dumb (but effective) business ideas ... Top 10 downloads ... 10 ways to cut telecom bills
Sign up for the ITwhirled alert and a great geek T-shirt could be yours.
Today's IT News Audio Update
Microsoft patches security holes ... Researcher demonstrates BlackBerry trojan ... Nokia buys Loudeye for content delivery
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Infineon's DRAM unit lowers IPO price, lists
News: Microsoft may have multicore price edge
News: Trojan malware takes a bite out of BlackBerry
News: Skype, iSkoot sign mobile phone deal
Windows Tip: Protecting Your Default Policies
ITwhirled: 10 dumb (but effective) business ideas
NEWS UPDATES
Infineon's DRAM unit lowers IPO price, lists
The DRAM company spun off by Infineon Technologies AG earlier this year will list on the New York Stock Exchange Wednesday for about half as much as the two companies had been seeking.
Microsoft may have multicore price edge
Microsoft Corp. could have an early advantage over competitors IBM Corp. and Oracle Corp. as some software companies begin shifting pricing to accommodate servers with multicore processors, analysts said.
Trojan malware takes a bite out of BlackBerry
Security researcher Jesse D'Aguanno has developed what he bills as the first Trojan horse malware for Research in Motion Ltd.'s (RIM's) BlackBerry e-mail device.
Skype, iSkoot sign mobile phone deal
Skype Ltd. will help market an application called iSkoot that will put its contact list and VOIP (voice over Internet protocol) and instant messaging services on high-end mobile phones.
Microsoft updates fix PowerPoint, Windows flaws
Microsoft Corp. has issued nine security updates addressing critical flaws in its Office and Windows products. The updates patch two worrisome PowerPoint flaws that could allow attackers to seize control of a PC, the company said Tuesday.
Use ERP, axe office jobs, German study says
If German office workers aren't feeling a bit nervous about losing their jobs, maybe they should be. More than 100,000 administrative jobs in the private sector will disappear over the next five to 10 years as companies move to reduce operating expenses by automating and optimizing numerous administrative processes with the help of modern IT systems, in particular ERP (enterprise resource planning) software, according to a study released Tuesday by the German subsidiary of the consultancy A.T.Kearney Inc.
Sage enters healthcare market with Emdeon buy
U.K. business management software developer Sage Group PLC agreed to buy Emdeon Practice Services, a maker of software for doctors' offices, for $565 million, Sage said on Tuesday.
WINDOWS TIP
Protecting Your Default Policies
By Mitch Tulloch, MTIT Enterprises
Always leaving yourself an out is good advice when it comes to playingpoker, and it's a good idea when it comes to managing Windows networkstoo. Group Policy is one place where it's easy to back yourself into acorner. There are literally thousands of policy settings you canconfigure, and if you accidentally configure the wrong setting in yourDefault Domain Policy, you might end up with hundreds of phone calls toyour support desk asking for help. That's because any change you make to your Default Domain Policy automatically affects every user on yourWindows network.
Read the full article here
ITWHIRLED
She's a 10
10 dumb (but effective) business ideas ... Top 10 downloads ... 10 ways to cut telecom bills
Sign up for the ITwhirled alert and a great geek T-shirt could be yours.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
IBM prevails in pension case ... Nokia buys Loudeye ... Google nabs MySpace search deal
Today's IT News Audio Update
IBM prevails in age discrimination appeal ... Nokia buys Loudeye for content delivery ... Apple adds Intel Core 2 Duo to server, workstation
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Nokia makes content push by acquiring Loudeye
News: Federal appeals court rules for IBM in pension case
News: Google nabs MySpace search deal
News: SCO aims to reinvent itself through mobility
Opinion: Fast pipe. Always on. Get out of the way.
ITwhirled: Ladies love technology
NEWS UPDATES
Nokia makes content push by acquiring Loudeye
Nokia Corp., the world's largest handset maker, has agreed to acquire Loudeye Corp., a provider of digital media distribution services, for $60 million, the two companies announced Tuesday.
Federal appeals court rules for IBM in pension case
A federal appeals court Monday ruled that IBM Corp. did not discriminate against its employees on the basis of age, overturning an earlier verdict in that case.
Google nabs MySpace search deal
Google Inc. has won one of the most sought-after deals in the search engine market, becoming the exclusive provider of search functionality and search advertising to MySpace.com and other News Corp. Web sites.
SCO aims to reinvent itself through mobility
In recent years The SCO Group Inc. has been best known for its costly and controversial licensing dispute over Unix intellectual property. But SCO's leader said the company is in the process of reinventing itself into a mobile application platform and services provider with new products, services and partnerships.
Marvell to profit from Intel's communications business
Marvell Technology Group Ltd. will need around 18 months to make money from its proposed acquisition of Intel Corp.'s loss-making communications and application processor business, according to the company’s president and chief executive officer, Sehat Sutardja.
Microsoft to add Speech Server to communications hub
Microsoft Corp. has found a new home for its Speech Server product in its plan to provide a centralized hub for corporate instant messaging, voice over Internet Protocol, video conferencing, and other communications applications.
Achievo buys Chinese outsourcing company BBX
Outsourcing services provider Achievo Corp. has signed a deal to acquire Beijing Beifang Xinyu Information Technology Co. Ltd. (BBX), a Chinese outsourcing company with 450 employees.
Chip maker Atmel fires four execs, including founder
Chip maker Atmel Corp. fired four executives, including its founder, chairman and chief executive officer, after an investigation into alleged misuse of corporate travel funds, the company said Monday.
OPINION
Fast pipe. Always on. Get out of the way.
By Sean McGrath
What would you say if I told you that I have never in my life sent an e-mail? What would you say if I told you that you too have never in your life sent an e-mail? You would either dismiss me as nuts or conclude that I am playing with words somehow. Indeed, I am playing with words. One word in particular. The word "send".
Read the full article here
ITWHIRLED
Ladies love technology
Male geeks everywhere are rejoicing: a recent survey by the Oxygen network has found that 75% of women would prefer receiving a plasma TV to a diamond. Women are also closing the gadget gap: they average 6.6 "technology devices" (no, we don't know what that means, exactly), compared to 6.9 for men.
Sign up for the ITwhirled alert and a great geek T-shirt could be yours.
Today's IT News Audio Update
IBM prevails in age discrimination appeal ... Nokia buys Loudeye for content delivery ... Apple adds Intel Core 2 Duo to server, workstation
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Nokia makes content push by acquiring Loudeye
News: Federal appeals court rules for IBM in pension case
News: Google nabs MySpace search deal
News: SCO aims to reinvent itself through mobility
Opinion: Fast pipe. Always on. Get out of the way.
ITwhirled: Ladies love technology
NEWS UPDATES
Nokia makes content push by acquiring Loudeye
Nokia Corp., the world's largest handset maker, has agreed to acquire Loudeye Corp., a provider of digital media distribution services, for $60 million, the two companies announced Tuesday.
Federal appeals court rules for IBM in pension case
A federal appeals court Monday ruled that IBM Corp. did not discriminate against its employees on the basis of age, overturning an earlier verdict in that case.
Google nabs MySpace search deal
Google Inc. has won one of the most sought-after deals in the search engine market, becoming the exclusive provider of search functionality and search advertising to MySpace.com and other News Corp. Web sites.
SCO aims to reinvent itself through mobility
In recent years The SCO Group Inc. has been best known for its costly and controversial licensing dispute over Unix intellectual property. But SCO's leader said the company is in the process of reinventing itself into a mobile application platform and services provider with new products, services and partnerships.
Marvell to profit from Intel's communications business
Marvell Technology Group Ltd. will need around 18 months to make money from its proposed acquisition of Intel Corp.'s loss-making communications and application processor business, according to the company’s president and chief executive officer, Sehat Sutardja.
Microsoft to add Speech Server to communications hub
Microsoft Corp. has found a new home for its Speech Server product in its plan to provide a centralized hub for corporate instant messaging, voice over Internet Protocol, video conferencing, and other communications applications.
Achievo buys Chinese outsourcing company BBX
Outsourcing services provider Achievo Corp. has signed a deal to acquire Beijing Beifang Xinyu Information Technology Co. Ltd. (BBX), a Chinese outsourcing company with 450 employees.
Chip maker Atmel fires four execs, including founder
Chip maker Atmel Corp. fired four executives, including its founder, chairman and chief executive officer, after an investigation into alleged misuse of corporate travel funds, the company said Monday.
OPINION
Fast pipe. Always on. Get out of the way.
By Sean McGrath
What would you say if I told you that I have never in my life sent an e-mail? What would you say if I told you that you too have never in your life sent an e-mail? You would either dismiss me as nuts or conclude that I am playing with words somehow. Indeed, I am playing with words. One word in particular. The word "send".
Read the full article here
ITWHIRLED
Ladies love technology
Male geeks everywhere are rejoicing: a recent survey by the Oxygen network has found that 75% of women would prefer receiving a plasma TV to a diamond. Women are also closing the gadget gap: they average 6.6 "technology devices" (no, we don't know what that means, exactly), compared to 6.9 for men.
Sign up for the ITwhirled alert and a great geek T-shirt could be yours.
Monday, August 07, 2006
Google to run MTV video clips with ads ... AOL search data released
Today's IT News Audio Update
Sun lays off workers around the world .. Another Cisco vulnerability unearthed ... Google flags dangerous Web sites
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Google to distribute MTV video clips with ads
News: AOL search data reportedly released
News: VMware virtualizes Mac OS
News: FBI: Cybercriminals taking cues from Mafia
TopCoder: Try this week's coding problem ... MultiRead
ITwhirled: When you need more help than the help desk can give
NEWS UPDATES
Google to distribute MTV video clips with ads
In continuing efforts to expand its online advertising business, Google Inc. will distribute ad-supported video content from Viacom International Inc.'s MTV Networks to Web sites in its extensive advertising network.
AOL search data reportedly released
AOL LLC has apparently released details of Internet searches performed over a period of three months by hundreds of thousands of its subscribers, raising privacy concerns.
VMware virtualizes Mac OS
Market-leading OS virtualization company VMWare has confirmed it intends exhibiting virtualization software for Intel Macs at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference.
FBI: Cybercriminals taking cues from Mafia
The Web site offered to sell stolen credit card information for US$100, but it was the title of the poster that caught FBI agent Thomas X Grasso Jr.'s attention. The cybercriminal identified himself as a "Capo di capo" -- a boss of bosses, in Mafia parlance.
IBM determined to evolve mainframe into SOA server
As more and more companies adopt service-oriented architecture (SOA), IBM plans to evolve its mainframes into SOA servers and recently bared new software and developer plans to achieve this goal.
Security guru lays into database vendors
Noted security researcher David Litchfield has again panned the state of database security, revealing another clutch of vulnerabilities in the software of a major vendor.
TOPCODER
This week's problem: MultiRead (Level 1)
In many computer systems, multiple processes can read from the same resource during the same clock cycle, but only a single process can write to the resource during a clock cycle. Reads and writes cannot be mixed during the same clock cycle. Given a history of the reads and writes that occurred during a particular computation as a String trace, and an int procs representing the number of processes used by the computation, calculate the minimum duration of the computation in clock cycles. The trace represents each read as an 'R' and each write as a 'W'.
ITWHIRLED
When you need more help than the help desk can give
Computerworld's Web site has a feature called the Help Desk, where readers can alert the editors about problems with the site or ask questions about how to use it. However, some people have bigger issues: they need printer drivers, advice on e-mail scams, and for Major League Baseball to recognize them as legitimate prospects.
Sign up for the ITwhirled alert and enter to win a geek T-shirt.
Today's IT News Audio Update
Sun lays off workers around the world .. Another Cisco vulnerability unearthed ... Google flags dangerous Web sites
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Google to distribute MTV video clips with ads
News: AOL search data reportedly released
News: VMware virtualizes Mac OS
News: FBI: Cybercriminals taking cues from Mafia
TopCoder: Try this week's coding problem ... MultiRead
ITwhirled: When you need more help than the help desk can give
NEWS UPDATES
Google to distribute MTV video clips with ads
In continuing efforts to expand its online advertising business, Google Inc. will distribute ad-supported video content from Viacom International Inc.'s MTV Networks to Web sites in its extensive advertising network.
AOL search data reportedly released
AOL LLC has apparently released details of Internet searches performed over a period of three months by hundreds of thousands of its subscribers, raising privacy concerns.
VMware virtualizes Mac OS
Market-leading OS virtualization company VMWare has confirmed it intends exhibiting virtualization software for Intel Macs at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference.
FBI: Cybercriminals taking cues from Mafia
The Web site offered to sell stolen credit card information for US$100, but it was the title of the poster that caught FBI agent Thomas X Grasso Jr.'s attention. The cybercriminal identified himself as a "Capo di capo" -- a boss of bosses, in Mafia parlance.
IBM determined to evolve mainframe into SOA server
As more and more companies adopt service-oriented architecture (SOA), IBM plans to evolve its mainframes into SOA servers and recently bared new software and developer plans to achieve this goal.
Security guru lays into database vendors
Noted security researcher David Litchfield has again panned the state of database security, revealing another clutch of vulnerabilities in the software of a major vendor.
TOPCODER
This week's problem: MultiRead (Level 1)
In many computer systems, multiple processes can read from the same resource during the same clock cycle, but only a single process can write to the resource during a clock cycle. Reads and writes cannot be mixed during the same clock cycle. Given a history of the reads and writes that occurred during a particular computation as a String trace, and an int procs representing the number of processes used by the computation, calculate the minimum duration of the computation in clock cycles. The trace represents each read as an 'R' and each write as a 'W'.
ITWHIRLED
When you need more help than the help desk can give
Computerworld's Web site has a feature called the Help Desk, where readers can alert the editors about problems with the site or ask questions about how to use it. However, some people have bigger issues: they need printer drivers, advice on e-mail scams, and for Major League Baseball to recognize them as legitimate prospects.
Sign up for the ITwhirled alert and enter to win a geek T-shirt.
Friday, August 04, 2006
Sun layoffs continue ... French iPod law takes effect ... Philips sells chips for $10.6B
Today's IT News Audio Update
Cisco firewall exploit surfaces at Black Hat ... Phillips sells chip unit for €8.3 billion ... U.S. FCC won't squelch broadband over power lines
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Sun layoffs continue as part of restructuring
News: French copyright law takes effect, to industry dismay
News: Philips sells chips for $10.6 billion as industry consolidates
News: Serious flaw puts Xerox printers at risk
Opinion: Acer's 20-inch Notebook Offers Integrators a Unique Opportunity
Podcast: Today's IT news audio update
ITwhirled: A new month, a new T-shirt drawing. Enter now!
NEWS UPDATES
Sun layoffs continue as part of restructuring
Sun Microsystems Inc. laid off workers in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Asia on Friday as part of belt tightening that is expected to claim up to 5,000 jobs at the beleaguered company.
French copyright law takes effect, to industry dismay
Software publishers and Socialist Party members are among the groups unhappy with the new French copyright law that took effect Friday. French Net surfers could now go to prison for downloading copyright music files without authorization, while companies such as Apple Computer Inc., which make or use DRM (digital rights management) technology to protect music downloads, may have to provide details of the system to their competitors in the interests of interoperability.
Philips sells chips for $10.6 billion as industry consolidates
Europe's third largest chip maker will sell its semiconductor unit to a group of private investment firms in a deal worth €8.3 billion (US$10.6 billion), increasing the pace of consolidation in the industry.
Serious flaw puts Xerox printers at risk
Xerox Corp. is scrambling to update a security patch following the disclosure of a major security flaw in its WorkCenter multifunction printers.
Unpatched flaw revealed in Cisco firewall
Cisco Systems Inc. just can't seem to make it through the Black Hat USA conference unscathed. On Wednesday a security researcher showed how an unpatched vulnerability in the company's PIX firewall appliances could allow outside attackers to gain access to corporate networks.
Apple's options woes deepen
Apple Computer Inc. has found more problems with its accounting for stock options grants and now says it is likely to restate some past financial results.
Microsoft heads for another big Patch Tuesday
August will be another substantial patch month for Microsoft Corp., with the vendor releasing 12 security bulletins next Tuesday to fix holes in both its Windows OS and the Office productivity suite.
AOL to slash up to 5,000 jobs worldwide
AOL LLC will slash up to 5,000 jobs worldwide, or just over a quarter of its workforce, as the struggling unit of Time Warner Inc. restructures in an effort to bring in more revenue.
U.S. gov't files to block AT&T wiretapping suit again
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a new motion to dismiss a lawsuit over AT&T Inc.'s alleged participation in a government-sponsored wiretapping program.
Wall Street Beat: Rambus dives, AMD thrives
While analysts cheered a comeback Thursday in the tech-strong NASDAQ composite index -- pointing to Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) as one of the winners leading the charge -- Rambus Inc. continued to take punishment from investors for a finding from the U.S. fair trade regulator that the memory chip maker had played anything but fair.
OPINION
Acer's 20-inch Notebook Offers Integrators a Unique Opportunity
By Joel Shore
It's not often that I write a column about a single hardware product, but Acer's new laptop PC is like no other computer. So here I go...
Read the full article here
ITWHIRLED
Chinese to join Americans in post-death manned space program
Space Services Inc. is a Texas-based company that will shoot a small portion of your cremated remains into space, for the right price. Now, the company is looking to expand into the world's most populous market, taking advantage of the interest generated by China's manned space program.
A new month, a new T-shirt drawing. Enter now!
Today's IT News Audio Update
Cisco firewall exploit surfaces at Black Hat ... Phillips sells chip unit for €8.3 billion ... U.S. FCC won't squelch broadband over power lines
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Sun layoffs continue as part of restructuring
News: French copyright law takes effect, to industry dismay
News: Philips sells chips for $10.6 billion as industry consolidates
News: Serious flaw puts Xerox printers at risk
Opinion: Acer's 20-inch Notebook Offers Integrators a Unique Opportunity
Podcast: Today's IT news audio update
ITwhirled: A new month, a new T-shirt drawing. Enter now!
NEWS UPDATES
Sun layoffs continue as part of restructuring
Sun Microsystems Inc. laid off workers in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Asia on Friday as part of belt tightening that is expected to claim up to 5,000 jobs at the beleaguered company.
French copyright law takes effect, to industry dismay
Software publishers and Socialist Party members are among the groups unhappy with the new French copyright law that took effect Friday. French Net surfers could now go to prison for downloading copyright music files without authorization, while companies such as Apple Computer Inc., which make or use DRM (digital rights management) technology to protect music downloads, may have to provide details of the system to their competitors in the interests of interoperability.
Philips sells chips for $10.6 billion as industry consolidates
Europe's third largest chip maker will sell its semiconductor unit to a group of private investment firms in a deal worth €8.3 billion (US$10.6 billion), increasing the pace of consolidation in the industry.
Serious flaw puts Xerox printers at risk
Xerox Corp. is scrambling to update a security patch following the disclosure of a major security flaw in its WorkCenter multifunction printers.
Unpatched flaw revealed in Cisco firewall
Cisco Systems Inc. just can't seem to make it through the Black Hat USA conference unscathed. On Wednesday a security researcher showed how an unpatched vulnerability in the company's PIX firewall appliances could allow outside attackers to gain access to corporate networks.
Apple's options woes deepen
Apple Computer Inc. has found more problems with its accounting for stock options grants and now says it is likely to restate some past financial results.
Microsoft heads for another big Patch Tuesday
August will be another substantial patch month for Microsoft Corp., with the vendor releasing 12 security bulletins next Tuesday to fix holes in both its Windows OS and the Office productivity suite.
AOL to slash up to 5,000 jobs worldwide
AOL LLC will slash up to 5,000 jobs worldwide, or just over a quarter of its workforce, as the struggling unit of Time Warner Inc. restructures in an effort to bring in more revenue.
U.S. gov't files to block AT&T wiretapping suit again
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a new motion to dismiss a lawsuit over AT&T Inc.'s alleged participation in a government-sponsored wiretapping program.
Wall Street Beat: Rambus dives, AMD thrives
While analysts cheered a comeback Thursday in the tech-strong NASDAQ composite index -- pointing to Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) as one of the winners leading the charge -- Rambus Inc. continued to take punishment from investors for a finding from the U.S. fair trade regulator that the memory chip maker had played anything but fair.
OPINION
Acer's 20-inch Notebook Offers Integrators a Unique Opportunity
By Joel Shore
It's not often that I write a column about a single hardware product, but Acer's new laptop PC is like no other computer. So here I go...
Read the full article here
ITWHIRLED
Chinese to join Americans in post-death manned space program
Space Services Inc. is a Texas-based company that will shoot a small portion of your cremated remains into space, for the right price. Now, the company is looking to expand into the world's most populous market, taking advantage of the interest generated by China's manned space program.
A new month, a new T-shirt drawing. Enter now!
Thursday, August 03, 2006
MSN Spaces 'Live' upgrade beset with problems ... IBM to acquire MRO Software
Today's IT News Audio Update
IBM to buy MRO, sell with Tivoli ... Consumer watchdogs displeased with Apple's iTunes posture ... Lenovo blames losses on supply chain problems
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Microsoft MSN Spaces 'Live' upgrade beset with problems
News: IBM to acquire MRO Software for $740 million
News: MacBook hit with wireless hack
News: Apple fails to meet Norwegian iTunes demands
Opinion: Disposable Spyware Cleaners
ITwhirled: I, for one, welcome our French robot overlords
NEWS UPDATES
Microsoft MSN Spaces 'Live' upgrade beset with problems
Microsoft began rolling out the "next generation" version of its blogging and social networking service, dubbed Windows Live Spaces, on Tuesday night, but things got quite bumpy along the way. For more than 12 hours, pages loaded extremely slowly at best, and at worst they didn't render properly at all, according to a message posted late Wednesday by Microsoft on the official MSN Spaces blog.
IBM to acquire MRO Software for $740 million
IBM Corp. agreed to buy MRO Software Inc. for about $740 million in a move to bolster its software and services offerings, the Armonk, New York, company said Thursday.
MacBook hit with wireless hack
Security researchers David Maynor and Jon Ellch performed a digital drive-by Wednesday at the Black Hat USA conference. Their target: an Apple Computer Inc. MacBook.
Apple fails to meet Norwegian iTunes demands
Norwegian consumer authorities are not pleased with the reply from Apple Computer Inc. about demands that the company change some of its iTunes Music Store policies.
Gateway uses latest Intel chip in new desktop
Gateway Inc. will use the new "Conroe" Core 2 Duo chip from Intel Corp. to power a PC that users can configure as either a high-end desktop or a workstation, the company said Thursday.
AOL freebies won't guarantee success
As AOL LLC tears down the few remaining walls that once enclosed its proprietary online service, some question whether it will be able to thrive as a business driven mostly by online advertising.
Deutsche Telekom launches converged cell-Wi-Fi service
German telecommunications service provider Deutsche Telekom AG launched on Thursday a bundled service that combines mobile phone and Wi-Fi telephony services, targeting customers who seek attractive fees and greater mobility.
OPINION
Disposable Spyware Cleaners
By James Gaskin
I've often wondered why spyware and virus programmers were so much more clever than mainstream programmers. After all, they write small, tight code that invisibly traverses the Internet and private networks. They find computers matching certain security parameters and install magically onto systems without disturbing the operating system, applications, or user. Compare this to Microsoft's automatic updates and Windows Genuine Advantage software accusing legal systems of running pirated software up to 20 percent of the time.
Read the full article here
ITWHIRLED
I, for one, welcome our French robot overlords
Tired of being pushed around, the French are building an army of Linux-powered robots. Well, maybe "army" is the wrong word, but they are disconcertingly advanced-looking.
A great geek T-shirt could be yours. Learn how!
Today's IT News Audio Update
IBM to buy MRO, sell with Tivoli ... Consumer watchdogs displeased with Apple's iTunes posture ... Lenovo blames losses on supply chain problems
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Microsoft MSN Spaces 'Live' upgrade beset with problems
News: IBM to acquire MRO Software for $740 million
News: MacBook hit with wireless hack
News: Apple fails to meet Norwegian iTunes demands
Opinion: Disposable Spyware Cleaners
ITwhirled: I, for one, welcome our French robot overlords
NEWS UPDATES
Microsoft MSN Spaces 'Live' upgrade beset with problems
Microsoft began rolling out the "next generation" version of its blogging and social networking service, dubbed Windows Live Spaces, on Tuesday night, but things got quite bumpy along the way. For more than 12 hours, pages loaded extremely slowly at best, and at worst they didn't render properly at all, according to a message posted late Wednesday by Microsoft on the official MSN Spaces blog.
IBM to acquire MRO Software for $740 million
IBM Corp. agreed to buy MRO Software Inc. for about $740 million in a move to bolster its software and services offerings, the Armonk, New York, company said Thursday.
MacBook hit with wireless hack
Security researchers David Maynor and Jon Ellch performed a digital drive-by Wednesday at the Black Hat USA conference. Their target: an Apple Computer Inc. MacBook.
Apple fails to meet Norwegian iTunes demands
Norwegian consumer authorities are not pleased with the reply from Apple Computer Inc. about demands that the company change some of its iTunes Music Store policies.
Gateway uses latest Intel chip in new desktop
Gateway Inc. will use the new "Conroe" Core 2 Duo chip from Intel Corp. to power a PC that users can configure as either a high-end desktop or a workstation, the company said Thursday.
AOL freebies won't guarantee success
As AOL LLC tears down the few remaining walls that once enclosed its proprietary online service, some question whether it will be able to thrive as a business driven mostly by online advertising.
Deutsche Telekom launches converged cell-Wi-Fi service
German telecommunications service provider Deutsche Telekom AG launched on Thursday a bundled service that combines mobile phone and Wi-Fi telephony services, targeting customers who seek attractive fees and greater mobility.
OPINION
Disposable Spyware Cleaners
By James Gaskin
I've often wondered why spyware and virus programmers were so much more clever than mainstream programmers. After all, they write small, tight code that invisibly traverses the Internet and private networks. They find computers matching certain security parameters and install magically onto systems without disturbing the operating system, applications, or user. Compare this to Microsoft's automatic updates and Windows Genuine Advantage software accusing legal systems of running pirated software up to 20 percent of the time.
Read the full article here
ITWHIRLED
I, for one, welcome our French robot overlords
Tired of being pushed around, the French are building an army of Linux-powered robots. Well, maybe "army" is the wrong word, but they are disconcertingly advanced-looking.
A great geek T-shirt could be yours. Learn how!
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
AOL confirms shift to free services ... FTC says Rambus crafted monopoly illegally
Today's IT News Audio Update
AOL confirms shift to free services ... FTC finds Rambus crafted monopoly illegally ... IBM buys Webify for SOA
IN THE NEWS
FTC says Rambus acted unlawfully
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission on Wednesday unanimously decided that Rambus Inc. unlawfully created a monopoly for certain technologies used in the DRAM (dynamic RAM) memory chip standard.
IBM makes third SOA buy with Webify purchase
IBM Corp. has made its third purchase in the SOA (service-oriented architecture) technology space, buying Webify Solutions Inc., the company announced Wednesday.
AOL makes software free to boost ad revenue
In a move to increase its online advertising revenue, AOL LLC said Wednesday it will make a range of its software and services free for broadband users.
Man charged with soliciting minor through MySpace
A 26-year-old man from Somers, Connecticut, faces up to 30 years in prison for allegedly having sexual relations with a 15-year-old girl he met through MySpace.com, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) said late Tuesday.
SAP to invest $1 billion in India
SAP AG is to invest $1 billion in India over the next five years, Henning Kagermann, the company's chief executive officer told reporters in Delhi on Wednesday.
Microsoft shuffles more Windows executives
Microsoft Corp. continues to make executive changes in the division that oversees Windows. On Tuesday the company added one executive to its Platforms and Services Division and announced that three will leave the group once Windows Vista is released to manufacturing.
TOPCODER CHALLENGE
This week's problem: Baskets With Apples (Level 1)
We have some baskets containing apples, and we would like to perform thefollowing procedure in a way that maximizes the number of remainingapples. First, we discard some (or none) of the baskets completely.Then, if the remaining baskets do not all contain the same number ofapples, we remove excess apples from the baskets until they do.
Today's IT News Audio Update
AOL confirms shift to free services ... FTC finds Rambus crafted monopoly illegally ... IBM buys Webify for SOA
IN THE NEWS
FTC says Rambus acted unlawfully
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission on Wednesday unanimously decided that Rambus Inc. unlawfully created a monopoly for certain technologies used in the DRAM (dynamic RAM) memory chip standard.
IBM makes third SOA buy with Webify purchase
IBM Corp. has made its third purchase in the SOA (service-oriented architecture) technology space, buying Webify Solutions Inc., the company announced Wednesday.
AOL makes software free to boost ad revenue
In a move to increase its online advertising revenue, AOL LLC said Wednesday it will make a range of its software and services free for broadband users.
Man charged with soliciting minor through MySpace
A 26-year-old man from Somers, Connecticut, faces up to 30 years in prison for allegedly having sexual relations with a 15-year-old girl he met through MySpace.com, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) said late Tuesday.
SAP to invest $1 billion in India
SAP AG is to invest $1 billion in India over the next five years, Henning Kagermann, the company's chief executive officer told reporters in Delhi on Wednesday.
Microsoft shuffles more Windows executives
Microsoft Corp. continues to make executive changes in the division that oversees Windows. On Tuesday the company added one executive to its Platforms and Services Division and announced that three will leave the group once Windows Vista is released to manufacturing.
TOPCODER CHALLENGE
This week's problem: Baskets With Apples (Level 1)
We have some baskets containing apples, and we would like to perform thefollowing procedure in a way that maximizes the number of remainingapples. First, we discard some (or none) of the baskets completely.Then, if the remaining baskets do not all contain the same number ofapples, we remove excess apples from the baskets until they do.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Storage Tip: When Is a Disaster Not a Disaster?
By David Hill, Mesabi Group
Distinguishing between a disaster and a non-disaster is easy. Anything that requires you to transfer access to using storage at a remote site is a disaster. Anything else is an operational problem. Making that distinction is important because the resources -- both in terms of equipment and personnel -- that you bring to bear on resolving the problem are different. Don't use a hammer when a screwdriver will do and vice versa.
Read the full article here
By David Hill, Mesabi Group
Distinguishing between a disaster and a non-disaster is easy. Anything that requires you to transfer access to using storage at a remote site is a disaster. Anything else is an operational problem. Making that distinction is important because the resources -- both in terms of equipment and personnel -- that you bring to bear on resolving the problem are different. Don't use a hammer when a screwdriver will do and vice versa.
Read the full article here
Restaurants, roller coasters and randomly failing web applications
By Sean McGrath
You arrive at a downtown restaurant that does not take reservations. Straight ahead, a member of staff is standing behind a podium making notes on a booking sheet. To the left, happy diners who got there before you did, munch through their meals. To the right, prospective diners who also got there before you did, sit at the bar sipping cocktails, waiting for their table to be called. The member of staff behind the podium orchestrates the whole show. Her job is to keep the restaurant operating at maximum throughput without overloading it. To do this she juggles a variety of information in real time. Sizes of parties awaiting tables. Expected availability of free tables, time of day (lunch has a very different dynamic to dinner) and so on. You ask her the question she gets asked umpteen times a day -- How long is the wait? "About 30 minutes", she replies.
Read the full article here
By Sean McGrath
You arrive at a downtown restaurant that does not take reservations. Straight ahead, a member of staff is standing behind a podium making notes on a booking sheet. To the left, happy diners who got there before you did, munch through their meals. To the right, prospective diners who also got there before you did, sit at the bar sipping cocktails, waiting for their table to be called. The member of staff behind the podium orchestrates the whole show. Her job is to keep the restaurant operating at maximum throughput without overloading it. To do this she juggles a variety of information in real time. Sizes of parties awaiting tables. Expected availability of free tables, time of day (lunch has a very different dynamic to dinner) and so on. You ask her the question she gets asked umpteen times a day -- How long is the wait? "About 30 minutes", she replies.
Read the full article here
Apple responds to Nordic iTunes criticism ... GE dumped from UK's health IT overhaul
Daily IT News Audio Update
Apple responds to Scandinavian iTunes criticism ... GE dumped from UK's health IT overhaul ... Boston to build WiFi net
IN THE NEWS
McAfee to issue patch on Wednesday for vulnerability
McAfee Inc. will issue a patch on Wednesday for a vulnerability affecting its SecurityCenter application, a security software management tool.
Apple responds to Nordic iTunes complaints
Apple Computer Inc. has replied to criticism of its iTunes digital rights management policy, meeting a deadline set by consumer agencies in Scandinavia, an advisor at Norway's Consumer Council said on Tuesday.
Palm sees trouble ahead for Palm OS
Palm Inc.'s plans for future products could be affected by delays in development of a new version of the Palm OS software, the company warned in a regulatory filing.
Data center failure pinches UK health service
Technicians continued working Tuesday to restore a computerized patient administration system for 80 medical facilities in northwest England that failed Sunday during upgrades to the National Health Service's IT systems.
IT and telecommunications on collision course, says IDC
The merger of IT and telecommunications continues apace — if IDC's latest research is anything to go by.
Via execs acquitted in industrial espionage case
An industrial espionage case against two top executives and an engineer from Via Technologies Inc. ended Monday after judges in Taiwan found the defendants not guilty.
Apple joins new OpenGL standards group
Apple, Dell, and Google and others have joined the Khronos Group, an organization working to define open-standards for the authoring and acceleration of dynamic media on multiple platforms, including computers and mobile phones.
ITWHIRLED
I, for one, welcome our French robot overlords
Tired of being pushed around, the French are building an army of Linux-powered robots. Well, maybe "army" is the wrong word, but they are disconcertingly advanced-looking.
A new month, a new T-shirt drawing. Enter now!
Daily IT News Audio Update
Apple responds to Scandinavian iTunes criticism ... GE dumped from UK's health IT overhaul ... Boston to build WiFi net
IN THE NEWS
McAfee to issue patch on Wednesday for vulnerability
McAfee Inc. will issue a patch on Wednesday for a vulnerability affecting its SecurityCenter application, a security software management tool.
Apple responds to Nordic iTunes complaints
Apple Computer Inc. has replied to criticism of its iTunes digital rights management policy, meeting a deadline set by consumer agencies in Scandinavia, an advisor at Norway's Consumer Council said on Tuesday.
Palm sees trouble ahead for Palm OS
Palm Inc.'s plans for future products could be affected by delays in development of a new version of the Palm OS software, the company warned in a regulatory filing.
Data center failure pinches UK health service
Technicians continued working Tuesday to restore a computerized patient administration system for 80 medical facilities in northwest England that failed Sunday during upgrades to the National Health Service's IT systems.
IT and telecommunications on collision course, says IDC
The merger of IT and telecommunications continues apace — if IDC's latest research is anything to go by.
Via execs acquitted in industrial espionage case
An industrial espionage case against two top executives and an engineer from Via Technologies Inc. ended Monday after judges in Taiwan found the defendants not guilty.
Apple joins new OpenGL standards group
Apple, Dell, and Google and others have joined the Khronos Group, an organization working to define open-standards for the authoring and acceleration of dynamic media on multiple platforms, including computers and mobile phones.
ITWHIRLED
I, for one, welcome our French robot overlords
Tired of being pushed around, the French are building an army of Linux-powered robots. Well, maybe "army" is the wrong word, but they are disconcertingly advanced-looking.
A new month, a new T-shirt drawing. Enter now!
Monday, July 31, 2006
Windows Tip: Using Remote Assistance in the Enterprise
By Mitch Tulloch
Have you ever been asked a computer question from a friend or family member who is located miles away? Wouldn’t it be great if you could see what they were trying to describe to you and show them how to fix the problem remotely? Remote Assistance, a feature of Windows XP, is a great idea for troubleshooting issues that are hard to explain or which require a complicated series of steps to fix.
Read the full article here
By Mitch Tulloch
Have you ever been asked a computer question from a friend or family member who is located miles away? Wouldn’t it be great if you could see what they were trying to describe to you and show them how to fix the problem remotely? Remote Assistance, a feature of Windows XP, is a great idea for troubleshooting issues that are hard to explain or which require a complicated series of steps to fix.
Read the full article here
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