HIGHLIGHTS
News: Intel to launch quad-core chips on Nov. 13
News: After Google win, Belgian publishers pursue MSN
News: Microsoft says regulations won't delay Vista in Europe
News: Adobe plans to give more details of Apollo this month
Security Tip: Three things you must know about risk assessment
Opinion: Does work actually flow?
Podcast: Today's IT news audio update
ITwhirled: Geek comic of the week: Pixel
NEWS UPDATES
Intel to launch quad-core chips on Nov. 13
In a race with rival Advanced Micro Devices Inc., Intel Corp. will bring its quad-core chips to market in a new line of Hewlett-Packard Co. workstations due to be introduced on Nov. 13.
After Google win, Belgian publishers pursue MSN
Looking to avoid the kind of legal tangle that Google Inc. has found itself in, Microsoft Corp.'s MSN division in Belgium is in talks with a group newspaper publishers over the rights to publish their content on its Web site.
Microsoft says regulations won't delay Vista in Europe
Microsoft Corp. has agreed to make changes to its upcoming Windows Vista operating system to satisfy regulators in the European Union. Despite the changes, it will still deliver Vista on schedule, it said Friday.
Adobe plans to give more details of Apollo this month
Adobe Systems Inc. is planning to offer more details later this month on its Apollo project, designed to run rich Internet applications offline on PCs, its president said in an interview on Thursday.
Office Live to complement Office 2007 in SMBs
Office Live, a set of web-hosted services from Microsoft Corp., will play a key role in the delivery of collaboration functions to users of its Office 2007 suite in small businesses.
HP hires Ethics and Compliance Officer
Hewlett-Packard Co. is hiring a chief ethics and compliance officer to make sure its businesses practices, sullied by a boardroom spying scandal, remain on the straight and narrow.
Wall Street Beat: McAfee, YouTube point to trends
Google Inc.'s acquisition of YouTube Inc. and a shakeup at security vendor McAfee Inc. are giving IT investors something to mull over as they brace for the wave of technology-vendor financial reports due next week.
Oracle turns attention to applications management
Oracle Corp. is to broaden its Enterprise Manager 10g software to include comprehensive applications management. The vendor will make the new capabilities available with the upcoming release of three new management packs for three of its different enterprise applications families.
SECURITY TIP
Three things you must know about risk assessment
By Brent Huston, MicroSolved, Inc.
Risk assessments are in at the moment, but they're not for the meek or the ambitious. Politics and control sensitivities are abundant. That said, a good risk assessment should provide an organization with a road map for security issues that need immediate attention, interim goals and long-term security planning. Here are three key things to consider before undertaking a full assessment project.
Read the full article here:
OPINION
Does work actually flow?
By Sean McGrath
In businesses, things happen that cause employees to do stuff. This 'stuff' is called 'work'. Work generally does not start and end in an instant. Like everything else in life, it happens with respect to time. This stuff called work flows and therefore we naturally call the phenomenon workflow.
Read the full article here:
PODCAST
Daily IT News Audio Update
HP hires ethics officer ... DOJ begins antitrust investigation of SRAM market ... Google's Blogger service suffers outage
More podcasts
ITWHIRLED
Geek comic of the week: Pixel
Can humor be derived from the interaction between a two lonely pixels -- the basic unit from which all computer graphics are derived? Well, not really. But if you place those pixels in an odd but fully imagined world where pixels have spouses, babies, jobs, and trips to the beach or the movies, as 'Pixel' does, then you're in for a good time.
Friday, October 13, 2006
Thursday, October 12, 2006
European Parliament bucks patent agreement ... U.S. military to test IBM's translation in Iraq
HIGHLIGHTS
News: European Parliament wants changes to patent agreement
News: Siemens to keep but overhaul IT service unit
News: U.S. military to test IBM's translation in Iraq
News: Sony's new Walkman players pack noise cancelling
Opinion: Open Source Enterprise IM
Podcast: Today's IT news audio update
ITwhirled: When cell phone video messaging goes horribly awry
NEWS UPDATES
European Parliament wants changes to patent agreement
The European Parliament demanded several improvements to a proposal by the European Commission to sign up to an agreement on patent litigation in Europe, a spokesman said Thursday.
Siemens to keep but overhaul IT service unit
Although on a spree to unload unprofitable units, including its traditional telecommunications manufacturing business, Siemens AG has decided to keep -- but completely overhaul -- its money-losing IT services and software operations.
U.S. military to test IBM's translation in Iraq
The U.S. Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) will deploy IBM Corp.'s speech-to-speech translation software to help U.S. forces serving in Iraq better communicate with local security forces and Iraqi citizens.
Sony's new Walkman players pack noise cancelling
Sony Corp. is packing its new Walkman digital music players with noise cancelling and other audio enhancing technology in its latest attempt to challenge the dominance of Apple Computer Inc.'s iPod.
Microsoft: Vista-ready products to ship by holidays
At the Digital Life 2006 Conference in New York today, Microsoft announced that more than 250 hardware and software products have received either the "Certified for Windows Vista" or "Works with Windows Vista" logos, and will be available in time for the holiday shopping season in November and December.
IBM pitches System i for small business SAP
IBM Corp. raised the stakes in its competition with Dell Inc. for small-business users on Thursday by launching a System i server configured for customers with 100 seats or fewer of SAP AG's business management software.
Some integration issues linger at Sun StorageTek
Sun Microsystems Inc.'s acquisition of StorageTek will be finalized Oct. 17 when the price lists of the two technology companies become one. But some observers say integration issues remain for Sun StorageTek.
Nokia completes navigation software company buy
Nokia Corp. completed its acquisition of navigation software company Gate5 AG on Thursday, just a week after licensing hundreds of navigation patents from Trimble Navigation Ltd.
Exploit code hiding in cache servers
Malicious code is living on weeks after it has been removed from websites thanks to an unexpected culprit: cache servers.
OPINION
Open Source Enterprise IM
By James Gaskin
Corporate policies notwithstanding, some users in over 90 percent of all large companies still use public Instant Message clients when they shouldn't. AIM, MSN, Yahoo, and the new GoogleTalk tempt users to ignore corporate security rules, as if they needed more encouragement. Jive Software (.com) approached this problem from an interesting angle: free Open Source software for corporate IM use.
PODCAST
Daily IT News Audio Update
McAfee fires president, CEO resigns over backdating scandal ... Ericsson to test biofuel-powered mobile network in Nigeria ... ICANN refuses to shut down Spamhaus.org
More podcasts
ITWHIRLED
Cell phone video messaging goes horribly awry
Kim Admire sent pictures of her daughter's new braces from her camera cell phone to a number of her friends and family members, and they all got them without incident -- except her brother, who got hardcore pornography instead. Cingular, her mobile phone service provider, called the incident "bizarre and isolated."
News: European Parliament wants changes to patent agreement
News: Siemens to keep but overhaul IT service unit
News: U.S. military to test IBM's translation in Iraq
News: Sony's new Walkman players pack noise cancelling
Opinion: Open Source Enterprise IM
Podcast: Today's IT news audio update
ITwhirled: When cell phone video messaging goes horribly awry
NEWS UPDATES
European Parliament wants changes to patent agreement
The European Parliament demanded several improvements to a proposal by the European Commission to sign up to an agreement on patent litigation in Europe, a spokesman said Thursday.
Siemens to keep but overhaul IT service unit
Although on a spree to unload unprofitable units, including its traditional telecommunications manufacturing business, Siemens AG has decided to keep -- but completely overhaul -- its money-losing IT services and software operations.
U.S. military to test IBM's translation in Iraq
The U.S. Joint Forces Command (USJFCOM) will deploy IBM Corp.'s speech-to-speech translation software to help U.S. forces serving in Iraq better communicate with local security forces and Iraqi citizens.
Sony's new Walkman players pack noise cancelling
Sony Corp. is packing its new Walkman digital music players with noise cancelling and other audio enhancing technology in its latest attempt to challenge the dominance of Apple Computer Inc.'s iPod.
Microsoft: Vista-ready products to ship by holidays
At the Digital Life 2006 Conference in New York today, Microsoft announced that more than 250 hardware and software products have received either the "Certified for Windows Vista" or "Works with Windows Vista" logos, and will be available in time for the holiday shopping season in November and December.
IBM pitches System i for small business SAP
IBM Corp. raised the stakes in its competition with Dell Inc. for small-business users on Thursday by launching a System i server configured for customers with 100 seats or fewer of SAP AG's business management software.
Some integration issues linger at Sun StorageTek
Sun Microsystems Inc.'s acquisition of StorageTek will be finalized Oct. 17 when the price lists of the two technology companies become one. But some observers say integration issues remain for Sun StorageTek.
Nokia completes navigation software company buy
Nokia Corp. completed its acquisition of navigation software company Gate5 AG on Thursday, just a week after licensing hundreds of navigation patents from Trimble Navigation Ltd.
Exploit code hiding in cache servers
Malicious code is living on weeks after it has been removed from websites thanks to an unexpected culprit: cache servers.
OPINION
Open Source Enterprise IM
By James Gaskin
Corporate policies notwithstanding, some users in over 90 percent of all large companies still use public Instant Message clients when they shouldn't. AIM, MSN, Yahoo, and the new GoogleTalk tempt users to ignore corporate security rules, as if they needed more encouragement. Jive Software (.com) approached this problem from an interesting angle: free Open Source software for corporate IM use.
PODCAST
Daily IT News Audio Update
McAfee fires president, CEO resigns over backdating scandal ... Ericsson to test biofuel-powered mobile network in Nigeria ... ICANN refuses to shut down Spamhaus.org
More podcasts
ITWHIRLED
Cell phone video messaging goes horribly awry
Kim Admire sent pictures of her daughter's new braces from her camera cell phone to a number of her friends and family members, and they all got them without incident -- except her brother, who got hardcore pornography instead. Cingular, her mobile phone service provider, called the incident "bizarre and isolated."
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Stock options scandal rocks McAfee ... IBM adds enterprise blogging to Lotus Notes
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Stock options scandal leads to big changes at McAfee
News: IBM adds enterprise blogging to Lotus Notes
News: Ericsson trials biodiesel to power mobile networks
News: Oracle pays $98.5 million for PeopleSoft overcharging
Storage Tip: SAS makes its way into your storage future
Podcast: Today's IT news audio update
ITwhirled: IT worker "too busy" to serve as city council member
NEWS UPDATES
Stock options scandal leads to big changes at McAfee
A major, executive shake-up is under way at security software vendor McAfee Inc., including the firing of the company's president in the wake of a stock-options investigation.
IBM adds enterprise blogging to Lotus Notes
IBM Corp. has added enterprise blogging capability to its venerable Lotus Notes/Domino e-mail and collaboration software in an incremental update available now.
Ericsson trials biodiesel to power mobile networks
Ericsson, the GSM Association (GSMA) and telecommunications operator The MTN Group are experimenting with using biodiesel to power mobile network equipment in Nigeria. The organizations are setting up a supply chain that includes buying locally-produced crops and processing them into biofuel to be used in the project. The fuel will be made from groundnuts, pumpkin seeds and palm oil and will replace diesel which is commonly used to power mobile base stations in remote areas where electricity isn't available.
Oracle pays $98.5 million for PeopleSoft overcharging
Oracle Corp. will pay the U.S. government $98.5 million to compensate for allegations that PeopleSoft, the software company Oracle acquired last year, overcharged government customers for years.
Coghead to engage more users in Web app development
Startup Coghead Inc. is opening up the beta version of its hosted Web development environment to technically savvy users in small to midsized businesses (SMBs) who are keen to create their own applications.
Sun strengthens storage partnerships
Sun Microsystems Inc. is strengthening ties to its top 10 industry partners in a new program being presented to customers Wednesday at a Las Vegas conference. The Sun StorageTek Ready program includes makers of networking equipment, software, disk drives and other technology that works with Sun storage technology.
Networking problems gum up Microsoft security patches
Networking problems have kept Microsoft Corp. from distributing its latest security patches to users of its automatic update services. The updates, released at about 11 a.m. Pacific time on Tuesday, fix a whopping 26 vulnerabilities in Windows, Office and the .Net framework. Many of these flaws are considered critical, but as of 2 p.m. they were still unavailable via many of Microsoft's most popular update services.
HP snoops plead not guilty in pretexting case
The three private investigators charged in Hewlett-Packard Co.'s spying scandal were arraigned Tuesday in Santa Clara County Superior Court in California. All were released without bail after entering not guilty pleas.
STORAGE TIP
SAS makes its way into your storage future
By David Hill, Mesabi Group
What seems to be the problem? At the high end of disk storage requirements, the use of Fibre Channel (FC) disk drives has been commonplace in a storage area network (SAN). However, the use of FC may not be cost effective for some requirements, especially for smaller configurations. At the low end of the disk storage requirements spectrum, the use of small computer system interface (SCSI) drives has had a long and proud history for direct-attached storage (DAS), but SCSI has not been able to keep up with the flexibility and manageability that is needed even for smaller storage configurations. Thus, a need exists for a storage approach that meets the need for both mid-size SANs and for DAS configurations. Serial SCSI (SAS) offers a storage approach to meet those needs.
PODCAST
Daily IT News Audio Update
McAfee stock options scandal claims president, CEO ... Adobe buys Actimage for mobile video ... HP detectives plead not guilty
More podcasts
ITWHIRLED
IT worker "too busy" to serve as city council member
Paul Herold thought that being a member of the Blaine, Minnesota city council would be a pretty good gig, so he decided to run -- until he got a new job that left him too busy to serve his potential constituents well. Unfortunately, despite his pleas, he won the primary election anyway. Now, to avoid the city having to pay $30,000 to hold a special election after his resignation, he is urging voters to choose his opponent come November.
News: Stock options scandal leads to big changes at McAfee
News: IBM adds enterprise blogging to Lotus Notes
News: Ericsson trials biodiesel to power mobile networks
News: Oracle pays $98.5 million for PeopleSoft overcharging
Storage Tip: SAS makes its way into your storage future
Podcast: Today's IT news audio update
ITwhirled: IT worker "too busy" to serve as city council member
NEWS UPDATES
Stock options scandal leads to big changes at McAfee
A major, executive shake-up is under way at security software vendor McAfee Inc., including the firing of the company's president in the wake of a stock-options investigation.
IBM adds enterprise blogging to Lotus Notes
IBM Corp. has added enterprise blogging capability to its venerable Lotus Notes/Domino e-mail and collaboration software in an incremental update available now.
Ericsson trials biodiesel to power mobile networks
Ericsson, the GSM Association (GSMA) and telecommunications operator The MTN Group are experimenting with using biodiesel to power mobile network equipment in Nigeria. The organizations are setting up a supply chain that includes buying locally-produced crops and processing them into biofuel to be used in the project. The fuel will be made from groundnuts, pumpkin seeds and palm oil and will replace diesel which is commonly used to power mobile base stations in remote areas where electricity isn't available.
Oracle pays $98.5 million for PeopleSoft overcharging
Oracle Corp. will pay the U.S. government $98.5 million to compensate for allegations that PeopleSoft, the software company Oracle acquired last year, overcharged government customers for years.
Coghead to engage more users in Web app development
Startup Coghead Inc. is opening up the beta version of its hosted Web development environment to technically savvy users in small to midsized businesses (SMBs) who are keen to create their own applications.
Sun strengthens storage partnerships
Sun Microsystems Inc. is strengthening ties to its top 10 industry partners in a new program being presented to customers Wednesday at a Las Vegas conference. The Sun StorageTek Ready program includes makers of networking equipment, software, disk drives and other technology that works with Sun storage technology.
Networking problems gum up Microsoft security patches
Networking problems have kept Microsoft Corp. from distributing its latest security patches to users of its automatic update services. The updates, released at about 11 a.m. Pacific time on Tuesday, fix a whopping 26 vulnerabilities in Windows, Office and the .Net framework. Many of these flaws are considered critical, but as of 2 p.m. they were still unavailable via many of Microsoft's most popular update services.
HP snoops plead not guilty in pretexting case
The three private investigators charged in Hewlett-Packard Co.'s spying scandal were arraigned Tuesday in Santa Clara County Superior Court in California. All were released without bail after entering not guilty pleas.
STORAGE TIP
SAS makes its way into your storage future
By David Hill, Mesabi Group
What seems to be the problem? At the high end of disk storage requirements, the use of Fibre Channel (FC) disk drives has been commonplace in a storage area network (SAN). However, the use of FC may not be cost effective for some requirements, especially for smaller configurations. At the low end of the disk storage requirements spectrum, the use of small computer system interface (SCSI) drives has had a long and proud history for direct-attached storage (DAS), but SCSI has not been able to keep up with the flexibility and manageability that is needed even for smaller storage configurations. Thus, a need exists for a storage approach that meets the need for both mid-size SANs and for DAS configurations. Serial SCSI (SAS) offers a storage approach to meet those needs.
PODCAST
Daily IT News Audio Update
McAfee stock options scandal claims president, CEO ... Adobe buys Actimage for mobile video ... HP detectives plead not guilty
More podcasts
ITWHIRLED
IT worker "too busy" to serve as city council member
Paul Herold thought that being a member of the Blaine, Minnesota city council would be a pretty good gig, so he decided to run -- until he got a new job that left him too busy to serve his potential constituents well. Unfortunately, despite his pleas, he won the primary election anyway. Now, to avoid the city having to pay $30,000 to hold a special election after his resignation, he is urging voters to choose his opponent come November.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Microsoft denies BayStar connection ... Toshiba ties with LG.Philips for LCD panels
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Microsoft denies BayStar connection
News: Toshiba ties with LG.Philips for LCD panels
News: Google to buy YouTube in $1.65 billion stock deal
News: IBM will run Power6 server chip at 5.0GHz
Analysis: HP's e-mail tracer in widespread use
Windows Tip: Smart cards and duct tape
Podcast: Today's IT news audio update
ITwhirled: The 10 coolest things seen on Google Earth
NEWS UPDATES
Microsoft denies BayStar connection
Microsoft Corp. has denied allegations that it offered to guarantee an investment made in The SCO Group Inc., a software company embroiled in a long-standing intellectual property dispute with IBM Corp.
Toshiba ties with LG.Philips for LCD panels
Toshiba Corp. is planning to buy a one fifth stake LG.Philips LCD Co. Ltd.'s Polish subsidiary in order to ensure a steady supply of LCD (liquid crystal display) panels for European televisions, it said Tuesday.
Google to buy YouTube in $1.65 billion stock deal
Google Inc. has laid speculation to rest -- it is buying YouTube Inc. for $1.65 billion in a stock transaction.
IBM will run Power6 server chip at 5.0GHz
IBM Corp. plans to crank up the speed on its Power6 server chip to 5.0GHz, far higher than competing processors from Intel Corp. and Sun Microsystems Inc.
U.S. court threatens Spamhaus with shut down
A U.S. court has threatened to shut down the Spamhaus Project Ltd., a volunteer-run antispam service, for ignoring a $11.7 million judgement against it.
ANALYSIS
HP's e-mail tracer in widespread use
By Stephen Lawson
The tracer software that Hewlett-Packard Co. investigators used to try to sniff out boardroom leaks sounded like it had been ripped from the pages of a bad science-fiction novel. That is, until the company began talking about it in detail at a congressional probe into the spying scandal.
The technology tool the company used, called a Web bug, is designed to allow e-mail senders to track the path a message takes, including whether a recipient opens the message and forwards it to another party. And it turns out the technology is widely used in e-mail newsletters to track readers and also by law enforcement in investigations, security experts say.
Read the full article here
WINDOWS TIP
Smart cards and duct tape
By Mitch Tulloch, MTIT Enterprises
Although troubleshooting system and network problems are usually work, not fun, I had a good laugh at myself recently over one situation that initially left me stumped.
To gain remote access to a secure corporate network, I had to install a smart card reader on a machine so I could authenticate using the smart card the company issued me. The smart card reader was a USB type, and when I plugged it into the system Windows XP recognized the reader and installed drivers for it. Unfortunately the smart card reader I obtained didn't include a stand accessory, so rather than having it sitting on the desk I decided to use duct tape to fix the reader to the side of the PC beneath the desk. After all, Canadians like myself can use duct tape for almost anything, eh?
Read the full article here
PODCAST
Daily IT News Audio Update
Google buys YouTube for $1.65 billion .. Former Novell CEO Noorda dies ... Google and YouTube sign video deals with music studios
More podcasts
ITWHIRLED
She's a 10
Coolest things seen on Google Earth ... Top 10 Swedish metal bands ... Top 10 scenic drives in the U.S. ... Science's best and brightest: The 'brilliant 10' ... 10 Significant all-new 2007 cars
News: Microsoft denies BayStar connection
News: Toshiba ties with LG.Philips for LCD panels
News: Google to buy YouTube in $1.65 billion stock deal
News: IBM will run Power6 server chip at 5.0GHz
Analysis: HP's e-mail tracer in widespread use
Windows Tip: Smart cards and duct tape
Podcast: Today's IT news audio update
ITwhirled: The 10 coolest things seen on Google Earth
NEWS UPDATES
Microsoft denies BayStar connection
Microsoft Corp. has denied allegations that it offered to guarantee an investment made in The SCO Group Inc., a software company embroiled in a long-standing intellectual property dispute with IBM Corp.
Toshiba ties with LG.Philips for LCD panels
Toshiba Corp. is planning to buy a one fifth stake LG.Philips LCD Co. Ltd.'s Polish subsidiary in order to ensure a steady supply of LCD (liquid crystal display) panels for European televisions, it said Tuesday.
Google to buy YouTube in $1.65 billion stock deal
Google Inc. has laid speculation to rest -- it is buying YouTube Inc. for $1.65 billion in a stock transaction.
IBM will run Power6 server chip at 5.0GHz
IBM Corp. plans to crank up the speed on its Power6 server chip to 5.0GHz, far higher than competing processors from Intel Corp. and Sun Microsystems Inc.
U.S. court threatens Spamhaus with shut down
A U.S. court has threatened to shut down the Spamhaus Project Ltd., a volunteer-run antispam service, for ignoring a $11.7 million judgement against it.
ANALYSIS
HP's e-mail tracer in widespread use
By Stephen Lawson
The tracer software that Hewlett-Packard Co. investigators used to try to sniff out boardroom leaks sounded like it had been ripped from the pages of a bad science-fiction novel. That is, until the company began talking about it in detail at a congressional probe into the spying scandal.
The technology tool the company used, called a Web bug, is designed to allow e-mail senders to track the path a message takes, including whether a recipient opens the message and forwards it to another party. And it turns out the technology is widely used in e-mail newsletters to track readers and also by law enforcement in investigations, security experts say.
Read the full article here
WINDOWS TIP
Smart cards and duct tape
By Mitch Tulloch, MTIT Enterprises
Although troubleshooting system and network problems are usually work, not fun, I had a good laugh at myself recently over one situation that initially left me stumped.
To gain remote access to a secure corporate network, I had to install a smart card reader on a machine so I could authenticate using the smart card the company issued me. The smart card reader was a USB type, and when I plugged it into the system Windows XP recognized the reader and installed drivers for it. Unfortunately the smart card reader I obtained didn't include a stand accessory, so rather than having it sitting on the desk I decided to use duct tape to fix the reader to the side of the PC beneath the desk. After all, Canadians like myself can use duct tape for almost anything, eh?
Read the full article here
PODCAST
Daily IT News Audio Update
Google buys YouTube for $1.65 billion .. Former Novell CEO Noorda dies ... Google and YouTube sign video deals with music studios
More podcasts
ITWHIRLED
She's a 10
Coolest things seen on Google Earth ... Top 10 Swedish metal bands ... Top 10 scenic drives in the U.S. ... Science's best and brightest: The 'brilliant 10' ... 10 Significant all-new 2007 cars
Monday, October 09, 2006
BayStar exec says Microsoft 'guaranteed' SCO investment ... HP's Dunn, Fiorina blame Perkins for downfall
HIGHLIGHTS
News: BayStar exec says Microsoft 'guaranteed' SCO investment
News: Oracle buys data integration company Sunopsis
News: HP's Dunn, Fiorina blame Perkins for downfall
News: Microsoft revokes MVP status of adware distributor
Opinion: Web Application Security Audits
Podcast: Today's IT news audio update
ITwhirled: Experts: Future to be riddled with sci-fi cliches
NEWS UPDATES
BayStar exec says Microsoft 'guaranteed' SCO investment
The long-running Linux patent dispute between The SCO Group Inc. and IBM Corp. took another twist last week when IBM filed court documents that suggest Microsoft Corp. agreed to back up BayStar Capital's investment in SCO.
Oracle buys data integration company Sunopsis
Oracle Corp. has acquired French data integration software company Sunopsis SA for an undisclosed sum, the companies announced on Monday.
HP's Dunn, Fiorina blame Perkins for downfall
Former Hewlett-Packard Co. chairmen Patricia Dunn and Carly Fiorina each cited board member Thomas Perkins as an instigator behind their ousters from the technology company, according to interviews the two gave on a U.S. TV news program Sunday night.
Microsoft revokes MVP status of adware distributor
One week after it named the creator of a Windows Messenger add-on to its list of Most Valued Professionals (MVPs), Microsoft Corp. has revoked the award after critics pointed out that the program is used to distribute adware.
Salesforce.com opens up development tools to customers
In hopes of creating a third major revenue-generating business, Salesforce.com Inc. plans to make its Apex programming language and development platform available to users of its on-demand applications.
OPINION
Web Application Security Audits
By James Gaskin
There are four Web vulnerability tool companies, and one, Acunetix(.com) now offers a free audit through a download on their Web site.Through this service, they have gathered plenty of information about the state of Web development security even though they've been a commercial product for less than a year.
PODCAST
Daily IT News Audio Update
Google in talks to buy YouTube ... Microsoft releases final Vista beta ... Google inadvertently lends a hand to hackers
ITWHIRLED
Experts: Future to be riddled with sci-fi cliches
Killer robots and evil artificial intelligences? A huge portion of the population so involved in virtual reality that they ignore real life? According to an array of tech visionaries, these scenarios and others that every studio in Hollywood would reject as too hackneyed lie in wait for us ... in the MYSTERIOUS FUTURE!
News: BayStar exec says Microsoft 'guaranteed' SCO investment
News: Oracle buys data integration company Sunopsis
News: HP's Dunn, Fiorina blame Perkins for downfall
News: Microsoft revokes MVP status of adware distributor
Opinion: Web Application Security Audits
Podcast: Today's IT news audio update
ITwhirled: Experts: Future to be riddled with sci-fi cliches
NEWS UPDATES
BayStar exec says Microsoft 'guaranteed' SCO investment
The long-running Linux patent dispute between The SCO Group Inc. and IBM Corp. took another twist last week when IBM filed court documents that suggest Microsoft Corp. agreed to back up BayStar Capital's investment in SCO.
Oracle buys data integration company Sunopsis
Oracle Corp. has acquired French data integration software company Sunopsis SA for an undisclosed sum, the companies announced on Monday.
HP's Dunn, Fiorina blame Perkins for downfall
Former Hewlett-Packard Co. chairmen Patricia Dunn and Carly Fiorina each cited board member Thomas Perkins as an instigator behind their ousters from the technology company, according to interviews the two gave on a U.S. TV news program Sunday night.
Microsoft revokes MVP status of adware distributor
One week after it named the creator of a Windows Messenger add-on to its list of Most Valued Professionals (MVPs), Microsoft Corp. has revoked the award after critics pointed out that the program is used to distribute adware.
Salesforce.com opens up development tools to customers
In hopes of creating a third major revenue-generating business, Salesforce.com Inc. plans to make its Apex programming language and development platform available to users of its on-demand applications.
OPINION
Web Application Security Audits
By James Gaskin
There are four Web vulnerability tool companies, and one, Acunetix(.com) now offers a free audit through a download on their Web site.Through this service, they have gathered plenty of information about the state of Web development security even though they've been a commercial product for less than a year.
PODCAST
Daily IT News Audio Update
Google in talks to buy YouTube ... Microsoft releases final Vista beta ... Google inadvertently lends a hand to hackers
ITWHIRLED
Experts: Future to be riddled with sci-fi cliches
Killer robots and evil artificial intelligences? A huge portion of the population so involved in virtual reality that they ignore real life? According to an array of tech visionaries, these scenarios and others that every studio in Hollywood would reject as too hackneyed lie in wait for us ... in the MYSTERIOUS FUTURE!
Friday, October 06, 2006
Dunn, Hunsacker in court ... Microsoft plans 10 critical patches
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Nokia's GPS patents may help resolve Qualcomm dispute
News: Hitachi joins Sony battery recall
News: IBM announces new service management offerings
News: E.U. and U.S. agree to share air passenger data
Opinion: Interference Cancellation
Podcast: Today's IT news audio update
ITwhirled: Starting young with the eBay buying
NEWS UPDATES
Nokia's GPS patents may help resolve Qualcomm dispute
Nokia Corp.'s patent licensing deal with Trimble Navigation Ltd. this week could give the phone maker an important boost in an ongoing dispute with CDMA developer Qualcomm Inc.
Hitachi joins Sony battery recall
Hitachi Ltd. joins most of the leading notebook computer makers in recalling batteries from Sony Corp. that are known to overheat and potentially cause fires.
IBM announces new service management offerings
IBM Corp. is introducing a range of new products and services, many based on technologies coming from recently acquired companies, aimed at helping businesses better manage and take advantage of their various software and hardware systems.
E.U. and U.S. agree to share air passenger data
European Union and U.S. negotiators have reached agreement on how to share information about passengers flying to the U.S. from Europe, a Finnish government spokesman said Friday. The new deal allows many more U.S. government agencies to access the data, which includes details such as a passenger's name, address and credit card details.
Toshiba lays out plans for mobile Cell chip
The Cell processor sits at the heart of the PlayStation 3, the most powerful game console yet developed, and a high-performance computer from IBM Corp. and now Toshiba Corp. wants to put that power into mobile devices and cell phones.
Dunn, Hunsaker face HP charges in court
Former Hewlett-Packard Co. Chairman Patricia Dunn made a brief court appearance Thursday in Santa Clara County, California, to face four state felony charges in the HP boardroom scandal. Superior Court Judge Alfonso Fernandez scheduled her arraignment for Nov. 17, at which she will enter a plea to charges in the case.
Microsoft to fix Windows, Office security flaws
With hackers exploiting unpatched vulnerabilities in its Windows and Office software, Microsoft Corp. plans to issue 11 security updates next Tuesday -- six for Windows, 4 for Office, and 1 for .Net.
Survey: Regulations take back seat in managing storage
The second annual Bridgehead Software information lifecycle management audit showed that data growth and disaster recovery/business continuity (DR/BC) are driving archive planning much more than regulatory compliance.
OPINION
Interference Cancellation
By James Gaskin
When I visited a company in the technical district of San Francisco, they joked there were so many wireless signals in the area they didn't need a microwave for their popcorn - they just put the bag in the window. Needless to say, wireless connections for their internal computers didn't work because they couldn't find a clear channel. If you struggle with interference for data and cell phone signals, help is on the way.
PODCAST
Daily IT News Audio Update
Dunn, Hunsacker in court ... Toshiba to use Cell in mobile devices ... Microsoft plans 10 critical patches
More podcasts
ITWHIRLED
Starting young with the eBay buying
Jack Neal recently made his first eBay purchase: a bright pink $17,000 Nissan Figaro. Problem: Jack Neal is three years old. "Jack's a whizz on the PC and just pressed all the right buttons," says his mom.
News: Nokia's GPS patents may help resolve Qualcomm dispute
News: Hitachi joins Sony battery recall
News: IBM announces new service management offerings
News: E.U. and U.S. agree to share air passenger data
Opinion: Interference Cancellation
Podcast: Today's IT news audio update
ITwhirled: Starting young with the eBay buying
NEWS UPDATES
Nokia's GPS patents may help resolve Qualcomm dispute
Nokia Corp.'s patent licensing deal with Trimble Navigation Ltd. this week could give the phone maker an important boost in an ongoing dispute with CDMA developer Qualcomm Inc.
Hitachi joins Sony battery recall
Hitachi Ltd. joins most of the leading notebook computer makers in recalling batteries from Sony Corp. that are known to overheat and potentially cause fires.
IBM announces new service management offerings
IBM Corp. is introducing a range of new products and services, many based on technologies coming from recently acquired companies, aimed at helping businesses better manage and take advantage of their various software and hardware systems.
E.U. and U.S. agree to share air passenger data
European Union and U.S. negotiators have reached agreement on how to share information about passengers flying to the U.S. from Europe, a Finnish government spokesman said Friday. The new deal allows many more U.S. government agencies to access the data, which includes details such as a passenger's name, address and credit card details.
Toshiba lays out plans for mobile Cell chip
The Cell processor sits at the heart of the PlayStation 3, the most powerful game console yet developed, and a high-performance computer from IBM Corp. and now Toshiba Corp. wants to put that power into mobile devices and cell phones.
Dunn, Hunsaker face HP charges in court
Former Hewlett-Packard Co. Chairman Patricia Dunn made a brief court appearance Thursday in Santa Clara County, California, to face four state felony charges in the HP boardroom scandal. Superior Court Judge Alfonso Fernandez scheduled her arraignment for Nov. 17, at which she will enter a plea to charges in the case.
Microsoft to fix Windows, Office security flaws
With hackers exploiting unpatched vulnerabilities in its Windows and Office software, Microsoft Corp. plans to issue 11 security updates next Tuesday -- six for Windows, 4 for Office, and 1 for .Net.
Survey: Regulations take back seat in managing storage
The second annual Bridgehead Software information lifecycle management audit showed that data growth and disaster recovery/business continuity (DR/BC) are driving archive planning much more than regulatory compliance.
OPINION
Interference Cancellation
By James Gaskin
When I visited a company in the technical district of San Francisco, they joked there were so many wireless signals in the area they didn't need a microwave for their popcorn - they just put the bag in the window. Needless to say, wireless connections for their internal computers didn't work because they couldn't find a clear channel. If you struggle with interference for data and cell phone signals, help is on the way.
PODCAST
Daily IT News Audio Update
Dunn, Hunsacker in court ... Toshiba to use Cell in mobile devices ... Microsoft plans 10 critical patches
More podcasts
ITWHIRLED
Starting young with the eBay buying
Jack Neal recently made his first eBay purchase: a bright pink $17,000 Nissan Figaro. Problem: Jack Neal is three years old. "Jack's a whizz on the PC and just pressed all the right buttons," says his mom.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Dunn, four others, charged in HP scandal ... Apple: Jobs knew of backdating
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Dunn, four others, charged in HP scandal
News: Apple: Jobs knew of backdating
News: Google helps programmers find code online
Unix Tip: Making a device alias for your root mirror
Opinion: System migration may be the most dangerous thing you ever do
Podcast: Today's IT news audio update
ITwhirled: Geek comic of the week: Geek and Poke
NEWS UPDATES
Dunn, four others, charged in HP scandal
Ousted Hewlett-Packard Co. Chairman Patricia Dunn, a former company lawyer, and three outside investigators were charged Wednesday in California on felony charges related to the conduct of an investigation to track down news leaks from the HP board that allegedly broke state law.
Apple: Jobs knew of backdating
Apple Computer Inc. CEO Steve Jobs apologized to shareholders Wednesday after an internal investigation found that he had been aware of the company's practice of "backdating" employee stock options.
Google helps programmers find code online
Google Inc. has created a specialized search engine designed to find software source code publicly available on the Web.
Wyse ships thin clients with embedded Wi-Fi
Wyse Technology Inc. is selling a line of thin-client computers with built-in Wi-Fi capabilities, making them easier to deploy in public places like airports and hotel lobbies.
UNIX TIP
Making a device alias for your root mirror
By Sandra Hentry-Stocker
Once you have mirrored your root partition, you may still need to create a device alias for the mirror so that you can boot from it if the primary mirror ever fails. To prepare for this, you should firstgenerate a long listing of the partition on which the mirror resides. It will look something like this:
OPINION
System migration may be the most dangerous thing you ever do
By Joel Shore
Pity the poor IT department that is about to migrate a key application from one platform to another. Or perform a major upgrade. Or worse, merge into another company’s systems after being acquired. It’s a recipe for disaster.
Consider the plight of Mailbank.com, the Boulder, Colo.-based provider of e-mail and Web services under the name NetIdentity. Acquired recently by Toronto-based Tucows, the companies are moving, migrating, and otherwise homogenizing millions of e-mail accounts, including one of mine.
PODCAST
Today's IT News Audio Update
The California attorney general has filed charges against Patricia Dunn ... Google has created a specialized search engine for finding software source code ... IBM is embarking on a five-year campaign to promote wider use of its mainframes
More podcasts
ITWHIRLED
Geek comic of the week: Geek and Poke
The fabulous new Web 2.0 world may not be so easily caricatured as the last boom -- no foosball tables or incomprehensible IPOs -- but there are lots of silly company names ending in "r" and dumb Wikipedia jokes. And Geek and Poke is there to chronicle all of it.
News: Dunn, four others, charged in HP scandal
News: Apple: Jobs knew of backdating
News: Google helps programmers find code online
Unix Tip: Making a device alias for your root mirror
Opinion: System migration may be the most dangerous thing you ever do
Podcast: Today's IT news audio update
ITwhirled: Geek comic of the week: Geek and Poke
NEWS UPDATES
Dunn, four others, charged in HP scandal
Ousted Hewlett-Packard Co. Chairman Patricia Dunn, a former company lawyer, and three outside investigators were charged Wednesday in California on felony charges related to the conduct of an investigation to track down news leaks from the HP board that allegedly broke state law.
Apple: Jobs knew of backdating
Apple Computer Inc. CEO Steve Jobs apologized to shareholders Wednesday after an internal investigation found that he had been aware of the company's practice of "backdating" employee stock options.
Google helps programmers find code online
Google Inc. has created a specialized search engine designed to find software source code publicly available on the Web.
Wyse ships thin clients with embedded Wi-Fi
Wyse Technology Inc. is selling a line of thin-client computers with built-in Wi-Fi capabilities, making them easier to deploy in public places like airports and hotel lobbies.
UNIX TIP
Making a device alias for your root mirror
By Sandra Hentry-Stocker
Once you have mirrored your root partition, you may still need to create a device alias for the mirror so that you can boot from it if the primary mirror ever fails. To prepare for this, you should firstgenerate a long listing of the partition on which the mirror resides. It will look something like this:
OPINION
System migration may be the most dangerous thing you ever do
By Joel Shore
Pity the poor IT department that is about to migrate a key application from one platform to another. Or perform a major upgrade. Or worse, merge into another company’s systems after being acquired. It’s a recipe for disaster.
Consider the plight of Mailbank.com, the Boulder, Colo.-based provider of e-mail and Web services under the name NetIdentity. Acquired recently by Toronto-based Tucows, the companies are moving, migrating, and otherwise homogenizing millions of e-mail accounts, including one of mine.
PODCAST
Today's IT News Audio Update
The California attorney general has filed charges against Patricia Dunn ... Google has created a specialized search engine for finding software source code ... IBM is embarking on a five-year campaign to promote wider use of its mainframes
More podcasts
ITWHIRLED
Geek comic of the week: Geek and Poke
The fabulous new Web 2.0 world may not be so easily caricatured as the last boom -- no foosball tables or incomprehensible IPOs -- but there are lots of silly company names ending in "r" and dumb Wikipedia jokes. And Geek and Poke is there to chronicle all of it.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Vista, Longhorn to get new antipiracy measures ... Hitachi Maxell develops wafer-thin storage disc
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Windows Vista, Longhorn to get new antipiracy measures
News: Swift CFO quizzed by Euro Parliament about data privacy
News: Hitachi Maxell develops wafer-thin storage disc
News: E.U. prepares possible legal action against Intel
Opinion: Security needs independence
Podcast: Today's IT news audio update
ITwhirled: "The only user contribution is your ignorance"
NEWS UPDATES
Windows Vista, Longhorn to get new antipiracy measures
With the upcoming Windows Vista and Windows Longhorn Server operating systems, Microsoft will introduce the Microsoft Software Protection Platform, a collection of technologies that aims to do better at detecting pirated versions of Windows, and will also force unauthorized versions of its software into a limited-functionality mode, encouraging users to obtain a legal copy.
Swift CFO quizzed by Euro Parliament about data privacy
Executives from the financial data transfer company Swift and the president of the European Central Bank (ECB) faced tough questions in a European Parliament committee meeting Wednesday, about the illegal sharing of private data with U.S. authorities.
Hitachi Maxell develops wafer-thin storage disc
Hitachi Maxell Ltd. has developed a thin optical disc that could lead to data cartridges capable of storing terabytes of information.
E.U. prepares possible legal action against Intel
European Commission antitrust officials investigating computer chip maker Intel Corp. presented what they believe is a watertight argument for prosecuting the firm to an internal panel of so-called devil's advocates on Tuesday, according to a person familiar with the investigation.
NEC to sell water-cooled PC with Blu-ray drive
Japanese users won't have to worry about a noisy cooling fan disturbing them while they watch high-definition movies on NEC Corp.'s newest computer -- the PC, equipped with a Blu-ray drive, uses water-cooling instead.
Multicore chips roil software pricing waters
The growing popularity of server chips with multiple microprocessor cores continues to muddy the waters of software pricing: CIOs should start planning now for changes and perhaps some uncertainty in their software budgets.
McAfee cries foul over Vista security features
McAfee Inc. top executives went on the offensive Monday against Microsoft Corp., saying Vista will be even less secure for customers than previous versions of Windows.
Hitachi updates WLAN tags for goods, employees
Hitachi Ltd. this week updated its AirLocation II system, which uses WLAN (wireless LAN) technology to track goods and employees, with the introduction of a smaller tag.
OPINION
Does security need independence?
By James Gaskin
IBM's deal to purchase Internet Security Systems brings some real conflict of interest questions to mind. Essentially, can you trust a security company that can't control its own destiny?
PODCAST
Daily IT News Audio Update
Microsoft will introduce a new system for fighting software piracy ... Antitrust officials at the European Commission have stepped up their investigation of Intel ... Hitachi Maxell has developed a paper-thin optical disc
More podcasts
ITWHIRLED
"The only user contribution is your ignorance"
Ask Haddad, which bills itself as "information monarchy," is a defiant response to the interactive, multivalent, user-generated Web 2.0: you ask the questions, he answers them, and you sit there and like it.
News: Windows Vista, Longhorn to get new antipiracy measures
News: Swift CFO quizzed by Euro Parliament about data privacy
News: Hitachi Maxell develops wafer-thin storage disc
News: E.U. prepares possible legal action against Intel
Opinion: Security needs independence
Podcast: Today's IT news audio update
ITwhirled: "The only user contribution is your ignorance"
NEWS UPDATES
Windows Vista, Longhorn to get new antipiracy measures
With the upcoming Windows Vista and Windows Longhorn Server operating systems, Microsoft will introduce the Microsoft Software Protection Platform, a collection of technologies that aims to do better at detecting pirated versions of Windows, and will also force unauthorized versions of its software into a limited-functionality mode, encouraging users to obtain a legal copy.
Swift CFO quizzed by Euro Parliament about data privacy
Executives from the financial data transfer company Swift and the president of the European Central Bank (ECB) faced tough questions in a European Parliament committee meeting Wednesday, about the illegal sharing of private data with U.S. authorities.
Hitachi Maxell develops wafer-thin storage disc
Hitachi Maxell Ltd. has developed a thin optical disc that could lead to data cartridges capable of storing terabytes of information.
E.U. prepares possible legal action against Intel
European Commission antitrust officials investigating computer chip maker Intel Corp. presented what they believe is a watertight argument for prosecuting the firm to an internal panel of so-called devil's advocates on Tuesday, according to a person familiar with the investigation.
NEC to sell water-cooled PC with Blu-ray drive
Japanese users won't have to worry about a noisy cooling fan disturbing them while they watch high-definition movies on NEC Corp.'s newest computer -- the PC, equipped with a Blu-ray drive, uses water-cooling instead.
Multicore chips roil software pricing waters
The growing popularity of server chips with multiple microprocessor cores continues to muddy the waters of software pricing: CIOs should start planning now for changes and perhaps some uncertainty in their software budgets.
McAfee cries foul over Vista security features
McAfee Inc. top executives went on the offensive Monday against Microsoft Corp., saying Vista will be even less secure for customers than previous versions of Windows.
Hitachi updates WLAN tags for goods, employees
Hitachi Ltd. this week updated its AirLocation II system, which uses WLAN (wireless LAN) technology to track goods and employees, with the introduction of a smaller tag.
OPINION
Does security need independence?
By James Gaskin
IBM's deal to purchase Internet Security Systems brings some real conflict of interest questions to mind. Essentially, can you trust a security company that can't control its own destiny?
PODCAST
Daily IT News Audio Update
Microsoft will introduce a new system for fighting software piracy ... Antitrust officials at the European Commission have stepped up their investigation of Intel ... Hitachi Maxell has developed a paper-thin optical disc
More podcasts
ITWHIRLED
"The only user contribution is your ignorance"
Ask Haddad, which bills itself as "information monarchy," is a defiant response to the interactive, multivalent, user-generated Web 2.0: you ask the questions, he answers them, and you sit there and like it.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
EMC, Microsoft expand alliance for ECM ... Nokia develops new short-range wireless technology
HIGHLIGHTS
News: EMC, Microsoft expand alliance to a 'Duet' for ECM
News: Nokia develops a new, short-range wireless technology
News: Microsoft appeals E.U. fine for noncompliance
News: Intel praises Apple, but calls for open standards
Tip: 5 tips for better browser security
Podcast: Today's IT news audio update
ITwhirled: The 10 best Firefox extensions for Web development
NEWS UPDATES
EMC, Microsoft expand alliance to a 'Duet' for ECM
EMC Corp. and Microsoft Corp. are substantially stepping up their existing enterprise content management (ECM) relationship to provide tighter integration between EMC's Documentum ECM software and Microsoft's Office, Outlook and SharePoint products.
Nokia develops a new, short-range wireless technology
Nokia Corp. has developed a new, short-range wireless technology that it says could improve on some of the shortcomings of Bluetooth.
Microsoft appeals E.U. fine for noncompliance
Microsoft Corp. has filed an appeal against the latest antitrust fine imposed on it by the European Commission, a Microsoft spokesman said on Tuesday.
Intel praises Apple, but calls for open standards
Intel Corp. looks set to find itself in the midst of an industry battle over how the power and complexity of computers should be combined with the convenience and simplicity of consumer electronics -- and the company couldn't be happier.
Corporate leak probes walk a fine line
In one telling moment during the recent Congressional hearings on the Hewlett-Packard Co. board scandal, ousted chairman Patricia Dunn offered the "everybody does it" defense.
IBM improves efficiency of PowerPC chips
IBM Corp. has improved the power efficiency of two models of PowerPC processors, making an effort to strengthen its position in markets from cars and printers to networking and communications equipment.
Siemens sets up fund to retrain BenQ Mobile workers
Under mounting pressure from German government officials and former employees of the mobile phone division it paid BenQ Corp. to take off its hands, Siemens AG has set up a €35 million (US$44.4 million) fund to aid workers at risk of losing their jobs.
Amazon's A9 loses snazzy features
Amazon.com Inc. is stripping its A9 search engine of the features that won it praise from experts but earned it little attention from users.
Sony unveils Blu-ray Disc recorders, PCs
Sony Corp. will launch a pair of Blu-ray Disc video recorders in Japan this December, the company said Tuesday. The machines both feature hard-disk drives for day-to-day recording and a Blu-ray Disc drive for longer term storage.
TIP
5 tips for better browser security
By Brent Huston
My intent in this week's column is to review the top ways to harden a web-browsing environment, and not cover the entire breadth of browser security. Moreover, I'm sidestepping the argument about what browser is more secure by suggesting that you look more programmatically at what we can do to protect users regardless of browser choice. So here goes ...
PODCAST
Daily IT News Audio Update
Nokia has developed a new, short-range wireless technology ... Nasscom has asked Channel 4 to hand over information from a news documentary ... Worldwide sales of semiconductor chips surged to a record 20.5 billion dollars
More podcasts
ITWHIRLED
She's a 10
Top 10 concert halls ... The top 10 dark nebulae ... The 10 best Firefox extensions for Web development ... Ten 'best damn' all-time baseball plays ... The top 10 Hawaiian beaches
News: EMC, Microsoft expand alliance to a 'Duet' for ECM
News: Nokia develops a new, short-range wireless technology
News: Microsoft appeals E.U. fine for noncompliance
News: Intel praises Apple, but calls for open standards
Tip: 5 tips for better browser security
Podcast: Today's IT news audio update
ITwhirled: The 10 best Firefox extensions for Web development
NEWS UPDATES
EMC, Microsoft expand alliance to a 'Duet' for ECM
EMC Corp. and Microsoft Corp. are substantially stepping up their existing enterprise content management (ECM) relationship to provide tighter integration between EMC's Documentum ECM software and Microsoft's Office, Outlook and SharePoint products.
Nokia develops a new, short-range wireless technology
Nokia Corp. has developed a new, short-range wireless technology that it says could improve on some of the shortcomings of Bluetooth.
Microsoft appeals E.U. fine for noncompliance
Microsoft Corp. has filed an appeal against the latest antitrust fine imposed on it by the European Commission, a Microsoft spokesman said on Tuesday.
Intel praises Apple, but calls for open standards
Intel Corp. looks set to find itself in the midst of an industry battle over how the power and complexity of computers should be combined with the convenience and simplicity of consumer electronics -- and the company couldn't be happier.
Corporate leak probes walk a fine line
In one telling moment during the recent Congressional hearings on the Hewlett-Packard Co. board scandal, ousted chairman Patricia Dunn offered the "everybody does it" defense.
IBM improves efficiency of PowerPC chips
IBM Corp. has improved the power efficiency of two models of PowerPC processors, making an effort to strengthen its position in markets from cars and printers to networking and communications equipment.
Siemens sets up fund to retrain BenQ Mobile workers
Under mounting pressure from German government officials and former employees of the mobile phone division it paid BenQ Corp. to take off its hands, Siemens AG has set up a €35 million (US$44.4 million) fund to aid workers at risk of losing their jobs.
Amazon's A9 loses snazzy features
Amazon.com Inc. is stripping its A9 search engine of the features that won it praise from experts but earned it little attention from users.
Sony unveils Blu-ray Disc recorders, PCs
Sony Corp. will launch a pair of Blu-ray Disc video recorders in Japan this December, the company said Tuesday. The machines both feature hard-disk drives for day-to-day recording and a Blu-ray Disc drive for longer term storage.
TIP
5 tips for better browser security
By Brent Huston
My intent in this week's column is to review the top ways to harden a web-browsing environment, and not cover the entire breadth of browser security. Moreover, I'm sidestepping the argument about what browser is more secure by suggesting that you look more programmatically at what we can do to protect users regardless of browser choice. So here goes ...
PODCAST
Daily IT News Audio Update
Nokia has developed a new, short-range wireless technology ... Nasscom has asked Channel 4 to hand over information from a news documentary ... Worldwide sales of semiconductor chips surged to a record 20.5 billion dollars
More podcasts
ITWHIRLED
She's a 10
Top 10 concert halls ... The top 10 dark nebulae ... The 10 best Firefox extensions for Web development ... Ten 'best damn' all-time baseball plays ... The top 10 Hawaiian beaches
Monday, October 02, 2006
European airlines in legal limbo as data talks collapse ... Fujitsu details battery exchange plans
Today's IT News Audio Update
Japan's largest electronics show opens its doors on Tuesday ... Sun says its new UltraSparc T1 microprocessor is creating a big splash ... Taiwan's AU Optronics has completed its two billion dollar acquisition of Quanta Display
HIGHLIGHTS
News: European airlines in legal limbo as data talks collapse
News: Fujitsu details Sony battery exchange plans
News: Acer in talks with Sony about battery recall
News: Sun says OpenSparc is gaining traction
Windows Tip: Locking a desktop at logon
ITwhirled: German director boxes online critics
NEWS UPDATES
European airlines in legal limbo as data talks collapse
An agreement sheltering airlines from European privacy laws, allowing them to hand over passenger data required by U.S. authorities, expired Saturday, leaving most European airlines in legal limbo.
Fujitsu details Sony battery exchange plans
Fujitsu Ltd. will offer owners of some of its laptop computers replacement batteries as part of Sony Corp.'s global battery exchange program, it said Saturday.
Acer in talks with Sony about battery recall
Acer Inc., the world's fourth-largest PC vendor, is in talks with Sony Corp. over joining its voluntary laptop PC battery recall, but said Acer users haven't reported any problems so far.
Sun says OpenSparc is gaining traction
Sun Microsystems Inc. says its new UltraSparc T1 microprocessor, nicknamed Niagara, is creating a big splash.
Following Verizon, Cingular sues HP investigators
On the heels of a similar suit filed Thursday by Verizon Wireless Inc., Cingular Wireless LLC on Friday sued private investigators used by Hewlett-Packard Co. to obtain phone records of a CNET News.com journalist.
Apple ships Mac OS X 10.4.8, security patches
Apple has released a series of updates for Mac OS X 10.4.8, including a wide system update and a security patch. All updates are available through Software Update, and also for direct download from Apple's support website.
VOIP users court DNS disaster
Companies installing VOIP may get the quality of service and capacity of their networks right, but are likely to overlook the knock-on effects on supporting identity infrastructure such as DHCP and DNS, according to Infoblox.
WINDOWS TIP
Locking a desktop at logon
By Mitch Tulloch, MTIT Enterprises
A reader recently contacted me with an interesting question: Can you configure Windows XP so that it logs on automatically but into a locked state? In other words, if the AutoAdminLogon registry value found at HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon has been set to 1 and the DefaultUserName and DefaultPassword values have been configured appropriately, is it possible to make Windows lock the desktop immediately after automatic logon occurs?
ITWHIRLED
German director boxes online critics
Uwe Boll, the director of such critical non-darlings as BloodRayne and Alone in the Dark, felt that his films were savaged so badly by online critics before their release that they had no chance to succeed, so he challenged four of his Web-based foes to an exhibition boxing match in Vancouver. While some enjoyed taking part in the spectacle, others weren't so keen. "I feel great. I feel like a very angry German man punched me in the head repeatedly," said the CEO for the Something Awful website. "He kept saying it was PR stunt and a joke, but then he comes on just murderizing me."
Japan's largest electronics show opens its doors on Tuesday ... Sun says its new UltraSparc T1 microprocessor is creating a big splash ... Taiwan's AU Optronics has completed its two billion dollar acquisition of Quanta Display
HIGHLIGHTS
News: European airlines in legal limbo as data talks collapse
News: Fujitsu details Sony battery exchange plans
News: Acer in talks with Sony about battery recall
News: Sun says OpenSparc is gaining traction
Windows Tip: Locking a desktop at logon
ITwhirled: German director boxes online critics
NEWS UPDATES
European airlines in legal limbo as data talks collapse
An agreement sheltering airlines from European privacy laws, allowing them to hand over passenger data required by U.S. authorities, expired Saturday, leaving most European airlines in legal limbo.
Fujitsu details Sony battery exchange plans
Fujitsu Ltd. will offer owners of some of its laptop computers replacement batteries as part of Sony Corp.'s global battery exchange program, it said Saturday.
Acer in talks with Sony about battery recall
Acer Inc., the world's fourth-largest PC vendor, is in talks with Sony Corp. over joining its voluntary laptop PC battery recall, but said Acer users haven't reported any problems so far.
Sun says OpenSparc is gaining traction
Sun Microsystems Inc. says its new UltraSparc T1 microprocessor, nicknamed Niagara, is creating a big splash.
Following Verizon, Cingular sues HP investigators
On the heels of a similar suit filed Thursday by Verizon Wireless Inc., Cingular Wireless LLC on Friday sued private investigators used by Hewlett-Packard Co. to obtain phone records of a CNET News.com journalist.
Apple ships Mac OS X 10.4.8, security patches
Apple has released a series of updates for Mac OS X 10.4.8, including a wide system update and a security patch. All updates are available through Software Update, and also for direct download from Apple's support website.
VOIP users court DNS disaster
Companies installing VOIP may get the quality of service and capacity of their networks right, but are likely to overlook the knock-on effects on supporting identity infrastructure such as DHCP and DNS, according to Infoblox.
WINDOWS TIP
Locking a desktop at logon
By Mitch Tulloch, MTIT Enterprises
A reader recently contacted me with an interesting question: Can you configure Windows XP so that it logs on automatically but into a locked state? In other words, if the AutoAdminLogon registry value found at HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon has been set to 1 and the DefaultUserName and DefaultPassword values have been configured appropriately, is it possible to make Windows lock the desktop immediately after automatic logon occurs?
ITWHIRLED
German director boxes online critics
Uwe Boll, the director of such critical non-darlings as BloodRayne and Alone in the Dark, felt that his films were savaged so badly by online critics before their release that they had no chance to succeed, so he challenged four of his Web-based foes to an exhibition boxing match in Vancouver. While some enjoyed taking part in the spectacle, others weren't so keen. "I feel great. I feel like a very angry German man punched me in the head repeatedly," said the CEO for the Something Awful website. "He kept saying it was PR stunt and a joke, but then he comes on just murderizing me."
Friday, September 29, 2006
Dell expands battery recall ... BEA offers glimpse of WorkSpace 360 tool
Today's IT News Audio Update
http://www.itworld.com/jpitw/itwtodayblog/Tech/5042/daily_news_podcast/index.html
Dell increases battery recall while IBM, Lenovo admit problems ... HP buys VoodooPC for gaming biz ... Google gives data to Brazilian govt
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Dell expands battery recall, Fujitsu considers action
News: BEA offers glimpse of upcoming WorkSpace 360 tool
News: HP buys VoodooPC to boost gaming strategy
News: Toshiba to exchange a further 830,000 Sony batteries
Unix Tip: Mirroring your root partition with Solaris Volume Manager
ITwhirled: A great geek T-shirt could be yours. Hurry! Only 2 days left.
NEWS UPDATES
Dell expands battery recall, Fujitsu considers action
Dell Inc. has increased by 100,000 the number of laptop batteries it is recalling due to a potential fire hazard, while Toshiba Corp. said it would take part in Sony Corp.'s voluntary battery replacement program kicked off Thursday. Fujitsu Ltd. indicated that it was also considering a voluntary recall.
BEA offers glimpse of upcoming WorkSpace 360 tool
BEA Systems Inc. this week offered a rare glimpse of its upcoming SOA (service-oriented architecture) tool set, called WorkSpace 360, with a demonstration of a prototype tool currently under development.
HP buys VoodooPC to boost gaming strategy
As Hewlett-Packard Co.'s top executive testified before a Congressional committee about an ongoing spying scandal, other company executives were in New York to announce new products and a key acquisition for its strategy to enrich consumers' digital lifestyles.
Toshiba to exchange a further 830,000 Sony batteries
Toshiba Corp. is offering to replace 830,000 laptop batteries containing cells made by Sony Corp., it said Friday. The offer covers computers sold worldwide and is separate from a similar announcement made by the company last week.
Microsoft still scrambling to patch July bugs
It has become a familiar pattern: A hacker posts exploit code to a security Web site; Microsoft Corp. follows soon after with a warning to customers.
UNIX TIP
Mirroring your root partition with Solaris Volume Manager
By Sandra Henry-Stocker
Solaris Volume Manager can make easy work of mirroring your root file system, but you have to use the right commands in the right sequence to make easy work of this task. In this week's column, we'll run through each of the commands required to mirror root and show how you can check on what is happening in each step.
ITWHIRLED
Geek Comic of the Week: Intergalactic Law
This strip is just getting under way, and it's already one of our favorites. Can a one-eyed, one-breasted alien be penalized in divorce proceedings because she tried to eat her soon-to-be-ex-husband? Can an intern be forced to help perfect pirate antics? This strip has the answers to these questions and much more.
A great geek T-shirt could be yours. Learn how!
http://www.itworld.com/jpitw/itwtodayblog/Tech/5042/daily_news_podcast/index.html
Dell increases battery recall while IBM, Lenovo admit problems ... HP buys VoodooPC for gaming biz ... Google gives data to Brazilian govt
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Dell expands battery recall, Fujitsu considers action
News: BEA offers glimpse of upcoming WorkSpace 360 tool
News: HP buys VoodooPC to boost gaming strategy
News: Toshiba to exchange a further 830,000 Sony batteries
Unix Tip: Mirroring your root partition with Solaris Volume Manager
ITwhirled: A great geek T-shirt could be yours. Hurry! Only 2 days left.
NEWS UPDATES
Dell expands battery recall, Fujitsu considers action
Dell Inc. has increased by 100,000 the number of laptop batteries it is recalling due to a potential fire hazard, while Toshiba Corp. said it would take part in Sony Corp.'s voluntary battery replacement program kicked off Thursday. Fujitsu Ltd. indicated that it was also considering a voluntary recall.
BEA offers glimpse of upcoming WorkSpace 360 tool
BEA Systems Inc. this week offered a rare glimpse of its upcoming SOA (service-oriented architecture) tool set, called WorkSpace 360, with a demonstration of a prototype tool currently under development.
HP buys VoodooPC to boost gaming strategy
As Hewlett-Packard Co.'s top executive testified before a Congressional committee about an ongoing spying scandal, other company executives were in New York to announce new products and a key acquisition for its strategy to enrich consumers' digital lifestyles.
Toshiba to exchange a further 830,000 Sony batteries
Toshiba Corp. is offering to replace 830,000 laptop batteries containing cells made by Sony Corp., it said Friday. The offer covers computers sold worldwide and is separate from a similar announcement made by the company last week.
Microsoft still scrambling to patch July bugs
It has become a familiar pattern: A hacker posts exploit code to a security Web site; Microsoft Corp. follows soon after with a warning to customers.
UNIX TIP
Mirroring your root partition with Solaris Volume Manager
By Sandra Henry-Stocker
Solaris Volume Manager can make easy work of mirroring your root file system, but you have to use the right commands in the right sequence to make easy work of this task. In this week's column, we'll run through each of the commands required to mirror root and show how you can check on what is happening in each step.
ITWHIRLED
Geek Comic of the Week: Intergalactic Law
This strip is just getting under way, and it's already one of our favorites. Can a one-eyed, one-breasted alien be penalized in divorce proceedings because she tried to eat her soon-to-be-ex-husband? Can an intern be forced to help perfect pirate antics? This strip has the answers to these questions and much more.
A great geek T-shirt could be yours. Learn how!
Thursday, September 28, 2006
HP's top lawyer resigns ... Accenture hands $3.7B UK health IT contracts to CSC
Today's IT News Audio Update
HP's top lawyer resigns ... Yahoo buys Jumpcut.com ... Intel unveils new notebook platform
HIGHLIGHTS
News: HP's general counsel quits
News: Accenture hands $3.7B UK health IT contracts to CSC
News: BenQ Mobile to file for bankruptcy in Germany
News: Yahoo buys Web video site Jumpcut
News: HP CEO describes a 'rogue' investigation
Tip: File sharing in Windows Vista
ITwhirled: A great geek T-shirt could be yours. Just 3 days left to enter!
NEWS UPDATES
HP's general counsel quits
Another top Hewlett-Packard Co. executive will leave the company, with HP's announcement on Thursday that its general counsel, Ann Baskins, has resigned, effective immediately.
Accenture hands $3.7B UK health IT contracts to CSC
Accenture Ltd. has walked away from two contracts to deliver regional IT systems and services to the U.K. National Health Service (NHS). An alliance led by Computer Sciences Corp. will take over the contracts, the companies announced Thursday. CSC already has contracts to deliver services in two other regions.
BenQ Mobile to file for bankruptcy in Germany
BenQ Mobile GmbH & Co. OHG plans to file for bankruptcy protection in Germany after its Taiwanese parent decided to stop investing in the money-losing operation, the mobile phone maker said Thursday.
Yahoo buys Web video site Jumpcut
Yahoo Inc. agreed to buy Web video editing and publishing site Jumpcut.com on Wednesday, as Internet companies continue to seek ways to compete with YouTube Inc.
HP CEO describes a 'rogue' investigation
Hewlett-Packard Co. chief executive officer (CEO) Mark Hurd blamed the scandal that has besieged his company on "a rogue investigation" that got out of hand, in an advance copy of his Congressional testimony released by a House Subcommittee on Wednesday.
HD DVD coming to Xbox 360 in US, Europe
Microsoft Corp. has expanded on its plans to launch an HD DVD drive for its Xbox 360 console to markets in North America and Europe, the company said at its X06 gaming event in Barcelona, Spain, on Wednesday.
TIP
BS generator for a new generation
Anyone who was around during the tech boom of the late 90s remembers the Dack.com BS generator, which produced such gems as "implement killer web-readiness" that you could sprinkle into your conference calls with salivating VCs. Now Emptybottle.org has updated the concept for the new Web 2.0 world, so you can post pearls of wisdom like "integrate long-tail platforms" to your blog, where salivating VCs will read it.
A great geek T-shirt could be yours. Learn how!
HP's top lawyer resigns ... Yahoo buys Jumpcut.com ... Intel unveils new notebook platform
HIGHLIGHTS
News: HP's general counsel quits
News: Accenture hands $3.7B UK health IT contracts to CSC
News: BenQ Mobile to file for bankruptcy in Germany
News: Yahoo buys Web video site Jumpcut
News: HP CEO describes a 'rogue' investigation
Tip: File sharing in Windows Vista
ITwhirled: A great geek T-shirt could be yours. Just 3 days left to enter!
NEWS UPDATES
HP's general counsel quits
Another top Hewlett-Packard Co. executive will leave the company, with HP's announcement on Thursday that its general counsel, Ann Baskins, has resigned, effective immediately.
Accenture hands $3.7B UK health IT contracts to CSC
Accenture Ltd. has walked away from two contracts to deliver regional IT systems and services to the U.K. National Health Service (NHS). An alliance led by Computer Sciences Corp. will take over the contracts, the companies announced Thursday. CSC already has contracts to deliver services in two other regions.
BenQ Mobile to file for bankruptcy in Germany
BenQ Mobile GmbH & Co. OHG plans to file for bankruptcy protection in Germany after its Taiwanese parent decided to stop investing in the money-losing operation, the mobile phone maker said Thursday.
Yahoo buys Web video site Jumpcut
Yahoo Inc. agreed to buy Web video editing and publishing site Jumpcut.com on Wednesday, as Internet companies continue to seek ways to compete with YouTube Inc.
HP CEO describes a 'rogue' investigation
Hewlett-Packard Co. chief executive officer (CEO) Mark Hurd blamed the scandal that has besieged his company on "a rogue investigation" that got out of hand, in an advance copy of his Congressional testimony released by a House Subcommittee on Wednesday.
HD DVD coming to Xbox 360 in US, Europe
Microsoft Corp. has expanded on its plans to launch an HD DVD drive for its Xbox 360 console to markets in North America and Europe, the company said at its X06 gaming event in Barcelona, Spain, on Wednesday.
TIP
BS generator for a new generation
Anyone who was around during the tech boom of the late 90s remembers the Dack.com BS generator, which produced such gems as "implement killer web-readiness" that you could sprinkle into your conference calls with salivating VCs. Now Emptybottle.org has updated the concept for the new Web 2.0 world, so you can post pearls of wisdom like "integrate long-tail platforms" to your blog, where salivating VCs will read it.
A great geek T-shirt could be yours. Learn how!
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Court dismisses part of AMD's case against Intel ... Microsoft offers early fix for critical IE bug
Today's IT News Audio Update
Intel to ship quad-core chips ... Lime Wire sues record companies ... Microsoft patches IE vulnerability
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Court dismisses part of AMD's case against Intel
News: Oracle unveils first core Berkeley DB release
News: Intel to ship quad-core chips in November
News: Microsoft offers early fix for critical IE bug
News: Sophos AV upgraded to block unwanted programs
Security Tip: Keep a lookout for toll call fraud
ITwhirled: A great geek T-shirt could be yours. Only 4 days left!
NEWS UPDATES
Court dismisses part of AMD's case against Intel
A district court judge in the U.S. state of Delaware has dismissed part of Advanced Micro Devices Inc.'s lawsuit against Intel Corp. The dismissed claims relate to alleged business practices of Intel that AMD claims affected sales of its own microprocessors.
Oracle unveils first core Berkeley DB release
Oracle Corp. is releasing its first version of the core Berkeley DB embedded database since acquiring the software through its February purchase of open-source developer Sleepycat Software Inc.
Intel to ship quad-core chips in November
Intel Corp. will ship quad-core processors in November for servers and gaming PCs, accelerating its effort to regain momentum in sales of power-efficient chips.
Microsoft offers early fix for critical IE bug
With attackers finding new ways to exploit a critical flaw in Internet Explorer, Microsoft Corp. has released a patch for the problem, ahead of its next scheduled round of security updates.
Sophos AV upgraded to block unwanted programs
Security vendor Sophos PLC has upgraded its antivirus software to allow system administrators to block the installation of file-sharing, VOIP (voice over Internet Protocol) and instant-messaging programs, the company announced Wednesday.
Server failure makes Google, others unavailable
The failure of a DNS (domain name system) server at Comcast Corp. caused problems for some Web surfers in the northeast section of the U.S. Tuesday, making several Web sites, including Google, inaccessible.
Signiant offers remote office data solution
Signiant Inc. has addressed the problem of tape data backup in remote offices by removing tape from the enterprise entirely. The company will unveil its Mobilize for Remote Data Protection product at the Storage Decisions Conference that opens Wednesday in New York City.
SECURITY TIP
Keep a lookout for toll call fraud
By Brent Huston, MicroSolved, Inc.
Toll call fraud is a serious concern for organizations today. The FBI and FCC estimate that more than 4 billion dollars are lost each year due to the problem. As information security folks, we are often so focused on the computer networks and threats against them that we tend to forget that the phone system could be used to hurt us too. Avoid toll fraud by watching for these things.
ITWHIRLED
She's a 10
10 NFL Quarterbacks on the hot seat ... The 10 Best Resources for CSS ... Top Ten Best Honeymoon Destinations ... 10 Programming Languages You Should Learn Right Now ... Ten CSS tricks you may not know
A great geek T-shirt could be yours. Learn how!
Intel to ship quad-core chips ... Lime Wire sues record companies ... Microsoft patches IE vulnerability
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Court dismisses part of AMD's case against Intel
News: Oracle unveils first core Berkeley DB release
News: Intel to ship quad-core chips in November
News: Microsoft offers early fix for critical IE bug
News: Sophos AV upgraded to block unwanted programs
Security Tip: Keep a lookout for toll call fraud
ITwhirled: A great geek T-shirt could be yours. Only 4 days left!
NEWS UPDATES
Court dismisses part of AMD's case against Intel
A district court judge in the U.S. state of Delaware has dismissed part of Advanced Micro Devices Inc.'s lawsuit against Intel Corp. The dismissed claims relate to alleged business practices of Intel that AMD claims affected sales of its own microprocessors.
Oracle unveils first core Berkeley DB release
Oracle Corp. is releasing its first version of the core Berkeley DB embedded database since acquiring the software through its February purchase of open-source developer Sleepycat Software Inc.
Intel to ship quad-core chips in November
Intel Corp. will ship quad-core processors in November for servers and gaming PCs, accelerating its effort to regain momentum in sales of power-efficient chips.
Microsoft offers early fix for critical IE bug
With attackers finding new ways to exploit a critical flaw in Internet Explorer, Microsoft Corp. has released a patch for the problem, ahead of its next scheduled round of security updates.
Sophos AV upgraded to block unwanted programs
Security vendor Sophos PLC has upgraded its antivirus software to allow system administrators to block the installation of file-sharing, VOIP (voice over Internet Protocol) and instant-messaging programs, the company announced Wednesday.
Server failure makes Google, others unavailable
The failure of a DNS (domain name system) server at Comcast Corp. caused problems for some Web surfers in the northeast section of the U.S. Tuesday, making several Web sites, including Google, inaccessible.
Signiant offers remote office data solution
Signiant Inc. has addressed the problem of tape data backup in remote offices by removing tape from the enterprise entirely. The company will unveil its Mobilize for Remote Data Protection product at the Storage Decisions Conference that opens Wednesday in New York City.
SECURITY TIP
Keep a lookout for toll call fraud
By Brent Huston, MicroSolved, Inc.
Toll call fraud is a serious concern for organizations today. The FBI and FCC estimate that more than 4 billion dollars are lost each year due to the problem. As information security folks, we are often so focused on the computer networks and threats against them that we tend to forget that the phone system could be used to hurt us too. Avoid toll fraud by watching for these things.
ITWHIRLED
She's a 10
10 NFL Quarterbacks on the hot seat ... The 10 Best Resources for CSS ... Top Ten Best Honeymoon Destinations ... 10 Programming Languages You Should Learn Right Now ... Ten CSS tricks you may not know
A great geek T-shirt could be yours. Learn how!
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
IBM begins services revamp ... Lime Wire turns sues record companies
Today's IT News Audio Update
Microsoft may issue patch to fix IE flaw ... Skype prepares to add enterprise support ... Oracle steps up with support for Itanium 2
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Lime Wire turns tables, sues record companies
News: IBM begins major revamp of its services business
News: Intel invests $40 million in Chinese software vendor
News: Oracle to support Itanium platform
News: Pressure mounts for Microsoft to patch IE flaw
Tip: A hardware approach to storage security
ITwhirled: A great geek T-shirt could be yours. Hurry! Only 5 days left.
NEWS UPDATES
Lime Wire turns tables, sues record companies
Peer-to-peer file-sharing software developer Lime Wire LLC has countersued the biggest record companies, charging them with anti-competitive behavior. The suit, filed Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, follows the closing of most of the popular file-sharing Web sites due to lawsuits initiated by record companies. It also comes on the heels of a suit filed by 13 record companies against Lime Wire, accusing the developer of music piracy and demanding damages that could amount to $476 million.
IBM begins major revamp of its services business
IBM is today rolling out the first two of what it terms "service products." The standardized offerings are designed to be used by any IBM customer anywhere, a very different approach from the company's previous focus on providing customized, one-off services to individual users.
Internet problems persist in Zimbabwe
Large-scale Internet connection problems in the African country of Zimbabwe have continued for about a month because of a late payment to a satellite-based telecom provider. Zimbabwe's ISPs still have only about 10% of usual bandwidth available to them after the government-owned TelOne telecommunications provider fell US$700,000 behind on its bill to Intelsat Ltd.
Intel invests $40 million in Chinese software vendor
Intel Corp. plans to invest $40 million in Neusoft Group Ltd. as part of a deal that will see the Chinese software vendor optimize its products for Intel microprocessors.
Wallop says its social network packs a punch
It may seem like tilting at windmills, but Wallop Technologies Inc. expects to shake up the social networking market, currently dominated by entrenched players like News Corp.'s MySpace, Facebook Inc. and Friendster Inc. Wallop is betting that a slick platform based on Adobe Systems Inc.'s Flash multimedia system, an absence of ads and a community of third-party developers will set it apart.
Oracle to support Itanium platform
Oracle joined with officials of the Itanium Solutions Alliance at the first ever Itanium Solutions Summit in San Francisco Monday to announce that Oracle will soon begin certification of its database software to run on Itanium 2 computing processor platforms.
Pressure mounts for Microsoft to patch IE flaw
Hackers are intensifying their attacks on Internet Explorer users, increasing the chances that Microsoft Corp. will patch a critical flaw in the software ahead of its regularly scheduled Oct. 10 security update.
AOL members sue over search data release
Three people have sued AOL LLC over the company's controversial release of member search-engine records, in what their lawyers are billing as the first such lawsuit seeking national class action status.
Add location to your digital camera's metadata
Ever been on a trip where you've visited a dozen places, taken hundreds of pictures but can't quite remember where you shot them? Sony Corp. has developed a pocket-size, GPS (Global Positioning System) device and software that helps you identify the location of every picture you've taken within a couple of meters.
TIP
A hardware approach to storage security
By David Hill, Mesabi Group
The Trusted Computing Group storage working group is working on specifications that manufacturers can use to create trusted platform module-like functionality on storage devices, notably hard disk drives, and high-end flash memory devices. A hard disk is a closed system. Disk drives are intelligent in that they have custom controllers, which have a processor and hidden system memory. Intelligent disk drives have firmware that is not alterable by unauthorized third parties, which means that the bad guys cannot get inside to do damage.
ITWHIRLED
"It's pretty awesome when it works"
Nothing's perfect, not even Steve Jobs' fabled Reality Distortion Field. This funny video collects some of the less-than-shining moments from Jobs' famous keynote speeches, including computer bugs and public speaking flubs.
A great geek T-shirt could be yours. Learn how!
Microsoft may issue patch to fix IE flaw ... Skype prepares to add enterprise support ... Oracle steps up with support for Itanium 2
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Lime Wire turns tables, sues record companies
News: IBM begins major revamp of its services business
News: Intel invests $40 million in Chinese software vendor
News: Oracle to support Itanium platform
News: Pressure mounts for Microsoft to patch IE flaw
Tip: A hardware approach to storage security
ITwhirled: A great geek T-shirt could be yours. Hurry! Only 5 days left.
NEWS UPDATES
Lime Wire turns tables, sues record companies
Peer-to-peer file-sharing software developer Lime Wire LLC has countersued the biggest record companies, charging them with anti-competitive behavior. The suit, filed Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, follows the closing of most of the popular file-sharing Web sites due to lawsuits initiated by record companies. It also comes on the heels of a suit filed by 13 record companies against Lime Wire, accusing the developer of music piracy and demanding damages that could amount to $476 million.
IBM begins major revamp of its services business
IBM is today rolling out the first two of what it terms "service products." The standardized offerings are designed to be used by any IBM customer anywhere, a very different approach from the company's previous focus on providing customized, one-off services to individual users.
Internet problems persist in Zimbabwe
Large-scale Internet connection problems in the African country of Zimbabwe have continued for about a month because of a late payment to a satellite-based telecom provider. Zimbabwe's ISPs still have only about 10% of usual bandwidth available to them after the government-owned TelOne telecommunications provider fell US$700,000 behind on its bill to Intelsat Ltd.
Intel invests $40 million in Chinese software vendor
Intel Corp. plans to invest $40 million in Neusoft Group Ltd. as part of a deal that will see the Chinese software vendor optimize its products for Intel microprocessors.
Wallop says its social network packs a punch
It may seem like tilting at windmills, but Wallop Technologies Inc. expects to shake up the social networking market, currently dominated by entrenched players like News Corp.'s MySpace, Facebook Inc. and Friendster Inc. Wallop is betting that a slick platform based on Adobe Systems Inc.'s Flash multimedia system, an absence of ads and a community of third-party developers will set it apart.
Oracle to support Itanium platform
Oracle joined with officials of the Itanium Solutions Alliance at the first ever Itanium Solutions Summit in San Francisco Monday to announce that Oracle will soon begin certification of its database software to run on Itanium 2 computing processor platforms.
Pressure mounts for Microsoft to patch IE flaw
Hackers are intensifying their attacks on Internet Explorer users, increasing the chances that Microsoft Corp. will patch a critical flaw in the software ahead of its regularly scheduled Oct. 10 security update.
AOL members sue over search data release
Three people have sued AOL LLC over the company's controversial release of member search-engine records, in what their lawyers are billing as the first such lawsuit seeking national class action status.
Add location to your digital camera's metadata
Ever been on a trip where you've visited a dozen places, taken hundreds of pictures but can't quite remember where you shot them? Sony Corp. has developed a pocket-size, GPS (Global Positioning System) device and software that helps you identify the location of every picture you've taken within a couple of meters.
TIP
A hardware approach to storage security
By David Hill, Mesabi Group
The Trusted Computing Group storage working group is working on specifications that manufacturers can use to create trusted platform module-like functionality on storage devices, notably hard disk drives, and high-end flash memory devices. A hard disk is a closed system. Disk drives are intelligent in that they have custom controllers, which have a processor and hidden system memory. Intelligent disk drives have firmware that is not alterable by unauthorized third parties, which means that the bad guys cannot get inside to do damage.
ITWHIRLED
"It's pretty awesome when it works"
Nothing's perfect, not even Steve Jobs' fabled Reality Distortion Field. This funny video collects some of the less-than-shining moments from Jobs' famous keynote speeches, including computer bugs and public speaking flubs.
A great geek T-shirt could be yours. Learn how!
Monday, September 25, 2006
Symantec: Browser bugs surging in 2006 ...New security group patches latest IE bug ... RApple legal 'pod' protection continues
HP EO announces resignation of Chairman Patricia Dunn ... Jailed Chinese journalist plans to sue Yahoo in the U.S. ... IBM likely to support China's Red Flag Linux
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Open-source firewall company ModSecurity gets acquired
News: Symantec: Browser bugs surging in 2006
News: SF claims progress in Wi-Fi negotiations
News: Symantec dismisses Vista security debate
News: Sony shuffles control of electronics group
News: Apple legal 'pod' protection continues
News: New security group patches latest IE bug
News: Google plans product search boost in Q4
Analysis: HP lawyer gives blow-by-blow of leak probe
Podcast: Today's IT news audio update
NEWS UPDATES
Open-source firewall company ModSecurity gets acquired
Breach Security Inc. will acquire Thinking Stone Ltd., which develops and provides support for an open-source Web application firewall called ModSecurity, the companies announced Monday.
Symantec: Browser bugs surging in 2006
Hackers are hitting paydirt in their search for browser bugs. According to Symantec Corp.'s twice-yearly Internet Security Threat Report, hackers found 47 bugs in Mozilla Corp.'s open-source browsers and 38 bugs in Internet Explorer (IE) during the first six months of this year. That's up significantly from the 17 Mozilla and 25 IE bugs found in the previous six months.
SF claims progress in Wi-Fi negotiations
Google Inc. and EarthLink Inc.'s Wi-Fi contract with San Francisco would have a renewable four-year term and would require a proof-of-concept deployment before the full network is rolled out, if progress so far in negotiations holds firm, according to the city.
Symantec dismisses Vista security debate
Symantec Corp. Pacific region Vice President David Sykes has thrown cold water on the Windows Vista security debacle which emerged last week pointing out that it is pointless speculating about software that isn't released yet.
Sony shuffles control of electronics group
Sony Corp. is reshuffling responsibilities in its key electronics group, allowing the head of the division to play a bigger role in Sony's research and development actvities.
Apple legal 'pod' protection continues
Apple is becoming more aggressive in protecting its iPod trademark and is now attempting to establish control of the word 'pod' and, in one case, 'podcast.'
New security group patches latest IE bug
Microsoft Corp. may be waiting until next month to patch a nasty bug in Outlook and Internet Explorer, but security researchers are offering users a more immediate option.
Google plans product search boost in Q4
Google Inc. plans to extend the product search capabilities on its main Google.com Web search engine in the fourth quarter, in time for the holiday shopping season.
ANALYSIS
HP lawyer gives blow-by-blow of leak probe
An attorney hired by Hewlett-Packard Co. to investigate the conduct of HP and outside investigators has provided new details of his firm's investigation of news leaks from the HP board.
ITWHIRLED
"It's pretty awesome when it works"
Nothing's perfect, not even Steve Jobs' fabled Reality Distortion Field. This funny video collects some of the less-than-shining moments from Jobs' famous keynote speeches, including computer bugs and public speaking flubs.
HP EO announces resignation of Chairman Patricia Dunn ... Jailed Chinese journalist plans to sue Yahoo in the U.S. ... IBM likely to support China's Red Flag Linux
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Open-source firewall company ModSecurity gets acquired
News: Symantec: Browser bugs surging in 2006
News: SF claims progress in Wi-Fi negotiations
News: Symantec dismisses Vista security debate
News: Sony shuffles control of electronics group
News: Apple legal 'pod' protection continues
News: New security group patches latest IE bug
News: Google plans product search boost in Q4
Analysis: HP lawyer gives blow-by-blow of leak probe
Podcast: Today's IT news audio update
NEWS UPDATES
Open-source firewall company ModSecurity gets acquired
Breach Security Inc. will acquire Thinking Stone Ltd., which develops and provides support for an open-source Web application firewall called ModSecurity, the companies announced Monday.
Symantec: Browser bugs surging in 2006
Hackers are hitting paydirt in their search for browser bugs. According to Symantec Corp.'s twice-yearly Internet Security Threat Report, hackers found 47 bugs in Mozilla Corp.'s open-source browsers and 38 bugs in Internet Explorer (IE) during the first six months of this year. That's up significantly from the 17 Mozilla and 25 IE bugs found in the previous six months.
SF claims progress in Wi-Fi negotiations
Google Inc. and EarthLink Inc.'s Wi-Fi contract with San Francisco would have a renewable four-year term and would require a proof-of-concept deployment before the full network is rolled out, if progress so far in negotiations holds firm, according to the city.
Symantec dismisses Vista security debate
Symantec Corp. Pacific region Vice President David Sykes has thrown cold water on the Windows Vista security debacle which emerged last week pointing out that it is pointless speculating about software that isn't released yet.
Sony shuffles control of electronics group
Sony Corp. is reshuffling responsibilities in its key electronics group, allowing the head of the division to play a bigger role in Sony's research and development actvities.
Apple legal 'pod' protection continues
Apple is becoming more aggressive in protecting its iPod trademark and is now attempting to establish control of the word 'pod' and, in one case, 'podcast.'
New security group patches latest IE bug
Microsoft Corp. may be waiting until next month to patch a nasty bug in Outlook and Internet Explorer, but security researchers are offering users a more immediate option.
Google plans product search boost in Q4
Google Inc. plans to extend the product search capabilities on its main Google.com Web search engine in the fourth quarter, in time for the holiday shopping season.
ANALYSIS
HP lawyer gives blow-by-blow of leak probe
An attorney hired by Hewlett-Packard Co. to investigate the conduct of HP and outside investigators has provided new details of his firm's investigation of news leaks from the HP board.
ITWHIRLED
"It's pretty awesome when it works"
Nothing's perfect, not even Steve Jobs' fabled Reality Distortion Field. This funny video collects some of the less-than-shining moments from Jobs' famous keynote speeches, including computer bugs and public speaking flubs.
Friday, September 22, 2006
US Commerce Department reports loss of 1,137 laptops... Outlook vulnerable to critical VML bug ... Red Flag Linux may be next on IBM's agenda
HP CEO Hurd to brief reporters on spying scandal ... Germany to make hacking a crime ... Samsung executive pleads guilty to fixing DRAM price
HIGHLIGHTS
News: US Commerce Department reports loss of 1,137 laptops
News: Outlook vulnerable to critical VML bug
News: Red Flag Linux may be next on IBM's agenda
News: Jailed Chinese journalist to sue Yahoo
News: AOL cuts deal to sell AOL France
News: Yahoo promotes Flash, Ruby mashups
News: Wall Street beat: Software looking good
Interview: As BI matures, companies should too
Opinion: Stay tuned. We will be right back after these.
NEWS UPDATES
US Commerce Department reports loss of 1,137 laptops
The U.S. Commerce Department reported that 1,137 laptops have been lost or stolen since 2001, with 249 of them containing some degree of personal data.
Outlook vulnerable to critical VML bug
A critical bug in the Internet Explorer (IE) browser also affects users of the Outlook 2003 e-mail client, making it much more serious than previously thought.
Red Flag Linux may be next on IBM's agenda
The next Linux distribution that IBM Corp. throws its weight behind is likely to be China's Red Flag Linux, suggesting that for businesses elsewhere in the world the Linux market will remain a two-horse race for the time being.
Jailed Chinese journalist to sue Yahoo
A Chinese journalist jailed in part due to e-mail evidence provided by a Yahoo Inc. subsidiary plans to file a lawsuit in the U.S. against the Internet company within the next few months.
AOL cuts deal to sell AOL France
AOL LLC continued its strategy of separating its Internet access and content businesses in Europe, with the sale of its France Internet access business to Neuf Cegetel SA. The deal, announced Thursday, is worth ?288 million (US$366 million) and includes an ongoing partnership between AOL and Neuf Cegetel, a broadband operator.
Yahoo promotes Flash, Ruby mashups
Yahoo Inc. has added sections for Flash and Ruby to its Web site for external developers. The goal is to promote the creation, using those two popular programming languages, of third-party applications that interact and integrate with Yahoo online services.
Wall Street beat: Software looking good
Despite financial and accounting problems at Dell Inc., Novell Inc. and Yahoo Inc., underlying faith in the software sector and a solid first-day performance on Riverbed Technology Inc.'s initial public offering indicate that the end of the year may yet reward IT investors.
INTERVIEW
As BI matures, companies should too
Business intelligence software is evolving into its older sibling, business performance management, a combination of planning, budgeting, reporting and benchmarking tools, according to the father of BI, Howard Dresner. At the same time, the main obstacle to BI or BPM adoption remains cultural rather than technological, he said.
OPINION
Stay tuned. We will be right back after these.
By Sean McGrath
Some time ago I upgraded my satellite TV service to include the
ability to record programs very easily via an integrated hard disk. In
effect my satellite receiving box became a computer known as a Digital
Video Recorder (DVR).
In the intervening period between then and now I have become a
significantly less useful individual to TV advertisers. Here is why
this is so ...
HP CEO Hurd to brief reporters on spying scandal ... Germany to make hacking a crime ... Samsung executive pleads guilty to fixing DRAM price
HIGHLIGHTS
News: US Commerce Department reports loss of 1,137 laptops
News: Outlook vulnerable to critical VML bug
News: Red Flag Linux may be next on IBM's agenda
News: Jailed Chinese journalist to sue Yahoo
News: AOL cuts deal to sell AOL France
News: Yahoo promotes Flash, Ruby mashups
News: Wall Street beat: Software looking good
Interview: As BI matures, companies should too
Opinion: Stay tuned. We will be right back after these.
NEWS UPDATES
US Commerce Department reports loss of 1,137 laptops
The U.S. Commerce Department reported that 1,137 laptops have been lost or stolen since 2001, with 249 of them containing some degree of personal data.
Outlook vulnerable to critical VML bug
A critical bug in the Internet Explorer (IE) browser also affects users of the Outlook 2003 e-mail client, making it much more serious than previously thought.
Red Flag Linux may be next on IBM's agenda
The next Linux distribution that IBM Corp. throws its weight behind is likely to be China's Red Flag Linux, suggesting that for businesses elsewhere in the world the Linux market will remain a two-horse race for the time being.
Jailed Chinese journalist to sue Yahoo
A Chinese journalist jailed in part due to e-mail evidence provided by a Yahoo Inc. subsidiary plans to file a lawsuit in the U.S. against the Internet company within the next few months.
AOL cuts deal to sell AOL France
AOL LLC continued its strategy of separating its Internet access and content businesses in Europe, with the sale of its France Internet access business to Neuf Cegetel SA. The deal, announced Thursday, is worth ?288 million (US$366 million) and includes an ongoing partnership between AOL and Neuf Cegetel, a broadband operator.
Yahoo promotes Flash, Ruby mashups
Yahoo Inc. has added sections for Flash and Ruby to its Web site for external developers. The goal is to promote the creation, using those two popular programming languages, of third-party applications that interact and integrate with Yahoo online services.
Wall Street beat: Software looking good
Despite financial and accounting problems at Dell Inc., Novell Inc. and Yahoo Inc., underlying faith in the software sector and a solid first-day performance on Riverbed Technology Inc.'s initial public offering indicate that the end of the year may yet reward IT investors.
INTERVIEW
As BI matures, companies should too
Business intelligence software is evolving into its older sibling, business performance management, a combination of planning, budgeting, reporting and benchmarking tools, according to the father of BI, Howard Dresner. At the same time, the main obstacle to BI or BPM adoption remains cultural rather than technological, he said.
OPINION
Stay tuned. We will be right back after these.
By Sean McGrath
Some time ago I upgraded my satellite TV service to include the
ability to record programs very easily via an integrated hard disk. In
effect my satellite receiving box became a computer known as a Digital
Video Recorder (DVR).
In the intervening period between then and now I have become a
significantly less useful individual to TV advertisers. Here is why
this is so ...
Thursday, September 21, 2006
HP's Hurd knew of spying campaign ... Munich begins Linux migration
Today's IT News Audio Update
Hewlett-Packard's CEO could become implicated in the spying scandal at the company ... BenQ Mobile is closing down a handset facility in Taiwan ... AOL is inviting users to test a new version of its search engine
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Report: Hurd knew of planned deception campaign
News: Munich begins Linux replacement of Windows
News: IBM unveils new tape virtualization engine
News: Novell faces delisting from Nasdaq
Opinion: Stay tuned. We will be right back after these.
ITwhirled: Spice up your e-mail sig
NEWS UPDATES
Report: Hurd knew of planned deception campaign
Hewlett-Packard Co. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mark Hurd knew of plans for a disinformation campaign designed to find the source of leaks from boardroom discussions, The Washington Post reported Thursday.
Munich begins Linux replacement of Windows
Munich has begun its migration to Linux on the desktop, a year later than planned and nearly three years since the city announced its move to open source software.
IBM unveils new tape virtualization engine
IBM Corp. is unveiling Thursday a new virtual tape drive management system for mainframes that compares to similar technology introduced last spring by rival Sun Microsystems Inc.
Novell faces delisting from Nasdaq
Novell Inc. has confirmed the receipt of a notice from the Nasdaq stock market warning that its shares will be delisted from the exchange after the software company delayed filing its most recent quarterly report to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Dunn to 'set the record straight' in HP case
Embattled Hewlett-Packard Co. chairman Patricia Dunn told an appreciative audience in San Francisco Wednesday night that she looks forward to the opportunity to "set the record straight" regarding allegations that she oversaw an internal investigation of the company which may have broken the law.
Symantec on the attack over Vista security features
When Windows Vista ships next year, customers might have a tougher time getting their security software to work properly, executives from Symantec Corp. said Wednesday.
Qualcomm sees wireless device boom
A perfect storm is brewing in wireless communications, which may soon boom like the PC business did in the 1990s as the Web took off, a Qualcomm Inc. executive said Wednesday.
Security vendors SecureWorks, LURHQ merge
Managed security services companies SecureWorks Inc. and LURHQ Corp. have merged. The combined company is known as SecureWorks and is based in Atlanta. SecureWorks chief executive Mike Cote remains as chief executive officer (CEO) and former LURHQ CEO Tony Prince will be executive vice president responsible for product development.
OPINION
Stay tuned. We will be right back after these.
By Sean McGrath
Some time ago I upgraded my satellite TV service to include the ability to record programs very easily via an integrated hard disk. In effect my satellite receiving box became a computer known as a Digital Video Recorder (DVR).
In the intervening period between then and now I have become a significantly less useful individual to TV advertisers. Here is why this is so ...
ITWHIRLED
Spice up your e-mail sig
Whether you're talking about specific programming languages or overall concepts, these epigrams are good for insight and for spicing up your e-mail sig. Probably the only collection of programming-related quotes to contain one from Flannery O'Connor.
Hewlett-Packard's CEO could become implicated in the spying scandal at the company ... BenQ Mobile is closing down a handset facility in Taiwan ... AOL is inviting users to test a new version of its search engine
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Report: Hurd knew of planned deception campaign
News: Munich begins Linux replacement of Windows
News: IBM unveils new tape virtualization engine
News: Novell faces delisting from Nasdaq
Opinion: Stay tuned. We will be right back after these.
ITwhirled: Spice up your e-mail sig
NEWS UPDATES
Report: Hurd knew of planned deception campaign
Hewlett-Packard Co. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mark Hurd knew of plans for a disinformation campaign designed to find the source of leaks from boardroom discussions, The Washington Post reported Thursday.
Munich begins Linux replacement of Windows
Munich has begun its migration to Linux on the desktop, a year later than planned and nearly three years since the city announced its move to open source software.
IBM unveils new tape virtualization engine
IBM Corp. is unveiling Thursday a new virtual tape drive management system for mainframes that compares to similar technology introduced last spring by rival Sun Microsystems Inc.
Novell faces delisting from Nasdaq
Novell Inc. has confirmed the receipt of a notice from the Nasdaq stock market warning that its shares will be delisted from the exchange after the software company delayed filing its most recent quarterly report to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Dunn to 'set the record straight' in HP case
Embattled Hewlett-Packard Co. chairman Patricia Dunn told an appreciative audience in San Francisco Wednesday night that she looks forward to the opportunity to "set the record straight" regarding allegations that she oversaw an internal investigation of the company which may have broken the law.
Symantec on the attack over Vista security features
When Windows Vista ships next year, customers might have a tougher time getting their security software to work properly, executives from Symantec Corp. said Wednesday.
Qualcomm sees wireless device boom
A perfect storm is brewing in wireless communications, which may soon boom like the PC business did in the 1990s as the Web took off, a Qualcomm Inc. executive said Wednesday.
Security vendors SecureWorks, LURHQ merge
Managed security services companies SecureWorks Inc. and LURHQ Corp. have merged. The combined company is known as SecureWorks and is based in Atlanta. SecureWorks chief executive Mike Cote remains as chief executive officer (CEO) and former LURHQ CEO Tony Prince will be executive vice president responsible for product development.
OPINION
Stay tuned. We will be right back after these.
By Sean McGrath
Some time ago I upgraded my satellite TV service to include the ability to record programs very easily via an integrated hard disk. In effect my satellite receiving box became a computer known as a Digital Video Recorder (DVR).
In the intervening period between then and now I have become a significantly less useful individual to TV advertisers. Here is why this is so ...
ITWHIRLED
Spice up your e-mail sig
Whether you're talking about specific programming languages or overall concepts, these epigrams are good for insight and for spicing up your e-mail sig. Probably the only collection of programming-related quotes to contain one from Flannery O'Connor.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Yahoo warns on weakening Web ad sales ... Dunn to testify before House on spying scandal
Today's IT News Audio Update
Oracle has reported another strong quarter of financial results ... Patricia Dunn, the embattled chairman of HP, will answer questions on the spying scandal next week ... Amazon.com is offering to host online stores for small and medium-size businesses
HIGHLIGHTS
News: U.S. computer firm admits selling banned exports to Iran
News: Yahoo warns on weakening Web ad sales
News: Mambo Foundation releases Mambo 4.6
News: HP's Dunn to testify before House on spying scandal
Storage Tip: Rules for differentiating between operational and disaster recovery
ITwhirled: In Soviet Russia, mouse clicks YOU
NEWS UPDATES
Schneier: We are losing the security war
Companies are losing the battle to secure their IT systems from attacks by hackers and other threats, warned Bruce Schneier, the founder and chief technology officer of Counterpane Internet Security Inc.
U.S. computer firm admits selling banned exports to Iran
A California seller of servers and other computer components has pleaded guilty to selling products to Iran in violation of federal export controls, the U.S. Attorney's office in San Francisco reported Tuesday.
Yahoo warns on weakening Web ad sales
A slowing U.S. economy may already be impacting Yahoo Inc.'s Web advertising sales growth, the head of the company said Tuesday, a trend that does not bode well for other ad-supported Internet sites.
Mambo Foundation releases Mambo 4.6
The Mambo Foundation has released Mambo 4.6, the first major release of its open-source content management system (CMS) in almost two years, the group said Wednesday.
HP's Dunn to testify before House on spying scandal
Hewlett-Packard Co. Chairman Patricia Dunn will answer questions on the spying scandal that has embroiled her company during a House committee hearing on Capitol Hill next week.
iTunes nets $1 million in movie sales for Disney in a week
In only one week, Apple Computer Inc.'s iTunes Store generated $1 million in movie sales for Walt Disney Co., and that's "just the beginning," the head of Disney said Tuesday.
Microsoft to ease Vista upgrades with one-DVD plan
In an effort to simplify the distribution of Windows Vista and make it easier for customers to upgrade, Microsoft Corp. will include the various retail versions of the OS on one DVD instead of having separate DVDs for each Vista edition.
Oracle celebrates strong Q1 with some SAP bashing
As Oracle Corp. executives patted themselves on the back for their company's reporting another strong financial quarter, they also couldn't resist having a go at prime applications rival SAP AG.
Microsoft to add HD DVD to Xbox 360
Microsoft Corp. will launch an HD DVD drive add-on for its Xbox 360 console in November, a company executive said Wednesday.
STORAGE TIP
Rules for differentiating between operational and disaster recovery
By David Hill, Mesabi Group
Differentiating between operational recovery and disaster recovery is not always clear-cut. Fortunately, most problems are operational problems not disaster recovery problems. Here are some guidelines for when a failover to a remote site is an operational recovery problem and not a disaster recovery problem.
ITWHIRLED
In Soviet Russia, mouse clicks YOU
Those Soviets sure did make some wonderfully clunky computer hardware. Here's the best of computer mouses from the USSR. Our favorite label: "The Manipulator For Graphical Information."
Oracle has reported another strong quarter of financial results ... Patricia Dunn, the embattled chairman of HP, will answer questions on the spying scandal next week ... Amazon.com is offering to host online stores for small and medium-size businesses
HIGHLIGHTS
News: U.S. computer firm admits selling banned exports to Iran
News: Yahoo warns on weakening Web ad sales
News: Mambo Foundation releases Mambo 4.6
News: HP's Dunn to testify before House on spying scandal
Storage Tip: Rules for differentiating between operational and disaster recovery
ITwhirled: In Soviet Russia, mouse clicks YOU
NEWS UPDATES
Schneier: We are losing the security war
Companies are losing the battle to secure their IT systems from attacks by hackers and other threats, warned Bruce Schneier, the founder and chief technology officer of Counterpane Internet Security Inc.
U.S. computer firm admits selling banned exports to Iran
A California seller of servers and other computer components has pleaded guilty to selling products to Iran in violation of federal export controls, the U.S. Attorney's office in San Francisco reported Tuesday.
Yahoo warns on weakening Web ad sales
A slowing U.S. economy may already be impacting Yahoo Inc.'s Web advertising sales growth, the head of the company said Tuesday, a trend that does not bode well for other ad-supported Internet sites.
Mambo Foundation releases Mambo 4.6
The Mambo Foundation has released Mambo 4.6, the first major release of its open-source content management system (CMS) in almost two years, the group said Wednesday.
HP's Dunn to testify before House on spying scandal
Hewlett-Packard Co. Chairman Patricia Dunn will answer questions on the spying scandal that has embroiled her company during a House committee hearing on Capitol Hill next week.
iTunes nets $1 million in movie sales for Disney in a week
In only one week, Apple Computer Inc.'s iTunes Store generated $1 million in movie sales for Walt Disney Co., and that's "just the beginning," the head of Disney said Tuesday.
Microsoft to ease Vista upgrades with one-DVD plan
In an effort to simplify the distribution of Windows Vista and make it easier for customers to upgrade, Microsoft Corp. will include the various retail versions of the OS on one DVD instead of having separate DVDs for each Vista edition.
Oracle celebrates strong Q1 with some SAP bashing
As Oracle Corp. executives patted themselves on the back for their company's reporting another strong financial quarter, they also couldn't resist having a go at prime applications rival SAP AG.
Microsoft to add HD DVD to Xbox 360
Microsoft Corp. will launch an HD DVD drive add-on for its Xbox 360 console in November, a company executive said Wednesday.
STORAGE TIP
Rules for differentiating between operational and disaster recovery
By David Hill, Mesabi Group
Differentiating between operational recovery and disaster recovery is not always clear-cut. Fortunately, most problems are operational problems not disaster recovery problems. Here are some guidelines for when a failover to a remote site is an operational recovery problem and not a disaster recovery problem.
ITWHIRLED
In Soviet Russia, mouse clicks YOU
Those Soviets sure did make some wonderfully clunky computer hardware. Here's the best of computer mouses from the USSR. Our favorite label: "The Manipulator For Graphical Information."
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Toshiba offers to replace 340,000 laptop batteries ... Microsoft launches YouTube rival
Today's IT News Audio Update
Toshiba is offering to replace 340,000 laptop batteries ... Microsoft has launched the beta version of a new video download service ... EMC will spend $175 million to acquire security equipment provider Network Intelligence
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Toshiba offers to exchange 340,000 notebook batteries
News: EMC buys Network Intelligence
News: Motorola to buy Symbol for $3.9 billion
News: Microsoft tests YouTube competitor
Opinion: Pray for tape; its demise would be disastrous for small businesses
ITwhirled: Next must-have iPod accessory: The iZod?
NEWS UPDATES
Toshiba offers to exchange 340,000 notebook batteries
Toshiba Corp. has offered to exchange 340,000 notebook computer batteries, but said they do not pose a fire hazard. Instead, defective batteries could unexpectedly cut power to the notebooks, causing users to lose unsaved work.
EMC buys Network Intelligence
EMC Corp. will spend $175 million to acquire security information provider Network Intelligence Corp. This latest acquisition, expected to close late Monday, underscores the growing importance of security technology to EMC. Also on Monday, EMC announced that it had completed its $2.1 billion purchase of RSA Security, which will form the basis of a new RSA-branded security division within the company.
Motorola to buy Symbol for $3.9 billion
Motorola Inc. plans to acquire wireless mobile device developer Symbol Technologies Inc. for $3.9 billion, the companies announced Tuesday.
Microsoft tests YouTube competitor
Microsoft Corp. hopes to bank on the popularity of online video-sharing services such as YouTube and Google Video with its own competitive service, which goes into beta on Tuesday.
Napster exploring sale, tie-up
Napster Inc., the remade version of the popular Internet music sharing service, is in talks over a sale or possible strategic partnership, the company said Monday.
DHS picks cybersecurity czar
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) finally named a leader for its cybersecurity efforts on Monday, fulfilling a promise made last July by an agency that has drawn poor marks for digital security.
Microsoft files 20 more antipiracy lawsuits
Continuing its worldwide assault on software piracy, Microsoft Corp. has filed 20 lawsuits against resellers accused of distributing unauthorized copies of its software.
New AIM worm may prove difficult to fight
A sophisticated computer worm spreading via AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) is setting up a botnet that may be difficult to combat, security researchers said.
Motorola, Nokia, BenQ bid Cebit adieu
BenQ Corp., Motorola Inc. and Nokia Corp. will participate at next year's Cebit trade show, and rumors abound that other vendors, particularly in the consumer electronics segment, might also skip the annual event.
T-Mobile top bidder as 3G auction ends
T-Mobile USA Inc. came out the biggest spender in the U.S. Federal Communications Commission's Advanced Wireless Services spectrum auction, which ended Monday.
OPINION
Pray for tape; its demise would be disastrous for small businesses
By Joel Shore
Sitting just a few feet from me in my home office is 2 terabytes of RAID 5 storage, in a cabinet barely bigger than a one-gallon milk bottle. Lying on my desk are four 8-gigabyte Compact Flash cards, each no bigger than a fifty-cent piece. Is it any wonder that few people seem to talk about tape for the SMB market anymore?
ITWHIRLED
Next must-have iPod accessory: The iZod?
What with a new batch of iPods coming out, you're going to want to show that your MP3 player is classier than the rest. That's why you've got to get the latest in iPod-wear, better than iPod socks: The iZod. Look, it's even got it's little collar popped!
Toshiba is offering to replace 340,000 laptop batteries ... Microsoft has launched the beta version of a new video download service ... EMC will spend $175 million to acquire security equipment provider Network Intelligence
HIGHLIGHTS
News: Toshiba offers to exchange 340,000 notebook batteries
News: EMC buys Network Intelligence
News: Motorola to buy Symbol for $3.9 billion
News: Microsoft tests YouTube competitor
Opinion: Pray for tape; its demise would be disastrous for small businesses
ITwhirled: Next must-have iPod accessory: The iZod?
NEWS UPDATES
Toshiba offers to exchange 340,000 notebook batteries
Toshiba Corp. has offered to exchange 340,000 notebook computer batteries, but said they do not pose a fire hazard. Instead, defective batteries could unexpectedly cut power to the notebooks, causing users to lose unsaved work.
EMC buys Network Intelligence
EMC Corp. will spend $175 million to acquire security information provider Network Intelligence Corp. This latest acquisition, expected to close late Monday, underscores the growing importance of security technology to EMC. Also on Monday, EMC announced that it had completed its $2.1 billion purchase of RSA Security, which will form the basis of a new RSA-branded security division within the company.
Motorola to buy Symbol for $3.9 billion
Motorola Inc. plans to acquire wireless mobile device developer Symbol Technologies Inc. for $3.9 billion, the companies announced Tuesday.
Microsoft tests YouTube competitor
Microsoft Corp. hopes to bank on the popularity of online video-sharing services such as YouTube and Google Video with its own competitive service, which goes into beta on Tuesday.
Napster exploring sale, tie-up
Napster Inc., the remade version of the popular Internet music sharing service, is in talks over a sale or possible strategic partnership, the company said Monday.
DHS picks cybersecurity czar
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) finally named a leader for its cybersecurity efforts on Monday, fulfilling a promise made last July by an agency that has drawn poor marks for digital security.
Microsoft files 20 more antipiracy lawsuits
Continuing its worldwide assault on software piracy, Microsoft Corp. has filed 20 lawsuits against resellers accused of distributing unauthorized copies of its software.
New AIM worm may prove difficult to fight
A sophisticated computer worm spreading via AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) is setting up a botnet that may be difficult to combat, security researchers said.
Motorola, Nokia, BenQ bid Cebit adieu
BenQ Corp., Motorola Inc. and Nokia Corp. will participate at next year's Cebit trade show, and rumors abound that other vendors, particularly in the consumer electronics segment, might also skip the annual event.
T-Mobile top bidder as 3G auction ends
T-Mobile USA Inc. came out the biggest spender in the U.S. Federal Communications Commission's Advanced Wireless Services spectrum auction, which ended Monday.
OPINION
Pray for tape; its demise would be disastrous for small businesses
By Joel Shore
Sitting just a few feet from me in my home office is 2 terabytes of RAID 5 storage, in a cabinet barely bigger than a one-gallon milk bottle. Lying on my desk are four 8-gigabyte Compact Flash cards, each no bigger than a fifty-cent piece. Is it any wonder that few people seem to talk about tape for the SMB market anymore?
ITWHIRLED
Next must-have iPod accessory: The iZod?
What with a new batch of iPods coming out, you're going to want to show that your MP3 player is classier than the rest. That's why you've got to get the latest in iPod-wear, better than iPod socks: The iZod. Look, it's even got it's little collar popped!
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