Platform enhancements seek to unlock the power of big data
Businesses today have access to more data about their operations and their customers than ever before, but often that data is an underused resource.
Business intelligence company GoodData today announces new platform enhancements aimed at unlocking the value of data and widely distributing analytics to the people who are making business decisions on a daily basis.
Oracle plans to offer IT-staff-as-a-service
Oracle is set to offer its customers an entirely new service that lies somewhere between contracting IT staff and cloud computing, according to Business Insider.
Reports suggest that Oracle will allow customers to rent its IT staff alongside its cloud services -- essentially offering an entire IT department as a service.
The eight critical issues holding back IT
The challenges of front line IT have become increasingly complex in recent years thanks to changes in technology, cyber threats and the sheer volume of work.
But what are the biggest challenges that IT teams face? A new survey by network monitoring company Ipswitch set out to find out and reveals the eight most critical issues that are holding IT teams back from achieving their innovation and operational goals.
US government to invest $20 million to drive fuel cell development
The U.S. Energy Department has announced it will invest more than $20 million (£12.9m) in the fuel cell and hydrogen technologies industries, following the revelation that the industry is basically exploding.
A total of 10 projects will be funded, aiming to advance fuel cell and hydrogen technologies and to enable early adoption of fuel cell applications such as light-duty fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV).
Microsoft offers $300 / £100 trade-ins when you buy a new Windows 10 computer
If you've been thinking of investing in a new computer, Microsoft has an incentive that might just help to convince you that the time is right. You've probably got an old computer laying around that you need to get rid of, and Microsoft will happily take it off your hands and give you cash into the bargain.
The Trade Up program offers a minimum of $200 for a laptop trade-in, up to $300 for a MacBook. The caveat? The Windows 10 computer you buy must cost at least $599. The deal is running in the US and UK -- but people in the UK have a different, and somewhat less impressive, deal available to them.
Mobile vs. web: 3 ways available resources and platform fragmentation might be driving the debate
For almost a decade, our industry -- and consumers -- have been struggling with a seemingly simple question: What’s the difference between mobile and web? One would assume the answer to that question would have become clear sometime in the seven years since the AppStore launch changed the game. But in some ways, we’re still trying to even properly frame the question to consumers. For example, should we be arguing the merits of "native vs. web" or "native vs. HTML5?" (And don’t forget about hybrids, which are some combination of the two, just to add to the confusion.)
The good news? Some of the best and brightest have already weighed in on the topic of web vs. native: Mark Zuckerberg talked about the mobile vs. web quandary back in 2012, famously confessing that betting on HTML5 was a mistake for Facebook. On the other hand, Steve Jobs told developers to build for the web along with the launch of iPhone 1, only to launch the AppStore with native apps a year later. As you can imagine, this is a broad topic with many issues worth debating. But the availability of resources is a major sticking point, and often a key part of the conversation.
What's your identity worth? McAfee report gives some indication
The market for stolen goods is bustling, as it always has. The only difference today, as opposed to 25 years ago, is the high-tech approach to crime. Instead of buying your new speakers out of the back of a van you can go online and purchase someone's identity, or at least parts of it, such as a credit card.
A new report from Intel Security Group member McAfee delves into the prices and packaging. It's surprisingly cheap to buy many of these things. Alarming may be a better word. Your credit card may be priceless to you, but not to others.
iPhone 6s users can now share Live Photos as animated GIFs
Live Photos is one of the big new features available in Apple’s latest iPhones. As a quick refresher, these are a cross between a photo and a video -- 1.5 seconds of footage is recorded before and after the shot is taken, and when you press down hard on a Live Photo, using 3D Touch, it plays.
There is one big problem with Live Photos though, and that’s while you and other iOS 9 and Mac OS X El Capitan users can enjoy them in all their animated glory, share one with users on other platforms -- Windows or Android, for example -- and all the recipient will see is the standard still image. Where's the fun in that? Thankfully, Live Photos can now be shared as animated GIFs. Here’s how.
G4 is LG's first smartphone to get Android 6.0 Marshmallow
South Korean maker LG has announced plans to roll out Android 6.0 Marshmallow as early as next week, making it the first vendor, outside of Google, to bring the new mobile operating system to existing devices.
The first handset that LG will upgrade to Android 6.0 Marshmallow is its current flagship smartphone, G4, with customers in Poland being the first to see the software update available on their devices.
Microsoft now uses Windows 10's Start menu to display ads
We've all become used to the idea of ads online -- it's something that has become part and parcel of using the internet -- but in Windows? If you've updated to build 10565 of Windows 10, you're in for something of a surprise: the Start menu is now being used to display ads.
We're not talking about ads for Viagra, porn, or anything like that, but ads for apps. Of course, Microsoft is not describing them as ads; 'Suggested apps' has a much more approachable and fluffy feel to it. Maybe. This is a 'feature' that's currently only being shown to Windows Insiders, but it could spread to everyone else. Will it be well-received?
SMS is key to business communication in a 'mobile first' world
The switch to mobile devices has brought about a change in the way people communicate and consume media, moving away from the desktop PC and TV. This shift toward 'mobile first' or in some cases 'mobile only' needs to be reflected in how businesses expand their communication services.
This is one of the key findings of a new report by mobile engagement specialist OpenMarket and UK market research firm Portio Research. The report highlights that of the 7.3 billion people worldwide, 6.1 billion use an SMS-enabled phone, which amounts to 84 percent of the global population.
Samsung takes the wraps off Z3, its second Tizen smartphone
Samsung has unveiled the second smartphone to use its own Tizen operating system, as the South Korean company attempts to chip away at Android’s market share.
The Samsung Z3 will be available from October 21 in India at a cost of approximately $130. Its predecessor, the Z1 (Samsung appears to have misplaced the Z2), only cost around $90, so it remains to be seen whether consumers will accept the price increase.
It's Michael Dell versus the world and Dell will win
In my last column I wrote that Dell buying EMC is a great idea (for Dell) and left it to this column to more fully explain why that is so. It takes two columns because there is so much going on here in terms of both business models and technologies. As the title suggests it comes down to Michael Dell against the world and in this case I predict Dell will win, Cisco, HP and IBM will lose, Apple will be relatively unaffected and I don’t really know what it will mean for Microsoft but I think the advantage still lies with Dell.
One thing that is key is every one of these companies except Dell is publicly traded and answerable to Wall Street while Dell is for now answerable only to the gods of Texas bidness who must at this point be giddy with greed. So all of these companies except Dell have essentially the same playbook -- cutting costs, laying-off workers and outsourcing like crazy all to pay for the dividends and stock buybacks Wall Street defines these days as prudent corporate behavior. In contrast to this defensive game Dell can use its free cash flow to transform the company and dominate the market -- what 20 years ago we would have thought of as the right way to build a company. How quaint.
Google Translate grows by two more language features
As much as you may want to know multiple languages, not everyone does. Fortunately for the rest of us there are translation tools to help out and Google is one of the more popular ones, plus it's available on multiple platforms.
Today Google rolls out new translation features, bringing English and German translations to Arabic via printed text -- conversations were already available.
Illuminate your gaming PC or Halloween Jack-o'-Lantern with Satechi USB Light Strip
If you build a gaming desktop, you should invest in LED lights to truly bring it to life. Sure, some people prefer a more conservative PC appearance, but there is no denying that it is bad-ass to see a build that lights up like a lava lamp. This is particularly true if your case has a side window.
Unfortunately, many lighting kits are straight-up garbage. Satechi is looking to reverse that perception with its USB Light Strip. Not only can it illuminate the inside of your PC, but the outside too, including your monitor with accent lighting. Even cooler? You can forgo a candle on your carved pumpkin this year and instead use this LED lighting kit. A real pumpkin with USB is friggin' awesome!
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