Midsize Insider

IBM Lowers Cloud and Big Data Barriers With New Processors and Storage

IBM today accelerated its strategy to drive big data and cloud computing adoption with the addition of new Power Systems ...

an article by on Feb 5, 2013

Survey: BYOD Gaining Support

A new survey reveals that BYOD is gaining support and acceptance among businesses. A recent study by Samsung Electronics subsidiary Samsung Telecommunications America suggests that the bring-your-own-device movement will be in almost every office and work setting within the next ...

an article by Marissa Tejada on Jan 28, 2013

Unusual Uses for Smartphones at Midsize Businesses

For many midsize businesses that have been operating for decades, the history of the company is just as important as its future. With more and more midsize businesses utilizing the Internet and social networking to reach customers, it is harder ...

an article by Chrissie Klinger on Jan 28, 2013

Is the iPad Ready for Business?

And is business ready for the iPad? After all the breathless talk about the bring-your-own-device (BYOD) trend, this is the year it may really start to happen on a big scale. Midsize businesses, along with other firms, are taking a ...

an article by Rick Robinson on Jan 9, 2013

Virtual Deployments Get a Boost With Service Virtualization and Increasing Mobile App Use

CA technologies has debuted a new technology they call "service virtualization," which fully simulates the behavior and performance of a company's system in a virtual environment. This technology, along with an increasing reliance on streaming and remote mobile app virtualization, ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Jan 8, 2013

VMware Releases Patch for Critical Vulnerability

Virtualization enables organizations to minimize equipment costs and streamline the deployment and management of systems. But despite its benefits, the technology opens the door to vulnerabilities just as devastating as those targeting traditional platforms.DDI Labs, a security risk assessment solutions ...

an article by Petra Jorgenson on Jan 4, 2013

China's New Internet Regulations Impact Mobile, VPN

China has essentially moved forward with the plans that country's delegates proposed during the ITU Treaty talks in Dubai earlier this month. In what is ostensibly meant to protect its citizens' privacy, the Chinese government has imposed new regulations that ...

an article by Kim Leonard on Jan 4, 2013

Storage Virtualization for Midsize Businesses

Storage virtualization isn't for the enterprise any longer. The fact is, many midsize companies refuse to be tied to legacy applications these days and for good reason. A virtualized data center creates a unique set of data protection requirements that ...

an article by Marissa Tejada on Jan 2, 2013

VMware Slashes Registration Costs for SMBs

Looking to gain share in the midsize market, VMware drastically lowered its deal registration threshold. The move will allow more partners to experience and promote virtualization and the way the technology can transform a company.In a recent CRN article, VMware's ...

an article by Marissa Tejada on Dec 14, 2012

Red Hat Now Offering 10-Gallon Virtual Machines for IT Cowboys

Last week, open source developer Red Hat upgraded its Enterprise Virtualization solution to version 3.1, which lets IT pros create ever larger virtual machines and move them in real time across storage area. The improvement helps secure the company's spot ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Dec 13, 2012

Google Does Away With Free Apps for Small Businesses

Many small and midsize businesses (SMBs) have been utilizing free applications from a variety of sources. Google announced this week, however, that the free version of their online application suite for small businesses is coming to a close. Although the ...

an article by Chrissie Klinger on Dec 7, 2012

VMware Invests in Mobile Virtualization

A number of virtualized mobile phone solutions are on the horizon, theoretically enabling midsize IT to better deal with the bring your own device (BYOD) trend. By using either true mobile virtualization or dual-persona app management, IT pros can separate ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Dec 6, 2012

Will Dual Identity Smartphones Solve BYOD Issues?

Many IT professionals working for SMBs consider data security one of the biggest drawbacks of BYOD. Some IT professionals have the ability to completely wipe devices if a data threat occurs, but that capability has caused many employees to get ...

an article by Chrissie Klinger on Nov 29, 2012

Chinese Virtualization Shows Solid Gains, Say Leading Research Firms

By 2016, research firm Gartner predicts that 70 percent of China's x86 enterprise service workloads will be virtualized. Today, that number stands at 10 percent. While 60-percent growth - powered by energy savings, server utilization, and even private clouds - ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Nov 27, 2012

Holiday Tablet Sales Could Spur BYOD Adoption

The 2012 holiday season has arrived, and a host of new tablet offerings are putting the devices at the top of just about everyone's list. With record sales for tablets expected this season, IT managers at midsize companies would serve ...

an article by Shawn Drew on Nov 27, 2012

BlackBerry Crashes With National Transportation Safety Board

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has become the latest federal agency to abandon the RIM BlackBerry as its standard mobile device. It is shifting over to the iPhone instead. The move is the latest incident in what seems to ...

an article by Rick Robinson on Nov 27, 2012

Do you have a disaster plan?

Even the best run IT operations face the unexpected regardless of the size of the operation. Storms rumble through leaving broken power and communications lines in behind. Buildings can be flooded or damaged by winds. While large companies typically have ...

an article by Dan Kusnetzky on Nov 26, 2012

Microsoft Makes Noise About VMware's Cost Calculations

VMware has never been shy about calling out the competition or talking up its own products, but now changes to its cost calculator for server virtualization have Microsoft on the attack, calling out the fact that they, allegedly, are the ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Nov 26, 2012

Virtually Insecure: VMware Patches Convey a Warning

Virtualization is hot. And it offers a lot of practical advantages for IT professionals at midsize firms. But virtualization also brings with it a new set of security risks, as the latest round of patches from VMware makes clear.And reports ...

an article by Rick Robinson on Nov 20, 2012

Micro Cloud Foundry: VMware Goes Small

No job too small for us! That is the message VMware is sending with its new Micro Cloud Foundry, which scales the platform-as-a-service (PaaS) offering down to a single virtual machine. The objective? To allow developers to test an application ...

an article by Rick Robinson on Nov 13, 2012

U.S. Creates New Sanctions Against Iran for Creating 'Electronic Curtain'

Several Iranian organizations and individuals have been targeted by the U.S. government in a bid to tackle the country's restrictions on Internet freedom. According to CNET the U.S. State Department has issued sanctions against Iran for building an "electronic curtain" ...

an article by George Moon on Nov 12, 2012

iPad Mini Underwhelms - Beginning of the End for Consumerization Hype?

The iPad mini has reached Apple stores, and of course there are lines in front waiting to buy it. But the lines aren't all that long. And there is something a bit "mini" about the overall excitement level.For the IT ...

an article by Rick Robinson on Nov 6, 2012

Cisco Helps Decentralize Data Centers

In the wake of the destruction caused by Hurricane Sandy, it's now obvious that having a centralized data center is no longer a feasible idea. To that end, Cisco's latest software release for its Unified Computing System (UCS) includes a ...

an article by Shawn Drew on Nov 6, 2012

VMware Q3 Revenues Hint at Cloudy Financial Futures

VMware recently released its third quarter revenue numbers and on the face, they look pretty good. Growth of 20 percent, ending September 30, and projections for 21-22 percent through the end of the year aren't exactly dismal, especially since that ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Nov 2, 2012

Apple Unveils iPad Mini

It was the secret that everyone knew, and, after months of speculation and chatter in the IT blogsphere, Apple finally unveiled the iPad Mini. The new small member of the iPad family was shown to the world for the first ...

an article by Bob Prince Alo on Oct 25, 2012

SaaS: HP Pitches Service Desk in the Cloud

Hewlett-Packard hopes that midsize firms will go the virtualization route with their service desk. That is the implied context of HP's new software-as-a-service (SaaS) offering, HP Service Anywhere.Virtualized and cloud solutions, along with anything-as-a-service, are in the broadest sense about ...

an article by Rick Robinson on Oct 25, 2012

IT Innovation Often Looks "Stupid," Says Venture Capital Expert Horowitz

At a recent Y Combinator talk, Ben Horowitz, co-founder of the Andreessen Horowitz venture firm, let the crowd of entrepreneurs in on a secret: IT innovation often looks "stupid." While geared toward new start-ups looking to secure venture funding, Horowitz's ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Oct 23, 2012

Microsoft Knocking on Midsize Business Doors With New Hyper-V Conversion Tool

Who's that, knocking at the midsize IT door? It might just be Microsoft, hoping to champion the cause of Hyper-V over VMware vSphere for virtualization. Sure, they've always handed out clever pamphlets. And the blue shirt/khaki pant look inspires at ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Oct 23, 2012

Midmarket companies need to have a DR strategy and test it regularly

Mid-market business decision makers understand the importance of keeping their information systems up and running and yet, they may not have heard of the phrases "disaster recovery," "disaster avoidance," or "business continuity" that are being bandied about by suppliers of ...

an article by Dan Kusnetzky on Oct 22, 2012

Virtualization Partnership Tackles Mobile Cloud Technology That Could Improve BYOD

Cisco and Citrix are out to prove two heads are better than one. The two companies that partnered on desktop virtualization are ready to take things to the next level. In the IT industry that level is believed to be ...

an article by Chrissie Klinger on Oct 22, 2012

Virtualization and the Universal Grid: Betting on 1000 to 1

The black monolith from 2001: A Space Odyssey serves as an apt example for the state of server technology: Build bigger, faster, stand-alone systems to handle the ever-increasing load of big data and infrastructure. Instead of apes, we have lumbering ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Oct 22, 2012

Windows Phone Wins the IT Vote

Chances are that no one will be very surprised to hear this news: The IT community at midsize firms is strongly inclined to opt for Microsoft mobile technology offerings such as Windows Phone.After all, Microsoft has had a huge place ...

an article by Rick Robinson on Oct 19, 2012

Mobile Apps Joining Bloatware Parade

Get ready for some heavy lifting: Bloatware could be coming to a mobile device near you. "Bloatware" is the name given to software packages that grow in size much faster than they grow in functionality. For users, bloatware is a ...

an article by Rick Robinson on Oct 19, 2012

Virtualization Security Gets a Fist-Bump from Bromium with new Micro VMs

Virtualization is a critical technology for midsize businesses, both those considering a move to the cloud and those tired of the local server stack. But despite advancements in data storage, agility, and recovery, security remains a top concern for midsize ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Oct 17, 2012

Japanese Virtualization Start-up Enters U.S. Market

Japanese virtualization start-up Midokura has said it will enter the U.S market this week with its MidoNet application--a distributed software defined network product that is designed for Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). MidoNet virtualizes networks for multitenant public and private ...

an article by George Moon on Oct 17, 2012

iPad Mini Still Coming This Month?

Apple is pretty good at doing integrated hardware and software. And it is even better at generating consumer buzz. Which is why you might want to circle October 23 on your calendar. One often well-informed website is reporting that day ...

an article by Rick Robinson on Oct 16, 2012

Statistics Show Tablet Computing is replacing PCs

The personal computer has had a good run that may be coming to an end. For the first time since 2001, PC shipments declined, and they were down substantially. Tablet shipments are exploding. Tablet computing is replacing desktop and laptop ...

an article by Bert Markgraf on Oct 15, 2012

Virtualization Drives Data Center Consolidation

A report from IT market analysis company IDC shows that the days of server closets and internal data centers in small companies are numbered. Virtualization and cloud computing are driving a move to data centers operated by large service providers. ...

an article by Bert Markgraf on Oct 11, 2012

Going Beyond VDI: Here, There be Virtual Dragons

A Microsoft-sponsored IDC white paper, "Myths and Realities of Centralized Virtual Desktop Adoption," points to a world beyond virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI). For many businesses, the move away from "traditional" virtualization isn't easy and midsize IT pros often wonder what, ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Oct 11, 2012

Hewlett-Packard Hits New Virtualization Benchmark in Spain

Hewlett-Packard has struggled in the last few years to not only redefine its role in the technology market but establish profitable delivery channels. With its niche as a PC and printer manufacturer crumbling, the company struggles with layoffs, poor stock ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Oct 10, 2012

SevOne Survey Shows IT Challenges with Virtualization, Cloud, BYOD

A recent survey by the network performance management company SevOne reports a common agreement among IT managers from organizations of various sizes and industry verticals. According to the surveyed IT managers, legacy IT infrastructure is not keeping up with the ...

an article by Bob Prince Alo on Oct 10, 2012

HP Follows IBM with New SDN Strategy

Last week, HP introduced its strategy for software defined networking (SDN). This emerging architecture separates the control plane from the data plane in network routers and switches. HP announced that all of its campus switches now support OpenFlow, an open ...

an article by Gabriel Knight on Oct 9, 2012

SDN: Changing the Virtualization Game

Software Defined Networking (SDN) is shaping up to be the front-runner in the next generation of virtualization. But while manufacturers and vendors square off for leadership of the industry market, it will be IT networking professionals who really need to ...

an article by Kim Leonard on Oct 9, 2012

Polycom Adoption Services Platform Seeks to Promote Video Conferencing Within Organizations

Polycom Inc. has unveiled its new Adoption Services platform intended to help businesses accelerate user adoption of video conferencing solutions in the enterprise space.Many organizations acknowledge their inability to reap desired returns on collaboration tool investments, and this is usually ...

an article by Bob Prince Alo on Oct 8, 2012

Windows 8 App Updates Ready Sooner Than Later

If your small or midsize company plans an upgrade to Windows 8 in the next few weeks, there is some good news. Microsoft has already released updates for many of the apps that come built-in to the new operating system ...

an article by Chrissie Klinger on Oct 8, 2012

New Virtualization Management Offerings From Microsoft

Even as Redmond ramps up for Windows 8, the Microsoft Surface hybrid tablet, and other broad-spectrum products, it is not ignoring its more IT-specific offerings. Among these are virtualization management tools, notably App Controller and Virtual Machine Manager.Working in tandem, ...

an article by Rick Robinson on Oct 5, 2012

SMB Virtualization Faces an Uncertain Future

As the cloud continues to march forward, businesses looking to take advantage of virtualization may have more to consider than ever before. New reports show that VDI is not as cost effective as many make it out to be, although ...

an article by Shawn Drew on Oct 5, 2012

Symantec Launch Simplifies Security for Midsize Enterprises

In the ongoing race for the middle ground between on-site and cloud-based IT operations, Symantec has developed a crossover platform specifically designed to improve protection and convenience for small to medium-size businesses. With its recently launched Endpoint Protection Small Business ...

an article by Kim Leonard on Oct 5, 2012

Virtualization and the Open Cloud: A Step in the Right Direction?

By 2016, many IT departments will have networks capable of supporting 100Gpbs, enough to potentially run 100 virtual machines on a single physical server. This comes despite predictions that virtualization's sister technology, the cloud, would quickly overtake it; while private ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Oct 5, 2012

OpenStack Gets Cold Shoulder From Research Firm Gartner

Research firm Gartner has released a report about cloud technology group OpenStack, but it's not exactly favorable. Many laud the group's open source cloud computing aims. But the number of large companies invested in its work - including its newest ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Oct 3, 2012

Is it time for SMBs to adopt anyplace, anytime and any device computing?

Is now the time for anyplace, anytime, any device computing? As we increasingly see the world through a constellation of intelligent, network connected, digital devices, its time to consider anyplace, anytime, any device coming to the forefront as a requirement ...

an article by Dan Kusnetzky on Sep 24, 2012

Privacy's Position in a Digital World

As businesses continue acquiring more data about their customers, the ethical dilemma of how to handle this data becomes increasingly prominent. Some feel that users not only sign away their private information but that the recording and tracking of this ...

an article by Vincent Vanford on Sep 19, 2012

VMware Courts Smaller Businesses With New vSphere Offering

Though VMware has historically gone after enterprise-level businesses with its virtualization and cloud solutions, it appears the tech giant is now hoping to court small and midsize IT with an updated version of vSphere 5.1 Essentials Plus, showcased at the ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Sep 17, 2012

SMB Virtualization Trends: VDI Spending to Surge

Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) market spending is likely to triple in a few years, according to a recent technology survey. A new research study of small and midsize businesses in America shows that spending on this form of virtualization called ...

an article by Marissa Tejada on Sep 13, 2012

VMware Extends Virtualization Reach

With the release of VMware vCloud Suite 5.1, the virtualization software provider is proclaiming it has pioneered the first application that delivers a "software-defined datacenter." The vCloud suite integrates the vendor's virtualization, cloud infrastructure, and management portfolio into a single ...

an article by Dan Berthiaume on Sep 6, 2012

The Software-Defined Datacenter is Coming Into Focus

As one of the world leaders in virtualization, VMware is naturally taking the opportunity presented by its VMworld 2012 conference to announce some new products that will further move the datacenter down the path toward almost complete virtualization. Midsize businesses ...

an article by Shawn Drew on Sep 5, 2012

Integrated Systems and Virtualization for Midsize Businesses (Tweet Chat Recap)

On August 20th from 2pm – 3pm ET the @IBMPureSystems handle hosted a Twitter Chat around the question of “Integrated Systems & Virtualization for Midsize Businesses”. Listed below are our expert panelist answers, as well as top answers from others ...

an article by Kenneth Hess on Aug 30, 2012

Virtualizing Your Desktops: Is It For You?

It seems almost every organization is virtualizing their IT environments today, in full or in part, or have already done so. Despite what is now its long history, virtualization is still a powerful industry trend that holds the promise for ...

an article by Steve Garone on Aug 29, 2012

JouleX and Saving Money in Your Data Center. The Heat is On. (Podcast)

JouleX Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Tim McCormick, and I discuss how to save significant money in your data center by knowing where your energy is going. You might be surprised at the numbers and how much you can ...

an article by Kenneth Hess on Aug 27, 2012

Google Octane Takes Browsers for a Spin

Google Octane, a newly announced update to Google's V8 browser benchmark testing tool, will provide users with additional metrics for evaluating browser performance. The additional tests put browsers through their paces for tasks ranging from handling social-media widgets and PDF ...

an article by Rick Robinson on Aug 23, 2012

Experts Tweet About Integrated Systems & Virtualization for Midsize Businesses. Here's What They Said

IBM PureSystems recently hosted a Twitter Chat on the question of "Integrated Systems & Virtualization for Midsize Businesses". We had ...

an article by on Aug 22, 2012

SMBs need a map when embarking on the journey to a virtualized environment

Many suppliers are encouraging small to medium businesses to jump on the virtualization bandwagon without also explaining that this is a journey not a destination. Furthermore, they are using an incomplete model of virtualization that is based upon one type ...

an article by Dan Kusnetzky on Aug 22, 2012

Cisco Head Honcho Talks Up His Company's Hardware Role in Network Virtualization

All things will soon be virtual; at least, that's what providers like Microsoft, Dell, and even VMware would like midsize admins to believe. Big companies have a vested interest in developing proprietary cloud and virtual networks that they can parcel ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Aug 21, 2012

IBM System Networking offers solutions providers more value and differentiation for mid-market enterprise data centers

Today, mid-size enterprises around the globe face rising challenges driven by several key trends: the move to cloud, the rise in big data and analytics, and increased complexity due to virtualization. Enterprises that have run on 1GbE networks suddenly find ...

an article by Mesh Flinders on Aug 21, 2012

Xsigo Purchase Strengthens Oracle Virtualization

Oracle has entered into an agreement to acquire Xsigo Systems, a provider of network virtualization technology. As a result, Oracle is obtaining software-defined networking technology designed to simplify cloud infrastructure and operations by allowing customers to connect any server to ...

an article by Dan Berthiaume on Aug 10, 2012

FCC Wi-Fi Tethering Decision Forces Verizon To Cut Loose

Wi-Fi hot spots are becoming par for the course when it comes to sustained access in nonlocal settings; why pay 3G or 4G charges when Wi-Fi tethering can provide a stronger connection for a greater number of users? But this ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Aug 10, 2012

Java Security: Microsoft Pours Some Bad News

Microsoft has served up a bitter cup of coffee for Java users. A Microsoft security researcher argues that Java security is getting worse. And, he says, the problem is not limited to Windows. It can pop up in any environment ...

an article by Rick Robinson on Aug 8, 2012

VMWare Acquires Nicira, Network Virtualization Specialist for $1.26 billion

Virtualization juggernaut VMWare made moves to extend its reach and capabilities by acquiring a venture-backed network virtualization company. Palo Alto-based Nicira is young--founded only five years ago--but has made significant impacts and inroads with large clients including AT&T, eBay, and ...

an article by Richard Janezic on Aug 7, 2012

VMware Nabs Nicira, Gets Even More Virtual

VMware has always been about virtualization technology, as its name suggests. But with its acquisition of Nicira, a specialist in software-defined networks (SDN), the company is pushing even further into a virtualized environment. With the acquisition will also come stronger ...

an article by Rick Robinson on Aug 2, 2012

Java Security: Hackers Are Spiking the Coffee

Java has a new claim to fame. But it is not one that advocates of the language will be very happy about. Gaps in Java security have pushed it past Flash Player and Adobe Reader as the favorite target of ...

an article by Rick Robinson on Aug 1, 2012

iPhone, iPad, and Apple's Consumerization of IT

Apple's iPhone and iPad continue to ring up spectacular sales and revenue numbers and reaffirm their dominance of consumer mobility. In the process, and nearly as a sideline, they are driving the consumerization of IT. But how far can it ...

an article by Rick Robinson on Jul 30, 2012

IBM SmartCloud Desktop Infrastructure Launched

IBM has released a virtual platform, the IBM Desktop Infrastructure, which enables enterprise employees to use any mobile device, anywhere, at any time to access company computer programs. Designers believe the new IBM infrastructure will help companies to better manage ...

an article by Bob Prince Alo on Jul 25, 2012

SSH Key Management for Businesses

SSH is one of the most widely used protocols for connecting to and from UNIX and Linux systems. SSH, or ...

an article by Kenneth Hess on Jul 24, 2012

Is Google’s Nexus 7 Tablet Currently The Best Tablet On The Market

Google's special touch for success has reached the very competitive tablet market as the technology giant is set to release its Nexus 7 tablet.According to CNNTech, the technology giant has informed its customers that Nexus 7 is being shipped to ...

an article by Eric Brown on Jul 24, 2012

New Research Shows the Truth about BYOD Policies

Dimension Data, an ICT services and solutions partner, has revealed the results of a study that they conducted on North American telecommunication professionals. The data gives IT firms a glimpse into how mobile devices are being managed in the workplace, ...

an article by David Tom on Jul 20, 2012

Will Artificial Intelligence and Technology Automation Kill Jobs?

Andrew McAfee, a business school researcher at the Massachusetts institute of Technology who examines employment trends, contends that artificial intelligence (AI) and other advances in technology may be pushing more people out of white-collar jobs. According to a recent article ...

an article by Karen Hanna on Jul 18, 2012

BYOD Driving Up IT Mobile Support Costs

These are boom times for vendors and specialists in mobile device management technology. For IT departments at most midsize firms, the news may not be so good. The bring-your-own-device (BYOD) trend in the workplace is driving a spike in mobile-device ...

an article by Rick Robinson on Jul 17, 2012

VMWare Buys DynamicOps; Virtualization and Cloud from Competitive Hypervisors

VMWare announced that it has agreed to acquire DynamicOps, a developer of virtualization management and cloud provisioning. DyanamicOps started as a spin off of an IT unit at financier Credit Suisse. With its global presence and more than 350,000 clients, ...

an article by Richard Janezic on Jul 17, 2012

Is Increasing Virtualization Complexity Pushing IT Cloudward?

It was only a few years ago that Larry Ellison of Oracle had nothing but disparaging things to say about the cloud and his company's place in it. He seemed convinced that "cloud" as defined by industry experts was more ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Jul 16, 2012

Windows Server 2012 Editions Spark Curiosity, Outrage

Microsoft recently announced the licensing details for its upcoming server product, Windows Server 2012. The options reduce the variety of licensing options that previous versions possessed, narrowing down the list to just four. While the simplicity of the remaining options ...

an article by Shawn Drew on Jul 11, 2012

YBP Library Services: Consolidation "By the Book"

It wasn't so long ago that Dave Berrios, the IT Operations Manager for book distributor and library services provider YBP ...

an article by Steve Garone on Jul 6, 2012

Google Lobs a Shot at Microsoft With Offline Editing for Docs

Google announced offline editing for Docs on the second day of its I/O conference, says an Infoworld report. This is not the first time the search giant has enabled this feature, but reports suggest that it is much more robust ...

an article by Sharon Hurley Hall on Jul 6, 2012

"Eternal" Virtual Servers to Make Many Networks Obsolete by 2016

Virtualization has now become more than simply commonplace for midsize businesses and more than simply a "nice to have" for IT pros. Instead, it's expected that at least some portion of a company's data and storage will be virtualized in ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Jul 5, 2012

Tablet Sales to Outpace Desktops by 2013, Says Microsoft VP

That tablets are going to overtake desktops in the digital marketplace isn't exactly a surprise. While there is a chance handheld fortunes could still take a tumble, both business and consumer use is on the rise, since a tablet gives ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Jul 5, 2012

VMware Serengeti Scales Hadoop for Virtual, Cloud Hosting

The Serengeti is a vast plains area of Africa that supports a tremendously diverse population of wildlife and hosts the largest migration of land animals on the planet. Considering the diversity of information now being held inside Big Data and ...

an article by Dan Berthiaume on Jun 21, 2012

Mobile Virtualization: Technology With A Future

Mobile virtualization enables multiple operating systems to run on a single wireless device. IT admins can harness this technology to help them migrate from one OS to another easily, which is often done on an open-source OS, such as Android ...

an article by AB Sam on Jun 21, 2012

Office for iPad Release: Rumors Abound

Is a Microsoft Office version for the iPad in the works? Speculation is widespread, but it remains unclear when, or if, an Office for iPad release will actually appear. Multiple news sources say it is under development. But Microsoft is ...

an article by Rick Robinson on Jun 20, 2012

AMD, ARM and Others Form HSA Foundation to Support Heterogeneous Computing

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) has been pushing for a set of open standards for heterogeneous computing for a while now, and finally announced a consortium that will work to exactly that end. The concept of a set of open standards ...

an article by Shawn Drew on Jun 19, 2012

Tablet or Laptop: Microsoft Takes Aim at Gap

Is it a tablet or laptop? Microsoft's "tweeners" are designed to blur the answer to this question. In the process, Microsoft is also taking on Apple once again, with broad implications for the future of bring-your-own-device (BYOD) in the IT ...

an article by Rick Robinson on Jun 18, 2012

Managing Security Threats Posed by Hosted Virtual Services

Most IT departments at SMBs are now grappling with managing security challenges presented by virtualized environments. If the deployment is not correctly done, it may result in security blind spots. As more and more businesses look to virtualization to create ...

an article by AB Sam on Jun 12, 2012

Managing Virtualization Challenges: Major Bottlenecks SMBs Need to Overcome

When it comes to managing virtualization challenges, it is nearly an unchartered path for most small to midsize businesses (SMBs). SMBs fully realize the benefits of virtualization and those who have, in some measure, virtualized their data centers cite a ...

an article by AB Sam on Jun 8, 2012

Dell Windows 8 Tablet Takes Aim at Business

The forthcoming Dell Windows 8 tablet, to be called Latitude 10, is taking aim solidly at the business market. It will support a full version of Windows 8, not just the Windows Phone operating system.The message for IT managers at ...

an article by Rick Robinson on Jun 5, 2012

Google Tablet Set to Debut?

A seven-inch Google tablet is said to be on target for an imminent release, perhaps in July. It is one more sign that there might just be more to tablets than the iPad. Also significant might be the implicit branding: ...

an article by Rick Robinson on May 30, 2012

Virtualize with Your Eyes Wide Open

Virtualization can make midsize businesses more flexible, responsive and efficient, but these technologies also demand unique tools and skills to ...

an article by Paul Gillin on May 30, 2012

Oracle VM 3.1: Aiming for Virtual Top Tier

Oracle VM 3.1 offers data center managers greater ease of use and improved storage and backup, according to Oracle. What the company hopes that VM 3.1 delivers is the muscle to carry it into the top ranks of virtualization vendors.For ...

an article by Rick Robinson on May 29, 2012

Virtualization Costs Key for Midsize IT, Even in the Face of Increasing Benefits

Are your virtualization costs too high? They might be, in part thanks to a lack of standardization in the industry, especially as more providers enter the game. Midsize IT admins are often placed in the uncomfortable position of having to ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on May 29, 2012

Google-Motorola Mobility Deal Heads for Closure

Following approval by China, Google's acquisition of Motorola Mobility is on the fast track toward becoming a done deal. Besides underlining the scale of Google's commitment to Android and the mobile marketplace, the Google-Motorola deal may help to stabilize the ...

an article by Rick Robinson on May 27, 2012

Open Android: China's Requirement for Motorola Approval

China has given its approval for Google's acquisition of Motorola Mobile, with just one stipulation: Android must remain a free, open source technology for at least the next five years. Since Google has followed an open policy from the outset, ...

an article by Rick Robinson on May 23, 2012

PaaS: Platform-as-a-Service Is Catching On

Once upon a time there was simply "the cloud." It was off in the sky somewhere, providing server capacity you could rent instead of buying and managing. But the varied needs of IT have brought forth a sky filled with ...

an article by Rick Robinson on May 23, 2012

Cisco Bundles: A New Way of Thinking About BYOD

Cisco is aiming to eliminate the trickiness associated with managing mobile devices with a trio of new products. The Cisco bundles, formally known as Smart Solutions packages, is an amalgamation of the corporation's already existing hardware and software, their consulting ...

an article by Megan Mostyn-Brown on May 21, 2012

Device Virtualization: What IT Should Know

PCs are no longer king of the hill, as their sales have finally been surpassed by tablets and smartphones. It's something most IT admins have seen coming for some time, along with an increasing need for virtual solutions to match ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on May 18, 2012

Nvidia Virtual Gaming GPU: Power Play

Graphics computing firm Nvidia announced a cloud-based virtual GPU intended to power fast gaming on mobile devices, including most smartphones. Gamers will be pleased, but the implications of high-powered cloud graphics go beyond gaming. From the days of Pong in ...

an article by Rick Robinson on May 18, 2012

For Microsoft, Mobile Poses Challenge

Though Microsoft mobile offerings have been drawing positive reviews, mobile enthusiasm on the part of users is generating a tougher environment. Microsoft's rating among consumers slipped a bit last year. But Redmond is not alone: The whole software industry is ...

an article by Rick Robinson on May 18, 2012

Why is the adoption of virtualization technology slow in the mid market?

Why is mid market adoption of virtual systems slow? Virtualization technology has a long history of success in the industry. ...

an article by Dan Kusnetzky on May 17, 2012

Software-Defined Networking Takes Center Stage

You couldn't go anywhere at this year's Interop in Las Vegas without running into the term "software-defined networking" (SDN). While the concept behind the term isn't completely new, enhanced protocols and advancements in network technology have allowed SDN to finally ...

an article by Shawn Drew on May 17, 2012

Citrix VDI Gets a Boost to Compete in a Cloud-Centered World

Midsize business IT admins have heard endless stories about the cloud in recent years--how it will revolutionize the way they store data, secure information, and even interact with non-IT employees. Sidelined, in the rush to the cloud, was virtualized desktop ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on May 17, 2012

Virtualized Data Centers May Be the Next Big Move

Server and desktop virtualization have taken a firm hold in data centers around the world, but information from this year's Interop shows just how much interest there is out there to virtualize the rest of the data center. The growing ...

an article by Shawn Drew on May 17, 2012

More Small and Midsize Businesses Spending Money on Cloud and Virtualization Technologies

More small and midsize businesses are investing in virtualization and cloud computing technologies now that they have increased budgets. That's according to a recent IT survey that takes a close look at where smaller businesses are spending their money. The ...

an article by Marissa Tejada on May 11, 2012

Microsoft iPad Strategy an Uncertain Choice?

The Microsoft iPad strategy--keeping the dominant tablet device at arm's length--may be a big mistake. At least, that's the opinion of one industry observer. For IT managers at midsize firms, Microsoft's choice could have a major impact on the productivity ...

an article by Rick Robinson on May 10, 2012

IBM Develops Holey Optochip: Fast, Green, and Economical

Just a little over a week after revealing some exciting advances in quantum computing, IBM researchers have built what they dub the "Holey Optochip." This optical chip is a huge leap in data transfer as it is said to transmit ...

an article by Megan Mostyn-Brown on May 9, 2012

Business Tablets Gaining Popularity in the Mid-Market

The tablet market has certainly started to heat up over the past year, but the popularity of content devices, like the Kindle Fire, as opposed to full-featured tablets like the iPad, has raised some questions about just how many businesses ...

an article by Shawn Drew on May 7, 2012

VMWare View Hopes to Give IT Admins a Better Look at Virtualization

The role of virtualization has to some extent been usurped by the cloud in recent years, especially as both processes perform the same basic function and cloud computing has been given the lion's share of hype in the market. Now, ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on May 4, 2012

Java Language: Oracle Takes Over Apple's Updates

Apple has persuaded Oracle to take over the Java language updating process for OS X, with Tim Cook achieving something that eluded Steve Jobs. The new relationship is a reminder that Oracle's lawsuit against Google is not the only thing ...

an article by Rick Robinson on May 4, 2012

SMBs Adopting Virtualization Faster than the Enterprise

According to a recent survey, more small and midsize businesses (SMBs) are turning to virtualization, outpacing the rate at which large enterprises are adopting the technology for 2012.The survey, recently published in an article in CIO, was conducted by Acronis, ...

an article by Marissa Tejada on May 4, 2012

iOS Helps Drive Virtualization for Vendors

With the iPhone 5 set for release later this year, speculation about its feature set abounds, especially as it relates to business IT and the growing virtualization market. While the iOS still suffers to some extent, thanks to Apple's lockdown ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Apr 30, 2012

Oracle's Exadata Speeds Itself Right Into a Corner

In 2008, Oracle released its much hyped Exadata database machine, ushering in a series of products that focused on combining software, storage, networking and Sun servers. Their Big Data app and Exalytics machine have done well, but not on the ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Apr 27, 2012

Chrome for Android Soon to Exit Beta

Google's Chrome for Android browser could soon complete beta testing and go into general release. This move could mean an end to the "app era" for mobile devices. A capable browser tailored to Android devices could give mobile computing (at ...

an article by Rick Robinson on Apr 27, 2012

Will Feature-Rich iPhone 5 Finally Own the IT Market?

Rumors are already running rampant about the iPhone 5. Some sources say a pre-release model will debut in June, while other Web sites are convinced that October is the month to watch. Lists of features, specs, and other potential details ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Apr 26, 2012

Is Windows RT a Bust for Businesses?

Midsize enterprises eagerly awaiting Windows on ARM (WOA), now dubbed Windows RT by Microsoft, may end up sorely disappointed. The tablet technology anticipated for release later this year is looking more and more like a consumer buy, rather than an ...

an article by Megan Mostyn-Brown on Apr 26, 2012

Motorola Webtop: A Magic Bullet for Google?

Most discussion of Google's assimilation of Motorola has focused on the treasure trove of patents that Google will acquire. But an actual implementation--not just a legal patent right--could turn out to be crucial to Google in its competition with Apple ...

an article by Rick Robinson on Apr 26, 2012

Google vs. Oracle: How Their Lawsuit Could Change Your IT Department

Oracle's lawsuit against Google is well under way, and the outcome could have profound effects on many IT departments. With so many IT departments switching to Android devices, a ruling handed down against the Android creator could cause some major ...

an article by Natasha Puryear on Apr 26, 2012

Mid-market Business Cloud Transition Pain Points (Podcast)

IBM’s Vice President of Global Mid-market Sales, Mike McClurg, and I discuss IBM’s role in transitioning mid-sized businesses into virtualized ...

an article by Kenneth Hess on Apr 25, 2012

Windows 8 Enterprise Could Benefit IT

Microsoft rolled out the dirty details on its upcoming Windows 8 Enterprise. This edition is one of three Microsoft is offering, but it is the only one that is limited solely to corporate customers who have signed Software Assurance Deals.The ...

an article by Megan Mostyn-Brown on Apr 25, 2012

Pros and Cons: Mobile Virtualization

As "bring your own device" (BYOD) slowly becomes the norm, IT professionals are looking for ways to keep enterprise data safe on smartphones. Mobile virtualization (MV) is one option that is slowly gaining in popularity.How It WorksMV allows users to ...

an article by Megan Mostyn-Brown on Apr 24, 2012

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Faces Serious Challenges From Cloud Providers

Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) and cloud computing share many of the same underlying concepts, benefits and potential pitfalls, but thanks to effective hype and marketing, the cloud is often seen as the saviour of networked technology while many companies look ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Apr 23, 2012

Java Language: Oracle's Ellison Unsure of Status

Jurors in the Oracle and Google's patent trial over the Java language have their work cut out for them. Oracle CEO Larry Ellison took the witness stand but was unable to say in testimony whether Java is free. The question ...

an article by Rick Robinson on Apr 23, 2012

Walled Gardens: Google's Brin Takes on Apple and Facebook

Google's Sergey Brin has put the "walled gardens" issue front and center by publicly denouncing Apple and Facebook. He argues that they are imposing restrictive controls on their users and environments. In fact, argues Brin, Google itself could not have ...

an article by Rick Robinson on Apr 23, 2012

Verizon Private IP Wireless LTE Gives Businesses Faster Internet

Verizon announced on April 17, 2012, that it is combining its 4G wireless long-term evolution (LTE) with its Private Internet Protocol (IP) to create a combined Private IP Wireless LTE service. According to ComputerWorld, the service provider's Private IP was ...

an article by Megan Mostyn-Brown on Apr 23, 2012

Ducati an Example for Midsize Businesses Considering Virtualization

Ducati may be a big brand, but it's not a big company. With an average of 40,000 motorcycles produced each year, and around 1,000 employees, the company is much smaller than its world-recognized brand would suggest.Not only a world leader ...

an article by Bob Prince Alo on Apr 23, 2012

Virtualization Market No Longer Owned by VMware, Says Microsoft

Microsoft isn't shy about announcing to the world that it dominates segments of technology enterprise or has a monopoly on certain sections of the market. But that doesn't mean the company is great at everything--many midsized businesses have watched as ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Apr 20, 2012

Computacenter Study Shows CIOs Are Driving BYOD

A recent study by Computacenter shows that while the bring-your-own-device (BYOD) movement is all too real, it isn't being advocated by the younger generations. It's the CIOs pressing for personal devices at work. The BYOD issue has been hot on ...

an article by Brandy Courtade on Apr 20, 2012

Microsoft Virtualization More User Friendly

Microsoft virtualization products just got a boost through the announcement of two new beta-phase products to complement the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP). An update was announced for their Application Virtualization (App-V), taking it to its next major version, 5.0. ...

an article by Bob Prince Alo on Apr 19, 2012

Windows 8 Ultrabooks: Microsoft Lends a Hand

Microsoft has never been a hardware company. After all, software is right there in its name. But the Redmond giant is taking an active hand in ultrabook design. Its apparent objective? To ensure that Windows 8 ultrabooks get the most ...

an article by Rick Robinson on Apr 19, 2012

IBM Says Mainframe Technology Still Relevant; Others Disagree

In an age when many enterprises are looking to the cloud for data storage, IBM is attempting to revitalize the flailing image of mainframe technology. The company has had a long run with the technology system, jump starting the mainframe ...

an article by Megan Mostyn-Brown on Apr 19, 2012

Red Hat Enterprise Linux plus IBM Hardware equals Performance Computing

Red Hat, Inc. is the clear leader in the Linux market. It has the strongest, commercially supported Linux distribution and ...

an article by Kenneth Hess on Apr 18, 2012

IBM PureSystem: An Integrated Approach to Virtualization

Big Blue has made elegance and integration its pitch in offering IBM PureSystem, its entry into the hotly contested virtualization derby. Whoever wins this particular race, the race itself is a subtle reminder that "virtualization" and "cloud," though closely related, ...

an article by Rick Robinson on Apr 16, 2012

VMWare Adoption Rising Even as CFO Moves On

Virtualization leader VMware has long enjoyed top spot in their niche of the technology marketplace, but there's now evidence to suggest that other companies--Citrix, Microsoft and IBM, to name a few--are closing the gap. Despite slightly lower stock prices in ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Apr 16, 2012

Virtualization Battle Sees Next Genertaion of Competitors

Shared hardware has become old hat for most midsized businesses, whether it's used to collaborate with partners, analyze big data or to power mission-critical applications. Providers like VMWare, Citrix, and Oracle have all managed to hold their own in the ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Apr 16, 2012

Microsoft, a Linux Contributor? How the World Has Changed

Microsoft has become an important contributor to Linux development. The new relationship is a far cry from the days when Microsoft denounced the open source operating system. And the alliance may be short-lived: Microsoft's contributions were aimed at permitting its ...

an article by Rick Robinson on Apr 10, 2012

BYOD Costs and Benefits Now in Question

"Bring your own device" (BYOD) has been slowly gaining popularity in the workplace over the past few years. The concept here is that businesses, especially midsized ones with limited resources, would benefit in both cost savings and productivity by allowing ...

an article by Shawn Drew on Apr 10, 2012

Oracle and Google Take It to the Mat

The dispute between Oracle and Google over the use of the Java language in Android devices is now headed to a courtroom trial. A judge ordered the trial after all efforts to reach an out-of-court settlement failed.At issue is a ...

an article by Rick Robinson on Apr 9, 2012

Citrix Drops OpenStack for New Apache Bedfellows

Citrix knows that in order to compete in the evolving technology market, effective cloud deployment and virtualization options are key. Last year, the company acquired Cloud.com and began work on its CloudStack platform, meant to compete directly with Amazon Web ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Apr 6, 2012

White House Big Data Plan Has a High Financial Cost

The Obama administration announced plans to invest upwards of $200 million to sift through and organize their large volumes of digital data. This White House big data plan, known officially as the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy's ...

an article by Megan Mostyn-Brown on Apr 6, 2012

List of 2012 Virtualization Trends Released: Virtual Servers Doing More Than Ever

Virtualization has in large part become old hat for even small and midsized businesses, something ordinary rather than buzz-worthy. As newer versions of off-site technology move into the spotlight, the virtualization market is maturing, offering more robust options to midsized ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Mar 29, 2012

Server Consolidation and Virtualization for Mid-sized Businesses

To engage in a server consolidation project, means that you have something in mind for your business through cost savings, ...

an article by Kenneth Hess on Mar 29, 2012

Spectrum Crisis: FCC Feels Pressure of Looming Broadband Shortage

Anyone living in a densely populated area has experienced a sudden lack of cell phone signal. Many people curse their wireless providers as the root of the problem, but is the culprit actually the ever-looming spectrum crisis?The fear of a ...

an article by Megan Mostyn-Brown on Mar 28, 2012

iPads Starting to Make Inroads Among Business PC Users

While the release of Apple's new iPad is making waves in consumer media, the next iteration of this popular device is of less importance for midsized business IT--for now. Recent survey data indicates that tablets, and iPads specifically, are finally ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Mar 28, 2012

Intel Steps Into the Mobile Computing Market

IT professionals who are looking for alternatives to the iPad should be glad to hear that a new competitor is entering the fray. After dominating the desktop, laptop, and server industry alongside AMD for the past decade, Intel is now ...

an article by Petra Jorgenson on Mar 27, 2012

Is the Personal Computer in Danger of Becoming Obsolete?

For decades now, the personal computer has been most consumers' device of choice. From personal finances to business spreadsheets, most people wouldn't be able to get through the day without the use of one. But is that all about to ...

an article by Megan Mostyn-Brown on Mar 26, 2012

Desktop Virtualization Challenges Microsoft Licensing

The same economic and organizational factors that make companies place their data in the cloud are leading them toward desktop virtualization. Remotely hosted desktops that are accessible from anywhere and from any device can be less costly and more flexible ...

an article by Bert Markgraf on Mar 26, 2012

Paravirtualization Next Step for Tech Giants in Convincing Business Users

As the competition for IT dollars in the virtualization space heats up, major providers need to do everything they can to stay ahead of the game. New offerings from a range of big-name brands--like Microsoft, Red Hat, and Citrix--are coming ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Mar 23, 2012

Medical Study Shows Tablets Improve Efficiency

Whether or not you're in the medical industry, your IT department may be able to learn how to be more efficient from emergency health care facilities. A recent study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, showed that when residents ...

an article by Victoria Nicks on Mar 23, 2012

Microsoft Touchscreen Nixes Delay Time, While Apple Focuses on Resolution

After a rumor-laden début in San Francisco, it's the new iPad's high-resolution screen that really made a splash. Not to be left out in the cold, Microsoft Applied Science Group Researcher Paul Dietz gave TechCrunch.com a peek at their latest ...

an article by Megan Mostyn-Brown on Mar 23, 2012

Microsoft Gets New Competition in Metro-Style Browser Market

Despite holding the number one spot in the marketshare, according to StatCounter, Microsoft's Internet Explorer isn't always the preferred application among IT professionals. Some computer experts balk at the idea of using IE as a default browser. Google Chrome and ...

an article by Petra Jorgenson on Mar 21, 2012

Delivering Dynamic Web Content via Three-Tier Architecture

Web Application Servers are nothing new in the tech world but many business managers, application developers and systems administrators still ...

an article by Kenneth Hess on Mar 21, 2012

Intel's New Xeon E5 Processor Chips Increase Speed of Virtualization

Chip maker Intel has earned a reputation in the technology industry for creating high performance consumer PC processing chipsets, but the recent release of their Xeon E5 processors are server-specific advancements meant to improve I/O speeds, data movement, and networking. ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Mar 15, 2012

Apple Debuts New iPad: Will Windows Tablets Compete?

The day has finally come. After much anticipation and loads of speculation, Apple finally revealed the iPad 3. At an event in San Francisco, the innovative tech giant gave a blow-by-blow account of the newest incarnation's features. While the last ...

an article by Megan Mostyn-Brown on Mar 13, 2012

Motorola to Integrate VMware Virtualization Into Mobile Devices

Motorola Mobility is capitalizing on the bring-your-own-device (BYOD) movement: In an effort to accommodate its business customers, the smart-phone manufacturer will begin including a virtualization platform with its mobile devices some time in the future. Motorola is following in the ...

an article by Petra Jorgenson on Mar 12, 2012

Patent Trolls: Fighting Back With Crowdsourcing

Battles over patent rights have become a prominent and costly feature of the tech industry landscape. Many are legitimate disputes. One side or the other may have the better claim, but both parties to the legal action are at least ...

an article by Rick Robinson on Mar 12, 2012

Will Google Leave Siri on the Sidelines?

Google is working on Google Assistant, at first appearance a counterpart and rival to Apple's Siri virtual assistant. But Google's real goal is to revitalize search and change how we obtain information. Their goal, of course, is to build a ...

an article by Rick Robinson on Mar 8, 2012

Adobe Tells Linux Users to Switch to Google Chrome for Flash Player Support

Adobe informed its user base this month that it will stop offering stand-alone downloads of Flash Player for the open-source operating system following the release of version 11.2. The software company has recommended its users switch over to Google Chrome ...

an article by Petra Jorgenson on Mar 8, 2012

Enterprise Social Networking Software Receives Lackluster Ratings, Says Study

Enterprise social networking (ESN) software facilitates communication between employees and departments and provides an efficient platform through which coworkers can collaborate and share information. According to a new study from Altimeter Group, however, businesses are failing to recognize the benefits ...

an article by Petra Jorgenson on Mar 7, 2012

Windows 8 on ARM Lacks Certain Features for Businesses

Windows 8 on ARM has just become a little less mysterious. Along with its Windows 8 session at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, and the launch of the Windows 8 Consumer Preview, Microsoft has also released a Windows ...

an article by Megan Mostyn-Brown on Mar 2, 2012

IBM Is Much Closer to Quantum Computing: What Does It All Mean?

According to scientists at IBM, quantum computing, once thought to be decades away from development, could now potentially be right on the horizon. They will be making an announcement today at the American Physical Society in Boston, where Matthias Steffan, ...

an article by Megan Mostyn-Brown on Feb 28, 2012

HP Windows 8 Tablet in Development

Rumor has it Hewlett-Packard is entering the ring and working on developing not just one HP Windows 8 tablet, but two. Though Microsoft has yet to give an official release date for Windows 8, this hasn't stopped HP from trying ...

an article by Megan Mostyn-Brown on Feb 28, 2012

Oracle's Java Patent Challenged by Federal Patent Office

The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a ruling rejecting Oracle's patent of the Java language. The "final office action" by USPTO was one of several related rulings the agency issued relating to the popular programming language. The ...

an article by Rick Robinson on Feb 28, 2012

Microsoft Says Google Bypasses IE Security

Last week, it became known that Google was using a workaround to ignore cookie protection in the Safari browser, which includes the browser on the iPhone, allowing the search company to track web movement without users' consent. Once news of ...

an article by Shawn Drew on Feb 28, 2012

iPhone 5 Release Date Becomes Clearer

A Japanese blog is now claiming that the release of the next generation of the massively popular iPhone will occur this coming fall. While the question is far from resolved, there are some good reasons to think that this information ...

an article by Shawn Drew on Feb 24, 2012

According to Microsoft, Office for iPad is Just a Rumor

It seems the iPad Office app is still just a rumor. After an early morning brouhaha caused by The Daily writer Matt Hickey who claimed to have given a working prototype the test-drive, Microsoft released a statement on The New ...

an article by Megan Mostyn-Brown on Feb 24, 2012

Microsoft and Google Go Head to Head Over Browser Privacy

Last week, news leaked that Google had circumvented privacy settings in Safari, installing cookies to monitor user activities and track browsing habits. In that same week, Ryan Gavin, General Manager of Internet Explorer Business and Marketing, posted a less than ...

an article by Petra Jorgenson on Feb 24, 2012

iPad Office: Closer to the Workplace

An image has been leaked apparently showing Microsoft Office running on an iPad. It could be a boost for the iPad and a bigger one for Microsoft. For IT managers it could be a boost, a headache--or more likely, both.Consumer ...

an article by Rick Robinson on Feb 24, 2012

Will CloudStore Help Wash Away IT Costs?

The U.K. opened the doors to CloudStore, a G-Cloud apps store with over 1,700 applications available. The large library of apps available comes from 258 of the most influential names in the business, including IBM, Microsoft, Google, and HP.Built on ...

an article by Gabriel Knight on Feb 23, 2012

Is Microsoft Office Obsolete or Not?

Does the spread of tablet devices point to the obsolescence of Microsoft Office? Some recent commentary is making this argument. The suggestion is that mobile devices are changing not just where we work but how we work. Physical documents are ...

an article by Rick Robinson on Feb 23, 2012

Linux as an Automation Host

Automation is a perennial technical buzzword among System Administrators (SAs) and in management circles alike. Business owners and managers demand ...

an article by Kenneth Hess on Feb 23, 2012

Google Dart Speaks a New Language

More precisely, Google Dart is a new language. It is a programming language developed by Google, which says that the new language avoids flaws in the widely used JavaScript language.But Google's rivals argue that Dart will only clutter the programming ...

an article by Rick Robinson on Feb 20, 2012

Linux has a Place in the Enterprise

From its meager beginnings as a hobby project to its extreme success among geeks, Linux has survived lawsuits, boycotts and ...

an article by Kenneth Hess on Feb 16, 2012

Microsoft One Step Closer to Tablet Technology

It looks like the race in tablet technology will soon get a new competitor. Microsoft's Windows division president Steve Sinofsky recently debunked some of the mystery surrounding their Windows 8 on ARM technology (WOA), meaning the much debated Windows tablet ...

an article by Megan Mostyn-Brown on Feb 14, 2012

Network Virtualization Solution Pleases Companies and Has Experts Wondering

Nicria, a company focused on changing the current business network model, has come out of what many describe as "stealth mode" to present their new network offering. The Network Virtualization Platform (NVP) developed by the company supposedly brings the "capabilities ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Feb 14, 2012

Raspberry Pi: What Can a $25 Computer Do?

The Raspberry Pi Foundation is set to offer its $25 open board Linux-based computer in a late February release. The bare-bones computer was originally conceived by the foundation as a tool for children worldwide to learn how to program, but ...

an article by Karen Hanna on Feb 10, 2012

Oracle Scores First Big Cloud Acquisition of 2012

While many companies talk a good game about cloud computing, few are willing to put money on it. Software and service giant Oracle, meanwhile, has proven time and again that it is not only on board with cloud computing but ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Feb 10, 2012

EMC Adding VMware Integration to VFCache

EMC is planning a host of enhancements to its newly introduced VFCache flash storage technology during the coming year. Among them are integration with VMware and MLC flash media, along with SSDs and TM1 cards.It all points to on-site virtualization ...

an article by Rick Robinson on Feb 9, 2012

New VMWare Certification Timeline Quickly Shortening for IT Pros

Completion of the VMware Certified Professional (VCP) training program is a badge of honor for many IT professionals in small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Earning the certification and passing the final exam require course work and an excellent knowledge of ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Feb 8, 2012

New Virtualization Benchmark for Red Hat and Solarflare

With a track record of partnerships with tech giants such as IBM, Internet software provider Solarflare is no stranger to setting new benchmarks in the world of virtual computing. Now, alongside Red Hat, the company has set a new virtualization ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Feb 7, 2012

iPad Overtakes HP: Less Than Meets the Eye

HP's leading position in the PC client market has been overtaken by Apple, due mainly to sales of the popular iPad. Expect a spate of stories about the "Death of the PC," and how the future belongs to mobile devices, ...

an article by Rick Robinson on Feb 1, 2012

HP Upgrades DDMA Software to Include Cloud-Mapping Capabilities

Hewlett Packard hasn't exactly been on the leading edge of cloud computing adoption, and while the company now has a business-class cloud infrastructure in place, it's companies like Amazon and VMware that are seeing the most success in the small ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Jan 31, 2012

Apple in the Office: iDevices Moving Into the Enterprise

New research shows that Apple's computers and devices are becoming more and more pervasive in corporate life. While Windows still has a dominating lead, the specifics about which employees are turning toward Apple products could be a big sign of ...

an article by Shawn Drew on Jan 30, 2012

HP to Release webOS as Open Source by September

On July 1, 2011, Hewlett Packard released the TouchPad, its first foray into the competitive world of tablets. The tablet used webOS as its operating system, acquired from Palm in 2010. Unfortunately, the TouchPad wasn't able to keep up with ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Jan 30, 2012

VMware Launches New vCenter Operations and Virtual Marketplace

Cloud provision is now big business, and companies such as Red Hat, Microsoft, and IBM are all starting to offer on-demand solutions for small and midsize businesses (SMBs). At the same time, these providers are attempting to push forward a ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Jan 30, 2012

Tim Cook Predicts Tablet Dominance as Recipe for Business Success

When Apple CEO Tim Cook sat down for the company's quarterly investors' conference call on Jan 24, 2012, he was certain about the future of the technology manufacturer and its place in the market, especially in the area of tablet ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Jan 27, 2012

Intel Not Hit by Hard Drive Supply Issue

Behind the headlines, a story on chipmaker Intel's earnings shows strong sales and demand for the company's data-center servers and the PC client desktop and laptop machines that they serve.The positive result belies expectations that flooding in Thailand, which hit ...

an article by Rick Robinson on Jan 26, 2012

OnLive Desktop Gives iPads the Power of Office

Every day, more studies and reports show that more enterprises, including small and midsize businesses (SMBs), are choosing iPads over Android tablets. At the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES), a new app called OnLive Desktop debuted. Its debut form is ...

an article by Brandy Courtade on Jan 24, 2012

Microsoft Window 8 Keeps Drawing Attention

A positive financial report draws more attention to Microsoft: Windows 8, and what comes beyond. In recent years the much-anticipated "post-PC era" was supposed to leave Microsoft in the dust. It might be able to ride its legacy for a ...

an article by Rick Robinson on Jan 23, 2012

Linux a Big Player in 2012 Virtualization Trends

Linux has long been known for providing not only a range of options for small and midsize businesses (SBMs) with its variety of "flavors," but is often regarded as the OS of choice for companies that want direct control over ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Jan 23, 2012

Microsoft System Center 2012: Release Candidate Out

Microsoft has made available the release candidate version of System Center 2012, a software package used to manage cloud services. The move underlines Microsoft's intention of making itself a player in the cloud environment.More broadly, amid all the hype about ...

an article by Rick Robinson on Jan 20, 2012

Has the World outgrown Commercial UNIX?

When you read articles about cloud computing or Enterprise computing, you rarely see the term ‘UNIX’ anymore. You see plenty ...

an article by Kenneth Hess on Jan 19, 2012

Sony Xperia Ion Makes a Positive Debut at CES

Sony unveiled its newest smartphone, the Sony Xperia Ion, on January 9, 2012 at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. The phone is the company's first under its Ericsson-free label of simply Sony and is also the first ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Jan 13, 2012

Online Sales of Fake Tablets a Growing Concern

As a new flood of tablets make their debut at this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES), OpSec Security has released a new industry snapshot detailing the rise of fake tablets. These devices are appearing on all kinds of e-commerce websites, ...

an article by Shawn Drew on Jan 13, 2012

Microsoft: Big Comeback Year Ahead?

Is Microsoft poised for a big comeback year? The company has scored hits with a couple of recent products, Windows 8 and Windows Phone 7. But perhaps even more to the point, the IT world shows signs of coming back ...

an article by Rick Robinson on Jan 13, 2012

HP Envy 14 Spectre: Life Beyond the Tablet

Hewlett-Packard is getting some buzz out the gate of CES 2012 in Las Vegas for its Envy 14 Spectre laptop. It is being described as a "luxury premium product"--and a challenge to the MacBook Air. But from an IT perspective, ...

an article by Rick Robinson on Jan 12, 2012

Panasonic Toughpad Looks to Expand Tablet Market

The yearly Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas is, as its name implies, focused on the consumer market. However, every year there are a few products demo'ed at CES that seem designed specifically for businesses. This year, one of ...

an article by Shawn Drew on Jan 12, 2012

Google+ Search: Can the Borg Assimilate Social?

Google is now incorporating data from Google+ into personalized search results. It is a push to build the relevance of Google+ and sustain the relevance of search. For IT professionals, Google+ search may mean that keywords still matter and that ...

an article by Rick Robinson on Jan 12, 2012

Multi-Hypervisor Management to Define 2012 Virtualization Growth

Predictions already abound for the state of virtualization in 2012; forecasts call for an increase in virtualized application, infrastructure and platform use for small and midsize businesses (SMBs) of all types. But while companies that supply virtualized technology (Microsoft, VMware, ...

an article by Doug Bonderud on Jan 9, 2012

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