Microsoft sets Oct. 31 as stop date for Windows 7 consumer PC sales
Microsoft has set Oct. 31 as the end of sales of new consumer-grade Windows 7 PCs, but for now has left open the do-not-sell-after-this-date for business machines.
For the Bitcoin app builder comes a handy new tool kit from BitPay
Bitcoin developers tired of working with clunky APIs to build their apps have a new option that goes straight to the source.
Aerohive hopes to ride enterprise Wi-Fi to a $75M IPO
Aerohive Networks, a networking vendor that's bullish on the convergence of enterprise wired and wireless LANs, aims to raise US$75 million through an initial public offering.
Intel moves deeper into software with server KVM tool
Intel has released a new tool for remotely managing servers from multiple hardware vendors, though it's having to be careful not to upset partners as it looks to make more money from software.
More retailers, and ballparks, take a swing at location-based data
A growing number of brick-and-mortar businesses, eager to learn more about what goes on inside their walls, are turning to new technology to gather data from people's mobile phones.
Are CIOs losing power?
A new study by Forrester illuminates the changing IT landscape, finding that the share of IT projects primarily or exclusively run by IT department will decline from 55% in 2009 to 47% in 2015.
Wall Street Beat: Confidence in tech sector high despite mixed earnings
Despite some shadows cast by Lenovo and Cisco earnings, IT stocks have had a strong week overall, with Nasdaq tech stocks reaching their highest point since the third quarter of 2000, during the dot-com bust.
How the NIST cybersecurity framework can help secure the enterprise
Now that the National Institute of Standards and Technology has finalized the much-discussed cybersecurity framework, organizations can use it as the guideline for measuring how well their systems are secured.
Can 200 million licenses be wrong? Windows 8 hits major milestone
Windows 8 isn't quite the next Vista after all.
10-Gbit Google Fiber is already real, just not from Google
Google's plan to bring an upgraded, 10-Gbit Google Fiber capability to its existing customers is a terrific idea. It's also one that its rivals have already begun working on, or even already deployed.
Music industry sucks life from subscription services
Music subscription services, such as Pandora and Spotify, are the fastest-growing segment of the music industry, but since they hand over 60% to 70% of their revenue to record labels, they will inevitably fail unless something changes, a new report shows.
Latest tablet theft victim is just 2 years old
High-tech device theft has claimed its latest victim in San Francisco -- and he's just 2 years old.
Computer geeks as loners? Data says otherwise
The typical image of a computer geek is that of a socially clueless loner. Not only single, but can't even get a date.
NSA protest results in tens of thousands of phone calls, emails
Organizers of The Day We Fight Back, a protest Tuesday against U.S. National Security Agency surveillance programs, called the effort a "tremendous success," with nearly 100,000 phone calls made to U.S. lawmakers and 185,000 people signing up to send email blasts to their congressional representatives.
Experts question security used in Target breach
The latest details from the Target breach investigation raises questions as to the security the retailer had in place for third-party vendors accessing its partner portal and billing system.
The Art of Writing in the Age of Algorithms
A Web-based app promises to help you write like Hemingway. But does HemingwayApp, based on an algorithm that analyzes your words using Hemingway's rules on writing, offer a useful service or does it just exploit the Hemingway name?
Google publishes commitments it made to settle EU antitrust case
Google has done what the European Commission declined to do: publish the details of the latest commitments Google made in a bid to settle a long-running antitrust case involving its treatment of rival specialist search services, among other matters.
Are We Too Stupid to Let Watson Make Us Smarter?
IBM's supercomputer is ready to make the leap from analyzing massive data sets to actually helping us make the right decision. But will we be too proud to take Watson's advice?
Ericsson and Ciena join forces on IP and optical networking
Ericsson and Ciena have signed a global agreement to develop joint transport solutions for converged IP and optical networks that also use SDN (software-defined networking) features.
Perspective: Microsoft hedges on Office for iPad, cites 'thoughtful' decisions
'Thoughtful' was the watchword yesterday for Tami Reller, Microsoft's chief of marketing, when she was asked how the company plans to extend its lucrative Office franchise to mobile platforms other than Windows
Third of Internet Explorer users at risk from active attacks
Microsoft late Thursday said that both Internet Explorer 10 and its predecessor, IE9, were under attack by hackers exploiting an unpatched flaw in the browsers.
WifiForward group shows growing competition between carriers and cable operators
Cable operators Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Charter Communications have joined forces and formed WifiForward, an organization that will work to protect existing unlicensed frequencies and get lawmakers to free up more spectrum.
Worm 'TheMoon' infects Linksys routers
A self-replicating program is infecting Linksys routers by exploiting an authentication bypass vulnerability in various models from the vendor's E-Series product line.
Rakuten to buy Internet messaging app Viber for $900 million
Japan's Rakuten will acquire instant messaging and calling app developer Viber Media for US$900 million, the e-commerce giant said Friday, highlighting its moves to penetrate new markets.
Staff at recruitment tool firm Distill join Yahoo
The team at Distill, the developer of a collaborative video interview platform, is joining Yahoo, adding to the number of engineers and other staff from startups that have joined the Internet company.
Attack on US veterans website may have been aimed at military members
A cyberattack against the Veteran of Foreign Wars website, believed to have been initiated in China, may have sought to spy on U.S. military members, security company FireEye said Thursday.
Comcast-Time Warner deal may impact broadband customers
Comcast's proposed acquisition of Time Warner Cable is partly a grab for negotiating power in the fast-changing video content business, but it might affect broadband users, too.
Many big names working on head-mounted gear, Glass display maker says
The Taiwanese company that makes the display used in Google's Glass head-mounted display says it's working with multiple big-name electronics companies on head-mounted gadget products.
Facebook offers more ways to express gender beyond 'male' and 'female'
Facebook, in a move that acknowledges real social issues around gender identity, has updated its site to give people more ways to express their gender.
Hackers circulate thousands of FTP credentials, New York Times among those hit
Hackers are circulating credentials for thousands of FTP sites and appear to have compromised file transfer servers at The New York Times and other organizations, according to a security expert.
Is Microsoft rethinking its decision to build Office for iPad?
In appearances in September and October, Steve Ballmer said Microsoft would build native Office editions for iPads and Android tablets, but the company's marketing chief spoke with much less certainty when asked about this on Thursday.
Verizon jumps into price war with 'More Everything' plan
Verizon Wireless jumped into a growing price war with other national carriers on Thursday by announcing a "More Everything" plan that doubles the data allowance for some customers, including small businesses.
Windows 8 Update: Microsoft wants Windows 8 to get small to run on more devices
Microsoft is aiming to slim down Windows 8 so it fits on smaller devices, the company's top marketing executive says.
AMD's ARM chips not yet HSA compliant, but support is coming
Advanced Micro Devices' first ARM chips code-named Seattle will not initially be compliant with specifications from the HSA Foundation, which can boost overall system performance, but support will be added in future generations of the server chips.
Phil Schiller up again in next round of Apple-Samsung battle
Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller is among the witnesses that lawyers for Samsung plan to call when the two companies return to court in California in late March.
IE10 under attack as hackers exploit zero-day bug
FireEye today said it had discovered that attackers are actively exploiting a new, unpatched vulnerability in Internet Explorer 10.
Ford exec says it doesn't collect or share car location data
A Ford executive told U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) that the automaker does not collect or share location data from cars without the operator's explicit permission.
Consumer groups want government to reject Comcast-Time Warner Cable deal
Antitrust enforcement agencies should reject a proposed US$45.2 billion acquisition of Time Warner Cable by Comcast, because it would give the combined company huge market power in the broadband and cable TV industries, a handful of consumer and digital rights groups said.
Microsoft zaps Skype IM bugs
Microsoft has fixed a variety of bugs that affected people's ability to use Skype's instant messaging feature across different devices.
Will iPads in the Classroom Make the Grade for Students and Teachers?
Santa Barbara Unified School District is rolling out 1,200 iPads to three elementary schools and an alternative high school. Los Angeles Unified School District plans to put iPads in the hands of all 640,000 students. The goal is to improve learning through interactivity. First, school districts need to mitigate costs and get teachers on board.
Federal smartphone kill-switch legislation proposed
Pressure on the cellphone industry to introduce technology that could disable stolen smartphones has intensified with the introduction of proposed federal legislation that would mandate such a system.
HP offers private app catalogs for enterprises
Hewlett-Packard is launching a service that could help organizations better manage their Android and iOS mobile apps on employee-owned devices, supporting the BYOD (bring your own device) trend.
Apple shifts to hardware-first TV strategy with revamped set-top box
Apple is gearing up to launch a revamped Apple TV, but will not push into the television market this year, as many assumed.
Intel wants to be the 'operating system' for big data
Intel is continuing to build out its array of software tools for the Hadoop open-source big data processing framework, with an emphasis on the security and reliability features demanded by large enterprises.
SDN in action: Pertino service lets users turn up a network without buying a switch, router or server
Pertino Networks wants to make accessing networking services just as easy as spinning up and using cloud resources.
Dozens of rogue self-signed SSL certificates used to impersonate high-profile sites
Dozens of self-signed SSL certificates created to impersonate banking, e-commerce and social networking websites have been found on the Web. The certificates don't pose a big threat to browser users, but could be used to launch man-in-the-middle attacks against users of many mobile apps, according to researchers from Internet services firm Netcraft who found the certificates.
Privacy, consumer groups ask court to reject Facebook ads settlement
A coalition of consumer and privacy groups will ask a U.S. court to reject a settlement that allows Facebook to use minors' pictures in advertisements on the site without their parents' consent.
Banks turn to smartphone tech to fight online fraud
To ward off cyber-crooks trying to break into customers' accounts, banks are expanding their security efforts beyond desktops and onto iPhones and other mobile devices.
Smaller Businesses See Big Returns From Social Media
A new study from LinkedIn reports a strong correlation between smaller businesses that are increasing social media spending in areas such as content marketing and lead generation and those achieving what it calls 'hyper growth.'
Vendors shipped 1.9 million smartwatches in 2013
Global smartwatch shipments reached 1.9 million units last year, and Google's Android mobile OS captured a 61 percent market share, according to Strategy Analytics.
EU executive body supports less U.S. influence on Internet
The European Union's executive body has come out in favor of lessening U.S. influence over the Internet infrastructure, a move brought on by revelations of U.S. National Security Agency surveillance of online activity.
Spec standoff: LG G Pro 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Note 3
LG Electronics has launched the G Pro 2, another option for people who want smartphones with supersized screens. To succeed, the device will have to outcompete products like the Galaxy Note 3 from Samsung, and there isn't much to tell the two apart when comparing hardware specs.
7 Enterprise Mobile Security Best Practices
There's no denying the potential for mobile devices to improve efficiencies and lower costs for workers in industries of all types. You also can't deny the potential security vulnerabilities that mobile devices present. These seven tips will help you secure your mobile environment without placing a burden on your workforce.
Comcast buying Time Warner Cable in $45.2 billion all-stock deal
Comcast will acquire Time Warner Cable in a US$45.2 billion all-stock deal, the companies said Thursday.
Tizen OS gets Baidu, ZTE, Softbank and Sprint among 15 new partners
The fledgling Tizen smartphone OS has managed to attract 15 new backers, three of which are big name brands in Asia, including the Chinese search giant Baidu, handset maker ZTE, and Japanese mobile operator SoftBank Mobile.
Scientists achieve nuclear fusion with giant laser
Researchers at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Wednesday said they've achieved a first: A nuclear fusion system has produced more energy than it initially absorbed
No authorisation required for hyperlinks to copyright works, CJEU says
The owner of a website does not require authorisation of the copyright holder to link to freely accessible copyright works on another site, even if Internet users get the impression that the work is appearing on the site that contains the link, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) said Thursday.
LG G Pro 2 has a 5.9-inch screen and shoots video at 120 frames per second
LG Electronics' G Pro 2 has a bigger screen than its predecessor, but improved video and camera features are what the company hopes will make the device stick out from the competition.
Mitsubishi creates a predictive agent to anticipate drivers' needs
Mitsubishi Electric is developing a vehicle assistant system that can anticipate driver needs when controlling things like car navigation systems and stereos.
What ever happened to the 'FIDO Alliance' that was going to revolutionize authentication?
What ever happened to the "FIDO Alliance," that industry group that first showed up a year ago saying it was going to revolutionize e-commerce online authentication by promoting a new multi-factor authentication protocol? Turns out the revolution in security is slow in coming but they're making some progress.
Comcast said to buy Time Warner Cable in over $45B deal
Comcast is expected to announce Thursday that it will acquire Time Warner Cable in an all-stock deal, according to reports.
Acquisitions likely to hit Lenovo's profits in short term
Lenovo reported a 30 percent jump in its net profit for the fourth quarter of last year, with its earnings driven by a record number of devices shipped.
Cisco profit halved as revenue falls
Cisco Systems reported another tough quarter on Wednesday, saying profits in its fiscal second quarter fell by more than half and revenue declined by nearly 8 percent.
Nvidia will shun mainstream phones with Tegra 4i, CEO says
Nvidia isn't interested in the mainstream smartphone market and will focus its Tegra efforts on tablets and high-end "superphones," the company's CEO said Wednesday.
Nokia Lumia Icon on sale Feb. 20 exclusively at Verizon
Verizon Wireless will sell the Nokia Lumia Icon smartphone starting Feb. 20 for $199.99 and a two-year contract.
Senator files lawsuit challenging NSA surveillance
U.S. Senator Rand Paul has delivered on promises to file a lawsuit challenging the U.S. National Security Agency's authority to engage in mass surveillance.
Slack exits beta with its tool for information overload
With information besieging users from all sides and ending up archived -- or not -- in email, cloud storage or simply lurking in social media streams, keeping everything organized can be a chore. A service now out of beta from the co-founder of Flickr claims to have a better way.
New Enterprise Mobile Report Details iOS Dominance, Most Popular Business Apps
The latest version of Good Technology's quarterly Good Mobility Index report suggests that Apple devices remain popular in the enterprise, while companies are developing more mobile apps than ever before.
Chromebooks getting VMware virtual desktop service
VMware will offer virtual desktop services for Google's Chromebooks, allowing them to run Windows applications on the pared-down laptops based on the Chrome OS.
Samsung hints at new UI for upcoming Galaxy S5
Samsung Wednesday dropped a hint that its coming Galaxy S5 smartphone will have an updated user interface, possibly featuring simpler, flatter icons.
Windows Phone's Q4 share stumbles as Nokia's sales slump
Windows' share of the smartphone market fell slightly in the December quarter as the biggest manufacturer supporting Microsoft's OS, Nokia, posted less-than-stellar sales numbers, IDC said today.
Statistics point to increased physical danger risks of cyberterrorism
"Traditional terrorism refers to violent acts that indiscriminately target civilians," says Jon Iadonisi, former Navy SEAL, cyber security expert and co-founder, White Canvas Group. Traditional terrorists are largely interested in achieving or thwarting political or ideological goals in the process. "Cyberterrorism invokes the specific use of computer networks to induce violence against innocent civilians," says Iadonisi.
Robots closer to being able to work together as a team
MIT scientists are writing computer programs that can control large teams of robots or networks of devices with different functions.
Measuring the effectiveness of your security awareness program
As Yogi Berra put it, "If you don't know where you're going, you'll end up someplace else." Do you know where you're going with respect to your privacy and security awareness programs? How will you know when--or if--you get there?
Grande Communications makes big headlines with gigabit Internet service
Grande Communications, a small, regional Texas ISP, is the latest company to offer gigabit-speed Internet to residential customers, beating no less than AT&T and Google to the punch in the city of Austin.
Banks push for tokenization standard to secure credit card payments
A group representing 22 of the world's largest banks is pushing for broad adoption in the U.S. of payment card technology called tokenization, citing shortcomings in the planned migration to the Europay MasterCard Visa smartcard standard over the next two years.
Are Silicon Valley Techies Becoming 'The Man'?
In the good old days, technology types were viewed as likeable geeks, the underdogs everyone could root for. But these days, techies are seen as wealthy elite. How did they become the most despised group of the Valley?
Enterprise SDN use lags service providers'
Enterprise adoption of SDNs is lagging that of service providers due to several factors, primarily the criticality of the network itself.
Denial-of-service vulnerability puts Apache Tomcat servers at risk
Security researchers published a proof-of-concept exploit for a recently disclosed vulnerability that allows attackers to launch denial-of-service attacks against websites hosted on Apache Tomcat servers.
Twitter tests Facebook-like profile page redesign
Twitter is reportedly working to redesign its profile pages, making them more visual, with bigger images, and looking a lot more like social rivals Facebook and Google+.
Mozilla searches for more revenue, taps in-Firefox ads
Mozilla has kicked off a project to show ads to new users of its Firefox browser, a move one analyst said is a search for revenue beyond the firm's overwhelming reliance on Google.
White House pushes cybersecurity framework for critical infrastructure
A new cybersecurity framework released Wednesday by U.S. President Barack Obama's administration aims to help operators of critical infrastructure develop comprehensive cybersecurity programs.
Samsung joins IBM, Google in OpenPower alliance
Samsung has joined the fledgling OpenPower Consortium, an alliance led by IBM to push Power-based chip designs into hardware products such as servers.
Smartphone shipments hit 1 billion in 2013, says IDC
The world's love affair with the smartphone continued unabated in 2013 with consumers snapping up more than 1 billion handsets during the year, according to an IDC estimate published on Wednesday.
Ericsson readies mobile unified communications push
Enterprises will in the future get hosted unified communication services via mobile networks, according to telecom vendor Ericsson, which has developed the underlying platform to make that possible.
SAP user group says members will pull back on IT spending growth this year
While members of the German-speaking SAP User Group (DSAG) say they'll spend more money on SAP software this year compared to 2013, the rate of growth has been cut nearly in half, according to a recent survey.
Five arrested in Dutch hidden online marketplaces crackdown
Five men were arrested on Tuesday for allegedly trafficking drugs and weapons via hidden online marketplaces, the Dutch Public Prosecution Service said Wednesday.
GoGrid wants to be your open source alternative to Amazon's cloud databases
Amazon Web Services is a juggernaut in the infrastructure as a service market, but GoGrid, a midsize IaaS competitor that aims to be the cloud for big data, says it wants to offer an alternative to AWS's platform. And it's hoping to do so through open source databases.
Tip of the Hat: The 'forking' of Android is inevitable
The open source code that made Android a success is started blunting Google's control over mobile platform. Device makers like Amazon and Nokia are modifying -- or forking -- Android's source code to support its apps rather than Google's.
EU politicians pledge net neutrality and data privacy to gain votes
European politicians have pledged to defend net neutrality and data privacy in a bid to get elected.
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