Push Becomes Shove In Vendors' Quest To Offer It All

judymottl@optonline.net — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 23:00:00 +0100

If you track IT vendor news daily, you can spot trends that analysts make big bucks writing about before the research report arrives.

One gaining speed is the move by top tech brands to be the 'end all' for the enterprise. Storage makers are expanding services and tools beyond data storage into areas like virtualization; Database players are pushing out 'all-in-one' data infrastructure systems that go way beyond just a database in a box.

Pretty much nothing [...]

What's Needed to Foster Cloud Computing Adoption

judymottl@optonline.net — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Cloud computing is the Pilates movement of the IT industry right now. Everyone, and I mean everyone, is jumping on the bandwagon. That is, everyone who sees a big window of sales opportunity.

HP's rolling out three new software offerings, aimed at telecoms who want to provide Web-based computing and storage environments to SMBs, that promise to make cloud services easier, cheaper and more administrative friendly for providers.

Sun's not left behind either i [...]

D-Day for EU-Oracle showdown

judymottl@optonline.net — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Who wouldn't want to be sitting in the gallery of the court hearing today regarding Oracle's fight to get the European Commission to okay its acquisition of Sun?

I mean dang, Larry Ellison and company will be making their case about how Sun's MySQL database doesn't constitute an anti-trust issue and they'll be presenting some big name clients to back up their contention.

On the other side of the aisle Microsoft is just one of several tech titans poised to [...]

What's your state of security?

judymottl@optonline.net — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 23:00:00 +0100

The most surprising aspect to CA's latest State of the Internet 2009 report, released yesterday, is that it appears insecurity is very much tied to new user online behaviors such as searches, social networking adoption and using Web 2.0 tools.

Those behaviors, along with phony security software come-ons, were the top security threats in the first half of the year. Next year brings even more things to worry about, such as 'malvertising' and potential worm invasions [...]

Europe Not Thrilled With Sun-Oracle Merger

judymottl@optonline.net — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:00:00 +0100

The Department of Justice gave its kiss of approval, but the European Competition Commission isn't so eager to embrace Oracle taking over Sun Microsystems and said it's concerned about competitive market impact, according to a Reuters story today.

Then the DOJ showed its love for the deal a little more, and questioned the EU's objection statement, which is a bit unprecented, according to the news report. The EU has until January 19 to give its of [...]

The Hiring Realm? What's Reality?

judymottl@optonline.net — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100

I was chatting with a friend who's a high-level IT manager for a large Long Island-based company earlier today and asked him how things were in light of all the recent declarations that the recession is either over or at least some sun is peeking through the cloudy economic skies.

He laughed and said he wasn't sure what sky those people were looking at because his company is still looking to layoff, to trim costs and to save money.

But 'looking' is better than ini [...]

The Need To Review That Wireless Budget

judymottl@optonline.net — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Have you had your morning coffee yet? You might want to finish that first cup before reading some new research from Gartner as you'll want something in your system.

A new study reports 80 percent of companies will overspend on wireless initiatives during the next five years.

Yes, you read that correct--80 percent of enterprises are mismanaging and not keeping a close eye on what wireless and mobility is costing or making time to figure out where cost savings can be gained.

Google's Beta Wave: Want To Try It?

judymottl@optonline.net — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100

I got lucky with an invite this morning to beta play with Google's new Wave, the messaging platform that could transform email into a realm like no other.

It may be 'the' perfect email system for small businesses, and even as a platform for large enterprises for specific collaborative needs.

Basically, instead of sending an email to 5 or 10 or 20 people, you bring those people to the email at Wave, and everyone posts feedback, comment, photos, videos, docs.. real time [...]

The Sidekick Lesson

judymottl@optonline.net — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100

T-Mobile, a wireless carrier already struggling hard to keep up with AT&T, Verizon Wireless, and yes, even Sprint, in the war for subscribers had one unfortunate weekend glitch: a server crash effectively flushed Sidekick users' data down a drain.

And users are mad, according to a PCWorld article, and have every right to be. It's one thing to drop your phone, dislodge the battery and inadvertently clear out all your contact list info, notes, files, music, photos, [...]

Why Green IT Will Require Some Green To Work

judymottl@optonline.net — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100

I'm no expert when it comes to US business policy decision making and the topic of green technology initiatives but I'm trying to keep up and that's why an editorial in the Washington Post today caught my attention.

One of the country's top business leaders and a mastermind VC investor collaborated on an opinion piece on why the US is far behind in green technology.

In short John Doer, a partner with Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, and GE CEO& [...]

Netbooks Surge Forward In Adoption

judymottl@optonline.net — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100

A new study out from DisplaySearch reports 20 percent growth worldwide of netbooks this year--with 33 million shipping--while laptop growth languishes.

While the US and North America market are not leading the charge, as much of the growth will occur in Latin America and Europe/Middle East and Africa, the study illustrates that the mini-computers have a solid niche.

That should make wireless carriers, who are now rolling out netbook plans and programs, very happy given smart [...]

Are Consultants Now A Rare Luxury?

judymottl@optonline.net — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100

In examining the many budget issues that face tech leaders these days, I was wondering where and how consulting services and consultants stood when it comes to IT projects and efforts.

There are the pros and cons, but when every penny is now under scrutiny, and every task must be rationalized, justified and evaluated for investment return, are those extra hands you bring in becoming a luxury item?

Or, is it the reverse? With staffs trimmed, less resources to lean on, are consultan [...]

Are You Seeing A Green Budget Light On The Horizon?

judymottl@optonline.net — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100

A Forrester research report released this week says the US IT sector is at least halfway through the economic rough patch, and that globally, recovery on the tech front isn't too far behind that point as well.

Great news right? After over 18 months of 'the sky is falling' headlines, it's nice to actually read that the tide may be turning.

Here's a bit from the executive summary report:

The very weak Q1 results in both the US and the global market, an [...]

Business Chiefs Aren't The Social Animal They Should Be

judymottl@optonline.net — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100

A new study out shows that a good portion of CEOs aren't using, or benefiting, from all the great social networking tools in play.

According to Reuters this morning, a study from UberCEO.com reveals that just two of today's top 100 company leaders are using some form of social networking and 81 percent didn't even have a Facebook page. Not one used a blog, and just 13 have a LinkedIn profile.

That's despite the fact, as CIOZone reported this week, that social [...]

Players See Big Market For Netbooks, But Will CIOs Bite?

judymottl@optonline.net — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100

This past week saw nearly a half dozen new netbooks hit the market from leading players including HP and Toshiba, with nearly all under $500 and some great 'starter' options in the $300 range.

Vendors seem to be adjusting everything from battery options to displays to processing power to offer up the 'perfect' business accessory and alternative for lugging the laptop to every meeting and through every airport .

But what is the reality today of a com [...]

Bing Has To Have Google A Teeny Bit Worried

judymottl@optonline.net — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Microsoft's Steve Ballmer is barely containing himself in a Reuter's article on how its new Bing search tool is binging Google, at least a litle bit, when it comes to U.S. users.

comScore, an organization that tracks Internet activity, released data yesterday that shows Bing is getting attention.

In late May, Microsoft had 9.1 percent of U.S. Web searches. As of last week it had 12.1. That's a 3 percent spike since it pushed Bing into play the firs [...]

It's A Very Busy Tech Week For Titans

judymottl@optonline.net — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Maybe it's the advent of summer right around the corner, but tech titans are revving up marketing machines this week, pushing out new tools and appliances left and right.

Apple's doing a road show in New York on its latest green MacBook line, announced at its Worldwide Developers Conference this week.

Dell's talking up virtualization and IBM's launching new cloud computing hardware, software and services today.

A New York Times article yesterday detaile [...]

Making Social Networking Useful At Work

judymottl@optonline.net — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100

There's an interesting discussion happening over at the CIO Conversations forum on if, and how, social networks and tools like Twitter can be used for business and what companies need to do when it comes to security, behavior, time management, etc.

Personally, I'm not a huge fan of putting my life out there. I keep my exhibitionism on the low to be frank.

But, on the professional side, I'm a huge advocate as I spend my day trying to find data, people and stories that [...]

What Smartphone Security Now Requires

judymottl@optonline.net — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100

My story today on what's up with smartphone security was due to a release I had received last week from Kasperky Lab Americas on one of their new products.

It got me thinking that handset security is a lurking threat that could be easily ignored until the inevitable bad thing happens. Given the new Apple iPhone 3GS out and Palm's new Pre smartphone now in market it's a great time to assess what, if anything, should be done in smartphone security work.

So I reach [...]

Storage Leaders Rally To Help Staffer Beat Leukemia

judymottl@optonline.net — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100

Storage titans and industry players are rallying around an EMC employee suffering from leukemia and pushing forward to help him find a bone marrow donor.

Storage Strategies analyst Deni Connor detailed the support effort for Nick Glasgow in her newsletter, Storage Alert, from NetworkWorld this week:

EMC, NetApp and Cisco employees rallied last week to help Nick. Steve Duplessie of Enterprise Strategy Group pledged $5,000 to whoever finds a donor for Nick and $5,000 to the don [...]

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