Google Apps is probably one of the most (if not the most) recognizable cloud-based platform these days. Universities are starting to use this and replace old email and calendar systems with the help of cloud-solution provider Appirio.
Essentially, Appirio acts as a liaison between Google and the university. (Appirio does work with K-12 schools as well, but there’s a larger focus on higher education as there are more students and faculty/staff with need for email accounts.)
Google provides the applications and charges for the administrative functionality. Most educational institutions subscribe to Gmail and Google Calendar, and collaborative apps (i.e. Google Docs) are more secondary in nature at this point.
Then Appirio steps in to help the university with initial planning, tuning the platform’s architecture,the actual implementation, and training employees about the new capabilities. Ryan Nichols, VP of solution marketing at Appirio, said that a lot of the existing platforms at these schools are “older and brittle…so we have to be more careful about the migration plan.”
One of the reasons why universities are moving to the cloud, particularly with Google Apps, isn’t too revolutionary: the promise of cost reduction. That’s fairly standard at this point.
Nichols also pointed out another reason: students are coming into college with different expectations as they are likely already educated in some sort of cloud collaboration. He also noted what impact this will have on the next generation of the virtual workforce:
One of the things that is really interesting about this shift is the impact this has on the enterprise overtime. We’ve talked about the consumerization of IT and what they’re experiencing in their personal lives is being transmitted to the workforce…
In universities, people are being trained how to work together. That’s at the core of every workplace…They’re going to be able to expect to work in a different way.
As Google Apps is accessible on almost every mobile device, Nichols said, people are going to bring the expectations of working via the cloud to the workforce.
Just as most tech insiders reflected last week at GigaOm’s Structure conference that cloud computing is in its early days still, Appirio is too on this project. However, it is growing rather quickly as at least 10 universities are working with Appirio to adopt Google Apps, including Brown University and New York University.
Nichols acknowledged that “the need is really across the board” when it comes to upgrading this databases and platforms, private schools are making the change in larger numbers as it can be harder for public schools to justify major developments due to budgetary constraints. That goes a bit against the idea that lower costs is one of the driving forces behind cloud adoption, but it still makes sense as cloud usage isn’t as widespread as it will likely be within the next few years.
Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certifications enable professionals to target specific technologies and to distinguish themselves by demonstrating in-depth knowledge and expertise in their specialized technologies. more at http://www.certkingdom.com
Monday, June 27, 2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
Microsoft: Cloud computing won't hurt us
New Microsoft Server & Tools chief makes first public appearance
Cloud computing is widely perceived as a threat to Microsoft, because the maker of Windows and Microsoft Office earns the lion's share of its money selling licenses for packaged software.
But Microsoft's new Server & Tools President, in his first public appearance since taking the top spot, said cloud computing is another opportunity Microsoft can exploit just as it did with the birth of the PC.
Microsoft cloud stumbles: Windows Azure turns 1 in 'anemic' market
"If you look at our history, it's always been about taking an inflection point and being the democratizing force behind," said Satya Nadella, who replaced longtime Microsoft executive Bob Muglia as the Server & Tools chief in February this year.
"At a philosophical level, if you say there is a fundamental change in architecture, we have to embrace it and ride it," Nadella continued, during a 20-minute on-stage discussion Wednesday with Eric Savitz of Forbes at the GigaOM Structure Conference.
Microsoft has always been about "low price and high volume," Nadella also said, making the case that the consumption-based economics of cloud computing fits into Microsoft's sweet spot.
"We're not the ones with high license fees," he said. "I look at this as structurally a very beneficial thing for us. But, sure, we have to innovate."
Windows Azure, Microsoft's platform-as-a-service cloud, opened for business more than a year ago but hasn't gained the adoption seen by Amazon's infrastructure-as-a-service offering or Salesforce's PaaS cloud.
Still, Nadella insisted that Amazon's success can help Microsoft, because Amazon hosts Windows Server instances.
"A good chunk of our Windows business, we do through Amazon," he said.
Going forward, application developers could build services that use Azure for computing and Amazon for storage, and even make calls back to the customer's internal data center, he said.
"My approach would be to partner as broadly as possible with anyone who is in this business," Nadella said.
While Nadella oversees Windows Server and Windows Azure, Microsoft's cloud ambitions extend much further with Office 365, a hosted version of Exchange, SharePoint, Lync and Microsoft Office. Office 365 is set to launch out of beta next week, while its predecessor, the BPOS service, suffered an outage just before Nadella took the stage.
Office 365 isn't Nadella's responsibility, but he was willing to admit something other Microsoft executives try to avoid discussing: Office Web Apps, the online versions of Word, PowerPoint and Excel, are limited.
"They're pretty good, but they're not as good as the Office client is today," Nadella said of Office Web Apps.
Regarding Azure, Nadella pitched Microsoft's ability to offer both public cloud services and the software necessary to build private clouds. The Windows Azure appliance has allowed customers like Fujitsu and eBay to bring Microsoft cloud technology into their own data centers, he said. Fujitsu, for example, turned to the Azure appliance when it came to putting mainframe applications in a cloud service.
Customers often aren't willing to trust all their applications to a cloud vendor, Nadella noted. While a company might host a website on a cloud service, the same company may keep its core billing system in-house. This is due both to performance and security concerns.
Nadella said the industry needs "great encryption technology for anything that is moving over the wire," adding that: "I think security will remain a big topic for the industry at large. But it's not just a cloud issue. It's an issue for anyone with any type of network."
Cloud computing is widely perceived as a threat to Microsoft, because the maker of Windows and Microsoft Office earns the lion's share of its money selling licenses for packaged software.
But Microsoft's new Server & Tools President, in his first public appearance since taking the top spot, said cloud computing is another opportunity Microsoft can exploit just as it did with the birth of the PC.
Microsoft cloud stumbles: Windows Azure turns 1 in 'anemic' market
"If you look at our history, it's always been about taking an inflection point and being the democratizing force behind," said Satya Nadella, who replaced longtime Microsoft executive Bob Muglia as the Server & Tools chief in February this year.
"At a philosophical level, if you say there is a fundamental change in architecture, we have to embrace it and ride it," Nadella continued, during a 20-minute on-stage discussion Wednesday with Eric Savitz of Forbes at the GigaOM Structure Conference.
Microsoft has always been about "low price and high volume," Nadella also said, making the case that the consumption-based economics of cloud computing fits into Microsoft's sweet spot.
"We're not the ones with high license fees," he said. "I look at this as structurally a very beneficial thing for us. But, sure, we have to innovate."
Windows Azure, Microsoft's platform-as-a-service cloud, opened for business more than a year ago but hasn't gained the adoption seen by Amazon's infrastructure-as-a-service offering or Salesforce's PaaS cloud.
Still, Nadella insisted that Amazon's success can help Microsoft, because Amazon hosts Windows Server instances.
"A good chunk of our Windows business, we do through Amazon," he said.
Going forward, application developers could build services that use Azure for computing and Amazon for storage, and even make calls back to the customer's internal data center, he said.
"My approach would be to partner as broadly as possible with anyone who is in this business," Nadella said.
While Nadella oversees Windows Server and Windows Azure, Microsoft's cloud ambitions extend much further with Office 365, a hosted version of Exchange, SharePoint, Lync and Microsoft Office. Office 365 is set to launch out of beta next week, while its predecessor, the BPOS service, suffered an outage just before Nadella took the stage.
Office 365 isn't Nadella's responsibility, but he was willing to admit something other Microsoft executives try to avoid discussing: Office Web Apps, the online versions of Word, PowerPoint and Excel, are limited.
"They're pretty good, but they're not as good as the Office client is today," Nadella said of Office Web Apps.
Regarding Azure, Nadella pitched Microsoft's ability to offer both public cloud services and the software necessary to build private clouds. The Windows Azure appliance has allowed customers like Fujitsu and eBay to bring Microsoft cloud technology into their own data centers, he said. Fujitsu, for example, turned to the Azure appliance when it came to putting mainframe applications in a cloud service.
Customers often aren't willing to trust all their applications to a cloud vendor, Nadella noted. While a company might host a website on a cloud service, the same company may keep its core billing system in-house. This is due both to performance and security concerns.
Nadella said the industry needs "great encryption technology for anything that is moving over the wire," adding that: "I think security will remain a big topic for the industry at large. But it's not just a cloud issue. It's an issue for anyone with any type of network."
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Windows tablet has super-bright outdoor display
Handheld US released an 8.4-inch tablet PC that runs Windows XP Professional on a 1.1GHz Intel Atom Z510 processor. The "Algiz 8" resists shock, dust, and water, has a hot-swappable battery, offers an 1100-nit sunlight-readable display, and operates down to -4 deg.
According to the Rugged PC Review website, which has already published a detailed analysis of the Algiz, the Algiz 8 derives from a design originated by JLT Mobile Computers AB of Sweden. Indeed, the device looks very similar to JLT's JLT8404 and to Roper Mobile Technology's Duros 8404 (right), another tablet that appears to have been based on the same design.
However, the Duros 8404 and original JLT8404 were offered with either a 500GHz AMD Geode LX or a 1.0GHz Intel Celeron M CPU, whereas the newly revised Algiz 8 uses Intel's 1.1GHz Atom Z510. (A test comparing otherwise-similar tablets using these three different processors would make for interesting reading.)
For its part, Handheld claims that use of the Atom CPU has improved "both performance and battery life." The company says the Algiz 8's hot-swappable, 4800mAh battery "lets you continue working all day without recharging," though it doesn't add how many battery swaps are required to achieve this. Handheld also touts a new, optional outdoor-viewable display with an increased brightness rating of more than 1100 nits.
Like its JLT8404 and Duros 8404 cousins, the Algiz 8 is sealed against dust and water to the IP65 standard, and meets MIL-STD-810F standards for resistance to vibration and shock. According to Handheld, the device may be operated from -4 to 122 deg. F (-20 to 50 deg. C), and can withstand four-foot drops onto concrete.
The Algiz 8 is equipped with an 8.4-inch resistive touchscreen display, with 800 x 600 pixel resolution. To the right of the screen, there are membrane keys that toggle power, lock the system, control cursor movement, and may be assigned to various function keys, Handheld says.
The tablet comes with 1GB of DDR memory and a 60GB hard drive, plus a USB port, an RJ45 Ethernet port, and a connector for an optional docking station. Bluetooth 2.0 and 802.11a/b/g wireless networking are also standard, while GPS and a GSM cellular modem are listed as options. The Algiz 8 also includes a built-in microphone and stereo speakers, Handheld says.
Features and specifications listed by Handheld for the Algiz 8 include:
* Processor -- 1.1GHz Atom Z510
* Memory -- 1GB of DDR RAM
* Display -- 8.4-inch resistive touchscreen display with 800 x 600 resolution; optional sunlight-viewable version has 1100-nit brightness rating
* Storage -- Shock-mounted 60GB hard disk drive, or optional flash storage
* Networking -- RJ45 Ethernet (speed n/s)
* Wireless:
o GPS (optional)
o GSM cellular modem (optional)
* Other I/O:
o 1 x USB 2.0
o DC input
* Expansion -- Docking connector
* Power supply -- 480mAh battery, or external power from 9VDC to 21VDC
* Operating temperature -- -20 to 50 deg. C (-4 to 122 deg. F)
* Dimensions -- 10.3 x 7.8 x 1.7 inches (261 x 198mm x 44mm)
* Weight -- 4.2 lbs (1.9kg)
A promotional video for the Algiz 8
Source: Handheld
(click to play)
Further information
Handheld says the Algiz 8 runs Windows XP Professional. Since RMT's Duros 8404 was also said to run Windows XP Tablet Edition, Windows XP Embedded, Windows Vista, and Linux, we'd guess these operating systems could also be installed on the device if desired.
According to the Rugged PC Review website, which has already published a detailed analysis of the Algiz, the Algiz 8 derives from a design originated by JLT Mobile Computers AB of Sweden. Indeed, the device looks very similar to JLT's JLT8404 and to Roper Mobile Technology's Duros 8404 (right), another tablet that appears to have been based on the same design.
However, the Duros 8404 and original JLT8404 were offered with either a 500GHz AMD Geode LX or a 1.0GHz Intel Celeron M CPU, whereas the newly revised Algiz 8 uses Intel's 1.1GHz Atom Z510. (A test comparing otherwise-similar tablets using these three different processors would make for interesting reading.)
For its part, Handheld claims that use of the Atom CPU has improved "both performance and battery life." The company says the Algiz 8's hot-swappable, 4800mAh battery "lets you continue working all day without recharging," though it doesn't add how many battery swaps are required to achieve this. Handheld also touts a new, optional outdoor-viewable display with an increased brightness rating of more than 1100 nits.
Like its JLT8404 and Duros 8404 cousins, the Algiz 8 is sealed against dust and water to the IP65 standard, and meets MIL-STD-810F standards for resistance to vibration and shock. According to Handheld, the device may be operated from -4 to 122 deg. F (-20 to 50 deg. C), and can withstand four-foot drops onto concrete.
The Algiz 8 is equipped with an 8.4-inch resistive touchscreen display, with 800 x 600 pixel resolution. To the right of the screen, there are membrane keys that toggle power, lock the system, control cursor movement, and may be assigned to various function keys, Handheld says.
The tablet comes with 1GB of DDR memory and a 60GB hard drive, plus a USB port, an RJ45 Ethernet port, and a connector for an optional docking station. Bluetooth 2.0 and 802.11a/b/g wireless networking are also standard, while GPS and a GSM cellular modem are listed as options. The Algiz 8 also includes a built-in microphone and stereo speakers, Handheld says.
Features and specifications listed by Handheld for the Algiz 8 include:
* Processor -- 1.1GHz Atom Z510
* Memory -- 1GB of DDR RAM
* Display -- 8.4-inch resistive touchscreen display with 800 x 600 resolution; optional sunlight-viewable version has 1100-nit brightness rating
* Storage -- Shock-mounted 60GB hard disk drive, or optional flash storage
* Networking -- RJ45 Ethernet (speed n/s)
* Wireless:
o GPS (optional)
o GSM cellular modem (optional)
* Other I/O:
o 1 x USB 2.0
o DC input
* Expansion -- Docking connector
* Power supply -- 480mAh battery, or external power from 9VDC to 21VDC
* Operating temperature -- -20 to 50 deg. C (-4 to 122 deg. F)
* Dimensions -- 10.3 x 7.8 x 1.7 inches (261 x 198mm x 44mm)
* Weight -- 4.2 lbs (1.9kg)
A promotional video for the Algiz 8
Source: Handheld
(click to play)
Further information
Handheld says the Algiz 8 runs Windows XP Professional. Since RMT's Duros 8404 was also said to run Windows XP Tablet Edition, Windows XP Embedded, Windows Vista, and Linux, we'd guess these operating systems could also be installed on the device if desired.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Analysts debate cause of slowing PC sales
After record numbers in the fourth quarter of 2010, PC sales slowed considerably in the first quarter of 2011. Analysts are debating whether the primary culprit for this is the rise of the iPad and other tablets, or the fact that a new version of Windows won't be out until at least next year.
Whether the Apple iPad (right) and its competitors are hurting PC sales is, these days, a popular topic for debate. Less debatable is that worldwide PC sales fell 0.3 percent during the first quarter, from last year's 81.6 million during the same quarter to 81.3 million most recently, according to research firm IHS iSuppli.
The dip was made more pronounced by the fact that the quarter followed the "best period ever" for global PC sales, with shipments hitting a quarterly record of 93.1 million units. Three of the top five PC makers reported year-over-year declines, with number-three PC maker Acer -- which has relied heavily on netbook sales -- bearing the brunt of the downturn and suffering what iSuppli calls the most "direct competitive threat from media tablets."
"The increasing momentum of the media-tablet market, led by the iPad, is creating a difficult environment for the PC industry, Matthew Wilkins, an IHS principal analyst, said in a May 24 statement. "IHS believes that the jury is still out on exactly how much tablets are cannibalizing PC sales. However, the rising number of tablet models on the market, along with certain high-profile product launches during the first quarter, caused confusion among consumers as to exactly how to view the tablet platform relative to the PC platform. This contributed to the PC sales decline in the first quarter."
Forrester Research analyst Sarah Rotman Epps -- as well as analysts at the NPD Group -- suggest it's not tablets affecting PC sales so much as Microsoft's Windows release cycle.
"So many consumers bought new PCs when Windows 7 came out, and without a new version of Windows this year, there isnt the same catalyst to buy," Rotman Epps explained in a May 17 blog post. "Forresters data shows that 34 percent of U.S. online consumers report having bought a PC in the past 12 months, and an additional 25 percent bought one 12 to 24 months ago. Tablet owners are actually more likely than U.S. online consumers in general to have recently bought a PC: 44 percent in the past 12 months and 28 percent in the 12 months before that."
Stephen Baker, NPD's vice president of industry analysis, has also argued that the threat to the netbook-slinging Acers of the market isn't tablets.
"The conventional wisdom that says tablet sales are eating into low-priced notebooks is most assuredly incorrect," Baker said in a May 10 report. "The over-$500 segment of the [Microsoft] Windows consumer notebooks market is where PC sales have been impacted the most, with a 25 percent decline from October 2010 to March 2011."
Cannibalization of netbooks, he added, "is actually down by 50 percent among more recent iPad buyers, when compared to early adopter buyers."
Both Baker and Rotman Epps added that, with consumers growing accustomed to truly innovative tablet designs, PC makers would need to push the envelope past what Baker called "good-enough computing."
According to Rotman Epps, one way that market leader HP is looking to do just that is through advances such as ePrinting, which, makes it easier to print from a device, and with CoolSense technology, which automatically senses whether the device is being used on a desk or the user's lap and accordingly adjusts its temperature.
During the quarter, HP retained its title as the top PC vendor, though it posted a 2.1 percent decrease year-over-year. Second-place Dell similarly was down by 1.8 percent, but neither came close to the hit suffered by Acer, with its 20.4 percent fall, from 11.6 million units during the first quarter of 2010 to 9.2 million units during the 2011 first quarter.
Lenovo, following in fourth place, enjoyed a 15.4 percent jump, and fifth-place Toshiba also posted growth of 2.6 percent.
IHS expects growth to return to the market later in the year, and for yearly sales to finish at 373 million units, up from 2010's 345 million. While this would represent a growth of 8 percent, it's still down from the 14 percent growth with which the market concluded 2010.
Whether the Apple iPad (right) and its competitors are hurting PC sales is, these days, a popular topic for debate. Less debatable is that worldwide PC sales fell 0.3 percent during the first quarter, from last year's 81.6 million during the same quarter to 81.3 million most recently, according to research firm IHS iSuppli.
The dip was made more pronounced by the fact that the quarter followed the "best period ever" for global PC sales, with shipments hitting a quarterly record of 93.1 million units. Three of the top five PC makers reported year-over-year declines, with number-three PC maker Acer -- which has relied heavily on netbook sales -- bearing the brunt of the downturn and suffering what iSuppli calls the most "direct competitive threat from media tablets."
"The increasing momentum of the media-tablet market, led by the iPad, is creating a difficult environment for the PC industry, Matthew Wilkins, an IHS principal analyst, said in a May 24 statement. "IHS believes that the jury is still out on exactly how much tablets are cannibalizing PC sales. However, the rising number of tablet models on the market, along with certain high-profile product launches during the first quarter, caused confusion among consumers as to exactly how to view the tablet platform relative to the PC platform. This contributed to the PC sales decline in the first quarter."
Forrester Research analyst Sarah Rotman Epps -- as well as analysts at the NPD Group -- suggest it's not tablets affecting PC sales so much as Microsoft's Windows release cycle.
"So many consumers bought new PCs when Windows 7 came out, and without a new version of Windows this year, there isnt the same catalyst to buy," Rotman Epps explained in a May 17 blog post. "Forresters data shows that 34 percent of U.S. online consumers report having bought a PC in the past 12 months, and an additional 25 percent bought one 12 to 24 months ago. Tablet owners are actually more likely than U.S. online consumers in general to have recently bought a PC: 44 percent in the past 12 months and 28 percent in the 12 months before that."
Stephen Baker, NPD's vice president of industry analysis, has also argued that the threat to the netbook-slinging Acers of the market isn't tablets.
"The conventional wisdom that says tablet sales are eating into low-priced notebooks is most assuredly incorrect," Baker said in a May 10 report. "The over-$500 segment of the [Microsoft] Windows consumer notebooks market is where PC sales have been impacted the most, with a 25 percent decline from October 2010 to March 2011."
Cannibalization of netbooks, he added, "is actually down by 50 percent among more recent iPad buyers, when compared to early adopter buyers."
Both Baker and Rotman Epps added that, with consumers growing accustomed to truly innovative tablet designs, PC makers would need to push the envelope past what Baker called "good-enough computing."
According to Rotman Epps, one way that market leader HP is looking to do just that is through advances such as ePrinting, which, makes it easier to print from a device, and with CoolSense technology, which automatically senses whether the device is being used on a desk or the user's lap and accordingly adjusts its temperature.
During the quarter, HP retained its title as the top PC vendor, though it posted a 2.1 percent decrease year-over-year. Second-place Dell similarly was down by 1.8 percent, but neither came close to the hit suffered by Acer, with its 20.4 percent fall, from 11.6 million units during the first quarter of 2010 to 9.2 million units during the 2011 first quarter.
Lenovo, following in fourth place, enjoyed a 15.4 percent jump, and fifth-place Toshiba also posted growth of 2.6 percent.
IHS expects growth to return to the market later in the year, and for yearly sales to finish at 373 million units, up from 2010's 345 million. While this would represent a growth of 8 percent, it's still down from the 14 percent growth with which the market concluded 2010.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Microsoft clamping down on 'Windows 8' tablet specs?
Microsoft seems keen to keep its manufacturing partners on a tight leash when it comes to tablets, according to a new report by The Wall Street Journal. Redmond would like five chipmakers to pair initially with a single tablet manufacturer, the story claims.
The June 1 article, based on discussions with unnamed "people familiar with the matter," suggests that Microsoft wants five chipmakers to each pair with a single tablet manufacturer. The chip makers include Intel, Advanced Micro Devices, Nvidia, Texas Instruments and Qualcomm, who would eventually be allowed to expand beyond that single partner.
Although the Journal didn't specify, these strictures would presumably be irrelevant to today's crop of x86-based Windows 7 tablets, and instead take effect for the future ARM-based versions of Windows observers are currently calling "Windows 8."
Last month, Renee James, general manager of Intel's software and services group, was quoted as saying Windows 8 would come in alternative versions for four different ARM SoCs. "Each one is a unique stack," she was said by The Register to have charged.
Quoted by the Journal, Microsoft's response to the June 1 report was much the same as it had been to James quote last month: "We are continuing the engineering work with our silicon partners as part of the technology preview we talked about in January, and continue to talk regularly with hardware partners around the world as part of our development process."
As shown last January: A pre-release version of Windows running on ARM
Source: Gizmodo
Microsoft learned some painful lessons in fragmentation from its experiences with Windows Mobile, its previous mobile device franchise.
When it came to Windows Phone 7, its Windows Mobile replacement, Microsoft kept its hardware partners to a strict set of minimum hardware requirements, including a five megapixel camera and 1GHz processor. All Windows Phone devices also share a touch screen and three primary hardware buttons. With that foundation in place, some hardware manufacturers then decided on some additional hardware tweaks to make their devices stand out in the marketplace -- for example, the Dell Venue Pro offers a physical QWERTY keyboard.
Those strict hardware requirements, coupled with Microsofts determination to push out software updates to all devices on a regular basis, were likely meant to signal Redmonds determination to push back hard against Google Android and Apples iOS, which currently rule the consumer mobile device space.
Microsoft is prepping the next version of Windows to work better on the tablet form factor. CEO Steve Ballmer remarked in a speech to the Microsoft Developer Forum in Tokyo that "Windows 8" would appear on "slates, tablets, PCs, a variety of different form factors." Microsoft later attempted to roll back his comments, characterizing them as "a misstatement."center>
A prospective Windows 8 welcome screen
Source: Within Windows(Click to enlarge)
A ribbon-equipped explorer for Windows 8?
Source: Within Windows(Click to enlarge)
However, Steven Sinofsky, president of the Windows and Windows Live division, took to the stage at this Januarys Consumer Electronics Show to describe how the next version of Windows will support SoC (system-on-a-chip) architecture, in particular the ARM-based systems so popular in mobile devices. In April, bloggers Rafael Rivera and Paul Thurrott dissected various features of what they called an early next-Windows build on Riveras Within Windows blog, including elements seemingly geared for a mobile, touch-ready form-factor.
Sinofsky is appearing at this weeks D: All Things Digital Conference (run by The Wall Street Journal's parent company, ironically), where he could reveal some additional Windows-on-a-tablet details.
Microsofts partners seemed willing to play ball when it came to Windows Phones hardware requirements. But will they do the same with tablets?
The Wall Street Journal quotes Acer Corporate President Jim Wong as saying he's concerned about Microsoft's restrictions."The industry does not belong to Microsoft, and it does not belong to Intel," Wong reportedly said at Computex June 1. "It belongs to all participants. They cannot make the decision for all of us. That is the problem."
The June 1 article, based on discussions with unnamed "people familiar with the matter," suggests that Microsoft wants five chipmakers to each pair with a single tablet manufacturer. The chip makers include Intel, Advanced Micro Devices, Nvidia, Texas Instruments and Qualcomm, who would eventually be allowed to expand beyond that single partner.
Although the Journal didn't specify, these strictures would presumably be irrelevant to today's crop of x86-based Windows 7 tablets, and instead take effect for the future ARM-based versions of Windows observers are currently calling "Windows 8."
Last month, Renee James, general manager of Intel's software and services group, was quoted as saying Windows 8 would come in alternative versions for four different ARM SoCs. "Each one is a unique stack," she was said by The Register to have charged.
Quoted by the Journal, Microsoft's response to the June 1 report was much the same as it had been to James quote last month: "We are continuing the engineering work with our silicon partners as part of the technology preview we talked about in January, and continue to talk regularly with hardware partners around the world as part of our development process."
As shown last January: A pre-release version of Windows running on ARM
Source: Gizmodo
Microsoft learned some painful lessons in fragmentation from its experiences with Windows Mobile, its previous mobile device franchise.
When it came to Windows Phone 7, its Windows Mobile replacement, Microsoft kept its hardware partners to a strict set of minimum hardware requirements, including a five megapixel camera and 1GHz processor. All Windows Phone devices also share a touch screen and three primary hardware buttons. With that foundation in place, some hardware manufacturers then decided on some additional hardware tweaks to make their devices stand out in the marketplace -- for example, the Dell Venue Pro offers a physical QWERTY keyboard.
Those strict hardware requirements, coupled with Microsofts determination to push out software updates to all devices on a regular basis, were likely meant to signal Redmonds determination to push back hard against Google Android and Apples iOS, which currently rule the consumer mobile device space.
Microsoft is prepping the next version of Windows to work better on the tablet form factor. CEO Steve Ballmer remarked in a speech to the Microsoft Developer Forum in Tokyo that "Windows 8" would appear on "slates, tablets, PCs, a variety of different form factors." Microsoft later attempted to roll back his comments, characterizing them as "a misstatement."center>
A prospective Windows 8 welcome screen
Source: Within Windows(Click to enlarge)
A ribbon-equipped explorer for Windows 8?
Source: Within Windows(Click to enlarge)
However, Steven Sinofsky, president of the Windows and Windows Live division, took to the stage at this Januarys Consumer Electronics Show to describe how the next version of Windows will support SoC (system-on-a-chip) architecture, in particular the ARM-based systems so popular in mobile devices. In April, bloggers Rafael Rivera and Paul Thurrott dissected various features of what they called an early next-Windows build on Riveras Within Windows blog, including elements seemingly geared for a mobile, touch-ready form-factor.
Sinofsky is appearing at this weeks D: All Things Digital Conference (run by The Wall Street Journal's parent company, ironically), where he could reveal some additional Windows-on-a-tablet details.
Microsofts partners seemed willing to play ball when it came to Windows Phones hardware requirements. But will they do the same with tablets?
The Wall Street Journal quotes Acer Corporate President Jim Wong as saying he's concerned about Microsoft's restrictions."The industry does not belong to Microsoft, and it does not belong to Intel," Wong reportedly said at Computex June 1. "It belongs to all participants. They cannot make the decision for all of us. That is the problem."
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Windows 7 migration: Tips and tricks
Guide covers all the bases of migrating to Windows 7, from expert tips to vendor tools to make it easier.
If you’re like most IT executives, you’re either planning a large-scale migration to Windows 7 or already on your way.
Many enterprises skipped Windows Vista, hoping for something better to come along. They got it in the form of Windows 7. Early adopters have already moved to the updated operating system, with many others planning to follow in 2011 and 2012.
Windows XP is set to sunset in 2014, so large enterprises will be ramping up their implementations this year to get the new operating system in place before then.
Recently, Microsoft claimed that 350 million licenses of Windows 7 had been sold in the product’s first 18 months. But Windows XP still makes up more than half of all operating systems in use worldwide.
Any migration, particularly on a large scale, requires thoughtful planning. In this free PDF guide, Network World has collected some of the IT industry’s best practices. We list tips for migrating Windows applications. We name 11 tools you could use to get started. And we pass along information from Microsoft about desktop virtualization and how to calculate ROI.
If you’re like most IT executives, you’re either planning a large-scale migration to Windows 7 or already on your way.
Many enterprises skipped Windows Vista, hoping for something better to come along. They got it in the form of Windows 7. Early adopters have already moved to the updated operating system, with many others planning to follow in 2011 and 2012.
Windows XP is set to sunset in 2014, so large enterprises will be ramping up their implementations this year to get the new operating system in place before then.
Recently, Microsoft claimed that 350 million licenses of Windows 7 had been sold in the product’s first 18 months. But Windows XP still makes up more than half of all operating systems in use worldwide.
Any migration, particularly on a large scale, requires thoughtful planning. In this free PDF guide, Network World has collected some of the IT industry’s best practices. We list tips for migrating Windows applications. We name 11 tools you could use to get started. And we pass along information from Microsoft about desktop virtualization and how to calculate ROI.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Amazon Tablet to Have Free Streaming Video
Amazon's rumored tablet possibly due out this year will come with free streaming video service and be priced at around $399, according to a report from investment firm Detwiler Fenton.
"It is particularly interesting to note that AMZN is expected to include its movie service for free for an unspecified amount of time to buyers of the device," states the report, spotted Tuesday by CNET. "This is the same movie service AMZN already offers for free to its Prime customers."
The Amazon tablet will reportedly feature a 10-inch color screen and "have a more robust applications processor" than the chip expected to power color Kindle ereaders that Amazon will also reportedly launch by the end of 2011, according to Detwiler Fenton.
The Detwiler Fenton report also corroborates some details reported earlier about the rumored Amazon tablet. It's said to be due out before the end of the year and is codenamed Hollywood.
Reports from Taiwan in early May indicated that Amazon is ordering enough tablet components from Taiwanese manufacturers to assemble up to 800,000 units a month and plans to slash prices for its Kindles when it releases the tablet sometime in the second half of 2011.
Established tiers in the tablet market could shake out more fully in the coming months.
Detwiler Fenton expects low-priced color ereaders to fill a "low-end tablet niche" situated well below the most expensive devices, particularly Apple's iPad. In the middle will be sub-$400 tablets like the rumored Hollywood tablet, the investment house predicted, as pricing pressure builds on companies like Motorola and Research in Motion which make tablets that are similar in price to Apple's but not nearly as popular.
"It is particularly interesting to note that AMZN is expected to include its movie service for free for an unspecified amount of time to buyers of the device," states the report, spotted Tuesday by CNET. "This is the same movie service AMZN already offers for free to its Prime customers."
The Amazon tablet will reportedly feature a 10-inch color screen and "have a more robust applications processor" than the chip expected to power color Kindle ereaders that Amazon will also reportedly launch by the end of 2011, according to Detwiler Fenton.
The Detwiler Fenton report also corroborates some details reported earlier about the rumored Amazon tablet. It's said to be due out before the end of the year and is codenamed Hollywood.
Reports from Taiwan in early May indicated that Amazon is ordering enough tablet components from Taiwanese manufacturers to assemble up to 800,000 units a month and plans to slash prices for its Kindles when it releases the tablet sometime in the second half of 2011.
Established tiers in the tablet market could shake out more fully in the coming months.
Detwiler Fenton expects low-priced color ereaders to fill a "low-end tablet niche" situated well below the most expensive devices, particularly Apple's iPad. In the middle will be sub-$400 tablets like the rumored Hollywood tablet, the investment house predicted, as pricing pressure builds on companies like Motorola and Research in Motion which make tablets that are similar in price to Apple's but not nearly as popular.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Google, Facebook promise new IPv6 services after successful trial
Google leaves IPv6 on for YouTube; Facebook adds IPv6 to developers' site; Yahoo sees 'minimal risk' to IPv6
One day after completing a successful 24-hour trial of IPv6, Facebook, Google and Yahoo said at a joint press conference that they would begin permanently supporting this upgrade to the Internet's main communications protocol on some of their key websites.
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Joined by two content delivery networks -- Akamai and Limelight, which also pledged their commitment to IPv6 deployment -- these popular websites proclaimed the World IPv6 Day trial to be a resounding success. All three companies said they had handled a significant increase in IPv6 traffic on June 8 without suffering serious technical glitches.
IPv6 features an expanded addressing scheme, so it can handle vastly more devices connected directly to the Internet than its predecessor called IPv4. However, IPv6 is not backward compatible with IPv4, which means website operators have to upgrade their network equipment and software to support IPv6 traffic.
DETAILS: No news is good news on World IPv6 Day
Google said it has decided to leave its main YouTube website enabled for IPv6 for the time being. Since 2008, Google has supported IPv6 on separate websites -- such as www.ipv6.google.com -- rather than on its main websites.
"We saw 65% growth in our IPv6 traffic on World IPv6 Day," said Lorenzo Colitti, IPv6 Software Engineer at Google, who pointed out that Google added IPv6 support to several new services including Orkut for the trial. "This event has really been successful in galvanizing the community."
"At Facebook, we saw over 1 million of our users reach us over IPv6," said Don Lee, senior network engineer at Facebook. "There were no technical glitches in this 24-hour period. We were encouraged by the many positive comments on our blog. ... It is really interesting to see how passionate people were about IPv6 around the world MCTS Online Training -
MCITP Online Training ."
Because of the positive results from World IPv6 Day, Facebook has decided to support IPv6 on its Website for developers, which is www.developers.facebook.com.
"We will continue to adapt our entire code base to support IPv6," Lee added. "IPv6 will allow the Internet to continue its amazing development."
BY THE NUMBERS: IPv6 traffic surges at launch of World IPv6 Day
World IPv6 Day was held yesterday and was sponsored by the Internet Society. The event attracted 400-plus corporate, government and university participants that deployed IPv6 on more than 1,000 websites for the day.
Leslie Daigle, chief Internet technology officer for the Internet Society, said World IPv6 Day was designed to motivate service providers, website operators, hardware makers and software suppliers to test-drive IPv6 and to identify any remaining technical issues that need to be resolved with this emerging technology.
"It was perceived to be quite a successful day," Daigle said. "It was an amazing display of cross-industry participation. ... It's an important step in the Internet's progress. We are running out of IPv4 addresses, and IPv6 is definitely the way to move forward to make sure the Internet is a platform for innovation."
One day after completing a successful 24-hour trial of IPv6, Facebook, Google and Yahoo said at a joint press conference that they would begin permanently supporting this upgrade to the Internet's main communications protocol on some of their key websites.
Best Microsoft MCTS Training, Microsoft MCITP Training at certkingdom.comJoined by two content delivery networks -- Akamai and Limelight, which also pledged their commitment to IPv6 deployment -- these popular websites proclaimed the World IPv6 Day trial to be a resounding success. All three companies said they had handled a significant increase in IPv6 traffic on June 8 without suffering serious technical glitches.
IPv6 features an expanded addressing scheme, so it can handle vastly more devices connected directly to the Internet than its predecessor called IPv4. However, IPv6 is not backward compatible with IPv4, which means website operators have to upgrade their network equipment and software to support IPv6 traffic.
DETAILS: No news is good news on World IPv6 Day
Google said it has decided to leave its main YouTube website enabled for IPv6 for the time being. Since 2008, Google has supported IPv6 on separate websites -- such as www.ipv6.google.com -- rather than on its main websites.
"We saw 65% growth in our IPv6 traffic on World IPv6 Day," said Lorenzo Colitti, IPv6 Software Engineer at Google, who pointed out that Google added IPv6 support to several new services including Orkut for the trial. "This event has really been successful in galvanizing the community."
"At Facebook, we saw over 1 million of our users reach us over IPv6," said Don Lee, senior network engineer at Facebook. "There were no technical glitches in this 24-hour period. We were encouraged by the many positive comments on our blog. ... It is really interesting to see how passionate people were about IPv6 around the world MCTS Online Training -
MCITP Online Training ."
Because of the positive results from World IPv6 Day, Facebook has decided to support IPv6 on its Website for developers, which is www.developers.facebook.com.
"We will continue to adapt our entire code base to support IPv6," Lee added. "IPv6 will allow the Internet to continue its amazing development."
BY THE NUMBERS: IPv6 traffic surges at launch of World IPv6 Day
World IPv6 Day was held yesterday and was sponsored by the Internet Society. The event attracted 400-plus corporate, government and university participants that deployed IPv6 on more than 1,000 websites for the day.
Leslie Daigle, chief Internet technology officer for the Internet Society, said World IPv6 Day was designed to motivate service providers, website operators, hardware makers and software suppliers to test-drive IPv6 and to identify any remaining technical issues that need to be resolved with this emerging technology.
"It was perceived to be quite a successful day," Daigle said. "It was an amazing display of cross-industry participation. ... It's an important step in the Internet's progress. We are running out of IPv4 addresses, and IPv6 is definitely the way to move forward to make sure the Internet is a platform for innovation."
Friday, June 10, 2011
Microsoft hopes to draw Android developers to Windows Phone
Microsoft is trying to woo Android application developers, offering them help in porting applications to Windows Phone.
The company has released a Windows Phone API mapping tool for Android developers to help them find their way around the Windows Phone platform. Developers should think of the tool as being like a translation dictionary, Senior Technical Evangelist for Interoperability Jean-Christophe Cimetiere wrote in a blog post.
REVIEW: Developers find a lot to love in Windows Phone 7 Mango
It has also published a white paper, "Windows Phone 7 Guide for Android Application Developers," describing the differences between the two platforms, including the way they handle inactive applications and multitasking.
For Windows Phone to become a success, Microsoft and partners like Nokia have to convince developers to add the operating system to the list of platforms they target.
Android and Apple's iOS are the most popular operating systems among developers, according to a survey by VisionMobile published this week. It found that 67 percent of developers target Android, and 59 percent target iOS.
Windows Phone is the seventh most popular platform, with just 36 percent of developers working on apps for it: More still target Symbian, the OS that Nokia is abandoning in favor of Windows Phone, the survey found, although Symbian's share fell to 38 percent in June from 46 percent a year earlier.
Microsoft has already reached out to iPhone app developers with specific Windows Phone guidance and an API mapping tool for iOS.
This summer, it plans to expand the scope of the API Mapping tools to include the features in Mango, the next major upgrade of Windows Phone.
Enterprise software developers are starting to show an interest in having their applications running across a range of mobile devices. Last week, German company Software AG acquired Metismo, developer of a platform that can convert Java apps to run natively on Android, BlackBerryOS, Windows Phone and webOS.
The company has released a Windows Phone API mapping tool for Android developers to help them find their way around the Windows Phone platform. Developers should think of the tool as being like a translation dictionary, Senior Technical Evangelist for Interoperability Jean-Christophe Cimetiere wrote in a blog post.
REVIEW: Developers find a lot to love in Windows Phone 7 Mango
It has also published a white paper, "Windows Phone 7 Guide for Android Application Developers," describing the differences between the two platforms, including the way they handle inactive applications and multitasking.
For Windows Phone to become a success, Microsoft and partners like Nokia have to convince developers to add the operating system to the list of platforms they target.
Android and Apple's iOS are the most popular operating systems among developers, according to a survey by VisionMobile published this week. It found that 67 percent of developers target Android, and 59 percent target iOS.
Windows Phone is the seventh most popular platform, with just 36 percent of developers working on apps for it: More still target Symbian, the OS that Nokia is abandoning in favor of Windows Phone, the survey found, although Symbian's share fell to 38 percent in June from 46 percent a year earlier.
Microsoft has already reached out to iPhone app developers with specific Windows Phone guidance and an API mapping tool for iOS.
This summer, it plans to expand the scope of the API Mapping tools to include the features in Mango, the next major upgrade of Windows Phone.
Enterprise software developers are starting to show an interest in having their applications running across a range of mobile devices. Last week, German company Software AG acquired Metismo, developer of a platform that can convert Java apps to run natively on Android, BlackBerryOS, Windows Phone and webOS.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Three things you need to know about Apple iCloud
With the unveiling of its iCloud service today, Apple is hoping you’ll like the new MobileMe.
During his keynote presentation at the Worldwide Developer Conference today, Apple CEO Steve Jobs acknowledged that MobileMe, Apple’s previous online media storage locker, was not the company’s “finest hour.” However, he pledged that Apple would more than make up for past shortcomings with the new iCloud service that will store documents, pictures and music within the cloud and automatically push them out to all devices that utilize iCloud. To give you a sense of what implications this new service has for both the consumer and the enterprise world, here are three important things you should know about the iCloud:
One: The iCloud is effectively replacing MobileMe and adding a lot more features
MobileMe was a subscription-based service that synced a user’s contacts, calendars and email across multiple devices. Apple is now integrating all of these functions into iCloud and making them available for free. What’s more it’s adding a host of other features to go with it. Among other things, you’ll get:
More Apple news: Apple iOS 5 cuts iPhone, iPad loose from computers, embraces the cloud
-The iCloud Storage that gives you 5GB of free storage for email, documents and backup. The Storage service also automatically pushes out any updates or changes you make to your documents out to all other devices where they’re stored. So if you save an iCloud document on your Mac, any changes you make to it will automatically be synced to your iPad. Apple says users can pay money to purchase more storage space, although the company has yet to release pricing for that yet.
-The iCloud Photo Stream that wirelessly pushes any pictures you take with your phone or tablet onto all your other devices. Apple says that it will keep all pictures within the cloud for 30 days, which Apple says will leave you “plenty of time” to log onto the iCloud with all your devices to get them synced.
-iTunes in the Cloud lets you sync up all the music you’ve purchased from the iTunes store and push it out to your devices. Apple is also offering iTunes Match, a software program that scans over music in your iTunes Library that you haven’t purchased from the store and tries to find a match for it on its online database of more than 18 million songs. Unlike other iCloud services, however, this one isn’t free and will cost you $25 per year to maintain.
Two: iCloud will indeed impact the enterprise, so get ready for it.
Yes, most of the features mentioned above are geared toward the consumer market rather than the enterprise market. But as we’ve seen over the last few years, workers who have consumer-centric devices will want to have access to work email and data on their iPhones, Droids and Evos as well as their BlackBerrys. So if you’re working in an IT department, now’s a good time to figure out ways to wall off sensitive corporate data from being tossed into the cloud. After all, let’s say that Jimmy the Engineer meant to upload pictures of his kids’ graduation onto the iCloud but also accidentally uploads pictures of his company’s new device prototype onto the iCloud as well. Then if a hacker somehow gets access to Jimmy’s iCloud account, well, it could be bad news.
During his keynote presentation at the Worldwide Developer Conference today, Apple CEO Steve Jobs acknowledged that MobileMe, Apple’s previous online media storage locker, was not the company’s “finest hour.” However, he pledged that Apple would more than make up for past shortcomings with the new iCloud service that will store documents, pictures and music within the cloud and automatically push them out to all devices that utilize iCloud. To give you a sense of what implications this new service has for both the consumer and the enterprise world, here are three important things you should know about the iCloud:
One: The iCloud is effectively replacing MobileMe and adding a lot more features
MobileMe was a subscription-based service that synced a user’s contacts, calendars and email across multiple devices. Apple is now integrating all of these functions into iCloud and making them available for free. What’s more it’s adding a host of other features to go with it. Among other things, you’ll get:
More Apple news: Apple iOS 5 cuts iPhone, iPad loose from computers, embraces the cloud
-The iCloud Storage that gives you 5GB of free storage for email, documents and backup. The Storage service also automatically pushes out any updates or changes you make to your documents out to all other devices where they’re stored. So if you save an iCloud document on your Mac, any changes you make to it will automatically be synced to your iPad. Apple says users can pay money to purchase more storage space, although the company has yet to release pricing for that yet.
-The iCloud Photo Stream that wirelessly pushes any pictures you take with your phone or tablet onto all your other devices. Apple says that it will keep all pictures within the cloud for 30 days, which Apple says will leave you “plenty of time” to log onto the iCloud with all your devices to get them synced.
-iTunes in the Cloud lets you sync up all the music you’ve purchased from the iTunes store and push it out to your devices. Apple is also offering iTunes Match, a software program that scans over music in your iTunes Library that you haven’t purchased from the store and tries to find a match for it on its online database of more than 18 million songs. Unlike other iCloud services, however, this one isn’t free and will cost you $25 per year to maintain.
Two: iCloud will indeed impact the enterprise, so get ready for it.
Yes, most of the features mentioned above are geared toward the consumer market rather than the enterprise market. But as we’ve seen over the last few years, workers who have consumer-centric devices will want to have access to work email and data on their iPhones, Droids and Evos as well as their BlackBerrys. So if you’re working in an IT department, now’s a good time to figure out ways to wall off sensitive corporate data from being tossed into the cloud. After all, let’s say that Jimmy the Engineer meant to upload pictures of his kids’ graduation onto the iCloud but also accidentally uploads pictures of his company’s new device prototype onto the iCloud as well. Then if a hacker somehow gets access to Jimmy’s iCloud account, well, it could be bad news.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Stupid user tricks 5: IT's weakest link
But we were prepped. We were almost grinning, because we were about to be heroes. We told the IT guy that we have virtual images of his servers, that we had their configs registered with a local outfit that will rent us replacement infrastructure until he gets the new stuff on order, so all we need are the backup tapes and we can have him up and running in about a day, maybe less.
Boy, that would have been nice. But we also learned that Mr. IT had gotten tired of going to the second floor to replace backup tapes. After all, that disk array was doing just fine as a backup. So the last tape they had was from four months before the four-post header.
Fallout: Not only did Mr. IT get fired, but the IT team lost the contract -- unfair.
Moral: Do your daily backups, and don't treat your IT infrastructure like a fridge.
Stupid user trick No. 5: Letting mom monkey around with the admin console
Incident: One IT consultant tells tale of yet another hard-learned lesson in proper password management brought to you by that time-honored IT pro, mom.
A small-business client had us install a Small Business Server box for her. She had about 12 people working for her, including her mom, who was doubling as the office manager and her daughter's personal assistant.
We did as we were asked. Everything was set up, tested, and found to be working. We established an admin account on the server and left it with the owner with strict instructions that it's for emergencies when she's on the phone with us only. She, of course, gave the admin account info to her mom to keep someplace safe without passing on the last part of the instructions.
Her mother went exploring and found this thing called Active Directory. Next thing we know, we're getting an angry call from the daughter because our email server was sending strange emails to all her clients and friends. The story: Her mom had figured out how to get into Computers and Users and had been adding everyone in her daughter's address book into AD, along with generating them an internal email address in addition to the one listed in her daughter's rolodex. The system sent everyone a welcome email with an introduction to the "new" network they'd just joined.
Fallout: Apology emails around, consultant fees to delete all those users and set AD right, and palpable tension between daughter and mom.
Moral: Server passwords aren't status symbols. If a person doesn't need one, don't share it.
Stupid user trick No. 6: Paying before planning
Incident: Hubris is no stranger to the world of IT. But when a trumped-up higher-up puts the purchase before the plan, the fallout can mean only one thing -- a derailed career, as one developer recounts.
I worked for an Internet startup back in the late '90s, complete with big-time VC funding and a small DNA kernel of three business whizzes and one techno geek who gleefully grabbed the CTO title.
The startup's goal was to create a Java-based vertical accounting system followed by inventory and sales systems that would eventually comprise a "suite" of offerings. The three kernel guys land a huge bundle of first-round financing and sit down with two "experts" from the vertical to discuss what the initial application should look like and how it should run.
They're in germination meetings for about a week, coming out with huge schematics and wireframes for the first rev. The CTO decided a messaging bus platform is absolutely required and proceeded to do a deal with the leader in that space at the time (name withheld), for -- wait for it -- $5 million.
Boy, that would have been nice. But we also learned that Mr. IT had gotten tired of going to the second floor to replace backup tapes. After all, that disk array was doing just fine as a backup. So the last tape they had was from four months before the four-post header.
Fallout: Not only did Mr. IT get fired, but the IT team lost the contract -- unfair.
Moral: Do your daily backups, and don't treat your IT infrastructure like a fridge.
Stupid user trick No. 5: Letting mom monkey around with the admin console
Incident: One IT consultant tells tale of yet another hard-learned lesson in proper password management brought to you by that time-honored IT pro, mom.
A small-business client had us install a Small Business Server box for her. She had about 12 people working for her, including her mom, who was doubling as the office manager and her daughter's personal assistant.
We did as we were asked. Everything was set up, tested, and found to be working. We established an admin account on the server and left it with the owner with strict instructions that it's for emergencies when she's on the phone with us only. She, of course, gave the admin account info to her mom to keep someplace safe without passing on the last part of the instructions.
Her mother went exploring and found this thing called Active Directory. Next thing we know, we're getting an angry call from the daughter because our email server was sending strange emails to all her clients and friends. The story: Her mom had figured out how to get into Computers and Users and had been adding everyone in her daughter's address book into AD, along with generating them an internal email address in addition to the one listed in her daughter's rolodex. The system sent everyone a welcome email with an introduction to the "new" network they'd just joined.
Fallout: Apology emails around, consultant fees to delete all those users and set AD right, and palpable tension between daughter and mom.
Moral: Server passwords aren't status symbols. If a person doesn't need one, don't share it.
Stupid user trick No. 6: Paying before planning
Incident: Hubris is no stranger to the world of IT. But when a trumped-up higher-up puts the purchase before the plan, the fallout can mean only one thing -- a derailed career, as one developer recounts.
I worked for an Internet startup back in the late '90s, complete with big-time VC funding and a small DNA kernel of three business whizzes and one techno geek who gleefully grabbed the CTO title.
The startup's goal was to create a Java-based vertical accounting system followed by inventory and sales systems that would eventually comprise a "suite" of offerings. The three kernel guys land a huge bundle of first-round financing and sit down with two "experts" from the vertical to discuss what the initial application should look like and how it should run.
They're in germination meetings for about a week, coming out with huge schematics and wireframes for the first rev. The CTO decided a messaging bus platform is absolutely required and proceeded to do a deal with the leader in that space at the time (name withheld), for -- wait for it -- $5 million.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
4G faceoff: ThunderBolt vs. Galaxy
With 4G smartphones hitting the market in a big way, we decided to test a couple of devices to get an overall sense of how 4G compares with 3G, how specific devices perform and how the underlying networks differ.
T-Mobile's data cap embrace leaves Sprint as lone 'unlimited' 4G carrier
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We got our hands on the Verizon Wireless ThunderBolt and the Samsung Galaxy S from T-Mobile. (Sprint was invited to participate, but was unable to provide a device.) Here's what we learned in general about 4G wireless networks (watch a slideshow version of this story):
A quick guide to 4G phones
1. 4G capability on any device will add significant bandwidth if you're in an area with good 4G coverage. However if you stray beyond the 4G coverage area, you revert back to 3G speeds. So, check carefully with any carrier that claims 4G service to make sure it has coverage where you need it.
2. 4G isn't available in every market served by these companies, and even in markets where it is available, it's not everywhere in that market. I conducted this series of tests in northern Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C. I found that locations even a couple of miles apart had significant performance differences depending on where I was in the signal pattern.
In general, you can assume that if you're on or near the edge of a 4G coverage area, your data speeds won't be as fast as they would be in the center of a coverage area.
3. It's also important to know what the limits of these devices are. T-Mobile claims that the top speed of its 4G network is about 21Mbps, theoretically. Verizon Wireless claims about half of that. In actual testing, Verizon consistently delivered test files in about half the time as T-Mobile.
4. It's also worth noting that in spite of the claims by all of the companies, none of these devices, nor their respective networks, is really 4G. The proposed ITU standard for 4G requires a speed of 100Mbps for mobile devices, and that's not available right now to any carrier, anywhere.
5. Both of the 4G smartphones we tested have more in common than they have obvious differences. Both are Android 2.2 devices, they both have most of the standard Android apps pre-loaded, and both feature large screens that are clearly designed for showing video.
Both come with video apps that include a means of downloading and streaming video, and both can use videoconferencing apps so that you can look at whomever you're calling, assuming they have a similar service. Skype's Qik is available for both devices, and they can call each other, most other Android smartphones, as well as iPhones, BlackBerry and Nokia smartphones.
PlayBook plays in WiFi world
Here's the head-to-head comparison:
T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S 4G
The T-Mobile Galaxy S 4G is the next step in T-Mobile's line of Galaxy S smartphones. The company also sells the Samsung Vibrant, which is a similar device that supports 3G speeds. The Galaxy S 4G features a 4-inch AMOLED screen and is powered by a Samsung 1GHz Cortex A8 Hummingbird processor. The device includes two cameras, a 5-megapixel rear camera, and a VGA resolution front camera intended for video chats and little else.
T-Mobile's data cap embrace leaves Sprint as lone 'unlimited' 4G carrier
Best Microsoft MCTS Training, Microsoft MCITP Training at certkingdom.comWe got our hands on the Verizon Wireless ThunderBolt and the Samsung Galaxy S from T-Mobile. (Sprint was invited to participate, but was unable to provide a device.) Here's what we learned in general about 4G wireless networks (watch a slideshow version of this story):
A quick guide to 4G phones
1. 4G capability on any device will add significant bandwidth if you're in an area with good 4G coverage. However if you stray beyond the 4G coverage area, you revert back to 3G speeds. So, check carefully with any carrier that claims 4G service to make sure it has coverage where you need it.
2. 4G isn't available in every market served by these companies, and even in markets where it is available, it's not everywhere in that market. I conducted this series of tests in northern Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C. I found that locations even a couple of miles apart had significant performance differences depending on where I was in the signal pattern.
In general, you can assume that if you're on or near the edge of a 4G coverage area, your data speeds won't be as fast as they would be in the center of a coverage area.
3. It's also important to know what the limits of these devices are. T-Mobile claims that the top speed of its 4G network is about 21Mbps, theoretically. Verizon Wireless claims about half of that. In actual testing, Verizon consistently delivered test files in about half the time as T-Mobile.
4. It's also worth noting that in spite of the claims by all of the companies, none of these devices, nor their respective networks, is really 4G. The proposed ITU standard for 4G requires a speed of 100Mbps for mobile devices, and that's not available right now to any carrier, anywhere.
5. Both of the 4G smartphones we tested have more in common than they have obvious differences. Both are Android 2.2 devices, they both have most of the standard Android apps pre-loaded, and both feature large screens that are clearly designed for showing video.
Both come with video apps that include a means of downloading and streaming video, and both can use videoconferencing apps so that you can look at whomever you're calling, assuming they have a similar service. Skype's Qik is available for both devices, and they can call each other, most other Android smartphones, as well as iPhones, BlackBerry and Nokia smartphones.
PlayBook plays in WiFi world
Here's the head-to-head comparison:
T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S 4G
The T-Mobile Galaxy S 4G is the next step in T-Mobile's line of Galaxy S smartphones. The company also sells the Samsung Vibrant, which is a similar device that supports 3G speeds. The Galaxy S 4G features a 4-inch AMOLED screen and is powered by a Samsung 1GHz Cortex A8 Hummingbird processor. The device includes two cameras, a 5-megapixel rear camera, and a VGA resolution front camera intended for video chats and little else.
Friday, June 3, 2011
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Thursday, June 2, 2011
The Administrator Position Within a Manufacturing Company
The manufacturing company will have a variety of different jobs available and for the job seekers; it is an ideal environment as there can be lots to learn and to experience. All manufacturing companies will have an administration department that deals with all the general office duties.
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An administrator who works within a manufacturing environment will have duties that include taking the production data such as the input and output of materials or components and producing weekly and monthly reports for the department. These reports will prove essential because it will enable the production manager to know the rate of how many products they are producing with the amount of resources put in. It will also enable them to see whether they are working in line of the budget as every resource will have a cost per unit and working towards a lower cost of input will be their main aim.
There are likely to be more than one administrator working within the manufacturing companies as there are probably plenty of different departments that require admin staff. The administrator may also be involved with the general admin tasks such as faxing data, inputting data on to the systems, responding to internal and external e-mails and mail, answering the telephones and assisting other members of staff with their workload.
The administrator may also be involved with monitoring the performance of each member of staff and generating a report for the managers to review. Shift information and holidays taken by employees can also be one of the duties which the administrator would need to compile.
To work within a manufacturing company, the administrator will need to have administration experience beforehand as well as previous experience of working within a manufacturing setting. Report writing skills would be ideal for the role as they may be involved with compiling data and getting reports together. There can be a number of different administrator roles within the manufacturing company such as HR administrators, accounts administrators, sales administrators and so on; anyone looking to work in specific departments should also have the relevant skills in order to apply.
Best Microsoft MCTS Training, Microsoft MCITP Training at certkingdom.comAn administrator who works within a manufacturing environment will have duties that include taking the production data such as the input and output of materials or components and producing weekly and monthly reports for the department. These reports will prove essential because it will enable the production manager to know the rate of how many products they are producing with the amount of resources put in. It will also enable them to see whether they are working in line of the budget as every resource will have a cost per unit and working towards a lower cost of input will be their main aim.
There are likely to be more than one administrator working within the manufacturing companies as there are probably plenty of different departments that require admin staff. The administrator may also be involved with the general admin tasks such as faxing data, inputting data on to the systems, responding to internal and external e-mails and mail, answering the telephones and assisting other members of staff with their workload.
The administrator may also be involved with monitoring the performance of each member of staff and generating a report for the managers to review. Shift information and holidays taken by employees can also be one of the duties which the administrator would need to compile.
To work within a manufacturing company, the administrator will need to have administration experience beforehand as well as previous experience of working within a manufacturing setting. Report writing skills would be ideal for the role as they may be involved with compiling data and getting reports together. There can be a number of different administrator roles within the manufacturing company such as HR administrators, accounts administrators, sales administrators and so on; anyone looking to work in specific departments should also have the relevant skills in order to apply.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Microsoft 70-680 Exam Windows 7 Configuring
The TS: Windows 7, Configuring (70-680) is the primary exam that covers Microsoft MCTS Certification and is one of the required exams for the MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Administrator 7 and MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Support Technician 7 certifications. It also counts as the client requirements for MCTIP: Enterprise Administrator. For those who are seeking the MCITP: Enterprise Administrator, the 70-680 is usually the easiest of the required exams. Therefore, it is usually the first one taken.
The 70-680 exam covers installing, upgrading, and migrating Windows; deploying Windows; installing and troubleshooting drivers; troubleshooting compatibility problems with applications; configuring network settings including the Windows Firewall; managing disks; and recovering Windows in case of a failure or problem. While the 70-680 is a comprehensive exam, it tends to give a little bit more focus on newer technologies introduced or modified in Windows 7.
Exam Details
65 questions (Note: Microsoft does not publish this information and may change the number of exam questions without notice.)
Multiple choice
Passing score 700 out of 1000.
90 minutes
You can take the exam at Prometric.
The complete listing of exam objectives appears on page 2 of this article.
Before you take this MCTS: Windows 7, Configuration exam, you should have either taken or acquired the equivalent knowledge found on the CompTIA A+ and CompTIA Network+ exams. Both of these exams give you the background to understand, install, configure, and troubleshoot computer and network problems and allow you to get the most out of studying for your 70-680 exam.
Compared to the equivalent exams for Windows XP and Windows Vista, the 70-680 covering Windows 7 is a little bit more difficult. You need to understand the material that is covered and apply the knowledge in various scenarios.
For those who may think that they are experienced with Windows, you need to review the objectives to determine if you really know Windows 7. For example, most people who are trying to get a start in Information Technology have installed Windows 7 from the installation DVD, and many people have upgraded Windows Vista to Windows 7. However, unless you work in a corporate environment where you are responsible for
free Microsoft practice tests( deploying Windows 7, most people have not used system images or automatic installation with an answer file.
The 70-680 exam covers installing, upgrading, and migrating Windows; deploying Windows; installing and troubleshooting drivers; troubleshooting compatibility problems with applications; configuring network settings including the Windows Firewall; managing disks; and recovering Windows in case of a failure or problem. While the 70-680 is a comprehensive exam, it tends to give a little bit more focus on newer technologies introduced or modified in Windows 7.
Exam Details
65 questions (Note: Microsoft does not publish this information and may change the number of exam questions without notice.)
Multiple choice
Passing score 700 out of 1000.
90 minutes
You can take the exam at Prometric.
The complete listing of exam objectives appears on page 2 of this article.
Before you take this MCTS: Windows 7, Configuration exam, you should have either taken or acquired the equivalent knowledge found on the CompTIA A+ and CompTIA Network+ exams. Both of these exams give you the background to understand, install, configure, and troubleshoot computer and network problems and allow you to get the most out of studying for your 70-680 exam.
Compared to the equivalent exams for Windows XP and Windows Vista, the 70-680 covering Windows 7 is a little bit more difficult. You need to understand the material that is covered and apply the knowledge in various scenarios.
For those who may think that they are experienced with Windows, you need to review the objectives to determine if you really know Windows 7. For example, most people who are trying to get a start in Information Technology have installed Windows 7 from the installation DVD, and many people have upgraded Windows Vista to Windows 7. However, unless you work in a corporate environment where you are responsible for
free Microsoft practice tests( deploying Windows 7, most people have not used system images or automatic installation with an answer file.
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