IBM reaches for the cloud with social business tools
IBM has been at the forefront of social business software for a while and today the firm launches its new SmartCloud, a set of cloud-based social business tools aimed at empowering global workforces.
It's aimed at enabling executives such as human resource managers to create communities for new employees to speed up induction time, for example, or sales executives to conduct impromptu video chats with colleagues and share information. By combining social tools and mobile devices in the cloud it aims to help people work more effectively, collaboratively and securely from any location.
Manage your electronic life with doxo
We all have information relating to banks, insurance companies, utilities, retailers and more that we need to keep. But now that we increasingly manage our accounts online how do you cope with saving statements and other important information that you receive electronically?
The online organizer service doxo thinks it has the answer and has added email to the range of information it can collate. The doxo Email Import option automatically imports, organizes and archives all of the emails for key accounts that you receive through your inbox and it works with Gmail, Outlook.com and all the leading mail providers.
Commuters put corporate data at risk on public Wi-Fi
The results of a survey released by GFI Software show that a startling 96.5 percent of respondents use public Wi-Fi networks at least once a week to carry out work related tasks. The survey carried out by Opinion Matters asked 1,000 U.S. office workers with a tablet or smartphone who travel to and from work on a train, bus or subway about where, how and what they use their mobile devices for, and how those mobile devices have impacted the way they work both inside and outside the workplace.
More than one-third (34.2 percent) of those respondents reported they accessed public Wi-Fi at least 20 times a week during their commutes, with some employees saying they connect more than 70 times a week. This activity puts company data and passwords at risk from packet sniffing and other forms of traffic interception.
Apple and Samsung tablet users just want to have fun
Half of all tablet device screen time is spent on entertainment activities, such as playing games, reading books, watching live TV or listening to music and radio, according to a recent end-user survey by research group Gartner.
The other half is divided between communication (26 percent), such as sending emails and visiting social media sites; production activities (15 percent), such as editing videos and writing blogs; and finding information (9 percent), including checking the news and weather and researching products and services.
Taking programming back to the 1980s -- hands on with the FUZE [Review]
Back in the late '70s at the tender age of 19 or so I learned to program in COBOL on a system that used punched cards -- a Sperry UNIVAC for those who care about these things. There was no instant gratification to be had with this method, non-essential (i.e. student) programs were run as overnight batches so you had to submit the cards holding your carefully-crafted code in a cardboard box. You went back the next morning (OK, afternoon) to collect your output which, naturally, came on blue and white striped continuous paper.
The next generation were able to learn the joys and frustrations of writing code in the comfort of their own bedrooms and lounges thanks to home machines that ran BASIC, no longer did it take 24-hours to fix a bug. Today though affordable PCs and off-the-shelf software for just about any purpose mean that everyone can use a computer without having any need to understand what makes it work.
Wrike aims to make online work easier and more productive
California-based project management software provider Wrike has launched a new version of its software with a simplified interface and -- no prizes for guessing -- online collaboration features.
The "Graphite" version of Wrike has a redesigned user interface along with innovative task scheduling and time management. Andrew Filev, Wrike's CEO and founder says, "Simple, clean, and lucid -- these were the key topics of our design discussions while we were working our magic on Wrike Graphite. We wanted to find the perfect balance between our users' habits and a new level of efficiency in day-to-day work, which we tried to implement in every element of the new UI".
BullGuard Identity Protection safeguards your personal data
Where once malware was aimed at disrupting your computer, today it's more likely to be out to steal your personal information and get access to your finances. BullGuard has a track record of guarding against this type of threat with products like Premium Protection 13 its complete security package.
But the company's latest release, BullGuard Identity Protection, is designed to work alongside your existing security suite -- of any brand -- and ensure that your personal information and social networking activities are protected against threats.
Huddle aims to connect workers via the cloud
Content collaboration specialist Huddle has launched its Connected Desktop experience aimed at streamlining team working by linking the desktop with the company's content collaboration system.
Groups of people can work together, editing and saving files from their desktops into a secure cloud. This aids productivity regardless of where workers are located or what type of device they're using. The latest release offers five new capabilities.
Organizations struggle to adapt to the mobile world
As the market gears up for the new iPhone, research from analysts Forrester and mobile engagement company OpenMarket offers some insight into the struggles companies are having to incorporate the use of mobile devices into their business models.
The study of 167 enterprises in the USA, commissioned by OpenMarket, examines how in the era of smartphones, tablets and BYOD, organizations are adapting to the widespread shift to mobile -- both internally and among their customers. It found that 74 percent of businesses surveyed regard mobile as a priority, however, their IT departments are struggling to build and manage mobile solutions using their existing skills and technologies.
The top new gadgets of 2013 and the ones we're still waiting for
With the launch of a new iPhone on the horizon you can almost sense the forming of a queue each time you go past an Apple store. But Apple isn't the only company with new products either already launched or in the pipeline. In fact 2013 has been something of a bumper year for technology releases.
The FinancesOnline website has produced a handy infographic showing this year's stand-out gadgets and those that are still to come. In the smartphone market most of the interest was at the top end. HTC and Sony joined the premium smartphone battle with new products this year with the Google Nexus 5 still to come.
IT professionals need to become 'hunter harvesters'
Chief information officers are increasingly looking at enterprise architecture in order to drive their digital strategy according the latest research by analysts Gartner. The company's 2013 CEO and Senior Executive Survey reveals that 52 percent of respondents said their organizations have a digital strategy.
"Senior business executives are challenging CIOs and their IT organizations to be at the front of digital strategy, identifying innovative new business models and technologies, and getting more business value out of each technology investment," says Marcus Blosch, research vice president. "Enterprise architects can provide unique capabilities to help CIOs develop a new agenda for 'hunting and harvesting' in a digital world".
HyperOffice integrates social collaboration with project management
In recent weeks we've seen social collaboration become the new black as far as business computing is concerned. Gartner has reported growing expectations from social technologies and new product releases from major players have focussed on this sector.
Washington DC-based HyperOffice was an early entrant into this field and its current offering is aimed at SMBs looking for a scalable solution that will grow with the business. As well as social collaboration HyperOffice includes online document and project management, shared calendars and contacts. It also lets you build an intranet, maintain wikis and forums and handle business email as well as offering traditional project planning tools like Gantt charts.
Norton updates its core security products
In time for the release of Windows 8.1, Norton has announced new versions of Norton 360, Norton Internet Security and Norton AntiVirus. In addition to Windows 8.1 compatibility these include some under the skin changes to improve protection, performance and usability.
Gerry Egan, senior director, product management, Symantec says, "According to Symantec research, Web attacks increased 30 percent in 2012, driven by the easy availability of malware toolkits and the high frequency of unpatched vulnerabilities on websites. As a result, consumers can be attacked even when they visit a legitimate website, an attack that puts their devices and personal information at risk. With the latest Norton releases, we are delivering the comprehensive security required to protect today's devices against new and evolving threats, without impacting performance".
Streamline your Office 365 management with 365 Command
If you've ever felt like you needed an easier way to manage your Office 365 installation then you're not alone. Tech Data Corporation and MessageOps have had the same thought and joined forces to offer an easy to use cloud management platform called 365 Command.
The tool offers a fast, accurate and cost-efficient way for solution providers to manage their Office 365 clients. Bharath Natarajan, director of product marketing, TDCloud and software services at Tech Data says, "Available through Tech Data's award-winning Solutions Store, powered by StreamOne, 365 Command will bring profitable success to solution providers' cloud businesses, creating a continual revenue and profit stream".
Vodafone sells its share of Verizon Wireless for $130 billion
Vodafone, the UK-based communications company, has sold its 45 percent share of Verizon Wireless to US telecoms group Verizon Communications in one of the biggest deals in corporate history.
The $130 billion deal was announced yesterday after the close of the London stock market but Vodafone's shares had risen 3.4 percent during the day on the back of rumours that it was going to take place. Around 70 percent of the proceeds will be returned to shareholders in a special bonus payout during the first quarter of 2014. Investors will have a choice of receiving this in cash or Verizon shares. Vodafone chief executive Vittorio Colao describes the payout as being a reward, "for the long term support of our strategy since our initial investment".
Ian's Bio
Ian spent almost 20 years working with computers before he discovered that writing about them was easier than fixing them. Since then he's written for a number of computer magazines and is a former editor of PC Utilities. Follow him on Mastodon
© 1998-2026 BetaNews, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy - Cookie Policy.