The Internet of Things will change your life
The Internet of Things (IoT) -- you may have heard of it in discussions around wearable devices or perhaps just know it as one of the top technology trends of 2014. If you aren’t familiar with the term, be prepared to hear about it a lot this year.
As much as the Internet of Things has become an extremely hot topic for businesses and consumers alike, there is still a chance that you are unsure how it will impact you personally. While items such as "smart" thermostats and coffee makers sound cool, it’s tough to determine how these products will change the way we live.
How to breathe new life into an old PC [Beginner’s guide]
With today’s rapid pace of technological change and consumer-centric culture it’s easy to throw out your laptop or PC as soon as a shinier, flashier model comes along. The problem is: there’s always a faster, more up-to-date version waiting just around the corner.
However, you can save the environment, and your bank balance, from taking any extra strain by following these tips to get some extra life out of an older computer.
IBM launches new storage software portfolio
Tech giant IBM unveils IBM Spectrum Storage, a new storage software portfolio designed to address data storage inefficiencies. The portfolio is aimed to change the economics of storage with a "layer of intelligent software".
The software creates a "data footprint", which stores data at the optimal cost, thus maximizing performance and security. The Spectrum Storage incorporates more than 700 patents to help users move massive amounts of data fast and easy, from a single dashboard.
Using video games to close the 'engagement gap' in corporate wellness programs
Even though nearly 90 percent of companies offer wellness incentives, more than two-thirds of American adults are overweight or obese. Studies abound on the adverse health effects of excessive sitting; most recently, researchers from Toronto found that sitting more than eight hours per day can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by ninety-one percent, dying of cardiovascular disease by eighteen percent and dying of cancer by seventeen percent.
The silver lining to those bleak statistics is that many of the negative effects of prolonged sitting can be reduced simply by finding ways to move throughout the workday -- for example, a brisk walk around the block during lunch or a few chair squats at your desk. Given sitting’s bad rap -- not to mention longer workdays -- it’s no surprise that companies are striving for more effective ways to incentivize and reward healthy employees to reduce absenteeism and insurance costs.
Why data quality is essential to your analytics strategy
Analytics can be worthless, counterproductive and even harmful when based on data that isn’t high quality. Garbage in, garbage out, as they say. So when Salesforce Analytics Cloud hit the market, vendors rushed to announce plugins that would load high-quality data into the solution.
The painful truth is that without high-quality data, it doesn’t matter how fast or sophisticated the analytics capability is. You simply won’t be able to turn all that data managed by IT into effective business execution.
VAIO makes a comeback with two new hybrid laptops
VAIO might not have the market presence it did ten years ago -- especially with the recent sale by Sony -- but it is still an exciting brand to look out for in the laptop market.
The two new hybrid laptops are the first from Japanese Industrial Partners (JIP), the new owners who acquired the VAIO brand late last year.
Security concerns will determine which Internet of Things products come to market
The Internet of things (IoT) will overhaul the way in which we use technology and its proliferation will offer endless advantages from being able to turn on your washing when you are in the office to alerting your doctor that your heart rate has risen.
However, the premise of connecting all things to the Internet carries with it a corollary statement; everything that can be connected to the Internet can be hacked which raises a host of security questions.
How data privacy is turning into an Orwellian maze
The Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) ruling that GCHQ’s access to information intercepted by the NSA breached human rights laws is feeding a growing and increasingly heated global debate regarding the whole issue of digital privacy.
Earlier this month, the tribunal held that the British intelligence and security agency had been in breach of articles 8 and 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, referring to the right to private family life and to freedom of expression. But hard on the heels of the UK ruling came news that the US government is creating a dedicated agency to monitor cybersecurity threats, pooling and analyzing information across a spectrum of risks. The Cyber Threat Intelligence Integration Center (CTIIC)’s mission will be to 'connect the dots' between various sources of intelligence.
Is Apple really worth $1,300,000,000,000? Activist investor Carl Icahn believes so
A major Apple shareholder and activist investor, Carl Icahn, believes Apple is worth much more than it is currently valued.
He believes the American company’s stock should be valued at $216 (£140), which is far more than the current price of $124.92 (£81.32). At $216, the company would be worth $1.3 trillion (£845 billion), which is about the size of South Korea’s gross domestic product, Reuters writes.
Facebook now lets you buy and sell stuff in Groups
Step aside, eBay, Facebook is here. The social media giant announced it’s rolling out new features for Groups, allowing users to buy and sell stuff using Facebook.
People posting in groups on Facebook will now have the option to add whether they're buying or selling a certain item, and include prices and shipping methods.
Google sticks to its guns, will continue to publicly disclose security vulnerabilities
Google risks incurring the wrath of its competitors after announcing it will continue to disclose any security vulnerabilities that are not fixed within 90 days.
The search engine giant’s "Project Zero" identifies high-profile bugs with the aim of creating more secure products for customers everywhere. However, recently the scheme has been criticized as a way for Google to embarrass its technology rivals.
US likely responsible for Iran's cyber warfare know-how
Iran might have learned advanced cyber warfare from the US, recently revealed government documents have shown.
Leaked National Security Agency (NSA) documents published by The Intercept show fears that the American cyberattacks on Iran might have helped that country develop sophisticated cyber tactics and strategies.
Business security and dating apps don't match
People using the same smartphones privately and for work are putting their company’s security at risk, a new study shows.
According to a study by IBM, millions of people are using company smartphones for dating sites and apps, and are exposing themselves -- and their companies to theft, hacking and spying.
Everything-as-a-service: The benefits for businesses and customers [Q&A]
It feels as if everything is turning to a subscription or "... as-a-service" business model. Just last week I was told about an app that offers (and I kid you not) "Laundry-as-a-Service". To help you and I understand the trend and figure out how your business can take advantage of it I got in contact with Louis Hall, CEO of Cerillion.
In this interview Louis and I get to the bottom of how and why businesses can and should take advantage of the subscription model and exactly why it’s become so popular.
The kill switch works! Smartphone theft drops in major US, UK cities
Smartphone theft in some of the major cities in the US and the UK has declined dramatically, so say the authorities.
But it's not because of improved law enforcement, it's actually down to manufacturers implementing a kill switch option, allowing smartphones to be deactivated remotely.
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