IT Executive news

• Google, Amazon and Wal-Mart join FAA drone task force

  29-10-2015 23:56
  
  Google, Amazon and Wal-Mart have joined the government's task force charged with figuring out a registration and identification system for drones.The companies, all three of which are working on drone delivery systems, are among 25 members that have been asked to formulate recommendations by Nov. 20 on how such a registration system would work and what types of drones should be exempt. Their work will begin with a three-day meeting next week.Unlike aircraft, drones are not subject to any re
  
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• Microsoft to users: You'll download Windows 10, and you'll like it

  29-10-2015 23:31
  Microsoft really wants people to get on the Windows 10 bandwagon, so much so that the company plans to start automatically downloading its new operating system to some users' computers next year.In a new blog post, Microsoft Executive Vice President Terry Myerson said the company plans to push Windows 10 as a recommended update through Windows Update sometime next year, after rolling it out through the service as an optional update "soon." That means those PC users who have applied Microsof
  
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• O Pioneers: 10 enterprise IT firsts

  29-10-2015 23:17
  
  O PioneersImage by Baker County Tourism/FlickrWe think of IT as an essential corporate function today, driven by desire for profits. But computers largely emerged out of government- and university-funded research, much of it initially driven in the 1940s by the effort to win World War II -- in Britain, to break Nazi codes, and in the U.S., to produce artillery firing tables.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
  
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• Facebook revs up a new money machine to tackle emerging markets

  29-10-2015 22:53
  
  Facebook is on an aggressive push to gain users in emerging markets, and on Thursday it began tackling a new task: making money from them.With more than a billion users, the company's footprint already extends to almost every country on Earth, but the Facebook seen by users in one country can be very different from what their neighbors get. That poses a problem for the company.Differences in cellular connection speeds and phones mean that posts, photos or ads loaded in a fraction of a secon
  
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• Harder than herding cats: Networks seek international agreement on new mobile spectrum

  29-10-2015 21:09
  
  Of the three ways carriers might boost the capacity of the mobile networks we increasingly rely on, the one they will try in Geneva next month is probably the hardest.
  Adding extra cells to their networks in order to reuse the same radio frequencies in more places just involves some extra base station hardware -- and permission from a lot of farmers and building owners to erect new antennas.
  Using a more efficient radio protocol to shoehorn more bits per second into the same radio channels also
  
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• LTE can compete with upstart IoT networks, Verizon says

  29-10-2015 21:03
  
  Much of the Internet of Things will run on the same networks that smartphones use, cellular giant Verizon says.Despite the prospect of new networks that reach farther than cells and let IoT devices communicate for years on one battery charge, many of the power-sipping networked objects to be deployed in the coming years will use LTE and future 5G cellular systems, a Verizon executive said in an interview Wednesday.Many legacy IoT devices, also called M2M (machine-to-machine), use 2G or 3G networ
  
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• Microsoft bows to Chrome's dominance, delivers Office Online add-on for browser rival

  29-10-2015 20:40
  
  Bowing to the reality that Google's Chrome has become the world's fastest-growing browser -- and by some accounts, the choice in the enterprise -- Microsoft today launched a Chrome add-on for quickly accessing Office Online apps and their documents.
  The small extension adds an icon to Chrome that when clicked exposes the most recently-edited documents in OneDrive or OneDrive for Business; lets the user create a new document in the browser-based versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote or Sw
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: Today is the scariest day of your project management career

  29-10-2015 20:07
  
  I'm not sure if it is or isn't, but what if it was? What if you had some crazy, unimaginable task or tasks to deal with that you have never been faced with and probably never will again? What would you do? How would you react? Getting bad news, giving bad news, dealing with huge failures or faced with a seemingly no-win situation. I realize they say these are the defining moments of your career and/or your life, but maybe we just feel like turning the other way and running as fast as we can.But
  
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• At GOP debate, Rubio says he’s against H-1B abuses, Trump has memory lapse

  29-10-2015 19:53
  
  In what may have been a first at a presidential debate, GOP candidates hoping to succeed Barack Obamatalked about the H-1B visa Wednesday night. It was largely a missed opportunity.
  CNBC moderators aimed their debate questions about the visa program at Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who is seeking a major H-1B increase, and Donald Trump, the billionaire who's staked out a position critical of the temporary work visa.
  The debate offered Rubio and Trump a chance to contrast their positions. They didn
  
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• Microsoft's new Windows 10 beta build for phones fixes pesky upgrade bug

  29-10-2015 18:11
  People who have been testing the latest beta versions of Microsoft's Windows 10 for smartphones have a new operating system build to play with Thursday. The company began rolling out build 10581 of Windows 10 Mobile to members of the Windows Insider Program's fast ring who are trying out the cutting-edge updates Microsoft has been making available to the public. This build doesn't have anything in the way of new features over its immediate predecessor, but Microsoft general manager Gabe Aul
  
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• iPhone case review: Leathery goodness

  29-10-2015 18:00
  
  While I’m all about encasing my Apple iPhone 6S in the sturdiest, most rubbery protector I can find and afford, I realize others are much more into style.
  Three case makers sent me samples over the past month that all might appeal to the fashionista set, or really just anyone who wants to look good while texting, Web surfing or paying by phone.
  All three iPhone cases are made with leather, so PETA members beware. Danny P. iPhone 6/6S Wallet CaseThis case certainly makes the boldest s
  
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• Hackers infect MySQL servers with malware for DDoS attacks

  29-10-2015 17:51
  
  Hackers are exploiting SQL injection flaws to infect MySQL database servers with a malware program that's used to launch distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.Security researchers from Symantec found MySQL servers in different countries infected with a malware program dubbed Chikdos that has variants for both Windows and Linux.This Trojan is not new and was first documented in 2013 by incident responders from the Polish Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT.PL). At that time the malware
  
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• Google Fiber eyed for three more cities: Oklahoma City, Jacksonville and Tampa

  29-10-2015 17:08
  
  Google's crusade to light up U.S. cities with gigabit speed Google Fiber has expanded to potentially include Oklahoma City and Jacksonville and Tampa, Florida.
  In a blog posted Wednesday, Google said it invited the capital city of Oklahoma and the two Florida cities to "explore" bringing faster fiber to their communities.
  In September, Google also invited San Diego and Irvine, Calif., and Louisville, Ky., to explore bringing Google Fiber to their communities.
  The three latest invitees bring to
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: Nintendo disappoints with first iOS game

  29-10-2015 16:54
  
  Nintendo has taken a very long time to move into the iOS gaming arena. But today the company announced its first iOS game called "Miitomo". And the gaming world responded with a gigantic, collective yawn as disappointment set in for those who had hoped to play Mario, Donkey Kong, or Zelda on their iPhones and iPads. WiredNintendo's first iOS game "Miitomo" isn't what many gamers had hoped to play on their iPads or iPhones. Where are Mario, Zelda and Donkey Kong?To read this article in full or to
  
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• First buyers of Microsoft's Surface Book report freezes, lock-ups

  29-10-2015 16:03
  
  Some owners of Microsoft's new Surface Book have reported that their premium-priced laptop sporadically freezes, requiring a hard reboot to recover control.
  In scores of messages on Microsoft's Surface Book support forum, owners have vented since Monday, when the notebook went on sale at the Redmond, Wash. firm's stores and began appearing on the doorsteps of those who had pre-ordered a system.
  "Got my Surface Book i7, 512GB today. From the start I have had problems with it randomly freezing. N
  
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• Does Oracle have a shot in the IaaS cloud market vs. Amazon and Microsoft?

  29-10-2015 16:03
  
  Less than a week after Hewlett-Packard unceremoniously withdrew from the IaaS public cloud market, another legacy IT stalwart has jumped in.
  In a grandiose display at the company’s OpenWorld conference in San Francisco, Oracle executives, led by czar/Chairman Larry Ellison have made an ambitious, weeklong pitch for the company’s cloud. It stretches across all types of cloud options - from private on-premises IaaS systems, to an elastically scalable public cloud, plus a suite of SaaS
  
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• Facebook helps Tor project to get official recognition for .onion hidden sites

  29-10-2015 16:01
  The dark web got just a little bit brighter thanks to the efforts of Facebook and the Tor project. The pair, with help from many others, has successfully petitioned the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) to designate web addresses ending in “.onion” as special use domain names. The IETF is the standards-setting body for the Internet.
  That may not sound entirely exciting, but its ramifications are important as it makes running a .onion hidden site that much easier. First, the Int
  
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• How CISA encourages both cybersecurity information sharing and warrantless surveillance

  29-10-2015 15:30
  
  Sharing cybersecurity data involving threats, probes, breaches, and information on attackers between companies and government agencies is a great idea. However, although shared data will strengthen the cybersecurity defenses, the Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA), backed by Amazon, Facebook, and Google, among others, and the Business Software Alliance (BSA), which is backed by Apple, Microsoft, and Oracle, are both against it.
  Smart companies are already doing something si
  
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• To get new initiatives done, money talks

  29-10-2015 15:17
  
  For several months now, I have been proactively identifying risks and vulnerabilities within my organization. Some have been easy to fix; I just had to write some new policies, convince our facilities department to issue picture ID badges or replace our firewalls. Others require some heavy lifting. And it can be tough to persuade co-workers to pursue security objectives, especially in a small company with a tiny security staff.Trouble TicketAt issue: Two important security initiatives can&rsquo
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: Should you buy the new Apple TV?

  29-10-2015 15:17
  
  Reviews of the new Apple TV
  The new Apple TV is here and it promises to be the best version yet. The latest iteration of the Apple TV includes its own app store, a new controller with a glass touchpad that can be used for games as well as regular channel surfing, Siri and voice control, and a even a brand new interface.
  The new Apple TV comes with two storage options: 32GB and 64GB. The 32GB version sells for $149 and the 64GB option sells for $199. An HDMI to HDMI cable is sold separately for
  
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• The best new features in Windows Server 2016 (so far)

  29-10-2015 14:10
  
  Microsoft continues to put out Technical Previews of Windows Server 2016 with as-yet-unseen features. The latest Technical Preview, TP3, introduced a number of new features, such as Docker integration and Windows Server Containers, along with improvements to features introduced in previous previews. It also brings new security capabilities such as Shielded VMs, which protect virtual machine contents in a multitenant environment.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click her
  
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• Microsoft Band 2 review: This health-oriented wearable still faces big hurdles

  29-10-2015 14:00
  
  After reviewing the Microsoft Band 2, I’d dub it the Microsoft Zune of wearables: a proudly specialized device that hasn’t yet realized that it’s on the wrong side of history.
  Microsoft clearly took care in designing the sleek, curved interface of its new Band 2 smartwatch. But in the past year, Apple launched the Apple Watch, and Google’s partners iterated on their Android Wear devices. They’re all competent wearables by themselves. But one of their key selling po
  
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• 4 Interview questions for data security analysts

  29-10-2015 13:58
  
  Recent data breaches, like those at Xero, Experian and TalkTalk, are one of the many reasons data security analysts are in high demand.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here(Insider Story)
  
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• It is time for CIOs to shift gears to multi-speed IT

  29-10-2015 13:04
  
  It has been a long time since IT has operated at only one speed to manage the diverse demands of the business. Not long ago many IT organizations began operating in two speeds when leaders recognized the need for greater speed and agility to keep pace with the evolving digital landscape. Now, CIOs must balance a wide range of pressures, from keeping the lights on to collaborating with peers across the business to take advantage of digital’s fast-moving influence while also establishing new
  
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• Surfaces, Steam Machines, and 8K screens: October's hottest new PC hardware

  29-10-2015 12:56
  Here comes the hot new PC hardwareAfter the flurry of new component releases inAugustandSeptemberset the stage—new graphics cards and processors and storage, oh my!—October was the month where the big year-end PC push finally started coming together. There was a flood of fresh PCs announced in the past 30 days in preparation for the crucial holiday season, from a slew of PC makers across virtually all price points.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: Have zombies taken over your IT department?

  29-10-2015 12:53
  
  On a recent trip I had a layover in a major airport.  I had just a few minutes before the next plane started to board.  But I was starving and decided to get something to go from a major food chain in the terminal.I ordered chicken strips and rice to go and started making my way to the gate.While walking to the gate it occurred to me to look in the bag to make sure I had dipping sauce (after all, you MUST have dipping sauce for chicken strips!). I realized there was no sauce, nor
  
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• Google threatens action against Symantec-issued certificates following botched investigation

  29-10-2015 12:28
  Google wants Symantec to disclose all certificates issued by its SSL business going forward, after what Google considers a bodged investigation into how Symantec employees issued SSL certificates for domain names that the company did not own.The browser maker also wants the security firm to publish a detailed analysis of how the incident was investigated.Through its acquisition of Verisign's authentication business unit in 2010, Symantec became one of the largest certificate authorities (CAs) in
  
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• How to work with Windows 10’s Reliability Monitor

  29-10-2015 12:26
  
  Reliability Monitor is a built-in part of Windows that's been around since the introduction of Windows Vista back in January 2007. It's always been a somewhat hidden feature of the Windows operating system, and therefore easy for users and admins alike to overlook. Nevertheless, it's a great tool that provides all kinds of interesting insight into system history and stability (see Figure 1). Reliability Monitor is particularly useful when troubleshooting glitchy systems, and can provide insight
  
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• 5 inspiring snapshots from Grace Hopper 2015

  29-10-2015 12:16
  
  Inspiring snapshots from Grace Hopper 2015Image by ThinkstockThe largest gathering of women technologists was even larger this year, as approximately 12,000 women descended on Houston's George R. Brown Convention Center for the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing, held October 14 to 16. CIO.com was there and here and share the most talked-about events from GHC 2015.The keynotesImage by ThinkstockTo read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
  
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• Popularity of messaging apps continues to skyrocket

  29-10-2015 12:12
  
  It's not uncommon for smartphone users to switch between a handful of apps within just a few minutes to message with different friends, family and colleagues. However, that doesn't mean people prefer this scattered sort of communication. Rather, it's just the way things are, at least for now.
  During the past few years, traditional IM services, such as AIM, and even the most common short messaging format of all, SMS text, have fallen out of favor because services including Snapchat and Facebook'
  
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• Can coding bootcamps replace a computer science degree?

  29-10-2015 12:06
  
  Coding bootcamps are becoming a popular way for anyone interested in learning technical skills to dive into a rigorous course. Whether you want to become a Web developer, software programmer or learn a new coding language, you'll find a bootcamp that suits your needs. And these highly focused and fast-paced courses are changing the way we view accessible education, and giving students a resource outside of the typical four year college.
  Perhaps one of the most appealing aspects of bootcamps is t
  
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• Nietszeggend weerbericht over falende overheidsautomatisering

  29-10-2015 11:40
  Net als bij het Fyra-debacle het vertrek van staatssecratiris Van Mansfeld de enige pleister is op een gapende wond, zo kent ook de controle en bijsturing van grote automatiseringsprojecten bij de rijksoverheid vooralsnog zijn eigen werkelijkheid.Vorige week meldde minister Blok van Wonen en Rijksdienst in een brief... lees meer
  
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• Nintendo smartphone game delayed to March, won't have Mario

  29-10-2015 07:31
  Nintendo will roll out its first smartphone game in March rather than this year as originally planned, delaying the company's plans to cash in on the growing market for games on smartphones.The company's president Tatsumi Kimishima said during an investor presentation that the first game to be released would be Miitomo, which he described as a "friendly conversation starter." It allows users to create their own avatars, called Mii, which will converse with the user and share the information with
  
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• Alphabet's Project Loon balloons to deliver Internet to Indonesia's islands

  29-10-2015 04:12
  Alphabet aims to bring the Internet within the reach of some 100 million people in Indonesia through its Project Loon balloons flying 20 kilometers above the earth.The company said Thursday that the country's top three mobile network operators—Indosat, Telkomsel, and XL Axiata—have agreed to test the balloon-powered LTE Internet connections over Indonesia next year.Project Loon, started in June 2013,  aims to use a network of balloons floating on the edge of space to connect peo
  
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• Samsung sees profits jump on demand for chips and displays

  29-10-2015 01:42
  Samsung Electronics has reported a jump in profit for the last quarter even as competition in the smartphone market remained intense.The company reported sales of 51.7 trillion won (US$45.1 billion) for the quarter, up 9 percent from the same period a year earlier, and net profit of 5.5 trillion won, up 29 percent, Samsung announced Thursday in Korea.The higher sales came largely from strong demand for Samsung's chips and flat-panel displays, which account for more than a third of its total busi
  
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• Smartphones hit second-highest quarter record

  29-10-2015 00:43
  
  Global smartphone shipments reached their second highest level ever for a single quarter in the third quarter of 2015, IDC announced Wednesday.
  Total shipments in the third quarter reached 355.2 million, up 6.8% from 332.6 million in the third quarter of 2014, IDC said.
  The highest quarter ever was the fourth quarter of 2014, which hit 377.6 million units shipped, IDC analyst Ramon Llamas said. "It's interesting we haven't topped that volume yet this year," he said. "Usually the previous year's
  
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• Facebook aims for slow-download empathy with 2G Tuesdays

  29-10-2015 00:42
  
  Facebook wants its employees to understand the pain of a slow, really slow, connection.
  On Tuesdays, Facebook employees can opt in to use a slower mobile Internet connection to give them a better understanding – and a good dose of empathy – for users in emerging markets saddled with slow network speeds.
  Called "2G Tuesdays," the program is set up to ask employees, on their Facebook news feeds, if they want to use the slower connection. Of course, the company still wants its employee
  
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• 15 Apple Watch tips and tricks for watchOS 2

  29-10-2015 00:26
  
  Fun with watchOS 2Apple recently released watchOS 2, a long-awaited software update for the Apple Watch that adds a whole array of interesting functionality to the device. As the number of Apple Watch users continues to grow, it’s time again to highlight some of the cooler and more interesting Apple Watch tips and tricks that you may not be familiar with already. While most are specific to watchOS 2, there are a few oldies but goodies that may have flown underneath your radar.To read this
  
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• Best-dressed techies? Retail startup designs cargo pants and t-shirts for IT

  29-10-2015 00:22
  
  Designed for the tech crowdImage by Ya JoeJeans, cargo pants, hoodies, and vendor t-shirts are the wardrobe staples of the stereotypical tech guy. A new retail startup, Ya Joe, believes there are plenty of IT pros who'd like to move beyond those somewhat sloppy basics but need a little help. Its new line, unveiled today, combines the functionality and comfort of the standbys with a modern, more professional aesthetic.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
  
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• Verizon lights a fire under IoT

  29-10-2015 00:14
  
  The Internet of Things is supposed to reach billions of connected devices in a few years, but that won't happen unless developers and vendors can mount some steep hurdles. On Wednesday, Verizon took steps to clear those away. At an event in San Francisco, the huge U.S. carrier launched ThingSpace, a platform for application development, device management and other tasks required to make IoT offerings a reality. It also laid out plans for a new network core just to handle those connected obj
  
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