IT Executive news

• Digital manufacturing could eliminate warehouses, create on-demand production

  17-05-2016 23:12
  
  ORLANDO, Fla. -- As manufacturing industries go digital, products that were once generated via a set of build plans are now created in digital files that can be exported anywhere in the world.
  When 3D printing is added to that equation, products are no longer produced in anticipation of orders, but on demand, as needed.
  There are, however, existing cultural industry biases -- engineers and designers who are entrenched in conventional manufacturing methods -- that limit the adoption of 3D printi
  
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• John Deere is plowing IoT into its farm equipment

  17-05-2016 22:17
  
  John Deere is taking the Internet of Things out into the field by developing new technologies and embracing existing ones to boost the efficiency of prepping, planting, feeding and harvesting with the goal of improving per-acre crop yields.
  +More on Network World: 10 Internet of Things companies to watch+
  Ron ZinkTo read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
  
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• Microsoft Edge to follow Chrome, Firefox by turning on Web notifications by default

  17-05-2016 22:02
  Beginning with Microsoft’s Anniversary Update this summer, Microsoft Edge browser notifications will be turned on by default, sending a stream of updates to Windows 10 if you opt in.
  The notifications will be sent to the Windows 10 Action Center, where they’ll live alongside updates from Mail and other Windows 10 apps, alerting you that you may need to respond. And they’ll be on by default, Microsoft said Tuesday, though you’ll need to give each site explicit permission
  
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• CDM Smith CIO on how tech can transform construction

  17-05-2016 21:23
  
  LinkedInDave Neitz, CIO of $1.3 billion construction and engineering firm CDM Smith, thinks the time has come for his industry, traditionally a late adopter of technology, to transform itself through digital tech. In a recent interview with executive recruiter and CIO.com blogger Martha Heller, Neitz explained how digital transformation can help solve the United States' trillion dollar infrastructure problem, and protect its cities from cyberattacks. To read this article in full or to leave
  
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• Innovation and the complexity dilemma

  17-05-2016 20:47
  
  Why do some companies struggle to be more innovative? How can a Google or Facebook be so innovative? Complexity is the sand that grinds all innovation to a halt. Watch below and let's discuss. (9 mins)
   To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: Innovation and the complexity dilemma

  17-05-2016 20:47
  
  Why do some companies struggle to be more innovative? How can a Google or Facebook be so innovative? Complexity is the sand that grinds all innovation to a halt. 
  Watch below and let's discuss. (9 mins)
   To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
  
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• SAP seeks to simplify IT with a beefier new version of Hana

  17-05-2016 20:12
  SAP has updated its flagship Hana in-memory computing platform with a raft of new features designed to make IT simpler while giving organizations a better handle on their data.The updates, announced Tuesday at the company's annual Sapphire Now conference in Florida, include a new hybrid data management service in the cloud and a new version of the company's Hana Edge edition for SMBs."We’ve taken an already rock solid platform and further hardened security, enhanced availability, unified t
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: The brand messaging checklist: how to build an effective technology brand

  17-05-2016 19:00
  
  In the world of tech, it can be hard to think long term. After all, your customers aren’t. They are most concerned with the need in front of them — and, oftentimes, the latest and greatest product in the lineup. But the most successful technology marketers don’t rely solely on product feature sets and price points. They invest in the one thing that can shield them from fleeting trends, market fluctuation and technology commoditization: branding.So, What Is Your Brand?
  Your bran
  
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• BrandPost: Big Data Doesn’t Need to Be Scary

  17-05-2016 18:55
  
                  Manufacturing and the pace of the plant floor is moving very quickly. From quality management to on-time delivery, manufacturers have endless amounts of data to track. The incredible growth of manufacturing data has left some manufacturers wondering how they can keep up and extrapolate useful information from big data.                Enterprise resource planning (ERP) in the cloud is the engine that u
  
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• Cybercriminals are increasingly embracing a sophisticated business-model approach

  17-05-2016 18:16
  Cybercriminals can call on an extensive network of specialists for "business" expertise, including people who train and recruit, launder money, and provide escrow services, according to HPE.
  The cybercriminal underground includes people who provide human resources functions, like recruiting and background checks, but also specialists who help market and sell exploit kits and compromised data and others who serve as middlemen in anonymous transactions, says The Business of Hacking whit
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: Your project war stories make great teaching tools

  17-05-2016 18:10
  
  Have you ever completed a big project only to discover you made a mistake and then asked yourself, "Why didn't I ask a few more questions?"Over a career you experience many "war stories" — events that are truly unique, interesting and definitely memorable. You also hear of some that stand out and become etched in memory.A good war story may be a rewarding experience, or it might have been a painful one that really made a point that you will never forget. They often make excellent coaching
  
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• FCC’s ‘relentless regulatory assault’ threatens cable industry

  17-05-2016 17:46
  
  BOSTON -- The head of the leading cable trade group feels like the federal government is trying to pick winners and losers.Michael Powell, president and CEO of NCTA, the organization representing firms like Comcast and Cox in Washington, argues that federal regulators have been pursuing policies that would create a two-tier regulatory regime that favors Internet firms over the telecom providers that deliver broadband and cable access services."What I believe is most troubling is an emerging gove
  
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• Stealthy malware Skimer helps hackers easily steal cash from ATMs

  17-05-2016 17:37
  
  Security researchers have found a new version of a malware program called Skimer that's designed to infect Windows-based ATMs and can be used to steal money and payment card details.Skimer was initially discovered seven years ago, but it is still actively used by cybercriminals and has evolved over time. The latest modification, found by researchers from Kaspersky Lab at the beginning of May, uses new techniques to evade detection.Upon installation, the malware checks if the file system is FAT32
  
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• Cisco retools core routing and switching certification to sharpen focus on SDN, IoT

  17-05-2016 17:00
  
  The role of network engineer is changing as companies undergo digital transformations. To keep pace with the changes, Cisco is refreshing its core routing and switching certification to ensure that certified network pros have the right skills as companies move toward Internet of Things, cloud computing, network programmability and policy-based network management.
  The changes announced today pertain to the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Routing and Switching certification, which is gea
  
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• BrandPost: Easily Customize Your Next Rollout

  17-05-2016 16:35
  Recently, we at PC Connection, Inc. finished migrating to a new warehouse and fulfillment center in Wilmington, OH. This cutting-edge facility has doubled our capacity for shipping and custom configuration, which will not only help us handle orders and complete projects efficiently today, but well into the future. As we place a huge emphasis on customer service and satisfaction, we are pleased to announce this new base of operations.Our Distribution and Configuration Center is nearly 3 football
  
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• BrandPost: The IT Lifecycle and You

  17-05-2016 16:30
  If you had to sum up an entire business-based IT infrastructure definition in a single word, what word that be? Anyone pick “extensive”? I’m sure a few of you picked “costly” or maybe even “outdated.” For me, the word that describes it all is “lifecycle.”Think about that term for a moment. It’s the beginning, the end, and everything in between: end-points, network, production cores, maintenance, upgrades, replacement, planning, decommi
  
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• New Windows 10 Mobile preview adds handy Web features, but kills Wi-Fi Sense

  17-05-2016 16:21
  It’s not a simultaneous release but Microsoft recently rolled out the mobile version of Windows 10 build 14342. The new build comes to Windows Insiders on the Fast ring less than a week after a similarly numbered build rolled out to Insiders’ PCs.
  Build 14342 for mobile isn’t all that different from the PC release we looked at last week. At the top of the change list is the death of Wi-Fi Sense. Microsoft removed the feature from mobile builds just as it did earlier with PCs.
  
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• Using KPIs to measure a project team's effectiveness

  17-05-2016 16:08
  
  Key performance indicators (KPI) serve an essential role as a key measure of how effectively a project has performed in relation to identified, required and agreed-upon strategic objectives. Without KPIs, determining the success of projects and project activities is a guessing game, with no way to quantify goal attainment.The types of KPIs vary, depending on critical success factors (CSF) like industry, product or service, and stakeholder business and operational strategies. Nonetheless, KPIs mu
  
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• BrandPost: Unite Your Organization with EUC

  17-05-2016 15:56
  Today I want to talk to you about your user base. You know, your employees, coworkers, bosses—basically everyone who sits in front of a keyboard at your business. Without them, not a lot would get done. After all, those reports aren’t going to type themselves!A lot goes into making an IT infrastructure work. You can buy the best servers, top-of-the-line switching, ultra-fast wireless—but all that invested money means little if your users can’t get from A to B in seconds
  
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• How 5 IT leaders beat their toughest technical challenges

  17-05-2016 15:29
  
  People who lead large IT organizations don’t have much time to deal with the nitty-gritty technical details of how their systems run. Their priorities are to provide strategic technology leadership, set policies and manage the overall operation. CIOs and other IT leaders also have to work with executives in other departments to make sure IT is providing the services the business needs. But there are times when a technical problem crops up that requires the boss’s attention, and on th
  
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• Is it wrong to use a VPN to skirt streaming restrictions?

  17-05-2016 15:13
  
  If you're a privacy-minded Internet citizen, you may well use a VPN to essentially create a secure and anonymous connection between your browser and the Web.But not everybody likes VPNs. China's repressive government, for instance, hates VPNs and blocks them because it thinks the tech weakens the country's control over the Internet. Netflix, the most popular video streaming service in the world, now uses a similar tactic. Today, Netflix blocks users who try to access the service via a
  
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• BrandPost: IT Pros Rely on These 5 Data Protection and Privacy Tools (and so should you)

  17-05-2016 15:00
  
  Most people understand the importance of securing their devices and data. But experienced computer and networking professionals – like those who work in IT – must understand both the value of data to their company and the multiple dangers that can result from data loss and privacy breaches.Most Acronis True Image users are IT professionals or enthusiasts, so we were curious which tools they use to protect their data and privacy. After talking to hundreds of our customers and reviewin
  
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• Focus on tech and talent to get bi-modal IT right

  17-05-2016 14:38
  
  Digital transformation is top of mind for CIOs nowadays, but striking the perfect bi-modal IT balance between being a digital CIO and being little more than a facilities manager is tough to do. Focusing on how technology and talent can impact both a digital transformation strategy and maintain existing infrastructure is key to succeeding in today's fast-moving business climate.
  Optimize legacy technology
  From a technology standpoint, embracing the Internet of Things (IoT) can help CIOs get a bet
  
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• Microsoft and SAP deepen partnership with Azure and Office integrations

  17-05-2016 14:30
  
  SAP and Microsoft have expanded an existing partnership to offer new products to users of the Azure and Office 365 cloud services, focused on better integrating the two companies' offerings. Azure customers will be able to use SAP HANA in Microsoft's public cloud, expanding the reach of that popular relational database service. SAP is also integrating its services including Fieldglass, Concur and SuccessFactors with Microsoft Office 365, so users can get the benefits of Microsoft's com
  
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• HP begins selling its Jet Fusion 3D printer; says it's 50% cheaper, 10X faster than others

  17-05-2016 14:30
  
  ORLANDO -- Hewlett-Packard today began taking orders for its first 3D printer, the HP Jet Fusion printer, which it said will be up to 10 times faster than existing machines and can cut the cost of manufacturing parts in half.
  At the RAPID 3D additive manufacturing conference here, HP revealed two models:  the lower-cost and lower production 3200 series and the 4200 series, for which it is now taking orders. The 4200 series will begin shipping to manufacturers in October; the 3200 series wi
  
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• 9 business-worthy Chrome for Work devices

  17-05-2016 14:07
  
  Chrome for Work devicesChromebooks have been around for a while, but they haven't received nearly as much business press as hybrid devices like the Surface Pro 4 or iPad Pro. But while they may be flying under the radar, Google has an entire lineup of Chrome-based devices aimed at business users. While these devices might not get as much enterprise-worthy buzz, they are well-equipped for both casual and power users alike. They run the gamut in terms of design and configuration, which means there
  
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• How the IoT keeps Ben & Jerry’s ice cream safe

  17-05-2016 14:00
  
  If a dropped ice cream cone is one of the saddest images in the world, then the loss of tens of thousands of dollars of ice cream—especially Ben & Jerry’s ice cream—is a tragedy.
  It’s also a huge financial hit, and one that Udder Ventures experienced when a new walk-in freezer malfunctioned at its Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop in the Haight-Asbury section of San Francisco.
  The equipment wasn’t installed perfectly—it wasn’t localized for tempera
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: Why software requirements development matters

  17-05-2016 13:48
  
  In the cloud or in the data center, few organizations realize just how critical the step of developing requirements is to the ultimate success of a major software purchase. At the start of a software selection process, most people have only a very high-level idea of their needs. It is the act of looking at potential products and seeing what they do that helps them flesh out those needs in greater detail.Those requirements are the foundation upon which success is built. Just like a building, if t
  
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• Cybercriminal business model vulnerable to intervention

  17-05-2016 13:45
  
  Cybercrime may be booming but its business model is vulnerable on many fronts, according to a new report."We've been observing that they've been acting like a business for a while," said Shogo Cottrell, security strategist at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, which produced the report.The profit motivation accounts for more than three-quarters of all data breaches and has been rising in recent years, according to this year's Verizon data breach report.But cybercrime also shares many of the vulnerabili
  
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• Firefox’s market share is bigger than that of all Microsoft’s browsers combined

  17-05-2016 13:20
  
  Firefox now has more desktop users than both Microsoft's web browsers combined -- but it's a rivalry that is increasingly irrelevant as Google Chrome has almost twice the share of Firefox and Microsoft together.The latest figures from Statcounter show that Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer combined had a 15.5 percent share of worldwide desktop browser usage in April, a decline from 15.8 percent in March.The effect of Microsoft's new Edge browser is, it seems, marginal, with Windows 10 users a
  
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• Managers: Don’t ask if you don’t want to know

  17-05-2016 13:00
  
  Most of us like to be involved in big decisions that affect our work, goals, products and groups. We don’t necessarily want to make the decisions, but we like to be consulted, to provide input, to have our perspective represented in the decision-making process.For managers of technical people, there are a lot of benefits to consulting one’s staff.1.     You get a variety of well-informed perspectives. Most technical people are very bright, creative and observant.
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: How does Apple clean its refurbished products?

  17-05-2016 13:00
  
  Apple’s refurbished products can often be great bargains, and they are one of the best kept “open secrets” of the company. But how exactly does Apple clean its refurbished products?The question came up in a recent thread in the Apple subreddit, and some redditors there had some informative answers:
  WillPrlySugstClassix: “How does Apple get its refurbished products clean? Not even just refurbished; I had a repair done to my MacBook pro and they handed it to me in pristine
  
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• Apple patches 67 bugs in OS El Capitan, refreshes Safari and iTunes

  17-05-2016 12:46
  
  Apple yesterday updated OS X El Capitan to version 10.11.5, patching nearly 70 vulnerabilities as it began to wind down changes prior to the next iteration launching later this year.
  OS X 10.11.5 offered few non-security bug fixes and no new features; in other words, it was a typical late-life refresh of an edition.
  Apple on Monday also patched the older OS X Mavericks (from 2013) and OS X Yosemite (2014), and issued updates to both iTunes and the firm's Safari browser.
  Of the 67 security flaws
  
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• Review: HP EliteBook Folio G1 offers lightweight business computing

  17-05-2016 12:30
  
  If you're looking for a lightweight, portable laptop -- but aren't interested in a tablet with a snap-on keyboard such as the HP Elite x2 -- HP's 12.5-in. EliteBook Folio G1 makes the most of the traditional notebook design. The company has built an excellent display and keyboard into one of the smallest and lightest systems around.I spent a week with a pair of Folio systems: The full HD non-touch model that ships with an Intel Core M7 processor, 8GB of 1.86GHz DDR3 RAM and a 128GB SSD for $999
  
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• House lawmakers work to replace the hated H-1B lottery

  17-05-2016 12:01
  
  Two U.S. House lawmakers are involved in a bipartisan effort to change how H-1B visas are allocated, moving away from a random lottery and using salary offers instead.
  The legislation by Reps. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) and Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) has not yet been introduced. It's uncertain whether it will be put forward anytime soon or whether this effort to reach a bipartisan agreement will stick. While staffers have met to discuss the bill, and Issa has indicated support for a joint effort, it h
  
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• Linux 4.6 targets mobile with ARM, touch support

  17-05-2016 12:00
  
  Aside from security improvements, version 4.6 of the Linux kernel, released over the weekend, offers enhancements for ARM processors and touchscreens.
  Embedded ARM support in the upgrade features backing for 13 SoCs (system on a chip), including systems from Allwinner, LG, Qualcomm, and Broadcomm. WiFi routers, the Nexus 7 smartphone, and the Raspberry Pi nanocomputer, all will have improved support for their boards, according to the Linux Foundation.[ The InfoWorld review: Ubuntu 16.04, a desk
  
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• Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet review: Smart design makes up for performance shortcomings

  17-05-2016 12:00
  
  It would be a disservice to Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Tablet to focus solely on the benchmarks. Because while other competitors in the convertible tablet space might boast superior performance, Lenovo’s latest entry to the ThinkPad line honors the brand’s legacy with a series of thoughtfully considered touches, including a bookend kickstand that seems obvious in retrospect.
  There’s a good chance you’re mulling over Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Tablet convertible
  
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• US says proposed Chinese regulations could fragment the Internet

  17-05-2016 08:25
  
  The U.S. has warned of fragmentation of the Internet if China goes ahead with proposed rules that would require compulsory registration of Internet domain names in China through government-licensed providers.The regulations for the administration of Internet domain names would also forbid the registration of websites containing any one of nine categories of broadly and vaguely defined prohibited content, and create a blacklist of ‘forbidden characters’ in the registration of domain n
  
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• IBM's latest move may have cracked the code on a cheaper DRAM alternative

  17-05-2016 06:05
  
  A cheaper alternative to DRAM just took a step closer to enterprise data centers as IBM unveiled a way to make it more dense.PCM (phase-change memory) is one of a handful of emerging technologies that aim to be faster than flash and less expensive than DRAM. They could give enterprises and consumers faster access to data at lower cost, but there are challenges to overcome before that happens.Density is one of those, and IBM says it’s achieved a new high in that area with a version of PCM t
  
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• Riverbed debuts cloud, UC management features for SteelCentral

  17-05-2016 06:00
  
  Riverbed baked several new features into the latest version of its SteelCentral application performance and network management suite, designed to help manage networking components and applications that live in the cloud and unified communications systems – as well as making the whole thing a little more intuitive.
  The new features, which are available for SteelCentral customers to download today, provide visibility into application traffic in Azure and AWS, as well as PaaS and containeriz
  
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• Five questions for Google to answer at its big I/O conference

  17-05-2016 03:21
  
  Google’s I/O developer conference starts Wednesday and some big announcements are expected during the opening two-hour keynote, likely around virtual reality, Android and the Internet of Things.In a change of pace, the show is being held outdoors at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, California, and Google has advised the press to pack sunscreen along with laptops and mobile devices. Here are five questions I want company executives to answer during the course of this year's keyn
  
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• Apple Stores could open in India by the end of 2017

  17-05-2016 03:07
  
  Earlier this year, Tim Cook said that India is an “incredibly interesting” country for Apple, and now we’re starting to get some insight as to why.
  According to a new report in FactorDaily, Apple is opening its first three Apple Stores in India in Delhi, Bangalore, and Mumbai. They should be up and running by the end of 2017.
  FactorDaily’s report mentions that Apple is currently looking for commercial real estate for India’s first batch of Apple Stores, and the com
  
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• Google I/O: Expect A.I., virtual reality

  17-05-2016 03:03
  
  For a conference that has been used to advance Android and Chrome, and introduce Google Glass with users parachuting from a plane, people are expecting to hear about virtual reality and artificial intelligence at this week's Google I/O conference.
  "This year's focus will be virtual reality, no doubt," said Jeff Kagan, an independent industry analyst. "I believe Google wants to be a leader in virtual reality and, in this marketplace where there are no leaders yet, I think they will try and secur
  
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• Slack has hired away a new engineering chief from Pinterest

  17-05-2016 00:17
  
  Slack, the fast-growing workplace collaboration startup, has snagged a new engineering chief from Pinterest.Michael Lopp left the social bookmarking site earlier this month to become Slack's vice president of engineering, according to his LinkedIn profile.Lopp is a Silicon Valley veteran with experience at companies including Apple and Netscape. Prior to Pinterest, he was a director at Palantir Technologies, a Palo Alto firm focused on using big data analysis for business and government applicat
  
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