IT Executive news

• Black Friday deals: PC and PC component steals

  23-11-2016 21:45
  
  Diamonds in the roughImage by ThinkstockWhile this year’s PC and PC component deals aren’t quite as confusing as the Black Friday TV deals, many of them should still be skipped. A cheap laptop might sound good, but keep an eye on those specs: One retailer might offer a $450 notebook with a 5th-generation Intel processor, while a different retailer will have a similarly priced model but with a newer 6th-generation Intel processor.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, ple
  
  Read more

• IDG Contributor Network: The evolution of the domain name

  23-11-2016 21:17
  Domain names used to be different: In the early days of the internet, you could simply buy a domain name, and that was that. Now, it’s a whole lot more. It’s an entire branding package for your business or organization.“In many instances, your domain name is the most visible thing about your brand,” says Michael Rader, founder and CEO of Brandroot, a business that offers a creative selection of .com domain names. “You used to see some people design their brand names
  
  Read more

• Microsoft's reported LinkedIn concessions don't amount to much

  23-11-2016 20:36
  
  Microsoft has faced a tough battle getting its $26 billion acquisition of LinkedIn approved in Europe. Salesforce has challenged the move on competitive grounds, and the EU competition authority has reached out to a number of competitors for comment. Now Microsoft reportedly is suggesting a set of concessions to European regulators in an attempt to get the deal approved.The tech titan has suggested that LinkedIn's competitors could create add-ins that let their content show up inside Outlook, ac
  
  Read more

• Watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade live in 360 degrees on YouTube

  23-11-2016 20:00
  
  Ah, Thanksgiving traditions. Watching football. Eating too much. And of course, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, which this year will be live-streamed in 360 degrees on YouTube.
  You’ll be able to see the floats and the giant balloons from immersive street-level views thanks to 360-degree cameras placed at strategic points along the route. While it’s arguably more social to watch the traditional NBC broadcast on a large screen with friends and family, anyone wanting a closer
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• NTP fixes denial-of-service flaws

  23-11-2016 19:56
  
  The Network Time Foundation's Network Time Protocol Project has patched multiple denial-of-service vulnerabilities with the release of ntp-4.2.8p9. The last update to the open source protocol used to synchronize computer clocks was in June.  
  "NTP users are strongly urged to take immediate action to ensure that their NTP daemons are not susceptible to being used in DDoS (distributed denial-of-service) attacks," the project maintainers wrote in the security advisory.[ Also on InfoWorld: 19
  
  Read more

• ZoneSavvy taps big data to help SMBs find best sites for businesses

  23-11-2016 19:20
  
  Location, location, location: As the old joke goes, those are the three keys to business success. Now, with big data analysis, corporations can be smarter than ever before about where to open up new offices or businesses.But what if you run a mom-and-pop shop, or you're dreaming of quitting your corporate job and opening a boutique? Even medium-size businesses do not have the money to spend on the sort of systems and analysis teams that corporate behemoths use to locate new businesses.This is wh
  
  Read more

• Senator asks FTC to investigate Office Depot PC tech practices

  23-11-2016 19:09
  
  Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) last week asked the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate claims that retailer Office Depot has used some of the same tactics as PC tech scammers to convince consumers to pay for expensive support plans or pricy repairs.
  The allegations against Office Depot and its sister company, Office Max, originated last week with reports by television stations KIRO of Seattle and WFXT of Boston. Each station had bought several new PCs, then taken them to local Office Depo
  
  Read more

• Pelosi says UC IT workers are in ‘untenable position’

  23-11-2016 19:07
  
  The U.S. House minority leader, Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), is urging the University of California to drop its plans to send some IT jobs offshore.
  The IT employees "have been placed in the untenable position of having to train their replacements -- foreign nationals brought to the United States under the H-1B program" by the university's IT contractor, Pelosi wrote in a letter last week to Janet Napolitano, the university president.
  "This misuse of the H-1B visa program is deeply troubling," said
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Donald Trump tells Tim Cook to build iPhones in the USA

  23-11-2016 19:04
  
  On the back of every iPhone, tiny print reminds you it was “Designed by Apple in California. Assembled in China.” One of president-elect Trump’s campaign promises was getting Apple to move production here—and he says he told Tim Cook that very thing directly.
  In his meeting Tuesday with the New York Times (a full transcript is available), Trump said he’d spoken to Cook on the phone.I got a call from Tim Cook at Apple, and I said, ‘Tim, you know one of the thi
  
  Read more

• How FedEx is shaving millions from its IT costs

  23-11-2016 18:42
  
  FedEx has saved hundreds of millions of dollars by eliminating costly redundant and legacy technologies, using cloud analytics software to compare the cost and value of IT to the business. For CIO Rob Carter, the path to pare technical debt was paved with some painful discoveries.Clint Boulton FedEx CIO Rob Carter.The journey began in 2009, when Carter realized the shipping giant’s application portfolio had ballooned to more than 2,600 applications, the result of organic growth and acquisi
  
  Read more

• IDG Contributor Network: Fedora 25 vs. openSUSE 42.2 Leap: which is the right distro for you?

  23-11-2016 18:16
  
  Fedora and openSUSE are the two leading Linux-based distributions. While Fedora is upstream for Red Hat Enterprise Linux, the king of datacenters, openSUSE enjoys almost similar, but a bit complicated relationship with SUSE Linux Enterprise.
  Both projects announced the latest version of their distributions recently; openSUSE 42.2 Leap and Fedora 25. I have been using both on my Dell XPS 13 as well as inside a virtual machine and I am really impressed with both.These are developer platformsBy no
  
  Read more

• IDG Contributor Network: 6 clues that you’ve outsourced software development to the right team

  23-11-2016 18:12
  
  Getting started and finding your groove is a challenge with any new team, especially if you want to move quickly. But there’s an alternative to a slow start when it comes to software — outsource your development. Here are six ways to know you’ve outsourced your software engineering to a world-class team who’s ready to get the job done.1. They’re fast-acceleratingWhen you outsource software development to the right team, they’re ready to go — Sprint Zero
  
  Read more

• The best graphics cards for PC gaming

  23-11-2016 17:49
  
  Last updated November 23, 2016 to reflect current graphics card pricing, which is finally at or below stated MSRPs.“What graphics card within my budget gives me the best bang for my buck?”
  That simple question cuts to the core of what people hunting for a new graphics card look for: The most oomph they can afford. Sure, the technological leaps behind each new GPU can be interesting on their own, but most everyone just wants to crank the detail settings on Far Cry and get right t
  
  Read more

• IDG Contributor Network: The D2C model keeps the sleep industry awake at night

  23-11-2016 17:46
  
  Do you ever think back to those days when you'd go on vacation without a cellphone? Maybe scribble down the address of your hotel and leave it with a relative, in case of an emergency?What about writing your thesis in a library buried under a pile of books? Citing a source from the internet used to be considered trashy, nonacademic and about as credible as a door-to-door salesman.Ah, internet, I raise a glass to you — you've come a long way, kid.I'll be the first to confess that I never re
  
  Read more

• IDG Contributor Network: Will Apple upgrade the iPhone SE in 2017?

  23-11-2016 17:36
  
  When Apple first released the iPhone SE there were many naysayers in the media that downplayed the appeal of a new 4-inch phone. Well these nattering nabobs of negativism where proven wrong when the iPhone SE proved to be quite popular with Apple’s customers.Unfortunately, it seems increasingly likely that the iPhone SE will not get an update in 2017, according to a recent report on the MacRumors site:
  Apple will not refresh the iPhone SE in the first half of 2017, according to KGI Securit
  
  Read more

• Voting security experts call on Clinton to demand recount

  23-11-2016 17:20
  
  Hillary Clinton, the apparent loser in the recent U.S. presidential race, should ask for voting recounts in three states, a group of voting security experts and election lawyers have said, and new results could swing the outcome of the election.There are outstanding questions about voting results in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan, where the initial counts have Clinton losing by 1.2 percent or less, the group has told her campaign.The group has so far given no concrete evidence o
  
  Read more

• Nokia uses analytics, machine learning to help mobile providers

  23-11-2016 17:02
  
  Wireless carrier competition in the U.S. is white hot — analysts increasingly see signs of wireless market saturation, meaning that growth is most likely going to come from competitors. Of the four major U.S. carriers, T-Mobile USA has led the way, slashing prices, killing the two-year contract and daring its competitors to follow suit.As competition intensifies, Finnish mobile technology provider Nokia believes customer service will emerge as an even more important key differentiator, and
  
  Read more

• Scalpers try to cash in on MacBook Pro shortage

  23-11-2016 16:39
  
  Profiteers are trying to cash in on shortages of Apple's new MacBook Pro notebook with prices on the eBay auction website as high as 62% over list.
  Because the new laptops quickly went into backorder -- Apple's online store today said new orders would ship in three to four weeks -- some of those who were near the front of the line were attempting to flip their purchases for a profit.
  One eBay seller posted a 15-in. MacBook Pro for $5,500, 62% above the list price of the same model when identica
  
  Read more

• 48% off Satechi Portable Rechargeable Smartphone Speaker Stand - Deal Alert

  23-11-2016 16:21
  
  The iFit-1 from Satechi is a sliding stand for your phone that also contains a high-fidelity speaker, so you can browse the internet, play games, or watch movies with louder, richer sound. It also features a generous 6 hour rechargeable battery. It averages 4 out of 5 stars on Amazon from 670 people (read reviews). A few reviewers have pointed out that this makes a good gift for the technically un-savvy, since there's no fumbling with a Bluetooth connection. Just connect it to the phone's headp
  
  Read more

• 38% off X Rocker 51259 Pro H3 4.1 Audio Gaming Chair, Wireless - Deal Alert

  23-11-2016 15:19
  
  With the X Rocker Pro H3 4.1 Wireless Audio Gaming Chair you can not only hear your music but actually feel it. It features four speakers, sub-woofers with Audio Force Modulation Technology, vibration motors that sync to the bass and intensify the full-body sensation, and a wireless audio transmitter/receiver combo. It currently averages 4 out of 5 stars from nearly 550 reviewers (see reviews). Its list price of $250 has been reduced 38% to $155. See it now on Amazon.To read this article in full
  
  Read more

• This may be the most expensive 'free' computer you've ever seen

  23-11-2016 15:05
  
  You can have an open-source operating system on your PC, but it’ll never be truly “free” because all modern x86-based CPUs and chipsets feature secret firmware “blobs” that are proprietary to AMD and Intel.
  That’s something Raptor Engineering is hoping to address with what may be the world’s first modern ATX motherboard using a Power8 CPU (a product of IBM’s open-source OpenPower group).
  Dubbed the Talos Secure Workstation, Raptor Engineering
  
  Read more

• The week in iOS accessories: Waterproof tunes

  23-11-2016 15:03
  New accessories This week’s roundup features a long-lasting wireless speaker that can spend up to 30 minutes underwater. Read on!FugooThe Tough XL ($330 MSRP, same price at Best Buy) is a waterproof Bluetooth portable speaker with one very notable feature—it can play music for 35 hours before needing to be recharged. And if the parties get too crazy? It can survive 30 minutes in water up to three feet deep. Also cool? Siri control is available through the device.To read this article
  
  Read more

• 10 most difficult IT jobs for employers to fill

  23-11-2016 14:35
  
  Most difficult IT jobs for employers to fillImage by Thinkstock The breakneck pace of technological innovation in an era of digital transformation has made it difficult for companies to find and land talent with the right mix of cutting-edge skills and experience. But even harder to find are candidates with the soft skills and leadership potential to match their technical savvy, says Matt Sigelman, CEO of labor market analytics firm Burning Glass.
  "In IT, most mid- to senior-level folks currentl
  
  Read more

• How Google overtook Apple in education

  23-11-2016 14:20
  
  Apple's Mac and Apple II computers have been used in classrooms for more than 30 years, but cheaper hardware from rival Google is putting the squeeze on Apple's dominant position in education. The two companies target education from very different perspectives that play to their respective strengths. Google's objective is also slightly different than Apple's, because it primarily focuses on selling hardware for students that promotes its software services, while Apple pursues a more hardware-spe
  
  Read more

• How to use gamification to improve employee engagement

  23-11-2016 14:15
  
  Engagement isn't something you only need to worry about during an employee's onboarding process, says Tom Gimbel, founder and CEO of LaSalle Network, a professional staffing and recruiting firm. Instead, he says that engagement is a metric you need to track and measure throughout an employee's career.He says that during an employee's first year with a company, they're typically performing at their highest levels -- they're excited about the opportunity and constantly learning new things. It's th
  
  Read more

• Peter Korsten, (IBM) “Technologie is topprioriteit in bestuurskamer”

  23-11-2016 14:06
  De CIO beweegt qua agenda steeds meer in de richting van de CEO. Beide functionarissen hebben inmiddels dezelfde top 5 van prioriteiten. Dat zegt IBM’s denktank-leider Peter Korsten op basis van onderzoek onder 5.247 businessleiders en bestuurders van over de hele wereld. “Technologie staat met afstand... lees meer
  
  Read more

• Beware these gotchas in T-Mobile's 'free' iPhone 7 offer

  23-11-2016 13:56
  
  Want a free or heavily discounted Apple iPhone 7? If so, T-Mobile has an offer for you. But as always, you need to read the fine print, because it has a few gotchas.As part of T-Mobile's Black Friday offer, you can trade in a qualifying used smartphone and get a 32GB iPhone 7 for free, or get the larger iPhone 7 Plus for $100. Those devices normally cost $649.99 and $769.99 respectively. (Similar deals are available for Samsung and LG phones, as well.)To read this article in full or to leave a c
  
  Read more

• Make companies pay full cost of breaches to restore trust in the internet, says ISOC

  23-11-2016 13:46
  
  Fake news, online banking thefts and data breaches: It's no wonder that trust in the internet is at an all-time low. But don't worry: The Internet Society has a five-step plan for restoring faith in the network of networks.The first step is to put users first, according to ISOC, which published its 2016 Global Internet Report on Thursday. That involves being more transparent (step two) about risk and the incidence of data breaches and prioritizing data security (step three) to ensure breaches do
  
  Read more

• The best fitness trackers at every price point

  23-11-2016 13:23
  
  Fitness trackers are some of the best devices you can buy yourself or a loved one—if you think either of you will find activity-tracking useful. There’s no reason to buy a gadget that will just sit in a drawer. But if you’re on the hunt for the best fitness band, there are three things to consider: price, style, and the type of activity you want to track.
  You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars to get a high-quality fitness tracker, but you might not want to spend mo
  
  Read more

• How your Android phone can help you conquer Black Friday

  23-11-2016 13:00
  
  Right after you’ve given thanks for friends and family, and eaten an excessive amount of food, it’s time for that other holiday: Black Friday.
  As fashionable as it is to say you’re not interested and would rather do something else, it’s hard not at least be mildly curious if there are some good deals to be found. If so, make sure you grab your smartphone and get it ready for all the shopping madness. You’ll want to tap into the best shopping apps and some Google se
  
  Read more

• U.S. says cybersecurity skills shortage is a myth

  23-11-2016 12:16
  
  The U.S. government has released what it claims is myth-busting data about the shortage of cybersecurity professionals. The data points to its own hiring experience.
  In October 2015, the U.S. launched a plan to hire 6,500 people with cybersecurity skills by January 2017, according to White House officials. It had hired 3,000 by the first half of this year. As part the ongoing hiring effort, it held a job fair in July.
  At the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), "We set out to dispel certain m
  
  Read more

• First look: Visual Studio for Mac is here at last, almost

  23-11-2016 12:00
  
  Visual Studio for Mac is something that many Microsoft developers have sought for more than a decade. As Mac OS X became interesting in the early 2000s, coders who spent most of their days working in Visual Studio on Windows wondered why they couldn’t use the same languages, frameworks, and tools for the Mac, rather than needing to learn Objective-C, Cocoa, and Xcode, all of which were substantially different from the languages and tools for Windows development.To read this article in ful
  
  Read more

• Disney's best releases may be its open source tools

  23-11-2016 12:00
  
  While most people associate Disney with Mickey Mouse, animation, and amusement parks, the company is forging a path in the open source software realm, encouraging contributions from its developers and releasing software of its own.
  Not surprising, several projects involve images, such as the OpenEXR high-dynamic-range image file format developed by Disney subsidiary Industrial Light and Magic. Others are less image-focused, including Munki, a set of tools to help MacOS X admins manage software
  
  Read more

• Computerworld's holiday gift guide 2016: Nifty tech for $35 to $150

  23-11-2016 12:00
  
  Cool gifts for reasonable pricesImage by Stephen SauerIt's sometimes hard to find holiday gifts that hit the really sweet spot: With enough quality to show how much you care, but not so high-end that you'll find yourself starting off the new year with an unpayable credit card bill.  Don't sweat it -- part 2 of our holiday gift guide features an array of excellent devices, each of which costs less than $150.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
  
  Read more

• Facebook said to create censorship tool to enter China again

  23-11-2016 04:07
  
  Facebook has reportedly developed a software tool that will help keep certain content away from users’ news feeds in certain geographies, reflecting the company’s apparent willingness to meet Chinese government censorship demands part of the way.The social networking site has been banned in China since 2009 because of the government’s censorship rules and like many other U.S. technology companies would like to reenter the market with nearly 1.4 billion people.CEO Mark Zuckerber
  
  Read more

• How to make home IoT more secure: Assume the worst

  23-11-2016 02:39
  
  Sometimes the truth hurts but you just have to face it. The internet advisory group BITAG lays it on the line for the IoT industry in a new report: No, consumers aren’t going to update the software on their devices.
  “It is safe to assume that most end users will never take action on their own to update software,” the Broadband Internet Technology Advisory Group said. Its recommendation: Build in mechanisms for automatic, secure updates.
  That bit of human nature is just one of
  
  Read more

Follow @ITExecutiveNews on Twitter!