IT Executive news

• Trump at risk of 'letting down American workers,' says IEEE-USA

  03-02-2017 22:35
  
  On April 1, the U.S. will use a lottery to distribute the annual allotment of H-1B visas. If history is a guide, a major portion of those visas will go to offshore outsourcing firms that move IT work overseas. Meanwhile, non-outsourcing firms -- especially those firms that may be hiring only one or two visa workers -- stand a good chance of losing the lottery.
  President Donald Trump can change the system to favor smaller users of the visa, say critics of the program, but only if he acts quickly
  
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• Online card fraud up as thieves avoid more secure chip cards for in-store payments

  03-02-2017 22:35
  
  One unfortunate side effect from the use of chip cards for in-store purchases has been an increase in online credit-card fraud.
  Hackers have taken the path of least resistance, moving from in-store fraud to e-commerce fraud, according to security experts.
  Deterred by the security capabilities of chip cards for in-store payments, thieves have resorted to stealing credit-card numbers and passwords or opening new accounts with false credentials to use in making online payments for purchases, accor
  
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• Hacking the 2016 election: A timeline

  03-02-2017 22:20
  
  History has yet to judge the 2016 presidential election, but from where we sit in the early days of 2017, it’s hard to imagine that it will ever be relegated to a footnote.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here(Insider Story)
  
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• Intel's Optane faces threat as Micron chases future QuantX tech

  03-02-2017 22:08
  
  Intel made waves at CES in January with Optane, a new class of memory and storage that will supercharge PCs and servers.But don't forget that Optane has competition. Memory company Micron is coming out with memory and storage based on the same underlying 3D Xpoint technology.Intel and Micron jointly developed the first-generation 3D Xpoint technology, which was announced in 2015. The fruitful partnership is now turning into a healthy rivalry.While Intel ships its first low-capacity Opt
  
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• Microsoft helps Windows 10 support large Git repos

  03-02-2017 22:00
  
  Microsoft is augmenting Windows 10 and the Visual Studio IDE with a file system to assist developers working with large Git repos.
  The company's Git Virtual File System (GVFS), appearing in GitHub, allows the Git client to scale to repos of any size. It virtualizes the file system beneath a repo to make it appear as though all files in a repo are present, but it downloads a file only the first time it's opened.[ Docker, Amazon, TensorFlow, Windows 10, and more: See InfoWorld's 2017 Technology o
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: LibreOffice vs. Microsoft Office: It's a format war

  03-02-2017 21:48
  
  Sun Microsystems was home to many critical open source projects including OpenOffice, MySQL, Java, and VirtualBox. When Oracle acquired Sun, members of these projects grew concerned about their projects. MySQL was forked, and the OpenOffice community created a body called The Document Foundation (TDF) to ensure the survival of the project.
  However, Oracle was displeased about the formation of TDF and the ensuing conflict led to LibreOffice becoming a fork of OpenOffice. The first release of Lib
  
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• Mozilla zaps residue of Firefox OS as it shutters IoT group

  03-02-2017 21:06
  
  Mozilla confirmed that it is shuttering a group tasked with creating an operating system for connected devices, the category pegged as the "Internet of things," or IoT.
  It was the second defeat in 14 months for Mozilla projects aimed at producing commercial hardware products.
  "We have shifted our internal approach to the IoT opportunity to step back from a focus on launching and scaling commercial products to one focused on research and advanced development," a Mozilla spokesman said in an emai
  
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• UK defense secretary urges NATO to fend off Russian cyberattacks

  03-02-2017 20:59
  
  The U.K.’s defense secretary is accusing Russia of using cyber attacks to “disable” democratic processes across the West, and he's demanding that NATO fight back.“NATO must defend itself as effectively in the cyber sphere as it does in the air, on land, and at sea,” Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said. “So adversaries know there is a price to pay if they use cyber weapons.”Fallon made the comments in a Thursday speech about the threat of “Russia&
  
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• Lawsuit claims Apple broke FaceTime to force iOS 6 users to upgrade

  03-02-2017 20:22
  
  Did Apple purposefully break iOS 6, rendering old iPhones unusable before their time? That’s the question at the heart of a new class-action lawsuit against the Cupertino company, which claims that Apple killed FaceTime in iOS 6 to avoid paying hefty licensing fees.
  The basis of the lawsuit, first reported by AppleInsider, comes from details that emerged last year in VirnetX’s patent infringement suit against the company. VirnetX licenses patents to technology companies, and one of
  
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• Microsoft will likely fix Windows SMB denial-of-service flaw on Patch Tuesday

  03-02-2017 19:48
  
  Microsoft will likely wait until February 14 to fix a publicly disclosed vulnerability in the SMB network file sharing protocol that can be exploited to crash Windows computers.
  The vulnerability was disclosed Thursday when the security researcher who found it posted a proof-of-concept exploit for it on GitHub. There was concern initially that the flaw might also allow for arbitrary code execution and not just denial-of-service, which would have made it critical.
  The CERT Coordination Center (C
  
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• Android device updates: Android 7.1.2 beta brings a fingerprint swipe gesture to the Nexus 5X

  03-02-2017 19:29
  
  Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this week, and as the story goes this means six more weeks of winter. If only the critter was carrying a smartphone, perhaps that would give us a better idea of when Nougat would be coming to your favorite device.
  Fortunately we didn’t need a groundhog to find out about a few releases, such as a beta update for the Pixel, Nexus phones, and Sony surprising us by being first with the monthly security patch.
  Each week, we round up all the major software updat
  
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• BrandPost: Increasing SMB Adoption Rates for Office 365

  03-02-2017 19:25
  
  Recent research by cloud management software company SkyKick suggests that among U.S. small and medium businesses (SMBs), 83% have yet to use Office 365 in some form. So what’s holding back SMBs from adopting cloud-based services that can help them reduce costs and improve productivity?Smaller companies have generally had less exposure to the industry dynamics of cloud infrastructure and software as a service (SaaS). The research of 109,000 SMBs found that the industries with the high
  
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• This robotic barista never needs a coffee break

  03-02-2017 19:15
  
  The robotic arm manning Cafe X at the Metreon shopping center in San Francisco looks very caffeinated as it frantically swings from one side of its enclosed bar to the other. Along with the help of two fully automatic coffee machines, the arm can whip up anywhere from one to four drinks a minute, depending on the complexity of the order. 
  Customers can place an order either by using the company's smartphone app or through one of the kiosks at the cafe. Once their order is ready, custom
  
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• Driven by eSports, Micron fast-tracks superfast GDDR6 graphics memory

  03-02-2017 18:46
  
  Micron is rushing to release the latest GDDR6 graphics memory by the end of the year, and eSports is a major driver behind the plans.The memory company is speeding up the release of GDDR6 to cope with faster PC and console upgrades. GDDR6 will be significantly faster than its predecessor, GDDR5X, which is still reaching GPUs. Micron had originally planned to release GDDR6 next year.Virtual reality is also driving PC upgrades, but not at the same pace as gaming and eSports, which are forcing
  
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• How consumerization convinced a media giant to choose Dropbox

  03-02-2017 18:07
  
  A funny thing happened as News Corp. began evaluating its enterprise collaboration strategy a few years ago. While the media organization's 23,000 employees were using Google's G Suite for email, collaboration and calendar applications, they couldn’t get comfortable with the company’s Drive file- sharing tool, according to CIO Dominic Shine. They simply didn't find it user-friendly.As Shine weighed other options, he learned that 7,000 News Corp. employees were already using Dropbox'
  
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• Zero-day Windows file-sharing flaw can crash systems, maybe worse

  03-02-2017 17:35
  
  The implementation of the SMB network file sharing protocol in Windows has a serious vulnerability that could allow hackers to, at the very least, remotely crash systems.
  The unpatched vulnerability was publicly disclosed Thursday by an independent security researcher named Laurent Gaffié, who claims that Microsoft has delayed releasing a patch for the flaw for the past three months.
  Gaffié, who is known on Twitter as PythonResponder, published a proof-of-concept exploit for the v
  
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• 47% off HyperX Cloud Gaming Headset for PC, Xbox One, PS4 (White) - Deal Alert

  03-02-2017 17:29
  
  Let your opponents take the blows while you game without pain. HyperX Cloud cradles your head in a super-soft padded headband, memory foam ear cushions and leatherette-padded cups so even your late game will be comfortable. It's affordable, so there's no pain in the price either.  Pro-gaming optimized, HyperX Cloud is HiFi capable and delivers intense audio with crystal-clear low, mid and high tones plus enhanced bass-reproduction so you can lose yourself while you win. Plus you'll look sha
  
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• New Chrome beta feature looks to make web apps as powerful as native ones

  03-02-2017 16:46
  
  Chrome users have been able to add homescreen shortcuts for their favorite websites for years, letting you quickly jump to a site without having to navigate the bookmarks folder, but they’ve always been just that: fancy links. With the latest Chrome beta, Google wants them to be something far greater.
  Called Progressive Web Apps, they promise to offer the best of both worlds, allowing users to experience the power of a Google Play Store app without needing to go through a download or upda
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: Law firm uses OKRs to drive astonishing results and get things done

  03-02-2017 16:44
  
  Even with the best will in the world, it usually takes too long to get things done in corporate situations. Meetings are a primary way in which goals are decided and agreed upon, but they consume inordinate amounts of time when you consider things like developing agendas and PowerPoint presentations, meetings that run over schedule, and the need to have some meetings again because you can’t remember commitments. Some things always seem to fall between the cracks, and results take too long
  
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• 33% off CanaKit 5V 2.5A Raspberry Pi 3 Power Supply / Adapter / Charger - Deal Alert

  03-02-2017 15:24
  
  2.5A is now a requirement for the Raspberry Pi 3. The CanaKit 2.5A Raspberry Pi power supply / adapter has been specially designed and tested for the new Raspberry Pi 3 and incorporates an inline noise filter for highest stability and reliable operation. This power supply differs from typical standard 5V USB power supplies in the market in that it can deliver a full 2.5A and still output a voltage well within the USB minimum voltage specifications. Standard 5V USB power supplies in the market ha
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: Reactive healthcare microservices unleash business scale

  03-02-2017 15:00
  
  Monolithic (single structure) and polylithic (multi-structure) applications each offer advantages, depending on the stage of an organization's life. Eventually, organizations will reach a point where monolithic application structures restrict productivity and limit scale. The solution is the exploration of polylithic application structures, commonly referred to as microservices.When the complexity is high
  Why do we use microservices? Microservices are used when the complexity of a system is too
  
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• 6 op de 10 Europese bedrijven benen digitalisering niet bij

  03-02-2017 14:10
  Europese bedrijven worden in grote mate gehinderd door legacy in hun IT-landschap en profiteren nauwelijks van de voordelen die digitale transformatie brengt. Slechts een kleine minderheid acht deze transformatie van vitaal belang. Daarop duidt onderzoek in opdracht van Fujitsu.Iets meer dan 10% van de ondernemingen... lees meer
  
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• Rock your AirPods in style with this $20 accessory

  03-02-2017 14:01
  
  Apple’s AirPods, available only since late December, have already spawned an accessory aftermarket. You can buy a "wire" for the wireless earbuds, hooks to make them fit more snugly in your ears, and so on. You could even have your white AirPods painted black — though you’ll void Apple’s warranty in the process.BlackPods 'BlackPods' custom-painted AirPodsTo read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
  
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• 6 simple ways to show customers love this Valentine’s Day

  03-02-2017 13:23
  
  In the highly competitive world of online retail and professional services, if you want to keep customers happy and coming back for more, you need to show them you care about their business. And with Valentine’s Day just around the corner, here are six simple ways to show customers some love.1. Make a video valentine.
  “Show customers love with a thank-you Valentine's Day video,” says Ryan Fitzgerald, owner, Raleigh Realty. The video can be heartwarming, fun or funny, featuring
  
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• What CEOs can learn from President Trump’s coup

  03-02-2017 13:01
  
  In November, I wrote how one might use a method for measuring CEO success in order to measure President Trump’s progress. I intended then, and still intend, to revisit this to assess his progress.   However, there is an aspect of a political leader like a President that most CEOs don’t have to deal with and that is there if virtually no way to truly train to be a President.
  Now there are similar elements but for someone like President Trump with no real political experienc
  
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• How AI is stopping criminal hacking in real time

  03-02-2017 13:00
  
  Almost every day, there’s news about a massive data leak -- a breach at Yahoo that reveals millions of user accounts, a compromise involving Gmail phishing scams. Security professionals are constantly moving the chess pieces around, but it can be a losing battle.
  Yet, there is one ally that has emerged in recent years. Artificial intelligence can stay vigilant at all times, looking for patterns in behavior and alerting you to a new threat.To read this article in full or to leave a comment
  
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• 6 things software vendors need to know about HIPAA compliance

  03-02-2017 12:19
  
  Maintaining HIPAA compliance Image by ThinkstockMany people are loosely familiar with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and usually associate it with hospitals, clinics and health insurance companies. However, it can be less clear how HIPAA compliance standards apply to countless other software vendors, SaaS providers that work with healthcare-related businesses or handle protected health information (PHI). In recent months, the Office for Civil Rights has been coming d
  
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• Welcome to the next generation of wearables

  03-02-2017 12:00
  
  Innovative apparelImage by Keoni Cabral / FlickrTime was, you could slap a couple of sensors and a battery into a plastic wristband, layer some software around it, tell the world you were in the wearables business, and watch the money roll in. Those days are long gone (although there are still the inevitable bottom feeders fighting for scraps). Now, wearables are actually doing useful and interesting things, with lots of innovation on display.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, p
  
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• JavaScript spec adds async functions, shared memory

  03-02-2017 12:00
  
  A few months before its expected approval, ECMAScript 2017, the latest official specification underlying JavaScript, has been fleshed out with async functions and shared memory capabilities.
  ECMAScript 2017 is due to be finalized in June, in line with a release cadence that has seen midyear upgrades recently. "Async functions are a terrific tool for writing asynchronous code, and SharedArrayBuffer (shared memory) will enable library authors to experiment with real multiprocessing in JavaScript,
  
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• Apple to start assembling iPhones in Bangalore by April

  03-02-2017 08:58
  
  Apple plans to start assembling the iPhone in Bangalore by end April under a contract manufacturing arrangement with Taiwan's Wistron.The move by the company comes even as it awaits approval from the federal government for some of its proposals for lowering the import duties on components and for creating an ecosystem of local manufacturers who can supply components for the smartphones, according to sources close to the situation.The Karnataka state, of which Bangalore is the capital, has announ
  
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• Snap is paying Google $400M a year for cloud services

  03-02-2017 06:16
  
  Over the next five years, the company behind Snapchat will pay Google at least US$2 billion in cloud bills.On Thursday, Snap revealed in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission that it signed a five-year contract to pay Google at least $400 million a year for cloud services. That's a steep figure, considering that Snap made roughly $404 million last year. In return for the massive commitment, Snap will receive reduced pricing, though it’s not clear how deep the company
  
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• AT&T extends NetBond service to secure IoT connections

  03-02-2017 02:22
  
  The internet is what made IoT happen, providing a common protocol to take the place of separate, specialized networks. But the public internet itself may not always be the best path between a connected device and the cloud.Enterprises can now connect cellular IoT devices to back-end systems via NetBond, a private network service from AT&T, instead of the Internet. The NetBond service sets up a VPN (virtual private network) from an edge device to the cloud. It can connect to 16 different publ
  
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• RSA 2017: The Internet of Things security threat

  03-02-2017 01:40
  
  RSA Conference 2017 will take on the threat posed by the internet of things, something that was demonstrated last fall by the DDoS attacks that took down Dyn data centers and many of the high-profile Web sites it supports.
  Those attacks, generating peak traffic of 1TByte or more, raise the question of how best to secure these devices, and sessions at the Feb.13-17 conference in San Francisco try to answer it.
  +More on Network World: Cisco: Faulty clock part could cause failure in some Nexus swi
  
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• AWS quarterly revenue continues to rise, but growth slows

  03-02-2017 00:30
  
  The rocketship of cloud growth continued at the end of 2016 for Amazon Web Services. The public cloud provider announced Thursday that it brought in a little more than $3.5 billion during the fourth quarter of last year, up 47 percent from the same period in 2015. Quarterly operating income rose 60 percent to $926 million, compared to $580 million during the prior year quarter. That's nothing to sneeze at, but AWS's revenue growth was the lowest it has been in the past two years.
  
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