IT Executive news

• Bringing AI to enterprise integration

  21-04-2017 23:15
  
  Driving long distances (or using New York City's subway system) used to be a much more complicated affair, generally requiring maps, a sense of direction, some luck and the occasional stop to ask questions of strangers.Turn-by-turn navigation apps have changed all that: You may still take a wrong turn along the way, but the apps usually get you back on track with little fuss. Self-service integration specialist SnapLogic is turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to help its customers achieve th
  
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• Microsoft fixes Windows 10 upgrade tempo and timing to placate enterprises

  21-04-2017 22:09
  
  Microsoft yesterday announced it will target March and September as the launch months for all upcoming Windows 10 feature upgrades, a return to regularity that has been demanded by enterprise customers."We've ... heard our customers want more predictability and simplicity from [the Windows 10] update servicing model to help make deployments and updates of Microsoft products easier," said Bernardo Caldas, general manager of Windows marketing, in a Thursday post to a company blog.To make that happ
  
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• Apple is reportedly looking to put broadband-beaming satellites into orbit

  21-04-2017 21:38
  
  Apple has a new high-flying project in the works.According to Bloomberg, Apple is getting involved in launching satellites that would beam down broadband Internet access. Recently, Apple poached two Google satellite executives to form a new hardware team within the company. John Fenwick led Google’s spacecraft operations and Michael Trela was head of satellite engineering.The report adds that Fenwick and Trela will now report to Greg Duffy, the Dropcam founder who joined Apple earlier this
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: Supercharge healthcare with artificial intelligence

  21-04-2017 21:36
  
  Pattern-recognition algorithms can transform horses into zebras; winter scenes can become summer; artificial intelligence algorithms can generate art; robot radiologists can analyze your X-rays with remarkable precision.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
  
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• Microsoft fine-tunes WebAssembly for Edge browser

  21-04-2017 21:13
  
  WebAssembly, the portable binary format for improving web application performance, is being tweaked by Microsoft for its Edge browser.With the browser featured in the recent Windows 10 Creators Update, the Chakra JavaScript engine defers parsing WebAssembly functions until called; other engines parse functions at start time.[ Use JavaScript in your dev shop? InfoWorld looks at 17 JavaScript editors and IDEs and 22 JavaScript frameworks ready for adoption. | Keep up with hot topics in programming
  
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• Leaked Microsoft document confirms Windows 10 Cloud and a Chromebook competitor

  21-04-2017 20:25
  
  A Microsoft document detailing the minimum hardware specs for Microsoft Windows 10 Cloud-powered laptops seems to be the best evidence yet that Microsoft plans to launch a Chromebook competitor on May 2.Windows Central obtained a “recommended minimum spec” document, presumably handed out to Microsoft’s partners. The document outlines what Microsoft hopes to achieve with what the document calls an “Edu Cloud device” (and industry watchers have dubbed "Cloudbooks"): a
  
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• Android device updates: Android Wear 2.0 tipped to drop soon for Huawei Watch, Moto 360 second-gen

  21-04-2017 20:22
  
  Many of the most popular smartwatches have been languishing without the Android Wear 2.0 update. Google has finally chimed in with details about the timing of when the Huawei Watch, Moto 360 second-generation, and others may get their turn. Each week, we round up all the major software updates to hit the Android ecosystem, including phones and tablets on U.S. carriers, unlocked phones, smartwatches, and Android TV devices. Make sure your device is running the latest available software so yo
  
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• How to create an automatically updating Google spreadsheet

  21-04-2017 19:38
  
  Let your spreadsheet do the workImage by Screenshot of Google SheetsTracking basic data in a spreadsheet is pretty simple -- it's remembering to update your data each day, week or month that can be a problem. But why update manually when you can take advantage of some simple automation tools?To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
  
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• 'Millions' in enterprises expected to buy Galaxy S8

  21-04-2017 19:19
  
  Enterprise customers are expected to snap up the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ that hit store shelves today, given the phones' strong focus on worker productivity as well as security.[ Related: Samsung targets the enterprise with Galaxy S8 and S8+ ]IDC analyst Bryan Bassett predicted that "millions" of enterprise customers will buy one of the devices, some of them partly out of the pent-up demand created when the enterprise-focused Note7 was recalled globally after some units overheated and caught f
  
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• Phishing attacks using internationalized domains are hard to block

  21-04-2017 19:11
  
  The latest version of Google Chrome, released earlier this week, restricts how domain names that use non-Latin characters are displayed in the browser. This change is in response to a recently disclosed technique that could allow attackers to create highly credible phishing websites.The ability to register domain names made up of characters like those found in the Arabic, Chinese, Cyrillic, Hebrew and other non-Latin alphabets dates back over a decade. Since 2009, the Internet Corporation for As
  
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• Users' orders: Make it easier to build hybrid clouds

  21-04-2017 18:43
  
  A funny thing happened on the way to the hybrid cloud: Building the infrastructure was a pain in the neck.That's what enterprise IT people in the Open Networking User Group have discovered Last year, public cloud providers persuaded C-level executives to move significant corporate workloads to the cloud, but the tools weren't there to make it work, said Nick Lippis, co-founder and co-chairman of ONUG."There is a ton of custom work that has to be done," Lippis said.So the user group, which includ
  
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• Researchers build a microprocessor from flexible materials

  21-04-2017 18:36
  Researchers have built a primitive microprocessor out of a two-dimensional material similar to graphene, the flexible conductive wonder material that some believe will revolutionize the design and manufacture of batteries, sensors and chips.With only 115 transistors, their processor isn't going to top any benchmark rankings, but it's "a first step towards the development of microprocessors based on 2D semiconductors," the researchers at Vienna University of Technology said in a paper published i
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: The disruption and promise of artificial intelligence

  21-04-2017 18:20
  
  There’s no shortage of books, news articles and comments in social media about how artificial intelligence (A.I.) is shaping our future. Although it’s still blazing a trail, we’re on the brink of A.I. disruption that will change all industries and society at a very deep and fundamental level. I believe it will be one of the next great wealth generators.My optimism about A.I.’s growing potential arises from many successful use case examples as clear evidence that A.I. is n
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: What makes a thought leader?

  21-04-2017 18:00
  
  According to a 2016 survey by The Economist Group, at least 7 out of 10 executives will be more inclined to do business with organizations that are perceived as thought leaders. But what, exactly, does it mean to be a thought leader?Back in the 1990s, I worked at Rodale, Inc, publisher of Prevention, Men’s Health, Bicycling and more. The company was well known for what we then called “service journalism.” The idea was simple — give people practical, us
  
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• Forget signatures for malware detection. SparkCognition says AI is 99% effective  

  21-04-2017 17:43
  
  This column is available in a weekly newsletter called IT Best Practices.  Click here to subscribe.  The notion of detecting malware by looking for malicious file signatures is obsolete. Depending on which source is cited, anywhere from 300,000 to one million new malware files are identified every day.Kaspersky Lab says it finds 323,000 files daily, AV-TEST claims to discover more than 390,000 new malicious programs every day, and Symantec says it uncovers almost a million new threats
  
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• 75% off Lamicall S1 Cell Phone Dock - Deal Alert

  21-04-2017 17:32
  
  Designed on a low center of gravity makes it stable. The extended hooks keep the phone in safety, and rubber cushions protect the phone from scratches and sliding. Suitable height, perfect angle of view when using Facetime and YouTube, makes it so easy to read message and emails. Compatible with iPhone and Android phones even when they have an added case.  The doc averages 4.8 out of 5 stars from over 4,500 reviewers on Amazon (86% rate a full 5 stars: see reviews), where its typi
  
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• Days of piecemeal security are over: Mark Anderson

  21-04-2017 17:28
  
  Security is a big nightmare for organizations globally. Palo Alto Networks is quite upbeat on its next generation security platform to keep the enterprises safe and sound. CSO India spoke to Mark Anderson, President, Palo Alto Networks on CISO concerns, company’s vision and the next big thing in security. The CISOs’ magical checklist of having more security boxes is out and dusted, and the security play has shifted to adoption of integrated platforms, said Anderson.Edited Excerpts:Ho
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: How to containerize your legacy apps without sweating

  21-04-2017 17:23
  
  MetLife will turn 150 years old next year and the venerable company is still using applications that were written in 1980s.If you think MetLife is unique, think again. According to a 2016 Fortune article, "the average age of a Fortune 500 company is 80 years."In a keynote speech at DockerCon, Aaron Ades, an assistant vice president at MetLife, explained the challenges companies like MetLife face with legacy applications. Here we have a 150 year-old company, banking on a technology that is less t
  
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• Cushman & Wakefield CIO builds innovation through partnerships

  21-04-2017 17:03
  
  Intense competition in the $2 trillion commercial real estate market is driving technology startups to pitch property sellers on their latest applications to help close sales. Adam Stanley, CIO of commercial real estate powerhouse Cushman & Wakefield, has a system in place to vet those pesky vendors.Cushman & WakefieldAdam Stanley, CIO of Cushman & Wakefield.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: How CIOs can fight the rise in shadow email

  21-04-2017 16:52
  
  One feature of today’s cloud-centric landscape is just how many different services may be sending email on your company’s behalf, even when email does not appear to be their primary function.We call this “shadow email,” because these emails are going out (potentially exposing your company to risk and liability) without any awareness or oversight by the CIO, CSO or IT teams. Like shadow IT, shadow email lurks in the dark corners of your domain.I’ve worked with dozens
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: 3 foundational characteristics needed for social media success

  21-04-2017 16:19
  
  With over 2.5 billion worldwide users, the flow of information on social media moves at an unprecedented speed. As businesses everywhere are learning, being successful in social media marketing is not as simple as it looks.A captivating post requires a great deal of research and planning. When done correctly, social media can do wonders to spread brand messaging to widespread audiences. In fact, a report by Social Media Examiner found that nearly 90 percent of marketers claimed their social medi
  
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• Steam Link Is 18% Off - Mirror Your Gaming Setup to TV at 1080p - Deal Alert

  21-04-2017 15:31
  
  The Steam Link allows existing Steam gamers to expand the range of their current gaming set up via their home network. Just connect your Steam PC or Steam Machine to your home network, plug into a TV, and stream your games to the Link at 1080p. Video and audio data is sent from your computer to the Steam Link, while your controller input is sent back in real time. Virtually every game that your computer runs can be played on your TV. Steam Controller, Xbox One USB wired, Xbox 360 USB wired,
  
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• Why Steve Ballmer could fix the U.S. government

  21-04-2017 14:53
  You could also title this piece: “You should listen to your spouse,” but I’ll get to that. Steve Ballmer had a tough time as CEO of Microsoft largely because he had the wrong skill set to run that company. However, he did earn the right to try and by most measures he is arguably one of the smartest guys on the planet. But, his extreme intelligence is largely focused on one area: numbers. The guy is kind of a mathematical savant, which works if you are going to be a COO or CFO,
  
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• Cybersecurity industry braces for tighter visa rules

  21-04-2017 14:33
  
  Email authentication company ValiMail just got done with the process of bringing in a new employee under the H-1B visa program, which allows companies to hire foreign experts."We just made it under the wire," said Alexander García-Tobar, CEO and co-founder at San Francisco-based ValiMail. "However, there are additional hires that we are considering, and we are very concerned."The entire U.S. technology industry, including the cybersecurity sector, is heavily dependent on foreign talent. N
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: Digital marketing and data tools prove valuable for brick and mortar, too

  21-04-2017 13:30
  
  It’s easy to feel as if digital marketing platforms and big data tools are only useful for online businesses, but the fact of the matter is that even physical stores can extract value from the latest digital trends. They just have to be more strategic with how they do it.Brick and mortar extracts value from digital tools
  When you study the tumultuous relationship between brick and mortar and ecommerce, you can clearly see some distinct stages. At first, there was a sort of skepticism where
  
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• Fewer crashes, readability improvements should keep Firefox browser users loyal

  21-04-2017 13:00
  
  Competition in tech is good for consumers, so I’m glad to see Mozilla pumping up its Firefox browser as it struggles to keep from being buried by Google Chrome. Firefox 53, released Tuesday has a number of important tweaks, including changes to its architecture which Mozilla claims will reduce crashes by a solid 10 percent.The new Firefox, which you can download here, also contains a number of visual tweaks, including more readable tabs and a theme for reading in low light without strainin
  
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• What's in the fine print of your disaster recovery vendor agreement?

  21-04-2017 12:45
  
  Sign on the bottom lineImage by ThinkstockDisaster-recovery solutions require several complex, moving parts coordinated between your production site and the recovery site. Service-level agreements are ultimately the most accurate way to determine where responsibility is held for disaster-recovery process and execution. It’s important to have SLA documentation around these critical aspects of recovery so that customers have commitments from their vendor. It’s also important that a ser
  
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• CW@50: A look at life on the job in IT through cartoons

  21-04-2017 12:30
  
  February 2013: Managing expectationsImage by John Klossner, © ComputerworldPeople in other walks of life may tend to think that tech careers are all about high salaries, signing bonuses, flexible schedules and state-of-the-art offices boasting beanbag chairs, Ping-Pong tables, espresso makers and unlimited artisanal snacks.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
  
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• Node.js exec director: Our project is transformational

  21-04-2017 12:00
  
  The Node.js Foundation was formed in 2015 to serve as a steward over the Node.js sever-side JavaScript platform, providing a new governance model and taking over leadership from Joyent. Now, the foundation has hired its first executive director, Mark Hinkle, who had been vice president of marketing at the Linux Foundation. Hinkle will work to expand the foundation and articulate priorities.Hinkle sees use cases for Node.js growing, including IoT (internet of things). InfoWorld Editor at Large Pa
  
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• Linux, PCs and Trump’s ‘Buy American’ problem

  21-04-2017 12:00
  
  Some PCs are assembled in the U.S., but not many. This includes those from Lenovo, the China-based firm that runs a factory in North Carolina. Apple operates a Mac Pro assembly plant in Austin, but makes many of its other products overseas.Lenovo and Apple may have an edge in selling PCs to the U.S., under President Donald Trump's recently signed "Hire American, Buy American" executive order signed this week, say analysts.All PCs are made with components sourced globally, but vendors that assemb
  
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• Got Alexa? 12 devices that extend its reach

  21-04-2017 12:00
  
  Alexa adds a new voice to devicesImage by Steve Traynor/IDGAmazon's Alexa voice service -- the cloud-based intelligent personal assistant -- is quickly being adopted by a wide range of third-party product manufacturers. Despite rumors of in-home privacy issues, a lot of consumers -- and businesses -- are adopting this service.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
  
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• Apple's Mac Pro gets crushed on features by new HP Zbook laptops

  21-04-2017 12:00
  
  Apple's Mac Pro has been ignored for so long that even Windows 10 mobile workstations are catching up on features and performance.Take HP's latest Zbook laptop workstations , which were announced on Friday. These heavy built laptops -- which is why they are called mobile workstations -- have comparable memory and storage capacity technology to the Mac Pro, but excel in other areas.The laptops feature Thunderbolt 3 ports, DDR4 memory, Intel's latest Kaby Lake-based Core and Xeon processors,
  
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• G Suite vs Office 365 - What's the best office suite for business?

  21-04-2017 09:01
  
  When people think of an office productivity suite, both Microsoft and Google tend to spring to mind. And for good reason: while there are other alternatives on the market, they remain the top software tools for business users across the country.Both offer similar functionality - such as word processing, file storage and spreadsheet applications - but differ in many respects. For example, Microsoft offers both desktop and cloud deployments of its Office365 suite, while Google's G Suite - formerly
  
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• 4G vs LTE: What's the difference?

  21-04-2017 08:58
  
  4G, LTE, LTE-A, carrier aggregation. It's all tech nonsense if you don't understand what the jargon means. Here we explain the differences between 4G and LTE so you're better equipped to choose not only the best phone, but also the best tariff.These days, there are a lot of decisions to make when getting a new phone. Along with deciding which handset is best for you, you might also have to choose a new tariff, and that's a complex business in itself.4G is the big buzzword you'll hear or see, but
  
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• Fake heads and robot probes: testing smartphones prior to launch

  21-04-2017 01:41
  
  On the shelves of a laboratory near San Francisco sit tanks and tanks of mysterious-looking liquids. Labels identify some as simulations of human heads, while others relate to muscles.It sounds like the ghoulish headquarters of a mad scientist, but it isn't. It's the Silicon Valley offices of UL, a product testing organization previously known as Underwriters Laboratory, and these liquids play an important part in smartphone safety.You might not know UL, but you can probably find its l
  
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