IT Executive news

• CEOs rate productivity 'very low' from emerging tech

  24-04-2017 23:07
  
  The internet of things, artificial intelligence, blockchain and 3D printing promise to improve productivity on a grand scale for enterprises, cities and other organizations.Even so, CEOs and other senior enterprise managers rate such breakthrough technologies "very low" in terms of productivity improvement in the next five years, according to a new Gartner survey of 388 senior executives. But it may be too early in the game to fully appreciate the potential benefits of these technologies, Gartne
  
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• 7 patch management practices guaranteed to help protect your data

  24-04-2017 22:59
  
  This vendor-written tech primer has been edited by Network World to eliminate product promotion, but readers should note it will likely favor the submitter’s approach.We’re in an era in which pre-packaged exploit services make it possible for the average Joe, with no technological experience or prowess, to launch intricate attacks on our environments. So, what can be done? Patching operating systems and applications is a surefire way to block some attacks.  But yo
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: Digital is out, smart is in

  24-04-2017 22:00
  
  It’s not about how digital you can become, but about how smart. The majority of emerging technologies exist and evolve to enhance our cognitive capabilities. They are there to make us smarter.As more organizations move themselves along a path to the digital era, it is important that they understand what digital means. It is crucial to have a clear perspective of what their digital future looks like. Many organizations have at best a fragmented point of view.Replace the word “dig
  
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• CEOs' lack of success metrics dampens digital prospects

  24-04-2017 21:38
  
  CEOs view digital technologies as a vital engine to drive revenue growth and boost the bottom line, creating runways for CIOs to innovate and create their way to new customer-facing capabilities. But with most CEOs lacking a coherent definition of digital and fewer than half of CEOS lacking a success metric for their digital efforts, measuring whether their efforts are paying off is difficult.Gartner analyst Mark Raskino, who surveyed 388 CEOs during the fourth quarter of 2016, says CEOs' defini
  
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• CEOs' lack of success metrics dampen digital prospects

  24-04-2017 21:38
  
  CEOs view digital technologies as a vital engine to drive revenue growth and boost the bottom line, creating runways for CIOs to innovate and create their way to new customer-facing capabilities. But with most CEOs lacking a coherent definition of digital and fewer than half of CEOS lacking a success metric for their digital efforts, measuring whether their efforts are paying off is difficult.Gartner analyst Mark Raskino, who surveyed 388 CEOs during the fourth quarter of 2016, says CEOs' defini
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: Open Media Project increases government transparency with technology

  24-04-2017 21:30
  
  A naive and idealistic man is appointed to fill a vacancy in the U.S. Senate. His plans promptly collide with political corruption, but he doesn't back down in the classic Mr Smith Goes To Washington.Legislation isn’t riveting. Nor easy to follow. Long debates and votes scheduled at varying times make government hard to follow. How can the public stay abreast of legislation on issues that matter to them with hundreds of hearings at thousands of locations?Background
  Laws begin as ideas. A r
  
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• How to delete and disable location history in the Windows 10 Creators Update

  24-04-2017 21:30
  
  Your devices scoop up all kinds of information about you to provide helpful services and deliver supposedly targeted advertising. Since the debut of Windows 10 this trend has also landed in full force on the PC. But what if you don't want to participate in this cloud-based madness? A good start is to restrict your location information in Windows 10.Here's how to turn off location services in Windows 10 and delete your location history.Location servicesIan Paul/IDGSome Windows Store apps in Windo
  
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• BrandPost: Fighting emerging threats with data analytics

  24-04-2017 21:28
  Fighting emerging threats with data analytics
  By John Nichols and James BirminghamWhen it comes to today’s rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape, you’re likely to hear a great deal of talk about intelligence-driven security solutions. The idea is that the security solution delivers insights and deploys countermeasures based on data analytics and applied intelligence.While people sometimes characterize intelligence-driven security as a next-generation approach, and although it cont
  
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• Google Fit update finally brings strength training feature to all Android Wear 2.0 watches

  24-04-2017 21:22
  
  Whether you have a new Android Wear 2.0 watch or a first-gen model that just received an update, they’re about to get a lot more buffed. We already know the new Google Fit app brings a bunch of new trackers and motivators for workout buffs, but in the latest update, Google is finally turning on the best new feature.Back when we reviewed the LG Sport and Style watches, we noted a strange difference between them regarding one of Google Fit’s better features. On the Sport, we were able
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: How Microsoft helped Docker with LinuxKit and Moby Project

  24-04-2017 20:55
  
  Today, supporting Linux is as critical to Microsoft as it is to Red Hat and SUSE. (Linux  now runs on one out of three machines in Azure cloud.)Surprisingly, Microsoft is doing an incredible job showing how critical Linux is to Azure's success. On the developer side, Microsoft worked with Canonical to build a subsystem for Linux so developers can use Linux utilities and tools natively on Windows 10 without having to make compromises with virtual machines or workarounds like Cygwin. On
  
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• Customers roast Microsoft over security bulletins' demise

  24-04-2017 20:49
  
  When Microsoft asked customers last week for feedback on the portal that just replaced the decades-long practice of delivering detailed security bulletins, it got an earful from unhappy users."Hate hate hate the new security bulletin format. HATE," emphasized Janelle 322 in a support forum where Microsoft urged customers to post thoughts on the change. "I now have to manually transcribe this information to my spreadsheet to disseminate to my customers. You have just added 8 hours to my workload.
  
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• Deep dive on AWS vs. Azure vs. Google cloud storage options

  24-04-2017 20:40
  
  One of the most common use cases for public IaaS cloud computing is storage and that’s for good reason: Instead of buying hardware and managing it, users simply upload data to the cloud and pay for how much they put there.+MORE AT NETWORK WORLD: Battle of the clouds: AWS vs. Azure vs. Google Cloud Platform | Interactive map of public cloud regions around the world +To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
  
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• AMD shows off Vega's ability to handle 8K graphics at NAB

  24-04-2017 20:31
  
  AMD is giving a demonstration of the brute force of its upcoming Vega GPU, showing its ability to handle 4K and 8K graphics.The company is showing off its next-generation Radeon Pro professional graphics card based on the Vega GPU at the NAB show in the Las Vegas this week.One demonstration has the Vega GPU handling 8K video processing in Adobe Premiere Pro CC 2017. The other focuses on 4K post-processing with Radeon ProRender, which renders high-end graphics.The NAB show is targeted at the TV a
  
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• Get 20% off BeatsX Wireless In-Ear Headphones - Deal Alert

  24-04-2017 19:52
  
  BeatsX wireless in-ear headphones are currently discounted 20% on Amazon. BeatsX features Fast Fuel charging (5 mins of charge = 2 mins of playback), multiple tips for a personalized fit, and seamless setup & connection with iOS devices via class 1 Bluetooth. The public list price of $149.95 on Amazon will be reduced to $119.99 when you add the item to your cart. See the discounted BeatsX wireless in-ear headphones now on Amazon.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please clic
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: Technology for the modern HR department

  24-04-2017 19:45
  
  The human resources department oversees the process of moderating and maintaining standards expected of employees within a business. From ensuring compliance with federal and national labor laws to addressing employee payroll, benefits, and compensation, the HR department of any company must act quickly and efficiently to meet all required conditions. Thankfully, there is technology available on the market that assists in maintaining the various aspects of employee management.Reach out with soci
  
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• ZTE's Quartz smartwatch: A good idea hindered by its OS

  24-04-2017 19:41
  
  ZTE's Quartz smartwatch is the Chinese phone maker's first attempt at breaching what's quickly becoming a saturated U.S. smartwatch market. Two of the watch's most promising features are its ability to be used without a phone and its affordability. But how do these promises stand up to the test? I tried it out for myself. 3G Connectivity may not be as useful as you think 
  To begin with, I must point out that a lot of the issues I had while using the ZTE Quartz were not necessarily issu
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: Facebook's plan to own (and destroy) your smartphone with AR

  24-04-2017 19:36
  
  Mark Zuckerberg already controls much of how we regularly interact with other humans, but now he appears to be taking things a step further and change how we view reality itself. At Facebook’s F8 developer conference, Zuckerberg talked about a world where augmented reality merges with the real world, letting us see and interact with objects in ways which feel like something out of a video game. For now, our smartphones will be the avenue through which we experience this combination of the
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: Embrace the hybrid cloud by dispelling security and latency myths

  24-04-2017 19:30
  
  If you’re still thinking “private data center” and don’t have an ironclad regulatory reason for doing so, you should really ask yourself: Why?Fewer and fewer companies are holding out. They’ve had to navigate many wants and needs, from security and regulations to enabling digital platform strategies to extending the life of existing infrastructure investments. Analysts predict that most will settle on hybrid clouds as the end game that balances the pieces.To read th
  
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• Read all about IT: CEOs see IT as more important than ever

  24-04-2017 19:11
  
  As IT rises up the list of business priorities, CEOs are more likely to read about new technologies than they are to ask their CIOs for information.That's one of the findings in a new survey by Gartner, in which 31 percent of business leaders questioned put IT among their top three priorities. It's the highest-ever ranking in the survey for IT, which was trumped only by profits and growth, cited by 58 percent.The 388 business leaders questioned -- mostly CEOs, with a smattering of CFOs and COOs
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: 3 things to know before launching machine intelligence

  24-04-2017 19:05
  
  Does automatic and seamless learning occur with machine intelligence? The world of machine intelligence spans industries, platforms and functions which can add value to your business.Autonomous systems have been used in the air, ground and sea with far-reaching industrial applications. Many of these were governmental, and while they could be applied to the private sector, there wasn’t a strong demand. The private sector is starting to ask more questions. We’ll cover a few today: What
  
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• 4 reasons to consider Garmin's new vivosmart 3

  24-04-2017 18:15
  
  The new vivosmart 3 ($140) has a lot to offer Garmin fans looking for a new fitness gadget. And if you’ve never bought an activity tracker, smartwatch or fitness-focused watch, you might be tempted by vivosmart 3’s features.But after a week of wearing the device, I’m not tempted to jump the Fitbit ship. I’ll explain why in a second. First, here are four reasons to consider a vivosmart 3.1. It’s packed with features
  Garmin’s done an excellent job integrating us
  
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• AMD's new Polaris-based Radeon Pro Duo is slower than its predecessor

  24-04-2017 18:11
  
  AMD's new Radeon Pro Duo graphics packs two of the company's fastest GPUs, but surprisingly, is slower than its 2016 predecessor.The Pro Duo, announced on Monday, is based on the Polaris architecture. It provides 11.45 teraflops of single-precision performance, which is a downgrade from the 16 teraflops of performance offered by last year's Pro Duo, based on the Fiji architecture.Performance usually goes up with each new GPU generation, but AMD opted to lower the power draw and the number of pro
  
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• What life after the smartphone will look like

  24-04-2017 17:57
  
  News about the iPhone 8 featuring a wider bezel and OLED technology landed with a thud recently. More tweaks to the existing design, baby steps forward in the overall design.We’ve been living with smartphones for about ten years now -- a bit more if you count the earliest Windows models and those made by BlackBerry and Nokia. (Note: I don’t.) The first iPhone came out in 2007, and the first Android model shipped in 2008. If you didn’t notice, it might have something to do with
  
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• How diversity drives innovation and results

  24-04-2017 17:29
  
  Maximizing results is about diversity and inclusion on all rungs of the ladder. Making that an everyday reality is a goal we reach for like any other: First, we need to recognize that it’s a goal, and agree it’s the right one. Then, we must decide how we want to get there and take the steps. And with diversity, we really are getting there, right?If you answered yes, congratulations, you’re in the overwhelming majority. Atlassian’s 2017 State of Diversity Report —a s
  
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• Use LinkedIn a lot? Read its new privacy policy — carefully.

  24-04-2017 16:58
  
  He who pays plays. That seems to be the underlying thought behind LinkedIn’s new privacy policy and user agreement, both of which were updated Friday (April 21). And it’s an important thought to remember before you use your employer-paid-for LinkedIn account to investigate and/or apply for jobs with your company’s competitors. (Note: The changes aren’t slated to go into effect until June 7.)To read this article in full or to leave a comment,
  
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• Microsoft offers Gmail users some key Outlook features, but only via Windows 10

  24-04-2017 16:57
  Soon Gmail accounts will no longer be second-class citizens in Windows 10. Microsoft announced late last week that some of the company's top features for Outlook.com and other Microsoft-hosted email are coming to Gmail accounts.The changes will be available via the Windows 10 Mail and Calendar app, meaning Gmail users won't see them outside of a Windows 10 device. The added features include Focused Inbox, and travel and package tracking. Microsoft also says it will extend "faster and improv
  
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• IBM service will use Watson to unlock data insights from video

  24-04-2017 16:55
  
  Vast amounts of data today are locked in video: cell phone cameras, drone cameras, traffic cameras, security cameras and CCTV are all generating increasing volumes of data that could unlock powerful insights if it could be properly analyzed. Human analysis is effective, but doesn't scale. Enter IBM Watson.At the National Association of Broadcasters Show in Las Vegas on Monday, IBM announced plans for a Watson-powered cloud service that brings together artificial intelligence (AI) and the IBM Clo
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: Notorious project failures -- Berlin airport: Why did it go wrong?

  24-04-2017 16:46
  
  Projects are everywhere in our lives: personal projects, development projects, educational projects, business projects, capacity-building projects, infrastructure projects, innovation projects, technology projects, research and development projects. There have been zillions of projects in the past; there will be zillions of projects in the future. Basically, we got where we are now through projects.What is fascinating about all these projects is that they all share a set of common characteristic
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: Tim Cook slaps down Uber for deceiving Apple

  24-04-2017 16:43
  
  Apple’s app store has had its share of shenanigans perpetrated by various developers and companies over the years. But one of the more egregious examples of bad behavior was recently done by Uber, and it resulted in a smackdown administered by Apple CEO Tim Cook.Mike Isaac reports for the NY Times:
  Uber engineers assigned a persistent identity to iPhones with a small piece of code, a practice called “fingerprinting.” Uber could then identify an iPhone and prevent itself from be
  
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• Seeing red: Samsung to offer software fix for tinted Galaxy S8 displays

  24-04-2017 16:04
  
  Millions of people around the world are enjoying their first days with the Galaxy S8, marveling over the screen and rocking out with the new AKG-tuned earbuds. But not everyone is singing a happy tune. For some users, the infinity display isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, with some S8 screens showing a distinct red tint.Reports of the red menace started cropping up almost as soon as S8s began landing in customer’s hands, but Samsung initially brushed them off, blaming the color
  
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• Ring Video Doorbell Pro Discounted $50 on Amazon - Deal Alert

  24-04-2017 15:45
  
  With a motion-activated camera, two-way audio and HD video, you’ll never miss a visitor again. Ring detects motion and can alert you on your mobile device, even at night thanks to built-in infrared LED night vision. Optionally, video can be archived to the cloud for later viewing. See, hear and speak to whomever is at your door in real time from your smartphone, tablet or desktop. Day or night, rain or shine -- you’re always home. Right now the Ring Video Doorbell Pro is discoun
  
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• Russian man receives longest-ever prison sentence in the US for hacking

  24-04-2017 15:44
  
  A 32-year-old Russian hacker was sentenced to 27 years in prison in the U.S. for stealing millions of payment card details from businesses by infecting their point-of-sale systems with malware.The sentence is the longest ever handed out in the U.S. for computer crimes, surpassing the 20-year jail term imposed on American hacker and former U.S. Secret Service informant Albert Gonzalez in 2010 for similar credit card theft activities.Roman Valeryevich Seleznev, a Russian citizen from Vladivostok,
  
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• Free project management certifications

  24-04-2017 15:29
  
  Founded by Harvard University and MIT in 2012, edX is one of the biggest MOOC (Massive Open Online Courses) platforms available and offers many project management (PM) courses. You can take individual courses at no charge, and many of them can be accredited towards an edX credential.
  Here are just some of the PM courses available to students and professionals. These courses are free unless specified otherwise. Because edX is a large open global online educational platform, note that courses are
  
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• How to track and secure open source in your enterprise

  24-04-2017 15:19
  
  Recently, SAS issued a rather plaintive call for enterprises to limit the number of open source projects they use to a somewhat arbitrary percentage. That seems a rather obvious attempt to protest the rise of the open source R programming language for data science and analysis in a market where SAS has been dominant. But there is a good point hidden in the bluster: Using open source responsibly means knowing what you’re using so you can track and maintain it.To read this article in full or
  
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• BrandPost: The Hybrid Data Center: Bridging Legacy & Cloud

  24-04-2017 14:04
  
  Almost everyone is talking about digital transformation and its related technologies — cloud computing, Internet of Things (IoT), big data and analytics (BDA), mobility, social media, and security.But the reality is that most organizations must devote the majority of their resources to keeping their legacy environments up and running. The C-suite understands the imperative of changing their IT assets quickly to meet new and emerging demands, that it’s a case of “go digital or d
  
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• 6 Bluetooth keywords for workers on the go

  24-04-2017 13:18
  
  Portable Bluetooth keyboards are the perfect accessory for road warriors and minimalist tech enthusiasts. With low-profile designs, compact keyboards are easy to throw in a carry-on or to slip into a desk drawer to minimize clutter.Another key feature of portable Bluetooth keyboards is that -- for the most part -- they're compatible with up to three devices at one time. That means you can swap between your Android, Windows and iOS devices with ease.I tested six different portable Bluetooth keybo
  
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• 6 Bluetooth keyboards for workers on the go

  24-04-2017 13:18
  
  Portable Bluetooth keyboards are the perfect accessory for road warriors and minimalist tech enthusiasts. With low-profile designs, compact keyboards are easy to throw in a carry-on or to slip into a desk drawer to minimize clutter.Another key feature of portable Bluetooth keyboards is that -- for the most part -- they're compatible with up to three devices at one time. That means you can swap between your Android, Windows and iOS devices with ease.I tested six different portable Bluetooth keybo
  
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• Tested: 5 protective bumpers for the Apple Watch

  24-04-2017 13:00
  The Apple Watch is actually pretty durable—and, since it’s worn on your wrist, it’s nowhere near as likely as your iPhone is to sustain a fall. Even the old Apple Watch Sport, which is the cheapest, weakest model, is built out of an aluminum alloy that Apple claims is 60 percent stronger than standard alloys.But the Apple Watch is still a wrist-based watch, which means it’s susceptible to damage from scrapes and scratches. We took a look at several bumpers and cases that
  
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• Smartphone camera showdown: Google Pixel vs. LG G6

  24-04-2017 13:00
  
  Last year, we named the Google Pixel the king of all smartphone cameras, besting the Samsung Galaxy S7, LG V20, and iPhone 7. This year it has to defend its top spot against a whole slew of new phones, the first of which is the LG G6. Let’s put these cameras head to head!One camera versus two
  First, let’s go over specs. The Google Pixel sports a 12.3-megapixel sensor, an f/2.0 lens, and some serious image-processing muscle. LG’s G6, meanwhile, sports two cameras on the rear. Bo
  
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• 6 leadership qualities to look for when hiring

  24-04-2017 12:59
  
  Leadership qualities to look for when hiringImage by PexelsLeadership isn't confined to the C-suite. Companies increasingly look for solid leadership skills when adding to their workforce, whether the roles are entry-level or executive. Stephany Samuels, senior vice president of people strategy at IT recruiting and staffing firm Mondo, explains which qualities you should be looking for when hiring and how to identify the leaders in your talent pool.To read this article in full or to leave a comm
  
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• Securing risky network ports

  24-04-2017 12:51
  
  Data packets travel to and from numbered network ports associated with particular IP addresses and endpoints, using the TCP or UDP transport layer protocols. All ports are potentially at risk of attack. No port is natively secure.“Each port and underlying service has its risks. The risk comes from the version of the service, whether someone has configured it correctly, and, if there are passwords for the service, whether these are strong? There are many more factors that determine whether
  
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• Healthcare records for sale on Dark Web

  24-04-2017 12:41
  
  Last August a Baltimore substance abuse treatment facility had its database hacked. Patient records subsequently found their way onto the Dark Web, according to DataBreaches.net. The group noticed such things as dates of admission, whether the patients are on methadone, their doctors and counselors, and dosing information.In the DataBreaches.net blog, the hacker “Return,” who they think is Russian, described how he compromised the Man Alive clinic: “With the help of the social
  
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• What's wrong with Microsoft To-Do: 8 things lacking in Wunderlist's replacement

  24-04-2017 12:30
  
  Last week, Microsoft made the inscrutable decision to retire Wunderlist, the beloved to-do list app it acquired in 2015, and replace it with a new offering called Microsoft To-Do.Wunderlist isn’t going away yet, but it’s no longer getting feature updates, and its long-term fate is sealed. In a blog post, Microsoft said it will retire the app after incorporating “your valued feedback and the best elements of the Wunderlist experience into To-Do.”To read this article i
  
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• The future of Wi-Fi: The best is yet to come

  24-04-2017 12:17
  
  With today’s gigabit-plus speeds, broad features and capabilities, and impressive price/performance, one might assume that we’re approaching the time when we can close the wireless LAN patent office.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here(Insider Story)
  
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• Apple vs. Amazon vs. Google: How to pick a home network hub

  24-04-2017 12:16
  
  (Editor’s Note: Second in a series of articles on how to successfully and securely deploy smart home technology. See the introduction to this series.)To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here(Insider Story)
  
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• FAQ: What is blockchain and how can it help business?

  24-04-2017 12:01
  
  Blockchain sounds like a way to keep boats anchored, which isn't a bad analogy, considering what the technology purports to do.While some IT experts herald it as a groundbreaking way of creating a distributed, unchangeable record of transactions, others question the nascent technology's usefulness in the enterprise, which has traditionally relied on centrally-administered databases to secure digital records.Even so, companies are moving fast to try and figure out how they can use it to save time
  
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• Oracle floats Java hardware acceleration proposal

  24-04-2017 12:00
  
  A proposal currently floating in the Java community would use hardware acceleration to improve bulk calculations in the platform.Project Trinity would explore enhancing execution of bulk aggregate calculations over Streams by offloading calculations to hardware accelerators. Streams in Java allow developers to express calculations so that data parallelism can be efficiently exploited, and the Stream capability in Java Standard Edition 8 is for processing data declaratively while leveraging multi
  
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• 8 ways the iPhone 8 can beat the Galaxy S8

  24-04-2017 12:00
  
  If there wasn’t already a mountain of pressure on Apple to deliver something spectacular with this year’s iPhone update, there surely is now. If you haven’t noticed, Samsung has released the Galaxy S8 and S8+, and they’re pretty remarkable. As a former iPhone 7 Plus user, the S8+ might very well be the best phone I’ve ever used, with a stunning screen, speedy processor, and, yes, a gorgeous design.But what makes the S8 so amazing is how unique it is. I got to spend
  
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• 11 technologies developers should explore now

  24-04-2017 12:00
  
  New and evolving technologies are rapidly reshaping how we work—offering creative opportunities for developers who are willing to pivot and adopt new skills. We took a look at 11 tech trends experts say are likely to disrupt current IT approaches and create demand for engineers with an eye on the future.It isn’t all about The Next Big Thing. Future opportunities for developers are emerging from a confluence of cutting-edge technologies, such as AI, VR. augmented reality, IoT, and clo
  
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• Op zoek naar benchmarks in informatiebeveiliging

  24-04-2017 11:50
  Door Jeroen Kroon – Veel organisaties vragen zich af of ze wel genoeg geld investeren in informatiebeveiliging. Besteed ik te weinig of misschien wel te veel? Dat is een veelvoorkomend dilemma. Hoe scoor ik met mijn kosten ten opzichte van gelijkwaardige bedrijven in dezelfde sector?Dit soort vragen valt vaak... lees meer
  
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