VFI Blog Watch
A New Federal Privacy Law on the Horizon?
July 23, 2010
On the TRUSTe Blog, Elizabeth Frazee discusses the recent congressional hearing on the Best Practices Act, a privacy bill introduced by U.S. Representative Bobby Rush (D-IL). Frazee discusses industry self-regulatory practices and predicts that digital privacy legislation will not be passed this year.
A Windows Phone 7 Milestone
July 18, 2010
More on Windows Phone 7 from the Windows Phone Blog… The technical preview of the new mobile software has been released, and now prototype phones will be available to thousands of developers.
Windows Phone 7 Developer Tools Beta Released
July 12, 2010
Corporate Vice President of Microsoft’s Developer Division Scott Guthrie blogs about the beta release of Windows Phone 7 developer tools, which include an express edition of Visual Studio 2010 and versions of Silverlight and XNA Game Studio for Windows Phone 7. And Guthrie is tweeting now at twitter.com/scottgu.
Silverlight (Finally) Comes to Symbian
July 6, 2010
On the SD Times Blog, David Worthington writes about the value of working on Silverlight to bring rich applications to multiple mobile platforms. He notes that “Microsoft is being far more open than Apple.”
Apple Giving Out Your iPhone Fingerprints and Location
June 26, 2010
In his Identity Weblog, Microsoft Distinguished Engineer and Chief Architect of Identity Kim Cameron offers scathing observations about Apple’s new iPhone privacy policy. Cameron may be a Microsoftie, but he writes as a leading international expert on privacy and identity issues and technologies.
Key Takeaways From Google’s Big Win Over Viacom
June 24, 2010
Writing for On the Docket, the Forbes legal blog, attorney Kimberly Gold sums up the court ruling in Viacom’s copyright infringement case against Google. Basically, under the ruling, web service providers must remove infringing materials swiftly upon request, but are not required to police their services. Viacom plans to appeal.
No Harm, Big Foul: Google Intercepted Passwords and Email Extracts
June 21, 2010
In his Digital Daily column on All Things Digital, John Paczkowski discusses a preliminary report the French National Commission on Computing and Liberty, which found that Google collected passwords and email content from unsecured Wi-Fi routers. This activity may be in violation of French privacy laws.
Office 2010 Will Continue To Succeed With Consumers
June 14, 2010
In his eponymous GP Gownder’s Blog, the Forrester analyst writes that “Google Docs remains a failure,” and he predicts substantial marketplace support for Microsoft’s strategy of enhancing client software with Web-based services.
TechEd 2010 Day 4
June 11, 2010
On his BizTalk blog, Kent Weare offers a wrap-up of TechEd and highlights the evolution of Azure. He also stacks BizTalk up against other middleware.
Microsoft Makes the Business Case for Windows Phone 7
June 7, 2010
On her All About Microsoft blog, Mary-Jo Foley discusses the value of Windows Phone 7 to enterprises and business users. She provides details on the forthcoming phone’s Office Hub and the Windows Phone Marketplace.
Microsoft Connects Windows Live Essentials 2011 to the Cloud
June 2, 2010
On the ReadWriteWeb blog, Frederic Lardinois provides an overview of Windows Live Essentials 2011. He concludes that “this new suite of tools is worth another look.”
Elevate America, Now in 32 States and DC
May 28, 2010
On the Microsoft on the Issues blog, Pamela Passman, the company’s Corporate VP for Global Corporate Affairs, reports on the progress of Microsoft’s no-cost technology training and certification program, Elevate America. In addition to assisting 32 states and DC, Elevate America operates a Veterans Initiative that provides tech training to service members.
What Does Government 2.0 Look Like?
May 24, 2010
On the O’Reilly Radar, Mark Drapeau offers a detailed description of Gov 2.0, complete with visual aids. One interesting assertion: “[W]hat citizens do with new technologies will affect what government does, and vice versa.”
Microsoft Seeks Business Edge in Wave of Social Consciousness
May 21, 2010
In his Microsoft Blog, Seattle-area tech journalist Todd Bishop highlights Microsoft’s Citizenship Accelerator Summit. This event brought together leaders of global non-profits to discuss ways that technology can help address societal challenges.
EFF Panopticlick Profiles Your Browser and Finds Unique Ways to Identify You
May 18, 2010
On the Privacy and Identity Theft blog, Ironkey CEO Dave Jevans writes about his personal test of the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s (EFF’s) browser fingerprinting tool. Will this open a new front in online privacy discussions?
Why Obama Dissed the Internet, and Why the Internet Doesn’t Get It
May 10, 2010
On the Huffington Post, Alex Pasternack blogs about President Obama’s recent criticism of our gadget-filled lives. He considers the distinctions between superficial information and in-depth thinking and “the gulf between our worldly engagement and our internet attention.”
Commerce Launches New Challenge to Bring Your Ideas to the Market Faster
May 3, 2010
The U.S. Secretary of Commerce -- and former governor of Washington -- Gary Locke is blogging on the White House Blog about the i6 challenge. Six teams can win $1 million for ideas to commercialize technology. The application deadline is July 15, 2010.
WIPO Turns 40! Happy World Intellectual Property Day!
April 26, 2010
On IPWatchdog, patent attorney Gene Quinn writes a half-humorous, half-serious piece about World IP Day. The celebration may lack visibility, but he excuses patent professionals from celebrating because they are busy working “to protect those tangible manifestations of ideas and turn them into assets capable of providing employment for workers and funding for further breakthroughs and advancements.”
Introducing Microsoft TownHall, a New Windows Azure-hosted Engagement Platform
April 19, 2010
The Windows Azure Team Blog highlights a new online service called, TownHall. While this technology enables advocacy groups and public officials to hold organize community interaction, TownHall can also be used to for customer support, event follow-up, fan activities, and more. Microsoft TownHall is also discussed on Microsoft on the Issues.
New Money Going To Venture Funds Down 31 Percent In First Quarter
April 12, 2010
Erick Schonfeld at TechCrunch reports on first quarter 2010 numbers from the National Venture Capital Association. After showing growth last quarter, VC investment has hit another bump in the road, with funds struggling to add new investors.
Why the TurboHercules Case Matters
April 7, 2010
Writing on ZDNet’s Linux and Open Source blog, Dana Blankenhorn discusses the implications of the patent and competition dispute between IBM and TurboHercules. While there is a lot of blogosphere chatter about whether or not IBM broke open source patent pledges, Blankenhorn focuses on IBM’s mainframe “monopoly,” writing that, “There are big profits in backwaters.”
The First Mile on the Marathon of Reform
March 30, 2010
In the Washington Post’s Health Care Rx blog, Microsoft Corporate Vice President for the Health Solutions Group Peter Neupert discusses what steps need to follow passage of reform legislation. He highlights the need to conduct better, faster pilot and demonstration programs in Medicare.
There's Still Time to Participate in This Year’s Imagine Cup
March 25, 2010
On the Official Microsoft Blog, Anthony Salcito, Microsoft VP of Worldwide Education, highlights the student tech competition Imagine Cup. This year’s competition includes two new awards, the Windows Phone 7 Series “Rockstar” Award and the Envisioning 2020 Award. In the U.S., you can vote for your favorite entry through April 23.
Microsoft Ranks No. 1 in Patents
March 18, 2010
In his Microsoft Blog, Todd Bishop discusses the recent release of the IEEE Spectrum Patent Power Scorecards, which ranked Microsoft’s patent portfolio at the top in the software industry.
Privacy Is Not Dead: Danah Boyd Talks About Privacy at SXSW
March 13, 2010
Over at ReadWriteWeb, Frederic Lardinois sums up a talk about online privacy delivered at SWSX by Danah Boyd, an employee of Microsoft Research and a fellow at Harvard’s Berkman Center for Internet and Society. Boyd’s comments focused on the lessons behind the Google Buzz gaff—and she touched on what developers can do to help users.
Geeknet at OSBC 2010
March 9, 2010
Scott Collison of Geeknet guest blogs on Port 25, where he shares “some statistics around how Windows plays in the broader Open Source ecosystem.” The results are quite interesting. Eight-two percent of open source software is Windows compatible. Further, Windows is the only OS that runs all of the top 10 most downloaded open source projects on SourceForge.
Venture Capital Market Warming Up in Canada
March 4, 2010
Over at Gigaom, Mathew Ingram blogs about a new survey released by the Canadian Venture Capital & Private Equity Association. While venture capital hit a low point in Canada in 2009, there are some signs of recovery.
Mr. Softee’s Revenge
February 26, 2010
On Fortune’s Brainstorm Tech blog, Jon Fortt writes that “the year’s most buzz-worthy tech company might be Microsoft.” Fortt notes that Microsoft is on a roll with Windows 7 and the forthcoming Windows Phone, but that the company is in the unlikely position of underdog is some key markets.
How Google’s Ad System Stifles Innovation
February 24, 2010
Writing in The Atlantic, Niraj Chokshi discusses the European Commission’s newly opened antitrust inquiry into Google search and advertising. Chokshi argues that Google’s 90 percent share of search advertising in Europe may represent a “prohibitive barrier to competitors” and innovation.
Microsoft’s New Pitch: “Every .Net Developer Just Became a Windows Phone Developer”
February 18, 2010
Writing on her All About Microsoft blog, Mary-Jo Foley discusses what will likely be the primary development tools for building Windows Phone 7 apps.
The “Ignite Your Coding” Series
February 10, 2009
Over at the Canadian Developer Connection, Microsoft Canada Tech Evangelist (and accordion player) Joey deVilla blogs about the line-up for an upcoming webcast series that features some of “the bright lights in software development.” Webcasts are free, but you must register in advance.
Budget Spells Benefits for the Cloud
February 2, 2010
Stacey Higginbotham writes a post on Gigaom about how the Obama Administration IT budget carves out funds aimed for the cloud. Higginbotham opines that the purchasing power of the federal government could “legitimize the cloud,” but her comments also suggest the extent to which government procurement will affect the evolution of IT.
Despite Changes, Many Still Oppose Google Books Deal
January 28, 2010
Miguel Helft, writing on the New York Times’ Bits blog, says that the revised Google Books settlement has not placated earlier critics. Amazon’s filing said that the settle would “likely lead to a monopoly” and the Internet Archive argued that the new agreement still failed to address “the misappropriation of massive numbers of orphan works.”
Windows Mobile 7 Demo to Appear at Mobile World Congress 2010?
January 27, 2010
Several bloggers, including ZDNet’s Rachel King, are speculating that Windows Mobile 7 will be showcased at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February. The launch date is expected later in 2010.
Microsoft Takes Aim at Google's Soft Underbelly: Privacy
January 19, 2010
Preston Gralla at Computerworld blogs about Microsoft’s announcement to tighten data protection practices used by Bing. Gralla calls the new policy “superior to how Google handles privacy.”
Microsoft Project 2010 Forums
January 12, 2010
Christophe Fiessinger, a Microsoft senior technical product manager, blogs about Microsoft Enterprise Project Management and related technologies. Today’s post offers a catch-all of links related to Project Server 2010.
Six Trends That Will Further Reshape Information Security in 2010
January 4, 2010
Neil MacDonald, a Gartner blogger, offers a snappy synopsis of emerging IT security trends. He discusses virtualization and “cloudification,” as well as the growing use of consumer products by businesses.
Xbox Live Headed to Windows Mobile Devices?
December 30, 2009
Ian Paul at the Today @ PC World blog writes about speculation that Microsoft is planning to integrate Xbox LIVE with Windows Mobile. Paul considers the possibility of a separate mobile game device as well.
Microsoft Security Essentials Ranks as Best-Performing Free Antivirus
December 23, 2009
A brief Lifehacker blog post notes that Microsoft Security Essentials has received AV-Comparatives.org’s top ratings in performance and malware removal. How about that! You can link to the full test report from the blog.
FTC Sues Intel for Illegal Monopoly
December 17, 2009
The IT blogosphere is alive with coverage of the FTC’s antitrust filing against Intel. For a round-up of commentary, check out Richi Jennings’s blog on Computerworld .
White House Releases Open Government Directive
December 8, 2009
On the Huffington Post, Professor Peter M. Shane blogs about the Open Government Directive, which was issued earlier today. He basically argues that data is not enough. We still need analysis and third-party journalism to help make sense of information and take meaningful action.
Office Web Apps Access…
December 1, 2009
In her “All About Microsoft” blog, Mary-Jo Foley lays out which technologies Office Web Apps will work on. This list is extensive and includes the Blackberry, the iPhone, Nokia S60, Opera, and of course Windows Mobile.
PDC09 Wrap-Up: How Software Platforms are Changing
November 20, 2009
PC Magazine’s Michael Miller offers a wrap-up of Microsoft’s Professional Developers Conference (PDC), with lots of links to coverage. His assessment is that client OS’s have reached a level of maturity, and the show’s focus, of course, was on cloud computing.
Open Web Foundation Agreement
November 17, 2009
The non-profit Open Web Foundation just released its agreement for specifications. Read Microsoft’s David Rudin’s explanation of the OWFa on his Standards Law blog . Lucas Mast also discusses the OWFa on Yodel Anecdotal ,the Yahoo corporate blog.
Three Reasons the Justice Department Should Stop the Google-AdMob Deal
November 9, 2009
In a scathing post, ChannelWeb’s Steven Burke argues that the U.S. Department of Justice should block Google’s acquisition of AdMob on antitrust grounds: “The fact is Google is already too powerful in the general ad display market and now is looking to extend that monopoly position into the mobile market. Google will use any and all its power in the general ad display market to snuff out the competition in the mobile/smartphone market,” writes Burke.
Two Posts on the Microsoft Interoperability Blog
October 26 & 28, 2009
This week, the Microsoft Interoperability team made some important announcements on its Interoperability @ Microsoft blog. First, extensive documentation on the .pst file format (Outlook Personal Folders) will be released to enable greater data (e.g., calendar, contacts) portability from Outlook. Next, the blog detailed new interoperability tools for developers using Eclipse who want to access Windows Azure and Microsoft Silverlight.
Seven Ways Technology Can Change the World
October 21, 2009
On the Huffington Post, Microsoft’s Senior Director of Global Community Affairs Akhtar Badshah blogs about software serving community organizations. He also introduces a contest, 7 Ways to Change the World . You just have to have a great idea for using Windows 7 to change the world and make a two-minute video about your idea. Each winner’s chosen non-profit will receive a $7,000 grant.
Microsoft Book Calls for “Data Intensive” Scientific Discovery
October 16, 2009
On Todd Bishop’s Microsoft Blog, you can find a link to a free e-book from Microsoft Research called “The Fourth Paradigm: Data-Intensive Scientific Discovery.” The book aims to promote better use and sharing of data to drive a new era in science.
Secure the Web, Secure the Cloud
October 14, 2009
At the FutureFed blog, Teresa Carlson, VP of Microsoft Federal, writes that data center security is a fundamental requirement for the successful use of cloud computing by governments. She notes that several federal laws establish privacy and security standards that are currently met by Microsoft’s datacenters. Her blog post also provides links to white papers on cloud security.
Microsoft Reboots
October 13, 2009
Writing on Fortune magazine’s Brainstorm Tech blog, Jeffrey O’Brien provides a sweeping overview of Microsoft’s challenges, opportunities, and changing culture on the eve of the Windows 7 release.
6.5 Things that Could Save Windows Mobile
October 6, 2009
Over at OnSoftware, James Thornton blogs about features he likes in the new Windows Mobile OS. Consensus reviews have been strong, though many mobile watchers are looking toward next year’s Windows Mobile 7.
Obama Debuts Innovation Agenda
September 21, 2009
Writing in the Tech Insider blog at Nextgov, Aliya Sternstein discusses a recently detailed Obama administration agenda to promote innovation. The spirit of the agenda is promising, but in practice the plan could end up unfairly favoring community and open source software development and cloud computing.
Two Tools Assist C, C++ Developers with Security Development Lifecycle
September 16, 2009
Over at the ISV Developer Community blog, Bruce Kyle writes about two new free tools available to analyze code for security risks. He provides links to the downloads and discusses other Security Development Lifestyle tools.
Microsoft Launches New Open Source CodePlex Foundation
September 10, 2009
Bill Staples, a Microsoft General Manager of engineering teams working on Web Platform and Tools, blogs about the newly launched CodePlex Foundation. This independent organization will facilitate collaborations between commercial companies and open source communities.
25% Off Select Microsoft Certification Exams
September 3, 2009
Jim Glass over on the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Team Blog writes that Microsoft Learning is offering steep discounts on some Certification Exams, including Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) and Microsoft Certified IT Pro (MCITP) exams. He says that more career-building tools are on the way as well.
Gmail Outage Says More About Google Than Clouds
September 2, 2009
On InformationWeek’s Digital Life blog, Michael Hickins considers the implications of Google’s recent Gmail outage. He concludes that the “outage doesn’t bring the reliability of the cloud into question. It does bring Google’s reliability into question.”
Open Source File-System Vendor Signs Patent Deal with Microsoft
August 26, 2009
Longtime Microsoft watcher Mary-Jo Foley blogs about Microsoft’s recently announced patent agreement with Helsinki-based Tuxera, a company that emerged from the NTFS-3G open source project. As Foley suggests, Microsoft continues to expand the availability of its technologies to open source and Linux users.
Mobile Incubation Week Deadline Fast Approaching
August 24, 2009
Brian Hoskins of Microsoft’s Emerging Business Team offers a blog invitation to developers to apply for Microsoft’s Mobile Incubation Week, Sept. 28-Oct. 2. The deadline to nominate your team is Sept. 5.
“Dear iPhone Users: Your Apps are Spying on You”
August 17, 2009
At the ReadWriteWeb blog, Sarah Perez writes about how the iPhone and the Palm Pre threaten privacy by sending users’ GPS locations and other information back to service providers. She also provides a link to a list of applications that “phone home.”
3 Reasons Why the Bing-Yahoo Deal is a Good One
August 10, 2009
After the dust settled on the Bing-Yahoo deal, most commentary was favorable, including editorials in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. The Channel Web offers a brief blog enumerating three positive outcomes that will come from the alliance.
What’s Microsoft’s Next Billion-Dollar Business?
August 3, 2009
Longtime Microsoft watcher Mary-Jo Foley blogs on ZDNet that Microsoft System Center is arguably the company’s latest big success. Sales have increased at 30 percent year-over-year as IT shops turn to the interoperable management technology to operate complex systems running Windows, Linux, Unix, hypervisors, and so on.
Windows 7 Will Give Boost to PC Hardware
July 26, 2009
Brooke Crothers blogs on CNET that Microsoft and several chip manufacturers have worked closely together to improve the performance of Windows 7. Expect improvements in graphics acceleration and multitask-handling.
“Microsoft Enlightens Linux”
July 21, 2009
Paul Thurrott, news editor at Windows IT Pro, offers a detailed take on Microsoft’s providing software code for inclusion in Linux. He calls the move “pragmatic” and quotes Microsoft Platform Director Sam Ramji saying that the move responds to customers’ growing call for enhanced interoperability between open source solutions and Microsoft platforms.
More Windows Azure: Confirming Commercial Availability and Announcing Business Model
July 14, 2009
Several blogs are discussing Windows Azure announcements made at Microsoft’s Worldwide Partners Conference, and a lot of them are simply drawing on the info provided in this blog, straight from the Windows Azure team.
The Complete Guide to Microsoft’s Office 2010
July 13, 2009
One of the big stories at Microsoft’s Worldwide Partner Conference is the preview of Office 2010, including browser-based versions of the core products. For a glimpse at what Office 2010 will offer, check out this TechCrunch post.
URL Shortening is Hot--But Look Before You Leap
July 6, 2009
On CNET’s Webware, Stephen Shankland writes about the Twitter-driven explosion of URL-shortening services. Useful, yes, but these services also pose risks.
Microsoft’s Hohm Is the First to Enter the Azure Cloud
June 28, 2009
At GigaOm’s Earth2Tech site, Katie Fehrenbacher writes that Microsoft’s energy management service Hohm is the first consumer tool hosted by Azure platform. The service could end up being a model for energy savings by using cloud computing.
Declaration of Health Data Rights
June 22, 2009
Adam Bosworth blogs about the launching of a “Declaration of Health Data Rights” and a campaign website, www.HealthDataRights.org. The basic tenet is that users should be able to access, control, and understand their health data.
The Nation’s CIO: Government Needs a Dashboard
June 15, 2009
Over on the NY Times Bits blog, Saul Hansell writes about U.S. CIO Vivek Kundra’s plans to bring order to government IT. Kundra wants a dashboard that precisely tracks projects, budgets, responsible government employees, contractors, and more.
Four New Tracks at www.MyRampUp.com
June 11, 2009
A quick note from the U.S. Partner Learning Blog: Ramp Up, a free online learning program for developers, has just added four new tracks, including developing Windows Mobile 6 apps and Web Development with ASP.NET.
First Impressions of Bing: Promising
June 1, 2009
Blogging from Toronto, Mark Evans highlights some of the best features of Microsoft’s new search service Bing. Evans notes that other notable tech writers, including Michael Arrington, are giving Bing a thumbs-up.
SP2 For Vista, Windows Server 2008 Available For Download
May 26, 2009
PC Magazine’s Security Watch blog offers a quick heads-up on the availability of SP2 for Windows Vista and Server 2008.
Microsoft Finally Finds a Lifestyle It Can Sell
May 20, 2009
Joe Wilcox, who recently left eWeek’s Microsoft Watch, blogs about Microsoft’s successful “Laptop Hunters” ad campaign and the importance of marketing. In today’s economy, emphasizing “a value lifestyle” is paying off.
When Google Goes Down, So Does 5 Percent of the Internet?
May 15, 2009
On the Channel Wire blog, Chad Berndtson writes that Google’s recent outages slow down more of the Web than just Google properties because Google Analytics tracks millions of Web pages. A hiccup at Google ends up causing a headache for millions of Internet users and websites.
TechEd Blogs
May 13, 2009
TechEd North America 2009 is in full swing. A lot of bloggers are writing about many, many subjects. For highlights, visit the event's main blog page.
Helping Facilitate Open Government
May 6, 2009
Peter Galli at Port 25 -- the Microsoft Open Source blog -- offers a brief introduction to Microsoft’s Open Government Data Initiative (OGDI), a flexible, cloud-based system for storing and using government data.
Following Through on Our Commitment to Interoperability
April 28, 2009
Over on the Microsoft on the Issues blog, Microsoft’s Tom Robertson discusses the release of Office 2007 SP2, which updates Office to include native support for ODF and PDF. He offers a thumbnail sketch of Microsoft’s efforts around and approach to interoperability.
Liveblogging the Microsoft Earnings Call
April 23, 2009
The sometimes snarky tech writer Kara Swisher at All Things Digital liveblogged the Microsoft earnings call. The mood was somber, though Microsoft CFO Chris Liddell was at least positive about free cash flow.
Windows Mobile 6.5 Comes to Life on May 11th
April 17, 2009
Over at the Boy Genius Report, Zach Epstein notes that Windows Mobile 6.5 is set to launch at Tech Ed 2009 next month.
Inviting Nominations for Windows 7 Incubation Week
April 9, 2009
At the Microsoft Startup Zone, guest blogger Anand Iyer invites tech teams to nominate themselves to attend a free Windows 7 Incubation Week.
Cisco and AT&T @ HIMMS with TelePresence
April 7, 2009
The blogs from the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) were surprisingly sleepy, considering health IT discussions are buzzing in the public policy world. At this Cisco blog post, you can watch a short video about TelePresence in healthcare. This technology will likely provide growing opportunities well beyond healthcare.
Microsoft, TomTom and a Dogfood Post
April 2, 2009
Intellectual property (IP) blog, IPKat, posts a guest blog from Keith Braithwaite about the Microsoft-TomTom patent dispute and settlement. Braithwaite concludes that the settlement “can be seen as a healthy incremental step towards normalised relations between the intensively open and the intensively proprietary parts of the software world.”
No More Free Lunch for the Web or Open Source
March 26, 2009
CNET’s Open Road blogger Matt Asay writes that support contracts alone cannot sustain open source software as a viable business model. He suggests that if Red Hat is going to become a billion dollar company, it may need “more tweaks to its licensing model.”
Request for Ideas: Crowdsourcing the Evolution of Congressional Websites
March 19, 2009
Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA) is guest blogging over at the O'Reilly Radar. He asks, "How can Congress take advantage of web 2.0 technologies to transform the relationship between citizens and government?"
More Questions for Kundra
March 15, 2009
In InformationWeek’s Government IT blog, K.C. Jones writes that new federal CIO Vivek Kundra -- now on leave while the FBI conducts an investigation of his former subordinates -- “should be prepared to answer a few questions and overcome some doubt.” Jones notes that “the federal CIO is supposed to oversee efficiency and security…. Right now, it doesn’t look like his former office was efficient or secure.”
Are Open Source Vendors More Capital Efficient?
March 7, 2009
In InfoWorld’s Open Sources blog, Savio Rodrigues discusses cost arguments about open source. “I find it difficult to conclude that an open source vendor can truly be ‘more capital efficient’ than a commercial vendor. Though an open source advocate, Rodrigues does not think open source should compete on price. Interesting…
America’s Loss is World’s Gain?
March 2, 2009
Scott Jagow writes in the Marketplace Scratch Pad blog about a new research paper on an exodus of skilled foreign workers from the U.S. Improving opportunities and quality of life are bringing Indian and Chinese IT professionals back to their native countries, which could impact the U.S. economic recovery.
Oracle and the Great Innovation Debate
February 26, 2009
Larry Dignan writes on ZDNet’s Between the Lines blog about Oracle’s approach to innovation. Dignan is mixed in his assessment, but his piece offers an interesting reminder that there are lots of ways to innovate, and they aren’t always “easy to decipher.”
The Enterprise, the Cloud, and 5 Key Drivers for 2009
February 21, 2009
Over on Gigaom, Chris Caposella, a Microsoft exec in the Office business, offers a great thumbnail sketch of issues for businesses to consider as they weigh cloud computing for their IT operations.
Rundown: How Microsoft Will Try to Recapture its Mobile Mojo
February 16, 2009
In his TechFlash Microsoft Blog, Todd Bishop encapsulates a series of Microsoft announcements made at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona: an apps store, a online sync and back-up service, a new OS, and more.
Uh Oh, Apple Fans: Looks Like Obama Uses a PC
February 11, 2009
According to JR Raphael writing on the Today @ PC World blog, Computer-User-in-Chief Barack Obama uses a PC, not a Mac. Read more to follow Raphael’s sleuthing.
Microsoft’s Mobile Blitzkrieg Takes Aim At Apple
February 9, 2009
Writing on the Channel Wire blog, Andrew R. Hickey encapsulates a range of news and rumors about Microsoft’s mobile strategy. According to Hickey’s blog, expect an app store, a mobile service, and a new OS -- but not a Microsoft phone.
Davos Diary: Replace, Don’t Repair, Broken Institutions
February 2, 2009
Writing in the Harvard Business blog, Jeff Jarvis notes that signs of hope at Davos (the World Economic Forum) came “from technologists, entrepreneurs, and educators.” He says government is giving funds to incumbent institutions and instead “should invest… in entrepreneurs and technologists, the people who will change old industries.”
Microsoft Woos Obama Administration
January 27, 2009
J. NicholasHoover writes in InformationWeek’s Government IT Weblog that Microsoft has assigned a “chief transition officer” to help the new administration address its technology needs.
Microsoft’s Financial Troubles
January 22, 2009
Lee Pender, senior editor of Redmond Channel Partner, blogs that Microsoft’s financial troubles may mean “not much” for partners. Microsoft’s server and tools business in fact saw a substantial increase in revenue.
Microsoft Releases ECMA-376 [Open XML] Implementation Notes
January 20, 2009
Microsoftie Eric White blogs about the release of Open XML Implementation Notes. He points readers to additional resources and explains the value to developers of understanding how Microsoft implements Open XML in Office.
Before You Finalize Your Health IT Shopping List
January 12, 2009
Peter Neupert, Microsoft’s corporate vice president for the Health Solutions Group, offers a very interesting blog post about health IT (HIT) spending. He is optimistic about the potential of HIT, but recommends that policies and procurement be focused on measurable health goals, not on the technology itself.
Three Major Announcements from Microsoft Regarding Live Search
January 8, 2009
The Search Engine Watch blog sums up three announcements about Live Search: Dell will ship PCs with Live Search as the default; Verizon will use Live; and Microsoft is updating the Live Search for Mobile client.
America’s First CTO to Be Named
January 5, 2009
The dot.life technology blog on BBC discusses the pending U.S. CTO announcement. Blogger Maggie Shiels reviews possible candidates and lists how people are voting on technology policy priorities.
AP Pickes Hulu As Best of Web in 2008
December 22, 2008
The Associated Press is the latest to show its glowing praise for underdog Hulu, choosing it as its pick for Web site of the year in light of its unexpected success in the online video market.
Wall Street Journal Figures Out What Google Is Doing, Gets Criticized
December 15, 2008
Today the blogosphere is hopping with commentary about a Wall Street Journal article alleging that Google has abandoned its position on Net Neutrality (which Google denies). Blogger and tech analyst Stephen E. Arnold offers a detailed discussion of the controversy.
Is This the Cloud OS You Wanted?
December 9, 2008
Sarah Perez at ReadWriteWeb discusses Good OS Cloud and asks what we really need and want from a cloud operating system. She points out that the “Internet is not everywhere yet,” so it might be a little early to forgo offline computing.
Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista Service Pack 2 (SP2)
December 2, 2008
Over at the Windows Server blog, Senior Product Manager Justin Graham is urging IT pros and developers to download SP2 for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008… and provide feedback.
Intel Rethinks Netbooks: “Fine for an Hour” but…
November 28, 2008
Brooke Crothers at the Nanotech blog on CNET discusses AMD’s sitting out the Netbook frenzy. Intel is proceeding cautiously, though its Atom processor powers most Netbooks. As a unique form factor, Netbooks could be a new niche for software… or they could fade.
Why Obama Should Ditch YouTube
November 24, 2008
CNET Surveillance State blogger Chris Soghoian criticizes the incoming Obama administration for sacrificing privacy concerns by using YouTube to make weekly addresses. He asks, “If [the transition team] can afford to lease a jet for Obama and to pay for staff salaries, BlackBerrys, and hotel rooms, why can’t it also pay for a few Web servers capable of serving up Flash video? Isn’t it a bit tacky for the federal government to be relying on Google to host its videos?”
“Google Violates Its ‘Don’t Be Evil’ Motto”
November 19, 2008
On the Blown to Bits blog, Harry Lewis discusses his participation in the recent Intelligence Squared debate on the assertion that “Google violates its ‘Don’t Be Evil’ Motto.” He also provides a link to the full transcript of the debate.
Net Neutrality Advocates In Charge Of Obama Team Review of FCC
November 14, 2008
The Wired Blog Network has a post about members of the Obama transition team tasked with reviewing technology policy, including the Federal Communications Commission, the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the National Science Foundation.
Sun’s Financial Problems -- What Comes Next?
November 14, 2008
IT blogger Tim Anderson writes an interesting post about Sun Microsystem’s financial troubles. Anderson admires Sun, but notes that the company’s troubles were in part caused by “a rush towards open source without any clear strategy over how to monetize it.”
PE Obama’s 1st Big Mistake
November 8, 2008
Entrepreneur and billionaire Mark Cuban writes on Blog Maverick that President-elect Obama should add entrepreneurs to his economic advisory team.
Windows Azure from a Developer’s Perspective
November 3, 2008
Microsoft developer and tech blogger Dare Obasanjo offers a firsthand look at cloud computing and Azure. He compares Azure to Google App Engine, writing, “Azure can run an entire class of applications that are simply not possible on Google App Engine.”
Notes2Self: Stephen McGibbon’s Web Journal
October 29, 2008
This week, tech guru, globe-trotter, and technology officer at Microsoft Europe Stephen McGibbon is talking about Windows 7, Live ID and OpenID interoperability, Windows Azure, and more. Great stuff. McGibbon’s blog is well worth following.
Azure Services Platform and Windows Server
October 28, 2008
The blogosphere is awash in postings about Windows Azure. A good place to learn more, find links, and see a video is on the Windows Server Division Weblog, where Windows Server General Manager Bill Hilf posts today.
Open Source is Far From Free
October 21, 2008
Over at Law.com, attorney William H. Venema offers a business and legal perspective about open source software (OSS). Like any software, OSS can be good or bad, but entrepreneurs need to monitor licensing and code to protect the value of their businesses.
All Your Sites Belong to Us
October 20, 2008
Steve Rubel, a digital marketer who writes the Micro Persuasion blog, posts about the influence that consumers have on websites. The bottom line: as a business, listen to your customers, and if you’re a website user, speak up!
Innovation, the Open Internet, and the Next President
October 20, 2008
Blogging on the website of the Center for Democracy & Technology, David Sohn offers some technology policy advice for the next president. He is particularly concerned about the potential for regulatory excesses that could disrupt the Internet.
Microsoft Silverlight 2 Released
October 13, 2008
Developer Miguel Carrasco writes on his “Software Development in the Real World” blog about the release of Silverlight 2, which he calls “a huge milestone.”
Startup Superstars
October 6, 2008
The blog at the Microsoft Startup Zone offers an illuminating interview with two executives from Star Analytics, a provider of software that unifies financial analysis tools.
Microsoft Touts New “Windows Cloud” OS, Set to Arrive Next Month
October 2, 2008
Scott Gilberston at the Webmonkey blog offers some guesses about the Windows Cloud OS. Details are expected at PDC.
Mining the PDC Schedule
October 2, 2008
Tim Anderson’s ITWriting blog offers a few observations about PDC, noting that cloud services has more sessions than any other topic. Anderson draws special attention to a session on integrating Active Directory with cloud services.
Microsoft’s Craig Mundie Outlines the Future of Computing
September 25, 2008
CNET “Outside the Lines” blogger Dan Farber sums up Microsoft Chief Research and Strategy Officer Craig Mundie’s speech at the MIT Emerging Technology Conference. Mundie discussed cloud and spatial computing. The blog post offers compelling video and graphics.
IBM Takes a Blunt Axe to its Dealings with Standards-Setters
September 23, 2008
In the Financial Times Tech Blog, Richard Waters discusses IBM’s threat to withdraw from some standards setting bodies. Waters says such actions “could lead to a fragmentation that is helpful to no one.”
Email Client Market Share Report
September 16, 2008
The Email Wars blog reports on a study from a company called Fingerprint, which has developed technology to identify the email clients of business users. Interesting results…
Debunking Google’s Log Anonymization Propaganda
September 11, 2008
CNET Surveillance State blogger and onetime Google intern Chris Soghoian discusses Google’s limited anonymization practices. While Google indefinitely maintains most identifying log data, “Microsoft deletes the cookies, the full IP address and any other identifiable user information from its search logs after 18 months.”
Get VIRTUAL Now -- Virtualization and “Green IT”
September 9, 2008
Microsoft’s Environmental Sustainability Blog, “Software Enabled Earth,” posts about the energy savings that can be attained through virtualization.
ScienceDebate2008
September 2, 2008
The Wired Science Blog excerpts Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama’s answers to 14 scientific policy questions. The blog links to full answers, which address R&D funding, promoting innovation, and education. (Republican presidential candidate John McCain has not yet responded to the questionnaire.)
Opinion: Why Google Has Lost its Mojo -- and Why You Should Care
August 25, 2008
Computerworld contributing editor Preston Gralla opines that Google has “lost its mojo.” He cites evidence that Google is faltering, and urges technology users and consultants to “look beyond the magic of the brand name… and evaluate Google the same way you would any other vendor.”
Lessons From Netflix’s Fail Week
August 15, 2008
The New York Times Bits blog nicely summarizes Netflix’s response to its large-scale technology meltdown. The lessons apply not only to large consumer businesses, but also to technology vendors of all sizes.
Gmail Outage the Latest Cloud Stumble
August 12, 2008
In light of recent high-profile outages with cloud computing services, the ZDNet “Between the Lines” blog raises some important questions and suggests that Microsoft’s strategy of software plus services makes sense.
SQL 2008 is Released
August 7, 2008
Tech blogger Paul Conroy (aka the Project Server Guru) offers a good round-up of information on the release of SQL Server 2008. Lots of useful links.
Future of the Internet: We're All in This Together
July 30, 2008
Network World Bloggers Peter Sevcik and Rebecca Wetzel are writing a series about the future of the Internet, from the perspective of application performance. They argue that transparency, accountability and diversity are needed to avoid tussles such as the one between Comcast, its customers and the FCC.
Is Information Overload a Hindrance?
July 18, 2008
Holly Jackson on the CNET Crave blog writes about information overload and a new nonprofit formed to address the problem. Sounds like an IT challenge and opportunity. The blog includes a video and link to a full news story.
Partners by the Numbers
July 8, 2008
The Channel Marker blog prints some interesting numbers offered by Stephen Elop, president of the Microsoft Business Division, during his keynote at the Worldwide Partners Conference. Check it out to learn what percentage of Microsoft's revenue comes through partners, the dollars being generated by SharePoint, and average partner margins.
An Insider Look at Microsoft vs. Google Culture
June 29, 2008
Dare Obasanjo compiles a few thoughts and posts about the differences between Google and Microsoft. Google has struggled to retain employees as it transitions from a start-up to big tech. Google’s shine, Obasanjo argues, might just be dulling.
World Reaches 1 Billion PC Mark
June 23, 2008
The blogosphere and tech news sites are abuzz over Gartner's announcement that it estimates 1 billion PCs are in use today. The next billion will be up and running by 2014. Who's noticing? Well, the blog at SupportIndustry.com for one.
Yahoo-Google Alliance is Anti-Competitive
June 13, 2008
In his "Precursor" blog, Scott Cleland argues that the Yahoo-Google alliance is anti-competitive and should draw the ire of regulators. He writes that "at core, the Google-Yahoo partnership is clearly about trying to snuff out Microsoft as a competitive force on the web."
Revving the engine of Open XML
June 12, 2008
Doug Mahugh’s “Open XML File Formats” blog offers an overview of the new Open XML SDK and a project built with that SDK, Open XML Power Tools. Use Open XML to improve your customers’ document management.
Extending XP for Netbooks and a Plea for Tablet Features
June 3, 2008
Blogging from TechEd 2008, software developer Loren Heiny highlights Microsoft’s extension of Windows XP, but raises concerns about the lack of Tablet features in XP Home, such as ink and handwriting recognition. Heiny wants to see Tablet features under .NET.
Is Google Violating a California Privacy Law?
May 30, 2008
The New York Time Bits blog argues that Google is violating the law by not posting a link to its privacy policy from its home page. “Privacy experts say Google is under the microscope because it collects and retains so much information about so many people.”
Be Careful What You Wish For
May 28, 2008
Brave New World blog comments on the new Belgian copyright infringement lawsuit against Google. Policies about monetizing print and video content (think the Viacom suit in the U.S.) are still up for debate.
Microsoft Offers Glimpse into Windows 7
May 28, 2008
The Wall Street Journal is providing blog updates on its D: All Things Digital conference. Microsoft previewed features of Windows 7, including touch features.
