Author Archive

Herb Torrens

Herb Torrens is a freelance writer based in Southern California.
Emerging Tech

Group codifies IT maintenance consumer rights

A council of global IT CIOs, in conjunction with research group Gartner Inc., has released a "code of conduct" for solution vendors on IT maintenance issues.

Digital Government

Google deemed 'most disruptive' in mobile market

Google is set to disrupt the mobile communications industry with its mobile operating system, according to Strategy Analytics.

Digital Government

Microsoft considering legal options after i4i patent validated

Microsoft has been dealt another blow in its ongoing patent infringement suit with i4i.

Digital Government

Office 2010 will have SharePoint hooks, analyst says

Microsoft plans to make a splash by announcing new 2010 products on Wednesday, but IT organizations should check the fine print.

Digital Government

Microsoft extends Fix it, offers support app

Microsoft has extended its "Fix it" troubleshooting support for consumers and small business users.

Digital Government

Report: Systems engineer is best IT job

San Francisco-based research and analysis group, Focus, has named systems engineer as the "best job in America."

Cybersecurity

Microsoft-led task force busts botnet

Microsoft's Digital Crimes Unit, in conjunction with the Botnet Task Force, took legal action this week after months of investigation into a botnet known as W32.Waledac, which according to Microsoft had the capability to send as many as 1.5 billion spam e-mails a day.

Digital Government

Office for Mac 2011 to get the ribbon UI

Microsoft's controversial "ribbon" user interface will be coming to the Apple Macintosh platform when Office for Mac 2011 arrives sometime this year.

Infrastructure

Microsoft explains changes to volume-licensing portal

Microsoft described changes to its Volume Licensing Service Center (VLSC) in a webcast, addressing some concerns of frustrated users who couldn't access software, product keys and account information in December.

Infrastructure

Google pulls support for Internet Explorer 6

Google plans to phase out support for Internet Explorer 6 on March 1, which means that some IE 6 features won't work on Google Docs and Google Sites, the company explained in a blog post.

Digital Government

Microsoft issues Word patch, appeals i4i decision

Microsoft issued a patch this week for Word 2007 to comply with a court ruling that enjoins the use of i4i's proprietary "custom XML" technology in Microsoft's product. Microsoft plans to seek additional legal remedies in the case.

Infrastructure

Intel unveils experimental 'cloud computer' chip

Intel pushed the outer limits of computing by unveiling an experimental, 48-core processor it described as a single-chip cloud computer.

Digital Government

New Windows phones expected to arrive soon

Microsoft announced in October that various manufacturing partners were building new mobile phones using the Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system. Those efforts will soon bear fruit, according to a Microsoft spokesperson.

Infrastructure

Cisco jumps into the hosted e-mail waters with new service

With its its Unified Communications System 8.0, Cisco is competing with Google, IBM and Microsoft on hosted e-mail. At the same time, Cisco is a partner with Microsoft on many UC integration efforts.

Emerging Tech

Windows 7 rolls out new help features

Microsoft announces new help tools for Windows 7 users, adding to its many product support resources.

Digital Government

Microsoft releases System Center Essentials 2010 beta

The solution is designed to help IT professionals automate the management of physical machines (both client and server), virtual machines and services using a single console.

Digital Government

Microsoft, Nokia forge alliance to bring mobility to productivity space

Microsoft and Nokia plan to co-design, develop and market a new generation of smart phones aimed at the mobile professional.

Cybersecurity

Microsoft releases new enterprise security betas

The new Forefront Threat Management Gateway beta 3 and Forefront Online Security for Exchange (Release 9.1) provide key enhancements for Web security.

Cybersecurity

Microsoft promises better security with Windows 7

A revised User Account Control feature, an enhanced BitLocker encryption solution, authentication profiles and a new Windows Biometric Framework are among the improvements in Microsoft's next-generation operating system.

Infrastructure

HP selling cloud assurance to enterprises

HP Cloud Assure is a turnkey package of services and best practices delivered in the cloud.