Why Microsoft would want a piece of Dell
If Microsoft takes a big stake in Dell it could sway operating system and software loaded on Dell PCs, servers and potentially other devices. Read more »
Online gaming power Steam disses Windows 8, pushes Linux
The company behind the popular Steam online gaming platform is definitely not impressed by the latest Windows version and is instead pushing Windows developers to Ubuntu Linux. Read more »
Microsoft pushes ahead with its own take on WebRTC
Microsoft published a first prototype for plugin-free video chat in the browser Thursday. However, it’s a bit different from what Google and others have in mind. Read more »
The fourth quarter of 2012 in mobile
The mobile platform wars heated up in a big way as 2012 came to a close. Among other trends, Microsoft launched Windows Phone 8, Android’s dominant market share grew, and mobile commerce reached record highs during the holidays. Read more »
Sorry Windows RT, Windows 8 on an Atom has your number
Microsoft’s Windows RT software had an opportunity to bring limited Windows 8 functionality to low-cost tablets, but that window may already be closing. Intel Atom-based slates with full Windows 8 and long run-times on a single charge have fewer restrictions and cost about the same. Read more »
SAP marries transaction processing with analytics by putting Business Suite on Hana
SAP’s customers, used to running its enterprise software on the likes of Oracle, now have an in-house in-memory alternative. It’s a bid for relevance on SAP’s part and, according to chairman Hasso Plattner, mobile is the big driver. Read more »
One less Windows RT choice in US: So long Samsung Ativ Tab
U.S. consumers have one less Windows RT tablet to choose: Samsung has decided not to sell its Ativ Tab, citing weak demand for Windows RT and a lack of product understanding by consumers. That’s OK, the Ativ with full Windows 8 and Intel’s Atom is $599. Read more »
Want a sub-$500 Windows 8 tablet? Look to Dell.
Looking for a Windows 8 slate on the cheap? Dell removed the active digitizer and swappable battery from its Latitude 10 tablet for an Essentials model that starts at $499. Aimed at educators and students, the tablet is much less than Microsoft’s $899 Surface Pro. Read more »
The 2013 task management tools market
The task-management market is growing, in part because users need to coordinate with teams via mobile. In this case, heavier-weight solutions like Yammer, IBM Connections, and Podio don’t always suffice. But the demand for digital to-do lists that can be shared across project teams is increasing. Read more »
Asus VivoTab Smart Tablet blends bits of Surface Pro and RT
One look at the new Asus VivoTab Smart Tablet and you’ll swear you saw it before. It looks just like Microsoft’s Surface products. It blends some of the best features of Surface RT and Surface Pro, however; priced right, it could be a big seller. Read more »
America has plenty of wireless spectrum — we just need a new way to allocate it
photo: Andrey Titarenko/Shutterstock.com
The conventional wisdom is that we have a radio spectrum shortage. That’s not the case, according to President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. What we need is a much more efficient way to allocate what we have, and that includes a plan for shared use. Read more »
Microsoft takes heat — on its own blog — for Google pushback
photo: Flickr / ToddABishop
Microsoft isn’t getting much — if any — sympathy for its complaints over the Federal Trade Commission’s recent settlement with Google over its business practices. Read more »
Google wins: a plain English guide to the FTC’s big ruling
photo: Kzenon via Shutterstock
After a two-year investigation into Google’s search business, the feds finally issued a decision. The outcome is a clear win for Google — here’s an easy Q&A about what happened and what it means. Read more »
Search stays the same: feds and Google settle antitrust issues
photo: google
The FTC finally concluded its two-year investigation into whether Google’s treatment of its competitors broke antitrust laws. The result is a minor change to the way Google uses patents but that does little to change the company’s search listings. Read more »
Ahead of CES: 4 questions to ask about the internet of things
The internet of things is set to be a hot topic this year at CES, but before going gaga over the latest connected device, there are some hard questions industry watchers should ask — or at least think about– when evaluating the latest announcements and gadgets. Read more »
Subscriber Content
How direct-access solutions can speed up cloud adoption
Startups and enterprises alike face barriers when it comes to cloud adoption. This includes security, speed of access to cloud resources, and runaway network costs. However, multiple solutions for direct access are being provided to address this issue for companies big and small. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Microsoft’s Mundie cedes strategy role on way to retirement
photo: Microsoft
Craig Mundie, who was Microsoft’s chief research and strategy officer up till recently, will retire in 2014. With Ray Ozzie and now Steve Sinofsky gone, some wonder who will drive Microsoft’s key technology vision going forward. Read more »
Grading 2012 mobile predictions: mostly hits but a few misses
As the year comes to a close, its time to look back at predictions for 2012. I made 16 of them last December and while I got a fair number right, there were a few clunkers. It’s time to dust off the crystal ball for 2013. Read more »
Subscriber Content
What to watch in mobile in 2013
The year 2013 may bring real disruption to the mobile industry. Upstart carriers are embracing noncellular technologies to provide cut-rate services, third-party developers are gaining traction with cheap (or free) alternatives to SMS, and a major U.S. operator is preparing to drop handset subsidies. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Would Apple want to run your whole living room?
photo: Netflix
A WSJ report indicates Apple, Google and Microsoft are having acquisition talks with a small home automation company. The talks may not go anywhere. But that this company is interesting to these major players shows how crucial the battle for the living room is becoming. Read more »
Cloud Sherpas hauls in $40M to sell more Google Apps and Salesforce
photo: Flickr/401(K) 2012
The Atlanta-based integrator will use its new funding to keep up with what it calls accelerating demand for cloud applications and to keep serving existing Salesforce.com and Google Apps customers. Read more »
Subscriber Content
How consumer media will change in 2013
Many of the biggest stories in the connected consumer space occurred mostly offstage in 2012, from Apple’s new media services to policymakers in Washington. Overall, the past 12 months have laid important groundwork for significant advances in the connected consumer space. The year 2013 should be eventful. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Poll: Should Nokia build a Windows RT tablet? (I vote no)
Rumors are again surfacing that Nokia plans to build and sell a 10-inch Microsoft Windows RT tablet. Whether this is true or not, there isn’t much upside for Nokia here: it doesn’t have expertise in this area, and it can’t afford another product flop. Read more »
Subscriber Content
How tomorrow’s mobile-centric data centers will look
photo: Facebook
The “mobile first” philosophy is under way today. That means a new generation of mobile-centric data centers will arise over the next three years, with chips, servers, and power architectures customized for mobile workloads. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Subscriber Content
Social 2013: The enterprise strikes back
With investment souring on consumer-focused companies, 2013 will be more about the social enterprise, with a different set of companies driving innovation and perhaps a little disruption. Look for the likes of Salesforce.com, Jive Software, and other enterprise players to make headlines in the new year. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Subscriber Content
Cloud computing 2013: how to navigate without a map
The way the industry will use cloud-computing technology in 2013 will require following the existing adoption patterns and trends into the New Year. Those trends include the rise of standards, big data’s role in the cloud, industry-specific clouds, security, and more. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Why many are unlikely to switch to Windows Phone or BlackBerry 10
Current Windows Phone 8 and upcoming BlackBerry 10 handsets look great, but will people switch? Not likely, and even first-time smartphone owners may balk. It’s a perfect example of old phrase, “timing is everything” as most smartphone innovation has already taken place. Read more »
Research: Agile developers rule the roost, experience trumps toolsets
A headhunter finds that the number of agile development jobs posted outnumbers the number of qualified candidates by a ratio of almost 5:1. Familiarity with the agile process is more important than knowledge of specific toolsets, in making a good hire, according to Yoh research. Read more »
A huge fuel cell park planned for the power grid in Connecticut
An east coast power company and a Connecticut utility have signed onto a large fuel cell project that will be built in the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut, using fuel cells from FuelCell Energy. The move is rare for a utility in the U.S. Read more »
Subscriber Content
Cleantech and investment in 2013
In 2013 cleantech investing will move toward companies serving unsubsidized markets where software plays a role in reducing power consumption. In many ways this is a return to plays for energy efficiency, and there’s still money to be made from business models built around saving energy. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
HTC drops plans for a large Windows Phone (but shouldn’t)
HTC is scrapping plans for a Windows Phone with large display due to the limited platform resolution. That could be a mistake as it’s difficult for Windows Phone handset makers to stand out from the crowd and a large screen paired with Beats Audio could appeal. Read more »
What we’ll see in 2013 in cloud computing
Next year, “the cloud” will finally be ready for enterprise workloads and big companies will finally start moving them there. Data centers will stop being enclosed by walls and those are just two of GigaOM’s 5 big cloud predictions. Read on for more. Read more »
CloudVelocity gets $5M to move biz apps to public clouds
photo: Flickr / karindalziel
Mayfield Fund is backing CloudVelocity’s hybrid cloud automation vision to the tune of $5 million in Series A funding. CloudVelocity’s very bold promise is that it will move your existing enterprise apps to a public cloud and run them there securely. Read more »
Microsoft expands Surface RT production, availability
It’s hard to tell if Microsoft’s Surface RT is a sales hit, but according to the company, retailer interest is high. As a result, Microsoft is expanding production and will be allowing third-party retail stores to carry the device earlier than it planned. Read more »
Microsoft-Apple flap over App Store fees reportedly about Office for iOS
Microsoft is planning to bring Office to the iOS App Store next year, and is trying to negotiate a revenue share plan that’s lower than the standard 30 percent cut Apple takes. Apple is reportedly not budging on its rules, according to an AllThingsD report. Read more »
Why laptop makers should be focusing on tablets now
First smartphones overtook traditional computer sales and now tablets are on track to outsell laptops, according to IDC, which predicts more tablets will be sold than laptops by 2015. Computer makers should be looking to where the growth is as tablets replace laptops for many. Read more »
Microsoft brings your photos to Xbox 360 via new SkyDrive app
You want to star on your Xbox 360? A new app makes it easy to view your personal photos and videos on the big screen and to manipulate them with Kinect or voice controls. Read more »
Microsoft sells Azure storage like a smartphone: free device with contract
Microsoft to customers; Buy some storage and get a $138K StorSimple appliance for free! This is just the latest proof point showing that big cloud purveyors see storage as the gateway to broader cloud service sales. Read more »
Surprise! Consumer apps get IT approval in small businesses
Employees are driving business apps selection in many small and medium businesses, according to new research. A good percentage of productivity, social and collaborative apps now sanctioned by IT in SMBs were brought in by workers without IT knowledge. Read more »
Why Facebook will start serving ads on Instagram soon
photo: Muellek Josef/Shutterstock
When we think about data privacy, we normally think about a company giving or selling our info to a third party. But a single company can also circulate around our information among its various units in ways that raise similar privacy concerns Read more »
