The usability of Microsoft Windows 8 on a tablet is so bad that one expert says he’s sticking with Windows 7 until Windows 9 arrives. After using the Surface RT, I understand, but the real issue is lumping together an OS for tablets and PCs. Read more »
Despite the difficult year in cleantech, there’s quite a few things that excited me this year. Here’s 10 things to be thankful for in cleantech. Read more »
Big data tools such as Cassandra and Hadoop are transforming how data is stored and exploited at scale. But without similarly capable search technologies, enterprise adopters face challenges when it comes to gaining insights from that data. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Microsoft will soon start construction on an experimental micro data center at a waste water treatment plant in Wyoming. The concept could help Microsoft scale up clean power for its data centers. Read more »
HTC’s Droid DNA for Verizon Wireless is here and both hosts on this week’s audio podcast have many likes a few a dislikes. Matt is trying a Chromebook and Jawbone UP again, while Kevin is watching HDTV on the iPad and Android phones for cheap. Read more »
Two things are true: Consumers love cloud-based file share and storage systems and consumers have concerns about cloud-based file share and storage systems. Dell makes another acquisition in hopes of bolstering its cloud storage after a rough earnings call. Read more »
After his abrupt departure from Microsoft last week, inquiring minds want to know just where Steven Sinofsky will land next. Here are a couple intriguing possibilities. What do you think? Read more »
Getting multiple Gmail calendars on a new Windows Phone 8 isn’t difficult, but the process is slightly different from older Windows Phone versions. Follow these simple steps and in under five minutes you’ll have up to 25 shared Gmail calendars on your Microsoft-powered phone. Read more »
Contrary to numerous reports, Steven Sinofsky said he did not try to wrest control of Windows Phone or the developer division before leaving Microsoft. Sinofsky responded in comments to a blog post about his exit by a former Microsoft colleague. Read more »
TV broadcasters and programmers must embrace a new set of video-delivery techniques to reach consumers today. Online delivery to so many types of consumer devices means that video programmers must produce multiple internet-streaming formats that use different types of security and different ways of inserting ads. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Steven Sinofsky’s ability to deliver big-money products with minimal delay put him on the short list to be Microsoft’s next CEO. But, he did not work well with others and that will be a key requirement for whoever steps in for Steve Ballmer. Read more »
Steven Sinofsky, who drove Microsoft Office and then Windows development for years, is leaving Microsoft abruptly. His duties will be assumed by Tami Reller and Julie Larson-Green, according to a company statement. Read more »
India’s major tech firms have become competitive enterprise outsourcers and systems integrators on a global scale. Firms such as Cognizant and Tata Consultancy Services are looking for technology to provide the next competitive advantages in the market. The cloud provides that opportunity on several levels. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
A preview version of Skype for Windows Phone 8 is available for those with new Microsoft-powered handsets. Although the app isn’t finalized, it offers a solid set of features such as People hub integration, calls in the background and presence in the contact list. Read more »
A massive billboard in Berlin from Nokia says, “Everyone loves a comeback.” That’s true, but at this point, it still sounds like wishful thinking because there’s been no evidence yet of a comeback to begin with. Windows 8 may be the best hope for Lumia sales. Read more »
The growth of public and private cloud services places new demands on the IT organization, particularly when it comes to the scale, agility and management of the data center. SDNs are a response to those demands, providing opportunities for IT managers to improve their network operations. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
New “deep neural networks” technology out of Microsoft and the University of Toronto claims to not only translate your English into Mandarin but to speak it in your voice. Microsoft head researcher Richard Rashid demonstrated the technology in China recently. Read more »
Two new LTE handsets running Windows Phone 8 are heading to Verizon with pre-orders beginning tomorrow. The Nokia Lumia 822, a mid-range handset, will cost $99.99 after rebate while HTC’s Windows Phone 8X is $199.99. Both handset prices are with a new two-year agreement. Read more »
Struggling to stay on top, or think you have it all figured out? Either way, Yammer founder David Sacks thinks you should fundraise as much as you possibly can, since you never know what you can use the money for. And it doesn’t hurt for staying ahead. Read more »
More details leak out about Microsoft’s mobile version of Office for iOS and Android devices. The Verge snagged what it says are screenshots of the app, which is reportedly on track to hit app stores early next year. Read more »
Hack/reduce will launch its cool new work space near Cambridge’s Kendall Square on Thursday. The goal of the effort is to bring together the best big data people from private and public sectors and academia to train up the next generation of data scientists. Read more »
Microsoft today announced that it is transitioning over 100 million of Windows Live Messenger users to Skype. It is the latest sign of Microsoft-ization of Skype. The race to integration is having some unintended consequences — including declining quality of voice calls. Read more »
Will Apple replace the Intel processors in its Macbooks with ARM-based chips? In the last week new processor designs from ARM as well as Apple’s desire to merge the iOS and OS X experience have driven a new cycle of rumors. Here’s why they make sense. Read more »
Windows Phone 8 sales begin in earnest this week at AT&T, which is offering the Lumia 920, Lumia 820 and HTC Windows Phone 8X. Prices range across the line-up, but the best deal appears to be the flagship 920 for $99 with contract. Read more »
Is an advanced business degree from Harvard or MIT or Stanford something that tech startups really, really want? It didn’t seem so at last weekend’s Harvard Business School Cyberposium. Where do you sit in the on-again debate between the builders and the bean counters? Read more »
Cars are becoming a platform for connecting their occupants to their data, their cloud services, to their auto maker, to other cars. If you think you’re car’s smart and connected now, just wait till you put it on your data plan. Read more »
What ties many design parts together into a highly desired, functional product? Connectedness, ranging from user interface, user experience, product functions and self-healing, says Yves Behar. Touch is a big factor and you might be surprised by which companies Behar says are doing it right. Read more »
As Windows computers morph into tablets, expect more such devices to be found in network operator stores. Case in point: AT&T will sell Samsung’s Smart PC with mobile broadband radio for $799 without contract. Is the price too high for what you’re getting? Read more »
Several hundred Harvard Business School students and others gathered on Sunday to hear technology company founders and visionaries talk shop. Here are my top 5 highlights. Read more »
By 2016, there will be fewer data centers but those that are built will be much bigger, according to IDC research. Cedexis launches tool to help AWS customers route computing loads around Amazon EC2 regions to mitigate service problems. Read more »
Another busy week for Amazon Web Services which added new compute instance types, cut prices on others, and upped the limit on provisioned IOPS for EBS volumes. Amazon is getting busier as more public cloud options come on line. Read more »
Devops is an industry buzzword that arose to describe the collaboration of development and operations teams. Continuous delivery is the automated implementation of the build, deploy, test, and release processes. As more teams embrace these ideas, more platforms and services will move toward a self-service model. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Chasing a potentially huge market, Microsoft has inked a pact with the municipality of Shanghai and with ISP 21Vianet to offer Windows Azure services in China. The deal could be huge but also problematic, given problems Google and other U.S. companies have had in China. Read more »
The next release of Microsoft’s popular Halo game will run on the company’s own Windows Azure platform-as-a-service. Inquiring minds want to know when more of the company’s bread-and-butter services will follow suit. Read more »
Brand advertising’s focus on cross-platform media measurement has grown dramatically in the past five years. Within the next 36 months cross-platform digital video advertising will standardize, driven by the shift in media dollars to online viewing and the adoption of the Making Measurement Make Sense (3MS) initiative. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
The purpose of the on-screen guide has shifted. By connecting the guide to content-recommendation engines and advertising platforms, service providers and connected-TV device manufacturers are using the EPG as an access point for understanding consumers and reaching out to them to own the living room. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Nasuni, which helps distributed companies manage their cloud storage securely, has $20 million in a new funding round — led by a mystery investor — to help it pay for new features and expand sales and marketing, said CEO Andres Rodriguez. Read more »
Verizon Wireless traditionally hasn’t been a huge Windows Phone supporter, but it has added a new exclusive Microsoft handset to its lineup on Monday. Nokia’s Lumia 822 with LTE support will sell for $99 with contract and is aimed at first time smartphone owners. Read more »
On this week’s audio podcast, we finally hear what Matt thinks of the Galaxy Note 2 that he’s been waiting for and how has. Both Kevin and Matt share impressions about Microsoft’s Surface RT tablet, which has the potential to help Windows Phone sales. Read more »
Along with Windows 8, Microsoft’s Surface RT tablet is here. The slate uses chips that typically power smartphones but Windows runs quite well on it and the hardware is extremely well made and — dare I say it — sexy? See for yourself in this early look. Read more »
