Practical Technology

for practical people.

June 20, 2011
by sjvn01
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Why even bother with accurate information? The Sony and Sega Sagas

Seriously. What kind of joke is this? On Sunday, Sega announced that 1.3 million of its users had had their information stolen. Before that it was Sony losing millions of customers information. It’s getting to the point that when I look at the headlines I almost go “Oh another million users have had their information stolen. Yawn. I wonder how the Colorado Rockies did last night?”

What is wrong with this picture!? I don’t know about you, but I don’t want my information stolen every time I login into a major network.

But what can I do? As a writer I can point out just how crappy Sega and Sony’s security is, but I think they’ve got the message by now.

Maybe what I can do–and you as someone who just wants to play a game–can do, is to start using bogus information on these services.

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June 20, 2011
by sjvn01
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Ready or not, here come the business tablets

OK, we all know that people want to bring their consumer technology into the office. In particular, though, people really want to use tablets in the workplace.

And they have a lot of iPads. Deutsche Bank analyst Chris Whitmore recently observed that Apple sold 6.5 million iPads during the fourth quarter of 2010, more than anyone expected. Whitmore expects Apple to sell 28 million iPads in 2011. You didn’t need an analyst to tell you about the iPad’s success, though. Whether you love Steve Jobs or have a picture of him on your dartboard, you know iPads were instantly, insanely popular.

It’s not just iPads, though. At CES, everyone and his OEM announced tablets, including the BlackBerry PlayBook from RIM, numerous Android tablets such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, HP’s webOS tablets and even some Windows tablets. But, while everyone might want a tablet, or maybe two if they’re small, will these mobile devices find a home in business?

The intent is there for business use. Almost 30% of iPad users say they now use their iPad as their primary computer, and one survey has shown that over half of would-be users plan to “use a new tablet device like the iPad to conduct work.” But will they really use tablets for work? And, if they do, how can IT manage all those devices?

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June 20, 2011
by sjvn01
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Brand name Top Level Domains coming

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) board has voted to dramatically increase the number of Internet domain name endings–generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs)–from the current 22, which includes such familiar domains as .com, .org and .net” to a unlimited number of new Top Level Domains in any language or script.” So, beginning in 2012, you can look “forward” to such TLDs as .missamercia, .gameofthrones, or .superbowl.

In a statement, Rod Beckstrom, President and Chief Executive Officer of ICANN. Said, “We hope this allows the domain name system to better serve all of mankind.” Gag me now! Beckstrom also claimed that these “New gTLDs will change the way people find information on the Internet and how businesses plan and structure their online presence. Internet address names will be able to end with almost any word in any language, offering organizations around the world the opportunity to market their brand, products, community or cause in new and innovative ways.”

Oh please. Get over yourselves. The only point in opening the doors to an endless number of gTLDs is to increase the profits for domain name registrars (DNR). For them, this will prove a license to print money. For businesses, who must protect their trademarks it will be a pain-in-the rump and some additional expense. I can already see people getting ready to grab the TLD “.cola” and waiting to charge Coke and Pepsi or the “privilege” of registering “coke.cola” and “pepsi.cola.”

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June 19, 2011
by sjvn01
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Windows’ Endgame. Desktop Linux’s Failure.

“After nearly a decade, Microsoft’s reign as a monopoly is over.” … “The latest real-world data on web usage confirms that Microsoft’s once-dominant position in the world of personal computing is crumbling.” That’s not me, the Linux guy speaking. No, that’s Ed Bott, who’s as much a Windows fan as I am with a Linux fan. Ed’s the one, not me, who’s saying that “if Windows 8 flops on phones and tablets, Microsoft’s future is very dim indeed.”

Desktop Linux’s future isn’t any better. Windows isn’t declining because of Linux’s security or stability benefits. No, as Ed points out, it’s declining because of the rise of mobile computing. Apple’s iPhone and iPad are the ‘villians” in the mystery of who killing Windows. And, they’re also killing off the traditional desktop Linux.

When I say this though I don’t mean that Windows won’t still be on computers in 2021. It will be. What it won’t be though is the dominant computing platform. Unlike Ed, I do think that Microsoft is moving too late to a mobile, tablet-based computing paradigm. Windows 8 will be too little, too late.

Linux, however, is in a funny place. Linux, through Android, is becoming an important operating system for end-users. Most people don’t know it though. If you ask them “Could you use Linux?” If they even know what Linux is, they’ll say “No.” Ask them can they use their phone, they’ll say “Yes, of course.”

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June 17, 2011
by sjvn01
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Five Chromebook concerns for businesses

Make no mistake about it. I like my Samsung Series 5 Chromebook a lot. I think it will become a major challenge to Windows on light-duty business desktops… eventually.

You see right now, as I’m well into week two with my Chromebook, I’m finding holes that need to be filled before I can see many businesses rolling work out on Chromebooks. Mind you, even as it is, I can see people using them for work. I am right now. But, until these problems are fixed Chromebooks aren’t going to be major business desktop players.

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June 15, 2011
by sjvn01
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Linux’s 20th Birthday Party: LinuxCon

Has it really been twenty years? Yes, yes, it has been twenty years since Linus Torvalds announced that he was working on “a (free) operating system (just a hobby, won’t be big and professional like gnu) for 386(486) AT clones.” Twenty years of Linux later, The Linux Foundation, the nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating Linux’s growth, has announced the program for this year’s LinuxCon North America taking place in Vancouver, B.C. August 17-19, 2011.

According to the Foundation, LinuxCon North America will host the formal celebration of the 20th Anniversary of Linux. Torvalds, himself, who seldom goes out to shows anymore, will be attending and will participate in an interview-style keynote in which he will discuss technical advancements and challenges related to the Linux kernel with kernel developer and maintainer Greg Kroah-Hartman.

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