IT News Digest

Archive: 01-2008

• Microsoft readies virtualization roadmap

  Microsoft is making clear its motives for a big move in the virtualization space with the announcement of an acquisition and the Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V.

  Posted by Arun Radhakrishnan | January 22, 2008, 9:00 AM PST

• Wall Street's response to Bush's recovery plan triggers global stock plummet

  On Friday, Jan. 18, 2008, President Bush announced an economic stimulus plan to pump as much as $150 billion into the U.S. economy by way of tax cuts and government spending in an effort to avoid...

  Posted by Tricia Liebert | January 22, 2008, 8:35 AM PST

• Microsoft to allow all versions of Vista to run as guests on a VM

  Reversing its earlier stance, Microsoft is now saying that it will allow users to run Vista Home Basic and Vista Home Premium as guest operating systems on a virtual machine. Previously, users had...

  Posted by Paul Mah | January 21, 2008, 10:28 PM PST

• IBM guns for SME market with Lotus Foundations

  At the annual Lotusphere conference, IBM introduced a new product offering called Lotus Foundations, which it says is aimed squarely at companies with five to 500 employees.

  Posted by Paul Mah | January 21, 2008, 10:16 PM PST

• Singapore agency offers US$100,000 prize to push multimedia development

  A Singapore technology agency, A*STAR, has announced a global competition to develop new multimedia search technologies. Named The Star Challenge 2008, a cool US$100,000 prize is up for grabs to...

  Posted by Paul Mah | January 21, 2008, 9:50 AM PST

• Public beta of VMware Stage Manager for pre-production systems released

  VMware, Inc. announced the public beta of a new management and automation product called VMware Stage Manager. Building on the management capabilities of VMware Infrastructure, it streamlines and...

  Posted by Paul Mah | January 21, 2008, 9:12 AM PST

• Microsoft to push IE7 out via WSUS next month

  Microsoft warned that it will push a new version of Internet Explorer 7 via Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) in February. Specifically, administrators who have set WSUS to automatically...

  Posted by Paul Mah | January 21, 2008, 8:56 AM PST

• Dell shows off new PowerEdge Blade Servers

  Dell introduced the PowerEdge M-Series, which consists of a new 10U chassis that is able to support up to 16 half-height blades. Blades are built around either Intel or AMD processors, and...

  Posted by Paul Mah | January 21, 2008, 8:25 AM PST

• Microsoft opens code to .NET developers

  Developers on the .NET framework will be able to view and debug .NET framework source code with the .NET Framework Reference License in read-only format.

  Posted by Arun Radhakrishnan | January 21, 2008, 6:52 AM PST

• Gartner, IDC reports show boost in PC sales

  Gartner and IDC, in separate reports, announced the boost in PC sales — a jump of more than 13% compared to the quarter last year.

  Posted by Arun Radhakrishnan | January 21, 2008, 6:43 AM PST

• Cyberattacks should create concern for utility companies

  Criminals hacking into computers and locking down power systems could be more of a real threat, considering that the CIA may choose to make such information public.

  Posted by Arun Radhakrishnan | January 21, 2008, 6:11 AM PST

• Wal-Mart issues RFID mandate

  Wal-Mart has decided to ratchet up the pressure on its 15,000 suppliers to comply with a 3-year-old inventory technology mandate. Beginning January 30, 2008, it will charge suppliers a $2 fee for...

  Posted by Paul Mah | January 20, 2008, 11:59 PM PST

• A screwdriver is all it takes to replace MacBook Air battery

  For those folks thinking of getting a MacBook Air, here’s one less reason not to put it off. One of the complaints — other than the price — is the fact that the battery is not...

  Posted by Paul Mah | January 19, 2008, 7:03 PM PST

• Sears begins public trial of 2-D bar code technology

  Sears has become the first U.S. retailer to begin a public trial of 2-D bar code, according to eWeek. Other top-tier U.S. retailers that are seriously evaluating the technology includes Best Buy,...

  Posted by Paul Mah | January 19, 2008, 11:01 AM PST

• Prototype "white space" broadband devices submitted to FCC for testing

  Additional prototypes of “white space” wireless broadband devices have been submitted by Microsoft and three other companies to the FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology for...

  Posted by Paul Mah | January 19, 2008, 10:47 AM PST

• 3Com to launch two new applications for its multiservice routers

  3Com is expected to unveil two applications that run on its MSR series of multiservice routers. One of the applications will give Asterisk VoIP functionality, while the other will offer WAN...

  Posted by Paul Mah | January 18, 2008, 9:56 PM PST

• HP launches tool to track open-source software at work

  HP has launched an open-source initiative called the FOSSology Project. FOSSology is a software tool for tracking and monitoring the use of both free and open-source software in an organization,...

  Posted by Paul Mah | January 18, 2008, 9:45 PM PST

• IBM to acquire SMB tool developer

  IBM plans to acquire Net Integration Technologies, a software vendor based in Toronto, Canada. Founded in 1997, Net Integration Technologies’ business model centers around delivering...

  Posted by Paul Mah | January 18, 2008, 9:21 PM PST

• Electric shocks are an undocumented feature in some Dell laptops

  Some Dell laptop models with a brushed-aluminum finish, such as the XPS-M1330 and XPS M1530, appear to give out intermittent electric shocks. This is the result of the connection between the mains...

  Posted by Paul Mah | January 18, 2008, 8:42 PM PST

• Supermicro releases high-density SAS storage chassis

  Super Micro Computer, Inc. has released a new line of high-density 3U Serial-attached SCSI (SAS) storage chassis that supports up to 16 hot-swap 3.5-inch SAS/SATA drives.

  Posted by Paul Mah | January 18, 2008, 8:22 PM PST