News

A language for the new computing era

IBM boosts BlackBerry access to Cognos, Lotus software

IBM is joining the trend toward providing mobile access to enterprise apps

Intel to develop e-commerce PC with China’s Alibaba

Alibaba.com and Intel will jointly develop a computer designed to get Chinese SMBs online

Adobe refreshes Flash Player

Facing stiff competition in RIA space, company gains an edge, observers say

Philly won’t fight to save Wi-Fi network

The City of Philadelphia will not try to keep EarthLink from shutting down its municipal Wi-Fi network, instead seeking an 'oderly termination' of the relationship

Report: Icahn to launch proxy fight against Yahoo

Carl Icahn is proceeding with his plans force Yahoo back to the bargaining table with Microsoft; along with other large investors, he could unseat Yahoo's entire board

Desktop virtualization: Inside VMware’s newest plans

VMware is pushing dekstop virtualization as a way of cutting the cost and storage needs of business computers while also making them easier to support

SEC charges former Broadcom execs with backdating

Complaint says five-year scheme to fraudulently backdate stock option grants resulted in the company failing to record billions of dollars in compensation expenses

Hacker writes rootkit for Cisco’s routers

Once installed, the rootkit would be able to silently monitor and control the device — a troubling notion given Cisco's dominance in the router market

FCC takes first step toward spectrum re-auction

FCC approves request for public comments on how to re-auction D block, a 10MHz piece of spectrum intended for use by public-safety agencies

Glitch mars launch of Wi-Fi on high-speed trains

After initial delay, commercial launch of Wi-Fi service on trains connecting Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, and Cologne is restored by journey's end

SEC moves toward requiring interactive data filings

The SEC is publishing a proposal that would require publically traded companies to submit their reports in the XBRL language

Yager: How I became spam kingpin, went legit, turned detective

Craigslist countersues eBay, escalating legal fight

Craigslist's countersuit claims that eBay is using its stake in the company to misappropriate confidential information and engage in false advertising

Test your Geek IQ

If you truly want to know how smart you are when it counts, then InfoWorld's Geek IQ test is the puzzler for you

Test spin: Google App Engine

Google App Engine simplifies the problem of deploying and scaling Web applications, but not without a few wrinkles and question marks

Windows XP SP3 reboot hell (and how to get out of it)

Microsoft hasn't given any official explanation for the endless reboots, but users on support forums have identified several possible causes

Internal EDS memo: Rittenmeyer remains after HP buy

Company memo states Ron Rittenmeyer will stay on as EDS' CEO and president and report directly to HP CEO Mark Hurd

Gates to show off multitouch wall device at CEO Summit

Gates will demo TouchWall, which could be used by business people to give presentations, and talk about his ideas for the future of user interface technology

Daily news beat for May 14, 2008

Oracle’s planned AdminServer buy seen as significant

News of Oracle's purchase of AdminServer was overshadowed by HP's EDS buy, but the acquisition is likely to shake up the status quo in the insurance software segment

Leopard tamers: 9 terrific interface tweaks

Nine ways to make Leopard more Tiger-like, customize its look and feel, and improve certain Leopard features

Fedora 9: Linux examined

Fedora is a solid Linux distribution, but its installation process makes it a little too intimidating for nongeek users

Update: Verizon, Mozilla join mobile Linux group

Verizon becomes the first U.S. operator to join the LiMo Foundation, but it could also throw its support behind Android

Is the browser doomed?

The Web is evolving into a full-fledged app-delivery platform, calling into question the browser's ability to fulfill the needs of today's rich Internet apps

The quiet and green rack o’ dreams

RIM details features in BlackBerry Enterprise Server 5.0

BES is a critical piece in RIM's effort to make its software and smartphones a foundation for next-generation mobile applications

Making the case for business social software

EC approves TomTom buy of Tele Atlas

Competition commissioner is satisfied that innovation and competition will continue in satnav products after the merger

Office 2007’s hopes for the future

Africans change the face of mobility

Africans are using their mobile phones in very entrepreneurial ways because their small businesses depend on them

Microsoft’s Mundie talks up tech for poor nations

Interview: Craig Mundie discusses the Unlimited Potential Group and what Microsoft is doing to create new technology for people in the developing world

OS X Security: How I became a spam kingpin, went legit and turned detective

AMD quad-core processors now in Sun servers

Sun has released eight servers using the quad-core Opteron chip, giving AMD's processor a bigger foothold in the quad-core server market

Update: Icahn mulling Yahoo proxy fight

Billionaire investor Carl Icahn wants Yahoo to re-establish talks with Microsoft and is willing to wage a proxy fight to force the company back to the negotiating table

Learn more on why XP should be saved

There are many reasons businesses and individuals want to stick with XP, rather than replace it with Vista. Check out some of the reasons from InfoWorld's analyses and other sources.

Update: EarthLink to remove Philadelphia Wi-Fi

The service provider's flagship municipal Wi-Fi initiative will come to an end on June 12

Study: ‘Hyperconnected’ users growing

Enterprises will have to accommodate new wave of information workers who use multiple devices and applications

After attacks, Microsoft fixes Jet database flaw

Microsoft has released four sets of security patches, icluding one that fixes a critical flaw in the Jet Database Engine

Update: HP-EDS deal spurs range of customer reactions

Some EDS customers fear that HP's buyout could lead to layoffs and a reduction in services

Microsoft reveals SMB software pricing, previews

Microsoft has released preview versions of Essential Business Server 2008 and Small Business Server 2008, both of which should be released by the end of the year

Stupid marketing tricks

Robo-calling site serves up sleaze by the bucketful

What does the HP-EDS deal really mean?

At $13 billion, Hewlett-Packard's purchase of EDS is a big deal, but its impact goes far beyond the cost as it will have serious ramifications for the IT services industry

IT heroes unwelcome

Initiative and foresight unrewarded, IT pro gets revenge for taking lumps by jumping ship

SOA vendors don’t understand the value

CSC settles government kickbacks case

CSC will pay $1.37 million to settle allegations it received kickbacks on technology contracts with U.S. government agencies; DOJ investigation continues

Daily news beat for May 13, 2008

Update: HP buys EDS for $13.9 billion

Deal will greatly expand HP's IT services business and catapult it to the No. 2 spot close behind IBM

EU won’t seek new antitrust complaint against Microsoft

Microsoft said it will continue to work with the Commission to resolve the issues raised in the complaint

SaaS to fill void left by app vendors