News

Google’s ‘One Today’ Android App Designed to Drum Up Charitable Donations

Google's new One Today Android app makes it simple to donate $1 a day to a variety of charities and causes. The app is beautifully designed, according to CIO.com blogger James A. Martin, and Google should be commended for helping to inspire don

10 Jaw-Dropping Facts About Mobile Phones

What's the most expensive mobile phone bill in the world? How many cell phones are left in New York City cabs each day? How many hours a year are lost to Angry Birds? Find out in this eye-opening infographic.

Marketers See Value in Big Data Analytics, But Face Hurdles

Feeling the pressure to become more data-driven, marketers agree that big data analytics will be an integral part of their organizations going forward. But a lack of data analytics skills and antiquated business processes are hampering their efforts.

How to Tell Whether an IT Vendor Sells ‘Solutions’ or Just Products

There's a subtle but important difference between IT products and IT solutions. Both have their rightful place, but buying a product when you need a solution–and vice versa–can be costly. Unfortunately, product-pushers aren't always easy

Anti-Offshoring Bill Unlikely to Impact Call Center Industry

'Press 1 for America' legislation continues to take aim at U.S. companies that offshore call centers, but it's expected to have little impact.

How ‘Educational’ Apps Could be Hurting Your Kids

No "educational" app is going to make your child a genius, according to CIO.com blogger Bill Snyder. In fact, the apps could actually have a negative effect on kids. Here's how.

Reinventing the CIO as Chief Interaction Officer

Zip and Encrypt Files on the Go with New WinZip iOS App

If you frequently use your iOS device to send and receive documents and large image files, you'll find a friend in the new WinZip app for iPhones and iPads. The full version costs $5, but it's worth the investment, according to CIO.com blog

A Visual Guide to Identifying the Hidden Costs of BYOD

When it comes to mobile devices, hidden costs are everywhere. There's a good chance your company is paying for something it shouldn't be, and this infographic will help you spot the unintended financial consequences of employee mobility.

Comparing Nokia Lumia 1020, Samsung GS4 and HTC One Camera Quality

Nokia's new Lumia 1020 smartphone packs a 41MP digital shooter, but is it really that much better than other high-end smartphones on the market? CIO.com's Al Sacco answers this question by comparing three sets of images taken with the Lumia

How Delphi’s CIO Drives Innovation, Change and Revenue With IT

Delphi CIO Tim McCabe discusses how he navigated the auto-parts maker through times of major financial struggle and how, as a result, IT has become a driver of revenue. McCabe also explores why CIOs and IT leaders need to be more knowledgeable about

How IT Pros Can Use Pinterest for Career Growth

Pinterest has evolved to become more than a spot for food and fashion. It's now a popular place for businesses of all kinds, including IT. To help technology professionals get the most out of the online bulletin (or 'pin') board, Pint

Students Learn to Win With Gamification

As 30-somethings go back to college to earn a first or a new degree, they sometimes need a bit of a confidence boost to re-engage with learning. At Kaplan University, students are rewarded with badges and higher rankings on leaderboards as they maste

How IT Can Scare Off BYOD Monsters in the Closet

When it comes to security risks, BYOD is the gift that keeps on giving. But what about the devices that your employees used to use, gave up on and, months later, finally dug out of the closet to sell? That's another issue to wrestle with. Here a

How to Steal Passwords Saved in Google Chrome in 5 Simple Steps

It's surprisingly simple to access all of a person's passwords saved in Google Chrome. Another surprise: Google's well aware of this fact, and the company is not planning to do anything about it.

Splunk and Pentaho Bring Business Intelligence to Machine Data

Splunk, a specialist in operational intelligence, and business intelligence platform provider Pentaho have formed an alliance designed to bring Splunk's machine-generated data out from the IT department and make it available to business users.

6 Ways Employees Are Putting Your Company’s Data at Risk

With the growth of mobile devices, the ways we connect to the Internet at work has grown significantly. With that flexibility come security risks associated with intellectual property and company data.

Top 13 Back-to-School Laptops and Tablets

Yes, it's that time of year. Here's a look at eight top laptops and five top tablets for the students in your life.

Microsoft Cuts Surface Price Again but You Still Shouldn’t Buy One

Microsoft cut the price of another one of its Surface devices, but you're better off investing in another tablet, according to CIO.com blogger Bill Snyder. Here are four Surface Pro alternatives that could save you money.

Moving the Dial Toward Discretionary Funding

An interview with Gary Curtis, IT strategist

Microsoft Pushes Its Way Into Crowded Unified Communications Market

Microsoft's Lync has evolved into a serious unified communications competitor for enterprises looking to upgrade or adopt a UC platform. In a crowded field where players still struggle with interoperability issues, Lync's integration with

5 Things PRISM Teaches CIOs About Doing Business in Today’s World

Revelations that the United States government is monitoring Internet data from tech giants such as Facebook, Google and Microsoft should make your company reconsider where and how it stores data–all while realizing that, at the end of the day, surve

What the CIA Private Cloud Really Says About Amazon Web Services

When the CIA opted to have Amazon build its private cloud, even though IBM could do it for less money, a tech soap opera ensued. Lost amid the drama, though, is a perfectly reasonable explanation why Amazon Web Services makes sense for the CIA–and w

Samsung to ‘Unpack’ New Galaxy Note on Sept 4

Samsung is sending out press invites to events in Berlin and New York City, where it is expected to unveil the latest version of its Galaxy Note smartphone-tablet hybrid.

How Apple is Teaching Siri to Control Your In-Car Settings

Apple has patented a technology that could let you control in-car settings for seat placement, mirrors, air conditioning and more using a Siri-friendly iPhone app.

Top 3 Bento Database Alternatives for iOS

Bento, the personal database for iPhone, iPad and Mac, isn't long for this world. But have no fear; CIO.com blogger James A. Martin found three quality alternative databases for iOS.

CIOs Need to Push BYOD Policies to Lure Millennials

In less than two years, millennials will make up the largest segment of the workforce. If you hope to attract GenY technology professionals, your IT strategy better include a bring-your-own-device plan that plays to the strengths of this tech-depende

Healthcare Industry Sees Big Data As More Than a Bandage

The promise of big data in healthcare–increased efficiencies, better outcomes, more personalized care–is undeniable. How the industry reaches the promise land will happen in many stages, but hospitals and insurers aren't wasting any time getti

Tech Industry Leaders Appeal for Laxer Intellectual Property Laws

Citing the needs to curb frivolous litigation in the patent system and expand safe harbor and fair use protections, tech representatives get their turn before a House panel mulling a rewrite of IP law.

Apple Suffers Bruising Week

From labor issues that span the globe to flat retail store earnings to momentum-grabbing competitors to pressure from the Feds (and the list goes on), this is one week Apple executives, investors and fans would like to forget.

False Lenovo Security Report Only Strengthens World’s Top PC Maker

A report that Western nations deemed Lenovo PCs to be insecure was quickly kiboshed this week. CIO.com columnist Rob Enderle smells a rat and suspects it's only a matter of time before the source is outed (and unemployed). Meanwhile, Lenovo can

Gartner Predicts Limited IT Outsourcing Growth and Increased Volatility

Cost-conscious customers, uncertain economic conditions and evolving delivery models are causing the IT services market to grow more slowly than expected, according to a recent Gartner report.

Moto X Tech Specs

Motorola posted some high-level technical specifications for the brand new Moto X smartphone before the device's official launch.

Video Ads Could Make Facebook Even More Annoying

New video advertisements in Facebook news feeds could force many users to change the channel, according to CIO.com blogger Bill Snyder.

12 BYOD Disaster Scenarios

Everyone seems to be jumping on the Bring Your Own Device bandwagon, but it's a bumpy ride. There are many ways to fall off and get a bloody nose (or worse). As the BYOD reality catches up to the hype, here are 12 very real disaster scenarios.

iOS, Android Users: Will You Use Cross-Platform BBM? (Poll)

Vote in this quick poll to voice your opinion on the upcoming cross-platform BBM chat app for iOS and Android.

Pros and Cons of Microsoft’s New Office Mobile Android App

Microsoft this week released an Android version of its Office Mobile app, but it doesn't support tablets and you have to be an Office 365 subscriber to use it, according to CIO.com blogger James A. Martin.

Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 2 a Good, But Pricey, Business Tool

The Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 2 is a business-centric mobile device that offers an all-day PC experience. Battery life is impressive, as is the included stylus. But the optional accessories that make it an effective tool for power users are also the fea

How to Smooth IT-Business Friction

Infographic: Why can't IT pros and business pros get along? Maybe there is inherent tension between the two groups, but there are ways tech and end-users can work together. BMC Software looks at the prevailing sentiment and offers suggestions to

IT Resume Makeover: How to Tell Your Career Story

Not getting the responses you expected from your online resume? Learn what common pitfalls IT pros experience in their journey to find a better job.

Researchers Show Ways to Bypass Home and Office Security Systems

Many door sensors, motion detectors and security keypads can be bypassed using simple techniques, researchers from Bishop Fox said

Senators Push to Curb NSA’s FISA Authorities

Members of Judiciary Committee express concern over broad-ranging, secretive authorities under Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, push for bill to strengthen oversight, trasnsparency.

CIOs Say Mobilizing Enterprise Apps Is Not That Easy

Employees want their go-to business apps available on their mobile devices. IT wants to deliver enterprise apps to help mobile workers become more productive. So what's keeping CIOs from bringing those critical apps to iPhones and Android phones

7 Google Chromecast Limitations All Potential Buyers Should Consider

CIO.com's Al Sacco goes hands on with Google's Chromecast dongle and shares a number of noteworthy limitations that potential buyers may not be aware of.

5 Ways to Track In-Store Customer Behavior

There's a fine line between tracking the behaviors of customers in your brick-and-mortar store and spying on them. The technology discussed here uses data from customers' smartphones in conjunction with opt-in apps to offer patrons deals an

NASA Turns to Open Source Middleware for Human-to-Robot Communications

Data management is inherently tricky, but when it involves robots in spaceu2014communicating via a low-bandwidth intermittent linku2014it's trickier. NASA is leveraging Data Distribution Service for Real-Time Systems to help it solve that proble

CIO David Anderson on ‘The Business Alliance Group’

CIO.com blogger Martha Heller explains how David Anderson, CIO of CH2M Hill, embedded IT into the business.

Amazon, Overstock Print-Book Price War Could Cut eBook Costs

Amazon and Overstock have both reduced prices on some print bestsellers by more than 50 percent. That's great news for people who want paper books, but CIO.com blogger Bill Snyder says it could also mean cheaper eBooks.

How CPQ Systems Boost Sales Automation and CRM

Configure, price and quote systems are designed to speed up and automate the sales cycle–all in the name of improving customer relationship management. CPQ systems can be complex, but the firms who deploy them do see results.

Are Businesses Rushing to BYOD Too Quickly?

A survey of IT executives and IT pros paints a disturbing picture of BYOD. That picture includes a lack of confidence in compliance with federally mandated regulations, a fear that sensitive data is at risk and uncertainty about the overall effective