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Private App Stores and Tablets: Notes from an Early Adopter

Mobile devices and apps are everywhere — including the workplace. But while users reap benefits, IT departments struggle with risks. Cisco's AppHQ running on its Cius tablet promises a controlled environment. One of the first to test the privat

Apple’s iPad Aims to Revolutionize Education

The iPad exposed a dirty little secret about the American workplace: Most people don't use computers much in their jobs. But now the iPad might change how a traditionally non-tech worker – the high school teacher – performs in the classroom.

How To Transform Strategic Supplier Relationships

Surveys reveal that sourcing vendor management professionals are dissatisfied with their strategic/partner vendors. Forrester has identified and outlines three characteristics that are key to transforming strategic supplier relationships from duels i

Senators Unveil Cybersecurity Bill to Empower Homeland Security

After years of deliberations and several false starts, a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduce cybersecurity overhaul that would authorize the Department of Homeland Security to oversee security at critical infrastructure providers, improve system

How and When to Build a Mobile Website

Mobile technology experts discuss which enterprises need a mobile presence, the important questions to ask when developing a mobile website, what pitfalls to avoid and what to expect to pay.

Malware Network Threats Rising, How to Defend Yourself

Last year saw the rise of malware networks, distributed network infrastructures that exploit popular places on the Internet to repeatedly launch a variety of dynamic malware attacks. Blue Coat Labs has issued six best practices that can help organiza

Firefox in 2012: What’s in Store for the Open-Source Browser?

A new, Windows 8-inspired look, an app store, better tab performance and privacy enhancements are on the Mozilla Firefox roadmap in 2012.

Two Truths And A Lie: Software Development In 2020

When getting introduced to a new subject or new people, we sometimes play a game called 'two truths and a lie.' The basics of the game are simple, anyone introducing a subject – or themselves – state two truths, and one lie. The audience th

Amazon Blocks Instant Video on BlackBerry PlayBook, Blames Apple

Amazon.com has blocked BlackBerry PlayBook users from streaming its Instant Video content on their tablets. The online retailer is oddly blaming the PlayBook's Flash player as well as the company's rival in the digital media and tablet spac

LinkedIn Tip: How to Enable HTTPS Browsing

If you're visiting LinkedIn from open WiFi hotspots, your security could be at risk. Here's how to take advantage of a new LinkedIn feature to enable secure browsing to ensure your information remains safe.

China’s Labor Conditions: Why Is Apple Being Singled Out?

Apple should not be singled out for outsourcing manufacturing to Communist China, but the company also shouldn't be surprised that the freedom-loving customer base it cultivated is disappointed.

Speaktoit Assistant iPhone App No Match for Siri

A new iPhone app promises to outdo Siri and bring similar voice activated features and functionality to older iPhones. But CIO.com blogger James A. Martin says the app lags far behind Apple’s virtual assistant and doesn’t match up t

Boston Cops Show Hackers You Can Beat Them by Laughing at Them

Maybe humor will let the public know how trivial most of the attacks on law enforcement sites are.

Mobile Coupons Light Up With New Smartphone Technology

Industry giant Procter & Gamble hopes to revolutionize the coupon industry with technology that allows retailers' existing bar-code scanners to read the coupon code on customer smartphones. Customers won't have to wait for the clerk to

IT Pay: Premiums for IT Skills Drop as IT Departments Reorganize

The premiums companies pay to IT professionals on top of their annual salaries or contract rates to acquire a specific, desired skill have been declining for a year, according to research into IT pay premiums conducted by Foote Partners. The research

Tablet Typing Made Simple with ZAGGkeys Flex Bluetooth Keyboard for iOS, Android

The ZAGGkeys Flex Bluetooth keyboard is a gadget designed to the typing process on your iOS and Android tablets and smartphones. Despite its compact size, you'll love the gadget's tactile feel and portability.

Google Screenwise: Selling Your Privacy Is Stupid

Web users have already ceded far too much privacy and given away far too much personal data. Letting Google have even more, even if they're paying you, could come back to haunt you. Don't do it.

How to Save the IT Industry in 4 (Not So Easy) Steps

Offshore outsourcing is again a hot topic this election year, but the solutions U.S. politicians are proposing will do little to prop up the American IT services industry. If government leaders really want to save U.S. IT jobs, here's what they

Would Steve Jobs Have Been a Good Politician?

Steve Jobs served on President George H.W. Bush’s Export Council despite sources telling the FBI that Jobs “will twist the truth and distort reality in order to achieve his goals.” Is this the intersection of business and p

Three Ways BYOD Changes Company Architecture

The iPhone, Android Walkie-Talkie App Everyone’s Talking About

Does anyone really need to turn their iPhone or Android smartphone into a walkie talkie? Sure they do, says CIO.com blogger James A. Martin.

Google Wallet Picked, iTunes Store Hacked and Other Stories from the Week

Hungarian hacker who tried to blackmail Marriott into giving him a job falls for promise of all-expense-paid trip to U.S. for job interview.

Android Security Woes: Google Wallet Threat Bad News for NFC Payments

New Google Wallet for Android security threats raise questions about the viability and public-willingness to adopt NFC mobile payments services, even though such services actually have the potential to improve payment security, says CIO.com's Al

Privacy: A CIO’s Next Competitive Weapon

Google says that in-context privacy tools should supplement traditional privacy policies to give users more insight and control

6 Ways to Defend Against Drive-by Downloads

Cybercriminals are increasingly using drive-by downloads to distribute malware without end users knowing something bad has just landed on their machine–until it's too late. Here are six ways IT departments can protect end users from the product

Romney Talks Technology Innovation, Hands-off Government

Branding Obama stimulus endeavors the work of a 'crony capitalist,' GOP frontrunner Mitt Romney outlines innovation strategy to nourish tech startups.

Forget Public Cloud or Private Cloud, It’s All About Hyper-Hybrid

As organizations increasingly adopt cloud offerings for critical business operations from public and private providers, connecting them all back to the core of the business is becoming a challenge involving complicated integration, orchestration and

Google Wants to Buy Your Privacy for $5

What's your online privacy worth? Google looks for volunteers to relinquish their online privacy in exchange for a gift card. Were users outraged or did they take the fin? You may be surprised by the reaction.

6 Tips to Conquer Facebook Timeline

From privacy settings to customization and more, here are six tips to set you on the right path with Facebook Timeline.

Apple Innovation: 10 Future Tech Ideas

How will Apple fare in the post-Steve Jobs era? Everyone is wondering whether or not Apple can deliver amazing technology in the future. From the wacky to the reasonable, here's a list of innovation ideas.

Activists Target Apple, Deliver Petitions to Seek Labor Reform

Outraged by reports of harsh working conditions in overseas factories that produce iPhones, iPads and other popular Apple products, supporters of labor protections for supply chain partners deliver petitions to Apple stores around the world.

Taking the Side of Sarbanes-Oxley

CFO and other complaints are everywhere, but one reporter not-so-fondly remembers the pre-SOX world.

Coming Soon from BlackBerry: 5 Things to Look Forward To

It's easy to dwell on BlackBerry-maker RIM's current troubles , but CIO.com's Al Sacco says there's reason to be optimistic, and it's not just about brand new handheld software and new devices. Here are five things to look fo

Windows 8: Assessing IT Risks of a Consumer-Driven Wave

Microsoft is betting big on Windows 8. But will the immense promotional efforts the software giant is putting behind the latest Windows OS pay off? CIO.com's Rob Enderle handicaps the high-stakes game Redmond is playing.n

Security Experts Ask House for Light Regulatory Touch

Technology industry representatives — looking to prevent an additional set of compliance requirements — urge House subcommittee to avoid new cybersecurity regulations to shore up the nation's digital defenses.

10 Business Skills Every IT Pro Must Master

Here are the 10 business skills that truly matter to your career in IT. A lot.

Opera Mini: Better Browsing on Your iPhone

Tired of Safari? The Opera Mini browser is fast, easy to use, and elegant. There are small drawbacks, but it's definitely worth a try.

Emails Give Real Transcript of FBI Negotiation with Symantec Hackers

Exchange offers lessons — and reads like something out of a movie

What’s A Facebook “Like” Worth?

It seems everyone’s obsessed with Facebook’s IPO right now. And while CMOs are beginning to understand the possibilities of Facebook, and other social technologies, to connect and engage with customers, many CIOs remain unclear on t

Want Your Employees To Do More? Give Them Less

Corporate leaders say they want employees who take on extra initiative for improving the company, but they do little to foster a culture that empowers and rewards employees for doing so.

Scribble for iPhone, iPad Annotates Piles of File Types

A new iPad and iPhone app lets you markup a variety of documents. But you'll need a stylus and you can’t type annotations or add highlighting (yet).

Shakeup At Nokia: it’s Laying Off 4,000, Moving Work to Asia

Nokia is moving more of its manufacturing to Asia, the company says, and it is laying off about 4,000 workers by year-end at three factories in Europe and Mexico.

How to Evaluate Enterprise Search Options

An enterprise search platform delivers many benefits, including improved employee productivity, but there are dozen of vendors and three different approaches — specialized, integrated and detached — to consider. Here's how to find the product

Windows Phone 8: Next Step to a Seamless Windows Experience?

Windows Phone 8, an update reportedly due when the Windows 8 launches, will bring with it the Windows 8 look and feel and app compatibility. Here's a look at some anticipated mobile features in Windows Phone 8 including NFC and SkyDrive integrat

Love, Android Style: 12 Free Apps for Valentine’s Day

Looking to spice up your Valentine's Day a bit this year? Check out the following 12 free Android apps designed to help you find the best flowers, chocolates, rom-coms, love poems, dinner reservations, mood music and much more. (All apps are Cup

When Apple iOS Apps Go Bad

Apple cherry-picks features and integrates them into native iPhone apps, but many are mediocre and pale in comparison to third-party apps. Is Apple sending the wrong message?

Facebook Mobile Ads Not Likely to Be a Distraction

Facebook mobile ads are inevitable–and are reported to hit devices next month. And while this will likely reignite the fire in users who are peeved by Facebook changes, rest assured that this one is hardly worth complaining about.

Eastwood Didn’t Like Auto Bailouts …

The debate continues — as celebrity debates tend to go on and on these days — about whether Clint Eastwood's Super Bowl halftime ad for Chrysler was designed in part as a plug for President Obama and his 2012 economic strategy.

Internet Freedom Could Turn on ‘Middle Countries’

Between the free-expression camp and the hard-line regimes with strict censorship policies are a host of important, growing nations that are just beginning to delve into the work of crafting Internet policy. And those countries could hold the key.

What You Can Learn from Motorola’s Recent Refurbed Tablet Security Scare

Motorola recently shipped about 100 refurbished XOOM Wi-Fi-only tablets that is says may contain sensitive information belonging to the original tablet owners. But the news would be a non-issue if those owners had simply performed a good ol' sec