Intel rolls out next-generation Ivy Bridge processors

Intel just released its third-generation Core processors, called Ivy Bridge, that use a smaller design for faster performance and lower power consumption. In addition to speedier boot times and longer battery life, IT enterprise will appreciate the use of 64-bit technology and added virtualization features. 

The new processors should be making their way into high-end desktops and laptops in the coming months.

MS Office for iPad, Blackberry for iOS, and Apple sales foretell #1.

It appears Microsoft is readying a version of it’s Office software for the iPad. Office for iPad would compete against Apple’s productivity suite (Numbers, Pages, and Keynote). More to the point, Office for the iPad will provide another incentive for businesses to move from PCs to Tablets.  

Research In Motion announced it’s Mobile Fusion Blackberry Server Enterprise platform. With Mobile Fusion RIM extends mobile security management to iOS and Android devices.  Mobile Fusion may represent a strategic shift as RIM continues to shed smartphone market share to Apple and Google.
 

What makes a PC a PC? The processor? The OS? The applications it runs? This is the debate emerging around the the iPad and tablets. Is the Tablet a post-PC device or part of the PCs evolution? The debate may be moot because Apple is selling millions of iPads. So many in fact, when combined with Mac sales Apple is poised to overtake HP as the number #1 PC vendor in 2012. 

Silverlight going dark, an iOS 5 update is air born, and DropBox Teams with businesses

It appears Microsoft may follow in the footsteps of Adobe and take Silverlight dark after release 5. As HTML5 rolls out, browser plugins designed to play back rich web media become less relevant. Microsoft has indicated its view that HTML5 is the future.

Apple delivers its first update for iOS 5 “over the air”. This feature officially decouples iOS devices from iTunes and PCs for updates. The iOS 5.0.1 update is targeted at improving battery life, multitasking gestures, and other bugs.

DropBox’s popular cloud storage service is expanding from individuals to groups. DropBox for Teams starts with a shared 1TB storage pool for five users. The service enables administrators to add or delete users and offers dedicated phone support.

The business user strikes back and IT is transforming.

Business users are using the force to turn the tables on the IT Crowd after years of having technology choices made for them. Business users everywhere are demanding smartphones, tablets, Web 2.0 services, and apps in the workplace. IT organizations are transforming by enabling bring-your-own-device policies and embracing Cloud services. The emerging “bizumer” is blurring the distinction between personal and professional.

Fast Forward! Cloud Computing Predictions for 2012.

The Cloud Computing Journal has assembled 2012 cloud computing predictions from a variety of industry leaders. Undoubtedly, public and private clouds will continue to expand along with the cloud ecosystem.

Sprint to end unlimited data plans.

Just as Sprint begins selling the iPhone 4S, they are also changing 3G/4G data plans beginning November 2011. What matters here? Well, they are eliminating unlimited data on the 4G network. Read all about the plan changes here.

HTML5 to set publishing on Fire!

When the Amazon Kindle Fire ships next month, it will do so with Kindle Format 8 (KF8). KF8 is the latest update to the Kindle e-book format. Based on HTML5, KF8 moves Amazon’s electronic books closer to the look and feel of Web pages. KF8 follows the HTML5 based Web app Amazon launched earlier this year called Kindle Cloud Reader, which lets customers read e-books from any modern Web browser.

Mary Meeker’s Amazing Internet Trends.

Mary Meeker has released another look at the Internet and what’s heading our way. What’s in store? Well, over the last three years China added more Internet users than the USA has citizens. 81% of unique monthly visits to USA websites originates in other countries. There are 835 million smartphones and 5.6 billion mobile phone subscribers world-wide. Finally, 85% of the world’s population is covered by wireless signals which has a greater reach than electricity.

Tablets, Mobile, and Social top the technology trends for 2012.

According to Gartner, the Human Experience is transforming the Business Experience and in turn driving the IT Dept. Experience. App Stores, Big Data, and Cloud Computing are among the top 10 trends for 2012.

bit.ly takes a shortcut into the future.

bit.ly, the URL shorting service, shortens approximately 80 million URLs every day. Alongside the shorting service bit.ly has launched a search platform. They are leveraging this search platform to crawl and classify every URL they shorten to create a content index reflecting distribution, click frequency, and trending. Searching the index does not return pagerank, instead, it displays a prediction of the stories that are likely to get the most attention over the next 24 hours. Welcome to the future.