IT PRO – Cloud computing gets boost as energy costs skyrocket
The increase in cost of power and cooling in data centres is encouraging the move towards cloud computing, according to US researchers. In a conference call yesterday, Dr Jonathan Koomey from Stanford University claimed that rising power and cooling costs makes it more economically viable for companies to hold data in large centralised hubs.
IT PRO – Criminals using real-time hacks to target businesses
A malware researcher has warned about hackers using the ‘real-time web’ to target the web pages of businesses like banks and other financial institutions. Joe Stewart, director of malware research for SecureWorks, spoke to the New York Times about a Trojan called ‘Clampi’, which used real-time techniques to attack people who could access corporate bank accounts with particularly big balances.
IT PRO – Broadband growth booming, but many left without access
The number of broadband lines has risen above expectations in the first half of this year, according to broadband specialists. Point Topic announced today that 445,000 more lines were added this year, making the total in the UK over 17.8 million.
IT PRO – What’s next for enterprise tech?
Tech trends are often a long time coming, with many bits and pieces hyped for years and years as the next big thing before finally tipping into the mainstream. Others drop on the sector out of nowhere – Twitter, anyone? – and change the game before half of us even know what’s going on.
New Scientist – Worldwide battle rages for control of the internet
WHEN thousands of protestors took to the streets in Iran following this year’s disputed presidential election, Twitter messages sent by activists let the world know about the brutal policing that followed. A few months earlier, campaigners in Moldova used Facebook to organise protests against the country’s communist government, and elsewhere too the internet is playing an increasing role in political dissent. Now governments are trying to regain control. By reinforcing their efforts to monitor activity online, they hope to deprive dissenters of information and the ability to communicate.
FT.com – Nokia vows to challenge Apple’s iPhone
Nokia has pledged to strike back at Apple and produce mobile phones that will compete effectively with the US technology company’s iPhone. Olli-Pekka Kallasvuo, chief executive of Nokia, the world’s largest mobile phone maker, said that it was aiming to be “even more competitive” following criticism that it had failed to come up with a handset to match the iPhone.
Computing – Young developers to mash-up government data
Official government web portal Directgov is sponsoring an event this weekend that offers 50 young developers the chance to build and create useful applications with government data. Organisers James Darling and Emma Mulqueeny set up the Young Rewired State event to encourage young people to engage with each other for peer-to-peer support and to highlight to government the need for good programming skills in many languages, as well as to showcase young talent.
Computer Weekly – FCC seeks definition of broadband
The US communications regulator, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), is trying to define the meaning of broadband so it can create a $7.2bn national broadband plan by 17 February 2010. The idea mirrors the UK’s Digital Britain process that led to a government commitment to having a national 2Mbps system in place by 2012, but with much more attention to operational details.
Computer Weekly – ICO raps two for stolen unencrypted laptops
The Information Commissioner’s Office has received undertakings to improve data protection from a London borough and a motor vehicle repair advice centre following the loss of personal data that included driving convictions.
BBC News – Mobile TV ‘very slow’ to take off
Mobile TV has so far failed to deliver on its promise of ubiquity, but analysts expect worldwide user numbers to increase to 54 million in 2009. Analysts also predict that by 2013 there will be about 300 million people watching TV on the so-called third screen, their smart phone.
The Register – Hotmail pulls Attach-Photo feature over security concerns
Microsoft has suspended the “Attach-Photo” feature in Hotmail as a result of security concerns. Webmail users can still add photos as attachments to Hotmail messages, just not in the same way as before. Microsoft expects to restore the suspended feature by the end of September.
