News

Apple in 2012: 5 Reasons It Will Be a Tough Year

Even though Apple's competition will not catch up next year, expect an exodus of talent in Cupertino in 2012 and perhaps some internal drama at the top of the Apple organizational chart, say tech analysts.

By Tom Kaneshige

Dec 15, 2011 6 mins

Mobile Security Smartphones Tablets

10 Biggest Tech Letdowns of 2011

From the dead-on-arrival HP TouchPad to RIM's epic BlackBerry outage and Yahoo's slow fade, here are the tech products, companies and events that let us all down in 2011.

By Shane O'Neill

Dec 14, 2011 5 mins

IT Strategy Internet Small and Medium Business

BlackBerry in 2012: More Trouble in Store for RIM

RIM and BlackBerry smartphones and tablets could take some strides in the right direction in the coming year, but the outlook is mostly grim, writes CIO.com's Al Sacco.

By Al Sacco

Dec 14, 2011 5 mins

Small and Medium Business Smartphones Ultrabook

Mobile Predictions for 2012: Security, Payments, Windows Phone and More

CIO.com's Al Sacco gathers a handful of mobile and wireless predictions from industry experts on subjects like mobile malware, mobile payments and location-based services and offers his take on which predictions will come true–and which will fa

By Al Sacco

Dec 13, 2011 9 mins

Small and Medium Business Smartphones iPhone

‘Hunt for Growth’ is 2012 PwC M&a Prediction

Looking ahead to the 2012 merger-and-acquisition environment, PricewaterhouseCoopers sees pent-up U.S. demand for deals being unleashed — if the lending environment eases and access to capital improves.

By Roy Harris

Dec 13, 2011 2 mins

Mergers and Acquisitions

Economic, Political Fronts Spook CFOs, Even if Hiring, Credit Prospects Don’t

Finance chiefs are up there with the rest of America in the things that worry them, the latest Bank of America Merrill Lynch survey shows.

By Ed Zwirn

Dec 13, 2011 4 mins

IT Jobs IT Leadership

5 Tips to Avoid LinkedIn’s Top 10 Buzzwords

LinkedIn reveals its list of the most overused words of 2012 and offers five expert tips for polishing for the New Year.

By Kristin Burnham

Dec 13, 2011 4 mins

Careers LinkedIn Social Networking Apps

How has the CFO’s Reputation Managed to Stay So Clean in the Crisis?

If there's any silver lining in the dismal economic environment of recent years, it's perhaps that finance departments — the top performing ones, at least — have emerged stronger, and with more respect from their CEOs and from other parts

By Lisa Yoon

Dec 7, 2011 3 mins

IT Leadership IT Strategy

China’s Cheaper Cities Prime for IT Outsourcers

CIOs looking for lower costs, specific language skills or local support should consider these five up-and-coming outsourcing cities in China.

By Stephanie Overby

Dec 7, 2011 4 mins

Outsourcing

Want to share one of your Amazon Kindle ebooks with a colleague, friend, family member or other reader? Check out this quick and easy Kindle-sharing tutorial, and you'll be loaning out your digital books in no time.

By Al Sacco

Dec 7, 2011 6 mins

Computers and Peripherals Consumer Electronics Small and Medium Business

Sprint Calls on Microsoft Lync, Saves Big with UC

Sprint weathered the challenges and reaped the rewards of killing off PBX systems and moving to a unified communications suite with Microsoft Lync. Here's how this transition made life easier for Sprint workers and saved millions in reduced tech

By Shane O'Neill

Dec 6, 2011 5 mins

Microsoft Office Office Suites SaaS

Must CFOs Be Both Strategists and Skeptics? to Be Change Agents, Yes

In wide-ranging discussion, that's the conclusion of finance panelists from OfficeMax, Duke Energy and Time Warner.

By Roy Harris

Dec 6, 2011 5 mins

IT Leadership IT Strategy

BlackBerry PlayBook Troubleshooting Tips for Tablet Newbies

Got a new BlackBerry PlayBook tablet? Or planning to pick up a discounted PlayBook for a friend or loved one this holiday season? CIO.com's Al Sacco offers up six quick and easy PlayBook troubleshooting tips that all RIM tablet owners should kno

By Al Sacco

Dec 5, 2011 8 mins

Small and Medium Business Smartphones Tablets

Cybersecurity Innovation Works From the Inside Out At SAIC (K4)

Under its CIOu2019s leadership, SAICu2019s cybersecurity firms innovate internally while honing external solutions

By Cio Executive Council

Dec 1, 2011 3 mins

Data Center

Encouraging Users to Embrace Big Business Data (K4)

How CIOs are bringing non-IT staff into the information workeru2019s world

By Cio Executive Council

Dec 1, 2011 3 mins

Data Center

How CIOs Build Bridges with Other C-Level Execs (K4)

Top-notch CIOs are boosting ITu2019s reputation and forming stronger relationships with other business leaders

By Diane Frank

Dec 1, 2011 14 mins

Data Center

Candid Talk Trumps the Blame Game (K4)

How Hiltonu2019s CIO uses honest communications to work through difficult timesu2014and avoid finger-pointing

By Diane Frank

Dec 1, 2011 3 mins

Data Center

Hotel Chain Sees Mobile App Turning ‘Lookers Into Bookers’ (K4)

IHG is rolling out smartphone apps because internal data shows that customers who use mobile apps are more loyal than those who donu2019t

By Kim S. Nash

Dec 1, 2011 3 mins

Data Center

5 Things You Need to Know About Android Phones (K4)

Android phones are in high demand by workers, but they lack key security features. Here are the top five things you can do to make sure Android phones in your organization donu2019t create a security nightmare.

By Freelance Writer

Dec 1, 2011 2 mins

Data Center

SAP’S Business Objects (K4)

Latest version of BI suite tries to fix the disjointed feeling of the user experience.

By Chris Kanaracus

Dec 1, 2011 1 min

Data Center

Tablets in the Enterprise: Risks and Rewards

Tablets like the iPad can set your workforce free, but with benefits come risks and tradeoffs, from securing and supporting tablets to budgeting for them.

By Shane O'Neill

Dec 1, 2011 5 mins

Laptops Small and Medium Business iPhone

Facebook Privacy: How the FTC Settlement Affects You

Facebook's settlement with the FTC bars the social network from making false claims about its privacy practices and requires Facebook to, among other measures, obtain users' express consent before sharing their information beyond their exis

By Kristin Burnham

Nov 30, 2011 5 mins

Consumer Electronics Facebook Social Networking Apps

Is Tech M&a Positioned for an Upturn?

If many U.S. deal-watchers have been shaking their heads at the lower overall numbers for technology-based merger transactions closing in the third quarter, there are some who believe that underlying trends carry hope for a potential revival of M&amp

By Roy Harris

Nov 29, 2011 4 mins

IT Strategy Mergers and Acquisitions

Uncovering Tech’s Most Peculiar Product Codenames

Tech companies go to painstaking lengths to keep new products confidential, which is why many of them assign "secret" product codenames. Here's an insider's look at some of the most unusual codenames, with themes ranging from feli

By Kristin Burnham

Nov 29, 2011 2 mins

Apple Facebook Technology Industry

Ten Signs Technology is Everywhere

IT is showing up in the most unusual places, from touch-screen tables at a London restaurant to virtual-reality therapy for soldiers returning from Iraq. Check out these tech applications compiled by CIO magazine editors.

By Lauren Brousell

Nov 29, 2011 6 mins

Computers and Peripherals Developer Small and Medium Business

BlackBerry Mobile Fusion: What You Need to Know About RIM’s New iOS, Android Management Software

A new enterprise mobility offering from RIM will let IT managers use one BlackBerry toolset to manage and secure BlackBerry smartphones, Apple iOS devices, including smartphones and tablets, as well as Google Android gadgets. CIO.com's Al Sacco

By Al Sacco

Nov 29, 2011 4 mins

Small and Medium Business Smartphones iPhone

Uncovering Tech’s Most Peculiar Product Codenames

By Kristin Burnham

Nov 28, 2011 1 min

Developer IT Strategy Internet

Ten Signs Technology is Everywhere

By Lauren Brousell

Nov 28, 2011 2 mins

Innovation Small and Medium Business Virtualization

Apple in the Enterprise: Breaking Microsoft’s Grip

At Lifetime Products, Apple products breached a long-time Microsoft stronghold, disrupted a conservative IT culture and tested the CIO's mettle to inspire his troops and embrace the consumerization of IT.

By Tom Kaneshige

Nov 28, 2011 5 mins

Carriers Desktop Virtualization Manufacturing Industry

The Small-Firm Path to CFO

Working at a little company can be a great way to advance to the large-company finance chief slot you want — unless it isn't.

By Lisa Yoon

Nov 22, 2011 5 mins

Careers IT Leadership

Is 2012 the Year Android Invades the Enterprise?

Courtesy of the consumer, large-scale deployments of Android phones and, yes, tablets are coming next year. But the Android platform still has a ways to go before it's enterprise-ready, putting CIOs in a tough spot.

By Tom Kaneshige

Nov 22, 2011 5 mins

Mobile Security Smartphones Tablets

Datalink’s M&a: Growth By Design

Careful bid pricing, good integration strategy, and a vigilant CFO help it avoid the pitfalls that plague so many other acquirers.

By Karen M. Kroll

Nov 21, 2011 5 mins

Data Center IT Strategy Mergers and Acquisitions

Is There a Lack of Innovation From Outsourcers?

Two out of five offshore outsourcing customers say lack of innovation from providers is their biggest challenge. But customers need to invest much more to make that happen.

By Stephanie Overby

Nov 21, 2011 5 mins

Innovation Outsourcing

Some Facebook users are unintentionally broadcasting their reading habits to their network. Here's how to find out if you've added one of these social reading apps and how to adjust your privacy settings.

By Kristin Burnham

Nov 21, 2011 3 mins

Facebook Privacy Social Networking Apps

Holiday Shopper Beware: Smartphone Thieves Are Getting Smarter

It's beginning to look a lot like a mobile Christmas, and Grinch-like phone thieves will be out and about. Here are tips on how to keep your smartphone and data safe.

By Tom Kaneshige

Nov 18, 2011 4 mins

Data and Information Security Mobile Security Smartphones

Google Music vs. Amazon Cloud Player: How They Stack Up

The newest player in the cloud-based music space — Google Music — is stirring the pot with a number of competitive specs. How does it stack up to Amazon's popular Cloud Player? CIO.com's Kristin Burnham takes a look.

By Kristin Burnham

Nov 18, 2011 5 mins

Cloud Computing Small and Medium Business Social Networking Apps

iPhone App Spotlight: SecureSafe

Where do you keep your list of passwords on your iPhone? If you're not using an app like SecureSafe, you should.

By Tom Kaneshige

Nov 16, 2011 4 mins

Financial Services Industry Phishing iPhone

Hottest Tablets for Your Holiday Wishlist

Tablet PCs have become the must-have holiday gift. This year though, Apple's iPad is no longer the only tablet on the market with significant "wow factor." CIO.com's Al Sacco presents a list of the best tablets available for this

By Al Sacco

Nov 16, 2011 8 mins

Consumer Electronics Small and Medium Business Tablets

Apple Readies for Holiday Bonanza

What gadget tops your holiday wish list? A Siri-speaking iPhone 4S? A shiny, new iPad 2? Or maybe you're hoping for an ultra-thin MacBook Air.

By Tom Kaneshige

Nov 15, 2011 3 mins

Laptops Smartphones Tablets

BlackBerry Tip: How to Avoid a “Bricked” or “Nuked” BlackBerry

CIO.com's Al Sacco offers advice on one way to help ensure you never find yourself with a BlackBerry that's stuck in an endless reboot cycle or frozen on a BlackBerry error screen.

By Al Sacco

Nov 14, 2011 4 mins

Mobile Small and Medium Business Smartphones

iPhone Battery’s Bad Rap

Has iPhone 4S battery life got you down? Stop complaining. The new iPhone is the torchbearer for battery life among smartphones.

By Tom Kaneshige

Nov 14, 2011 3 mins

Consumer Electronics iPhone

How to Protect Your Smartphone from Bad Apps

Antivirus software maker McAfee released a set of five new tips to help ensure that your smartphone remains secure and free of potentially harmful mobile applications.

By Al Sacco

Nov 14, 2011 5 mins

Mobile Security Small and Medium Business Smartphones

LinkedIn Tip: How to Find the Right Group for You

With more than 1 million LinkedIn Groups around, finding the one that best suits your needs can be quite a challenge. But now, with LinkedIn's new Groups Statistics dashboard, you have all the help you need to make an informed decision. Here&#03

By Kristin Burnham

Nov 11, 2011 3 mins

LinkedIn Relationship Building Social Networking Apps

As CFO Cites Woes, GM Pares Profit Target

General Motors Co. is pointing to its European operations as a trouble spot as it reports lower earnings, and CFO Dann Ammann says the company "obviously [has] significant macroeconomic challenges to address there."

By Roy Harris

Nov 9, 2011 5 mins

Car Tech Technology Industry

What Adobe’s Decision to Kill Mobile Flash Means to You

Adobe has decided to do away with mobile Flash. CIO.com's Al Sacco explains what the news means to mobile users, developers and platform makers.

By Al Sacco

Nov 9, 2011 3 mins

Laptops Small and Medium Business iPhone

Microsoft’s Greatest Successes and Biggest Failures

Give Microsoft credit; it never does anything small. Its successes rock the world. And when it screws up, it screws up big time.

By Dan Tynan, ITworld

Nov 9, 2011 1 min

Microsoft Office Small and Medium Business Smartphones

Can Windows Play Well on the iPad?

A new Citrix SDK helps Windows software developers solve a big problem: How to extend desktop apps to the iPad and iPhone in a way that doesn't turn off mobile users.

By Tom Kaneshige

Nov 8, 2011 5 mins

Desktop Virtualization Healthcare Industry iPhone

Google+ Pages: 5 Things You Need to Know Before Signing Up

Business and brands are flocking to Google+ after the announcement of Google+ Pages. Here's what you and your business should know about the new feature, and how to remedy problems you may have already encountered.

By Kristin Burnham

Nov 8, 2011 4 mins

IT Strategy Internet Social Networking Apps

IT Outsourcing Providers Could Profit from Double Dip Recession

IT and business process outsourcing activity declined in the third quarter of 2011, but if the economy weakens, analysts expect more outsourcing–particularly offshore–in the coming months.

By Stephanie Overby

Nov 8, 2011 3 mins

Outsourcing