News

CEO Teardown: BlackBerry-Maker RIM’s Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie

CIO.com's "teardown" slideshow series picks apart tech's most infamous CEOs. Today, it's BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion's (RIM) co-CEOs Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie who take a turn on the ol' chopping block

By Al Sacco

Jan 25, 2011 6 mins

IT Leadership

Future iPhone and iPad Apps: Smart, Engaging and Maybe Costly

Mobile apps are maturing quickly as developers get more sophisticated, take dead aim at tablets, and find new ways of making money, says a new survey.

By Tom Kaneshige

Jan 24, 2011

Smartphones Tablets iPhone

BlackBerry Quick Tip: How to Customize Speed Dial in BlackBerry 6 OS

CIO.com's mobile watcher Al Sacco explains how to create custom speed-dial lists using RIM's BlackBerry OS 6, so BlackBerry smartphone users need only press and hold one key to call important contacts.

By Al Sacco

Jan 24, 2011 3 mins

Mobile Small and Medium Business Smartphones

The Case of Apple’s Mystery Screw

Apple's new "Pentalobular" screw for iPhone 4s, MacBook Pros and MacBook Airs stymies do-it-yourselfers from making repairs.

By Tom Kaneshige

Jan 20, 2011

MacBook Mobile Security iPhone

Free BlackBerry Apps: Seven New, Must-Have Downloads

CIO.com's mobile expert Al Sacco recommends another round of great, free BlackBerry smartphone applications to help you locate and download new and obscure music, share files across multiple mobile devices, get a grip on air travel and much more

By Al Sacco

Jan 20, 2011 5 mins

Mobile Small and Medium Business Smartphones

As PC Virus Turns 25, New Worry Emerges: Attack Toolkits

25 years ago, two brothers from Pakistan released the Brain Virus. Today, hackers can buy ready-made toolkits to launch malware attacks – and this trend should concern you.

By Bill Snyder

Jan 18, 2011

Security Viruses

Microsoft Office 2010 Upgrades: Four Pitfalls to Avoid

From training worries to compatibility woes, fears of business disruption can spread when IT announces a Microsoft Office 2010 upgrade. Here's how IT can steer clear of four big upgrade mistakes.

By Shane O'Neill

Jan 14, 2011

Microsoft Office Office Suites Project Management Tools

15 Best iPhone Apps for Newbies

For years, many have longed to own an iPhone, only to be turned off by AT&T's dodgy network. The wait is over: A Verizon iPhone 4 will hit the market Feb. 10. So what will you download first? Here are 15 can't-miss iPhone apps.

By Tom Kaneshige

Jan 13, 2011

Mobile Small and Medium Business iPhone

RIM Warns of New BlackBerry Browser, BES Security Vulnerabilities

RIM identified new security flaws in both its BlackBerry handheld software and its corporate BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES). CIO.com's Al Sacco provides details for BlackBerry users and admins on how to address the issues, one of which has b

By Al Sacco

Jan 12, 2011

Malware Mobile Security Small and Medium Business

Verizon vs. AT&T: Which Can Feed iPhone’s Need for Speed?

Will the iPhone swamp the Verizon network, just like it did to AT&T's network? Should you wait for the iPhone 5 that may or may not run on faster 4G networks? CIO.com breaks down the network battle.

By Tom Kaneshige

Jan 11, 2011

Carriers Wi-Fi iPhone

Muglia Exits Microsoft: How to Replace the Irreplaceable?

Microsoft Server and Tools president Bob Muglia is a hard man to replace, and industry analysts speculate Microsoft will look internally for a replacement. But if they do look outside Redmond, it will be for a C-level executive with cloud prowess and

By Shane O'Neill

Jan 11, 2011

Cloud Computing Data Center Servers

Five Things BlackBerry Admins Need to Know About RIM’s PlayBook Tablet PC

CIO.com's Al Sacco sat down with a BlackBerry PlayBook product manager at CES 2011 for some details on what CIOs and IT administrators should know about RIM's upcoming tablet PC.

By Al Sacco

Jan 7, 2011 4 mins

Laptops Small and Medium Business Smartphones

Microsoft’s Slow, Steady Tablet Strategy a Big Gamble

Could Microsoft's risky bet of choosing its client version of Windows over Windows Phone 7 as the OS for tablets pay off in the end?

By Shane O'Neill

Jan 7, 2011

Small and Medium Business Tablets Windows

BlackBerry PlayBook Tablet: A Video Look at BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) and E-Mail

RIM is currently showing off its much-hyped BlackBerry PlayBook tablet PC at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, and CIO.com's Al Sacco was on the scene for a first look at how the tablet connects to a BlackBerry smartphone fo

By Al Sacco

Jan 6, 2011

Small and Medium Business Smartphones Wi-Fi

Microsoft and Tablets: A Failure to Launch Could Hurt Core Business

If Microsoft is too slow developing Windows-based tablets, its bread-and-butter enterprise business could soon pay the price, according to industry analysts.

By Shane O'Neill

Jan 5, 2011

Small and Medium Business Tablets Windows

3 Things That Will Define Apple in 2011

Where will Apple's growth come from? Will Apple win, show or place in the smartphone race? Can the iPad fend off a swarm of new tablets?

By Tom Kaneshige

Jan 5, 2011

Consumer Electronics Smartphones Tablets

IT in 2011: Four Trends that Will Change Priorities

What does the post-recession IT world look like? More media will drive the need for more bandwidth, and a demand for Windows 7 upgrades and corporate use of personal smartphones will shape new priorities for IT.

By Shane O'Neill

Jan 5, 2011

CIO Cloud Computing Data Center

Apple’s Great (and Not-So-Great) Moments in 2010

From the smash debut of the iPad to the coming of the Mac OS X Lion to a knee-jerk ban on bikinis in the App Store, Apple has had one dramatic year.

By Tom Kaneshige

Jan 4, 2011

MacBook Tablets iPhone

Emerging Tech: Business Intelligence Apps Go Mobile

What could your company do with a BI app on iPhones and iPads? Some analysts say this mobile software category will take off in 2011 – but early adopters are already gaining benefits.

By Tom Kaneshige

Dec 21, 2010

Business Intelligence Data Center Small and Medium Business

Microsoft’s Biggest 2010 Missteps

2010 looked like a picnic in Redmond compared to 2009, but Microsoft still fumbled a few times. It fell asleep at the wheel in the tablet and mobile phone race u2014 and despite some pointed romancing, did not charm Wall Street.

By Shane O'Neill

Dec 20, 2010

Internet Small and Medium Business Smartphones

2010’s Most Popular iPad Apps

What people bought during the iPad's inaugural year.

By Brad Reed

Dec 16, 2010

Enterprise Applications Small and Medium Business Tablets

Another day, another "critical" PDF-related security flaw in Research In Motion's (RIM) BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES). A new security update for various versions of BES, released today, should resolve the current issue…for now.

By Al Sacco

Dec 15, 2010

Mobile Small and Medium Business Smartphones

Six Hot Workplace Trends for 2011

Digital portfolios trump resumes, more workers telecommute, social media continues its spread, and mobile marches over desktops. Check out these key technology work trends for the year ahead.

By Shane O'Neill

Dec 14, 2010

Careers IT Jobs Remote Work

BlackBerry 6 Security: How to Wipe Your RIM Smartphone, Restore Factory Settings

CIO.com's BlackBerry black belt Al Sacco details the process to security wipe a BlackBerry smartphone running RIM's latest mobile OS, BlackBerry 6.

By Al Sacco

Dec 14, 2010 4 mins

Mobile Small and Medium Business Smartphones

Apple’s 4 Biggest Surprises of 2010

Who knew the iPad would be such a hit among enterprises? Did you foresee the rise of the Droid army? What was Apple's biggest blunder?

By Tom Kaneshige

Dec 13, 2010

MacBook Smartphones Tablets

Google Chrome Cr-48 Notebook Hands On Video

CIO.com senior writers Shane O'Neill and Al Sacco perform a quick video hands-on with the first Google Chrome OS laptop, the Cr-48.

By Al Sacco, Shane O'Neill

Dec 9, 2010

Carriers Laptops Small and Medium Business

Every time you hear "tweet," "friend" or "connect," it makes you want to scream. You loathe the Fail Whale, Mark Zuckerberg and his posse of "friends." Sound familiar? Here's a collection of perfect gifts

By Kristin Burnham

Dec 9, 2010

Facebook Social Networking Apps Twitter

Windows 7 Upgrades: Six Steps to Getting Your Apps Ready

When migrating to Windows 7, IT pros need to understand what business applications are truly being used, which need fixing and which are compatible with Windows 7. Here are six steps every IT organization should take when preparing apps for Windows 7

By Shane O'Neill

Dec 9, 2010

Small and Medium Business Virtualization Windows

LG, VMware Aim to Deliver Two Phones in One

VMware is teaming up with LG to offer virtualized mobile devices that will allow a single phone to run two operating systems, one for business use and one for personal use.

By Kevin Fogarty

Dec 8, 2010

Mobile Small and Medium Business Virtualization

Google Nexus S Smartphone: Nine Facts You Need to Know

CIO.com's wireless-watcher Al Sacco lists nine things all potential Google Nexus S buyers and smartphone-enthusiasts should know about the latest Android-powered "Nexus" handheld.

By Al Sacco

Dec 7, 2010 5 mins

Mobile Small and Medium Business Smartphones

Ho Ho No: Holiday Work Party Hijinks to Avoid

Company Christmas parties can be a jolly good time, but a lot can go wrong. Overdrinking, under-dressing, bad dancing and inappropriate flirting, to name a few. Here are some etiquette tips to help you party on without losing your dignity or your job

By Shane O'Neill

Dec 7, 2010

Careers

Are your investments in social networks paying off? Get ready for a new way of e-business.

By Tom Kaneshige

Dec 7, 2010

E-commerce Software Facebook Retail Industry

11 Great Smartphones for $50 or Less

CIO.com's mobile master found 11 of this year's hottest smartphones, including new Android, BlackBerry and Windows Phone 7 devices on all major U.S. wireless carriers — even Apple's iPhone 4 on AT&T! — for less than $50 each. Wha

By Al Sacco

Dec 7, 2010

Small and Medium Business Smartphones iPhone

Facebook Updates Profile Pages: Navigate the New Features

Facebook introduced an entire overhaul of profile pages that features a new interface and several new additions. Here's a tour of what's new and how you can upgrade.

By Kristin Burnham

Dec 6, 2010 5 mins

Data Center Facebook Social Networking Apps

12 iPhone (and iPad) Accessories That Define You

What do you get the geek in your life who already has an iPad or iPhone? An accessory, of course. Critics say Apple's one-size-fits-all approach to products leaves little room for individual expression, but an iPad or iPhone accessory can say so

By Tom Kaneshige

Dec 6, 2010

Small and Medium Business Smartphones iPhone

One Enterprise’s Two-Year Apple Mobile Makeover

Apple gadgets aren't fit for the enterprise? RehabCare begs to differ: This healthcare provider embraces iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches and relies on custom-built iOS apps to improve patient care and beat up the competition.

By Tom Kaneshige

Dec 1, 2010

Business IT Alignment Healthcare Industry Regulation

7 Innovative Data Center Designs

From reflective roofs to pods, innovative features have popped up in data centers worldwide this year. Check out these 7 unusual designs.

By Rob Taylor, Bill Kosik and Doug Oathout, Hewlett-Packard

Dec 1, 2010

Data Center

Hilton CIO: 4 Reasons We’re Checking In SharePoint and Office 2010

Collaboration, cloud flexibility and presence features are among the reasons Hilton Hotels Worldwide has decided to roll out SharePoint and Office 2010. CIO Robert Webb sat down with CIO.com's Shane O'Neill for this Q&A.

By Shane O'Neill

Dec 1, 2010

Microsoft Office Office Suites Small and Medium Business

Groupon 2.0: More Deals and a Personalized Feed

Amid rumors that Google may acquire Groupon today, the social buying site veers from its deal-a-day platform, opening up deals to any merchant — and unveiling a personalized feed that helps users track deals.

By Kristin Burnham

Dec 1, 2010

Consumer Electronics Social Networking Apps

Best BlackBerry Battery-Saving Tips: Master Class

The longer your smartphone lasts on a single charge, the better, right? CIO.com's mobile expert Al Sacco details the techniques power users swear by to boost BlackBerry longevity.

By Al Sacco

Nov 30, 2010 8 mins

Mobile Small and Medium Business Smartphones

7 Great iPhone 4 Cases: Protect Your Smartphone…Before It’s Too Late!

CIO.com's Al Sacco turned to the Twitterverse in search of the best lightweight and unobtrusive, yet protective iPhone 4 cases. Here are seven Apple-smartphone cases that fit the bill.

By Al Sacco

Nov 24, 2010

Small and Medium Business Smartphones iPhone

CIO.com Teardown: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg

Our new slideshow series picks apart tech's most infamous CEOs. Today, Mark Zuckerberg, it's your turn. This will be less painful than the movie. We promise.

By Kristin Burnham

Nov 23, 2010 4 mins

Facebook Social Networking Apps

Microsoft Lync: A.T. Kearney’s New Customer Care Secret

As Microsoft launched its Lync unified communications product last week, CIO.com's Shane O'Neill investigated how one company is using it to improve customer communications.

By Shane O'Neill

Nov 22, 2010

Microsoft Office Office Suites Unified Communications

Emerging Tech: Alternatives to Apple App Store, For Enterprises

Apple's App Store and iTunes are great for consumers but kludgy for companies. Yet only recently have enterprises been able to find an enterprise app store of their own — for better mobile app deployment and management.

By Tom Kaneshige

Nov 19, 2010

Healthcare Industry Microsoft Office Smartphones

Microsoft Lync: The Pros and Cons for Enterprises

Microsoft launched Lync, the next generation of its Office Communications Server, into the nascent unified communications market. But will enterprises sign on and will it be enough to take down competitors Cisco, Avaya and IBM?

By Shane O'Neill

Nov 18, 2010 6 mins

Microsoft Office Office Suites Unified Communications

Why One Company is Ditching Sales Laptops for iPads

Take a look at the decision process behind one company's move to replace laptops with iPads and embrace the consumerization of enterprise IT – plus the training and security issues that have popped up.

By Tom Kaneshige

Nov 18, 2010

Carriers Regulation Small and Medium Business

Free BlackBerry Apps for the Holidays

CIO.com's mobile maestro Al Sacco handpicks ten BlackBerry applications–six of which are completely free–that can help with shopping, travel, personal entertainment and much more this upcoming holiday season.

By Al Sacco

Nov 16, 2010

Mobile Small and Medium Business Smartphones

Facebook Messages: 3 Reasons to Say No

Facebook's Monday announcement of its "social inbox" plan drew a lot of criticism from skeptics. Here are three reasons why that skepticism is warranted for business users.

By Kristin Burnham

Nov 16, 2010 3 mins

Facebook Social Networking Apps Unified Communications

What If Facebook and Chrome Mated: Meet RockMelt

RockMelt, the new social Web browser, definitely has its pros and cons. Check out the new young gun in the browser wars.

By Bill Snyder

Nov 15, 2010

Social Networking Apps

CIO.com Teardown: Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer

Faster than a Windows Vista PC. More powerful than a gadget teardown. Our new slideshow takes apart Microsoft's boisterous leader Steve Ballmer to see the man behind the "developers, developers, developers" meme.

By Shane O'Neill

Nov 15, 2010

IT Leadership