The bMighty Blog -- January 2008 Archive

How many iPhones does it take to change a light bulb?

Posted by Alan Zeichick 05:02 PM ET | Jan 31, 2008

The answer is: I don't know. But when I get one, I'll let you know. But there are other riddles regarding the iPhone. One is... where are they? Apple says that it has shipped 3.75 million iPhones by the end of 2007. At that time, the only authorized telecom company for activating those iPhones was AT&T. However, AT&T reported activating just under 2 million iPhones.

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Apple

The Recession is Coming! Quick, Start Hiring

Posted by Naomi Grossman 11:40 AM ET | Jan 31, 2008

Anyone who follows news on the economy knows the picture isn't great: a volatile stock market, a mortgage crisis, a credit crunch. If we were living in Paul Revere's day, we'd probably eventually see a man on a horse racing through our towns and cities shouting, "A recession is coming! A recession is coming!" Still, we get it. So, how should smaller businesses get ready for the inevitable?

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HR | IT | Strategy/Analysis/Biz Dev

Juniper and Cisco Square Off in Enterprise Switching Ring

Posted by Paul Korzeniowski 05:51 AM ET | Jan 31, 2008

How intense is the rivalry between Cisco and Juniper. One day after Cisco made its most significant switch announcement in years, Juniper followed with its own magnum opus. Coincidence? Hardly, but a competition that will benefit small and medium businesses.

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The State of Green Business: Are You Trying, Smaller Businesses?

Posted by Naomi Grossman 12:41 PM ET | Jan 30, 2008

A report evaluating the effort of businesses to get "greener" has just been released and its results are, at first glance, disheartening. But for smaller businesses the "green" possibilities are there.

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Green Business | Strategy/Analysis/Biz Dev

Free Identity Theft Webinar Tomorrow

Posted by Keith Ferrell 01:39 PM ET | Jan 29, 2008

This week's release of a new report on Identity Theft (and strategies for avoiding and combating it) will be accompanied by an online Identity Theft Webinar tomorrow, Thursday, January 31, at 2 pm EST.

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Report: Smaller Businesses Getting Smarter About Their IT Dollars

Posted by Naomi Grossman 09:25 AM ET | Jan 29, 2008

Amid all the reports predicting that companies are going to be increasingly cautious in their IT spending this year, is one focused on small and midsize businesses. It's conclusion? Smaller businesses are learning that IT could help them grow.

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Hardware & Software | IT | Strategy/Analysis/Biz Dev

The Integration of Storage and Switching Takes a Giant Step Forward

Posted by Paul Korzeniowski 06:06 AM ET | Jan 29, 2008

At one time, networking functions were placed in stand-alone devices. Recently, suppliers tried to reduce the number of products needed – and simplify deployment and maintenance -- by integrating different functions into one device, a trend industry giant Cisco heartily endorsed.

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Did you know there's a dictionary in Mac OS X 10.5 "Leopard"?

Posted by Alan Zeichick 11:30 AM ET | Jan 28, 2008

It's the helpful little program that I never noticed, but I stumbled on Dictionary when looking in my "Applications" folder over the weekend.

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Apple

DEMO 08 Showcases Small Business Innovations

Posted by Fredric Paul 01:01 AM ET | Jan 28, 2008

Look for a handful of innovative small-business-oriented product introductions at this week’s Demo08 conference in the California desert. Just don’t count on the products arriving on time or truly changing the way your company does business.

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Is Hardware Dead?

Posted by Fredric Paul 04:22 PM ET | Jan 25, 2008

As the Internet "cloud" lets Amazon, Yahoo! and EMC's Mozy rent computing power at bargain prices, is there a still reason for small and midsize companies to buy their own machines?

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Cloud Computing | Hardware & Software | IT | Services

Vista is the Most Secure OS. At Least Microsoft Says So

Posted by Naomi Grossman 12:15 PM ET | Jan 25, 2008

Microsoft tells us that Vista is the most secure of all the desktop operating systems. And my mother thinks I'm the smartest person ever. While both may or may not be true, the real question is: Is that all that matters?

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Hardware & Software | IT | Open Source | Windows

E-Business Lessons From The New England Patriots

Posted by Keith Ferrell 09:55 AM ET | Jan 25, 2008

No, not the usual "Every business needs a quarterback callings its plays" sort of football=business yada yada. Plenty of those around already -- but there are also plenty of good e-business lessons the Patriots can teach The team is as ready for varying and intense Web traffic patterns as the players are for opposition shifts and shimmies.

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Time to Implement Security as a Service?

Posted by Paul Korzeniowski 05:22 AM ET | Jan 25, 2008

Software as a Service (SaaS) has been gaining acceptance among small and medium businesses because it eases maintenance and deployment requirements. Having been widely implemented in areas, such as Customer Relationship Management, it is now advancing into the security market.

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Good Tech News Is Good News For IT

Posted by Fredric Paul 09:28 PM ET | Jan 24, 2008

Despite the reams of bad economic news lately, there are lots of indications that the technology industry is still going strong.

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Business & E-Business

Apple Struggles With iPod, iPhone Sales Issues

Posted by Fredric Paul 08:52 PM ET | Jan 24, 2008

Just days ago, it seemed that Apple could do no wrong. But now critics are coming out of the woodwork, worrying about slowing iPod sales growth and stacks of iPhones that could be languishing in AT&T stores. The stock has been hammered, but I wouldn't count Apple out yet.

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Is Time Machine a viable Mac backup system? Yes, for remote users

Posted by Alan Zeichick 10:30 PM ET | Jan 23, 2008

Time Machine is a feature of Mac OS X 10.5 “Leopard,” and it’s a great backup system for consumers and home workers. For businesses, however, it has limitations.

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Apple

The iPod Touch as a WiFi computing platform

Posted by Alan Zeichick 09:05 PM ET | Jan 23, 2008

I used to think that my RIM BlackBerry was the best pocket communications device. Now, it’s become a real battle between the BlackBerry and my Apple iPod Touch (given to me over the holidays by a friend).

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Apple

Can Windows XP Be Saved? Should It Be Saved?

Posted by Naomi Grossman 11:20 AM ET | Jan 23, 2008

Smaller businesses, Microsoft is going to stop sales of XP by the end of this year. Do you care? Should you care?

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Hardware & Software | IT

Sprint Reshuffles Operations to Stymie Growing Losses

Posted by Paul Korzeniowski 05:17 AM ET | Jan 22, 2008

The new year started off on an ominous note for Sprint Nextel employees: 4.000 of which will add the moniker former to their job titles. The changes underscore the wireless carrier’s ongoing struggle to compete in the cutthroat cellular market.

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10 Commandments Of Business Blogging

Posted by Fredric Paul 11:05 PM ET | Jan 21, 2008

As far as I know, there are no rules for blogging. But you're blogging for your business, you may want to consider these ten tips:

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Internet/Web

Smaller Businesses Leading the Charge to Vista

Posted by Naomi Grossman 11:55 AM ET | Jan 18, 2008

Not only does a recent report demonstrate that Windows Vista is being adopted by more US businesses, but the findings also indicate that smaller businesses are moving to Vista the fastest. Why are smaller businesses feeling the "Wow"?

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Hardware & Software | IT

650,000 More Customer Records Lost: It's The Physical Security, Too, Stupid

Posted by Keith Ferrell 08:04 AM ET | Jan 18, 2008

A data tape containing 650,000 J.C. Penney and other retailers' customer records including Social Security numbers, has been missing since last October, but notification of all affected customers has yet to be completed. Lots of lessons in this one.

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The Cruel Irony Of The MacBook Air

Posted by Fredric Paul 08:07 PM ET | Jan 16, 2008

I've been waiting for a powerful notebook computer the size of an actual notebook for a very long time. And here Apple comes along with the MacBook Air and I'm not going to get one. Oh what cruel irony.

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Apple | Hardware & Software | Mobile

Excel Security Flaw Poses Mac And Windows Risk

Posted by Keith Ferrell 03:21 PM ET | Jan 16, 2008

A Microsoft security advisory warns that some Excel users are at risk of attacks specifically targeting the vulnerability. Users who've installed Excel 2003 Service Pack 3, or who are running Office 2007 (Windows) or 2008 (Mac) should be protected.

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Apple | Hardware & Software | IT | Security

Want Employees to Stay? Try Being a Good Boss

Posted by Naomi Grossman 12:17 PM ET | Jan 16, 2008

Whether there is an IT skills shortage or not, retaining talent -- which is crucial to a smaller business' success -- can often come down to another, frequently overlooked factor: What kind of boss you are.

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Business & E-Business | IT

Apple's business-friendly news at Macworld

Posted by Alan Zeichick 02:07 PM ET | Jan 15, 2008

Steve Jobs just completed his keynote speech at Macworld Expo. Much of what he talked about was focused on consumers, such as a new version of the Apple TV, and movie rentals from the iTunes Store. However, there were two announcements that we of potential business value coming from Apple:

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Apple

Is There an IT Skills Shortage in the US or Not?

Posted by Naomi Grossman 12:01 PM ET | Jan 15, 2008

Are there enough tech workers in this country or not? The debate rages on but there is one thing everyone agrees on: Smaller businesses are at the center of it all.

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IT | Strategy/Analysis/Biz Dev

10 Threats You Need To Worry About: SANS Report

Posted by Keith Ferrell 06:57 AM ET | Jan 15, 2008

SANS is out with its 2008 top threats report, and the outlook isn't good. While many of the threats are familiar, they're getting more sophisticated, supple, smart.

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Business & E-Business | IT | Networking & Communications | Operations | Security

Time to Develop a Strategy for Mobile Marketing

Posted by Paul Korzeniowski 06:53 AM ET | Jan 15, 2008

Just when you thought that you had Internet marketing figured out, a new advertising vehicle has emerged. Mobile marketing has already taken root in Asia, mainly in Japan and South Korea, and is soon expected to wash up onshore here.

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Windows Vista SP1 Test Available

Posted by Fredric Paul 10:24 PM ET | Jan 14, 2008

Microsoft has made the first public test version of Windows Vista SP1 available for free download. Yippee! Finally some help for the much-maligned operating system.

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Windows

The Dark Side Of Telecommuting

Posted by Fredric Paul 05:34 PM ET | Jan 11, 2008

Telecommuting may be great for the people who get to work at home in their jammies, but here's a surprise: It stinks for the folks left back at the office.

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HR | Management | Technology/Telecom

Smaller Businesses, Take Note: Sun Reducing Data Centers

Posted by Naomi Grossman 10:30 AM ET | Jan 11, 2008

What can smaller businesses learn from the IT department of a giant company like Sun Microsystems? That it's time to shrink their data center.

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Hardware & Software | IT | Strategy/Analysis/Biz Dev

Green Backlash? FTC, Others, Question Greenwashing Business Claims

Posted by Fredric Paul 12:59 PM ET | Jan 10, 2008

More and more folks -- including the Federal Trade Commission -- are starting to question the claims of businesses and processes -- like carbon offsets -- held out as environmental solutions.

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Green Business

Mobile Devices: The Bane and the Reality of Today's IT Departments

Posted by Naomi Grossman 12:39 PM ET | Jan 10, 2008

As if IT departments needed more proof that they are supporting more and more mobile devices, along comes another survey to tell them that. But this one, from CompTIA, had a few surprising conclusions.

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IT | Mobile

iPhone Success Begets iPhone Malware

Posted by Keith Ferrell 08:22 AM ET | Jan 10, 2008

Got an iPhone? Get ready for iPhone trojans. The first one's ringing in now.

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New Solutions Emerge for Data Backup Challenges

Posted by Paul Korzeniowski 07:30 AM ET | Jan 10, 2008

Data here, data there, data, data, everywhere. That has become the mantra in many small and medium enterprises. Consequently, tracking and backing up important information has become a problem for many companies, one online backup suppliers are trying to address.

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IT Managers, Relax! No iPhone Rival From Microsoft

Posted by Naomi Grossman 11:39 AM ET | Jan 9, 2008

With Bill Gates' announcement that Microsoft is not getting into the smartphone business, IT managers can breathe a sigh of relief. But they still have to contend with the iPhone and all the other gadgets their companies' users are increasingly bringing into the enterprise.

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Apple | IT | Mobile

Who's In Charge -- Really In Charge -- Of Your Security? Anybody?

Posted by Keith Ferrell 08:53 AM ET | Jan 9, 2008

If your small or midsize business has a designated Chief Security Officer, well-done. If you don't, welcome to the club -- but it's not a club you want your business to be part of.

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Vista Still Trails Windows XP In Shipments -- And Performance

Posted by Fredric Paul 08:23 PM ET | Jan 8, 2008

Bill Gates' boast that Microsoft has sold more than 100 million copies of Vista actually reveals that Windows Vista was aboard less than half of the PCs shipped in 2007.

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Hardware & Software | Windows

High-end Macs get a speed boost

Posted by Alan Zeichick 06:05 PM ET | Jan 8, 2008

The Mac Pro and Xserve were updated today with faster processors, faster bus, and faster memory. While most business Macs probably are the less-expensive iMac and MacBook models, we can expect that these improvements will soon be trickling down to the typical end user.

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Apple

Two of Alan's favorite Mac fix-it tools: Onyx and iDefrag

Posted by Alan Zeichick 05:52 PM ET | Jan 8, 2008

To paraphrase the old poem: When Mac OS X is good, it’s very very good, but when it’s bad it’s terrible.

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Apple

Social Networking Has Business Value? Who Knew?

Posted by Naomi Grossman 11:39 AM ET | Jan 8, 2008

I've been scouring the tech predictions lists for 2008 and, along with the obvious trends -- virtualization will be big, more IT managers will be praying that Vista meets an early and painful death -- was one that could be surprising to smaller businesses: social networking is going to start to make business sense.

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Business & E-Business | Hardware & Software | IT | Sales/Marketing

Hackers Count On Unpatched Problems -- How Patched Are Yours?

Posted by Keith Ferrell 07:50 AM ET | Jan 8, 2008

The lesson of the mass-hack that tagged 70,000 Web pages over the past week is be careful what you ask for on your Web site -- and be even more careful that you're completely patched before you ask.

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Get Ready to Stream Video over Wi-Fi LANs

Posted by Paul Korzeniowski 06:27 AM ET | Jan 8, 2008

Increasingly, mobility has become a common way that small and medium businesses complete their daily business. Its high bandwidth requirements have not meshed with Wi-Fi connection, but soon companies will have oodles of wireless bandwidth.

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Why The CONSUMER Electronics Show Matters To BUSINESS

Posted by Fredric Paul 08:00 PM ET | Jan 7, 2008

Look past the explosion of noise, lights, hype, 150" TVs, and silly gadgets coming out of Las Vegas's CES this week and you might catch a glimpse of what's next for business technology.

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Microsoft Office 2008 for Macintosh nears the finish line

Posted by Alan Zeichick 06:30 PM ET | Jan 6, 2008

For many – dare, I say, most? – business Mac users, Microsoft Office is The Killer App. There are many reasons. Chief among them is the need to share Word, Excel and PowerPoint files seamlessly with Windows users.

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Apple

Business Resolutions -- It's Not Too Late!

Posted by Fredric Paul 10:01 PM ET | Jan 4, 2008

I’m not usually a fan of New Year’s Resolutions. In fact, I’ve been known to break them even before the New Year starts. But as we ease into January, don’t miss the opportunity to set some annual goals for your business.

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Management

Is There A Wi-Fi Flu Waiting To Happen?

Posted by Keith Ferrell 02:16 PM ET | Jan 3, 2008

We've all talked a lot about wireless security (or lack thereof) and hotspot vulnerabilities and other perils of the wireless world. But researchers at Indiana University suggest that wireless routers may be a perfect medium for communicating contagious malware.

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The Tech Voter's Guide to the Candidates

Posted by Naomi Grossman 10:46 AM ET | Jan 3, 2008

Granted there are pressing issues -- like healthcare, immigration, and the war -- that will sway some voters from one candidate to another but what will likely influence many IT managers is the candidate's stand on tech issues.

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IT | Internet/Web

Cisco Succession Plan Takes a Hit

Posted by Paul Korzeniowski 07:37 AM ET | Jan 3, 2008

Viewed as the next top dog, Chief Development Officer Charles Giancarlo, a force in Cisco’s push into the small and medium business market, decided to pursue other opportunities rather than wait for that position to open up.

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Windows Vista And Web 2.0: Are They Doomed?

Posted by Fredric Paul 05:43 PM ET | Jan 2, 2008

Nothing got more media attention in 2007 than the troubles of Microsoft's Windows Vista and the triumph of Web 2.0. But now observers are starting to wonder if both hype-fests are about to crash and burn.

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Internet/Web | Windows

Online Sales Were Up. Can Smaller Businesses Get a Piece of the Action?

Posted by Naomi Grossman 11:12 AM ET | Jan 2, 2008

E-commerce sales were up 19 percent this holiday season as compared with last year, according to ComScore. That figure is less than the 26 percent increase seen for the same period in 2006, but it's still a lot of sales. Smaller businesses, are you making sure you're getting in on this?

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Business & E-Business | Hardware & Software | Sales/Marketing

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The bMighty Blog -- January 2008 Archive

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