Merrimack Tech News

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Today's Links and My Two Bits.

Monday, August 8, 2011

Death of the Book Store Part 2.

My wife and I were in our local Borders this weekend to say good-bye. I mean to say shop while the store was still open. Everything was marked down, and everything was for sale. The shelving, the register counter, the ladders, the chairs were long gone. No lounging around the 50% rack. You had to stand with all the other book buyers. My wife made the comment that it wasn't that technology killed the book store is as much people cannot afford much in these tough economic times and cannot afford the traditional cost of a hardcover book. Again technology made books cheaper and more affordable by being on an ereader. She might be right but I couldn’t help to feel a little nostalgic as I browsed the slim pickings of the book. All the times I browsed over vast quantities of books. I wonder when the next time will be when I can walk into a bookstore and admire all the wonderful hard and soft cover books. Maybe never again. It’s just a matter of time before Barnes and Nobles shutters all it’s brick and mortar stores, and exists solely as online purveyor of ebooks and ereaders. RIP bookstores.

Eric

A Chinese Company You Should Know about Tencent.

There’s a Chinese internet company that you should know about and it’s called Tencent. It dominates the internet in China. Think Google except it makes much of it’s revenue from online games. Another thing about Tencent is that it does not innovate very much. It’s like the way Microsoft was in the early 80’s. It takes idea and makes it, it’s own. Tencent does not have much of a presence out side of China yet, the company is seeking expansion beyond the mainland. And if Facebook wants entry into China then it must beat the mighty Tencent penguin. As for revenue numbers Businessweek reports that it had revenue of 3 Billion Dollars in 2010. If you ask me this is not some pie in the sky Chinese start up, but a possible threat to both Google and Facebook. For more check out the article in this week’s Businessweek.
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/tencent-march-of-the-penguins-08042011.html?chan=magazine+channel_top+stories

Eric

Today's Favorite Articles.

“With Google, There Will Be Bad Blood”
http://seekingalpha.com/article/285374-with-google-there-will-be-bad-blood?source=email_portfolio

Little progress reported in getting the NFL Network onto TimeWarner and Cabelvision.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/business/wishbone_formation_ivd4ONeKb5058UWsHy3EII

“Boston Pulse: MTDC Looks for Its Promised State Funds”
http://news.dice.com/2011/08/05/boston-pulse-mtdc-looks-for-its-promised-state-funds/

“Silicon Valley Pulse”
http://news.dice.com/2011/08/04/silicon-valley-pulse-3/

“Making the Most of Your Non-Technical Experience”
http://news.dice.com/2011/08/04/making-the-most-of-your-non-technical-experience/

“Foxconn Hires 1 Million Robot Workers”
http://news.dice.com/2011/08/03/20851/

Does porn eat into Cable’s profits there’s a discussion going on over at Slashdot.
http://news.slashdot.org/story/11/08/05/1217200/Internet-Eats-Into-Time-Warner-Cable-Porn-Profits?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Slashdot%2Fslashdot+%28Slashdot%29

“AT&T Sued for Firing and Punishing Workers for Taking Family or Medical Leave”
http://thejobmouse.com/2011/08/07/att-sued-for-firing-and-punishing-workers-for-taking-family-or-medical-leave/

AT&T rolls out HSPA+ or 3.5G in certain communities.
http://www.thesunnews.com/2011/08/06/2316960/faster-wireless-networks-coming.html

“Six Ways to Revitalize an Older Notebook”
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/237040/laptop_refresh_six_ways_to_revitalize_an_older_notebook.html#tk.nl_snx_h_cbintro

“Researchers at Microsoft have built a virtual vault that could work on medical data without ever decrypting it”
http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/38239/?mod=chfeatured

“Congress And The Cloud Computing Act of 2011”
http://www.trcbnews.com/congress-and-the-cloud-computing-act-of-2011/114563/

“Comcast's $10 Broadband Has a Few Catches”
http://www.broadbandreports.com/shownews/Comcasts-10-Broadband-Has-a-Few-Catches-115570

“IEEE publishes 802.22 Super WiFi standard”
http://www.cablinginstall.com/index/display/article-display/3808682077/articles/cabling-installation-maintenance/news/wireless/2011/8/IEEE-publishes-802-22-Super-WiFi-standard.html?cmpid=EnlCIMAugust82011

“USB-powered mini media converter”
http://www.cablinginstall.com/index/display/article-display/9745312174/articles/cabling-installation-maintenance/products/connectivity-technologies/media-converters/2011/8/USB-powered-mini-media-converter.html?cmpid=EnlCIMAugust82011

“Smaller-Gauge USB Bulk Cable offers flexibility, power handling”
http://www.cablinginstall.com/index/display/news_display/1467704674.html?cmpid=EnlCIMAugust82011

“Ad Money Reliably Goes to Television”
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/08/business/media/tv-advertising-still-a-reliable-engine-in-media.html?_r=1

“Why Time Warner rules the cloud”
http://news.cnet.com/8301-31001_3-20089408-261/why-time-warner-rules-the-cloud/

“Addicted to IT: Quitting is not an option”
http://www.infoworld.com/d/data-center/addicted-it-quitting-not-option-169056?source=IFWNLE_nlt_daily_2011-08-08

“Are Google's best days behind it?”
http://www.infoworld.com/d/the-industry-standard/are-googles-best-days-behind-it-168900?source=IFWNLE_nlt_daily_2011-08-08

“Don't fall for fearmongering about iCloud”
http://www.infoworld.com/d/mobile-technology/dont-fall-fearmongering-about-icloud-168637?source=IFWNLE_nlt_cloud_2011-08-08

“Guide: Future server technology”
http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/396378/guide_future_server_technology/

“Users complain of Mac OS X 'Lion' bugs”
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/users-complain-of-mac-os-x-lion-bugs/14088?tag=nl.e539

“iPads power productivity gains at MicroStrategy”
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2011/080511-ipad-microstrategy.html?source=NWWNLE_nlt_wireless_2011-08-08

“Vonage enhances mobility”
http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/converg/2011/080811convergence1.html?source=NWWNLE_nlt_convergence_voip_2011-08-08

“10 cloud management companies to watch”
http://www.networkworld.com/supp/2011/enterprise4/080811-ecs-companies.html?source=NWWNLE_nlt_virtualization_2011-08-08

“Staying ahead of cloud complexity”
http://www.networkworld.com/supp/2011/enterprise4/080811-ecs-cloud.html?source=NWWNLE_nlt_virtualization_2011-08-08

“The accidental revolution: How Apple's iPhone transformed enterprise IT”
http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/nsm/2011/080811nsm1.html?source=NWWNLE_nlt_network_systems_2011-08-08

“Whine, Whine, Whine ... Oh, RATs!”
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/Whine-Whine-Whine--Oh-RATs-73018.html

“Temp Hiring and Healthcare Hiring on the Rise”
http://news.dice.com/2011/08/05/weekly-news-update-temp-hiring-and-healthcare-hiring-on-the-rise/

Surfs up!..........................Eric

Friday, August 5, 2011

Why Xfinity Should be like Netflix.

I have to wonder what the suits over at Comcast are thinking since they don’t appear to interested in shaking up the apple cart by not extending the Xfinity brand to become like Netflix.
Check this story out; http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Comcast-Nixes-Idea-of-Offering-Video-Outside-Footprint-115514
I’ve never heard of a company forsaking the opportunity to make a profit because they are afraid to break the mold. Comcast is a far better and bigger company than Netflix their stock price should be just as high if not higher than Netflix’s. The problem with Comcast is that their CEO it seems has to be dragged kicking and screaming into new area’s before he succumbs to the desires of the consumer. To me Comcast is such a big tech giant that it could possibly be on the same plane as Apple or HP. Part of the problem is as I just stated is that Comcast is a tech company and needs to realize that fact. It’s no longer just a cable company, or entertainment company it’s a tech company. It has the potential to make vast sums of money for investors. The first sector is it’s core business the cable operation. The second sector is the entertainment division including the film studio’s and theme parks. The third is it’s role as ISP. All three sectors make vast sums of money for Comcast. Now add to more roles.The fourth role would be as a cell phone provider. Comcast all ready sits on a vast wireless spectrum. Rather than sit on all this wonderful spectrum why not create and promote products that reach across the broad Comcast platform of services and entertainment? The Fifth role is it could easily put it’s self in is to become a streaming service to other customers outside of it’s foot print. What’s so hard to offer it’s on-Demand service to PAYING customers? Oh wait it might be considered poaching and might actually be a good thing in the cable business can’t have that as people and certain CEO’s like nice steady and stable profits. We wouldn’t want to rock the boat now would we? We would then have a true Netflix killer in the form of Comcast. The point of the whole matter is that I feel Comcast needs to do a better job at being aggressive in the market and should not shy away from opportunity as it seems to do now.

(Disclosure: My wife and I are long on Netflix stock and neither one of us own any stock in Comcast.)

That’s my two bits on Comcast........................Eric

The Big Friday list of Links.

White Paper;
“2011 IT Skills and Salary Report”
http://www.idgconnect.com/download/6673/2011-it-skills-salary-report?source=concib-f080511c

“Comcast Nixes Idea of Offering Video Outside Footprint”
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Comcast-Nixes-Idea-of-Offering-Video-Outside-Footprint-115514

“Clearwire to adopt LTE and Maintain its WiMax network for the foreseeable future.”
http://www.fiercecable.com/story/clearwire-adopt-lte-maintain-wimax-network/2011-08-04?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=internal

HBO Go more competition for Netflix.
http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/08/04/is-this-a-netflix-killer/

Comcast to rely solely on servers from Cisco Systems.
http://www.fiercecable.com/story/comcast-reportedly-drops-seachange-vod-servers/2011-08-05?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=internal

Netflix net 1 Million subscribers in Canada.
http://www.fiercecable.com/story/netflix-hits-1-million-subscribers-canada/2011-08-05?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=internal

“Scientists create wireless network with LED room light”
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/emergingtech/scientists-create-wireless-network-with-led-room-light/2692?tag=nl.e539

“Can iTunes Replay challenge the almighty Netflix?”
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/apple/can-itunes-replay-challenge-the-almighty-netflix/10768?tag=nl.e539

“ Routers Using OSPF Open to Attacks”
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/237312/black_hat_routers_using_ospf_open_to_attacks.html#tk.nl_bdx_h_crawl

“Easing the Juggling Act With Client Virtualization”
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/237311/easing_the_juggling_act_with_client_virtualization.html#tk.nl_bdx_h_crawl

“Java 8 Gears up for the Cloud”
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/237337/java_8_gears_up_for_the_cloud.html#tk.nl_bdx_h_crawl

“Google TV More Enticing after Set-Top Box Price Slash”
http://www.pcworld.com/article/236986/google_tv_more_enticing_after_settop_box_price_slash.html#tk.nl_tex_h_cbintro

“Is Google suffering from Microsoft Syndrome?”
http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2011/08/04/is-google-suffering-from-microsoft-syndrome/

“Google failing to pay Android developers”
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/08/04/android_marketplace_payments/

“Google and Microsoft in a Tit for Tat Over Patents”
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/04/google-and-microsoft-in-a-tit-for-tat-over-patents/

“Amazon boosts identity management, private cloud offerings”
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2011/080411-amazon-boosts-identity-management-private.html?source=NWWNLE_nlt_cloud_security_2011-08-04

“Moves afoot in U.S., elsewhere to end PSTN copper lifeline”
http://www.networkworld.com/columnists/2011/080311-bradner.html?source=NWWNLE_nlt_network_optimization_2011-08-04

“Beyond WAN Optimization”
http://www.networkworld.com/community/blog/beyond-wan-optimization?source=NWWNLE_nlt_network_optimization_2011-08-04

“The impact of cloud balancing on application delivery”
http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/frame/2011/080111wan2.html?source=NWWNLE_nlt_wan_2011-08-04

“The feds want to regulate the cloud”
http://akamai.infoworld.com/d/cloud-computing/watch-out-the-feds-want-regulate-the-cloud-168658?source=IFWNLE_nlt_cloud_2011-08-04

“New group plans 100,000 broadband-enabled jobs in US”
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2011/080411-new-group-plans-100000-broadband-enabled.html?source=NWWNLE_nlt_cisco_2011-08-05

“Wikipedia losing contributors: Fatal flaw, the community editors?”
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/wikipedia-losing-contributors-fatal-flaw-the-community-editors/54144?tag=nl.e539

“The hidden costs of running Windows on a Mac”
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/bott/the-hidden-costs-of-running-windows-on-a-mac/3673?tag=nl.e539

“Starbucks students, laptop loungers: Your days are numbered”
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/igeneration/starbucks-students-laptop-loungers-your-days-are-numbered/12037?tag=nl.e539

“A Power Plant Hack That Anybody Could Use”
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/237347/a_power_plant_hack_that_anybody_could_use.html#tk.nl_bdx_h_crawl

Checkout The Networking Nerd for software that he uses every day.
http://networkingnerd.net/

Surfs up!.........................Eric

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Study Finds Small and Medium IT firms can help the Healthcare Industry.

A new study by CompTIA finds that small IT firms have the skills and resources to help advance IT in the health industry but the report finds that federal regulation might be the biggest reason why these small firms stay on the sidelines during the transition. The study also found that IT spending in the health industry is expected to be in the neighborhood of $34 billion dollars. The authors of the study also noted that small and medium size IT firms with a focus on the health industry would be hiring and retaining top IT talent.
For more on this story click on the link below;
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110803005460/en