Techworld.com SME

Opera, Mozilla and Google respond to Microsoft browser ballot

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:08:00 GMT

Web rivals bemoan lack of competition

Microsoft has proposed that Windows operating systems should show users a ballot screen inviting them to choose a Web browser from among the most popular ones when they first attempt to access the Internet. Consumer organisations and the company's rivals generally approve of the idea, but believe the way Microsoft's ballot screen is designed is biased and will deter people from...

Microsoft fires 800 people

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:23:00 GMT

Redmond announces further cuts

Microsoft is laying off another 800 people, adding to the 5,000 the company has already let go this year. The Techflash blog first reported the news.

Cisco beats analysts predictions for sales

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:05:00 GMT

Network giant profits better than expected

Cisco Systems posted first quarter results that far exceeded Wall Street's expectations, though revenue and profits were down from a year earlier.

Microsoft open source foundation lays down rules

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:56:00 GMT

CodePlex makes community projects 'commercial friendly'

Likening its organisational plan to a museum featuring different galleries of interest, the Microsoft-backed CodePlex Foundation for open source projects this week is talking up its project submission guidelines, which were released last week.

Intel beating AMD in chip sales

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:08:00 GMT

Processor giant extends market lead

Intel expanded its chip shipment lead over Advanced Micro Devices during the third quarter as the rivals battle for larger market share, according to a survey released by Mercury Research.

Intuit Quicken Premier 2010 software review

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:15:00 GMT

We were impressed by the improvements we found over previous versions

With so many websites offering capable - and free - personal finance management tools, why would you pay around £30, or significantly more, for a desktop application like Quicken 2010? To find out, we looked at a shipping copy of Quicken Premier 2010, and were impressed by the improvements we found over previous versions.

Business backs social networks

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:45:00 GMT

Deloitte finds companies ready to invest

Despite tight budgets, companies are continuing to support the social networking activities they've recently established. In a Deloitte LLP survey of 400 companies, 94% of the respondents said that they plan to maintain or increase their investments in social media tools and online communities, while only 6% said they plan to decrease such investments.

Facebook drops App Verification

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:27:00 GMT

Social network pull developer certification programme

Facebook has abruptly decided to pull the plug on its Application Verification program, which let external developers pay to have their applications certified as exceeding certain requirements.

Microsoft drops Family Guy Windows 7 special

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:20:00 GMT

Redmond backs off from controversial advertainment

Well that was fast. Microsoft has yanked its sponsorship from an upcoming half-hour special on Fox featuring Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane, according to Variety. The special was set to air on 8 November, and was going under the working title "Family Guy Presents: Seth & Alex's Almost Live Comedy Show." The show, announced earlier this month, was to be commercial free, but would feature Windows 7 marketing messages woven into the fabric of the program.

Intel solid drive update crashes Windows 7

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:56:00 GMT

Chip giant pulls firmware after one day

Intel has pulled a firmware upgrade it released on Monday for its X25-M consumer solid-state drives as users complained that the software caused crashes.

Chip maker focuses on open source mobile software

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:24:00 GMT

Qualcomm subsidiary to focus on Android, Linux

Qualcomm has built a new subsidiary to better integrate its products with mobile open source software, in hopes of capitalising on the trend toward open platforms in the mobile industry.

IBM shows business intelligence, analytics tools

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:19:00 GMT

Big Blue shows off InfoSphere addons

IBM will announce a range of additions to its already burgeoning portfolio of BI (business intelligence) tools during its annual Information on Demand (IOD) conference.

Tilera targets Intel, AMD with 100 core chip

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:38:00 GMT

CPU maker wants into server market

Tilera on Monday announced new general purpose CPUs, including a 100-core chip, as it tries to make its way into the server market dominated by Intel and Advanced Micro Devices.

Office sales plummet, netbooks hurt Microsoft profits

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:51:00 GMT

Analyst says profits may decline over long term

Strong sales of netbook computers, combined with plummeting sales of Microsoft Office to consumers, have hurt Microsoft's otherwise strong first quarter 2010 results.

Intel's Otellini: Recovery coming in 2010

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:27:00 GMT

Intel chief talks economy, silicon, netbooks

Intel president and CEO Paul Otellini said the economy has already hit rock bottom and now that it's emerging from the recessionary mire, companies are about to take the lid off of IT budgets.

Lenovo releases Windows 7 ThinkPad laptops

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:18:00 GMT

Lenovo ThinkPad SL410 and SL510 comes with Windows 7

Lenovo announced two new additions to the business-oriented ThinkPad family, the 14-inch ThinkPad SL410 and 15.6-inch SL510, both of which come with Windows 7.

Google, Facebook set up iTunes rivals

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:15:00 GMT

Online stores to challenge the Apple giant

Facebook plans to let users buy music and other virtual products on its website, the company said, expanding its sources of revenue as the company seeks to turn its huge popularity into fiscal profit.

US moon scientist attempts to sell military secrets to Israel

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:33:00 GMT

Missile defence expert caught in complex spying sting

A scientist who once worked on the Star Wars missile defense project and is credited with discovering the presence of water on the moon is being accused by federal prosecutors of attempting to sell top secret information to a foreign intelligence agency.

US moon scientist arrested for selling military secrets to Israel

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:33:00 GMT

Missile defence expert caught in complex spying sting

Sun lays off 3,000 workers before Oracle takeover

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:09:00 GMT

Blames job cuts on deal delays

Sun Microsystems will lay off up to 3,000 workers over the next 12 months as Oracle awaits approval from European regulators for its acquisition of the company.

Sun lays off 30,000 workers before Oracle takeover

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:09:00 GMT

Blames job cuts on deal delays

Sun Microsystems will lay off up to 3,000 workers over the next 12 months as Oracle awaits approval from European regulators for its acquisition of the company.

iPod sales drop, Apple still making money

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:42:00 GMT

Mac and iPhone sales keep Apple in profit

Apple has posted an increase in net profit and sales for its fourth fiscal quarter of 2009, despite a year on year decline in iPod shipments.

Family Guy takes Microsoft money

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:53:00 GMT

Comedy series to promote Windows 7

Microsoft is sponsoring a Windows 7 television extravaganza next month in collaboration with FOX and "Family Guy" creator/voice actor Seth MacFarlane. The program's working title is "Family Guy Presents: Seth & Alex's Almost Live Comedy Show," and will weave Windows 7 promotions into the television special.

IBM to update hardware systems

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:39:00 GMT

New mainframes and Power7 chip

IBM disclosed the plans at a time when server sales among all vendors have taken a bruising during the economic downturn, and IBM is no exception. In a third quarter earnings call, Mark Loughridge, IBM's chief financial officer, said that the company's third quarter mainframe revenue declined by 26% from a year earlier.

Micron boosts flash endurance

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:34:00 GMT

Memory maker builds up stamina of NAND cells

Micron today introduced what it claims to be the industry's highest endurance, highest capacity multi-level cell (MLC) and single-level cell (SLC) NAND flash memory.