Mcitp Training online: 2013

Monday, December 30, 2013

App dev 2013: The winners and losers

JavaScript, APIs, and PaaS advance; Samsung tries to stand out; and Java and .Net become legacy platforms

The software development landscape in 2013 saw technologies like JavaScript rise to new heights while others -- Java, for example -- maintained their prominence out of sheer inertia.

For software developers this year, JavaScript become even more dominant via an ever-expanding ecosystem of frameworks. Samsung tried to establish itself as its own platform in the Android market. API technology, despite a 30-year history, generated a lot of buzz a lot in 2013 as a way to access services and create revenue-generating opportunities for developers. PaaS (platform-as-a-service) cloud computing got a second look this year and is set for big things in 2014, analysts say.

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Meanwhile, the long-established Java and Microsoft .Net software development technologies took a backseat to JavaScript and mobile platforms. But both still are important, and the large base of applications and developers using Java and .Net over many years will ensure they remain prominent.

JavaScript is everywhere
It seems you can't get into a discussion on software development any more without hearing about JavaScript, JavaScript, JavaScript. Yes, JavaScript has been a big deal for a while, even garnering mentions on "Saturday Night Live" and in a Weird Al Yankovic song parody several years ago.

But in 2013, JavaScript was like a snowball rolling down a mountain, getting bigger and bigger. It is the cornerstone of development frameworks like Meteor, Angular.js, and Famo.us, all which are building developer followings. JavaScript is on Web clients, where it has always been. It is key to mobile development, where much of the software action is today. And it is on the server, via Node.js.

Users of Appcelerator's JavaScript-based mobile application development platform ranked JavaScript ahead of Java, Objective-C, C#, Ruby, and C/C++ for mobile development, according to a November survey by the firm. Appcelerator customers lean toward JavaScript because it can provide a single code base to work on multiple platforms, says Michael King, the company's director of enterprise strategy.

Why the surge in frameworks? Perhaps because JavaScript hit its limitations, but its ubiquity fueled efforts to overcome them. "This was a very interesting year because people see the writing on the wall," says Meteor co-founder Matt DeBergalis. "The ecosystem is still nascent, the tools aren't good enough, and Meteor is, I'd like to think, part of that story [of improving JavaScript tooling]."

Samsung looks to stand out on Android
Clearly, Samsung wants to set itself apart from other Android vendors. It has created a distinct set of services (Chord instant messaging, entertainment management, and Knox security) and even hardware features, such as pen support and non-touch-based gestures in its devices. And it wants developers to write specifically to them, not just to generic Android. Samsung upgraded its mobile SDK in October, had a developer conference to encourage Samsung-specific apps, and sponsored small hackathons around the world to create momentum.

Other companies -- notably Motorola (before Google bought its mobile devices arm) and Verizon Wireless -- have tried a similar strategy, with no success. But Samsung has a chance to succeed in 2014, says Andrew Borg, a mobile analyst at the Aberdeen Group. "Let's put it this way: They began a process that could put them on that trajectory, but I wouldn't say they were successful in building momentum" for the company's specific development capabilities.

APIs coming into their own
APIs built momentum in 2013, giving developers a mechanism to interact with large Web properties. Indeed, APIs have become the new SOA (service-oriented architecture) but offer greater simplicity. "APIs have jumped out of the petri dish of the enterprise," says Kin Lane, an independent API evangelist. Companies ranging from PayPal to Walgreens, as well as government agencies, have jumped on the API bandwagon.

Technologies like REST and JSON are critical in the API party, in which thousands of APIs have become available. Mobile applications and cloud deployments have been key drivers of APIs, with APIs connecting users to application services. "We can call 2013 a watershed year for Internet APIs," says Forrester Research analyst John Rymer. "Client interest in the topic is high." The industry is aware, too, as evidenced by the 2013 acquisition of Mashery by Intel, Axway's late-2012 acquisition of Vordel, and the constant dribble of new APIs in API broker Apigee's service.

"The most important and underreported trend we've seen around APIs is how enterprise adoption for internal private APIs is skyrocketing, spurred on by mobile app requirements," says John Sheehan, CEO of Runscope, which provides offers developers services to solve consumption-side API problems. "Companies are building more and more APIs to power their line-of-business apps, then finding that those same services can be used across the organization for all their cross-functional integrations."

PaaS gets second look
Analysts are bullish on PaaS, the platform service subset of cloud computing. With PaaS platforms like Microsoft Windows Azure and Amazon Web Services, developers build and deploy applications on a cloud already fitted with specific development tools and language capabilities.

The PaaS promise is not new, but it got more traction this year, says Forrester's Rymer: "Having failed to catch on during the initial wave of cloud platform adoption, VCs and customers gave PaaS vendors another look in 2013."

Analysts at 451 Research also see improved prospects for PaaS. "For 2013, we are projecting well over 50 percent growth over 2012," says 451 analyst Greg Zwakman. The research firm expects PaaS usage to grow 41 percent each year through 2016, to account for 24 percent of total cloud revenues.

"PaaS has come to mean integrated middleware and services developers use to run cloud applications," says 451 Research analyst Michael Cote. "The tools and practices behind devops are reaching the mainstream, and the fast rise of things like Docker and mainstream [selling] of Cloud Foundry are all encouraging."

Java and Microsoft .Net: As trendy as Cobol
2013 continued to see the march of Apple's iOS and Google's Android as targets for developers. Java and Microsoft .Net, by contrast, remained key platforms for developers, but without the excitement they once generated.

However, Java development serves as the linchpin of Android development via the Dalvik virtual machine. Java Standard Edition and Java Enterprise Edition still have enough developers using them to make sure they remain viable forces for the foreseeable future. Java EE 7 was released this year, focusing on HTML5, batch processing, and an updated Web profile.

But there was no new release of Java SE this year -- Java SE 8 is due early in 2014 via Java Development Kit 8 -- and desktop Java remained beset with security issues in 2013. Oracle's initiatives to shore up Java security only brought more negative attention to the problem; Oracle is stuck between a rock and hard place on this one.

Microsoft updated its software development tool set for .Net yet again this year with the release of Visual Studio 2013, offering improvements in application lifecycle management, including new links to Windows Azure. Microsoft improved .Net's Web development and code editing capabilities as well.

Still, Microsoft's absence from the mobile battleground -- largely an iOS vs. Android affair -- has left the company's .Net software development platform in a similar position as Java: .Net relies on being a legacy, ubiquitous platform rather than on being where the new technology trends are occurring. Indeed, the move to mobile means few companies are targeting Windows PCs and browsers before mobile devices, says 451 Research analyst Chris Hazelton. "Now, you're seeing companies that are targeting mobile first."

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Thursday, December 26, 2013

Microsoft to face computer makers' rebellion at CES

Microsoft to face computer makers' rebellion at CES
Windows 8.1 PCs that also run Android should 'scare the heck' out of Microsoft, says analyst

Microsoft will face a rebellion of long-time partners at next month's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) when OEMs introduce Windows personal computers also able to run Android mobile apps.

According to two analysts, multiple OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) will roll out what one called "PC Plus" at CES, the massive Las Vegas trade show slated for early January.

Tim Bajarin of Creative Strategies mentioned PC Plus in passing in a Dec. 16 piece he authored for Time. "A PC Plus machine will run Windows 8.1 but will also run Android apps as well," Bajarin wrote, adding that the initiative would be backed by chip maker Intel. "They are doing this through software emulation. I'm not sure what kind of performance you can expect, but this is their way to try and bring more touch-based apps to the Windows ecosystem."

Patrick Moorhead, principal analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, confirmed the project. "This is going to make buzz at CES," said Moorhead in an interview. "OEMs will be trumpeting this ... it's going to be a very hot topic [at the trade show]."
Concept isn't new

The concept of Android apps running on Windows isn't new.
BlueStacks, which both Bajarin and Moorhead mentioned, launched its App Player software for Windows in March 2012, added a Mac version in June of that year, and rolled out a Surface Pro-specific version in March 2013. The App Player, offered both as a free download from BlueStacks' website and through agreements with several OEMs bundled with some Windows-powered PCs and tablets, relies on virtualization -- dubbed "LayerCake" by BlueStacks -- to run Android apps on other OSes.

In July 2013, Taiwan OEM Asus introduced the Transformer Book Trio, a convertible device that, as a laptop, could execute both Android apps and Windows 8 programs, including the latter's "Modern," nee "Metro" apps. More recently, reports circulated that Samsung is developing a dual-boot tablet that could launch into either Android or Windows RT 8.1, Microsoft's touch-centric operating system.

The PC Plus project, however, is aimed at personal computers, most likely traditional "clamshell" notebooks, not tablets. And it doesn't rely on BlueStacks' technology, even though Intel invested in the Palo Alto, Calif. company in March. "This is very different from BlueStacks," Moorhead said.

While Bajarin vouched for some kind of emulation that would make Android apps possible on Windows 8.1, Moorhead posited several technologies OEMs could deploy.

"There are three [possible] implementations, including dual-boot, which would be a fast-switch mode where you press a button and within seconds you're in Android," Moorhead said. Others would include software emulation of Android within Windows, and some type of virtualization-based solution that would run an instance of Android in a virtual machine, just as OS X users can run Windows on their Macs through VMware's Fusion or Parallels' Desktop for Mac.

Ideally, the Android apps would run in full-screen mode after the user clicked on its tile within Windows 8.1.

While some have mocked the idea -- previously, Bajarin called Asus' Trio "gimmicky" -- Moorhead said that the maneuver is legitimate. "Tactically, this is a way for OEMs to differentiate their products, and build out the amount of apps on their devices," he said. Focus on mobile apps

The latter is among OEMs' biggest concerns about its software partner. Microsoft has been criticized by customers, analysts and even computer makers for the small size, relative to Apple and Google, of its Metro app store. Selling touch-enabled laptops has not been easy for OEMs because consumers have balked at paying the higher prices when they see little in return from Windows and its app arena.

By adding Android apps to the available inventory, the computer makers can promote their wares as able to handle not just legacy Windows software but also Google's OS and its enormous ecosystem.

If that smacks of some desperation, well, OEMs are desperate. They've watched their PC business shrink over the last 24 months as consumers worldwide have postponed upgrades or forgone new purchases, instead spending their technology dollars on smartphones, tablets and hybrid "phablets" -- large-screen phones that double as a diminutive tablet for basic tasks like watching video.

Also, many OEMs who depended for decades on Microsoft and each iteration of Windows to bump up sales have been critical of the Redmond, Wash. company's Windows 8 implementation and strategy, and with the firm's decision to enter the hardware business and directly compete with them.

"OEMs are throwing some real deep passes as they see double-digit declines in the PC market," Moorhead observed. "This is one of the long balls that they're throwing, hoping something sticks."

For Moorhead, PC Plus is also another sign that OEMs are, in the face of Windows 8's sluggish start and shaky reputation, willing to desert Microsoft and enlist alternate OSes, even if those moves are experimental in scale.

"Strategically, [PC Plus] could get millions of consumers more comfortable with Android on PCs," said Moorhead. "The gamble is coincident with OEMs' interest in alternative operating systems. Just imagine for a second what happens when Android gets an improved large-screen experience."

Some computer makers, including Windows stalwarts like Dell, Hewlett-Packard and Lenovo, have already introduced laptops powered by Google's browser-based Chrome OS as a way to circumvent Windows on screens larger than tablet-sized displays.
Limited options

Android and, to a much lesser extent, Chrome OS, are the only alternate games in town for OEMs. Linux has failed to spark interest except among a tiny fraction of technology's cognoscenti. Apple's iOS and OS X are out of bounds, as Apple restricts them to its own hardware.

It will be interesting to see how Microsoft reacts to the double dipping of these OEMs. While a PC with Windows 8.1 still means Microsoft has been paid for the operating system's license, the company will not be happy with PC Plus and its implications.

"This should scare the heck out of Microsoft," said Moorhead. "They should be very, very afraid because if goes widespread, it demotivates developers to create native Windows apps."

As evidenced by the size of the Windows Store's app stock and the rushed quality of some apps, including many from top brands, Microsoft already has a hard time convincing developers to invest in a platform that has yet to gain a significant portion of the OS market. In addition, it's a platform in which many users seem comfortable sticking with the traditional desktop half and its familiar mouse-and-keyboard applications.

"Google does not actually sanction this and Microsoft has not taken a position on this dual-OS integration idea yet," said Bajarin. "It will be interesting to see if this takes off and, if so, how Google and Microsoft will feel about it once it hits the market."

If Microsoft isn't able to convince OEMs to drop the PC Plus idea, Moorhead said, it has carrots and sticks for more serious arm-twisting.
How Microsoft could respond

"I think what Microsoft will do is pull co-marketing funds from any SKU that offers Android," said Moorhead, referring to "stock-keeping units," or each individual PC model that hews to PC Plus. That would effectively raise the OEMs' cost of doing business for those PCs that support Android apps.

And if, as Bajarin said, Intel is behind PC Plus, then Microsoft faces another defection from the partnership that brought in billions for each company over the last two decades. Intel already makes processors able to run Android, and if its support for PC Plus relies on customized silicon it offers OEMs, the backing will further fragment the Wintel oligarchy.

Microsoft declined to comment on PC Plus and OEM plans.

Neither Bajarin or Moorhead had seen PC Plus in action, and Moorhead refused to offer an opinion on its chances until he did.

"I have to see the experience before I can weigh in," said Moorhead. "It could be completely transparent [the switch from Windows to Android and back], or it could really screw up the experience. There are a lot of ways you can confuse customers, and this has the potential to confuse people who use it."

The jarring discontinuity of Windows 8.1 -- which boasts not only a traditional desktop but also the tile-based, touch-enabled Metro user interface (UI) -- could be trivial compared to a disastrous combination of Android and Windows UIs.

PC Plus also has the potential to alienate Google, Moorhead noted. "I don't think Google will like this either," he said. "I think they'd be okay with dual booting and toggling between OSes, but I don't think they would like Android apps being used full-screen."

Google could retaliate by barring such hardware from obtaining apps from the Google Play e-market, speculated Moorhead, because it would see a full-screen implementation as threatening its revenue if the PCs aren't tied -- as are brand-name Android smartphones and tablets -- to the services, like search and mapping, that bind customers to its ecosystem of behavioral and location tracking.

CES will run Jan. 7-10, and Moorhead is looking forward to the trade show because of PC Plus and its impact on Microsoft-OEM relationships.

"This is a gift that will keep on giving," said Moorhead, predicting not only a splash of coverage next month, but after those initial shots of rebellion, months more ripples from PC Plus' impact.

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Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Which smartphone is the most secure?

Not all mobile phone operating systems are created equal. As Spencer McIntyre of SecureState explains, there are unique differences and threats specific to each smartphone and, in the end, security is largely up to the user

These days, it is almost impossible to meet someone who doesn't own a cell phone. More specifically, smartphones, whether it be the trendy iPhone, corporate favored Blackberry or modern Windows Mobile, almost everyone has joined the smart phone frenzy — and with good reason. A smartphone offers more advanced computing ability and connectivity than a contemporary phone.

Just like a handheld computer, most of the population relies on their operating system to multitask the demands of work, personal life and finances. However, many Smartphone users forget about the risks of malware on these crucial devices. In fact, a study from Rutgers's University disclosed that malicious software for cell phones could pose a greater risk for consumer's personal and financial well-being than computer viruses.

Clearly, there is a need for greater protection of cell phone software and greater awareness of cell phone vulnerabilities from owners, especially when it comes to what kind of operating system you are using. There are unique differences and threats specific to each Smartphone. Here are some important key points that consumers should consider to protect their mobile operating systems.

iPhone
There is a lot to be found regarding this popular device, half of our research findings surrounded the iPhone. Malware for this device took a different approach with the release of IOS 4. The multitasking that users take part in on their systems easily goes unnoticed, allowing the presence of malware to be easier to miss and less intrusive. Malware is more commonly found on iPhones that have been jail broken.

"Jail breaking" means freeing a phone from the limitations imposed by the wireless provider and in this case, Apple. Users install a software application on their computer, and then transfer it to their iPhone, where it "breaks open" the iPhone's file system, allowing you to modify it; however, this also opens it up to malware. By jail breaking a phone, users are possibly allowing malicious applications into their device which has access to their personal information including their bank account. These applications are not subjected to the same limitations as Apple and therefore are easier to get from a rogue reference and infect cell phone.

Additionally, by not changing the password on a jail broken iPhone, the SSH service, is easy for malicious attackers to create worms used to infect the users operating device. An example of how important this threat is to note was highlighted by Ike, a worm created to raise security awareness when it comes to using these jail broken devices. It illustrates how once the core app has run its route, the vulnerability can gain complete control of the system.

Apple is slow to pinpoint vulnerabilities, including the SMS (texting) exploit released in the summer of 2010 by Charlie Miller. This also revealed that Apple is so slow to release that third party organizations were able to produce a security patch before Apple.

Windows Mobile
When it comes to threats, Windows Mobile takes the cake when it comes to attracting malware via SMS. Specifically the amount of SMS malware found on Windows Mobile devices is much higher in comparison to others. An interesting facet of the Windows Mobile OS is that many of the system calls are shared with it's full-featured desktop counterparts. This detail has contributed to many pieces of malware that have originated on the Windows OS being ported to the Windows Mobile OS. A noteworthy example of this is the Zeus botnet that in recent years has begun to appear on mobile versions of Windows.

BlackBerry
A popular alternative to the previous two mobile operating systems, the BlackBerry is also quite different from the typical smart phone. The BlackBerry uses what is arguably the most closed source of the operating systems discussed herein. Research In Motion, the developers of BlackBerry have done an excellent job of keeping the sensitive inner workings of this smart phone a secret from the public. This is a contributing factor for the relatively small number of reliable exploits for the BlackBerry smart phone.

BlackBerry also suffers from the multitasking concerns that make it easier for malware to run unnoticed. An interesting proof of concept developed for the BlackBerry is the BBProxy application that was presented at DEFCON.

Symbian
There is not a lot of information regarding malware for this operating device, although it is the oldest of the smart phones and one of the most popular outside of America. Windows, Blackberry and Symbian are malware populated and not present on Android or iPhone. Along with the Windows Mobile family of Phones, Zeus has be ported the Symbian as well. The mobile version of Zeus is being used to intercept text messages sent as the second factor of authentication in many services.

Android
The Android operating system is the only open source operating system discussed herein. Android is unique in that it is community driven. The Android operating system is not owned by an individual organization, so it is developed in the best interest of the users. However, the applications are not monitored for vulnerabilities in the marketplace, so anyone can submit applications containing malicious functions which are less likely to be caught. Essentially, it is up to the users to determine if it is a safe and reputable source from which they are getting the app.

Amazon now has a 3rd party market place, which imposes additional policies and restrictions on applications that are distributed.

Android is based on the Linux operating system. On Linux, availability on Android is unlike others and there is not much evidence of ported malware. This is not because there is not any known Linux malware out there, but because it doesn't receive much attention.

In Conclusion
All operating systems have distinct strengths and weaknesses; however, many are the same and essentially are up to the user and the configuration of the password. Users need to remember not to install apps from unnecessary sources, especially if they are unknown. While users can't know them all, users need to ensure that they are from a reputable source. If not, that is where malware commonly comes from, with backdoor apps masquerading as secure applications. Also, jail broken phones are at a huge risk if the user maintains the default password and an even higher risk if not used in the Apple marketplace. Instances of malware exist on all of the phones and are even more relevant on ones using untrusted app sources. Consumers can keep this research in mind when using their smartphone to best protect their valuable information.

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Friday, December 20, 2013

What Microsoft did right and wrong in 2013

Microsoft is getting Office 365 right, but that Scroogled campaign is so wrong
Nobody bats a thousand, and Microsoft is no different. Here’s a quick look at five things Microsoft did right in 2013 and five it did wrong.
Right

Office 365 – If success is determined by whether a lot customers buy a service, Office 365 is wildly successful.
In a little more than 100 days, the service had 1 million customers. That was back in May and by October it hit 2 million.

Buying Microsoft Office via a cloud service that’s continually upgraded and available from any of a customer’s Internet connected devices including their phones is apparently appealing.

At about $100 per customer per year, that still pales in what Microsoft takes in from enterprise customers, but businesses and particularly municipalities and universities seem very interested. Larger entities might not be far behind.
Microsoft has been pushing it into educational institutions via a variety of specials, most recently the free use for students at schools that license Office 365 Pro Plus or Office Professional Plus via the Student Advantage program.

Buying Nokia – With Nokia smartphones pretty much driving whatever success Windows Phone has, pulling the company in-house seems like a smart move.

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First, Microsoft should be able to move more quickly to implement upgrades to Windows 8 and to direct sales efforts in places Windows 8 lags but that represent potential growth, such as Africa and Japan. Nokia has high- and low-end smartphones to worm its way into markets at either end.
Nokia Lumia
Nokia Lumia

Nokia also has lines of tablets and phablets (phones with screens between five and seven inches), both of which Microsoft should be interested in serving. As the PC market shrinks, some other device or set of devices will replace them. With Nokia’s assets on board Microsoft should be able to move quickly to provide Windows-based options regardless of which form factor dominates, keeping pace with or beating its OEM hardware partners.

Windows Phone – Microsoft is again nowhere near being number one in mobile phones, but it is making progress, posting number three among the top operating systems.

While lagging far behind Android (52%) and Apple’s iOS (40.6%), Microsoft’s 3.2% market share as of October 2013 is laughably small but still represents the first time it has beaten BlackBerry, according to analytics firm ComScore.

Microsoft doubled its share of the worldwide market between Oct. 2012 and Oct. 2013, making it the fastest growing major smartphone platform, according to Strategy Analytics.

Also important, Windows Phone is making bigger strides in individual regions outside the U.S., particularly Europe where its share has hit double digits in some countries, according to Kantar Worldpanel, a consumer analytics firm.
Nearly all of that growth is thanks to Nokia, Strategy Analytics notes.

Xbox One – Released late last month, the latest Microsoft gaming console is so much more, and so far has had largely favorable reviews.

In addition to games it supports TV watching, split-screen display of applications, Kinect motion sensing, Skype videoconferencing, voice commands and gesture navigation.

Locked in a battle with Play Station 4 for dominance in holiday sales, Xbox One has the potential to do more, according to this Network World review. These include such features as streaming games to PCs or serving as a digital assistant.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM – Part of Microsoft’s larger Dynamics offering, Dynamics CRM is finally making headway against its competitors.

It’s been around for years, Dynamics CRM is showing promising growth, up to 40,000 business customers in July, up from 33,000 customers the year before, again cashing in on those customers willing to go to cloud services.

In this case Microsoft has clawed to being fourth among CRM competitors behind No.1 Salesforce.com, two SAP and three Oracle, Gartner says, pulling in an estimated $1.1 billion in revenues. And analysts say it is growing faster than SAP’s and Oracle’s CRM business.

With a new mobile strategy that has tablets at its center, the service is also poised for continued impressive growth in 2014, still lagging far behind Salesforce.com, but moving in the right direction.
Cybercrime Center

Cybercrime Center – Microsoft opened a dedicated facility last month to house its botnet disruption team and partners willing to help in the cause.

While the company had such a team before, the center pulls together a larger group and acts as nexus for branch cybercrime investigation offices around the globe. Its emphasis on collaboration with partners means it has the potential to move quickly to draw in new resources to fight all forms of cybercrime.

The company’s string of high-profile botnet takedowns over the past few years have highlighted the sophistication of criminals using the Internet to commit crimes and the ever-changing methods crime fighters have to employ to succeed. The Cybercrime Center should help elevate the law-enforcement effort from a game of Whac-A-Mole to something more effective.
Wrong

Windows 8.1 – In a way Windows 8.1 was the right thing to do, but it didn’t go far enough.

Microsoft responded to a number of complaints about Windows 8 and added new features, but the package still comes up short capturing the imagination and more important the cash of potential customers.

According to multiple organizations that track use of operating systems, the numbers show that Windows 8.1 isn’t capturing those customers finally abandoning Windows XP and isn’t making significant headway into businesses.

Windows 8.1 takes some getting used to and it requires a touch device to be appreciated fully, but it has its limitations. Apps that run on Windows 7 run on Windows 8.1 but look and behave just as they did in Windows 7. The apps that show off Windows 8.1 to its best advantage are approaching 150,000, they just aren’t compelling enough to draw customers.

Perhaps as businesses and consumers decide what devices will replace PCs, Windows 8.1 and its successors will do better. Those new devices will likely include touch and mobility, two areas where Windows 8.1 does well. But for 2013, it was at best ahead of its time.

Surface RT, Surface 2 – Despite a $900 million write-down of the Surface RT tablet – a stark acknowledgment of its failure – Microsoft has pushed ahead with the next generation of the device called Surface 2.
Surface

While it does come with Microsoft Office – something you can’t get on an iPad – the device runs only Windows Store Applications – those designed for the Windows RT operating system, vetted by Microsoft and available online only through the Windows Store.

Reports indicate that in some locales Surface 2 supplies have run dry during the holiday shopping season, but Microsoft doesn’t say how many were available in the first place so it’s difficult to say whether popularity of the new device is on the rise. With the pending sale of Nokia to Microsoft, Surface 2 seems like an unnecessary and not very popular product.

Regardless, Microsoft seems committed to it for at least a little while longer. A story by Marcom News says Microsoft has signed up an agency to run a four-month ad campaign for the device.

CEO search – It was unnecessary to announce as much as a year ahead of time that the company is looking for a CEO to replace Steve Ballmer.

It acts as a distraction that deflects attention away from other efforts that would be good for the business and doesn’t make Ballmer’s job any easier in the meantime.

Keeping mum until a replacement was signed up would have been the way to go.

It’s not helping the top candidates, either. Alan Mulally, rumored as the top contender, is CEO of Ford, whose board is getting cranky that his possible selection is outshining the company’s efforts to promote an ambitious 2014 lineup of new cars.

Scroogled – This apparently well-funded campaign to attack Google Chromebooks and the way Google mines personal information to sell to advertisers seems a bit much.

Microsoft has nailed down the scroogled.com domain name and keeps the site updated with content intended to send Google customers flocking to Microsoft. It’s also got scrooglednews.com, an aggregation site that posts links to stories that point out Google transgressions.

The company even sells a line of Scroogled apparel on its online Microsoft Store so equally rabid anti-Google customers can pay to wear Microsoft negative advertising.

Regardless of the merits of Scroogle arguments, the campaign comes across as silly and spiteful.

Apple parody – In the same spirit (bad) as Scroogled, Microsoft produced a video making fun of Apple’s iPhone.

It looked thrown together but mainly it wasn’t funny. Microsoft took it down and acknowledged it as a mistake.

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Friday, December 13, 2013

Microsoft's most monumental hits, misses, and moments of 2013

A whole lotta shaking
They say you don't move forward by standing still. In a frenzied grasp for relevance in the mobile age, Microsoft spent 2013 shaking things up at a cellular level.

Beyond major new releases for the Xbox, Windows, and Office brands this year, Microsoft spent billions to gobble up Nokia, revamped itself from head to toe as a device and services company, and said a bittersweet sayonara to its longtime chieftain—and those are just the major headlines.

With so much shakin' going on, it's hard to call any individual element a "hit" or a "miss," especially since several of Microsoft's moves contain elements of both. But hey, it's time to reflect, so let's give it a shot!

Hit: Office 365 Home Premium
Let's start on a high note. Microsoft released Office 365 Home Premium, its ambitious "Office as a service" offering, way back in January, then extended its reach to Android and Apple phones later in the year.

While the mere existence of Office 365 Home Premium rekindled the old "software vs. services" furor, there's no debating that uptake has been brisk: In late October, Microsoft announced that more than 2 million users were paying $10 per month (or $100 per year) for 20GB of SkyDrive cloud storage, instantaneous updates, and—most important—the right to use Office 2013 on up to five devices. Not too shabby.

Miss: Surface
Say what you want about Windows RT, and how it's holding back Microsoft's otherwise attractive Surface tablets. (I have!) Rant, if you will, about how the Surface's relatively high pricing dulls its luster in the eyes of consumers. (You might want to point out how the original Surface RT's usage skyrocketed when its price was dropped to $350.)

Spill all the words you want. I'll just point to Microsoft's whopping $900 million accounting writedown on its Surface RT tablets—nearly one billion dollars—and say the numbers speak for themselves. But look on the bright side! Overall Surface usage is slowly but surely rising.

Reply hazy, try again: Nokia
It's too early to call one of Microsoft's biggest moves in 2013 a hit or a miss: Nokia.

Microsoft spent a piggybank-pummeling $7.17 billion to acquire the company's phone and tablet business in September, with the deal expected to close early next year. Theoretically, the deal could give Microsoft's fledgling devices division a big boost in expertise and established sales channels, and give the company a more Apple-esque grip over the Windows Phone ecosystem. Nokia sells a whopping 90-plus percent of all Windows Phones.

Then again, Windows Phone sales are slack, and Nokia was said to be faltering before Microsoft's deus ex machina. Only time will tell whether the union succeeds or fails.

Hit: Windows 8.1
As a (free!) follow-up to Windows 8, Windows 8.1 is simply superb. Chock-full of killer additions, new apps, numerous surprises, and yes, a more desktop-friendly mentality, Windows 8.1 is in many ways the operating system that Windows 8 wanted to be.

But here's the thing: At its core, Windows 8.1 is still Windows 8, just a far more refined version of it, and the Live-Tile ideal hasn't proved as compelling as Microsoft would have hoped. PC sales are still cratering, and Windows tablets have barely made a dent.

Even so, we're going to give Windows 8.1 a thumbs-up.

Miss: SkyDrive, or whatever it's called
Remember how Microsoft had to stop using the word "Metro" to describe Windows 8's interface after a trademark dispute? The saga continues.

Earlier this year, Microsoft had to walk away from the SkyDrive name after losing a trademark case against British broadcaster British Sky Broadcasting. The cloud-based glue unifying so many of Microsoft's services has to be renamed, and Microsoft had to pay BSkyB an undisclosed sum.

It won't make a big difference in your day-to-day usage of the service, but it's highly embarrassing for Microsoft, which just flushed all those dollars on building the SkyDrive brand.

Reply hazy, try again: The Windows Store
As it stands today, the Windows Store is mostly a miss. It lags behind Google Play and the App Store in virtually every way, and while Microsoft's digital market surpassed the 100,000-app mark halfway through the year, there are still some glaring omissions.

Nevertheless, some important cornerstones were laid this year. The Windows Store got a killer revamp in Windows 8.1. Overall app growth has remained steady, just slooooooow. More important, most of the major categories have at least basic coverage, and 2013 saw some big-name additions, including Facebook, Twitter, Dropbox, the NFL, and more.

Hit: Xbox One
This hit also reeks slightly of a miss. Just as Windows 8 boldly reimagined the PC, the original vision for the Xbox One was an overhaul of everything a console stands for. Digital sharing! Always-on connections! An all-seeing, always-on Kinect! Microsoft's ambitions proved a bit too bold, however, and after some backlash, Microsoft rolled back its most audacious plans.

That didn't cripple the console. The Xbox One still smartly integrates streaming video, live TV, and game-playing into a smooth overall experience that, even at $500, is an outstanding value. (It even plays nice with Windows PCs!)

Miss: Scroogled
Microsoft's been blasting Google with both barrels this year, courtesy of an embarrassing "Scroogled" campaign that's delivered dubious low blow after dubious low blow at Google Shopping, Gmail, and Google Search itself.

Classy. Some may snicker, but I can't help but sigh. As amusing as seeing the Pawn Stars bash Chromebooks is, we expect better out of you, Microsoft. (And if you're going to mock Google, how can you ignore the YouTube comment fiasco?)

Reply hazy, try again: 'One Microsoft'
Microsoft's grand restructuring is the haziest, most monumental change of all. Longtime CEO Steve Ballmer announced his retirement—disruptive in itself—but he's shaking things up hard before he goes.

Ballmer blew up Microsoft's product-focused team structure in favor of a more function-based structure (operating systems, devices, and so on), to get everybody working together under a "One Microsoft, all the time" mantra. Then Ballmer declared that Microsoft is now a device and services shop rather than a software company. Heck, he even did away with the long-used "stack-ranking" employee evaluation system.

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Tuesday, December 10, 2013

18 Hot IT Certifications for 2014

For years premium pay for IT certifications has been on the decline, but top pay for IT certifications has increased for two consecutive quarters and is up 1.5 percent; the largest quarterly increase since 2006. Read along as we look at the IT certifications predicted to grow in early 2014.

18 Hot IT Certifications for 2014
Foote Partners just released the November update to their quarterly report, the 2013 IT Skills Demand and Pay Trends Report in which they look at both certified and non-certified IT skills, 641 in all. They use what David Foote, founder and CEO of Foote Partners, refers to as, "a specialized methodology for collecting, and validating compensation data for workers with identical jobs titles that need to be differentiated pay-wise for specific IT and tech skills they possess."

There are some surprising changes to the market over the last two quarters. The certified skills that seem to be flourishing the most fall into the architecture, engineer, security and database categories.

Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC)
Premium pay for this ISACA certification has risen 9.1 percent in the last three- and six-month periods. In general, IT certifications from ISACA tend to center on IT governance. Originally offered in 2010, this certification focuses specifically on risk management. "The CRISC is awarded to those experienced in business and technology risk management, and the design, implementation, monitoring and maintenance of IS control," according to CRISC.

Vendor: ISACA
Certification: Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC)

Prerequisites:
A minimum of three years of cumulative work experience executing the tasks of a CRISC pro across at least three CRISC domains.
Take and pass the CRISC exam
Adhere to the ISACA Code of Professional Ethics
Meet the terms of CRISC Continuing Education...

CWNP Certified Wireless Security Professional
Wireless security is hot, according to Foote, who goes on to say, "CWNP is a really small company and for them to be on this list is a headline." This wireless security certification has been riding high. Premium pay is up 35 percent over the last 12 months, 28 percent in the last six months and 20 percent in the last three months, making it a marketable bullet point on your resume.

This advanced certification teaches individuals how to securely set up and run enterprise wireless LAN.

Vendor: CWNP
Certification: Certified Wireless Security Professional

Prerequisite:
To earn the CWSP certification, you must pass two exams

CWNP/Certified Wireless Network Expert
Here is another CWNP certification that is seeing a huge spike in premium pay. Value/demand for this role is up 42 percent in the last 12 months, 37.3 percent in the last six months and 30 percent in the three months.

This is the highest level of certification offered by CWNP. Recipients should have a mastery of skills relating to the installation, configuration, troubleshooting of enterprise Wi-Fi networks.

Vendor: CWNP
Certification: Certified Wireless Network Expert

Prerequisite:
Valid and current CWSP, CWAP and CWDP certifications (requires CWNA).
Three years of documented enterprise Wi-Fi implementation experience.
Three professional endorsements.
Two other current, valid professional networking certifications.
Documentation of three enterprise Wi-Fi (500 word essays.)
Re-certification every three years.

GIAC Certified Forensics Analyst (GCFA)
This intermediate forensics certification is targeting individuals in the information security, incident response and computer forensics field who focus on only Windows and Linux operating systems. Value/demand for this role has climbed an impressive 16.7 percent in the last 12 months.

Vendor: GIAC
Certification: Certified Forensics Analyst (GCFA)

Prerequisite:
One proctored exam
115 questions
Time limit of three hours
Minimum Passing Score of 69 percent

*No Specific training is required for any GIAC certification.

HP/Accredited Solutions Certification
Each of these HP certifications has seen gains of at least 9 percent over the last two quarters and Foote Partners is predicting that this trend will continue for at least the next three-six months. There are a number of different certifications offered.

Vendor: HP
Certification:
HP/Accredited Solutions Expert (ASE - all)
HP/Master Accredited Solutions Expert (MASE - all)
HP/Master Accredited Systems Engineer (Master ASE)

Prerequisite:
You can download the different HP certification paths here

Information Systems Security Engineering Professional (ISSEP/CISSP)
Developed with input from the NSA, this vendor-neutral security certification is about integrating security into all forms of information systems applications and projects. In a recent interview David Foote, the CEO mentioned that employers are paying less for security in a time where security is at the forefront, an interesting trend an keep an eye on.

Demand/pay premium has risen 8.3 percent in the last 12 months, 30 percent in the last six months and 18.2 percent in the last three months.

Vendor: ISC2
Certification: Information Systems Security Engineering Professional (ISSEP/CISSP)

Prerequisite:
There are several prerequisites for these IT security certifications.

Microsoft Certified Architect (MCA)
Microsoft announced in late August that this certification and others would be retired as of December 31 with no clear replacements, angering many people who are current or on the path to Microsoft's highest level IT certifications. We reached out to Microsoft and was told that the program was too costly and time consuming for both MCSM candidates and Microsoft. They are now investigating future ways to make this program more scalable.

With that said, premium pay for this cert rose more than 10 percent in the last quarter and will likely continue to do so, according to Foote Partners.

Vendor: Microsoft
Certification: Microsoft Certified Architect (MCA)

Microsoft Certified Solutions Master (all)
This is another elite Microsoft certification that is being retired December 31st with no clear successor. However, employers are still willing to pay extra for these certifications. Individuals with this certification, according to Microsoft, have the deepest level of product expertise.

Here is Microsoft official statement on why the certifications are being retired: "The IT industry is changing rapidly and we will continue to evaluate the certification and training needs of the industry to determine what the right certification is for the pinnacle of our program."

Vendor: Microsoft
Certification: Microsoft Certified Solutions Master (all)

Open Group Certified Architect (Open CA)
Currently, this vendor-neutral certification is focused squarely on IT architecture, but according to the Open Group website, the plan is to incorporate more business and enterprise architecture into the programs. Employers have paid a premium of 16.7 percent over the last 12 months to individuals with this certification under their belt.

Vendor: Open Group
Certification: Open Group Certified Architect (Open CA)

Prerequisite:
The program is based upon four key documents:

The Certification Policy, which sets out the policies and processes by which an individual may achieve certification.
The Conformance Requirements, in which the skills and experience that a Certified Architect must possess are documented
The Accreditation Requirements

Conformance requirements for the Open Ca program can be found here

Open Group Master Architect
Another vendor-neutral certification from the Open Group, this is the 2nd level of architect certification it offers. Business and enterprise architect certifications are in development but currently the focus is on IT architecture.

Premium pay for this architect certification is up 14.3 percent in the last 12 months and is forecasted to grow in the next three-six months.

Vendor: Open Group
Certification: Open Group Master Architect

Prerequisite:
Candidates must meet experience and skills requirements, Certification Policy, either from the Open Group or an ACP.

The Open Group Certified Architect (Open CA) program requires candidates to submit a comprehensive certification package detailing their skills and experience gained on working on architecture related projects, followed by a rigorous peer review process.

Oracle Certified Expert MySQL 5.1 Cluster Database Administrator
This certification was formerly known as MySQL Cluster Database Administrator (SCMCDBA). IT pros with his certification are experts at administrating designing, deploying, configuring and maintaining databases that utilize MySQL cluster technology and they are in demand in the enterprise according to Foote Partners 2013 IT Skills Demand and Pay Trends Report. Premium pay for this certification is up a 37.5 percent over the last 12 months.

Vendor: Oracle
Certification: Oracle Certified Expert MySQL 5.1 Cluster Database Administrator

Prerequisite:
You must have one of the certifications below first:

Oracle Certified Professional, MySQL 5 Database Administrator

OR

Sun Certified MySQL Database Administrator (SCMDBA)
Then you need to pass the exam

Oracle Certified Professional MySQL 5 Database Administrator
IT pros awarded this IT certification have mastered all Oracle server related issues. Premium pay/demand for this certification is up 12.5 percent over the last six months.

Vendor: Oracle
Certification: Oracle Certified Professional MySQL 5 Database Administrator

Prerequisite:
You must pass these two exams to get certified:
1Z0-873 MySQL 5 Database Administrator Certified Professional Exam, Part I
1Z0-874 MySQL 5 Database Administrator Certified Professional Exam, Part II

Oracle Database Administrator Certified Master
Oracle's master level certification has risen 8.3 percent in value/demand over the last 12 months. Database certifications are another area that, according to Foote, is a headline. These certifications have been declining for years but recently the pay premium for them has risen. "What's driving this is not the relational database stuff but the non-relational database stuff. It's the NoSQL stuff. We're seeing a lot of spending in data analytics, but we don't see companies getting a lot out of it," says Foote.

Vendor: Oracle
Certification: Oracle Database Administrator Certified Master

Prerequisite:
There are several paths to this certification.

PMI Risk Management Professional
The PMI-RMP certification ensures that the holders are capable risk management professionals schooled in international best practices for managing project and operational risks. Premium pay for this certification has risen 9.1 percent over the last year.

Vendor: PMI
Certification: PMI Risk Management Professional

Prerequisite:
A secondary degree (high school diploma, associate's degree or the global equivalent), with at least 4,500 hours of project risk management experience and 40 hours of project risk management education.

or

A four-year degree (bachelor's degree or the global equivalent), with at least 3,000 hours of project risk management experience and 30 hours of project risk management education.

Program Management Professional (PgMP)
The vendor-neutral program management professional certification from PMI is a way to demonstrate your ability to oversee several projects and programs. Premium pay is up 7.7 percent in the last 12 months and is expected to continue upward, according to Foote Partners research.

Vendor: PMI
Certification: Program Management Professional (PgMP)

Prerequisite:
A secondary degree (high school diploma, associate's degree, or the global equivalent), with at least four years (6,000 hours) of project management experience and seven years (10,500 hours) of program management experience.

or

A four-year degree (bachelor's degree or the global equivalent), with at least four years (6,000 hours) of project management experience and four years (6,000 hours) of program management experience.

Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA)
The RHCA is Red Hat's highest level of certification and recipients must hold the RHCE as a prerequisite. From deployment to systems management in larger enterprise environments this is the top tier. This certification has grown 25 percent in the last three months and is expected to trend upward in the next 3 to 6 months according to Foote Partners.

Vendor: RedHat
Certification: Red Hat Certified Architect (RHCA)

Prerequisite:
RHCE certification must be current in order to be eligible.
Earn the following Red Hat Certificates of Expertise:
Deployment and Systems Management
Directory Services and Authentication or Red Hat Certified Virtualization Administrator
Clustering and Storage Management
Security: Network Services or Red Hat Certificate of Expertise in Server Hardening
Performance Tuning

Teradata: Certified Enterprise Architect
Premium Pay for this architect certification is up 11.1 percent over the last 12 months. It's made gains in the last three quarters and is expected to continue to grow. IT pros with this advanced certification will have an advanced knowledge of Teradata fundamentals such as SQL, design and implementation. It's associated with data warehousing and big data.

Vendor: Teradata
Certification: 12 Certified Enterprise Architect

Prerequisite:
Candidate must currently hold one of the certifications below.
Teradata 12 Certified Technical Specialist
Teradata 12 Certified Database Administrator
Teradata Certified Solutions Developer
Teradata 12 Certified Enterprise Architect
Candidate must be in good standing with the TCPP program and not have violated security policies and procedures on the previous certification track.

18 Hot IT Certifications for 2014

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Mum's the word: Microsoft board 'doing really well' at keeping quiet

Mum's the word: Microsoft board 'doing really well' at keeping quiet
Rumors and speculation are part of the game, says PR expert

Rumors aside, Microsoft's board of directors has done a good job of keeping the lid on its search for a CEO to replace Steve Ballmer, a public relations expert said.

"The key thing any board wants to do is to keep its deliberations private," said Peter LaMotte, an analyst with Levick, a Washington, D.C.-based strategic communications consultancy, talking about the public relations (PR) implications of a CEO search. "They want to do it all behind closed doors. And from what we can see, Microsoft's board is doing that really well."

In August, Ballmer abruptly announced that he would step down within the next 12 months. That same day, Microsoft said it had launched a search for its third-ever chief executive.

Since then, speculation about possible successors has waxed and waned, although all of the news reports that have named candidates attributed their information to anonymous sources. That's to be expected, said LaMotte. "A lack of hard information will create the rumor mill," he said.

What's important to understand, added LaMotte, is that there have been no confirmed leaks from within Microsoft's board, no attributable statements from anyone behind those closed doors. Names, such as Ford Motor CEO Alan Mulally or former Nokia CEO Stephen Elop, have been linked to the search only through anonymous sources described with phrases like "people familiar with the situation" or "familiar with his thinking." Additionally, no dark horse has surfaced: In other words, only people with connections to Microsoft, and thus easily speculated on, have been named.

And that's the smart way to play out a search for a CEO.

"The search process only looks bad when it leaks that someone was approached for the job and then decided not to take it," said LaMotte of the biggest PR blunder possible. "You never want to read that a company went after someone, but they turned them down."

In that way, a CEO search is similar to those conducted by a presidential candidate for a running mate, a university board of trustees for a new college president, or an NFL or NBA team, or high-profile university, for a new head football or basketball coach.

"Much like a presidential campaign, a board of directors must keep it close to the vest," said LaMotte. "Of course, people will still play the guessing game."

A suitor who spurns an offer creates more than hard feelings: It can damage the brand. A first-choice who declines the job offer makes it look like the company wasn't worthy, that the turn-around Microsoft's executing would be difficult, even impossible, or that the position was defined in unacceptable terms. All would reflect poorly on the company.

Some analysts believe that moves by Microsoft in the last year, including the strategic pivot toward devices and service, a corporate reorganization, the acquisition of Nokia's handset business, and a change in how it evaluates employees, will handcuff any new CEO. That has led to speculation that Microsoft may find it difficult to corral a top-notch candidate, either because of those already-made decisions or because those choices may signal that, with Ballmer a lame duck, co-founder and chairman Bill Gates is pulling the strings.

"Can they really attract a credible candidate knowing that Bill [Gates] may be calling all the shots?" wondered analyst Ben Thompson in an email two weeks ago, after Microsoft announced it had dumped its derided "stack ranking" practice of evaluating and rewarding workers.

But it will be critical for Microsoft's board to choose a new leader who agrees with the revamped strategy, said LaMotte. "Regardless who they pick, it's important that they find someone who continues the brand perception of the company," he said. "Imagine the problems if they bring in someone totally counter [to the brand]."

Microsoft's PR will also have to work quickly after the CEO selection is announced. "They should come out the gate with the messaging of the direction where they're going," said LaMotte, stressing that it will be important to portray the new CEO as someone who fits within Microsoft's corporate culture and will hew to Ballmer's string of major decisions. Any reports to the contrary will make it that much more difficult for Ballmer's replacement to win over employees and convince investors that the company is not in disarray.

Further change will be inevitable under a new leader, who will eventually remold Microsoft to better fit his or her vision of its future, but at the beginning, continuity is crucial. "If they select someone at odds with the brand, there will have to be a lot of effort going into new communication, a lot of new PR, maybe even new branding," said LaMotte.

And all of that would detract from the messaging Microsoft wants to drum into investors,' customers' and partners' minds, that it has a plan and will execute that plan.

"A CEO is a very defined and specific perception of what the brand is," said LaMotte. "The CEO is your brand."

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Thursday, November 21, 2013

Google's Gigabit Internet: Not coming to a neighborhood near you

Unless you're lucky enough to live in Kansas City, Provo or Austin

When Google announced plans in 2010 to jump into the broadband business, the company received more than 1,000 applications from communities hoping to be selected for Google Fiber, which promised gigabit-speed Internet at low prices or even free Internet for seven years if you chose a slower speed.

As we head into 2014, Google has delivered super-fast Internet to exactly one place, greater Kansas City; it’s just now rolling out the service to Provo, Utah — where it purchased a pre-existing municipal network for $1; and has announced plans for Austin, Texas, in 2014.

After that, who knows? Google has not released any further scheduling information.

But if you’re Verizon, Comcast or AT&T, you might be breathing a little easier these days, knowing that Google apparently is not planning to buy up all that unused dark fiber and compete in the residential broadband market on a nationwide scale — at least for now.

There has always been speculation about Google’s motives, and, Google being Google, answers have been hard to come by. Is this just an experiment? Another attention-grabbing sideshow, like those mysterious barges floating in San Francisco Bay and Portland, Maine? Is Google trying to compete head-to-head against the incumbents? Or is Google trying to nudge the incumbents to step up their broadband game by introducing the specter of competition? After all, faster Internet means Google can deliver more ads to more end users, which is how the company makes its money.

As Google spokesperson Jenna Wandres puts it: ``The simple answer to ‘why’ is this: it’s for Google users. They keep telling us that they’re tired of waiting for incredibly slow upload and download speeds that often take hours to just transfer an album of photos from one location to another.”

According to Wandres, it’s all about speed. She pointed out that Google developed the Chrome browser to make the Internet experience faster, but it can only be as fast as the Internet connections and the hardware and networks that support that infrastructure. So now, they’re installing Google fiber, to make it faster.

“For the next big leap,” says Wandres, “Gigabit speeds will bring new apps and talented developers to the table, who can and will take advantage of these remarkable speeds.” She explains that organizations such as Kansas City Startup Village (KCSV) — an ecosystem of grassroots individuals working together to create an entrepreneur community — thrive in this type of environment; that is, an area where high-speed Internet allows developers to collaborate and share ideas.

Competition is good news
According to Forrester analyst Dan Bieler, Google Fiber “is good news because competition increases the pressure on carriers and cable providers to bring true broadband service to more households and businesses, if they want to compete effectively with Google. In my view, it is unlikely that Google fiber will target rural areas, but it’s clearly an interesting option for Google to target higher-income urban areas as well as central business districts.’’

“Competition is the main driver for improved services, and this will continue to be the case,” adds Ian Keene, research vice president at Gartner. “But Google has discovered that rolling out its services is taking longer than they first thought. If they carry on at this pace, they will not be a threat beyond a handful of cities; not for the foreseeable future, anyway. However, where they are active, we will and have seen the competition fight back with improved subscriber offers.”

For example, after Google announced plans to deliver gigabit Internet to Austin, AT&T announced plans to up its game in Austin. AT&T has promised to provide ultra high-speed gigabit Internet (called GigaPower) to its Austin users in December, with initial symmetrical speeds up to 300Mbps and an upgrade to the 1Gbps by mid-2014 (at no extra cost, of course).

But it’s still too early to tell whether Google’s efforts will prove to be economically feasible, or whether Google will continue to expand beyond the three locations already identified. “Google, like many others, has learned that the enormity of the costs involved in building broadband infrastructure creates a dilemma,” says telecom analyst Craig Moffett. “It is extraordinarily difficult to earn a reasonable return on building an infrastructure to compete with cable. Verizon tried with Verizon FiOS and, after reaching only 14 percent of the country, eventually conceded that further expansion was just not economically justified.”

Moffett explains that at least Google is giving it the old college try; but the markets they have chosen, so far, are all unique cases. “For example,” he says, “In Provo, they’re building on a network that was already there. In Austin, we’ll get a better sense of what the economics might actually look like. At this point, I think it is reasonable to conclude that fiber-to-the-home deployments like these will remain the exception rather than the rule.”

How it works
With more than 1,100 applicants, Google could choose the communities that offered the most advantageous terms and conditions. These installations require access to utility poles, roads, and even substations in order to lay their fiber networks, so applicants had to be willing to expedite that process.

In the case of Kansas City, Google only extends fiber to neighborhoods with a certain number of pre-registered customers.

According to Wandres, locations must be fiber friendly, technological leaders, and residents must show a genuine willingness to work with Google; that is, to be flexible, move quickly, and cut through the red tape.

“It’s a long process and requires a lot of work,” says Wandres. “There must be a strong demand for fiber among the user base (for those who are excited about a technological hub) and for entrepreneurs who can advance the technology. In Kansas City, the Mayors’ Bi-state Innovation Team came up with a playbook for how Kansas City could benefit from fiber. And there’s another group now tasked with following through on those plans.’’

In Kansas City, subscribers can get gigabit Internet for $70 a month or the gigabit service plus TV (200 channels, HD included) bundle for $120 a month. Both of these options provide free installation plus all the equipment necessary to enable the service to function, such as the network gear, the storage device, and the TV box. Additional benefits include 1TB (terabyte) of storage across Gmail, the drive, and Google+ photos and, for the bundle, one Nexus 7 tablet.

Kansas City residents who want Internet access, but may not classify themselves as power users, can get Google's free Internet service, which runs at 5Mbps. The free service does require a one-time installation fee of $300 (or $25 a month for 12 months), then the service is free for at least seven years.

Wandres adds, “At the end of seven years, we will begin charging the market price for comparable speeds — which should be $0, as long as Internet speeds increase as much as we hope over the next few years. In other words, we think that in seven years, Internet speeds should be ubiquitously faster in America and, by that point, nobody should have to pay for a connection speed that is 5Mbps download/1Mbps upload.”

Brittain Kovač, co-leader and communications pilot at KCSV says, “With regards to speed, nobody has been able to break the gig. We've tried. Downloading tons of files while gaming and running multiple videos simultaneously and we still barely see a dent. What companies are experiencing is an extreme amount of time savings; for example, www.sportsphotos.com, a company that moved to the KCSV from Springfield, Mo., is now able to upload thousands of high resolution photos in a matter of hours; a project that in the past, took days, if not weeks to accomplish.”

“In addition,” says Kovač, “Google fiber has been the catalyst that's brought the community together in ways that may have never happened, or certainly would have taken years to see the outcomes. It's bringing like-minded people who want to innovate and collaborate, who know we (KC) have a short window of time to do something big, and we're really leveraging this opportunity to do great things for the community as a whole. From households to startups, corporate and civic, we're all working together for the first time in years and it's exciting.”

Based on the Google fiber city map, the Kansas City project is still in progress. Thirteen more cities in Kansas and six additional cities in Missouri are scheduled next for this service.

Next up, Provo, Utah
The situation in Provo is somewhat different, because Google purchased the existing iProvo city network for $1. So, Google didn’t have to start from scratch, it just needed to upgrade the existing network, which was built in 2006.

In a recent blog post, Provo Mayor John Curtis said, “Unfortunately, while we’ve had the desire, we haven’t had the technical know-how to operate a viable high-speed fiber optic network for Provo residents. So, I started looking for a private buyer for the iProvo network. We issued a Request for Qualifications and a Request for Proposal and even hired a private consultant to guide our efforts. [And now] under the agreement, Google Fiber is committed to helping Provo realize the original vision.”

Provo’s customer plan; that is, the monthly price for gigabit Internet or the Internet/TV bundle is the same as Kansas City ($70 or $120, respectively) except that everyone in Provo pays the installation fee of $30, not just the users who sign up for the free 5Mbps/1Mbps service. And, like Kansas, the free service is only free for seven years (or longer, based on the market price for comparable speeds after seven years).

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Saturday, November 16, 2013

iPhone 6 rumor rollup for the week ending Nov. 15

iPhone big screen or big screens, curvaceous, and pressured

Fortunately for the iOSphere, Bloomberg found a “person familiar with Apple’s plans” to spill the beans and provide a week’s worth of rumor cud-chewing over the iPhone 6 display.

While many iOSpherians are convinced that the iPhone 6 will have a bigger display and a curved display, there is Deep Uncertainty about how big, or which way the curve will, you know, curve.

But let’s not quibble. This one source, in a story written by two reporters, was also familiar with Apple’s plans to introduce not one but two Bigger Screened iPhone 6 handsets. Thanksgiving Day has come early this year.

You read it here second.

“I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever that Apple is investigating curved displays… That doesn't mean, however, that just because Apple looked at something that they're going to release it.”

Avi Greengart, analyst, Current Analysis

“Analyst Debunks Curved Display On iPhone 6 Release Date”

Kristin Dian Mariano, International Business Times, with the iOSpherian translation of Greengart’s commonsense observation.

iPhone 6 will have two screen sizes, curved “glass,” and maybe pressure sensors

Talk about a cornucopia of Innovation, eh? This abundance of information overflows from a Bloomberg story, “Apple Said Developing Curved iPhone Screens, New Sensors,” by Tim Culpan and Adam Satariano.

And where did it come from you ask? From “a person familiar with the plans.” Or, as experienced iOSpherians like to say, a PFWP.

Maybe they caught Tim Cook or Phil Schiller when he was in a chatty mood in an elevator. Or maybe they talked to the drycleaner of the next door neighbor of the best friend of a coworker who has a cousin who plays online games with an engineer who overheard an Apple designer talking to someone before the subway door closed. But somebody who’s not just anybody.

“Two models planned for release in the second half of next year would feature larger displays with glass that curves downward at the edges, said the person, declining to be identified because the details aren’t public. Sensors that can distinguish heavy or light touches on the screen may be incorporated into subsequent models, the person said.

BGR’s Zach Epstein argues in his post on the Bloomberg story that the phrasing “with glass that curves downward at the edges” is not a reference to a curved displays “but rather that the glass covering the panels will be curved.” Which doesn’t clarify much: does he mean the display is flat but it’s covered with a convex glass cover? Or that the glass cover is flat but it curves down over the edge of the phone?

Curved screens – both convex and concave - have been an obsession with the iOSphere for months, even years, though with little analysis on how or why curving the screen, or the “glass,” actually improves the phone. The obsession has been intensified by Samsung’s Galaxy Round smartphone, which curves upward from the two sides, and the just-announced LG G Flex, which curves upward from the top and bottom.

The latter design at least has the sense to mimic traditional wired handset designs going back 70 years, as shown in this Wikipedia image of a rotary phone from the 1940s.

The Bloomberg reporters suggest that perhaps it’s a curved BIG screen that’s vital to Apple’s future, because the Galaxy Round is Samsung’s “latest phone in an array of sizes and price points that’s helping keep Samsung ahead of Apple in global market share.” The PFWP says the screens will measure 4.7 and 5.5 inches, which would make them, as Culpan and Satariano astutely point out, “Apple’s largest iPhones,” since the current 5S and 5C measure just 4.0 inches.

It “seems rather curious that Apple would introduce two new displays sizes at the same time,” posted a skeptical John Gruber at his DaringFireball blog. “Apple has only introduced one new iPhone display size since 2007, but they’re going to introduce two at the same time next year? That smells fishy to me.”

Bloomberg’s PFWP didn’t have much to say about the new pressure sensors, which apparently are intended to detect how firmly someone is pressing on the screen and then do…well something very cool and magical as a result.

The PFWP did add “that the company probably would release [the new phones] in the third quarter of next year.” A person familiar not only with plans but probabilities.

iPhone 6 won’t have a curved display

Or maybe it won’t not have one. It’s hard to tell from reading InternationalBusinessTimes.com.

The headline of Kristin Dian Mariano’s post is emphatically assertive: “Analyst Debunks Curved Display On iPhone 6 Release Date”

Yet the post’s first sentence changes that completely: “Apple may not show off a curved display on iPhone 6 release date, according to an analyst.”

The analyst is Avi Greengart, research director for consumer devices at Current Analysis, who is simply making the utterly common sense observation that Apple, like other companies, creates a whole bunch of ideas, tests many of them out, throws most of them out, and finally eventually comes up with improved or new products.

“I have absolutely no doubt whatsoever that Apple is investigating curved displays and any other component coming on to the scenes. That's what Apple does. Apple tests things out internally to see if they make sense,” Greengart is quote in Mariano’s post. “That doesn't mean, however, that just because Apple looked at something that they're going to release it. They probably have watches, glasses, hover boards, and who knows what else just to see what it's like.”

In short, he’s admitting “I have no idea whether they’re planning to have a curved display on iPhone 6.” In Mariano’s skilled hands this becomes “analyst debunks curved display on iPhone 6.”

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