Microsoft at work designing "cool" future Surface devices

Microsoft at work designing "cool" future Surface devices
Microsoft has hired a model-maker to build prototypes
Despite shaky sales of its Windows 8 Surface tablets Microsoft is working on the next generation of the devices that it hopes will attract customer attention.

The company is advertising for a model maker/prototyper to join the Surface team as it works on new devices that will follow on the current ones, Surface RT and Surface Pro. "We are currently building the next generation and Surface needs you!" the ad reads in part.

The job calls for turning CAD data and graphic depictions of these devices into physical objects.

The posting comes as Microsoft has revised the specs for tablets that would make it possible for 7-inch tablets to be Microsoft certified for Windows 8. This involved lowering the resolution requirements for displays, which makes it possible for smaller-screened devices to win certification.

Sales of the devices have paled compared to other tablets, particularly the iPad. Since its release last fall, about 1.5 million Surface RTs have been sold and 400,000 Surface Pros over the month since it's been available, according to estimates by Microsoft watchers. Microsoft itself isn't giving out solid numbers.

That has led some to speculate that Surface might have been an example to demonstrate the possibilities of Windows 8, but that would be short lived as a product line.

Here's the text of the Microsoft job ad:
"Are you passionate about building cool devices and technologies? The Surface Team focuses on building devices that fully express the Windows vision. A fundamental part of our strategy is having desirable and powerful devices that enable the experiences people want, and elicit their excitement. Creating these devices involves a close partnership between hardware and software engineers, designers, and manufacturing.

"The Model Shop Team is looking for a highly skilled and creative person to fill this role.

"Required Skills and Knowledge:
We are looking for a candidate who is an accomplished and well-rounded Model Maker in all the different disciplines of model making, from traditional model making to CNC to Rapid Prototyping.

"Candidate must have an excellent interpersonal skill as you will be working and collaborating with our existing team of Model Makers.

"You must be able to use dependencies including CAD data, artwork graphics in order to deliver high quality models and prototypes.

"Person may take on projects from end to end, utilizing internal and/or external resources to ensure quality deliverable. Person must be a creative problem solver and have the ability to make resolute decisions.

• 5 years model making experience
• Machining skills using vertical mills, lathes and other machine tool equipment.
• Soft Tool casting
• Finishing including painting and coatings
• Excellent motor skills for precise hand finishing of models and a keen eye for quality
• Minimum of BA in ID or Model Making, or an equivalent in experience
• Working knowledge of CAM programming and CNC machining
• Working knowledge of CAD, including Pro/E or Solid Works

Desired Skills:
• Knowledge of rapid prototyping technology including Objet 3D Printers.
• CAM programming using WorkNC."

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Windows 8 Update: 50k apps now in Windows Store

Also: Windows RT gets dissed, iPads beware Windows 8

There are now more than 50,000 Windows 8-only applications available in the Windows Store, a big jump from when Windows 8 launched, but a far cry from what the company projected just before the launch.

According to the website MetroStore Scanner, the store has 50,341 apps on the shelves, finally reaching that number over the weekend after more or less growing steadily at 10% per month since last October. There was a spike in December perhaps as part of the Christmas rush.

ANALYSIS: What if Windows 8 flops?
But back in October Microsoft predicted it would have an inventory of more than 100,000 by the end of January, and now nearly two months later has just half that has materialized.

It's bad news for Windows 8 and Microsoft because by the company's own admission applications designed for the touch-friendly operating system are essential for attracting customers to it. Compelling apps mean more converts.

Getting apps has proven a challenge, with the latest enticement being an offer of $100 to developers for every Windows 8 app they get placed in the Windows Store up to 10. They can reap the bounty for an additional 10 Windows Phone 8 apps in the Windows Phone Store. "Offer good only to the first 10,000 qualified applications published in the Windows Store and/or Windows Phone Store, or until the end of the promotional period, whichever comes first," Microsoft says.

That's $1 million Microsoft is ponying up to stimulate apps development in this promotion alone. That doesn't include the cost of developer trainings and a generous royalty agreement for the most popular applications.

While 50,000 apps is a benchmark, it's coming too late for it to be considered a positive benchmark.

Jettison Windows RT?
Meanwhile, Microsoft is using the same Windows Store stats to defend Windows RT, the hardware/software platform based on ARM chips that runs a light version of Windows 8 and can handle only Windows Store Modern applications.

Windows RT came under fire recently from IDC, which suggested Microsoft dump the package. It is intended to compete with iPads, but hasn't made strong inroads so far. Nevertheless, Microsoft's corporate vice president of Windows planning told CNET that "as the number of apps grow in the store, that value promise only gets stronger."

That value promise was based on a narrow set of circumstances. "Let's say you drop that PC in a pool. Well, you get a new one and then you just redownload [the apps]," he told CNET. "That's the kind of model people are used to with a phone or tablet today. I can maintain all the apps in the [Microsoft] store and reset with a single switch. So, on Windows RT, the user experience stays consistent over time."

iPads beware
Despite the attack on Windows RT, the full Windows 8 software that supports any app that runs on Windows 7 is getting praised as an operating system for tablets.

Moor Insights and Strategy says in a whitepaper that Windows 8 tablets offer more than one advantage over Apple's tablet. "Enterprise IT can and are deploying iPads but are doing so at an increased cost, time and complexity than PCs," the paper says.

These tablets are PCs only without the keyboard, and so have a the manageability of a laptop with the touch centricity of Windows 8. The Intel Clover Trail processor gives the devices performance per watt that is comparable to that of the iPad, the paper says. "Through the combination of Intel Clover Trail and Windows 8, HP, Dell and Lenovo have created tablets that take the best the consumer elements of the iPad and adds to it enterprise features IT wants in their next generation tablets," it says. "Enterprises should immediately evaluate the latest enterprise tablet offerings from HP, Dell and Lenovo and make their decisions on future deployments incorporating those additional options."

Acer likes Windows 8
Acer President Jim Wong had some nice things to say about Windows 8 tablets recently during a financials conference call.

According to StreetInsider.com, Wong expects sales of tablets in general to pick up over the course of 2013.

According to the website, "More importantly, Wong said that momentum in Microsoft Windows 8 devices has been improving. Acer Chairman J.T. Wang echoed the sentiment during the company's conference call, saying that Microsoft "has done some good things finally" to revitalize the Windows ecosystem."

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Microsoft MCDST Certification Training

As a whole, information technology professionals learned a lot during the recent economic downturn. One important lesson: Some certifications are recession-proof.

Frank Han, vice president of Robert Half Technology, explains that certifications and training are a worthwhile investment for IT pros, even during slow times. "Especially when you take a look at the shifting economy, the people who are looking for work, a certification could be the potential advantage over other candidates that are in competition for the job," Han told Dice.com. "It could give you the extra edge, all things being equal."

Even has the economy recovers, Han's point holds true. The value of Microsoft certs withstands the test of time--even during turmoil--thanks to the vendor's nearly 90 percent share of the market.

Among the most practical of the esteemed vendor certs is the Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST) accreditation.

Who can benefit from MCDST training?
Education information from Microsoft indicates that the MCDST credential validates skills needed to troubleshoot Windows desktop environments.

Professionals in some of today's most in-demand support positions can benefit from earning this accreditation, as it shows skills needed to make a difference in a variety of job roles:

Help desk technicians
Computer support specialists
Customer support representatives
Technical support specialists
Technical support representatives

Microsoft also notes that desktop support certification is most relevant for pros with customer-service skills, who can "can educate users and solve hardware or software issues on the Windows client system." Additionally, vendor information suggests there are no plans to retire the MCDST, so it will likely continue to hold its value as long as Windows dominates the marketplace.

The best candidates for MCDST certification, according to information from the vendor, have six months to a year of experience in a support role.
MCDST upgrade path makes advancing simple

After a professional obtains the MCDST endorsement, he or she is likely to find many opportunities for advancement. Microsoft training information indicates one can earn the more advanced Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist or Microsoft Certified Information Technology Professional certs with just one exam after obtaining MSDST status.
Making MCDST training pay

Numbers show that certification and training make a big difference in the job market. Statistics from vendor Microsoft indicate that 63 percent of hiring professionals are confident that "certified individuals are more productive on the job."

Not only can Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician training make it easier to get a job or snag a promotion, it might lead to more money. Salary information reflected in the 2011 Global Knowledge IT Skills and Salary report shows that the right certs can easily translate into a bigger paycheck.

Though the survey showed that workers in end-user help desk and support roles earned annual earnings of approximately $52,650, professionals with MCDST training took home significantly more each year--about $60,360.

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3 features that make the Samsung Galaxy S 4 unique, innovative

Samsung's Galaxy S 4 will boast several new features, developed through partnerships, that could change the course of Android.

Samsung introduced the first chapter of the Galaxy S4 last night at a highly publicized gala held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The Galaxy S4 exceeded expectations. It is a full-featured phone with a 1080x1920 HD AMOLED display and 32 or 64GB of storage and up to 64GB of additional storage using a microSD. To appreciate this hardware and software platform, take a look at the IDG News Service or the Verge’s recaps.

A few impressive features that will need more time to take shape are Knox security, automotive navigation and safety app "S Voice Drive," and language translation app "S Translate." These apps and features are very complex and are beyond the resources of Samsung to deliver alone in a narrow time-to-market window. Poor execution could cause a consumer uproar on par with the Apple Maps fiasco.

Samsung introduced Knox, a secure version of Android that should be very attractive to the enterprise audience, in Barcelona at the Mobile World Congress two weeks ago. The important point about Knox in the context of the Galaxy S4 announcement is Samsung’s ability to strike partnerships with important companies. In this case, General Dynamics, a large U.S. government and military contractor, has allied with Samsung to certify the Knox version of Android for government data that is classified secret and below. In addition to security, the General Dynamics alliance brings credibility to Samsung’s offer to government and enterprise customers.

S Voice Drive is an enhancement to S Voice released on the Galaxy SIII that is targeted at voice-activated automotive navigation and safety applications. The challenge of smart mobile device apps for automotive use should not be underestimated because of the complexity of the applications and the driver distraction risks. Samsung has a unique perspective on mobile automotive apps because with Intel it is a contributor to the Linux Foundation’s Tizen project, a Linux-derivative OS targeted to provide a consistent interface across consumer devices. Tizen has been adopted by the automotive industries’ infotainment association GENIVI to serve as the automotive OS for all functions except real-time control. Android could easily be exchanged with Tizen and Tizen apps could easily be ported to Android.

The automotive industry is moving slowly towards in-car apps, but the developer ecosystem has been slow to emerge. S Voice Drive could be an important accelerator for the use of mobile apps that enhance the driving experience with information and entertainment without distracting the driver. It will be interesting to understand who Samsung’s partners are in delivering voice-based navigation. If Google is Samsung’s automotive partner, it will move Android and Google maps much closer to taking over the automotive cabin.

Samsung also introduced real-time translation of written and spoken words for 10 languages: English, French, Latin American Spanish, German, Italian, Chinese, Japanese and Brazilian Portuguese. Samsung claimed that translation would work without an internet connection, which likely means Google Translate is not the engine because Google’s language engine requires an internet connection. One of the best translation engines is the one created by the partnership of IBM and Lionbridge, which is fast and accurate enough for real-time customer service applications. It would be interesting to know who Samsung’s partner(s) is for language translation technology.

All three of these apps could change the course of Android. Samsung’s scale increases the number of companies willing to strike licensing arrangements. Its disposition towards open innovation and to designing in-technology solutions without having to own the technology provides more alternatives from which it can find the best approach and more flexibility in making mid-course corrections as markets evolve. Hopefully, Samsung announces its S Voice Drive and S Translate partners soon.

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Microsoft MCSA Certification Training

The pros know: When it comes to boosting resumes and displaying skills, not all certs are created equal.

Many IT experts stress the fact that some accreditations are more valuable than others in today's market. Though technologies constantly evolve and new certifications frequently become available in specific areas, the importance of holding basic credentials shouldn't be overlooked.

Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) certification is among a handful of IT building blocks many professionals rely on to display their skills working with systems running Windows Server operating systems.
Market share boosts MCSA certification's value

According to an early 2011 report from Network World, nearly 90 percent of all computers worldwide run on a Microsoft operating system. With such a vast percentage of the market using Windows, IT professionals with strong accreditations from Microsoft, including MCSA certification, are likely to be important players on any technology team.
Why the MCSA certification works for IT pros

According to Microsoft, the MCSA certification "helps enable IT professionals to demonstrate their ability to administer network and systems environments with Windows Server 2003-based business solutions." It can be thought of as a stepping stone to the MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) and other certs.

Though Windows Server 2003 might sound like a dated operating system--indeed, official mainstream support from Microsoft ran out in July 2010--it's important to be aware of the software's staying power in world markets. Just as, according to a May 2011 report from Tech Spot, 53 percent of all PCs run Windows XP, many businesses have found no reason to replace their Windows Server 2003 platforms with Windows Server 2008 or 2008 R2 as of yet. That said, for newer technologies such as Windows Server 2008 or Exchange Server 2010, Microsoft recommends pursuing the MCITP (Microsoft Certified IT Professional) title.

According to Microsoft, IT pros eligible for MCSA candidacy typically have "one to 12 months of experience in working with a desktop operating system, a network operating system and an existing network infrastructure." For most professionals, MCSA certification can be obtained after earning passing marks on four tests.
MCSA certification makes a difference in the job market

Microsoft boasts that workers who hold its certifications are valuable members of any IT staff, claiming, "Training and certification are necessary to maintain a high level of performance." The company says that 63 percent of higher-level managers believe that certified individuals are more productive on the job and that certs authenticate relevant skills.

Earning MSCA certification might make a bigger paycheck a reality, too. According to information updated in May of 2011 from PayScale.com, annual salary for an IT manager with MCSA certification typically ranges from $55,900 to $85,817.

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ExaGrid adds cloud option for disaster recovery

By partnering with ATScloud, the company can now let customers replicate their backups online

A backup-hardware maker is now embracing the cloud as part of its offering for disaster recovery.

Users of ExaGrid backup appliances can now choose ATScloud's Disaster Recovery service for a remote copy of their backed-up data instead of maintaining a separate ExaGrid device or a tape system. In case their primary backup appliance fails or can't be reached in a disaster, those customers will be able to get their data back from ATScloud over the Internet or in a shipped appliance.

ExaGrid will keep selling boxes, but it plans to introduce several cloud-based offerings this year. The service from ATScloud, which will be sold alongside backup appliances through ExaGrid's resellers, offers a disaster recovery option with no capital expense, the company said. Customers will buy storage capacity from ATScloud on an as-needed basis and pay per gigabyte. This method should be about half as expensive as a dedicated ExaGrid appliance at a collocation site, said Marc Crespi, ExaGrid's vice president of product management. The actual prices will be set by the channel partners.

The idea is that an enterprise would install ExaGrid gear on its own premises for primary backup but would turn to ATScloud's infrastructure for the extra copy needed in case the original data and primary backup weren't available, Crespi said.

Data is a more critical resource than ever in running a business, so most enterprises try to maintain up-to-date remote backups to get them up and running again after a local disaster. ATScloud's service stores its customers' data in two data centers, one in Dallas and one in Las Vegas. In case of a catastrophe, customers typically will use the Internet to recover the small amount of data they need to get up and running again (a few terabytes at most), then have the rest loaded onto an ExaGrid appliance and shipped to them in a few days, said Alex Shapira, executive vice president of operations at ATScloud.

ATScloud pitches its service as scalable and efficient, because enterprises can add and remove data without having to own an appliance or commit to a certain amount of hosted storage, Shapira said.

"People can really consume what they want and are not limited by the physical size of a box," Shapira said. There is no limit to how much total capacity they can consume on ATScloud, he said. What can't be delivered instantly online will be shipped later.

The ATScloud offering will be available initially only in the U.S., with a worldwide offering coming later, Crespi said.

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Microsoft MCITP Certification Training

Microsoft MCITP Certification Training
Many IT experts have differing opinions on which certifications are most valuable to today’s technology professional. One thing most agree on, however, is that vendor-specific certs from Microsoft are among the most desirable accreditations to earn, thanks to the Windows operating systems and their vast market shares.

IT experts who want to display their comprehensive skills can rely on the Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) certification to show both potential employers and possible clients their extensive knowledge.

Samantha Bodden, a Tech Republic writer and IT professional, is confident that the MCITP credential is the up-and-coming Microsoft certification. In fact, Samantha ranked the MCITP certification No. 1 in Tech Republic’s annual “10 Best IT Certifications” report for the past three years in a row.

“By matching the new certification to popular job roles, as has been done to some extent with CompTIA’s Server+ (server administrator), Project+ (project manager), and A+ (desktop support) certifications, Microsoft has created a new certification that’s certain to prove timely, relevant, and valuable,” Samantha wrote in the most recent report.

What makes MCITP certification so valuable?
According to training information from Microsoft, MCITP basically picks up where MCTS (Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist) certification leaves off. Candidates for MCITP certification have at least two years of experience as IT professionals.

Samantha notes that the MCITP certification is unique because it matches skills in popular job roles. The accreditation is available in a number of different specialties which relate to several different IT professional career paths, so it is able to convey precise knowledge in one’s chosen area of expertise.

According to Microsoft, the MCITP certification is available in the following platforms:
Windows Client
Windows Server
Microsoft SQL Server
Microsoft Office Project Server
Microsoft Exchange Server
Microsoft SharePoint Server
Microsoft Lync Server

Certification exams are further broken down by job functions in each platform, including developer, technician and administrator roles. Samantha points out that some areas might be more applicable than others. He specifically highlighted the Enterprise Desktop Administrator, Server Administrator and Enterprise Messaging Administrator paths as being particularly relevant to today’s IT pros because newer Microsoft platforms are rapidly replacing retiring Exchange servers.

Banking on the MCITP certification
Because of its immediate application to so many up-and-coming job functions, earning MCITP certification can pay off for many IT pros. According to 2011 salary information from Global Learning, the mean annual salary for an IT professional with MCITP certification. Data shows mean income figure can vary by specialization:

MCITP: Server Administrator
MCITP: Enterprise Administrator
MCITP: Database Administrator
MCITP: Enterprise Messaging Administrator

MCITP certification is likely to be a great way for today’s IT pros to display their skills and validate experience through its relevance to job-specific functions.