cloud

Tue
26
Nov
Dennis Faas's picture

Microsoft at 50: Can AI Keep It Relevant for PC Users?

As Microsoft celebrates its 50th anniversary, the tech giant finds itself at a pivotal moment in history. For decades, Microsoft's Windows operating system was the backbone of personal computing, driving the company to become one of the most ... valuable entities in the world. But as technology has evolved, so too has the company's role. (Source: wired.com ) Enter Artificial Intelligence (AI), a field where Microsoft is making its most significant strides, with the potential to reshape how users interact with their PCs and redefine their relationship with the company. The Evolution of Microsoft: ... (view more)

Wed
12
Jun
John Lister's picture

Would You Pay for Firefox? Mozilla Says 'Yes'

Mozilla has confirmed a premium (paid) version of the Firefox browser is on the way. It says it won't charge for any features that are currently free. The details are still quite hazy and Mozilla is still considering exactly what will be in the paid ... version of the "enhanced" browser. It plans to launch it in October, 2019 and will most likely be an on-going subscription service rather than a one-off payment. (Source: techradar.com ) One feature that looks very likely to be included is a Virtual Private Network or VPN . This uses a combination of s ecure s ocket l ayer encryption ( ... (view more)

Thu
27
Sep
John Lister's picture

Microsoft: Office 2019 Is Coming, But Get 365 Instead

Microsoft has released Office 2019, but effectively told would-be buyers it's not as good as Office 365. It's a clear attempt to push people towards the subscription model. In one of the more bizarre publicity drives for a new product, Microsoft ... gives very little attention to Office 2019 itself. It's the latest (and very possibly last) installment of MS Office as a standalone program to install and run on a computer, something Microsoft now calls the "on-premises" version. (Source: theregister.co.uk ) The package includes the core programs of Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and Word on both ... (view more)

Mon
05
Mar
Dennis Faas's picture

Explained: Do I Need Norton Identity Protection and Similar Services?

Infopackets Reader Marjie H. writes: " Dear Dennis, I just received an email offer from Norton Security asking if I would like to enroll in the Norton Identity Protection. In order to do so, the form says I need to provide my social insurance ... number. The protection being offered is free, so long as I renew my Norton Antivirus subscription. From what I understand, this service includes protection against personal credit, credit cards, bank, social insurance number (SSI), etc. My question is - with all this information they are asking for, what is the possibility they could be hacked and all my ... (view more)

Wed
21
Feb
John Lister's picture

Microsoft Details Anti-Malware Cloud-Based System

Microsoft says it used artificial intelligence to not only spot and identify and attempted malware attack, but to block it more than a thousand times in the next half hour. It says the defense was possible thanks to Windows Defender being used ... locally on the victim's computer, as well analyzing the snippet of code using cloud-based antimalware. The company calls it an example of machine learning. This means computers are able to figure things out for themselves, rather than simply following 'true or false' routines that are part of a program. Similar to antivirus, the most basic level of anti ... (view more)

Thu
12
Nov
John Lister's picture

Microsoft to Offer Cloud Data Beyond NSA Reach

Microsoft says its customers in Europe can now store data online in a way US security services can't access. It's a surprising and potentially controversial move from an American technology giant. The move follows a recent European ruling which ... means US firms can no longer ignore local regulations on data privacy. According to Microsoft, this affects data customers in 32 European countries connected to Internet-based Microsoft applications, including Office 365. Data Accessed Only In Specific Circumstances The data will be stored in two data centers in Germany, controlled by local ... (view more)

Tue
09
Jun
John Lister's picture

New Cloud-Based Antivirus Strategy Unveiled

A new security firm says it has come up with a way to stop malicious software before it reaches a user's computer. The "Isolation Platform" will initially be offered to business users, but remains to be seen how practical the solution is. According ... to makers Menlo, the main problem with most security tools are that they are based around the idea of examining programming code on a user's computer, and trying to determine if the code is malicious. Only if everything appears to be OK is a program allowed to run on the computer. Menlo says that's flawed because malware ... (view more)

Thu
20
Nov
Brandon Dimmel's picture

MS Kills OneDrive 'Placeholders' for 'Selective Sync'

Microsoft is facing a storm of protest over its decision to remove a popular feature from its OneDrive cloud storage service. The change is set to take shape when the company's next operating system, Windows 10 , is released next year. In Windows ... 8.1, OneDrive shows ' smart files ', otherwise known as ' placeholders ' stored on the cloud, but not available on a local device. If a user decides they want to view or edit that file and double click on it, OneDrive begins to download the file to local storage. The advantage of smart files is simple: they let users view the entire contents of ... (view more)

Fri
10
Oct
Brandon Dimmel's picture

Smart Devices, Cloud to Dominate IT Trends in 2015

Industry analysts at Gartner have released their list of the top trends in information technology (IT) for 2015. The general theme appears to be a growing -- and perhaps troubling -- reliance on web-connected devices and the cloud. Topping Gartner's ... list is the 'computing everywhere' concept, also known as ubiquitous computing . The research firm believes 2015 will be about expanding access to computing capabilities, from placing touchscreens in connected cars , to washing machines and dryers. To many, it's an exciting trend that will allow people unprecedented access to their devices ... (view more)

Fri
18
Jul
Brandon Dimmel's picture

Microsoft Announces Massive Job Cuts

Microsoft has announced plans to cut 18,000 jobs , or roughly 14 per cent of its total workforce, by June 2015. The bulk of the cuts will be in its phone unit Nokia, followed by firm's sales, marketing, and engineering divisions. The question is: ... will these job cuts help or hinder the company's growth? Microsoft chief executive officer Satya Nadella says those affected by the cuts will be notified in the next six months. Microsoft is reportedly planning to offer affected employees generous severance and job transition packages worth an estimated $800 million. "The first step to ... (view more)

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