Most Clicked SmartBrief on ExecTech Stories
1. More employees are likely to use their own phones for business
SmartBrief on ExecTech | Nov 17, 2009
By 2013, more than half of the mobile devices used by corporate employees will have been purchased by employees, who may then submit expenses for reimbursement, according to research by IDC. While the arrangement appears to be a cost-cutting strategy, it creates security risks, according to this article. Network World (11/13)
2. Gifts for the geek who has almost everything
SmartBrief on ExecTech | Nov 20, 2009
For the techies on your holiday shopping list who buy themselves every latest gizmo and gadget, PC World suggests 10 geeky items off the beaten path, including a full-size virtual keyboard that can be beamed onto any surface, and the Chargepod, which powers as many as six gadgets at a time. PC World (11/17)
3. Tips for boosting the IT team's morale
SmartBrief on ExecTech | Nov 19, 2009
Many IT teams in the past couple of years have seen colleagues let go and budgets cut, and it has taken a toll on morale and productivity. This article features tips from IT experts for keeping the workforce from feeling worn out or overwhelmed. Computerworld (11/17)
4. One-third of laptops last just 3 years
SmartBrief on ExecTech | Nov 18, 2009
Almost one-third of laptop computers malfunction or experience accidental problems within three years after being purchased, according to research firm Squaretrade. PC World (11/17)
5. Some organizations see benefits in netbooks
SmartBrief on ExecTech | Nov 20, 2009
Netbooks remain the exception rather than the rule at U.S. enterprises, but budget tightening has driven some IT departments to give them a second look, despite their consumer-focused designs. Find out why some early adopters, including the business school at Southern Methodist University, are beginning to favor the cheap, streamlined computers over traditional laptops. Computerworld (11/18)
6. Russian humor in space
SmartBrief on ExecTech | Nov 19, 2009
Russian cosmonaut Maksim Suraev provides a little comic relief in his blog posts from the International Space Station. In a recent post describing a photo, he wrote that he held a device that not only could spy on Americans in the station but also could "be used for martial arts training." Wired.com (11/18)
7. Ways to get better deals out of vendors
SmartBrief on ExecTech | Nov 18, 2009
The recession offers opportunities for enterprises to negotiate with vendors for better deals, but squeezing them too much can lead to a decline in service quality, experts say. Taking advantage of vendors can also lead to an increase in software audits, they note. Computerworld (11/17)
8. Older versions of Internet Explorer are targeted by hacker
SmartBrief on ExecTech | Nov 23, 2009
A program capable of installing malware on computers running versions 6 and 7 of Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser was posted online Friday, security firm Symantec warns. PC World (11/22)
9. Vendors want IT staff to become business consultants
SmartBrief on ExecTech | Nov 23, 2009
Executives from Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, VMware and other giant IT vendors are urging companies to hire more business experts rather than more technology workers. The vendors predicted that companies increasingly will rely on external IT services, and said firms should look to hire "business relationship managers," who typically don't have technical backgrounds. Forbes (11/19)
10. The FAA's weakest link
SmartBrief on ExecTech | Nov 20, 2009
The failure of one circuit board in the Federal Aviation Administration's massive network was at the root of hundreds of cancellations and delays for airline passengers throughout the nation Thursday. Yahoo! (11/19)
Sign up for SmartBrief on ExecTech
