Alice Hill
C.S. Magor
Cat Miller
David Brumbaugh
David Chie
Dawn Kawamoto
Don Willmott
Elisabeth Greenbaum Kasson
Gayle Laakmann McDowell
Lekan Oguntoyinbo
Leslie Stevens-Huffman
M Noivad
Mark Feffer
nick kolakowski
Stephen Lahanas
Susan Hall
Vincent Chow
4 Ways to Stay Out of Trouble When You’re Multitasking
Ever face an obnoxious co-worker texting during your killer presentation on your latest deep-dive data analysis? You’re likely not alone. It turns out that 64 percent of CIOs are encountering breaches in workplace etiquette because of cellphones, tablets and other mobile multitasking-enabling devices, up from 51 percent three years ago. The numbers come from Robert Half Technology. Though they make use more productive, mobile devices can also be a “round-the-clock distraction,” observed John Reed, a senior executive director with Robert… continue…
Get Ready for the Next Wireless Revolution
If you’re a developer, you’ll want to keep a close eye on the hardware side of mobile, because I think we’re on the cusp of an even bigger revolution. Today’s external devices that cable-connect to your mobile are just an interim step. A whole range of new devices is coming that will add power to your smartphone — wirelessly. The Potential’s Visible Just last week, I got both a Square and a PayPal reader. These are those little dongles that… continue…
Linux, Constantly Moving
One of the great things about Linux is that it’s constantly changing. New or improved versions of packages come out all the time. Take the case of LibreOffice. Version 4.0.0 came out a couple of months ago. Not long ago, 4.0.2 was released. I was most interested in two specific areas. First was the Impress Remote via Android capability that lets you control your Impress slides using your smartphone. You simply start your LibreOffice presentation, start the remote application on… continue…
Food and Learning Strategies: ‘The 4-Hour Chef’
Timothy Ferriss is a force to be reckoned with. A Silicon Valley lifestyle and self-improvement guru who has made a name for himself as a prophet of ultra-efficiency in all aspects of life, he’s a non-stop self-promoting idea machine with more than 300,000 Twitter followers, most of whom probably found him through his first book, the optimistically named 4-Hour Workweek. To follow up on that tome and its fitness-related sequel — The 4-Hour Body — Ferriss has come up with The 4-Hour… continue…
Windows 8 Won’t Become Business Standard: Forrester
Windows 8 Won’t Become Business Standard: Forrester (via slashdot) Windows 8 won’t become the enterprise standard, according to a new report from research firm Forrester. “Most IT shops are still too focused on migrating to Windows 7 to bother with Windows 8 anytime soon, if at all,” read the summary of Forrester’s report, which could have several Microsoft… continue…
The Opponent: H-1Bs Pressure U.S. Wages
The value of the H-1B program isn’t only being debated in the world of office parks and cubicles. It’s a topic being argued in academia, as well, with the focus on the needs and merits of increasing the visa cap and enticing both American and foreign students to pursue STEM degrees here, particularly master’s and doctorates. One of the most vocal opponents of the program is Computer Science Professor Norman Matloff of the University of California at Davis. He questions… continue…
6 Stories to Help You Find Better Pay
With tech salaries rising to their highest level in a decade last year, it’s a good time to size up your marketability and maybe push your boss for a bit more money. But how? For starters, think location, location, location. What works in real estate can also play out when it comes to salary, since jobs in some metro areas yield better compensation than similar jobs in other locales. Surprisingly, Pittsburgh tech professionals reaped the largest percentage increase in pay… continue…
Programming Languages That Aren’t Worth Your Time
As we all know, it seems like new programming languages are created every week. But which ones aren’t worth wasting your time on? I looked at actual listings on Dice to try to spot some trends. In late April, I searched both the entire set of job listings as well as specific job titles to see what skills companies were actually looking for. Here’s what I found. First, it’s safe to say that the Web is the primary focus of… continue…
The Corporate Perspective: Intel’s Approach to H-1Bs
Like other technology companies, Intel faces stiff competition for talent, especially when it comes to hiring computer, chemical, materials or mechanical engineers with advanced degrees. And while it would rather engage American workers, sometimes they just can’t be found. The issue, says Ardine Williams, vice president and director of the chipmaker’s Human Resource Enterprise Services, comes down to “supply and demand.” “When you get to the Ph.D. level, the number of people who specialize in engineering gets smaller and the universities don’t… continue…
IDC Lowers Tech Spending Estimates for 2013
IDC lowered its forecast for IT spending growth this year, signaling the possibility of job cuts for certain segments of the tech industry. Despite that, the tech job market overall continues to grow. IT spending growth is expected to increase 4.9 percent this year to $2.06 trillion – a lackluster performance compared to IDC’s previous forecast of 5.5 percent. Last year, IT spending grew 5.6 percent, according to IDC’s report. The effects of the federal government’s belt-tightening sequester, the European… continue…
