Tag Archive for Research In Motion

| September 2, 2012
Comments Off

Tech Labor Day

Tech recessionToday is Labor Day in the US. The US Department of Labor says Labor day is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers, Outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas summed up the social and economic achievements of American tech workers recently. Their report stated that in the first half of 2012, layoffs in the technology sector hit their highest levels since 2009. There were more than 51,000 planned cuts announced by the end of June.

According to CRN, most of the layoffs came from the biggest firms. (rb- I kept a butchers toll of tech layoffs in 2009. The first half of 2012 seems just as grim.)

HPHP – Leads the body count in 2012 with its plan to layoff 27,000-plus layoffs. HP (HPQ) made the announcement in May, saying it would cut about 8 percent of its workforce over the next two years.

Nokia – The downward spiral continues for Nokia (NOK) with the announcement that it will slash 10,000 jobs, estimated to be around 19% of its worldwide workforce, by the end of 2013 according to a June 2012 report from the New York Times.

Sony In April Sony (SNE) said it would slash about 6 percent of its global workforce, about 10,000 employees, in an effort called “One Sony,” to refocus the company around its digital imaging, gaming and mobile businesses. Also the firm announced that Sony Mobile Communications its mobile handset division would be laying out 15% of its workforce or about 1,000 people. According to TechCrunch the process is due to complete by March 2014.

Google logoGoogle – In a long-expected move, Google (GOOG) earlier this month confirmed it would axe about 4,000 jobs from its Motorola Mobility subsidiary representing about 20 percent of Motorola’s 20,000-employee headcount. Google said that some 90 former Motorola facilities would be closed down.

Panasonic - In May, Panasonic (PC) announced it would cut another 7,000 staff after announcing in April 2011 plans to eliminate 17,000 jobs over two years.

Research In Motion – Former king of smartphones, Research In Motion (RIMM) has suffered setback after setback in the face of Apple and Android competition. RIM early this year warned of workforce reductions, and in mid-June, several reports held that those reductions had already begun, in small batches of 10-or-so employees. New reports in August stated that RIM will eliminate some 3,000 other jobs this month.

Olympus -  CNET reports that Olympus (OCPNY) will cut 2,700 employees from its global workforce between now and March 31, 2014.

Yahoo logoYahoo – Back in April Yahoo (YHOO) cut about 2,000 employees across all the major units of the company. CRN speculates that Yahoo’s job cutting will grow as new CEO Marissa Mayer gets her feet wet.

Lexmark - Lexmark (LXK), the printer maker is jettisoning its inkjet printers and laying off 1,700 workers as paper becomes increasingly passe in an age of online photo albums on Internet hangouts like Facebook and Pinterest according to the MercuryNews.com.

Cisco - In mid-July, Cisco (CSCO) confirmed 1,300 more job cuts, about 2 percent of its global workforce.

Activision - Activision (ATVI) subsidiary Blizzard Entertainment, maker of World of Warcraft announced that it will cut its global workforce by 600 employees Gamespot reported in February.

Best BuyBest Buy - CNET reports that the retail giant has decided to cut 650 Geek Squad workers. Best Buy (BBY) confirmed to Minneapolis-St. Paul news station KARE 11 the nationwide layoffs were effective August 1.

Logitech - the $2.3 billion peripherals king has had Logitech’s financial struggles. In June, Logitech (LOGI) said it would cut about 450 jobs, roughly 13 percent of its global workforce.


Related articles
Category: Layoffs | Tags: , , , , , , ,
| February 16, 2012
Comments Off

Better Mobile Security

Mobile securityMobile device users should be concerned about security. This is especially true if the mobile device is used for work and it is configured with your employer’s email or messaging server. IT staffs can take steps to protect the date on the mobile. Eric Geier, the founder of NoWiresSecurity writes provided CIO Update with 6 tips for better mobile device security.

EncryptionTip No. 1 – Choose a mobile OS that supports encryption and use it: Mr. Greer says make sure the mobile operating system (OS) and device supports hardware-based encryption. The article says Apple’s (AAPL) iOS and Research In Motion’s (RIMM) BlackBerry support encryption for both internal and external storage. Without encryption it’s possible that someone could recover the data on the device even without your lock PIN or password.

Full device encryption is limited and varies on current Android device manufactures. Mr. Greer writes that Motorola Mobility’s (MMI) business-oriented smartphones offers encryption capabilities on Android 2.3. Android 3.x includes an API to help developers offer encryption on tablets. Android 4.x tablets and smartphones should support encryption sometime in 2012. WhisperCore is a third-party encryption solution which is in beta for Nexus S and Nexus One.

PasswordsTip No. 2 – Set a lock pin or password: The article says that enabling a password, whether it’s called a PIN, passcode, or passphrase, is the first line of defense in maintaining privacy and security. It helps prevent others from picking up your phone or device and snooping around if it becomes lost, stolen, or just left unattended. It’s also usually required if encryption is enabled on the device writes the author. A PIN will protect data and privacy from the causal snoopers.

Tip No. 3 – Enable auto-wiping of data: Most mobile OSes support automatic wiping of the device’s data after a certain number of incorrect passwords attempts. Mr. Greer says auto-wiping is natively supported by iOS, Windows Phone 7, and BlackBerry. Android requires a third-party app, such as Autowipe.

It is important to keep all your data regularly backed up so the data can be restored to a new mobile after it is wiped.

Mobile device managementTip No. 4 – Setup remote tracking and management: Before your phone or device gets misplaced or stolen the blog recommends that a remote tracking and management system should be set up. Most let you see the device’s GPS location on a map, send audible alerts to help you find it, and display a visual message to tell others how to return it. They typically also let you remotely lock and/or wipe it before someone else gets their hands on it. According to Mr. Greer:

Wireless Wi-Fi hotspotTip No. 5 – Limit Wi-Fi hotspot usage: When you use public Wi-Fi hotspots that aren’t encrypted, all your Internet traffic is transmitted through the air and can be easily intercepted. The most important sites and services, such as banking websites, usually implement their own (HTTPS/SSL) encryption that protects their individual traffic. But most email providers and many social networking sites don’t; thus eavesdroppers can likely capture their passwords and traffic.

On the other hand most 3G, 4G, and other cellular data connections are usually encrypted by the carriers. Plus eavesdropping on these types of connections isn’t as popular. Therefore, when you’re out and about you should try to use the data connection rather unsecured Wi-Fi hotspots.

If you insist on using Wi-Fi hotspots, use those that offer enterprise encryption and 802.1X authentication, such as from T-Mobile and iBahn. Alternatively, consider using a VPN connection to secure your traffic from local eavesdroppers.

Cellphone virusTip No. 6 – Use an antivirus or security app: Viruses, malware, and hacking on mobile devices is a growing problem. The author recommends installing a security app to help prevent infections and intrusions. Most AV solutions also offer other features, such as remote wiping, backup and locating.

Related articles
Enhanced by Zemanta
Category: Mobile, Security | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
| November 15, 2011
Comments Off

Which Mobile OS is Most Hit by Malware?

Mobile virus Help Net Security reminds us that most mobile phone users still don’t have a mobile AV solution installed on their devices making it hard to gauge just how many of them have been hit by mobile malware. To overcome this fact, Microsoft (MSFT) researchers observed that mobile phones often get synched with the users’ computers. Also, users often use their computers to search for mobile apps on third-party application markets and file-sharing sites, so mobile malware occasionally does end up on their desktop/laptop computers, and gets detected by desktop anti virus software.

MicrosoftUsing this analysis the researchers at the Microsoft Malware Protection Center (MMPC) were able to get an idea of just what kind of malware attacks the various mobile operating systems. The MMPC found was that Symbian users devices are getting hit with a disproportionately bigger number of threats than those targeting other operating systems. During August 2011, Microsoft detected around 42,000 of them.

Microsoft’s Marianne Mallen says that Symbian-specific malware seems to be evolving and Zeus-in-the-mobile (“ZItmo“) and SpyEye-in-the-mobile (“Spitmo“) are the most recently detected malware and arguably the most dangerous for the user.

JavaThe Sun Oracle (ORCL) Java ME platform takes second place in the MSFT research, with nearly 24,000 threats detected in August 2011, mostly apps sending text messages to premium rate numbers.

The MMPC found that Google‘s (GOOG) Android malware numbers were rather low when compared to Symbian and Java ME platforms. There were around 2,800 hits in August, but have been steadily rising since February. Much of the Android malware uses privilege-escalation exploits to install itself or other components on the device without having to ask the user for permission.

Apple ComputersAt the end of the MSFT list are Apple (AAPL) iOS and Research In Motion (RIMM). No new threats for Apple’s mobile OS have been discovered this year, and the total number of threats detected in August was around 590. RIM brings up the rear with only 5 malicious apps detected during that month, and can boast of only one completely new threat springing up for it this year:.

Ms. Mallen’s advice to mobile users is to scan applications downloaded whenever possible, even when it’s already on a mobile device. Ms. Mallen says that even apps from the official app stores, may have been repackaged with malware that can run stealthily without the user being made aware of the underlying payload,” she points out. “The payload can include data-theft, silent SMS-sending in the background, and downloading and installing of other malware components, among other things. This malware (or links to it) could also be spammed or sent through mail, using social engineering to entice the user to download a copy of the malware on to the desktop.”

rb-

UMMM no critique of mobile malware issues on WinPhones?

Related articles
Category: Mobile, Security | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
| July 28, 2011
3 comments

Tablet Notes

portable computingTablet adoption is reportedly outpacing the take-up rates of smartphones, computers, mp3 players, or game consoles. Adoption is underway in a variety of sectors beyond the consumer segment, into retail, industrial, education and business. The demands for mobility and real-time access to data are driving the tablet market.   Sales are expected to exceed 147 million by 2015.

Microsoft: It’s Not Too Late To Win In Tablets

MicrosoftThe financial geniuses at Citi (C) that brought us the housing bubble also believe that Microsoft (MSFT) can still win the tablets wars. The BusinessInsider cites a report by Citi that says despite being late into the market Microsoft can become “#2 behind iPad” for these reasons:

Tablets are too expensive – Citi notes gadgets need to fall below $300 before they really take off. Until they reach that cost, Microsoft has time to reach people who haven’t jumped on the iPad bandwagon.

Android tablets are not very good – Citi believes that Android tablets won’t take off like Google’s (GOOG) Android Smartphones.

Android faces legal challenges – Android tablet makers are already facing a bunch of intellectual property suits from Apple (AAPL), Nokia (NOK), Oracle (ORCL), and Microsoft. Citi thinks Microsoft is hoping for royalties of $7.50 to $12.50 per unit. That would erase some of the cost-advantage of shipping Android.

Apps – Microsoft has an army of 6 million .NET developers who could start developing touch-optimized apps for Windows tablets. Plus, Citi says Microsoft can make Office an exclusive for its tablet and exploit its Xbox business to offer exclusive big-ticket games.

Enterprise – IT departments already know how to deploy, update, and push apps out to Windows PCs, so a Windows-based tablets should be easier to deal with than other tablets. Microsoft will also probably make Office an exclusive to its tablets, and could create a technology where a tablet can “extend” a PC by giving them access to locally stored files. Citi does note that the “bring your own device” trend might favor the iPad instead, but this trend is still in early days and not proven.

Citi predicts that about 75 million tablets will ship in 2013, and that Microsoft will have “meaningful share” of those.

GigaTrust Brings Enterprise Rights Management To Apple’s iPhone And iPad

GigaTrust GigaTrust, a publisher of Enterprise Rights Management (ERM) content protection software that enhance and extend Microsoft (MSFT) Active Directory Rights Management Services (AD RMS) announced the release of the GigaTrust for iPhone and iPad mobile devices. The product consists of a client and “Mobility Server” that enables persistent content protection for the Apple (AAPL) iPhone and iPad equivalent to that provided by GigaTrust for the Research In Motion’s (RIMM) BlackBerry smartphone and Windows Desktop according to DarkReading.

Reportedly GigaTrust for iPhone and iPad protects content at rest, in transit, and in use, allowing users to securely deliver and persistently protect emails while they are being read on the device. Additionally, iPhone and iPad users can apply GigaTrust protection to outgoing emails and email responses.

Mobile Security: The Great Misconception

Smartphone SecurityResearch from Kaspersky Lab shows that many users feel more secure using mobile devices than PC’s to surf the Internet and that most consider the risk of losing personal data higher on computers than on their mobile devices. The report noted by ITnewsLink says there has been a recent increase in the number of attacks on mobile operating systems like Google’s (GOOG) Android and Apple’s (AAPL) iOS, and experts expect to see considerably more in the future. Despite this, users in the Kaspersky Lab survey feel more secure accessing the Internet via a mobile device.

In the survey users consider the risk of losing personal data lower on a mobile device than on a PC – despite the fact that around a fifth of all smartphone users have already experienced the loss or theft of a mobile device. The majority of users reported they store personal data, such as photos, emails or contact details, on their moblies. Around one-third also save login information, such as PIN codes or passwords, for services on their mobile devices, demonstrating a large gap between secure reality and user perception

Next! Turns Your iPad into a Real Productivity Tool

Left Turn LabsAppScout says Next! For iPad is proof that the iPad can do work The app is a getting-things-done (GTD) styled app that will help keep your projects organized, keep your tasks from overwhelming you, and keep you moving towards your goal.

Next! can help you organize your to-dos and projects. AppScout says it doesn’t have the same features as a project management suite like Microsoft Project, it’s perfect for those projects that are essentially a long series of tasks to be completed with due dates and dependencies for each of them.

You can take notes, store documents relevant to your project and tag items that you want to review with others, all from your iPad. Next! will even serve as a light document management system, giving you a central place for all of your project associated documents, images, and files that you’ll need to refer to as you do the work.

Since the app follows the GTD philosophy it allows you to create action lists based on when the tasks will be completed as opposed to an arbitrary priority list. Your tasks can be adjusted as they get nearer or come into focus. You also get overall project status and health bars that show how far you’ve progressed towards completing your tasks and how closely you’re tracking to your schedule.

Next! is available in the iTunes App Store for the introductory price of $9.99.

Related articles
Category: Mobile, Tablet computing | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
| July 19, 2011
2 comments

Most Firms Don’t Know Why They Use iPads

Portable ComputingDespite the widespread success of the Apple (AAPL) iPad more than half of companies lack a clear iPad tablet strategy according to a recent survey by Dimensional Research. CNET’s Stephen Shankland points out the survey which found that “Most participants, 51 percent, indicated that they did not have a clearly articulated strategy,”

Apple ComputersThe survey of 448 businesses found that:

  • 22% have already deployed tablets.
  • 22% plan to do so this year
  • 24% plan to next year
  • 20% have no plans to deploy tablets

Dimensional Research polled the firms on whose tablet they intend to deploy and Research in Motionfound:

Ann All at ITBusinessEdge.com says the survey is an affirmation that the BYOT (Bring Your Own Technology) trend is not hype, 41% of survey respondents said individual employees were using tablets they had purchased themselves.

The research firm also found that 82% of firms will use tablets to complement, and not replace, laptops. This fact is not lost on IT Pro’s. 42% of IT staff said business stakeholders do not understand the need for more development like new front pages specifically for the iPad.

Many of the companies I’ve spoken with seem to discover multiple use cases they hadn’t imagined for tablets when they begin putting them into users’ hands. And new applications continue to emerge all the time.

What do you think?

What tablet has your firm deployed?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...
Related articles
Category: Mobile, Tablet computing | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
« Older Entries  

Switch to our mobile site