Stories by Patrick Thibodeau

Republicans package H-1B plan in attractive website

With the full Senate starting its debate on a comprehensive immigration bill, Republican lawmakers in the House have released a plan of their own, complete with a slick website.

IT weather forecast: Hurricanes with a chance of dead satellites

NOAA is working to fix a broken weather satellite -- the one that watches the Atlantic Ocean -- even as it gears up for what's expected to be an above-normal year for hurricanes.

A stinky onion blooms in the Senate, say H-1B critics

With the H-1B fight over and lost, Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) lashed out, almost flailing in the minutes before the Senate Judiciary Committee's final vote Tuesday.

Storms test Red Cross' Tornado app

The Red Cross is using apps to help warn people about potential weather calamities. One of its more popular efforts is its new Tornado app.

Skill shortages? Not if you pay or train

Companies in search of workers with the most sought-after IT skills may be better off investing in training programs for current workers than hiring new employees, according to IDC

Immigration reform may spur software robotics

The Senate immigration bill's H-1B restrictions have clearly upset Indian firms. But sometimes being in a tough spot can prompt new ways of approaching problems. One firm is implementing software robots.

If you can't find a seat at Starbucks, blame IT

Unless you're a Yahoo employee, theres a very good chance you are working from home or at a coffee shop at least part of the week, according to Forrester Research.

Software developer wages fall 2% as workforce expands

The U.S. tech industry added nearly 64,000 software related jobs last year, but as the workforce expanded, the average size of workers' pay checks declined by nearly 2%.

H-1B politics shifts to backroom as vote nears

High-tech industry's leading advocate in the immigration bill fight, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), has bought himself some time, perhaps until Tuesday, to try get the immigration bill changed to the liking of the tech industry.

Senators begin contentious H-1B battle

The Senate Judiciary Committee rejected the idea on Tuesday of requiring all H-1B employers to make a "good faith" effort in hiring U.S. workers before taking on an H-1b worker.

Tech may sink immigration bill if unhappy, Sen. Hatch warns

The Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday began debate on more than 300 amendments to the comprehensive immigration bill, including a number of changes to sections on H-1B visas.

Desktop chips zip past 4GHz; next stop 5GHz?

Mobility has all but eclipsed speed and anything else as the capability garnering the most attention in desktop processors.

There's an app for that: Avoiding the ugliest business problems

Kindergarten rules for living well can get you in trouble in the corporate world. Now, there is an app for business complications of the worst type.

An H-1B jobs database the tech industry may hate

The intent of the comprehensive immigration bill's H-1B database is to improve the odds that a U.S. worker will be hired over a foreign one. But its effectiveness may depend on fuzzy terms such as "good faith" hiring, and enforcement. This is where the real legislative battle may be fought.

U.S. IT services providers heartened by Senate immigration bill

Domestic IT services providers say the U.S. Senate's immigration bill could benefit them by raising the costs of their competitors that are based overseas.