Stories about: National Semiconductor

Each 8GB iPhone sold by Apple puts US$333 more in the till than the device cost to build, a market research company said Tuesday after tearing apart the new phone.

The benefit of virtualizing x86 servers is clear: break the link between software and hardware and create the foundation for a more dynamic, flexible and efficient data centre. With the market for virtualization software expected to grow to more than US$1 billion this year, companies are more than kicking the tires on the technology. But the road to a virtual data centre isn't without its twists and turns. The move to a virtual environment must be done carefully and with an understanding of how the new infrastructure will change IT planning and management. What follows is a list of eight virtualization "gotchas" -- hurdles that users may face as they deploy virtual environments -- that we've compiled through discussions with IT professionals, analysts and vendors.

Open source software is a given in most enterprise data centers, so it's not surprising to see the ranks of open source companies and projects swell. It's not just Linux anymore - community-developed software is offering alternatives for everything from databases to application servers to network management to disaster preparedness. How do you know which open source approach is right for you? We've pulled out a few start-ups that you might not be familiar with, but we think should be on your radar.

IT execs who have delayed virtualizing their x86-based servers for fear the technology is still unproven should put that project at the top of their to-do lists for 2006, as the market for virtualizing the low-volume systems heats up.

Google will provide for free its hosted Web analytics service, which businesses can use to track the effectiveness of online marketing campaigns, the California company plans to announce.

Like many companies, National Semiconductor is looking for ways to cut costs and has Linux and open source high on its list. While the company already is making the move to Linux, the big project this year is to take a close look at open source databases to figure out where less-expensive data management products could fit in its infrastructure.

Linus Torvalds has released version 2.6.12 of the Linux kernel, a major revision including support for Trusted Platform Modules (TPM), significant changes to many drivers and other changes.

IBM has begun using new security hardware from National Semiconductor in its desktop PCs in an effort to fend off viruses and hackers.

Intel's new Dothan Pentium M processors outperform their predecessors by enough of a margin to prompt Intel, IBM, and Cadence Design Systems to launch a pilot program aimed at unleashing chip designers with lightweight mobile workstations based on the Pentium M.

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Some 75 towns across New South Wales have started accessing the Internet through Linux-based satellite routers in what is said to be largest network of its type in Australia spanning upwards of 800,000 square kilometres.