Features

• Tech hotshots: The rise of the dataviz expert

  As analytics become more ingrained in corporations, data visualizers are the new go-to experts in demand -- but do they work for IT or give IT its marching orders?

• How to prevent IT department overload

  Managing the flow of an infinite supply of worthwhile projects through a finite IT operation takes finesse. Here's how to avoid the backlog and the chaos.

• Google woos developers as software becomes more important

  Google did its best to court developers at this year's I/O conference with a much-needed integrated developer environment, API for better games and the ability to more easily translate apps. Their allegiance will become increasingly important as smartphone and tablet hardware sees fewer dramatic improvements.

• Windows 8 is an enterprise 'non-starter' because IT sees no value in changes

  Windows 8 faces a number of hurdles in the enterprise, but the biggest reason it won't replace the current corporate champion, Windows 7, is simple: IT shops don't think it's worth the upgrade hassle.

• Google weaves Larry Page's social strategy into Maps, Search

  It became clear at Google I/O this week that Google is quietly but assuredly implementing CEO Larry Page's strategy to use Google+ to transform the entire Google experience.

• Google dives headfirst into streaming music pool

  At Google I/O on Wednesday, Google unveiled a streaming music service that will compete directly with the likes of Pandora and Spotify -- in what is said to be a growing market, however.

• Microsoft's counter-attack against Windows 8 coverage makes it 'look weak'

  Microsoft on Friday called some media coverage of its plans to update Windows 8 sensationalist and an effort to drive website page views.

• Five pioneering paths for software development's new frontier

  Size (and mobility) matters. As desktop PCs lose ground to tablets and smartphones, and the Cloud becomes a more mainstream means for software deployment, desktop applications are being elbowed aside by mobile apps and Web services, resulting in a significant shift in the way software is created.

• Why Microsoft won't charge for Windows Blue - this time

  Sometime soon, Microsoft will tell Windows 8 users whether they will have to pay for the upgrade code-named "Blue," and if so, how much. Analysts don't expect it to charge anything for the update.

• Analysts challenge Microsoft's commitment to Windows RT

  One of Microsoft's top Windows executives this week said the company remains bullish about Windows RT, but analysts remain suspicious of RT's chances unless Microsoft makes changes.

• What to expect at SAP's Sapphire

  SAP's Sapphire conference kicks off next week in Orlando, setting the stage for the company to sell customers on its visions for cloud-based applications, in-memory computing and mobility.

• Microsoft's drip-drip-drip Windows communications strategy dubbed a washout

  Microsoft's Tami Reller, the CFO and head of marketing for the Windows division, went on a mini publicity spree. But she didn't say very much.

• BMC going private could be the right move at the right time

  BMC has agreed to be acquired by a private investment consortium headed by Bain Capital and Golden Capital, in a deal worth about $US6.9 billion.

• Sizing up open source: Not so simple

  Choosing open-source software is more complicated than picking traditional software. Is your IT department prepared to contribute code fixes to the community?

• Free (with strings attached): Keeping track of open-source code

  Just about anyone in the office can introduce open-source code into the company's IT infrastructure. Yet CIOs face real dangers if they're not properly managing their open-source assets.