Opinion

BYOD Empowers the Free Agent

Consumer tech frees employees from the old lie of corporate loyalty rewarded.

Facebook Wants to Sell Kids’ Personal Info, Asks Parents for Approval

Facebook is asking for permission from pre-teen-Facebook users’ parents to sell those kids’ personal information, in order to protect itself from “regulatory risks.”

Are Android Users from Mars, iOS Users from Venus?

CIO.com blogger James A. Martin looked at the most popular free and paid apps in the Android and iOS app stores and noticed some telling differences. But are Android users really that different from iOS users?

Boston Celtics are the BlackBerrys of the NBA, Heat are the iPhones

CIO.com’s Al Sacco is an avid Boston Celtics fan—and a BlackBerry user—and he can’t help but see similarities between his favorite team and smartphone, along with some likenesses between the iPhone and Celtics-rival the Miami Heat. Here’s w

Look Before You ‘Like’ — Your Employer May Start to Monitor You

A new Gartner report reveals that social media monitoring in the workplace is on the rise. Until now, concerned companies simply blocked access. Would you rather your company block social networking sites or allow them and subject yourself to monito

‘Instagram for Video’ App No. 1 in iTunes—For Now

The free Socialcam app for iOS has skyrocketed to success recently, but there’s already been backlash. CIO.com blogger James A. Martin thinks the app is okay, but it feels familiar.

Weekly Cybersecurity Roundup: Tinba Trojan v Flame Malware; Obama’s Cyber Attacks on Iran; and More

This week’s cybersecurity roundup has stories on the Tinba Trojan and Flame malware; increased U.S. cyber attacks on Iran; a popular tool meant to provide online anonymity that’s installing spyware on users’ machines; and more.

First Look at Belkin’s WeMo Home-Automation System for iPhone, iPad

Belkin’s brand new home-automation system that’s controlled by iOS devices won’t be available until later this month, but CIO.com blogger Paul Mah managed to get his hands on the gadget early. Here’s everything you need to know.

Does Virtual Outsourcing Mean the End of ‘Labor Lift and Shift’?

As the IT outsourcing market continues to evolve, IT customers are starting to realize that it is about engaging the IT service provider with the best overall value proposition, as opposed to the provider the lowest price and the most people.

Cricket’s Pre-Paid iPhone Plan: How Good Is This Deal?

You can save money by going with Cricket’s pre-paid iPhone deal. But there are some “gotchas,” including questionable service, that a savvy consumer should consider.

IT Innovation Won’t Be Slowed by Cloud Concerns

Those who continue to deem the cloud “rogue IT” fail to see the forest for the trees, CIO.com’s Bernard Golden writes. Institutions dead set in their ways should prepare to see smaller, more innovative firms embrace the cloud — and race past them.

Three Steps To Productive Meetings

Meetings are a necessary evil in the business world — few people like them, but without face-to-face discussion time, problems persist. Minimize the anguish and get the most out of precious time by following this expert’s advice.

CIOs Need a Wakeup Call

Many CIOs think they’re more relevant than ever before, but their CEOs often disagree. IDG Enterprise’s own CEO is calling for CIOs to figure out how to better include innovation in their job descriptions

Big Brother’s Mining Our Data, Do We Care?

CIO magazine Editor in Chief Maryfran Johnson considers our June 1 cover story on Equifax’s new business strategy, which involves massive amounts of consumer and business data. Gen Y is at the edge of a brand new world devoid of privacy. Do they care

CIOs: Don’t Let Microsoft’s Marketing Drumbeat Drown Out Priorities

Microsoft is in the midst of a marketing storm for product launches later this year. While CIOs shouldn’t be seduced into thinking they need Windows 8 and Office 15 right away, planning for them may help clarify what your company really needs.

Cartoons Lampoon Facebook’s Slumping Stock

Facebook’s declining stock value isn’t a laughing matter to investors, but cartoonists are having a field day.

The Office at Play: Using Time Wasters to Your Advantage

I’d Cap That iOS App Adds Crude Captions to Pix

Depending on your taste in mobile apps, you may think the free I’d Cap That software represents the decline of mankind. Then again, you just might LOL.

Meet Flame, the Ebola Virus of Malware

What’s bigger and more complex than Stuxnet or Duqu; scarily efficient at stealing information; only found in the middle East and created by a government, likely a Western one? The Flame malware, of course.

Sony Hand-Crank Charger Lets You Manually Power Up Gadgets

Sony recently unveiled a portable, hand-crank-powered charger that can recharge your gadgets when no power outlets are available. Unfortunately, it may never be sold outside the Land of the Rising Sun.

Skills for the CIO Class of 2015

IT management is changing. Here are some of the types of experience and knowledge that companies will be looking for in their CIOs.

How To Choose the Right Tech Startup Partner

CIOs look to IT startups for competitive advantage but finding the right newbie vendor is harder than you think.

Your Hair Tells a Story That Bits or Bytes Can’t

In the age of big data, simple observation can be just as powerful.

G-RAID Mini Offers Reliable Data Protection in a Portable Package

The G-Technology G-RAID mini is a great-looking external-storage drive with two internal hard-disk drives to back up your data and help protect you from hard-disk drive failures. It’s not cheap, but some unique data-protection features help justify t

Get Free Conference Calling for iPhone, Android with CrowdCall

Most conference-call services aren’t exactly easy to use. CrowdCall, a free app for iOS and Android, let’s you join hour-long conferences with as many as 20 people free of charge.

Surprise! EW’s Awesome Apps of Summer All iOS, Android

When the average mobile-device user thinks of applications, they think of iOS and Android—not BlackBerry, Windows Phone or any other mobile platforms. Entertainment Weekly’s new awesome apps of summer 2012 list is an effective representation of

Dangerous Dubai? There’s No App for That

Mobile travel apps are all the rage, especially for destinations like Dubai. While they appeal to tourists, they don’t tell the whole story.

Timeline WWII App for iPad Brings That Epic War to Life

The multimedia-rich Timeline World War 2 iPad app is perfect for Memorial Day remembrances. The software makes it easy to swipe through all of the battles, events and key figures. But it can’t accurately convey the war’s tremendous emotional impact,

X-Rated Spam Coming to an Email Box Near You

A nasty spambot called Cutwail is sending out porno spam in an effort to sell counterfeit pharmaceuticals. Clicking on it can turn your computer into a spam-spewing zombie.

Sun Hardware ‘Blows,’ According to Oracle Internal Documents

More precisely, Oracle said Sun hardware baaaallllloooooooows. That description comes from discovery documents released by HP related to ligation between the two tech giants. Columnist Rob Enderle says Oracle treated you and him like ‘idiots.’