Opinion

What Sesame Street Can Teach CIOs About Managing Consumer IT

The CTO from the Sesame Workshop found that getting legal buy-in opened up a slew of new technologies for IT and its customers. Security concerns, like those that lead to insider fraud, are real, but you still need to have the trust of your users.

How to Create Digital Products That Customers Love

It’s time to go beyond mere usability. Greg Laugero says CIOs should tap the strategic expertise of user-experience (UX) designers to create digital products and services that are fun, easy to use, and deliver all the business value they can.

Cell Phone Theft: Why Carriers Won’t Help You Prevent It

A simple piece of technology would greatly reduce the value of stolen cell phones. So why do most of the major carriers refuse to use it?rnrn

Windows 8: The Metro Start Screen Stops Me

Microsoft has been praising Windows 8 as a reimagining of Windows, but CIO.com’s Shane O’Neill can’t see past the shoddy design of the Metro start screen.

A Closer Look at the Lack of Innovation in Today’s Tech World

Even though piles of new gadgets are released every couple of weeks, only a small fraction of those electronics can be considered truly innovative. CIO.com blogger Paul Mah takes a closer look at the reasons why.

GOP Cybersecurity Bill Cuts Proposed DHS Role

A new Republican bill drops previously proposed DHS private-sector oversight responsibilities and uses incentives to boost cooperation between private businesses and the U.S. government, in an effort to help protect vital networks.

Android Security Hole of the Week: Researchers ID New, Severe DoS Attack

A group of Italian security researchers have discovered a new Android Denial of Service (DoS) attack that can render Google smartphones and tablets useless in a matter of minutes, making it the most severe Android DoS attack ever identified.

iPad in the Enterprise: A Dirty Little Secret

How important are computers to our jobs? The iPad has shown us that the answer is not so much, and a whole lot.

Photo-Rich Travel App for New iPad Sparks Wanderlust

Want to get the most out of your iPad’s Retina display—and get some vacation ideas in the process? If so, Jetsetter is the app for you. Just don’t expect to find any great deals.

Get Up, Stand Up: New Workstation Keeps You on Your Toes

Ergotron’s WorkFit-S workstation is an adjustable, combination laptop/monitor docking station and stand that lets you work while standing up. It’s a bit costly, but the gadget, which can also be used in a sitting position, helps keep you comfortable

Buying Tech: Don’t Get Trapped by Deferred Interest Deals

Using a deferred interest plan like BillMeLater to purchase a new iPad or laptop seems like a good deal. But if you don’t pay attention it can cost you.

Adobe Photoshop CS6: Here’s Your Chance to Try It for Free

Adobe’s Photoshop is the best known and one of the most powerful photo editing programs on the market. Want to download the newest version for nuthin’? Now’s the time.

Socially Aware or Socially Awkward – Where Does Your Business Fall?

Facebook Says Employers Have No Right to Access Your Account

The debate over whether or not a company has the right to request potential employees’ social networking login credentials struck a nerve with CIO.com readers. Today, Facebook responded to the controversy.

Android Security Threats Overhyped? Not So Fast…

Some skeptics say Android security software makers overhype threats to scare smartphone users into buying their products. While that may be true, the Android security threat is very real, and users should protect themselves in any way that they can,

Weekly Security Digest: China Calls Out US, Japan; Hacktivist Thieves; and More

This week’s roundup has China claiming it is the victim of American and Japanese cyber criminals, a study that found hacktivists steal more than actual criminals and a scam targeting Megaupload users.

Looking for Android Tablet Apps? Get Tablified

Google’s Play Store doesn’t make it easy to browse and discover apps designed for Android tablets. Fortunately, the Tablified Market HD Pro app takes on the job—and does it well.

DoD Networks Completely Compromised, Experts Say

A group of U.S. federal cybersecurity experts recently blasted the Defense Department’s network security efforts and called for a completely new and different model for DoD cybersecurity in the future.

The Big Mistake With Business Architecture

As you might expect, there are a number of mistakes one might make with business architecture, but there’s a particularly big and common one that multiplies its effect through all the others.

D’oh Canada! iPhone Tops BlackBerry Shipments in Canada for First Time

The bad news just keeps on coming for RIM and BlackBerry. Apple’s iPhone is now the top smartphone in RIM’s home country of Canada based on 2011 shipments, bumping BlackBerry from the top spot for the first time.

IRS Cybersecurity Loopholes Lead to ID Theft

For the sixth year in a row the agency failed to resolve known cybersecurity issues: installing critical software fixes, letting unauthorized people access accounting programs, not performing background checks on new hires and failing to make sure co

How Project Managers Can Negotiate Higher Salaries

The Project Management Institute’s latest salary survey is chockfull of specific, reliable data that project managers can use to negotiate higher salaries. Here’s an example of how they might use the data in their own salary negotiations.

Cloud Computing Calls for Rebuilding Enterprise IT

For all of the buzz about cloud computing, there remains confusion about its real implications for an IT organization. CIO.com’s Bernard Golden argues that to take full advantage of the cost savings and efficiency improvements of the cloud, CIOs have

Techie-Traveler Stereotypes: Gadgets Geeks on a Plane

While the FAA’s decision to revisit the existing ban on the use of electronic gadgets during airplane taxi, takeoff and landing will surely be a good thing for many travelers, there is a downside: Tech-obsessed people are only going to be furthe

Mac Malware Spreads via Topless Photos of Supermodel

If you should “come across” an image of sexy Russian supermodel Irina Shayk, beware. Bad Guys are using R-rated photos of Ms. Shayk to spread Mac malware.

Everyday Apps for New iPad Show Mostly Subtle Improvements

CIO.com blogger James A. Martin was curious to see how some apps he frequently uses on his iPad 2 look on the new iPad’s Retina display. The verdict: Text is crisper and colors brighter, but overall, the differences aren’t huge.

Would You Give Your Employer Access to Your Facebook Page? [Poll]

More employers are requesting — and sometimes requiring — that you hand over your social networking usernames and passwords as a condition of employment. Are you onboard with this new trend?

Want Better Android Battery Life? Stop Being Such a Cheapskate

New research suggests that you can dramatically boost the life of your Android smartphone by avoiding free, ad-based mobile applications that suck up system resources and power. So stop being so stingy and drop a dollar or two for the ad-free version

Firefox and Thunderbird 11: Better Search and Sync Lead Way in Upgrades

New Mozilla Thunderbird e-mail client has tabs on top and Web search built in, with instant messaging coming soon. Firefox browser has improved synch features.

‘Tether’ Hotspot App for iPhone May Leave You Cold

Tether, an HTML5 ‘app,’ promises to turn your iPhone into a hotspot without those pricey extra service charges from your wireless carrier. But CIO.com blogger James A. Martin had no luck at all getting Tether to work.