Opinion

For CFOs with IT Duties: a Checklist

Start 2012 with tough questions about your skills, and about how best to blend finance and tech.

Apply the 80/20 Rule to CFO Time Management

This new look at the Pareto Principle may help you start the year by cutting back — and prospering.

12 for ’12: Tech Trends to Jolt a CFO, Part I

It’s the Year of the Mobile Enterprise; time to adjust to it.

Job Search: How Long Does It Take to Find a Job?

A recent survey of employed and unemployed job seekers conducted by global outplacement firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas reveals the time it can take to conduct a job search.

Cloud Computing Report Card: Grading Our Predictions

In the spirit of openness and with a willingness to have his cloud prognostication grades displayed in public, CIO.com’s Bernard Golden scores–and comments on–his predictions for 2011.

Americans More Likely to Fall For Online Scams and The Week’s Other IT Security News

More than half would give personal information in exchange for an online prize, anti-virus software or a get-rich quick offer

Child’s Play: Why Kids Will Always Be at the Forefront of Shaping Technology

Did Someone Launch a DDoS Attack to Protect Symantec Source Code?

Would it ever make sense for companies to launch a preemptive strike to protect data?

Steve Jobs in A Doll’s House

Apple lawyers say no to creepy Steve Jobs doll. Check out other Jobs-like products.

Windows 8 How To: Quick OS Reinstalls

A standout feature in early demos of Windows 8 is the ability to quickly refresh and reset the OS to its original state while keeping your data intact, thus speeding up a process that has long been tedious and unsteady.

Desktops: Back from the Dead?

In the age of tablets, smartphones and Ultrabooks, nothing says old school like a desktop. But HP is giving the old war horse some new paint, and surprise — it’s worth checking out. rnrn

Irony Alert: Beijing Trying to Stop Chinese Hackers

Non-government-approved attacks stole personal data from China citizens. Popular in-country sites found to have little if any protection for user data.

New Year’s CRM Resolution: Going on a Leads Diet

I’ve never met a sales rep who said they had enough leads, let alone too many. But I’m here to tell you that leads are the junk food of business. Time to go on a diet, consuming fewer leads…and only the right kind of leads.

Apple and the CIO: The Great Love-Hate Relationship

Apple started the consumerization of IT trend, which has led to many sleepless nights for CIOs. But Apple has also made tech cool again –- and worker productivity is up!

Holiday Gifts from Bad Bosses

A holiday gift from a bad boss that aims to motivate staff ends up doing the opposite.

With Ouster of BlackBerry CEOs as Chairmen, Real Change Unlikely

RIM may soon boot its co-CEOs from their dual-chairman roles. But CIO.com’s Al Sacco asks: Is this really the change that BlackBerry needs, or just another empty gesture to appease shaky shareholders?

CIOs Are in an Anxious State

CIO magazine Editor in Chief Maryfran Johnson sees this yearu2019s State of the CIO survey data as depicting mismatched priorities between IT and business leaders

Hang up on Verizon

After suffering 3 outages of its 4G network in December, Verizon now wants to charge $2 to pay bills online. Customer pressure stopped Bank of America from charging outrageous fees; let’s do the same to Verizon.rnrn

Peering Into the Crystal Ball: Top IT Trends for 2012

New Wave of Hacker Attacks Coming

Smarter hackers, and a new generation of “hacktivists” will launch attacks on mobile banking apps, virtual currency and even your local supermarket in 2012.

Poll: How Can Microsoft Get Better in 2012?

Microsoft is in for a challenging year and needs to deliver the goods in many key markets. But what’s the most important product in Microsoft’s portfolio for 2012? Cast a vote in our poll to share your opinion.

VW to Staffers: No After-Hours BlackBerry E-Mail for You

Car-maker Volkswagen is disabling BlackBerry e-mail during after hours for a group of its German staffers. Is this “forced” work/life balance really the way to ensure employees know how, and when, to “turn off?”

Why Is Gannett Giving iPads and iPhones to Reporters?

Reporters will like the freedom of mobile gadgets and Gannett likes the price, but laptop alternatives do not lend themselves well to the stuff of journalism.

Facebook Ads Hit News Feeds in 2012

Soon you will see ads showing up in your News Feed, among posts from your friends. Facebook says these “sponsored stories” ads are necessary, but won’t be intrusive.

At Hospitals, iPad Screen Cleanliness Is Next to Godliness

iPhones and iPads are everywhere at hospitals, but their screens carry more bacteria than a toilet handle (seriously). Enter Frog Skin, a clear film covering iPhones and iPads so they can be washed.

Why Did the Chinese Hack into the U.S. Chamber of Commerce?

They spent a lot of money to get access to “trade-policy documents, meeting notes, trip reports and schedules.” They probably could have gotten the same info by saying, “Please?”

How to Hire the Best IT Workers: One CIO’s Best Practices

One CIO says that the keys to finding and hiring the best IT workers are: 1) knowing what you need from the position you’re trying to fill; identifying the criteria that will be most effective in helping you assess talent; and not letting artificial

Cisco to Microsoft: Your Lync Mobile App Is Lame

Microsoft opens up Office mobile apps Lync and OneNote to Windows Phone and other platforms, but unified communications rival Cisco calls the effort half-hearted.

A Copernican Shift (and a Tip of My Hat to Randy Heffner)

As my first calendar year as an analyst draws to a close, wanted to thank everybody who has read and commented on my blog and say that I look forward to even more next year. In closing out the year, I turn for a moment away from emerging technology

Thriving in a World Where Computers Are Smarter Than We Are

From Apple’s voice-activated assistant to Microsoft’s gesture-based input device to IBM’s computer that beat Jeopardy champs, it’s clear that the capabilities of technology are moving beyond our human abilities. How can you flourish in a world where