WebProNews

Category: ITProNews

ITProNews

  • Microsoft Surface Duo May Arrive Early

    Microsoft Surface Duo May Arrive Early

    Microsoft’s foldable device powered by Android was originally slated for release during the 2020 holidays, but a new report says it could be available as early as summer.

    Windows Central’s contacts say the software and hardware for the device are both done, and “Microsoft is currently focused on finalizing the top-level OS customizations and in-box app experiences specific to Surface Duo.” Microsoft is supposedly planning on having those customizations done by early April, with a summer release date planned.

    The report also says the Duo will ship with a Snapdragon 855 processor. While the chip was last year’s flagship, and therefore no slouch when it comes to performance, it does not support 5G. That may well be factoring in to the earlier launch plans, as it would allow the phone to hit the market before 5G becomes more widespread and the phone is seen as outdated.

    Even without 5G the phone should be a hit with businesses and consumers alike. Its innovative design, Android operating system and deep integration with Microsoft’s ecosystem should help the company score a big win.

  • Google Employee Diagnosed With Coronavirus

    Google Employee Diagnosed With Coronavirus

    Despite limiting travel, an employee at Google’s Switzerland offices has been diagnosed with the coronavirus.

    According to a report by Business Insider (BI), Google informed employees via email that an employee in the Zurich offices had tested positive for the virus. However, the employee was not symptomatic while they were in the office.

    In a statement provided to BI, Google said: “We can confirm that one employee from our Zurich office has been diagnosed with the coronavirus. They were in the Zurich office for a limited time, before they had any symptoms. We have taken — and will continue to take — all necessary precautionary measures, following the advice of public health officials, as we prioritize everyone’s health and safety.”

    This is just the latest example of how the virus continues to impact industries, with experts warning of a possible pandemic. Japan recently began urging companies to allow their employees to telecommute and Amazon has begun relying on video interviews for some open positions.

  • Amazon AppStream 2.0 Adds Native Application Mode On Windows

    Amazon AppStream 2.0 Adds Native Application Mode On Windows

    Amazon AppStream 2.0 has received an upgrade, adding native application mode for Windows PCs.

    AppStream allows companies to stream applications from Amazon’s servers, saving local resources. AppStream 2.0 brings a number of improvements to the service, including the ability to switch back and forth between local and streamed applications, in addition to providing a more native experience.

    “When AppStream 2.0 users start a streaming session in native application mode and open a streaming application, the application opens in its own window and functions in the same way as a locally installed application,” according to the statement. “Because AppStream 2.0 also supports file system redirection, users can share their local folders or drives with their streaming applications. When users do so, their shared drives and folders remain available for them to access within an active session. With the combined capabilities of native application mode and file system redirection, you can provide your AppStream 2.0 users with a seamless, truly native experience for streaming applications.

    Native application mode is supported only through the AppStream 2.0 client for Windows. It is available at no additional cost in all AWS Regions where AppStream 2.0 is available.”

  • Google Cloud Opens Salt Lake City Cloud Region, Nets PayPal Contract

    Google Cloud Opens Salt Lake City Cloud Region, Nets PayPal Contract

    Google Cloud scored a major victory, signing a multi-year contract with PayPal, while also opening a new cloud region in Salt Lake City.

    The new cloud region is the company’s 22nd worldwide, and will help Google better serve companies in the Western U.S. Especially as the company strives to gain ground against Amazon and Microsoft, having a cloud region that better serves that area will be a critical factor in convincing West Coast companies to move to Google.

    “We’re committed to building the most secure, high-performance and scalable public cloud, and we continue to make critical infrastructure investments that deliver our cloud services closer to customers that need them the most,” said Jennifer Chason, Director, Google Cloud Enterprise – Western States & Southern California.

    Due in large part to the new cloud region, PayPal has signed a multi-year contract to move key portions of its payment infrastructure to Google Cloud. The new region will provide low latency to PayPal’s own data center, and will help pave the way for PayPal to be able to migrate additional resources to Google Cloud.

    “When it comes to processing a financial transaction, security and speed count. We are always looking for ways to better serve our customers, and we believe Google Cloud’s offering is the right fit when it comes to providing security, quality and velocity,” said PayPal Vice President, Employee Technology & Experiences and Data Centers, Dan Torunian. “Expanding our relationship with Google Cloud gives us access to new features and capabilities that help us manage seasonal surges in payment transactions and reduce regional expansion costs and complexities.”

  • Raspberry Pi 4 Gets 2GB of RAM For $35

    Raspberry Pi 4 Gets 2GB of RAM For $35

    The Raspberry Pi 4 just received a RAM upgrade, bringing it to 2GB for the same price as the 1GB version: $35.

    Raspberry Pi was originally developed to help teach computer science, but became popular with computer tinkerers, engineers and corporations. The devices are increasingly being used in home automation, as well as manufacturing. With the announcement of the RAM upgrade, the Raspberry Pi could become an even bigger mainstream success, as 2GB of RAM makes it possible to use the machine as a full desktop computer.

    Raspberry Pi’s announcement makes a compelling case for the new model, especially when comparing it to the original.

    “The fall in RAM prices over the last year has allowed us to cut the price of the 2GB variant of Raspberry Pi 4 to $35. Effective immediately, you will be able to buy a no-compromises desktop PC for the same price as Raspberry Pi 1 in 2012. In comparison to that original machine, we offer:

    • 40× the CPU performance
    • 8× the memory
    • 10× the I/O bandwidth
    • 4× the number of pixels on screen
    • Two screens instead of one
    • Dual-band wireless networking

    “And of course, thanks to inflation, $35 in 2012 is equivalent to nearly $40 today. So effectively you’re getting all these improvements, and a $5 price cut.

    “We’re going to keep working to make Raspberry Pi a better desktop computer. But this feels like a great place to be, eight years in. We hope you’ve enjoyed the first eight years of our journey as much as we have: here’s to another eight!”

  • DocuSign Buys Seal Software, Maker of AI-Driven Contract Analysis

    DocuSign Buys Seal Software, Maker of AI-Driven Contract Analysis

    DocuSign is moving into AI with the acquisition of Seal Software, maker of AI-driven contract analysis, for $188 million in cash.

    DocuSign is one of the leading electronic contract platforms, providing a way for companies to share, organize and sign electronic documents. DocuSign already resells Seal’s software as part of its DocuSign Agreement Cloud. The acquisition will drive further integration between the two platforms.

    “As the Agreement Cloud company, DocuSign is about digitally transforming the very foundation of doing business: agreements and agreement processes,” said Scott Olrich, DocuSign’s chief operating officer. “We believe that AI will play a vital role in this transformation. And by integrating Seal into DocuSign, we can benefit from its deep technology expertise and its broad experience applying AI to agreements.”

    According to the statement, “Seal is recognized as one of the pioneers in AI-driven contract analytics. Its technology can rapidly search large collections of agreements by legal concepts (rather than just by keywords); automatically extract and compare critical clauses and terms side-by-side; quickly identify areas of risk and opportunity; and deliver actionable insights that help solve legal and business challenges.”

    DocuSign will continue to sell Seal’s software, in addition to integrating it with DocuSign CLM.

    “For DocuSign customers, these capabilities will mean faster, more efficient agreement processes. Seal customers will in turn benefit from deeper access to the full capability of the DocuSign Agreement Cloud—especially document generation and advanced workflows.”

    DocuSign’s acquisition of Seal Software illustrates the wide-ranging industries AI continues to impact.

  • Facebook Cancels F8 Developer Conference Over Coronavirus

    Facebook Cancels F8 Developer Conference Over Coronavirus

    Facebook is the latest organization to cancel a major conference as a result of the coronavirus, cancelling this year’s F8.

    As COVID-19 continues to spread, its impact is being felt across industries. Companies, such as Apple and Microsoft, have issued warnings they will miss quarterly guidance as a result of the virus. Numerous companies pulled out of RSA Conference 2020, and MWC Barcelona was canceled over concerns. Now, Facebook joins the list of companies whose business and plans are being impacted.

    “This was a tough call to make — F8 is an incredibly important event for Facebook and it’s one of our favorite ways to celebrate all of you from around the world — but we need to prioritize the health and safety of our developer partners, employees and everyone who helps put F8 on,” writes Konstantinos Papamiltiadis in a Facebook News for Developers post. “We explored other ways to keep the in-person part of F8, but it’s important to us to host an inclusive event and it didn’t feel right to have F8 without our international developers in attendance.

    “We remain committed to the city of San Jose, where we’ve hosted F8, and its community. Every year, we donate a portion of F8 ticket sales to an organization working to diversify the tech industry. This year, we’re doubling that donation amount to $500,000 and will prioritize organizations serving local San Jose residents. We also typically host local students onsite at F8. Working with the next generation of developers is one of the highlights of what we do — and this year, we will still provide an F8-inspired experience for those students in lieu of hosting them at the event itself.”

  • EU May Enorce Smartphone Replaceable Batteries

    EU May Enorce Smartphone Replaceable Batteries

    The European Commission is considering a proposal that would force smartphone manufacturers to use easily replaceable batteries.

    One of the primary goals of the proposed legislation is to help reduce e-waste by giving users the ability to replace an aging battery and continue using the phone. As ZDNet highlights, how the EU would go about enforcing it is unknown. Evidently, despite the EU trying to enforce a uniform charging port standard, there are no plans to take a similar approach with batteries. Different manufacturers, shapes, sizes and more all play into how batteries are designed.

    Although replaceable batteries used to be quite common in cell phones, the industry has changed dramatically since then. Phones have become larger, while at the same time slimmer. Smartphones are used hours more per day, and for a wider variety of tasks, than old-style flip phones.

    Companies often are accused of sealing up their phone cases and using non-replaceable batteries to improve profits by making it difficult to replace the battery and extend the life of the device. In at least some cases, however, there are practical issues. Having a sealed case helps keep dust out and makes it easier to waterproof the phone. It can also be easier to put a larger battery in a sealed phone.

    These factors will likely cause manufacturers to push back against the EU’s proposal. Whether they will be successful or not, remains to be seen.

  • Nokia May Consider Merger, Asset Sale As Pressure Mounts

    Nokia May Consider Merger, Asset Sale As Pressure Mounts

    Once the darling of the mobile industry, Nokia has struggled to compete in recent years and may be considering drastic action to remain competitive.

    In the ‘90s and early 2000s, Nokia was the dominant mobile phone maker, at one point achieving over 40% market share worldwide. As touchscreen smartphones, such as iPhone and Android became more popular, Nokia’s mobile business collapsed, leading the company to sell it to Microsoft and focus on network equipment.

    With the roll out of 5G, Nokia is one of the three main companies providing the equipment for wireless carriers, along with Huawei and Ericsson. Despite the prospects, Nokia has warned it will not return to profitability until at least 2021 and its shares have lost a third of their value over the last year.

    As a result, Bloomberg is reporting that Nokia is considering more drastic measures, including possibly selling off some of its assets or even merging with another company. One of the most likely scenarios would be a merger with Ericsson although, as multiple outlets have pointed out, such a deal could create as many problems as it solves.

    Even so, a merger with Ericsson could potentially help both companies better compete with Huawei, who is widely seen as having a significant advantage in technology and scale in the race to 5G. U.S. Attorney William Barr even proposed the idea of the U.S. investing in Nokia and Ericsson, acquiring an ownership stake in the two companies, to help them better compete with China-backed Huawei.

    At this stage, there is no definitive plans for Nokia, and Bloomberg’s private sources say the talks may ultimately come to nothing. Either way, we will continue to update as the story develops.

  • Microsoft Will Miss Windows Quarterly Guidance Due to Coronavirus

    Microsoft Will Miss Windows Quarterly Guidance Due to Coronavirus

    Microsoft has issued a statement warning investors it will miss its quarterly guidance for its Windows business as a result of the coronavirus.

    As the coronavirus continues to impact companies and supply chains, its far-reaching effects are continuing to be felt. Apple recently issued a statement saying it would miss its guidance as a result of the virus. Now Microsoft expects its More Personal Computing business to miss revenue for the same reason.

    “On Jan. 29, as part of our second quarter of fiscal year 2020 earnings call, we issued quarterly revenue guidance for our More Personal Computing segment between $10.75 and $11.15 billion, which included a wider than usual range to reflect uncertainty related to the public health situation in China,” reads the statement. “Although we see strong Windows demand in line with our expectations, the supply chain is returning to normal operations at a slower pace than anticipated at the time of our Q2 earnings call. As a result, for the third quarter of fiscal year 2020, we do not expect to meet our More Personal Computing segment guidance as Windows OEM and Surface are more negatively impacted than previously anticipated. All other components of our Q3 guidance remain unchanged.

    “As the conditions evolve, Microsoft will act to ensure the health and safety of our employees, customers, and partners during this difficult period. We will also continue to partner with local and global health authorities to provide additional assistance. We deeply appreciate the commitment of the people and organizations that have united to address this health emergency; our thoughts are with all those affected across the world.”

  • Keith Block Resigns As Salesforce Co-CEO

    Keith Block Resigns As Salesforce Co-CEO

    In a move that has surprised many, Salesforce co-CEO Keith Block has resigned.

    Many insiders viewed Block as a potential successor to company co-founder Marc Benioff, who will continue as Chair and CEO. Despite resigning, Block will remain with the company in the role of Advisor to the CEO

    “It’s been my greatest honor to lead the team with Marc that has more than quadrupled Salesforce from $4 billion of revenue when I joined in 2013 to over $17 billion last year,” said Block. “We are now a global enterprise company, focused on industries, and have an ecosystem that is the envy of the industry, and I’m so grateful to our employees, customers, and partners. After a fantastic run I am ready for my next chapter and will stay close to the company as an advisor. Being side-by-side with Marc has been amazing and I’m forever grateful for our friendship and proud of the trajectory the company is on.”

    According to The Street, Benioff used the company’s fourth-quarter report to reassure investors it was business-as-usual.

    “When you look at our total management team that Keith and I have built …I think it is the finest management team in the software industry and maybe any industry,” said Benioff.

     

    Image Credit: Salesforce

  • UK Regulators Find No 5G Health Risk

    UK Regulators Find No 5G Health Risk

    UK regulators have tested the electromagnetic fields (EMF) created by 5G and have found no cause for concern.

    5G represents a fundamental shift in wireless technology, ushering in speeds never before possible with 4G. The fastest type of 5G, high-band mmWave, offers speeds measured in gigabits rather than megabits. Unfortunately, mmWave has extremely limited range, requiring towers, base stations and boosters to be placed every couple hundred meters to provide proper coverage.

    That blanketing coverage, not to mention the higher frequency, has caused concern among experts and advocates who believe 5G’s EMF emissions pose serious health concerns. In an effort to provide clarity on those concerns, UK regulator Ofcom conducted tests in 16 locations, across 10 different cities, according to Ofcom’s report (PDF).

    “The results so far indicate that:

    • In all cases, the measured EMF levels from 5G-enabled mobile phone base stations are at small fractions of the levels identified in the ICNIRP Guidelines (the highest level being approximately 1.5% of the relevant level); and
    • The contribution of 5G to the total emissions level observed is currently low – the highest level we observed in the band used for 5G was just 0.039% of the reference level.”

    Ofcom acknowledges in the report that 5G adoption is still in the early stages, and says it will continue to monitor EMF measurements as the technology continues to roll out. In the interim, however, the study is good news for wireless carriers and customers alike.

  • Google Cloud CEO Called Oracle Cloud ‘A Disgrace’

    Google Cloud CEO Called Oracle Cloud ‘A Disgrace’

    Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian is on record as calling his former employer’s cloud offerings “a disgrace.”

    Oracle is currently facing an inventor lawsuit, filed by Union Asset Management Holding AG. The lawsuit alleges that Oracle mislead investors regarding the success of its cloud business and that it bullied customers into paying for cloud licenses they didn’t want to artificially inflate the business. The lawsuit also accuses Oracle’s former co-CEOs, as well as Kurian himself, of dumping the stock at inflated prices based on their firsthand knowledge of how bad the cloud business really was.

    According to The Register, the complaint says: “Oracle was largely unable to sell its defect-ridden cloud technology in bona fide transactions, as very few customers actually wanted to buy it. Yet the Company had to show burgeoning cloud sales in order to remain viable in the eyes of investors.”

    As part of the amended complaint, the plaintiffs included emails from Kurian, who was head of product development, to other Oracle executives. In one such email, to EVP Steve Miranda and other executives, Kurian said the following:

    “I want to make sure that the entire HCM dev organization understands what a disgrace your UI is and stop living in denial on that,” Kurian wrote.

    “I continue to get extraordinary pressure from our two CEOs and LJE himself that the UI is not tenable – that state is your collective responsibility and we should avoid pretending that there is not an issue … the core product UI is awful.

    “Until you all collectively accept the mess you have made and the need to move quickly we are talking past one another.”

    The release of these emails certainly sheds light on why Kurian abandoned Oracle in favor of being CEO of Google Cloud and will no doubt play a role for companies considering whether to go with Oracle’s offerings.

  • Apple Expected to Release ARM-Based Mac in 2021

    Apple Expected to Release ARM-Based Mac in 2021

    Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has sent out a note to investors predicting Apple will release a Mac powered by an ARM chip in the first half of 2021.

    Apple has long been rumored to be moving toward ARM-based Macs, rather than relying on Intel’s processors. While Intel may be the industry standard, as the computer market has moved toward laptops and mobile devices, Intel has struggled to keep pace with the needs of companies, such as Apple, that want to build powerful computers in sleek designs.

    Recent MacBook Pros have struggled to maintain performance due to heat issues, resulting in the processors throttling to keep from overheating. The only solution is to build bigger, bulkier laptops that have enough fans to provide the necessary heat dissipation, something that goes against Apple’s entire design philosophy.

    In contrast, Apple has had tremendous success with its ARM-based processors in the iPhone and iPad. When the 2018 iPad Pro was released, it was faster than 92% of all laptops, including Apple’s own. The most impressive thing is that this level of performance was achieved without a single fan, while delivering all-day battery life.

    As a result, experts have believed Apple has been working to port macOS to ARM processors and readying the developer tools necessary to help third-party software developers make the transition. ARM-based Macs would allow Apple more control over its own devices and product release roadmap, while giving the company the ability to customize performance for its computers.

    According to MacRumors, Kuo’s note included the following details:

    “We expect that Apple’s new products in 12-18 months will adopt processors made by 5nm process, including the new 2H20 5G iPhone, new 2H20 iPad equipped with mini LED, and new 1H21 Mac equipped with the own-design processor. We think that iPhone 5G support, ‌iPad‌’s adoption of innovative mid-size panel technology, and Mac’s first adoption of the own-design processor are all Apple’s critical product and technology strategies. Given that the processor is the core component of new products, we believe that Apple had increased 5nm-related investments after the epidemic outbreak. Further, Apple occupying more resources of related suppliers will hinder competitors’ developments.”

    If Kuo’s prediction is correct, this will usher in a new era for Apple and open a world of possibilities for the Mac.

  • Google Cloud Releases New Security Tools

    Google Cloud Releases New Security Tools

    Google used RSA Conference to announce new security tools aimed at helping secure customers’ data and cloud services.

    The first new feature is related to Chronicle, the Alphabet-sponsored cybersecurity firm that has since been rolled into Google Cloud. Chronicle’s security analytics software helped “change the way any business could quickly, efficiently, and affordably investigate alerts and threats in their organization.” Google says the new feature is designed to help companies “detect threats using YARA-L, a new rules language built specifically for modern threats and behaviors, including types described in Mitre ATT&CK. This advanced threat detection provides massively scalable, real-time and retroactive rule execution.”

    Google is also “introducing Chronicle’s intelligent data fusion, a combination of a new data model and the ability to automatically link multiple events into a single timeline. Palo Alto Networks, with Cortex XSOAR, is our first partner to integrate with this new data structure to enable even more powerful threat response.”

    The company has also announced the general availability of its reCAPTCHA Enterprise and Web Risk tools. reCAPTCHA Enterprise helps protect websites from unauthorized scraping, automated account creation and more, while the Web Risk API lets companies check URLs against Google’s list of malicious sites.

    The announcement comes as Google is working hard to build its cloud business, trying to make headway against rivals Microsoft and Amazon, and will likely help the company as it works to attract new enterprise clients.

  • Safari Will Stop Accepting Security Certificates Older Than 13 Months

    Safari Will Stop Accepting Security Certificates Older Than 13 Months

    In an effort to improve web security, Apple’s Safari browser will only accept HTTPS security certificates that expire in 398 days or less.

    The move has been considered by Apple, Google and others for some time. The hope is that by rejecting older security certificates, it will force website administrators to keep their certificates updated with the latest cryptographic technology, as opposed to using older, less secure certificates. It will also help reduce the impact of a certificate that may have been compromised, unbeknownst to the admin.

    The move is not without its challenges, however, as it will create more work for site admins. However, that extra work to keep things current is precisely what will help make the whole system more secure, keeping security forefront in the minds and workflows of admins.

    In a post about Apple’s move, Dean Coclin, DigiCert’s Senior Director of Business Development, voiced agreement with the change.

    “DigiCert agrees that shorter lifetimes help enhance the security of the ecosystem and has the tools necessary to help our customers automate the certificate lifecycle process,” writes Coclin. “We support short-lived certificates, with lifetimes as short as a few hours for customers with advanced automation capabilities.”

  • SiriusXM and Uber Deploy Slack To Their Employees

    SiriusXM and Uber Deploy Slack To Their Employees

    In its ongoing battle with Microsoft Teams, Slack has scored two major wins as SiriusXM and Uber have both deployed the messaging app to their employees.

    Microsoft Teams recently doubled Slack’s user base, helped by the app’s deep integration with the rest of Office. Slack has maintained, however, that its users are more engaged and shot down concerns that it couldn’t effectively compete with Microsoft. Underscoring Slack’s claims, it has been scoring a number of significant wins, including IBM and now SiriusXM and Uber.

    “Collaboration is key to our success, which is why we decided to use Slack as part of our efforts to bring our employees together,” said Bill Pratt, SVP and CIO at SiriusXM. “We see Slack as an important day-to-day productivity tool for our organization.”

    Similarly, according to tweets by Uber employees, it seems the ride-hailing company made the switch to Slack yesterday.

    Given the size of the messaging market, there’s no reason Teams and Slack can’t both exist with a healthy user base. With Slack’s recent gains, the company obviously is doing well convincing users it is not only viable, but competitive.

  • Microsoft Defender ATP Coming to iOS and Android

    Microsoft Defender ATP Coming to iOS and Android

    Microsoft has announced it is bringing Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) to Linux, with iOS and Android coming soon.

    Since CEO Satya Nadella took over at Microsoft, the company has shifted gears, bringing its apps and services to multiple platforms. Rather than obsessing about protecting Windows, the company is focused on offering the best business-class software on as many platforms as possible.

    The company is now bringing its Microsoft Defender ATP to Linux starting today, with iOS and Android support coming soon. The company says Linux support has been a long-time ask from its customers. Similarly, although mobile devices have a reputation of being more secure than desktop environments, the company sees a need for improved protection on those devices.

    “They’re pretty safe, but pretty safe is not the same as safe,” Rob Lefferts, a Microsoft corporate vice president, told CNBC. “Malware does happen on those platforms.”

    Microsoft Defender ATP has received generally positive reviews. As threats continue to develop, having another reputable security package available can only be a good thing for both mobile platforms.

  • Brexit Means No GDPR Protection: Google May Move UK User Data

    Brexit Means No GDPR Protection: Google May Move UK User Data

    Brexit may have finally happened, but one side effect people may not have anticipated is losing GDPR protection as Google may be moving UK data out of the EU.

    The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is one of the most sweeping, comprehensive data protection regulations in the world, aimed at giving people control of their own data and digital footprint. With Britain leaving the EU, sources have told Reuters that Google plans on moving its customers’ data to the U.S.

    British Google users’ data is currently housed in Ireland, which is staying in the EU. To date, Britain has not committed to following the GDPR or implementing its own solution. Google evidently has some concerns that leaving its British data in Ireland would make it harder for British authorities to access it if the UK does not continue abiding by the GDPR.

    As Reuters points out, the decision is likely encouraged by the fact that the U.S. has one of the weakest set of privacy laws of any major economy. Google will likely welcome the opportunity to deal with less oversight.

  • Google Cloud Buys Cloud Migration Firm Cornerstone Technology

    Google Cloud Buys Cloud Migration Firm Cornerstone Technology

    Google Cloud has acquired Cornerstone Technology, a firm that helps companies migrate from mainframes to the cloud.

    The move comes as Google Cloud is working to move up from the number three cloud provider in the U.S. CEO Thomas Kurian has made it a goal to move into at least the number two spot within five years. Just days ago, news broke that Google Cloud was reorganizing and eliminating a number of roles in an effort to better streamline operations.

    Purchasing Cornerstone Technology makes sense for the company, as Cornerstone specializes in helping companies modernize their infrastructure and applications, moving from legacy hardware to cloud services.

    “Their capabilities will form the ‘cornerstone’ of our mainframe-to-GCP solutions, and customers are able to take advantage of these new capabilities now through our Professional Services Organization and our partner network,” writes Howard Weale Director, Transformation Practice.

    News of the purchase was welcomed by both customers and analysts alike.

    “Easy mainframe migration will go a long way as Google attracts large enterprises to its cloud,” said Matt Eastwood, Senior Vice President, Enterprise Infrastructure, Cloud, Developers and Alliances, IDC. “Google Cloud is listening to its customers and meeting them where they are, steadily improving its services and attracting businesses across industries.”

    Cornerstone should help Google make significant strides toward its cloud goals.

  • Unified Microsoft Office App For iOS Rolling Out

    Unified Microsoft Office App For iOS Rolling Out

    Late last year, Microsoft announced it was working on an all-in-one office app for iOS and Android. It appears the iOS version is in the process of rolling out.

    The new app brings Word, Excel and PowerPoint into a single app, improving and simplifying worksflows. Microsoft still intends to offer the individual apps, especially for users that may only need one or two. For users who rely on the entire suite, however, the new app will have some nice improvements and save space.

    iPhone Optimized Office
    iPhone Optimized Office

    The new app is on the App Store although, at time of writing, only an iPhone-optimized version was available. When running it on an iPad, it recommends downloading an iPadOS app, although only the existing, stand-alone apps are available. Hopefully the iPadOS version is coming and has just not hit the App Store yet. Given that Office works best on an iPad, it seems unlikely Microsoft would fail to release an iPadOS-optimized version.

    In any case, once (if) both apps are fully available, Office will be a nice addition to the Microsoft family of apps, giving customers yet another option.