Hot topics :
Free Newsletters :

More articles by Stuart J. Johnston

Commercial Kinect for Windows SDK Due Early Next Year
By Stuart J. Johnston | Applications Article Published October 31, 2011
Celebrating the first year anniversary of the launch of Kinect for Xbox 360, Microsoft finally puts a date on the promised commercial SDK for Kinect on Windows -- sort of.
Palmisano Resigns, IBM Appoints Virginia Rometty
By Stuart J. Johnston | News Article Published October 25, 2011
IBM may have just turned 100 but it's still looking forward -- it just appointed its first woman CEO.
Nokia May Miss U.S. Holidays with Windows Phone
By Stuart J. Johnston | Mobile/Wireless Article Published October 25, 2011
A publication that tracks advertising says it hasn't seen any signs of a marketing campaign for Nokia's Windows Phones as the holidays loom.
Tech Revolution Driving IT Spending: Gartner
By Stuart J. Johnston | Cloud Article Published October 21, 2011
Trends in clouds, social networking, information, and mobility will keep IT spending up even as spending growth slows in coming years, the analyst firm says.
Microsoft (Yawn) Breaks Revenue Record Again
By Stuart J. Johnston | News Article Published October 21, 2011
In a traditionally slow quarter, Microsoft broke revenue records but just barely.
IBM Rolls Out 55 Infrastructure Products
By Stuart J. Johnston | Data Center Article Published October 19, 2011
In what the company calls its largest announcement of infrastructure products in years, IBM rolled out a slew of new and improved products.
IBM Turns in a Predictable Third Quarter
By Stuart J. Johnston | News Article Published October 17, 2011
Big Blue didn't lose money during what is traditionally a slow period for tech firms, but it didn't blow the doors off either.
Google Sales and Earnings Break New Records
By Stuart J. Johnston | News Article Published October 14, 2011
Google's revenues and profits just keep growing hand over fist -- the latest quarter was helped by the company's new social networking play.
Gartner: Platform-as-a-Service Taking Off
By Stuart J. Johnston | Cloud Article Published October 10, 2011
Neglected until recently, platform-as-a-service (PaaS) is getting set to come into its own.
The App Store Goes Corporate: Smartphone as Business Tool
By Stuart J. Johnston | Mobile/Wireless Article Published October 6, 2011
With the smartphone now a leading tool of enterprise productivity, the business-focused app store is on the rise.  
SaaS a Reality with 95 Percent Participating
By Stuart J. Johnston | Cloud Article Published October 4, 2011
Researcher Gartner finds that 95 percent of respondents to a recent survey plan to grow or maintain use of software-as-a-service.
Outsourcing Flattens as IT Economy Levels Out
By Stuart J. Johnston | Data Center Article Published October 3, 2011
After two years of modest growth, outsourcing IT functions remained flat in 2011, a new study finds.
Gartner Suggests Tips to Manage IT Operations Costs
By Stuart J. Johnston | Data Center Article Published September 29, 2011
Analyst firm Gartner presents best practices tips on how to control IT organizational costs in a tight environment.
'Industrialized' IT Services Are the Future: Gartner
By Stuart J. Johnston | Data Center Article Published September 27, 2011
As pressure ratchets up on IT departments to lower costs, think more standardized, less customized services in the cloud, analyst firm says.
Is Yahoo Up for Sale?
By Stuart J. Johnston | Features Article Published September 26, 2011
Reports are circulating that Yahoo is considering offers to buy out the number two search firm.
Is HP's CEO on His Way Out?
By Stuart J. Johnston | Features Article Published September 21, 2011
Reports say that HP is likely to dump its CEO after less than a year at the helm.
Ten Percent of Email Will be Cloud-based by 2014
By Stuart J. Johnston | Cloud Article Published September 20, 2011
Leading analyst firm says adoption is a little slower than expected but relentless nonetheless.
Microsoft Confirms x86 Apps Won't Run on ARM Windows 8
By Stuart J. Johnston | Applications Article Published September 15, 2011
Microsoft officials clarified Wednesday that when they say existing Windows apps will be compatible with Windows 8, they mean on x86 chip architectures.
Microsoft Ships Tech Preview of Windows Server 8
By Stuart J. Johnston | Applications Article Published September 14, 2011
Microsoft moves to make Windows Server 8 an integral part of "reimagining Windows."
Microsoft Gives Out Windows 8 Tablets
By Stuart J. Johnston | Mobile/Wireless Article Published September 13, 2011
With the first technical previews of Windows 8 released to developers this week, Microsoft is moving to get the latest version of Windows out by the end of 2012.
Microsoft Blog: Windows 8 to Support USB 3.0
By Stuart J. Johnston | Applications Article Published August 23, 2011
Microsoft says native USB 3.0 will be an integral part of Windows 8.
Skype Aims to Buy GroupMe
By Stuart J. Johnston | Networks Article Published August 22, 2011
Skype continues to grow even as it awaits regulatory approval to be purchased by Microsoft.
HP to Focus on the Cloud in Major Restructuring
By Stuart J. Johnston | Cloud Article Published August 19, 2011
HP to kill off Palm and WebOS, may sell off its PC Group, after disappointing third quarter.
Dell Posts a Strong Quarter - But Not Enough
By Stuart J. Johnston | Data Center Article Published August 17, 2011
Becoming a credible leader in enterprise goods and services is taking some time.
Microsoft Starts Blog for Windows 8 Information Exchange
By Stuart J. Johnston | Applications Article Published August 16, 2011
In an attempt to repeat Windows 7's success, Microsoft's Windows head cranked up a new blog for Windows 8 this week.
Unintended Consequences: Will Motorola Deal Help Microsoft?
By Stuart J. Johnston | Mobile/Wireless Article Published August 15, 2011
Google's plan to buy Motorola Mobility promises to impact virtually every player in the smartphone space.
File Transfers Often Not as Secure as IT Would Like
By Stuart J. Johnston | News Article Published August 11, 2011
A new survey finds that 77 percent of respondents use a file transfer solution to exchange data with both internal and external organizations -- but which one may be a surprise.
More Than 40 Percent of PCs Will Run Windows 7 This Year
By Stuart J. Johnston | Applications Article Published August 9, 2011
Just as Windows 7 seems to be hitting its stride in corporate deployments, it's starting to see its own view in the window of the enterprises' rotating door.
Security and Privacy Challenges to Boom in 2012
By Stuart J. Johnston | Data Storage Article Published August 8, 2011
As more and more information is collected in the cloud and by location-based services, privacy challenges become increasingly demanding.
Mobile Communications Surge but Revenues Stagnate
By Stuart J. Johnston | Mobile/Wireless Article Published August 5, 2011
A leading analyst firm predicts that mobile connections will continue to burgeon but providers have to watch for potholes on the road to data-services Nirvana.
PC CPU Deliveries Down Slightly in Q2
By Stuart J. Johnston | Data Storage Article Published August 2, 2011
IDC says that second quarter PC CPU shipments were down slightly from last quarter, flat compared to the year ago quarter, and that 60 percent of units came with built-in graphics processing capabilities.
PC Sales Up 2.4 Percent in Q2 - Give or Take
By Stuart J. Johnston | Data Storage Article Published July 15, 2011
Two leading analyst firms appear to agree, particularly when it comes to global PC sales.
Microsoft to Open 75 More Retail Stores
By Stuart J. Johnston | Applications Article Published July 14, 2011
The company's COO tells partners that the idea has been so successful, they're going to expand to a lot more areas.
Ballmer: Microsoft 'All In' For Partners
By Stuart J. Johnston | Applications Article Published July 11, 2011
Worldwide partner conference keynote highlights existing and future opportunities to Microsoft's sales partners.
Microsoft Ships Windows 7 for In-Store Use
By Stuart J. Johnston | Applications Article Published July 8, 2011
Microsoft said this week that the POS version of Windows 7 Embedded is now generally available.
Microsoft Scores Android Royalties
By Stuart J. Johnston | Mobile/Wireless Article Published July 8, 2011
Microsoft hasn't been aggressive in launching a tablet, yet that doesn't mean the company is ignoring the mobile market.
Will Ballmer Kick Off Windows 8 Consumer Beta at CES?
By Stuart J. Johnston | Applications Article Published July 7, 2011
A leading tech rumor site claims that the public beta of Windows 8 will be available in January.
Baidu Chooses Bing for English Search
By Stuart J. Johnston | Networks Article Published July 5, 2011
In a move aimed at further penetrating the largest search market in the world, Microsoft teams with the Chinese search titan to provide Bing for English searches.
Microsoft Ships Windows Thin PC
By Stuart J. Johnston | Features Article Published July 1, 2011
New release lets IT professionals deploy locked down Windows PCs.
Internet Explorer 10 Platform Preview 2 Ready for Testers
By Stuart J. Johnston | Applications Article Published July 1, 2011
Microsoft makes another pre-beta release of Internet Explorer 10 ready for download.
Survey Has Good/Bad News for Office 365
By Stuart J. Johnston | Cloud Article Published June 27, 2011
A new study on cloud adoption plans by enterprises found that of companies not already using cloud-based unified communications, only 10 percent plan to adopt such a service in the next year.
Will Microsoft Launch Office 365 Next Week?
By Stuart J. Johnston | Cloud Article Published June 23, 2011
In what may be the worst-kept secret in the cloud computing realm, Microsoft is said to be ready to launch Office 365 next week.
Microsoft Debuts SkyDrive Update with HTML5
By Stuart J. Johnston | Applications Article Published June 21, 2011
Saying that its free online storage service was not up to date, the software giant sets out to "relaunch" and "modernize" SkyDrive.
U.S. Okays Skype Deal While Skype Cuts Execs
By Stuart J. Johnston | Networks Article Published June 20, 2011
Microsoft gains preliminary approval of its plan to buy Skype as the phone service provider cuts executives before the merger settles.
SDK Ties Kinect with Windows
By Stuart J. Johnston | Applications Article Published June 16, 2011
For users who want Kinect controls for their PC applications, that goal moved closer to reality on Thursday when Microsoft began shipping the first related developers kit.
Windows Phone to Top iPhone (Guess Which Year....)
By Stuart J. Johnston | Mobile/Wireless Article Published June 16, 2011
Research firm IDC forecasts that Microsoft's Windows Phone will improve on its current lackluster showing to move into a strong second place by 2015, helped by the Nokia deal.
Microsoft Exec Hints Windows 8 Will Ship by Fall 2012
By Stuart J. Johnston | Applications Article Published June 16, 2011
If the company can avoid shipping late, it could go a long way toward saving Microsoft's bacon.
Supremes to Microsoft: You Lose Again
By Stuart J. Johnston | Applications Article Published June 9, 2011
Top U.S. court rules against Microsoft in i4i patent appeal.
Microsoft Appeals Massive EU Fine
By Stuart J. Johnston |  Article Published May 25, 2011
While a ruling on the outcome is months away, Microsoft's appeal this week of a massive fine by the European Commission is being eyed by other U.S. firms.
MasterObjects Sues Microsoft Over 'Instant Search'
By Stuart J. Johnston |  Article Published May 20, 2011
A small search developer claims it originated 'instant search' features in your favorite search engine, and wants the big players to pay up
Microsoft Exchange Online Users See Slowdowns -- Again
By Stuart J. Johnston |  Article Published May 19, 2011
Just like gremlins, Microsoft's Exchange Online problems that surfaced last week appear to have come back, if only as a reminder of what some say is the danger of enterprises trusting all of their services to the cloud.
Are Multiple ARM Versions of Windows 8 Coming?
By Stuart J. Johnston |  Article Published May 18, 2011
At an Intel affair, one of the chip manufacturer's execs let slip that Microsoft is planning more than one version of Windows 8 for ARM processors.
Microsoft Gives Lifecycle Management Roadmap
By Stuart J. Johnston |  Article Published May 16, 2011
At Microsoft's premier event for IT pros and developers, the company showcased new application lifecycle management tools coming in the next version of Visual Studio Team Foundation server -- plus tools for Windows Phone.
Enterprise Software Sales Surged to $245 billion in 2010
By Stuart J. Johnston |  Article Published May 6, 2011
IBM, Microsoft, Oracle and SAP were the big winnners, with a rising tide lifting most boats.
Microsoft Reorgs Server and Tools Business
By Stuart J. Johnston | Data Center Article Published May 4, 2011
The company quietly began a major reorg of its tools and servers organization as it works to hone its focus on developers.
IE9 Picks Up Share But Will It Be Enough?
By Stuart J. Johnston |  Article Published May 3, 2011
Latest browser results: Chrome and Safari gain a little but IE holds steady, though its decline continues.
Amazon Describes Cloud Outage Fix - Apologizes
By Stuart J. Johnston | Cloud Article Published May 2, 2011
The company says its recent outage was due to a manual configuration error, that only a little data was lost, and apologizes to customers who were impacted.
Windows 7 Hits 350 Million Licenses
By Stuart J. Johnston |  Article Published April 25, 2011
Microsoft's Windows 7 steamroller continues to crush records as it rolls forward a year and a half later.
Amazon Cloud Outage a Result of Network Error?
By Stuart J. Johnston |  Article Published April 21, 2011
Amazon's rent-a-cloud application platform was the victim of outages, a situation that's been repaired but one that illustrates weaknesses in cloud computing: outages.
Microsoft Unveils Cloud-Based Biz App Beta, Office 365
By Stuart J. Johnston | Cloud Article Published April 20, 2011
The software maker debuts public beta of a business application subscription service, Office 365.
Microsoft Shows Off 'Mango' for Windows Phone
By Stuart J. Johnston |  Article Published April 13, 2011
The software giant trots out its latest pitch to popularize Windows Phone, and also shows a developers kit for PC apps that use Microsoft's dynamic games controller.
Microsoft Rolls Out First IE10 Platform Preview
By Stuart J. Johnston |  Article Published April 13, 2011
Just weeks after Microsoft shipped its largest update to its venerable browser in years, the company has already begun the development cycle for the next version.
DOJ: Google Allowed to Buy Fare Search Firm
By Stuart J. Johnston |  Article Published April 11, 2011
After months' of negotiations, the federal government says it will clear Google's purchase of ITA Software, but only if they mind their P's and Q's.
Microsoft and Toyota Partner in Azure
By Stuart J. Johnston |  Article Published April 8, 2011
The car maker and software giant see cloud computing moving into the auto market.
Intel Unveils 10-Core Xeon E7
By Stuart J. Johnston | Data Center Article Published April 6, 2011
Intel's new E7 family of Xeon CPUs is built on 32-nanometer processor technology and incorporates the chipmaker's Hyperthreading Technology.
IE9 Catching on With Windows 7 Users?
By Stuart J. Johnston |  Article Published April 1, 2011
Microsoft claims that gains so far have been users seeking out IE9 for download.
Will Microsoft's Windows Phone Succeed?
By Stuart J. Johnston |  Article Published March 31, 2011
Clearly Windows Phone is currently the dark horse. But what are its prospects over time against the iPhone and Android.
Survey: EMC, Compellent, NetApp Lead Storage Sector
By Stuart J. Johnston |  Article Published March 29, 2011
Quantum and Symantec are also among the favorites in a survey of IT professionals.
Survey: Small Businesses Adopting Cloud
By Stuart J. Johnston | Cloud Article Published March 29, 2011
Almost 40 percent of SMBs will adopt cloud services within three years.
Microsoft Changing Up Client Access Fees
By Stuart J. Johnston |  Article Published March 25, 2011
Microsoft reconfigures which licenses are provided in the company's client access license system.
Microsoft Debuts Intune Cloud Computing Console
By Stuart J. Johnston | Cloud Article Published March 24, 2011
Intune's Web-based console allows IT managers to administer PCs from their browser.
Big Players Take Sides in Microsoft Patent Suit
By Stuart J. Johnston |  Article Published March 22, 2011
Microsoft's lawyers will have a unique experience in mid-April -- when they argue about the future of patent law to the U.S. Supreme Court in the i4i case.
Microsoft Updates Apps Virtualization Tools
By Stuart J. Johnston |  Article Published March 11, 2011
Besides additions meant to help administrators migrate to Windows 7, the software giant is also readying a version of Windows that can be used to create "thin PCs."
Microsoft's iPad Challenger Slated for 2012?
By Stuart J. Johnston |  Article Published March 7, 2011
The software giant's answer to the iPad may hit shelves sometime next year.
Pundit Calls Salesforce Cloud Claim "Wishful Thinking"
By Stuart J. Johnston |  Article Published March 4, 2011
Salesforce's study claims using its cloud computing leads to huge CO2 Reductions. Not everyone agrees.