Windows XP – Your time is nigh
With the support for Windows XP due to run dry by April 2014, any business still using this operating system is going to find itself extremely vulnerable to security risks and potential data loss. Companies still running Windows XP need to get their upgrade to Windows 7 or 8 sorted without delay.
Microsoft preparing to launch two factor authentication for Microsoft accounts
Microsoft’s two factor authentication will rely on having a mobile App in addition to your Microsoft account and password. The ‘Authenticator’ App is available to download early on Windows Phone and is expected to also arrive later on iOS and Android. We expect the move to tighten security around Microsoft accounts comes with the company pushing their use more than ever with integration built into Windows 8, Surface, SkyDrive, Windows Phone, Xbox, Xbox Music and more.
HP target eco-friendly route for next generation of enterprise server for big data and cloud “Moonshot”, the next generation of software-defined server has been unveiled. It will use 89% less energy and cost 77% less than the existing generation of servers. Whilst this “green” news highlights the difficulties facing the capacity of server farms, it would be surprising to see a change in hardware server provision and management in the near future, due to the restrictive scope of the new technology.
Android – The Trojan horse
FairSearch a group of companies including Microsoft, Nokia and Oracle have filled an antitrust complaint relating to Google’s Android smart phone and tablet OS to the European Commission. Describing the Android platform as a Trojan horse for Google Services and free to date for phone manufactures to use, its prominent placement gives Google an unfair advantage in the lucrative internet services market. Microsoft makes money on each Android phone sold because of their patent portfolio. If the EU levies a fine on Google, it will be interesting to see if they start charging OEMS to use the Android platform to recoup some of the profits they will loss from mobile services and advertising.
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