Desktop UPGRADE strategy WINDOWS 10

Microsoft says Windows 10 allows companies to bring the latest innovation to their existing PC fleet, but how good is the latest version of the operating system really?

The launch of Windows 10 represents a transition for Microsoft under the leadership of its CEO Satya Nadella.

While Windows remains the dominant platform for enterprise applications, consumers have opted instead for Android and iOS devices. Windows 10 aims to bridge this divide by offering the same applications and user experience on tablets, PCs and smartphones. At the same time, Microsoft has been working to make its Office 365 applications suite available on Apple and Android devices as well as PCs, enabling users to work across devices seamlessly.

Forrester principal analyst Frank Gillett said: “Microsoft is now focused on putting its apps and cloud services where its customers are, on Windows PCs plus Android and Apple smartphones. The quarterly financial news won’t show any results yet on Windows 10, but this newest, and last, major upgrade of Windows is Microsoft’s most crucial bet for mobile. Microsoft will have to do better at winning mobile developers on all platforms, not just PCs. That means making great mobile apps for Android and iPhone – an ironic but vital step.”


Gillett expects the new operating system will win over the enterprise, where IT managers have needed to make major workarounds to get iPads and Android tablets working with PC-based Windows applications. But he warned: “The plans for Windows 10 don’t show enough potential to create a differentiated mobile experience that will draw developers and customers away from iOS and Android.”

Enterpise features

One of the big changes that Microsoft has made with version 10 is to unify the desktop, mobile and smartphone user experiences. 

Helen Lamb, executive director of managed infrastructure services for UK & Ireland at Fujitsu, said: “Within the modern workplace we are seeing the longstanding boundaries of corporate IT being continuously tested. This is a transformational time for businesses, and with Windows 10 we are making  move towards a true, always on, mobile workplace.”

From a security perspective, the biggest change is the new browser, Edge. 

Steven Allen, senior security consultant at Capgemini, said: “Windows 10 has added better support for multifactor authentication such as biometrics, improved file-level encryption to protect personal or corporate data, and improved trusted applications to control where users can install applications from. These are welcome improvements and, while corporate users stand to gain the most, home users will also benefit. 

“Perhaps the most significant security improvement is Microsoft replacing Internet Explorer with a new browser, Edge. This is good news for the user community as IE has unfortunately been quite buggy and a target for exploitation by criminals to attack users as they shop or bank online.”

But the OS also ships with Internet Explorer, and those applications in the enterprise that rely on IE could provide an attack vector for hackers.

Related to security is the way that Windows will be updated going forward. Updates of the OS will be continuous from version 10 on. Businesses can opt for the so-called long-term service branch or Update for Business, which is designed to offer new functionality quicker. 

Delphix director of strategy Jes Breslaw said: “By taking the branch option, cautious organisations will largely fail to benefit from the huge investment Microsoft is making in innovation. Enterprises should be moving their own Windows applications to continuous delivery, and, through their own continuous integration and testing, ensure updates are successful. This requires development and testing environments that can be provisioned at speed, and with quality data. 

“The likes of Apple and Android OS are already steaming ahead with a continuous delivery model. Organisations need to accept Microsoft’s latest change and jump in with both feet to avoid missing the boat.”

Upgrading

Businesses are unlikely to deploy Windows 10 quickly. A survey of 183 attendees of the Microsoft Ignite conference in May conducted by Microsoft gold partner Adaptiva found that most businesses expect to update Windows within a year. Nearly three-quarters of respondents (71%) said their company was planning to wait more than six months to deploy Windows 10.

While Windows 10 is being distributed as a free upgrade for existing PCs, in an article posted on the Seeking Alpha financial blogging site, Bob O’Donnell, founder and chief analyst of Technalysis Research, said he believed that the new operating system would boost the PC industry. 

“Microsoft has actually integrated quite a few new capabilities into Windows 10 that will benefit from new hardware,” he said. 

The new features include: biometric authentication, which requires a fingerprint reader or Intel’s RealSense for facial recognition; the array microphones used by Cortana, which O’Donnell said improves the accuracy of speech recognition; and Continuum. According to O’Donnell, Continuum features will make two-in-one devices like Microsoft’s Surface, Dell’s Inspiron 7000 Series, HP’s x360 and Lenovo’s Yoga more compelling.

Organisations on a three to four-year PC refresh cycle may well be considering upgrading hardware. From an desktop IT point of view, a modern two-in-one device that works both as a traditional laptop and a tablet reflects the modern workplace.

Windows is not going away and while enterprise applications are increasingly available as cloud-based SaaS offerings, corporate IT departments will still need to support many line-of-business Windows applications. In the past IT may have needed to compromise by streaming these enterprise Windows applications to iPads and Android tablets. But modern hybrid devices are light and fully functional Windows PCs. And as O’Donnell points out, a hybrid device running Windows 10 makes a lot of sense in an enterprise desktop strategy.

Android security flaw puts your phone into a near-coma

Android has more than one video-related security hole on its hands at the moment. Trend Micro has found a flaw that uses a malformed Matroska (MKV) video in apps or websites to crash Android's "mediaserver" service, effectively turning the target device into a paperweight. It'll not only render your phone's interface mostly or completely unresponsive, but silence all calls and notifications. You might not even get past the lock screen, if your phone is locked during the incident. An intruder could take advantage of this seemingly brain-dead state to hold your handset for ransom, threatening to shut you out unless you pay up.

Trend Micro says it told Google about the exploit in mid-May, but that it was marked "low priority." A spokesperson tells Engadget that a "future version of Android" will patch things up and that there's "no evidence of actual exploitation." We have a hunch that Google may want to move more quickly than the priority level suggests, though. The recent Stagefright flaw has drawn a lot of attention to video-related attacks, and the Matroska glitch exposes every device running Android 4.3 or newer -- that's about half of the hardware using the platform. Even though it's possible to uninstall offending apps and avoid malicious websites, that's not much comfort if your phone becomes at least a momentary paperweight.

A Big Android Phone with almost Little Money

OnePlus garnered attention last year when the young company said it would sell its first model, the OnePlus 1, by invite only. The device was not without flaws, but it was one of our favorite smartphones of the year. And with a starting price of $300 without a contract, it showed us that the old wireless carrier gotcha—pay through the nose or get locked in to a pricey contract—could be on its way out.

The new model looks to be an improvement over its predecessor in nearly every way. “We started this company because we didn’t think any Android phones on the market were good enough,” OnePlus director and co-founder Carl Pei said. “We still think that’s the case, and we learned a lot from the OnePlus 1. The OnePlus 2 not only flagship worthy, but something that will remain cutting edge next year as well.”

The first thing you notice when picking up the OnePlus 2 is that the company’s sandstone-feeling rear cover is now flanked with an elegant aluminum and magnesium alloy frame. The face of the phone is all glass, save for a new fingerprint sensor—which Pei boasts is faster than the iPhone’s at unlocking the device. The OnePlus 2 definitely feels as high-quality as other top-tier phones.

Google is going to Celebrate ChromeCast turning 2 with free Movie rental

It’s hard to believe the Google Chromecast is already two years old. Yes, the little dongle that changed the way many of us stream content to our TVs is celebrating its second birthday, and the celebration benefits us all.

To celebrate, Google is offering up a free movie rental to Chromecast owners. Open up your Chomecast app, select your Chromecast, hit “check for offers” in the menu, and claim your free movie rental, which can be used anytime from now until the end of the year.

And if you still don’t have a Chromecast for whatever reason, I definitely recommend you buy one. They’re cheap and awesome!

How to connect with people in world around us through nearby API's

Mobile phones have made it easy to communicate with anyone, whether they’re right next to you or on the other side of the world. The great irony, however, is that those interactions can often feel really awkward when you're sitting right next to someone.

Today, it takes several steps -- whether it’s exchanging contact information, scanning a QR code, or pairing via bluetooth -- to get a simple piece of information to someone right next to you. Ideally, you should be able to just turn to them and do so, the same way you do in the real world.

This is why we built Nearby. Nearby provides a proximity API, Nearby Messages, for iOS and Android devices to discover and communicate with each other, as well as with beacons.

Nearby uses a combination of Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and inaudible sound (using the device’s speaker and microphone) to establish proximity. We’ve incorporated Nearby technology into several products, including Chromecast Guest Mode, Nearby Players in Google Play Games, and Google Tone.

With the latest release of Google Play services 7.8, the Nearby Messages API becomes available to all developers across iOS and Android devices (Gingerbread and higher). Nearby doesn’t use or require a Google Account. The first time an app calls Nearby, users get a permission dialog to grant that app access.

A few of our partners have built creative experiences to show what's possible with Nearby.

List of people around them uses nearby tracklist have been published. The audience can vote on tracks that they like, and their votes are updated in realtime.

Trello uses Nearby to simplify sharing. Share a Trello board to the people around you with a tap of a button.

Pocket Casts uses Nearby to let you find and compare podcasts with people around you. Open the Nearby tab in Pocket Casts to view a list of podcasts that people around you have, as well as podcasts that you have in common with others.

Android You Tube will play vertical videos in full screen

There comes a time in every person's life when they realize that they can't get people behave properly. As much as we all might want to stop people from recording vertical videos, the Periscopes and Snapchats of this world have made these clips so prevalent that, sadly, they're just not going to go away. Giving in to the inevitable, YouTube's Android App is getting the ability to play vertical videos in full screen, rather than constraining them to an awkward letterbox designed for landscape clips. The feature was found by AndroidPolice in version 10.28 of the app, which is likely to hit Google Play at some point in the near future.

How to overcome difficulties while CMO's implementing Digital transformation

Digital transformation is the next frontier in business development for large organizations. From optimizing your digital marketing channels to finding creative ways to develop new apps and software for your customers, today’s most important innovation is happening in the digital space. Increasingly Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) are finding themselves on the front lines, leading the charge to implement digital transformation initiatives. But the process often requires out of the box thinking, ruthless strategic prioritization, and the ability to craft and communicate a big vision. What are the most common obstacles that you’re likely to face in this role and how can you overcome these objections?

Important But Not Urgent: The Digital Transformation Paradox

Is digital transformation one of your company’s strategic priorities? MIT’s Sloan School of Management recently conducted a study that led to a startling insight: 78% of surveyed executives stated that digital transformation was essential for their organization’s growth. Yet 63% said that the current speed of innovation at their companies was too slow, and the number one cited reason was a “lack of urgency.” Many organizations struggle with the idea that digital initiatives are their own separate work stream, rather than something that’s fundamental to the very DNA of the company’s operations and product development.

Establishing and communicating a clear vision for digital transformation can help begin to address this problem. What does digital mean in the context of your organization? How will it benefit each stakeholder, especially your customers? Can you define the positive financial impact that it will have on your business? A clear and comprehensive vision can unify your executive team and set the tone and focus for where your employees focus their efforts.

Focusing on the Customer Experience

Taking your company digital happens on many levels. It impacts internal processes. It influences new product development. Executives, staff, vendors and most importantly customers all feel the effects. But it’s important that strategic decisions around digital transformation focus specifically on how they’ll impact your customer experience. The payoff is real. Forrester Research has defined a customer experience-oriented company as an enterprise that “focuses its strategy, its energy, and its budget on processes that enhance knowledge of and engagement with customers and prioritizes these over maintaining traditional competitive barriers.”

Companies that fit into this category outperformed the Standard and Poor’s Index over a six year period, with a comparative cumulative return of 43% versus 14% for the S&P 500 Index. CMOs can take this lesson to heart. Do you take a systematic, measurable approach to the customer experience and its relationship to digital initiatives? How will digital improvements help you create a better customer experience? Finding a clear relationship between these two priorities has two benefits: it clarifies where you should be focusing your energy and helps ensure a positive ROI.

Identifying Bottlenecks Throughout the Organization

If you’re encountering resistance in your organization to an increased focus on digital, it’s often based on a fear of change. Staff don’t understand how digital technologies can benefit both company performance and their own positions. As CMO, it’s critical that you address these issues head on. Develop a high-level map of what your organization looks like and how digital transformation will impact each business are. What will it mean for your customer service department or your IT organization, for example? What kinds of digital initiatives have the priority – process improvements, new product development, or enhanced customer service?

Identify the bottlenecks to moving forward. Is the resistance centered around specific individuals, processes, or departments? With a clear understanding of your roadblocks, it’s possible to dig down, understand what’s causing them, and create a roadmap forward.

Demonstrating the ROI of Digital Transformation

As an advocate for change and digital transformation within your organization, demonstrating ROI is one of your top concerns. Yet the 2014 CMO Survey found that just 36% of chief marketing officers felt that they had successfully made the case for digital transformation and only 29% had demonstrated the long-term value. As CMO, you have high-level insights into which Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are essential for your business.

Define how the continued digital evolution of your company will play a role in reaching these KPIs. Focus on specific examples and metrics for improving productivity, growing market share, and reducing costs. Making the argument using industry-specific and technology-specific research and case studies will ensure that your plans feel both relevant and achievable to your company’s unique context.

Embracing the Mobile Mindshift

Consumers are experiencing a mind shift to mobile. Processes that once happened in person, like shopping and banking, are moving increasingly to digital devices. Software that was once used on a PC or laptop now needs to be accessible on smartphones and tablets. People are using mobile devices to write books, edit spreadsheets, submit expenses, and access their company’s most important information. In the US alone, 90% of adults own a cellphone; 64% own a smartphone; and 42% own a tablet. Serving today’s customers requires understanding that mobile adoption will only increase and that companies need to keep pace in all areas of their operations.

CMOs can start supporting the mobile shift by ensuring that they understand how mobile devices impact their customers’ journey. How, when, and why are your customers using mobile to interact with your brand? It’s important to look at how hardware, software, and applications can be engineered with mobile in mind. Finally, develop ongoing monitoring programs that allow you to continuously measure and optimize mobile engagement and the mobile user experience. Proactively planning for the mobile future will help put your company in a winning position.

Hiring the Right Talent

Undertaking an enterprise-level digital transformation initiative requires the right talent. Whether it’s migrating your data to the cloud or having the programming capacity to create cutting-edge applications for your audience, technical talent is key. From developers to communicators who can bridge the gap between the tech and business worlds, digital awareness and savvy needs to become a core hiring requirement for all positions within the organization.

With respect to filling specific positions, managing costs and developing expertise are critical concerns. Outsourcing these functions to an experienced partner such as net solutions allows you to augment your team’s capabilities with expertise in programming, mobile, cloud-based technology, analytics, and social business.

Managing the Flow of Data into Insights

As digital approaches to doing business become more prevalent at your company, you’re going to be stepping into Big Data territory. The amount of information that’s generated by systems today can overwhelm any organization. Companies today have the capability to uncover novel and important sources of data. What’s important is ensuring that you have the culture, talent, and organizational vision needed to turn that data into insights.

The most successful companies see data at the core of everything they do. Real-time market feedback, website analytics, and other sources of information become a mirror that helps executives determine how effective their efforts are and what pivots need to be made going forward. When insights are tested and then put into practice, it creates effective feedback loops that refine how productive your organization can be. Set a clear analytical agenda to measure the effectiveness of digital initiatives and guide their development in the future.

How to Take Care Of Despair After A

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