Applications Topic Center

In-depth analysis, news, trends and more about enterprise and desktop applications

Update: Google browser add-on that blocks Analytics service

Google has introduced an add-on for Web browsers that can stop the collection of add-on that will stop the browser from sending information to the Google Analytics service.
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Oracle acquires mobile billing tech; response to SAP-Sybase?

Oracle announced Wednesday it is acquiring technology for prepaid telecommunications billing from eServGlobal, boosting its hand in the telecom market.

Apple iPad pumps up Salesforce.com's Marc Benioff

Marc Benioff, chairman and CEO of Salesforce.com, was full of enthusiasm for cloud computing at his company's CloudForce 2 conference in Singapore this week, but he was also pumped up by something else: Apple's iPad.

Ballmer: Robbie Bach just wanted to retire

The management shakeup at Microsoft doesn't reflect dissatisfaction with the company's mobile and game console strategies, company CEO Steve Ballmer said Wednesday.

Google building speech capabilities for Chrome browser

Google technologists are hopeful that audio capabilities they are developing for browsers could serve as industry-standard technology.

MasterCard to cater to developers with APIs, portal

MasterCard is launching a program for external developers interested in tapping into some of the credit card giant's internal payment and data services to create applications.

Copyright official discounts concerns with anti-counterfeiting act

U.S. copyright official Steven Tepp said he doesn't understand many of the objections to the proposed Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), a 37-nation effort to enforce copyright and counterfeit laws across international borders.

MasterCard to cater to developers with APIs, portal

MasterCard is launching a program for external developers interested in tapping into some of the credit card company's internal payment and data services to create applications.

VoltDB open-source database exits beta

VoltDB, a new open-source database for large-scale transaction processing, emerged from beta Tuesday.

Google launches 'stable' Chrome 5 for Mac

Google today shifted the Mac version of Chrome out of beta and into what it calls a "stable" channel, meaning that it considers the browser solid enough for day-in-day-out use.

8 Ways to Measure Cloud ROI

An initiative from The Open Group has developed a set of key considerations for how to build and measure return on investment (ROI) for cloud computing initiatives from a business perspective. By examining the benefits cloud computing offers organizations and showing the potential return it can provide from the beginning, companies may find it easier to gain buy-in for cloud initiatives from the executive team, as well as the IT department.

Top 10 Office 2010 features for business

From powerful productivity enhancers to important security safeguards, the new Microsoft Office has a number of features that businesses will love

Easily Look Up Words and Phrases in Internet Explorer

Remember Accelerators? They were a much-touted new feature in Internet Explorer 8--but I don't know a single person who uses them. Personally, I just never took the time to investigate them all that closely.

Curb PC Annoyances: Windows 7, Office, Monitor Tips

Sometimes manufacturers and software developers do strange things, like package a VGA cable with a monitor that should use a HDMI or DVI connection, or change file formats on you, or keep asking you to accept a EULA. I've recently offered advice for how to deal with Internet hassles and work around random computing problems; this week I'll tell you what to do when a vendor throws you a curveball.

Social stupidity: Am I too social to be saved?

Since I've been writing about IT security for more than half a decade, one would think this stuff would come naturally to me by now. It used to be easier when all one had to do was stay away from e-mail attachments and links sent by strangers and let the IT guys deal with the rest.

CRM Certification: When it Does and Does Not Matter

Certification programs for administrators and developers go back to the days when the mainframe was young, so it's not surprising to see these courses and tests showing up for CRM systems now. It's a sign of competency in one technology or another — so what?

Xtravo Explorer

The last time I reviewed the free Xtravo Explorer, I saw it as a Web browser with some interesting features--but not one ready for full time use. This time around, the feature list has been reduced, but the bug list has not.

The smart paranoid's guide to using Google

Google's stated mission is to index the world's information, and that means your information. Here are nitty-gritty details on how to retain some degree of privacy in the face of the Internet juggernaut.

Toucan

Toucan? You can. Who can? You can! Back up, copy, sync and encrypt files with ease that is, and without having to install yet another utility on your system. Toucan (free) is a file utility found at portableapps.com (as well as here) and the install is location-agnostic. In other words, you install it wherever you want--on your hard drive, on a thumb drive, etc. Then you either run it from where you installed it (double-clicking on the .exe file), or create a shortcut on your desktop.

Energy efficiency -- The hidden treasure in your IT operations

When does green technology move from feel-good marketing-speak to something more actionable? When it turns into the kind of green that feels good in your wallet.