Technology News: Development

Windows 7: Burning Simplicity to Save the OS
November 19, 2009

The reason Windows Vista seemed slow, and somehow, strangely seemed even slower over time, is now abundantly clear to Microsoft's architects: The evolution of computer hardware, particularly the CPU, exceeded anyone's expectations at the time of Vista's premiere in early 2007.

Microsoft Forecasts Azure Skies for Jan. 1
November 18, 2009

After more than two years of crowing about "software plus service" rather than Software as a Service for its cloud computing strategy, the finish line is finally in sight for Microsoft's Azure. The company announced Tuesday at its Professional Developers Conference in Los Angeles that Azure will officially be available for all customers on Jan. 1, 2010.

What's Apple's Game Plan?
November 17, 2009

Last year, Apple began marketing its iPod touch as the "funnest iPod ever," a nod to the significant popularity of the game applications available on the iPhone/iPod touch App Store. Games designed by third-party developers have been big sellers for the platform, and now Apple itself looks like it wants in on more of the fun -- it's advertising for an in-house game developer.

Apple's House Rules Won't Be the Death of App Development
November 13, 2009

So Facebook developer Joe Hewitt tweets that he's ditching the super-popular Facebook iPhone app, and TechCrunch, clearly sensing there's more to the story here, reaches out to learn why. "My decision to stop iPhone development has had everything to do with Apple's policies," Hewitt told TechCrunch.

W3C Validation: It's Not Just About Rankings
November 12, 2009

In the SEO world, a perennial argument is whether Google's ranking factors look for clean code in a Web site. The W3C has developed two popular tools that check Web sites for errors: The W3C validation tool looks at HTML code, while the CSS validation tool checks the CSS Style Sheet. These free tools scan all of a site's code to make sure it is compliant with current Web standards.

Go Go Google Programming Language
November 11, 2009

Google on Tuesday announced an experimental new computer programming language called "Go." This combines the development speed of dynamic languages such as Python with the performance and safety of compiled languages like C or C++, the Internet search giant said. Go is still in the experimental stage, and Google says it is still working on it.

Cisco Adds New Technologies to Collaboration Tool Chest
November 09, 2009

Cisco has introduced new technologies to its collaboration platform -- a product portfolio that encompasses its telepresence, unified communications and WebEx solutions. Among the additions are new hosted email offerings and integration with enterprise social software.

PayPal Gets Friendly With Developers
November 04, 2009

New APIs from PayPal will allow developers to integrate its payment capabilities within applications. Typically, online shoppers have to visit PayPal's site to complete purchases. The new functionality will let them complete their transaction without leaving a shopping site or game -- even allowing those who don't already have a PayPal account to set one up on the spot.

Why It Pays to Second-Guess Your Technology Assumptions
October 20, 2009

As a resident of New Hampshire, I can tell you that the Old Man of the Mountain is a very tender topic for Granite Staters. If you've never heard of it, the Old Man is -- or rather was -- a natural rock formation that was the spitting image of an old man's face. It was carved out of granite on the slope of Mt. Cannon, and if you've never seen it you can check out what it looked like on the back of the N.H. state quarter.

Firefox Locks Out Microsoft's App Dev Tech
October 19, 2009

Microsoft technology used to program applications that can be accessed through a browser continued to be blocked for Firefox users Monday. Mozilla had been blocking two Microsoft plug-ins after the discovery that Microsoft's .Net 3.5 SP1 install silently adds a plug-in to Firefox allowing the surreptitious launch of a malicious AML browser application that could take over infected machines.

Free iPhone Apps Now Free to Charge
October 16, 2009

Apple on Thursday revised its app store policy to let developers include for-pay features in free apps. This could save developers time in the long run, as they will only have to put out one version of their applications, rather than a free version and a paid-for version. In the short term, however, it could cause developers some grief.

An Autumnal Tour of Linux Workshops
October 08, 2009

As the days get shorter and temperatures get cooler here in the northern hemisphere, it's clear Linux geeks' thoughts have begun to turn to the many delights of the season. Yes, there are pumpkins, hay rides and apple pie aplenty as October wears on, but for real Linux geeks, one of the keenest joys of the season lies elsewhere.

Management From Afar: Coaching a Team of Remote Workers
October 05, 2009

In our global economy, where outsourcing is common and the Internet makes it possible to work from almost any location under the sun, it's not unusual for a company to find itself in the position of having a large portion of its staff in various locations outside the main offices. Particularly in the technology industry, software and application development jobs are often filled by freelance workers.

Obama Death Poll on FB Puts Third-Party Apps in Spotlight
September 29, 2009

Facebook now has some new "friends:" the United States Secret Service, thanks to a startling weekend poll appearing on the world's largest social network that asked the question, "Should Obama be killed?" The poll provided four possible answers: "Yes," "No," "Maybe," and "Yes if he cuts my healthcare."

Adobe-Omniture May Be a Surprisingly Smart Match
September 16, 2009

Adobe's planned acquisition of Web analytics firm Omniture took nearly everyone off guard when it was announced Tuesday. Now that the idea has had a chance to sink in, though, it seems to be growing in popularity. "I think it really does make sense," said Steve Ashley, an analyst for investment research firm R.W. Baird.

GroundWork Cuts Ribbon on MonitoringForge
September 16, 2009

GroundWork Open Source, a provider of commercial open source systems and network management software, has launched MonitoringForge, a hub for IT administrators and developers interested in open source monitoring tools. The new site aims to encompass the monitoring space as a whole, as opposed to focusing on specific products or applications.