Category Archives: ComputerWorld Canada

Hitachi’s 3D scaling platform appeals to mid-market

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08 Oct 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

The Virtual Storage Platform is a good fit for the mid-sized Canadian market, according to HDS executives, because it not only scales up, out and deep – it also scales down. The price point, technology and future proofing is going to “hit home” in Canada, says one exec.

Hitachi releases two products to transform data centres

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05 Oct 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

Hitachi Data System’s new Virtual Storage Platform and Command Suite management software offer a non-disruptive way of virtualizing the data centre, says CTO Hu Yoshida at the Hitachi Innovation Forum.

How to get noticed by an analyst

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23 Sep 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

Industry analysts are an invaluable source for Canadian start-ups seeking credibility and exposure. Five tips on how to ‘effectively engage’ with analysts from IDC Canada’s Krista Napier, who presented on the topic at Mobile Innovation Week.

HP announces FutureSmart and OXP v1.6

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21 Sep 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

HP multi-function printers no longer rely on internal memory or processing speed to run apps, with new FutureSmart firmware and OXP platform announced at the HP Innovation Summit in New York. Consistent firmware and app development are turning printers into strategic productivity tools, say HP execs.

— reprinted by ITBusiness.ca, HP innovations help channel simplify print fleet management

Mobile visions, predictions and stats from MIW 2010

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17 Sep 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

Deloitte predicts mobile trends over the next five to 10 years, Ericsson presents its vision of the world in 2020 and Comscore presents stats on the mobile phone market at Mobile Innovation Week.

— reprinted at PCWorld.com, Mobile Internet Will Rule Within 5 Years, Analysts Say

DundeeWealth expands BCP with SunGard

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14 Sep 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

DundeeWealth is outsourcing its data centre and renting workspace seats at SunGard disaster recovery locations. Moving to the suburbs reduces probability of risk and other financial companies in the downtown Toronto core should be doing the same thing, says SunGard.

IPv6: Are you ready?

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07 Sep 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

There’s no ifs, ands or buts about it – IPv4 addresses are going to run out in the next year and end users will feel the effects in 24 to 36 months, says CIRA’s CEO. What governments, enterprises and end users can do to speed up the move to IPv6.

 

Canada’s info, privacy bodies want open government

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02 Sep 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

Canada’s information and privacy commissioners have become advocates for open government, issuing a joint resolution and a call for all levels of government across the country to follow their lead.

RIM clarifies three misperceptions about BlackBerry

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Dot-co sets example for dot-ca, says lawyer

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25 Aug 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

A lawyer running for a seat on CIRA’s board of directors says the dot-ca domain has fallen behind in value and prominence, but CIRA’s CEO says dot-ca is doing very well, with growth rates stronger than top-level domains like dot-com.

How to tame the social media tiger

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23 Aug 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

What social media aggregation and management tools can – and can’t – do for enterprises. A look at Syncapse’s SocialTalk platform and input from Labatt Breweries, Info-Tech and Gartner.

Good luck finding a driving app for that, part 2 of 2

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19 Aug 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

Why finding an app that allows you send and receive e-mails while driving, complies with Ontario distracted driving laws and actually helps you get your work done isn’t as easy as you think.

Is that smart phone app legal on the road? part 1 of 2

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18 Aug 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

Over 19,000 distracted driving charges were issued from police forces across the province in the first five months of ticketing and 4,444 came from the OPP. What drivers should look for in a smart phone app before using it for hands-free emailing and texting while driving in Ontario.

Sprouter adds ‘Answers’ section for expert advice

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17 Aug 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

The Toronto-based social networking site for entrepreneurs has launched a new Aardvark-like feature for those who have questions but don’t know who – or how – to ask for answers. Sprouter experts are also available to answer questions in real time.

 

Saudi deal won’t affect Canadian BlackBerry users

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10 Aug 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

BlackBerry users in North America shouldn’t worry about RIM’s negotiations with countries like Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, India and Lebanon affecting the security of their devices, analysts say. RIM’s statement says the enterprise solution remains unchanged.

 

B.C. pilots dynamic transit display

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09 Aug 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

Transit riders standing on the corner of Highway 99 and Stevenson Highway no longer have to wonder if they were forgotten by the bus. A pilot project in a Vancouver suburb tracks buses in real time on a WiFi network and streams arrival info to a 46-inch LCD TV at the stop.

Missed the Metric show? Highlights from the free Toronto street concert

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06 Aug 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

Two days before the launch of the Galaxy S Vibrant smart phone in Canada, Samsung decided to stir up some excitement by sponsoring a free 45-minute Metric concert in front of Union Station in Toronto. Scenes from the show and demos of the smart phone in action — walk and text, Google Goggles and more.

Panel discusses gap between IT and executives

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04 Aug 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

IDC’s David Senf moderates a panel discussion that tries to get at the root of the problem that just won’t go away. Plus, what Cogeco’s president thinks IT can do to narrow the communication gap with C-level execs.

— reprinted by IT World, Panel discusses gap between IT and executives

2D mobile barcodes yet to take off in Canada

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27 Jul 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

The popularity of formats like QR and Data Matrix will explode in coming months, according to 3GVision distributor MMMobile. Google and Facebook are also actively promoting QR codes, says one Info-Tech analyst.

 

Cancer Care Ontario swaps Excel for SAS

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08 Jul 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

The provincial agency uses analytics to forecast who will need chemotherapy and where they will go for treatment – to better prepare for patient care. The SAS solution replaces a former manual process that pulled numbers from different data stores into an Excel workbook.

Don’t use the Patriot Act as an excuse

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05 Jul 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

Canadians are quick to use the U.S.A. Patriot Act as an excuse to avoid cloud computing, but they might not know many of the same laws already exist in Canada. Privacy lawyer David Fraser highlights the similarities at an OPC-hosted event.

Bada offers app developers mass market reach

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01 Jul 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

Samsung’s Wave isn’t available in Canada yet, but 200 bada apps are already available in the Canadian app store. At a developer conference in Toronto, Samsung makes the case for its new bada platform.

 

OPC gathers input on privacy and cloud computing

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22 Jun 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada is making its rounds across the country to gather input for an upcoming review of PIPEDA. Highlights from a panel discussion in Calgary between IBM, the EFF, CBS News and Syntenic.

 

Lac Carling: U.K. speaker pitches co-production

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17 Jun 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

Matthew Horne presents the case for co-production in Canadian public services, but figuring out how to use technology to support relationship services remains a challenge. Examples of co-production projects from around the world.

 

Interview with Ann Cavoukian: privacy, smart grids, best practices

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16 Jun 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

An interview with Ontario’s privacy commissioner, the first to release best practices for protecting privacy on smart grids in partnership with two of Canada’s largest utility companies.

 

Canadians are ‘old-school’ collaborators

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10 Jun 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

A study finds IM, online communities and wikis are the most widely used tools, and shared drives are still mission-critical for businesses. An Avanade executive says Canadians are old-school when it comes to collaboration, but an Info-Tech analyst says the findings have a management bias.

 

Fusenet’s ‘Dragon’s Den’

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03 Jun 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

The company’s work model fosters entrepreneurs while keeping them in the business. Experts say the Pet Project Program puts a unique spin on the 80/20 innovation model.

 

Kudos for anti-spam bill, concern over PIPEDA changes

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28 May 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

Experts welcome the re-introduction of the federal anti-spam bill. But they’ve got serious reservations about proposed changes to Canada’s privacy law.

— Co-authored by Jennifer Kavur and Howard Solomon

This e-mail message will self-destruct in…

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25 May 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

VaporStream’s e-mail service uses encryption, SSL and RAM to send messages that vanish without a trace. The technology promises to meet confidentiality laws and reduce litigation costs, but an Info-Tech analyst says it could get companies into big trouble.

 

Catching up with Government 2.0 at Mesh

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21 May 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

Cities are taking the lead with open data, but the feds are catching up in the social media space. A panel discussion at Mesh provided the latest updates on Gov 2.0 efforts in Canada. Plus, David Eaves’ two dreams for open government.

— reprinted by ITBusiness.ca, Government 2.0 round-up at Mesh

Hockey players, motorcycle riders and Microsoft

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14 May 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

The Edmonton Oilers and a Harley-Davidson retailer talk about their beta experiences with Microsoft’s new software. How SharePoint 2010 helps the Oilers scout for the NHL draft and Office 2010 helps Jacox H-D forecast bike sales and weather patterns.

 

Canada 3.0 wraps up with 15 ideas from co-chairs

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12 May 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

The two-day forum on Canada’s digital economy wrapped up yesterday with each of the five streams presenting three action plans garnered from all the discussions. CDMN’s Kevin Tuer remains ‘cautiously optimistic.’

Cogeco offers $5 unlimited WiFi plan for the iPad

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10 May 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

Coinciding with Apple’s iPad pre-order date, Cogeco will launch a $5 per month, contract-free, unlimited WiFi service for the iPad. The catch? The service is only available in downtown Toronto. Plus, Apple releases Canadian iPad availability and pricing info.

 

Rogers won’t do unlimited data for iPad

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10 May 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

Pre-ordering for the iPad has begun, but the enthusiasm faded as Rogers released its iPad data plan rates. The disappointment over no unlimited data package could change if Bell or Telus enter the space.

— reprinted by PCWorld.com, Canada’s Rogers Won’t Do Unlimited Data for iPad

— reprinted by Macworld.com, Rogers do unlimited data for iPad in Canada

Canada 3.0 speaker suggests re-branding Canada

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07 May 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

Government, academia and industry gear up for a two-day forum on how Canada can be a leader in the digital economy. Keynote speaker Tony Chapman says Canada has the potential for becoming the go-to nation for innovation.

 

Samsung, Microsoft tackle smart phone space

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06 May 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

The case for Microsoft’s mobile OS in the enterprise, what’s coming next from Samsung, and the pros and cons of each from an app developer’s perspective. Plus, what enterprises must do before selecting a mobile device.

 

Solaro tutors students via the Web, iPhone and iPad

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30 Apr 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

A new educational resource from Castle Rock Research walks Grades 6 to 12 students through programs of study in English, math and science. Now in open beta, Solaro aligns with curriculum in Alberta, BC and Ontario – and subscriptions are currently free.

 

Psychology, spam! and exclamation points

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22 Apr 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

Symantec finds 5 out of the 6 most commonly used words in spam have exclamation points. These punctuation marks activate the human alarm system – speeding up brain processes and exaggerating judgment calls, according a social psychology professor at Utrecht.

 

Festival Hydro transforms Stratford into WiFi hotspot

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21 Apr 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

Festival Hydro puts an innovative spin on the Ontario government’s smart meter program by using the technology to transform the City of Stratford into one big 802.11n WiFi hotspot. Nearly one quarter of the city will be covered in time for the Canada 3.0 forum next month.

 

SAS stops charging students, profs for software

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19 Apr 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

SAS OnDemand for Academics will be free to all university students and professors around the world starting this fall. Professors say the move – and model – will have a big impact on business analytics education.

— reprinted by IT World, SAS stops charging students, profs for software

Samsung ML-2525W

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28 Apr 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

While pricing for wireless and laser printing is on the decline, there aren’t a lot of models on the market that include both. The Samsung ML-2525W is one of those exceptions that hits the sub-$200 price point with a smart, compact design that works well in any home or small office space.

 

SAS performs 18 hour analytics job in 2.5 minutes

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16 Apr 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

SAS’s new high performance computing model, demoed at the SAS Global Forum, is probably over a year away from massive adoption. People will find it hard to believe you can do a 24 hour job in 15 minutes, says CEO Jim Goodnight.

 

SAS introduces social media analytics to enterprises

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14 Apr 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

There are dozens of social media measurement tools out there, but this one might be the first to comprehensively tackle the space. An in-depth look at SAS’s new Social Media Analytics solution, unveiled at the SAS Global Forum in Seattle.

— reprinted by IT World, SAS introduces social media analytics to enterprise

Motorola’s ‘secret sauce’ for Android

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12 Apr 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

The Motoblur social service for Android-based smart phones will arrive in Canada on three devices via Rogers, Telus and Bell over the next couple months. Motoblur “gets” the Google Android message and allows Motorola to compete with rival HTC on its own terms, says an analyst.

Social media isn’t friends with enterprise security

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08 Apr 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

Security threats are changing as enterprises embrace the use of social media sites. Security experts at Forsythe, Info-Tech and nCircle weigh in on how IT can adjust to accommodate the new risks.

 

Titus Labs simplifies e-mail data classification

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06 Apr 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

Titus Labs offers a tool that enforces adherence to policy and compliance regulations by requiring end users to mark and label their e-mails before sending them. One analyst discusses the challenges of such data classification tools.

 

Developing and managing e-mail archiving policies

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06 Apr 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

There can be legal repercussions for companies that don’t live up to compliance requirements. Tips for developing, executing and managing archiving policies – and how to keep the situation from getting out of control in the first place.

— reprinted by ComputerworldUK.com, Email archiving: You need a policy

Are iPhones riskier than Android, Blackberry and Nokia?

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31 Mar 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

iPhones appear to pose greater security risks than Android, Blackberry and Nokia smart phones, but is this really the case? An nCircle survey says yes, security expert Charlie Miller says not necessarily, and Pwn2Own sponsor TippingPoint won’t say.

— republished by PCWorld.com, Are iPhones Really Risky?

Recycling electronics is as easy as taking out the trash

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30 Mar 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

Ontarians have no excuse for tossing old iPods in the trash as a province-wide recycling program doubles its list of devices and drop-off locations. Torontonians get special curbside treatment and free e-waste bags for tired gadgets.

— reprinted by ITBusiness.ca, Ontario gets expanded e-waste recycling options

IEPs get bridge-to-work program for Ontario jobs

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29 Mar 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

ICTC brings its latest immigration initiative to Ontario, after a 90 per cent success rate in BC. Internationally educated professionals are encouraged to apply for the IWES skills training program, which focuses on soft skills and provides work experience.

 

Virtualization gets sticky, clouds barely touched

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25 Mar 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

A CA/Forrester study finds enterprises are getting stuck in server virtualization and not quite ready for internal clouds. IDC’s David Senf provides perspective on virtualization and cloud efforts in Canada. Plus, Info-Tech on making the virtualization-to-cloud transition a smooth one.

 

Trellia adds 3G features to mobile management platform

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23 Mar 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

The Montreal vendor recently upgraded its SaaS-based mobile policy management platform. Version 5.1 provides real time statistics on 3G data usage and tracks 3G devices using Qualcomm’s Gobi technology. How this fits into the up-and-coming mobile device management space.

 

Acrodex lands 7-year deal with Alberta government

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19 Mar 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

Minister Heather Klimchuk of Service Alberta explains what the contract means for government and public service employees. The goal to provide centralized IT desktop management services to all 24 ministries across the province.

 

Don’t lose sleep over U.S. e-discovery nightmares

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18 Mar 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

What, exactly, is the difference between e-discovery laws in Canada and the U.S.? Two lawyers highlight the basics for those of us who don’t work in the legal department.

 

CIOs give go-ahead to delayed IT projects

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16 Mar 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

Which IT projects placed on the backburner will get the go-ahead from CIOs as the economy recovers? Software and hardware upgrades are most likely, followed by virtualization, Web site design, internal collaboration, cloud computing and social media, says RHI.

 

Open government talk buzzes across Canada

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11 Mar 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

Experts in open government and social media discussed everything from government-as-a-platform to app stores to the creation of a MuniForge during a panel discussion at the Open City Workshop in Edmonton. Plus, CIO Chris Moore’s take on the risks of open government.

— reprinted by ITBusiness.ca, Municipalities abuzz with talk of open government

Dad performs IT makeover at son’s school

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10 Mar 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

IT pros with kids should consider volunteering their talents to schools, suggests one consultant who overhauled the IT lab at his son’s elementary school in Mississauga. Why Windows 7 was the answer for PCs that took 20 minutes to boot.

— reprinted by ITBusiness.ca, Extreme Makeover: Windows 7 School Edition. How a dad overhauled the IT network at son’s school

15 hot skills, cool jobs for 2010

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10 Mar 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

Demand for IT professionals has grown in the last quarter. Our guide to the jobs that are in demand, what they pay, and the skills you need to get them. Part one of two.

10 Mar 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

Demand for IT professionals has grown in the last quarter. Our guide to the jobs that are in demand, what they pay, and the skills you need to get them. Part two of two.

— republished by NetworkWorld.com, Hot skills, cool jobs for 2010

Edmonton takes five steps towards open govt

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08 Mar 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

Edmonton is the fourth municipality in Canada moving ahead with open government initiatives. The challenge is helping people understand ‘we are like the new city,’ says CIO Chris Moore, who made five major announcements at the Open City Workshop.

— reprinted by ITBusiness.ca, Five steps by Edmonton toward open government

Charity foundation outsources to protect data

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01 Mar 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

Secure systems and reliable servers are critical for donor organizations supplying funding during crises like the recent earthquakes in Chile and Haiti. The Vancouver Foundation decided outsourcing its entire IT infrastructure was the best route to take in order to protect data and ensure security in B.C.

Pros and cons of SaaS-based messaging security

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24 Feb 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

A security expert presents the pros and cons of using the SaaS model for e-mail, IM and Web security at a Symantec-sponsored event north of Toronto. Plus, what you must ask if you are planning to go to with SaaS.

 

SAS and Accenture form predictive analytics group

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17 Feb 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

Business analytics vendor SAS Institute and consulting firm Accenture are joining forces to help customers manage business intelligence. Analysts think the move puts SAS/Accenture in competition with IBM.

— reprinted by ComputerworldUK.com, SAS, Accenture partner on predictive analytics

— reprinted by IT World, SAS and Accenture form predictive analytics group

Social networking unveils tacit knowledge: PwC

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16 Feb 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

Tacit knowledge is the most valuable distributed database in organizations and social networking provides new ways of unlocking it, said PricewaterhouseCoopers. A Richard Ivey prof and former Microsoft SharePoint expert weigh in on how to share knowledge that’s hard to communicate.

— reprinted by PCWorld.com, Social Networks Help Businesses Share Knowledge

— reprinted by IT World, Social networking unveils tacit knowledge: PwC

Enterprises are embracing private, not public, clouds

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11 Feb 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

Enterprises gearing up for cloud computing are starting with private clouds, according to a survey conducted at SC09. Analysts from IDC Canada and Info-Tech confirm where Canadian organizations stand in private versus public cloud space.

 

Eucalyptus, Terracotta partner for private clouds

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09 Feb 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

The new partnership will combine Terracotta’s scalable infrastructure software with Eucalyptus Systems’ open source private cloud platform to solve issues related to scalable data management and elastic provisioning.

 

Acumatica enters Canadian Web-based ERP market

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08 Feb 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

Acumatica’s Web-based ERP solution that can be deployed on internal or external clouds through traditional software licensing or software-as-a-service models. Analysts say the solution is a good fit for the mid-sized enterprise market.

 

Canada embraces GS1 standards for barcoding drugs

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04 Feb 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

Now that 34 organizations across the county have agreed to adopt global GS1 barcoding standards, the Canadian Bar Code Project is one step closer towards reducing medication errors and streamlining the pharmaceutical process by automating the identification of all commercial drugs on the Canadian market.

ICTC tool helps immigrants find IT jobs

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02 Feb 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

A new tool from ICTC helps foreign workers find employment in Canada. Kovasys reports temporary U.S. visa holders are moving north. Plus, employment tips for immigrants from Robert Half Technology.

Toronto high schools install real-time communications networks

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27 Jan 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

The Toronto District School Board has launched a six-month pilot project with Onestop Media Group that will install real-time, video-based communications networks in four Toronto high schools.

 

SAS starts hiring across Canada

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26 Jan 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

SAS Canada is adding roughly 20 positions, mostly in sales, to offices across the country. While the hiring announcement isn’t reflective of a boom in the overall IT job market, it does signal the growth of the business analytics market in Canada, which could lead to good news for business intelligence analysts down the road.

 

Canadian outsourcing will grow in 2010, says IDC

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22 Jan 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

IDC Canada, CORE and Prima Management Consulting re-assess how the recession impacted outsourcing practices in Canada and forecast upcoming outsourcing trends for 2010.

 

UWinnipeg and Cisco plan to commercialize research

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21 Jan 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

An upcoming commercial research centre at the University of Winnipeg intends to build a bridge between academia and business, with some help from Cisco. This may stimulate an intellectual property “growth spurt” and economic activity in Manitoba further down the road.

Deloitte’s 10 Canadian TMT predictions for 2010

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20 Jan 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

Consumers and enterprises wanting to access data from anywhere, anytime and any screen is this year’s theme, but the twist is that they “need to do so economically.” The result will likely be technologies that aren’t perfect, but “good enough,” says Deloitte.

What cities will look like in five years

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19 Jan 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

Predicting disease, preventing crime, charging vehicles with renewable energy sources and buildings that sense and respond to conditions like living organisms are only five years away, according to IBM. But don’t expect utopia in Canada, says a U of T professor of urban planning and design.

3Tera starts certifying cloud computing skills

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15 Jan 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

Two AppLogic-based certification programs now available from 3Tera may signify the beginning of the cloud computing certification trend.

— reprinted by IT World, 3Tera starts certifying cloud computing skills

Are you a planner, problem solver or a pinball?

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14 Jan 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

A new study from the University of Western Ontario identifies six types of IT learners. Richard Ivey professor and co-author of the study Deborah Compeau reveals some surprises about how people learn technology in organizations.

— reprinted by ComputerworldUK.com, Are you a planner, problem solver or a pinball?

Help desk key to harmony

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08 Jan 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

Relationship advice for IT pros: How IT can meet the needs and wants of end users in their organization and why the help desk is key to success. With nine tips from end users.

— reprinted by NetworkWorld.com, What end users want from IT departments

Five mobile predictions from Telus

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04 Jan 2010, ComputerWorld Canada

Telus’ chief futurist reveals five mobile trends he anticipates coming to Canadians in 2010. An Info-Tech research analyst says the trends are already taking place and likely reflect what’s coming from Telus.

— reprinted by ITBusiness.ca, Telus predicts the future of mobility and communications

SAS pushes for business analytics in Canadian gov’t

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30 Dec 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

Fraud experts at a recent event in Toronto, hosted by SAS Institute, addressed challenges facing the government when it comes to combatting fraud. Why the “crown jewel” in fraud detection is powerful analytics.

— reprinted by ITBusiness.ca, SAS pushes for business analytics in Canadian government

Like Firefox? Try Thunderbird 3

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10 Dec 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

Thunderbird 3 literally borrows the best ideas from Firefox and applies them to e-mail, says Mozilla Messaging CEO in a one-on-one with ComputerWorld Canada. What gives Mozilla’s free, open source and cross-platform e-mail application an edge over Outlook.

Video collaboration a catch 22 for enterprises

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09 Dec 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

A unified communication provider, research analyst firm and independent technology consultant all agree that cost both motivates and prohibits the use of video collaboration tools in the enterprise.

Cisco gives Zeus, Koobface and Conficker awards

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08 Dec 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

Zeus is the most audacious criminal operation of the year and Koobface the most notable criminal innovation, according to Cisco’s Annual 2009 Security Report. On a positive note, the cybercrime sign of hope award goes to the Conficker Working Group.

20 mobile trends and future technologies

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02 Dec 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

Highlights from presentations by Info-Tech, AMD, Sony and RIM on emerging trends and future applications for mobile technology, at an event hosted by the Ontario government.

— reprinted at CIO.com, 20 Mobile Trends and Future Technologies

Quebecers know how to align IT with business

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25 Nov 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

When it comes to aligning IT with business, Quebecers know best. Quebec reports higher levels of satisfaction with IT effectiveness compared to all other provinces in Canada, according to a new survey from CA that suggests IT governance increases efficiency and cuts costs.

Toronto starts thinking like the Web

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23 Nov 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

Toronto makes its municipal data open to the public. Mozilla’s Mark Surman provided the inspiration, says Mayor David Miller; CIO Dave Wallace highlights the initial data sets; and Peter Corbett suggests three ways to combine tech developers with government.

Tech titans unite for private cloud push

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05 Nov 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

Cisco, EMC and VMware form a coalition to accelerate data centre virtualization and the transition to private clouds. The CEOs also announce a new joint venture, Acadia.

Expert explains the 3 r’s of networking

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05 Nov 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

Mark Jeffries – a top communications consultant, presentation coach, keynote speaker and former stockbroker, economist and TV host – provided a step-by-step strategy on how to network at the SAS Premier Business Leadership Series in Vegas.

IBM’s ‘enterprise Facebook’ is a hit

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03 Nov 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

Lotus Connections is “the fastest-growing software in IBM history when it comes to market adoption,” said an IBM social software strategist on board the Lotus Bus. IBM discussed iNotes, Symphony, security and boundary workers during its stop in Toronto on Monday.

— reprinted by ITBusiness.ca, The Lotus Bus makes a stop in Canada

Toronto Hydro pays customers to power down

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27 Oct 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

Toronto Hydro is offering financial incentives to companies that reduce their energy consumption in data centres through virtualization and data centre consolidation projects. The Data Centre Incentive Program is supported by the Ontario Power Authority.

ITAC and Osler present AFP/P3 model to IT vendors

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22 Oct 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

Members of the private and public sector gathered at the Old Mill in Toronto to discuss Infrastructure Ontario’s upcoming procurement model for large-scale IT infrastructure projects. Plus, tips for newcomers to the P3 market.

CIO speaks frankly about IBM’s CIO survey

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20 Oct 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

IBM explored the results of its global CIO survey over an early breakfast meeting with Canadian CIOs. ADP Canada’s CIO provided the perspective of a high growth company.

— reprinted by CIO.com, CIO Speaks Frankly About IBM’s CIO Survey

13 ways to take advantage of YouTube

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16 Oct 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

YouTube is the second largest search engine in the world and Canada is the YouTube capital when it comes to audience reach, but Canadian businesses are slow to take advantage of the possibilities for ads and marketing. A Google spokesperson, social media expert and IT analyst offer advice.

Are Canadians afraid to take risks?

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14 Oct 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

Canada is ranked 13th in the world on the innovation list. In a roundtable discussion at the IBM Science & Innovation Summit, experts debate if and how risk-taking fits into the problem.

Cost of IT security breaches jumps 97 per cent

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29 Sep 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

Results from a joint Rotman-Telus study on Canadian IT security practices show major differences in the average annual losses organizations suffer depending on whether they are public companies, private or within the public sector.

Intel offers answer for consumer/enterprise IT conflict

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25 Sep 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

IT department headaches are growing with the consumerization of the enterprise, as end user expectations for consumer-oriented devices rise and the line between personal and corporate data blurs. The solution may be virtualized containers.

A peek into Xerox R and D

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23 Sep 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

Scientists at the Xerox Research Centre of Canada reveal their research on reusable paper, printable organic electronics, photoreceptors that heal, editing colour using natural language and more. Plus, Xerox’s R&D strategy described by CTO Sophie Vandebroek.

— reprinted by ITBusiness.ca, Video: Sneak peek into Xerox’s print lab

Mobile gap closes, but digital divide grows in South Africa

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19 sep 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

The digital divide is just one of the topics slated for discussion at Harvard next week, where Ottawa-based IDRC is gathering Nobel prize-winning economists, ICT experts and scholars from Brazil, Canada, Indonesia, South Africa and South Asia for a forum on ICT and poverty around the globe.

Mainframe specialists make the IT ‘it’ list

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15 Sep 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

Demand for mainframe specialists is at an all-time high, according to IBM Canada. While IT staffing firm Sapphire Canada hasn’t noticed an increase in demand, the need for mainframe specialists never really decreased either, says Sergio Mateus.

Canadian health care is almost filmless

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10 Sep 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

eHealth adoption may be a slow process, but efforts to digitize radiology departments at hospitals across Canada are nearly complete. Agfa HealthCare replaced film at 51 sites across the RUIS of Université Laval region after being selected as the preferred PACS vendor for the Quebec Government. Find out what the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec thinks about the deployment.

Eucalyptus CTO discusses open source clouds

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10 Sep 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

Rich Wolski, UCSB professor and CTO of recently-established Eucalyptus Systems, discusses the company’s first commercial product for the enterprise – an open source private cloud platform that supports Amazon AWS APIs and leverages VMware.

— reprinted by ComputerworldUK.com, Eucalyptus CTO discusses open source private clouds

How much are you worth on the black market?

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09 Sep 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

Symantec unveils a tool that calculates what a cybercriminal would pay for your online identity and announces the release of Norton 2010. Plus, Michael Calce provides pointers on consumer Internet security.

— reprinted by IT World, How much are you worth on the black market?

Sympatico and MSN break up, but stay friends

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01 Sep 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

Bell and Microsoft are launching independent portals today to replace the former Sympatico.msn.ca site. Vice-presidents Gary Anderson and Owen Sagness discuss what brought them together and why they decided to break up.

Facebook agreement with Canada will impact everyone

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28 Aug 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

If having an affect on 250 million users around the world weren’t enough, upcoming changes to Facebook’s privacy policies and practices are likely to spawn a chain reaction among all the other major social media sites, impact business marketing practices and address everyone who doesn’t have a Facebook account.

IBM appeals to girls with microchipped butterflies

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26 Aug 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

The IBM Toronto Lab wrapped up its annual E.X.I.T.E. Camp last week, a 3-day program designed to get pre-teen girls interested in technology and engineering.

— reprinted by ITBusiness.ca, IBM aims to address female IT under-representation

IT hiring expected to grow over next 3 months

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25 Aug 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

A new survey from Sapphire Technologies and IBM on hiring intentions in the Canadian IT sector reports a very positive outlook ahead, with 87 per cent of senior-level executives planning to maintain or increase staff. But an Info-Tech analyst cautions the layoffs might not be over yet.

Canada takes leading role in Facebook privacy issues

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19 Aug 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

Discussions between Facebook and the Privacy Commissioner of Canada over the social networking site’s compliance with Canadian federal privacy law are moving along smoothly. Lawyers and analysts say the chances of the issue escalating to court are slim.

CIPPIC encourages advocacy on Canadian copyright law

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17 Aug 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

A new Website outlines the latest legislation and bills on digital issues and encourages Canadians to take action. The first item on the agenda is copyright, followed by net neutrality, anti-malware and a bill that allows law enforcers to obtain your ID from ISPs without a warrant.

– republished at Networkworld.com

IT procurement: What Canadian vendors want

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06 Aug 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

The federal GENS project may change the traditional “vendor of record” approach. ITAC, CABiNET, CATA and PPI weigh in on the battle between large-scale contracts and SMEs.

eHealth Ontario appoints interim CEO

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04 Aug 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

Step 1 is getting a ‘crash course in eHeath the organization,’ says Robert Devitt, president and CEO of eHealth Ontario for the next four months. Carmi Levy says Devitt is ‘the right person at the right time for the right role,’ so the question is: why only four months?

Quick guide to contract work for IT job hunters

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27 Jul 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

Eighty-two per cent of CIOs find contracts valuable for evaluating prospective employees, according to an IT staffing firm. How to tailor your resume, land the job and increase your chances of moving into a permanent position. Plus, where the opportunities lie and the pros and cons of contract work.

The new soft skill: virtual competence

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14 Jul 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

Researchers from the University of Western Ontario’s Richard Ivey School of Business suggest that virtual competence is a soft skill managers should be encouraging in their staff. Why IT professionals would have higher virtual competence than those of other industries.

— reprinted by CIO.com, The New Soft Skill: Virtual Competence

Rogers-HP embedded notebook now in Canada

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13 Jul 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

Rogers Communications becomes the first Canadian wireless operator to leverage the notebook market by bundling the HP Mini 110 with a data plan.

— co-authored by Jennifer Kavur and Howard Solomon

— reprinted by ITBusiness.ca, Rogers and HP bring embedded notebook to the Canadian channel

How many Twitter followers does it take to get a job?

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10 Jul 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

Your online popularity might be as valuable to your career as a post-grad education. A recent job posting on Best Buy’s Web site prefers candidates with a graduate degree and at least 250 followers on Twitter.

— reprinted at CIO.com, How Many Twitter Followers Does it Take to Get a Job?

CATA proposes test beds in government

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01 Jul 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

The Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance is calling out to municipal, provincial and federal governments for the creation of technology test beds that would provide opportunities current procurement processes don’t. The end game is accelerating enterprise creation in Canada, says John Reid.

 

Symantec releases worldwide disaster recovery statistics

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29 Jun 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

More executives are involved in DR plans, virtualization still poses big challenges, and testing has a significant effect on customers and revenue, the survey says.

— reprinted by CIO.com, Symantec Releases Disaster-Recovery Statistics

Five reasons your family doctor isn’t using EMR

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24 Jun 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

A GP and the CEO of OntarioMD weigh in on the roadblocks to electronic medical records for family physicians in Ontario.

IT careers aren’t cool enough for Canadian high school students

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16 Jun 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

High school students regard cool and fun factors more than salary and job security when considering their future careers, according to a study conducted by the Conference Board of Canada for the Canadian Coalition for Tomorrow’s ICT Skills and Bell Canada.

McAfee software watches kids’ Internet use

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09 Jun 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

Ontario’s privacy commissioner gave a thumbs up to McAfee on Tuesday as the company unveiled Internet security software for families. Why protecting your kids online is protecting yourself.

— reprinted by ITBusiness.ca, McAfee launches software that monitors Facebook

Vancouver becomes role model for open source in government

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07 Jun 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

Open source activists are praising the Open Data, Open Standards and Open Source motion passed by the City of Vancouver last month. City Councillor Andrea Reimer provides an update on what to expect next.

McGill post-grad program targets Internet business

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02 Jun 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

Courses on Web analytics, business intelligence, social media, project management, Internet business analysis and design would make pros “highly employable,” says CATA president John Reid.

Execs value e-mail over all other data

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31 May 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

With so much valuable and confidential information in our inboxes, it’s no wonder 81 per cent would recover that data first. There’s a strong legal argument for better backup, too.

— reprinted at CIO.com, Executives Value E-mail Over All Other Data

Mike Holmes tackles skills shortage at Canadian Skills Competition

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26 May 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

The HGTV personality was a spokesperson at the 2009 Canadian Skills Competition in Charlottetown this year, which targets the trade skills shortage. Event sponsor Fluke discusses weight of the problem. Holmes provides pointers on making it right. WITH VIDEO

GE launches $6-billion health care strategy

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10 May 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

Canada Health Infoway and eHealth Ontario are among the Canadian partners. Medical professionals give some advice on priorities.

Cloud control: Managing and monitoring service

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03 May 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

San Francisco startup Tap In Systems has launched a deep-level monitoring service that integrates with external clouds and internal non-cloud systems. Enterprises get more control, including the ability to audit bills from cloud vendors. First of a two-part cloud management series.

Spammers pin campaign on swine flu

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29 Apr 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

The disease has mutated from medspam to money-making. Now, malicious code is hiding in a PDF of swine flu FAQ.

— reprinted by PCWorld.com, Beware Swine Flu Spam

— reprinted by CIO.com, Spammers Pin Campaign on Swine Flu

Why enterprises aren’t paperless — yet

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27 Apr 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

Despite advances in document management and storage, the piles of paper aren’t going away. Why the paperless office is still a myth.

— reprinted at Macworld.com, Why enterprises aren’t paperless yet

How Oracle and Sun can get their act together

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19 Apr 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

Their offices are near each other. They have similar consulting organizations. Experts predict smooth sailing, but there are still layoffs, R&D and the local Canadian presence to consider.

George Bernard Shaw plays sidestep copyright headaches

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15 Apr 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

York University is taking advantage of network restrictions and IP filtering on the fibre optic ORION network to sidestep copyright issues associated with Shaw’s work.

Mafiaboy speech a standing room only affair

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08 Apr 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

Michael Calce’s keynote drew a crowd that spilled out of the convention centre’s hall. How social engineering is still the lynchpin of successful hacking.

— reprinted by Computerworld.com, ‘Mafiaboy’ spills the beans at IT360 on underground hackers

— reprinted by IT World, Mafiaboy speech a standing room only affair

 

B.C. hatches $100-million deal with EAS and Q9

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01 Apr 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

The EDS subsidiary and the data centre host make an all-Canadian team for the provincial government, isolating it from foreign disclosure requirements like the Patriot Act.

Boomers prefer PCs, but Gen Y wants smart phones

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30 Mar 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

Issuing corporate smart phones isn’t just about catering to the preferences of the next generation. As a lower-cost alternative to company laptops, mobile phones might be better suited to the current economic climate.

— reprinted at PCWorld.com, Tech Generation Gap: Laptop or Smartphone?

MeetingZone cashes in on reduced business travel

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17 Mar 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

The audio and Web conference service provider opens an operations centre in Toronto. Is it the market or just good pricing that is bringing in the business?

Data recovery needn’t be your dirty little secret

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05 Mar 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

Seven ways enterprises can prevent backup, restoration and recovery efforts from getting worse. Plus, a behind-the-scenes tour of a data recovery lab.

— reprinted by Computerworld.com, Data recovery needn’t be your dirty little secret

— reprinted by IT World, Data recovery needn’t be your dirty little secret

Adventures in data recovery

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24 Feb 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

Russian hackers hold a casino site hostage, a Venezuelan town mistakes disk drives for organ transfers and a Toronto hospital needs ER for RAID array. Three adventure tales from CBL Data Recovery. WITH VIDEO

— reprinted by CIO.com, Adventures in Data Recovery

Ontario universities tap into Tools as a Service

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23 Feb 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

IBM’s latest cloud computing project gives students and professors 24/7 access to IBM software development tools – with no hardware upgrades or installation required.

Your online reputation: Leveraging LinkedIn, part 3 of 3

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09 Feb 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

Make the most of your LinkedIn account. Part 3 in our series on how to maneuver your professional reputation through Web 2.0.

— reprinted by IT World, Your online reputation: Leveraging LinkedIn

Thirteen ways to boost your online reputation, part 2 of 3

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05 Feb 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

Strategies and tactics to turn the Internet into an ally for your professional persona. 

— reprinted by IT World, Thirteen ways to boost your online reputation

What Google says can make or break your career, part 1 of 3

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05 Feb 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

Social media experts, an IT staffing firm and pros at Microsoft, IBM and Dell reveal ways to boost – or bust – your reputation.

Last call to comment on Ontario’s accessible IT standard

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03 Feb 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

The technology community has 24 hours left to influence proposed legislation that will require business information and communications systems across the province to become fully accessible to the disabled.

 

Budget commits $50 million to quantum computing centre

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28 Jan 2009, ComputerWorld Canada

With matching funds from the province of Ontario and RIM founder Mike Lazaridis, University of Waterloo’s Institute for Quantum Computing will receive $150 million to build a research facility and attract talent.

New data centre will save $1 million a year, Sun says

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27 Jan 2009,  ComputerWorld Canada

The largest data centre consolidation project in the company’s history boasts new design, power and cooling technologies, and even grey water diversion plans.

— reprinted by Computerworld.com, Sun says its new data center will save $1 million a year

Behind-the-scenes IT that ensures retail success

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12 Nov 2008, ComputerWorld Canada

Understanding the customer experience is critical for retailers looking to win and keep shoppers. How IT can help. IBM recently hosted Retail As Theatre at The Second City in Toronto.

Google in Canada: The biggest Chrome challenges

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29 Oct 2008, ComputerWorld Canada

IT departments aren’t providing feedback. Users are leery about sharing statistics. Developers need to get on board. Google’s mobile engineering manager addresses CASCON 2008.

The hottest fall laptops for Canadian business users

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17 Sep 2008, ComputerWorld Canada

Canada’s major OEMs have launched updated versions of their mobile computing products that focus on extended battery life and lightweight designs. Help users choose the model that best suits their enterprise needs.

— reprinted by ITBusiness.ca, The hottest business notebooks for fall

 

McAfee and MXI Security team up for government encryption

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05 Aug 2008, ComputerWorld Canada

Government agencies in Canada and the U.S. will have more options for encrypting data on portable devices. A recent report suggests they’ll need all the help they can get.

— reprinted by ITBusiness.ca,

McAfee and MXI Security developing joint public sector offerings

 

What to do during the XP phase-out

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17 Jul 2008, ComputerWorld Canada

Now that OEM sales have officially stopped, users must decide whether to wait, upgrade or switch.

(Print feature)

Electronics industry will foot the bill for e-waste

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15 Jul 2008, ComputerWorld Canada

The Ontario Ministry of the Environment approved the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment program for reducing consumer, industry and commercial e-waste.

Rogers iPhone rates draw Canadian users’ ire

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01 Jul 2008, ComputerWorld Canada

An online petition protests the entry-level $60 package that includes 150 daytime minutes, unlimited evenings and weekends, 75 outgoing text messages and 400MB of data. Analysts aren’t impressed, either.

— reprinted by ITBusiness.ca, Users complain Rogers has dropped the iPhone ball

CIPS expands IT professional designations

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01 Jul 2008, ComputerWorld Canada

The Canadian Information Processing Society adds a certification for more senior technology executives in preparation for a forthcoming designation that will certify international expertise. Robert Half Technology talks about the growing value of the I.S.P.

Windows XP users shun forced upgrade to Vista

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25 Jun 2008, ComputerWorld Canada

Though Microsoft plans to support Windows XP another six years, one Canadian user fears the plan to stop selling the OS will discourage developers from making drivers. Another says even Windows 95 is good enough for him if it supports the required applications.