Short takes from this week's news
Dell to phase out Itanium servers...
Dell is phasing out its Intel Itanium-based servers, as it
chooses to concentrate on lower-cost models. Dell will instead
focus on promoting Intel-based servers that use the cheaper Xeon
processor. Hewlett-Packard is the biggest seller of Itanium-based
servers, with Fujitsu, Hitachi and NEC among the other leading
suppliers. Intel has now aimed the Itanium mainly at large
multi-processor server platforms, a market that Dell has shown
little interest in.
...while Intel maps out future for Itanium
chips
Despite the modest take-up of Itanium in the overall processor
market, Intel has outlined a long-term product roadmap for the
chip. This includes the first dual-core Itanium processor, which is
expected later this year. This will provide double the processing
performance of current Itanium chips.
Carphone Warehouse uses datawarehouse
Carphone Warehouse has invested in technology that will allow it
to present each store with daily sales reports. The company has
installed the Informatica PowerCentre data integration platform,
which collates sales data from stores into a centralised
datawarehouse. The firm previously relied on custom software to
integrate sales figures, a process that took several days, and
could only be completed once a month.
Gartner sees Office 12 migration challenge
A new interface for the forthcoming Microsoft Office 12 will
boost productivity but make migration difficult, said Gartner last
week. The user interface "will differ significantly from its
current form," said Gartner analysts Michael Silverberg and Stephen
Kleynhans on the analyst firm's website. They drew attention in
particular to Office 12's complex new command ribbon, which will
replace the familiar menus and buttons.
Seagate buys Mirra to operate as subsidiary
Hard drive manufacturer Seagate has acquired Mirra, a company
that develops hardware and software that allows PC users to back up
their data and access it from any PC connected to the internet. The
terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Seagate said Mirra will
operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary.
Survey finds SMEs lack continuity plans
Forty six per cent of small and medium-sized enterprises do not
have business continuity plans, according to a survey by insurance
company Axa. And of those that have plans, 75% do not review them.
Axa identified the loss of key staff as the biggest threat to SMEs,
followed by IT failure and damage to property.
Demon founder guilty of interceptiing
e-mails
Demon Internet founder Clifford Stanford was given a six-month
prison sentence suspended for two years and fined £20,000 last week
after pleading guilty to intercepting e-mails linked to the 1980s
Westminster Council homes-for-votes scandal.
Kings Ferry installs web location system
Kings Ferry Coaches is equipping its 80-strong fleet with a
web-based satellite-tracking service that will let passengers view
the location of coaches via a mobile phone or PC. The Coachtrack
system was developed for Kings Ferry by Masternaut. It links to the
coach firm's management software and will also provide in-cab
satellite navigation.
Tie Rack implements Retail-J Epos software
Tie Rack has begun deploying Retail-J's electronic point of sale
and store management software across its 330 outlets in the UK and
overseas. Systems already rolled out in the UK include Epos,
electronic funds transfer, back-office functions, estate management
and sales audit.
Teenager jailed for hacking Hilton's phone
A 17-year-old who hacked into Paris Hilton's mobile phone has
been jailed for 11 months. He published the phone numbers of
celebrities including Eminem and Anna Kournikova, after gaining
access to Hilton's phone by hacking into her phone operator's
computer systems.
Clarification
In response to a letter sent by Connecting for Health to the
Institute of Directors regarding the My Take column in Computer
Weekly 23 August 2005, Jim Norton, policy advisor to the IoD, would
like to point out that he intended to question the extent to which
Connecting for Health has the authority and mandate to lead the
business change to provide genuinely effective patient care. Norton
does not question Connecting for Health's ability to build the
system.