Operating systems software
Competition among operating system (OS) suppliers is growing, with new OS products being developed for emerging platforms such as smartphones and netbooks. Microsoft Windows is still the most important product for businesses, but Linux, Mac OS and Unix offer important alternatives, along with device-specific OS such as Android and Chrome. We examine the operating system software choices facing IT managers.
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News
08 Feb 2023
India launches homegrown BharOS
The homegrown Android-based mobile operating system could reduce India’s reliance on foreign software, but uncertainties around market adoption and software updates remain Continue Reading
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E-Zine
16 Jan 2023
CW EMEA: Protecting the privacy of schoolchildren
In this month’s CW EMEA, we look at how schools in Germany have stopped using Microsoft Office 365 over lack of clarity over how data is collected, shared and used. We also delve into how former UK spy boss Richard Dearlove leaked names of MI6 secret agent recruiters in China to back an aggressive right-wing US campaign against tech company Huawei. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
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News
28 Jun 2012
Microsoft ramps up Windows 8 security for IT consumerisation
Microsoft is building antivirus and secure, role-based authentication into Windows 8 to make the OS enterprise-ready Continue Reading
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News
18 Jun 2012
Asian scientists call for government action on supercomputers
Scientists in India, China, Japan, Korea and India have called on their governments to collaborate on supercomputer technology Continue Reading
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News
01 Jun 2012
Microsoft softens July licence blow
Microsoft has lowered the price hike planned for July, but businesses still face paying up to 25% more for their software. Continue Reading
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News
18 May 2012
CW Buyer's Guide: IT Tools
This Computer Weekly buyer’s guide to IT tools shows how you can use software and systems to improve the running of your IT department. Continue Reading
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News
04 May 2012
London to test urban operating system
London is to test an operating system developed to support the smart cities of the future to keep buildings, traffic and services running smoothly. Continue Reading
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News
25 Apr 2012
Infosec 2012: Patching alone can deliver 80% protection
Keeping software up to date with security patches can deliver 80% protection from cyber threats, says security firm Secunia. Continue Reading
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Feature
03 Apr 2012
Blade servers: How to decide on Unix or Linux
If you’re contemplating Unix or Linux for your blade server, or a migration from one to the other, in this guide you will find everything you need to make up your mind. Useful Unix and Linux command lines also included. Continue Reading
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News
21 Dec 2011
RIM rebuffs Amazon and Microsoft approaches
Amazon considered buying troubled smartphone maker, Research in Motion, according to a report on Reuters. Continue Reading
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News
06 Oct 2011
Technology industry figures pay tribute to Apple co-founder and CEO Steve Jobs
Apple's co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs has died, aged 56. Jobs battled with pancreatic cancer, and had liver transplant surgery in 2009. He stepped down as Apple CEO in August 2011 after his second bout of medical leave since the start of the year. Continue Reading
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News
28 Sep 2011
Microsoft starts roll-out of Mango update for Windows Phone 7
Microsoft has started rolling out the next major version of its Windows Phone 7 operating system, codenamed Mango. Continue Reading
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News
27 Sep 2011
Bristol Council's open source plan thwarted by security clearance problems
Bristol City Council's open source push has suffered another series of set-backs that point a finger of blame at CESG, the cyber security arm of GCHQ. Continue Reading
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News
22 Sep 2011
Government pulls plug on ailing £11bn NHS IT programme
The troubled £11bn NHS National Programme for IT is to be axed, the government is expected to announce later today. Continue Reading
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News
21 Sep 2011
RightMove renders property maps with Google
RightMove is the UK's biggest user of Google Maps and one of the largest users of the mapping software in the world. Continue Reading
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News
21 Sep 2011
HP webOS lay-offs could affect European employees
Hewlett-Packard could lay off European employees as part of the company's decision to discontinue its webOS hardware division, including the Touchpad tablet range. Continue Reading
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Photo Story
13 Sep 2011
Windows 8: A first look at new features for business users
A first look at Windows 8 from Microsoft's BUILD conference in Anaheim, shows what enterprise users can expect. Continue Reading
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News
12 Sep 2011
Windows 8: Microsoft hibernates the operating system for faster boot-up
This week developers get a chance to try out Windows 8, the latest version of Microsoft's desktop operating system. Windows 8 offers a new graphical user interface using tiles rather than the start menu, which is optimised for touch. Continue Reading
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News
07 Sep 2011
DigiNotar certificate authority breach: Why it matters
There has been much speculation around the identity and motive of the hacker who was able to breach DigiNotar and issue fraudulent digital certificates for hundreds of websites, but putting such speculation aside, what is the broader significance of the incident? Continue Reading
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News
16 Aug 2011
Microsoft to discontinue support for its e-book reader application
Microsoft is to halt support for its e-book reader application in a year's time, with no new content to be released after November this year. Continue Reading
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News
11 Aug 2011
US woman sues Google over Gmail scanning
A woman has filed a class action suit against Google for scanning all e-mail sent to Gmail account holders to use for targeted advertising campaigns. Continue Reading
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News
09 Aug 2011
Windows 7 deployments delayed by economic uncertainties, says Gartner
Economic uncertainty may cause a slowdown in Windows 7 operating system (OS) deployments in Western Europe, according to research firm Gartner. Continue Reading
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Photo Story
02 Aug 2011
Review of Visual Studio Lightswitch
A review of Visual Studio Lightswitch, Microsoft's simplified self-service development tool. Continue Reading
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News
02 Aug 2011
Tesco signs eight-year deal to use Microsoft products and services
Tesco has signed a software licensing and services deal with Microsoft aimed at helping improve the retail giant's global productivity and international growth. Continue Reading
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News
02 Aug 2011
Amazon closes Android appstore submissions in Germany after Apple lawsuit
Amazon has closed submissions for its Android app store in Germany following a lawsuit from Apple. Continue Reading
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News
11 Jul 2011
Microsoft packs a lot into July’s four Patch Tuesday security updates
Microsoft is to release only four security updates in this month's Patch Tuesday security update, but these will cover 22 vulnerabilities in Windows and Office. Continue Reading
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News
11 Jul 2011
Law firm uses RES Software to manage desktop transfer in office move
UK-based international law firm Stephenson Harwood used RES Software to retain and manage user desktop settings as well as upgrade desktop software during an office move. Continue Reading
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Feature
05 Jul 2011
Case study: How a small business can benefit from SaaS
Professional beauty products distributor SweetSquared considers using Microsoft Office 365 alongside browser-based SaaS. Continue Reading
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Photo Story
01 Jul 2011
The IT that serves Wimbledon 2011
IBM provides an integrated end-to-end scoring system that delivers live tennis results to the BBC TV graphics, on-court scoreboards, match information displays, official web site and Wimbledon's own iPhone app. Continue Reading
- Photo Story 01 Jul 2011
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News
29 Jun 2011
Update software to reduce risk of cyber attack, top suppliers tell business
Businesses are unnecessarily exposing themselves to cyber attack simply by failing to update to the latest versions of the software they are running, according to Microsoft and Adobe. Continue Reading
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News
22 Jun 2011
Mozilla releases final version of Firefox 5 for download
Mozilla has released a fifth version of its web browser, Firefox, available to download for Windows, Mac, Linux and Android. Continue Reading
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News
17 Jun 2011
Chinese software flaw makes infrastructure vulnerable, warns report
China's public infrastructure is vulnerable to cyber attack because of vulnerabilities in software used to run weapons systems, utilities and chemical plants, according to Reuters. Continue Reading
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Photo Story
13 Jun 2011
Review: Visual Studio ALM
The benefits of making software development more transparent Continue Reading
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News
31 May 2011
Google Chrome OS keeps focus on notebooks despite tablet explosion
Google will keep the focus of its Chrome operating system on notebooks rather than tablets for now, according to a senior executive at the search company. Continue Reading
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News
12 May 2011
Analysis: Will Android dominance increase IT security threats for business?
The Android Market is forecast to become the world's biggest mobile content platform by August 2011, according to research by mobile application research firm Distimo. Continue Reading
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News
15 Apr 2011
Computer Weekly marks the end of an era as a new one begins
The first issue of Computer Weekly magazine in 1966 marked the start of an era in the UK IT industry - the first ever weekly technology publication. This is the story of how it all began. Continue Reading
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News
28 Mar 2011
Spotify hit by malicious ads
Spotify, the popular streaming music service, has been displaying malicious advertisements to users of its Free version. Continue Reading
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News
22 Mar 2011
What is the cost of developing apps for mobile marketplaces?
Targeting consumers through smartphone apps is proving to be a good business bet. Jenny Williams reports on the costs of creating apps for different mobile marketplaces. Continue Reading
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News
17 Mar 2011
Tests show Android is 50% faster than Apple iOS for web browsing
The latest version of Google's Android operating system (OS) is 50% faster at loading web pages than Apple's iOS, according to research. Continue Reading
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News
15 Mar 2011
Adobe warns of zero-day vulnerability in Adobe Flash
Adobe has published a security advisory for a critical vulnerability in Adobe Flash that can be used to take control of an attacked machine. Continue Reading
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News
08 Mar 2011
Exclusive: Free software guru Richard Stallman on government IT and why he hates the cloud
The founding father of the free software movement tells Computer Weekly why government just doesn't "get it" Continue Reading
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News
08 Mar 2011
Facebook enlists Samaritans to counsel suicidal users
The Samaritans has teamed up with Facebook to enable users to report friends contemplating suicide. Continue Reading
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News
08 Mar 2011
Adobe extends Flash to Apple devices with free HTML5 conversion tool
Adobe has released for free download an experimental Flash-to-HTML5 converter to the development community through beta technology site, Adobe Labs. Continue Reading
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News
07 Mar 2011
France's G20 files target of cyber attack
France's files on the G20 meetings were the target of a cyber attack, the country's finance minister has confirmed. Continue Reading
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News
02 Mar 2011
Download 180-day free trial for Windows Embedded Compact 7 OS
The latest version of Microsoft's operating system (OS) for embedded devices, Windows Embedded Compact 7 is now available on a 180-day free trial. Continue Reading
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News
28 Feb 2011
Gmail bug hits 150,000 users
Around 150,000 Gmail account holders were hit by a system glitch at the weekend which reset their accounts, losing e-mails, attachments and Google Chat logs. Continue Reading
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News
10 Feb 2011
Social media policy: Seven questions to ask
Businesses must create a social media policy to guide employees using social networks and micro-blogging sites, according to Gartner. Continue Reading
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News
10 Feb 2011
Mobile workers practise lax security
More than half of Europeans practise unsafe networking when they work away from the office, according to research by German remote access experts NCP Engineering. Continue Reading
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Photo Story
10 Feb 2011
Review: Internet Explorer 9 - in pictures
Microsoft has released the latest version of its popular web browser Continue Reading
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News
03 Feb 2011
OFT to investigate e-book pricing
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is launching an investigation into e-book pricing. Continue Reading
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Photo Story
03 Feb 2011
The Condor interactive build-a-bike website
An interactive “build-a-bike” facility features on a new website designed by Alienation Digital for high-end custom cycle specialists Condor Cycles Continue Reading
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News
01 Feb 2011
ARM grows profits 47% in Q4 2010
UK-based chip developer, ARM, has reported growth in profits and sales following increased demand for smartphone and tablet licences in the fourth quarter of 2010. Continue Reading
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News
28 Jan 2011
LinkedIn reveals plans for an IPO
Professional networking site LinkedIn has revealed plans to raise up to $175m (£110m) in an initial public offering (IPO). Continue Reading
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News
21 Jan 2011
Larry Page reclaims Google chief executive post from Eric Schmidt
Google co-founder Larry Page is to take over as chief executive in April from Eric Schmidt, who will then become executive chairman. Continue Reading
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News
07 Jan 2011
Google revamps Apps Engine
Google has revamped its App Engine to combat reliability issues in its Datastore. Continue Reading
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News
06 Jan 2011
CES 2011: Steve Ballmer heralds new era of technology
Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer highlighted that the next version of Windows will be the first to run on ARM processors in his keynote address at the opening of the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Continue Reading
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News
05 Jan 2011
BCS CEO David Clarke talks about the future of the IT industry
David Clarke, CEO of the chartered institute of computing the BCS, talks to Computer Weekly about being awarded an MBE, the future of the IT profession and tackling a membership revolt against his leadership last year. Continue Reading
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News
04 Jan 2011
CES 2011: Tablets expected to dominate Vegas show
Tablet-style computers are expected to dominate the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show that kicks off in Las Vegas on Thursday. About... Continue Reading
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News
20 Dec 2010
Government shelves FiReControl
The government’s costly and overrunning FiReControl project has been axed. FiReControl has been cancelled because of serious delays with the EADS contract (now Cassidian) which began in 2004 and cost £225m. Continue Reading
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Photo Story
06 Dec 2010
Photos: The 7 sins of Windows Phone 7
Microsoft launched Windows Phone 7 (WP7) in October this year. Considered as the first serious offering from the company in the mobile operating system (OS) space, WP7 has met some criticism from users and analysts. Continue Reading
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Photo Story
28 Oct 2010
MySpace new look test drive
MySpace is revamping its social networking site to take on Facebook. See what all the fuss is about... Continue Reading
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Photo Story
12 Oct 2010
Photos: First look at OpenOffice 3.3
OpenOffice 3.3 beta is giving the Microsoft office 2010 proprietary suite of productivity applications a good run for its money. Adrian Bridgwater takes a look at the free, open source office productivity suite. Continue Reading
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Photo Story
16 Sep 2010
Internet Explorer 9 beta preview
Microsoft has released the beta version of its latest web browser, which uses HTML 5.0 and DirectX graphics acceleration. Continue Reading
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Photo Story
18 Aug 2010
Photos: Adobe Creative Suite 5
Adobe’s Creative Suite 5 is vast: 15 core applications covering web design, Flash design and development, print design and publishing, and video production. Continue Reading
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Photo Story
07 Jun 2010
MeeGo test drive
MeeGo is a new Linux operating system for mobile devices, desktop PCs and Net Books. Cliff Saran takes a close look at what it has to offer. Continue Reading
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Photo Story
12 Apr 2010
Photos: Adobe CS5 first look
CS5 is the latest release of Adobe's Creative Suite, which includes tighter workflow to help designers and Flash developers work more efficiently across Photoshop. Illustrator and Flash. Continue Reading
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Photo Story
09 Apr 2010
Virtual desktops online in space
Astronauts at the International Space Station are being given access to applications and websites through Citrix’s XenDesktop software. Continue Reading
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News
11 Mar 2010
Microsoft loses appeal on Office XML patent dispute with i4i
Microsoft has lost an appeal in its dispute with i4i over XML support in Office 2003/2007, following a decision by the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Continue Reading
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Photo Story
23 Nov 2009
Photos: Google Chrome OS review - Open source, Apps and Flash
In 1992 IBM tried to defeat Windows with OS/2 2.0, using the slogan "a better Windows than Windows". It was, arguably, but it still failed. Google is not making that mistake with Chrome OS, unveiled last week as an open source project. Release is planned for sometime in 2010. Continue Reading
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Photo Story
20 Nov 2009
First pictures of Google Chrome OS
Chrome OS is Google's attempt to build an open source operating system for cloud computing, which will run on netbooks. Continue Reading
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Photo Story
03 Nov 2009
Photo review: Karmic Koala kickstarts new Ubuntu 9.10
Ubuntu 9.10, also known as Karmic Koala, is taking on Microsoft's Windows 7. The Koala has a better software installer, faster boot times and much more. Here's our thorough review. Continue Reading
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Photo Story
22 Oct 2009
Photos: Windows 7 - Top ten new features
Computer Weekly takes a look at some of the new features of Windows 7 and why it will rock your world. Continue Reading
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Photo Story
02 Oct 2009
Google Wave - Surf, swim or suffocate?
Google Wave looks like it will turn into a typhoon as it sets its sights on email, social networking and instant messaging. But can Wave really sweep us off our feet or is it too much say goodbye to these shores... waving goodbye of course. Continue Reading
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Photo Story
30 Sep 2009
Photos: Microsoft Security Essentials test drive
Microsoft has released anti-malware software for Windows XP SP2, Vista and Windows 7. The product is freely available from the Microsoft website, but is it any good? Continue Reading
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Photo Story
01 Sep 2009
Photos: Apple Mac Snow Leopard OSX - What you will enjoy
The hype factor around Windows 7 has reached fever pitch but that hasn't stopped Apple from developing Snow Leopard with equally impressive features. Continue Reading
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Photo Story
03 Aug 2009
Photos: The Dirty Dozen of Windows 7 - things that might bug you
After the rather embarrassing flop that was Vista, it seems that they may have finally got things right with their latest progeny, and by right we mean very right. But as with all masterpieces, there are bound to be a few flaws that make us wring our hands in frustration. Here is our Windows 7 Dirty Dozen. Continue Reading
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Photo Story
28 Jul 2009
Photos: Firefox 4 team try out new user interface
The developers behind Firefox have provided a couple of concept screenshots, which points to how the popular, open source web browser could evolve. Continue Reading
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Photo Story
15 Jul 2009
Photos: MoD demo latest in military information technology
Each year the Ministry of Defence holds a week-long exhibition where suppliers can demonstrate the latest in military information technology. Continue Reading
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Photo Story
13 Jul 2009
Photos: Office 2010 first look
Microsoft has released the first technical preview of Office 2010, the much anticipated update to Office 2007. Continue Reading
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Photo Story
23 Jun 2009
Photos: Deer gets hit by Google Street View car
As the headline says, these pictures show a Google Street View car hitting a deer and driving off after the accident. Continue Reading
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Photo Story
29 May 2009
Photos: Windows 7 Touch Pack games and applications for the home
Microsoft Touch Pack for Windows 7 is six multi-touch applications and games that are designed to show the capabilities of Windows Touch in Windows 7. Continue Reading
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Photo Story
24 May 2009
Photos: Tragic pictures on Google Street View
The Google Street View eye wanders all across the world. This is a colection of dramatic pictures taken from all over the world, from Japan to the UK. Continue Reading
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Photo Story
12 May 2009
Photos: It's a funny old world according to Google Street View
Google Street View cameras travel far and wide and capture every moment as they pass. So what do they see? Continue Reading
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Photo Story
05 May 2009
Photos: Celebrities caught on Google Street View!
Google Street View sees all and that includes celebrities and fictional characters amazingly. Continue Reading
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Photo Story
20 Mar 2009
Photos: Google Street View - A tour of London
Take a virtual tour of London with Google Street View! Continue Reading
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Photo Story
11 Mar 2009
Photos: Safari 4 - Step-by-step guide
A step-by-step guide to installing Safari 4 and a look at some of the new features. Continue Reading
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Photo Story
05 Mar 2009
Photos: Top Ten security sensitive sites on Google Earth
Following the hysteria in the British media that Google Earth can be used to target sensitive sites, we decided to look at which sites so far have not been censored on Google Earth, that could possibly be considered a security risk. Continue Reading
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Photo Story
28 Jan 2009
Photos: Step-by-step guide to IE 8
Too scared to install Internet Explorer 8? Have a look at our step-by-step guide before you take the plunge. Continue Reading
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Photo Story
14 Jan 2009
Photos: Windows 7 Beta inside out
With a heightened hype factor typical to that of any Microsoft product launch, Windows 7 Beta 1 was recently made available to those of us within the industry willing to put our necks on the block and install this operating system ‘work in progress’ to see if it is likely to change our lives. Continue Reading
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Photo Story
06 Jan 2009
Photos: Top 10 most anticipated PC games for 2009
This year promises to be massive for the gaming industry as people are saving money by staying in. We look at the games that will get your fingers itching. Continue Reading
- Photo Story 10 Nov 2008
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Photo Story
29 Oct 2008
Photos: Sneak peek at Windows 7
Following the announcement of Windows 7, Computer Weekly takes a look at some of the new features. Continue Reading
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News
21 Aug 2008
Microsoft and Novell expand Windows/Linux integration deal
Microsoft and Novell are extending their interoperability agreement to tie Windows closer to Novell's SUSE Linux in the enterprise. Continue Reading
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Feature
16 Jul 2008
Facing up to security perils of outbound traffic
What about the threat from within and, more specifically, the security issues that arise from outbound traffic risks? Continue Reading
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Feature
28 May 2008
Chinook helicopter disaster - computer software failure or pilot error?
Chinook helicopter crash: was it computer software failure or a cause we'll never know? This article gives the background to the Chinook helicopter disaster with links to all the relevant articles published by ComputerWeekly and other useful web links. Continue Reading
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News
10 Oct 2007
Unified communications new priority for HP
Unified communications is a confusing area with a number of vendors in the mix. HP has launched new services to help ease companies into unified communications and help them determine which integrated tools will best fit their business goals. Continue Reading
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News
02 Oct 2007
Web 2.0 strategies for SMBs
Web 2.0 technologies are catching on at companies of all sizes. Find out how to make them work for your SMB with SearchSMB.com's top five Web 2.0 tips. Continue Reading
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Feature
01 Oct 2007
How to select the right IP PBX
Selecting the right IP PBX system for your company can be complicated. Here are some important things to consider when purchasing an IP PBX. Continue Reading
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News
07 Sep 2007
Microsoft update to patch critical Windows flaw
Microsoft plans to patch a critical flaw in Windows and plug holes in MSN Messenger, Visual Studio, and Windows services for Unix. Continue Reading
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News
05 Sep 2007
Firefox security issues persist despite update
Despite Mozilla's recent Firefox security update, researchers say there's another way attackers could exploit the browser for malicious purposes. Continue Reading
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News
04 Sep 2007
IT cheat sheets for all
They may seem like no-brainers to you, but some of your IT tricks and workarounds look magical to your peers. We've collected our favorite IT cheat sheets on topics ranging from AS/400 to HTML and Outlook so everyone can look like a whiz. Continue Reading