FARBER's Weblog

MS and SAP mulled merger

Dan — Tue, 08 Jun 2004 11:33:00 -0700

Microsoft's proposal last year to merge with SAP reveals a somewhat desperate Microsoft, anxious to gain a huge footprint in enterprise applications as other sources of revenue are under siege. Given Microsoft's past dealings with the Department of Justice, I wonder how easily the company could get past federal regulators with such as merger. Subsequent to the SAP talks, Microsoft reportedly gave a sworn statement to the DOJ that it wouldn't compete in the upper tier of the enterprise software market for two years. Is Microsoft flip-flopping--or just confused about its own stategy? On one hand, the company wanted to buy its way into the enterprise apps market with SAP; then it says that it won't enter the market for a while--which tends to give succor to the DOJ's antitrust gambit of opposing Oracle's hostile bid for PeopleSoft.

Apple banking on patents

Dan — Tue, 18 May 2004 11:23:00 -0700

Transparent windows that fade when they arent active is a feature of Apples operating system, but are also slated to show up in the next version of Microsofts Windows (the Longhorn Aero interface) and has been seen in Suns Looking Glass user interface for Solaris. Now Apple wants to patent this idea. As part of its application, Apple described a feature that would allow the user to work through an unused window. Upon reaching a certain level of visual translucency, user input in the region of the window is interpreted as an operation on the underlying objects rather than the contents of the overlaying window.

Apple was recently awarded a patent for the interface used in the iTunes music software.

Bottom line: Apple doesnt want to end up like Xerox PARC, whose inventions formed the basis for original Lisa and Macintosh user experience but never made a dime from licensing ...

Tips for succeeding in the global marketplace

Dan — Mon, 17 May 2004 17:16:00 -0700

After a recent trip to Lebanon, CNET's Esther Dyson stresses the importance of being sensitive to local cultures and customs when expanding globally. She told me which companies she thinks are doing a good job and explains what international governments should do to secure U.S. investment.

Vendors of choice

Dan — Wed, 12 May 2004 13:21:00 -0700

The evolution to enterprise service architecture strategy is a huge bet for SAP, especially if Web services turn out to be more problematic to evolve and take root in enterprises. But, SAP CEO Kagermann is convinced that he is making the right moves: I am completely convinced its the right architecture for next ten or more years. We have the architecture and application knowledge to do the granularity of enterprise services in the right way. Its not just technology--we deliver an architecture that brings flexibility but still requires that customers select one vendor of choice as a sole control. But within the [framework], you can combine with other components.

The critical point for SAP and its competitors, and more importantly their customers, is the notion of a vendor of choice and sole control. Despite the promise of more interoperable components and composite software composed of elements from a ...

SAP: People, not just transactions

Dan — Wed, 12 May 2004 07:46:00 -0700

At SAP's annual customer event--SAPPHIRE--CEO Henning Kagermann touted the development partnership with Microsoft and an agreement with several hardware vendors to provide virtualization services for Netweaver. Fundamentally, SAP is leading the push toward a more complete service-oriented architecture with Netweaver and SAP's suite of applications, such as mySAP ERP.. "It's [mySAP ERP] a transaction system built around people," Kagermann said. "If we want to go for growth, the best we can do is make our people more knowledgeable and take the most out of your knowledgeable people. The paradigm of the future is a system that pushes relevant information to you--not management by transcation, but by exception. In Kagermann's vision the user gets the alerts, KPIs, filtered information with embedded analysis and what he called 'guided self services' to help make decisions better and take appropriate action. There isn't much new or original in Kagermann's vision, but SAP is actual doing more than competitors ...

N+I: Calling on LANs and VoIP

Dan — Wed, 12 May 2004 07:02:00 -0700

We are covering the N+I networking conference in Las Vegas this week. Check out our ongoing coveraging, including keynotes for MCI's Michael Capellas and Cisco's John Chambers.

Firetide's wireless mesh goes where backhauls can't

Dan — Wed, 12 May 2004 06:30:00 -0700

David Berlind: One of the challenges facing attendees at a big trade show like N+I is finding the handful of nascent, disruptive technologies that are poised for explosive growth once IT departments get hip to their advantages. One such technology at this year's N+I is wireless mesh technology. In these days of Wi-Fi, the phrase "wireless" generally conjures up images of untethered client connectivity. Wireless mesh is nothing of the sort--it's primarily a new enabler for Ethernet deployments in scenarios where pulling wire doesn't make sense.

Proprietary vs. open source

Dan — Wed, 12 May 2004 06:27:00 -0700

John Carroll writes cogently about the proprietary versus open source code debate....especially as it relates to which model is best from a business value point of view.

Google's man behind the curtain

Dan — Wed, 12 May 2004 06:21:00 -0700

In an interview before Google's IPO filing, tech guru Craig Silverstein discussed the backlash against Gmail among privacy advocates, the company's cultural changes and its shifting reliance on PageRank. It turns out that this man behind the curtain doesn't offer any substantive revelations.

Put your apps to the test--or someone else will

Dan — Mon, 10 May 2004 17:14:00 -0700

David Berlind: Mercury Interactive's brand of business technology optimization (BTO) is mission critical.

IBM taking on MS with Webtop apps

Dan — Sun, 09 May 2004 22:32:00 -0700

IBM is trying to paint the world blue with a Web-based Microsoft Office-like applications. Supposedly the company will charge customers $2 per user per month for the software, but will make money on the required server software, such as IBMs WebSphere. It's the WebSphere everywhere strategy (similar to Windows everywhere but with less proprietary components). The hosted applications business is gaining traction, but weaning enterprises off of Office will be difficult as we have seen with Star Office and Open Office. MS will come up with a hosted Web-based suite of its own. Even so, a smart move for IBM.

Poor reputation management

Dan — Fri, 07 May 2004 12:01:00 -0700

Despite all the mea cuplas regarding the abuse of detainees in Iraq, Defense Secretary Rumseld and his comrades in the chain of military command still look more like Keystone Cops than members of a well-honed organization that President Bush and VP Cheney claim to run. It reminds of the recent corporate governance scandals that caused heads to roll and reforms in corporate governance. Restoring the reputation of a government, company or individual can take years and some never recover. Computer Associates has been undergoing trial by fire, although it's deposed chairman and CEO Sanjay Kumar still has a prominent role in the company. And, Rumsfeld isn't going anywhere unless the tide turns against Bush in his quest for a second terms and something or someone has to be thrown in front of the bus. So, the question is how can the U.S restore it reputation beyond the endless panels, inquiries, and scapegoats. A fundamental ...

SAP quick fix for less than $30,000

Dan — Fri, 07 May 2004 10:26:00 -0700

SAP launched 50 individual "quick fix" packages of software and services. The packages cover task such as launched a set of "quick fix" integrating fax and e-mail applications or data archiving tools with SAP's enterprise. The company will promise a 30-day turnaround for most projects, and no payments until the package is up and running. That sounds like a good approach, although priced at 'less than $30,000' sounds like an expensive quick fix. How difficult is it to plug e-mail services into SAP's platform or those from other companies. It's the old problem of companies paying a huge cost to integrate applications and services that should naturually work together. Maybe Web services will help with that problem, but a what cost?

Intel moving fast to dual core

Dan — Fri, 07 May 2004 10:14:00 -0700

Intel is cancelling a version of the Pentium 4 due out later this year and a similar Xeon chip for servers that had been slated for 2005. Instead, Intel is prepping dual-core chips for desktops in 2005 and notebooks in 2005 or 2006. Apparently, heat dissapation problems in the single core processors running at higher clock speeds drove the decision.

Charlie Cooper debunks Google's mythology

Dan — Fri, 07 May 2004 09:52:00 -0700

Coop gives Google a hard time in parsing its SEC filing. He's right that the the company's idealism sounds phony (he calls it 'Mary Poppins at 30,000 feet') when you put it in the context of the world of high finance, but at least they are trying to preserve their innocence and set a better example for corporate governance. It will be interesting to watch how well they adhere to their principles under the pressures of a public market and intense scrutiny.

Poll says U.S . technology leadership threatened

Dan — Fri, 07 May 2004 07:03:00 -0700

The next technology battlefields

Dan — Fri, 07 May 2004 07:01:00 -0700

Rather than try to reverse the outsourcing wave, the best way for America to fend off foreign competition is to invent technologies, according to a news.com special report.

Are IT departments doomed?

Dan — Thu, 06 May 2004 17:09:00 -0700

Peter Cochrane, former CTO and Head of Research at British Telecom, writes: " It looks as though the clock could be ticking for corporate IT and security departments in the same way typing pools bit the dust over 20 years ago. The tyranny of the typing pool ended with the computer terminal and the PC. The tyranny of IT departments looks to be coming to an end through a combination of smarter users, better software and outsourcing. No longer will your company's IT staff dictate which laptop and PDA you can purchase, which applications you can use, and which networks you can access. You, the end user, will get to call the shots, to choose the tools that best allow you to do your job most efficiently."

His vision sounds a bit difficult to sell up the corporate ladder at this juncture. Getting an IT department or service ...

Why your personal firewall could be obsolete

Dan — Thu, 06 May 2004 16:19:00 -0700

David Berlind: With Microsoft poised to transform Windows XP's built-in personal firewall into a more serious security technology, now's a good time for enterprises to think more strategically before buying any more third-party personal firewall technology. And remaining independent personal firewall vendors like ZoneLabs ought to consider their long-term survival strategies. It won't be the first time that Microsoft's decision to can some added functionality into Windows has sounded the death knell for a cottage industry. But where's the outbound filtering?

Sasser not done?

Dan — Thu, 06 May 2004 16:01:00 -0700

Though the damage wrought by Sasser failed to reach the levels of MSBlast and other major infections, security experts are warning that there could still be more trouble to come from the worm.

Note to Mono watchers: Remember Yamhill

Dan — Thu, 06 May 2004 13:32:00 -0700

David Berlind: This week marked a crucial milestone in in the open source community's question for Linux-based version of Microsoft's .Net. Yesterday, Novell, which through its acquisition of Ximian inherited the Mono project that's devoted to that cause, announced the availability of the first test release of the open source project. The release supports development of .Net applications in the C# language, which, up until now, were of little use outside of Windows. Availability to more platforms than Windows could help to level the playing field between .Net and Java. As Mono draws closer to a ship date, it may pressure Microsoft to do one of two things: try to slow it down from a legal perspective on the basis of patent or copyright infringement or, it may release Linux and Unix compatibile versions under its own brand. Much the same way Intel kept its response (Yamhill) to AMD's 32/64-bit Opeteron a ...

Why searching mostly sucks

Dan — Thu, 06 May 2004 11:55:00 -0700

The Nielsen Norman Group published its Web Usability 2004 survey results today and the most glaring problem is Web usage is search. A search engine the first action in 88 percent of the Web interactions, with users visiting an average of 3.2 sites per session (other than search engines). About 50 percent of those surveyed (in live usability tests) clicked on a search result, and less than 5 percent of usage employ quotes or other query syntax to refine searches.In addition, the survey showed than unless you are one of the firt 2 to 4 links at the top of a search result page, you will be mostly ignored.

Nature and Man

Dan — Thu, 06 May 2004 11:15:00 -0700

The offshore-labor controversy

Dan — Wed, 05 May 2004 15:03:00 -0700

News.com has an in-depth special report on offshoring.

U.S. needs reforms, not rhetoric

Government officials, business leaders and academics agree that the future of America's technology complex depends on education, professional training and research investment.

Companies guarding 'secret sauce'

Although many U.S. technology businesses are contracting or considering some form of foreign outsourcing, they are adamant about keeping intellectual property at home--for now.

How India is handling the backlash

In stark contrast to the heated reaction among many U.S. workers, the country that is most associated with offshoring is both subdued and puzzled by the opposition that has arisen.

Big Problem

Scams, Lies, Deceit, and Offshoring

Dan — Wed, 05 May 2004 14:54:00 -0700

PC Mag columnist John Dvorak has a good piece on outsourcing realities...

Retail trade group calls SCO's claims baseless

Dan — Wed, 05 May 2004 14:50:00 -0700

The SCO Group's legal action against Linux is unfounded, the National Retail Federation told members Wednesday, a new blow to the company's litigation strategy.

Apple

Dan — Wed, 05 May 2004 12:27:00 -0700

It appears that Apple is downplaying vulnerabilities that security experts believe should be labeled as critical flaw that must be patched ASAP. A buffer overflow threat in the Apple file-sharing system could allow remote attacker to take over a system, but the company calls the fix a way "to improve the handling of long passwords." Shouldn't Apple be held to the same standard as Microsoft in disclosing flaws???

Getting the fundamentals right

Dan — Wed, 05 May 2004 11:14:00 -0700

Improving the user experience has been one of computing's most vexing problems, and digital convergence is raising the stakes big time. Consumers will not tolerate the control-alt-delete and configuration nightmares. Microsoft wants to carry its dominance from the traditional PC world into this new era of converged digital, IP-based infrastructure. At WinHEC, Microsoft vp Jim Allchin noted that the company's success depends on mastering the fundamentals of simplicity and reliability. He's right: Without getting the fundamentals under control--including security--the next generation Microsoft platform could fall on its face. Microsoft has the money to outlast competitors, but it won't win the hearts and minds of customers. Check out my notes from WinHEC.

Floppy drive RIP

Dan — Wed, 05 May 2004 11:01:00 -0700

At WinHEC, Gates said a fond goodbye to the floppy disk. "For the first time, I can say that the floppy disk is dead." The future is USB flash, which, according to industry reports, is expected to ship in volume of between 67 million and 120 million drives in 2005. Microsoft is also promoting the drives as a method for simple configuration of wireless network security.

Who cares unless you have a stake, or want one

Dan — Thu, 29 Apr 2004 13:47:00 -0700

Google filed to go public today, seeking to raise $2.7 billion in an unusual auction-style offering that will give the founders rare control over the company. Download the filing