Building your own computers and servers makes sense

Major corporations have joined users in building computers from parts, avoiding vendors like HP and Dell

Apple server farm

By Stephen Pate – Would it surprise you if Apple, Microsoft, Google and Amazon.com didn’t trot down to Office Depot or call Dell Corporate sales for their computers?

They don’t. Large corporations and users have found they can build better computers and servers that are targeted to their needs by selecting the parts themselves.  Continue reading

Microsoft, Google, Apple, Amazon and RIM sign privacy accord

In step with President Obama, the California Attorney General reaches signed agreement on consumer privacy

California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris signs accord with major IT companies (photo Government of California)

Within hours of President Obama’s announcement of the Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights, the State Attorney General of California, Kamala D. Harris, announced an accord to protect consumers’ privacy. (Related: Internet Privacy Gets White House Attention)

Signing on the accord negotiated with the Federal Department of Justice were Microsoft, Google, Apple, Amazon, RIM and HP. The agreement also includes major mobile service providers and is global in scope.

“Attorney General Harris forged the agreement with six companies whose platforms comprise the majority of the mobile apps market: Amazon, Apple, Google, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft and Research In Motion,” said the press release from Harris’ office. “These platforms have agreed to privacy principles designed to bring the industry in line with a California law requiring mobile apps that collect personal information to have a privacy policy. The majority of mobile apps sold today do not contain a privacy policy.”  Continue reading

Internet Privacy Gets White House Attention

President Obama to announce new regulations to control online use of personal privacy

President Barack Obama (White House photo)

The White House will announce today new sweeping regulations and seek Congressional approval of statutory authorities over the online privacy of consumers.
A paper was issued today signaling the President’s intentions entitled Consumer Data Privacy in a Networked World: A Framework for Protecting Privacy and Promoting Innovation in a Global Digital Economy.

The recent scandals among computer giants like Apple, Google and Facebook have the concern of the President and he intends to move both to carry out new regulations with the Department of Commerce and propose new laws in Congress. Continue reading