For years now, Google has offered its Google Maps Engine to enterprises that want to visualize their custom geospacial data. Starting today, anybody will be able to use a subset of this functionality, thanks to the launch of Google Maps Engine Lite (beta). This new tool, Google says, will allow any mapping enthusiast to “create and share robust custom maps using this powerful, easy-to-use tool.”
Getting to easily store and share content online as well as immediate access to new updates are benefits of using cloud-based software that should be at a subscription price which "well and truly" supports this real value. That's how Adobe Systems hopes to convince more customers to use the cloud version of its creative media and digital marketing software, according to Craig Tegel, regional president of Adobe Japan and Asia-Pacific.
Microsoft began rolling out substantial updates to some core Windows 8 and Windows RT applications tonight. And while users of the Mail, People, and Calendar apps will see a laundry list of new features, they will also reportedly lose some functionality. Users of Mail, Calendar, and Contact apps have lost sync support via Google's Exchange ActiveSync, according to a report in The Verge.
Amazon Web Services believes wholeheartedly that the cloud is the future. And not just the cloud, but the AWS public cloud. As a result, Amazon sees big opportunity for its technology in the enterprise market and has been making some aggressive moves to fluster the incumbents and stalwarts, like Microsoft. The strategy has been to continue offering more and more services, beating its opponents at scale, while operating on razor-thin margins. And so far it’s been working: As Alex said in December, through its programmable architecture, volume and tiny margins, AWS has built a “$1.5 billion business.”
More tidbits are leaking out about the kinds of changes to expect from
Windows Blue, the next big release of Microsoft's signature operating
system. In an alleged newly leaked build, the Windows 8 Start screen appears with both bigger and smaller Live Tile setups, an additional snap view, and new personalization options. It also shows a hint of IE 11.
The same hacker who found a passcode workaround after Apple's iOS update last month has found another way to access the photos and contacts of a password-protected iPhone. YouTube user "VideosdeBarraquito" uploaded a video today showing how to access the files using the voice command feature on the phone. He gives a voices command to dial a number and while the number is dialing, he uses a paperclip to eject the phone's SIM card. After the card ejects, the phone ends the call and he is able to go into the locked phone's address book and photos.
Google unveiled its rumored Keep service, giving users a new way to create and save notes and integrate them with Google Drive. The service is live both on the Web and in a new app for Android devices running on 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and above. With Keep you can quickly jot ideas down when you think of them and even include checklists and photos to keep track of what’s important to you. Your notes are safely stored in Google Drive and synced to all your devices so you can always have them at hand.
Apple today launched iOS version 6.1.3 for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch users.The latest update fixes a security flaw that allowed someone to gain access to an iPhone by getting past the lock screen.By following a specific series of steps, including making an emergency call, a person could get around the passcode and make phone calls, listen to voice mail, or check contact photos.
Adobe Systems Chief Technology Officer Kevin Lynch announced plans today to leave the company and is headed for Apple to become its vice president of technologies. Adobe says it's not replacing the CTO position, and instead is assigning those responsibilities to Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen and SVP Bryan Lamkin. News of the resignation came inside of a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, though not the move to Apple, which was reported earlier by CNBC.