Stories by Bill Snyder

The tech jobs hiring boom is real -- for these skills

It's not a myth. The technology industry is in the midst of a hiring surge stronger than any we've seen since the days of the dot-com boom. InfoWorld's interviews with economists, technology executives, job seekers, and hiring board managers indicate that employment in the tech sector is up a solid 10 percent this year -- by some bullish estimates, closer to 20 percent. And despite the tendency of the media to fixate on California's Silicon Valley, the hottest job markets are in places like New York and Washington, D.C., where firms in financial services and the federal government hire droves of IT hands.

By Bill Snyder | 12 December, 2011 22:16

Tags: software, IT jobs, internet, Information Technology Careers, cloud computing, application development

Cloud computing for consumers: The downsides

If you read much about tech, you've undoubtedly been told by some snarky writer that if you're not headed for the cloud, you're hopelessly unhip, behind the times, and probably overweight. You know -- the cloud, that repository of all things digital contained on giant servers owned by someone else out there in cyberspace.

By Bill Snyder | 13 September, 2011 08:43

Tags: internet, cloud computing

Mozilla's rapid Firefox releases are killing me

Over the years, I've had plenty of beefs with Microsoft software: It can be buggy, it's bloated, it attracts viruses like candy attracts flies and it nags you more than your Mom ever did.

By Bill Snyder | 07 September, 2011 02:09

Tags: software, Mozilla Foundation, mozilla, Microsoft, applications

Back to school: 6 tips for not overspending on tech

School is just about to start, and if you have a kid heading for college you're probably grimacing at the thought of all those bills. You're on your own when it comes to soaring tuition and housing costs, but there are ways to spend less on your student's technology needs while still giving them what they need to succeed.

By Bill Snyder | 16 August, 2011 08:48

Tags: software, industry verticals, hardware systems, education, consumer electronics

Is the internet addictive?

I don't think of myself as having a particularly addictive personality. Yeah, I'm a bear without my morning coffee and quitting smoking was tough, but am I addictive? No way.

By Bill Snyder | 09 August, 2011 09:39

Tags: internet

Desktop search: Free and paid apps for finding your data

I've said it before: I'm a world-class pack rat, at least when it comes to my digital life. With several thousand emails on my hard drive, not to mention thousands of documents, photos, and music tracks, you might think I could never find anything. But I can.

By Bill Snyder | 09 August, 2011 09:44

Tags: software

Facebook Facial Recognition: Why It's a Threat to Privacy

By the end of this year, the world's population is expected to hit 7 billion. That's a huge number, but it pales in comparison to the 60 billion to 100 billion photos Facebook has reportedly stored on its servers.

By Bill Snyder | 21 June, 2011 03:52

Tags: social networking, security, privacy, Internet-based applications and services, internet, Facebook

Smartphone data plans: How to keep bandwidth usage in check

I love my hometown of San Francisco. Great weather, great views, great food. But terrible radio. So when I'm driving, I've developed the habit of tuning into Pandora on an iPhone that I link to my car radio. Like a lot of other AT&T customers, I've been moved from my unlimited data plan to measured service. Yes, that was my choice, but what has the metered plan done to my music habit? And does that mean I made a mistake?

By Bill Snyder | 14 June, 2011 04:00

Tags: WLANs / Wi-Fi, wireless, wi-fi, verizon, Telecommunication, Technology Topics | Mobile, Technology Topics, streaming music, Phones, Pandora, nielsen, networking, iOS, GPS, Google, data, consumer electronics, at&t, Android, 3g

Cell phones and cancer: 8 precautions worth taking

The good thing about being an adult is you get to make your own decisions. The bad thing? You get to make your own decisions - and live with the consequences.

By Bill Snyder | 07 June, 2011 02:49

Tags: World Health Organization, wireless, WHO, Technology Topics | Mobile, Technology Topics, smartphones, Phones, networking, glioma, consumer electronics, Cell Phones, carcinogens, cancer, brain cancer, bluetooth

Mobile app security: 5 ways to protect your smartphone

Wave your smartphone; buy a latte. Sounds great, doesn't it? But before running off to participate in Silicon Valley's next new thing, you might want to think about a scary downside to mobile commerce: the vulnerability of smartphones to hackers.

By Bill Snyder | 02 June, 2011 00:30

Tags: Telecommunication, security, mobile, mcafee

The need for more than speed: CPU tips for PC buyers

In the world of digital devices, more - whether it be megapixels or megahertz - was always better. Until it wasn't.

By Bill Snyder | 24 May, 2011 02:09

Tags: Technology Internet, processors, Mercury Research, mathematical algorithms, journalist, IT Organization, Intel, Inc., Hewlett-Packard Company, hewlett-packard, digital cameras, Dell Aktiebolag, dell, Components

Google Voice: Are you missing out on coolest features?

Google and Sprint didn't exactly cover themselves in glory last week. The much hyped integration of Google Voice and Sprint fell flat on its face, embarrassing both companies and irritating an unknown number of users who simply couldn't make the two systems talk to each other.

By Bill Snyder | 10 May, 2011 02:45

Tags: Internet-based applications and services, internet, Google

Home Wi-Fi network security: 4 ways to avoid big trouble

Locking down your home Wi-Fi network with a password is like making sure you eat your broccoli. It's probably good for you, but you probably think it's not much of a priority or a big deal. Well, it's time to make an attitude adjustment. It turns out that you can cause yourself a good deal of trouble by leaving that door to your system unlocked.

By Bill Snyder | 03 May, 2011 02:29

Tags: WLANs / Wi-Fi, wireless, wi-fi, Technology Topics | Security, Technology Topics, security, networking

iPhone location tracking confusion: 7 key facts

Given how much confusing and often contradictory information has been filling the media over the last week, it wouldn't surprise me if some iPhone users were calling in priests to exorcise the demons of privacy invasion.

By Bill Snyder | 26 April, 2011 02:17

Tags: wireless, Telecommunication, Technology Topics | Mobile, Technology Topics, tablet PCs, smartphones, security, privacy, Phones, networking, mobile, laptops, iPhone, iPad, hardware systems, Google, consumer electronics, Apple

Cisco kills the flip camera, consumers ask why

There I was at the San Francisco Giants game the other evening, when my buddy decided to do something a bit silly -- but memorable -- and handed me his little Flip camera. I'm not going to share the YouTube link, but the video is pretty good, considering the lighting was weird and it was a very chaotic environment. There's no way that I would have done nearly as well with my iPhone.

By Bill Snyder | 19 April, 2011 05:50

Tags: Digital camcorders, consumer electronics, Cisco Systems, business issues

 
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