Weave open-source data visualization offers power, flexibility

When two Boston-area organizations rolled out an interactive data visualization website last month, it represented one of the largest public uses yet for the open-source project Weave -- and more are on the way.

By Sharon Machlis | 09 February, 2012 03:03

Tags: software, open source

Siri for Android -- sort of

Although I'm happy with my Samsung Galaxy S II Android phone, I've also got a bad case of Siri envy. I, too, would like a "personal assistant" that responds to natural language requests such as "Move my meeting from 3 to 4." And I'm sure I'm not alone, as the millions of Google search results for "Siri for Android" attest.

By Sharon Machlis | 19 November, 2011 03:32

Tags: wolfram alpha, Speaktoit, Pannous, mobile applications, mobile, Google, Dexetra, BulletProof, BlueTornado, Apple, Android OS

Hands-on: Zaggfolio Bluetooth keyboard case for the iPad 2

The Zaggfolio for iPad 2 is a well-designed case that includes a removable Bluetooth mobile keyboard. As a result, it can be used as just a case (by removing the keyboard), as just a keyboard (by pulling the keyboard out of the case and slipping your iPad into a groove just above the top row of keys) or as a combined case/keyboard.

By Sharon Machlis | 05 November, 2011 02:12

Tags: ZAGG, wireless, peripherals, networking, Input devices, bluetooth

Hands-on: 5 wireless keyboards for the iPad

Even if you're comfortable with the iPad 2's on-screen keyboard and can happily tap out a status update or quick email, you might not want to use it for tasks like writing a lengthy report. One option is to ditch the tablet for a full-fledged laptop -- but it might be just as easy to add a wireless Bluetooth keyboard to the iPad.

By Sharon Machlis | 22 September, 2011 00:46

Tags: ZAGG, peripherals, logitech, keyboards, iPad 2, Input devices, Components, bluetooth, belkin, Apple

HP's PC division, by the (profit and growth) numbers

Why would a company give up its market-leading position in a major hardware segment -- especially if that business is still profitable? That was one question a number of customers were asking after Hewlett-Packard (HP) said it's looking to sell its Personal Systems Group and get out of the PC business -- despite being the top vendor of personal computers worldwide.

By Sharon Machlis | 24 August, 2011 20:15

Tags: IT industry, hewlett-packard, hardware systems

Android vs. iPhone and iPad by the numbers

It looks increasingly like Android will be the major challenger to both Apple's iPhone and iPad.

By Sharon Machlis | 10 June, 2011 00:56

Tags: Phones, Microsoft, iPhone, Google, consumer electronics, Apple, Android

22 free tools for data visualization and analysis

You may not think you've got much in common with an investigative journalist or an academic medical researcher. But if you're trying to extract useful information from an ever-increasing inflow of data, you'll likely find visualization useful - whether it's to show patterns or trends with graphics instead of mountains of text, or to try to explain complex issues to a nontechnical audience.

By Sharon Machlis | 21 April, 2011 03:53

Tags: Stanford University, software, IBM, Google, applications

Apple vs. Microsoft by the numbers

A little less than a year ago, Wall Street reached a Microsoft vs. Apple milestone: for the first time, Apple's corporate value surpassed Microsoft's.

By Sharon Machlis | 20 April, 2011 04:10

Tags: Microsoft, business issues, Apple

Facebook ends end-run around U.S. securities laws

There was another question about the planned Facebook stock offering that went beyond whether the social media leader is a good investment now or if it's overpriced. A more serious issue was how investment banker Goldman Sachs was structuring a "private placement" deal to skirt U.S. securities law.

By Sharon Machlis | 18 January, 2011 06:24

Tags: SEC Filings, Investments, Facebook, Business Management, business issues

NASA: Key antenna fails as Discovery enters orbit

After a successful launch early this morning, NASA officials later discovered a snag when the space shuttle Discovery entered its orbit around the earth.

By Sharon Machlis | 06 April, 2010 04:04

Tags: space shuttle, NASA, discovery, antenna

Must-have keyboard shortcut apps for Windows

I've been a keyboard shortcut fan for a long time. Sure, icons and eye candy have their place -- I'd rather double-click an icon than, say, type run c:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office 12\Winword.exe. On the other hand, I'd sure rather click a file name and hit delete than drag an icon to my Recycle Bin (assuming I can even find it on my cluttered desktop).

By Sharon Machlis | 20 February, 2010 08:44

Tags: Windows, Microsoft

Free Web apps to help organise your holidays

It's That Time of Year again, and even if you don't celebrate The Holidays, chances are you have other people in your life who do. There's so much to get done as the end of year approaches, it can be hard to keep track of it all. And while paper might work for your own holiday wish list, these free Web apps can help organize the rest.

By Sharon Machlis | 21 November, 2009 03:12

Tags: Zoho Creator, web applications, Holidays

10 AppleScripts to make you love your Mac (even more)

Why, when people were trying to get me to switch from Windows to a Mac, did no one tell me about AppleScript?

By Sharon Machlis | 22 May, 2009 09:06

Tags: Apple, applescript, Mac OS X, snow leopard, software development, unix, Windows

Ruby on Rails rolls into the enterprise

The New York Times used Ruby on Rails to pull together, analyze and display election results in near real time on one of its busiest Web traffic days ever. How did nytimes.com scale up Rails -- a framework known for quick development turnaround but less than lightning fast performance?

By Sharon Machlis | 20 November, 2008 12:26

Tags: ruby on rails

Coming soon: A laptop in your pocket

Your laptop is likely to soon go the way of 5.25-in. floppy disks, made obsolete by smaller, more useful technology: the smart phone.