By Ian Paul at PCWorld…
Microsoft is reportedly on track to release Windows 8 on a similar time frame to Windows 7, with the first beta of the new OS appearing in early 2012. The software giant has not said officially when it will release Windows 8 or even when a beta version might appear. But two sources claim a Windows 8 beta release is coming in the next few months.
By Ashlan Sarff at EDUCAUSE…
ECAR has just released Mobile IT in Higher Education, 2011 Report. The report investigates how mobile computing is being incorporated into higher education. It provides a snapshot of the kinds of mobile initiatives colleges and universities have undertaken, directions that the community sees as potentially most valuable, and some of the factors affecting progress for mobile computing.
via ECAR Releases Report on Mobile IT in Higher Education | EDUCAUSE.
An interesting list of tools to support Macs in the enterprise environment. Number 1 and 12 also support iOS devices.
By Ryan Faas at Infoworld.com…
The knock on managing Macs in business environments has long been Apple’s ambivalent attitude toward providing significant enterprise support. Apple does, of course, offer tools for deploying, configuring, and managing Macs. But to move Macs beyond a departmental setting, IT will often find it necessary to look to third parties for help.
via 12 valuable tools for managing business Macs | Applications – InfoWorld.
Interesting slideshow at eWeek.com, by Fahmida Y. Rashid…
The ability to customize Linux to run on various types of hardware and to suit specific user needs means there are more flavors of Linux-based operating systems available than Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream. While administrators generally stick with the well-known ones, such as Canonical’s Ubuntu, Attachmate’s Novell SUSE and Red Hat Enterprise Linux for their servers and desktops, they are beginning to see other flavors sneaking into the enterprise.
via 10 Linux Distros Every IT Manager Should Know – Linux and Open Source – News & Reviews – eWeek.com.
Linux Mint 12 available for download!
From Clem at the Linux Mint Blog…
The team is proud to announce the release of Linux Mint 12 “Lisa”.
via The Linux Mint Blog » Blog Archive » Linux Mint 12 “Lisa” released!.
By Danny Stieben at MakeUseOf.com…
As the latest version of Ubuntu was released, the team of developers have been hard at work adding some convenient features. However, some are more known than others, while others will surprise you when they pop up. Some aren’t even installed by default but can be very useful. So what are these features that can make a major difference?
via 7 Hidden Features Of Ubuntu 11.10 You Might Not Know Of.
Okay, I’m guilty of spending time fiddling with to-do lists but hey, that’s a hobby of enjoying learning how to effectively use new software. This is an interesting approach for Mac users.
By Whitson Gordon at Lifehacker.com…
Your to-do list is the hub of your personal productivity, so it makes sense that we’re attracted to to-do apps filled with bells, whistles, and tassels. Then you realize you’re spending more time fiddling with your app than getting things done. If you’re tired of clicking around internet-needy webapps or getting locked into a specific to-do list service, it’s time to switch to something simpler. Here’s why a simple text file will make your to-do lists fast, easy to manage, and seamlessly integrate with everything else you use.
via Why You Should Set Up Your To-Do List in a Plain Text File (and How to Do It).
This model is the first computer I’ve ever used that has a solid state drive (SSD) and in terms of perceived performance it is the fastest, hands down. I’m not surprised to see this incredible trend. It’s very light weight, has a beautiful display, 802.11N wireless, and awesome battery life.
By Daniel Eran Dilger at AppleInsider.com…
Apple’s MacBook Air models now make up 28 percent of the company’s notebook shipments, up from just 8 percent in the first half of the year.
via AppleInsider | MacBook Air now 28% of Apple’s notebook shipments.