Valve Expand Steam Android App
August 9, 2012
The search function on Steam’s Android app provides evidence that Valve may intend to branch out beyond games. The Verge reports, “Steam Store Search Shows Categories for Non-Gaming Apps.” Granted, when writer T.C. Sottek encountered the new, non-game headings there were no apps under any of them. But why create the categories if the company doesn’t plan to populate them? The write up states:
“The ‘Genre’ section of the app’s index lists genres like ‘accounting, education, software training’ and ‘photo editing,’ with a total of ten additional categories over those shown in the Steam desktop client — though none of the categories contain any software. There’s obviously no guarantee that this means Valve intends to sell more than just games, but it’s not unreasonable to think that the company might someday go down that road: it’s already working to streamline the selection and release process for games on its platform with Steam Greenlight, and could conceivably do the same with other software genres.”
Steam is Valve‘s very successful online game platform, currently hosting over 1,800 games. Some are their products, but many others are from third parties. More than an effective way to distribute software, the platform also allows users to build communities around many of the titles, complete with a chat feature. Valve declares that their Source game engine is “considered the most flexible, comprehensive, and powerful game development environment out there.” The company began in 1996, and receives its mail in Bellevue, Washington.
Cynthia Murrell, August 9, 2012
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
Maximizing Web Site Search with Fabasoft Mindbreeze InSite
August 8, 2012
Fabasoft Mindbreeze is now offering an intuitive Web site search to compliment their industry leading enterprise search technology, Fabasoft Mindbreeze InSite. Now meaningful search can extend outside of your organizational walls and benefit those who you are most eager to impress, your customers.
Read the sound advice of Michael Biebl, Fabasoft Mindbreeze developer, in, “Secure Website Search in the Cloud.”
Fabasoft Mindbreeze InSite is our product to empower websites with professional high-end search cababilities. We offer InSite as a Cloud service and for on premise installation. Today, I would like to show how you can adapt the search-experience by defining views. Views allow you to group search results by search queries. It’s a really great and simple concept and you can adapt your search results without any need for server configuration. The following 5 scenarios should get you started on the topic, but we are open for your views as well.
Whether you are eager to use the benefits of a cloud installation, or you prefer the stability of an on-site installation, Fabasoft Mindbreeze InSite is a hassle-free way to increase the efficiency of your Web presence without increasing your workload. A commitment-free 28 day trial is currently available. In a world of bad public-facing Web site search, pleasantly surprise your customers with a helpful and intuitive search function.
Emily Rae Aldridge, August 8, 2012
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext.
Cloud Security Problems? No Big Problems. Just Hiccups
August 7, 2012
I was included to dismiss the blues sung by Steve Wozniak. You can get the gist of his concern about the cloud in “Apple Co Founder Wozniak Sees Trouble in the Cloud.” I mean the fellow is a genius, but he does have a handful of idiosyncrasies. I have sipped the cloud nectar from Amazon, Apple, Google, Hewlett Packard, IBM, and sundry others. Then I read “How Apple and Amazon Security Flaws Led to My Epic Hacking.” If true, cloud security can be fiddled with a phone call. Here’s the segment I noted:
But what happened to me exposes vital security flaws in several customer service systems, most notably Apple’s and Amazon’s. Apple tech support gave the hackers access to my iCloud account. Amazon tech support gave them the ability to see a piece of information — a partial credit card number — that Apple used to release information. In short, the very four digits that Amazon considers unimportant enough to display in the clear on the web are precisely the same ones that Apple considers secure enough to perform identity verification. The disconnect exposes flaws in data management policies endemic to the entire technology industry, and points to a looming nightmare as we enter the era of cloud computing and connected devices.
Maybe Mr. Wozniak is correct? Is clear thinking enabled with Segway polo and conversations among the Aftershocks’ team mates?
Stephen E Arnold, August 7, 2012
Sponsored by Augmentext
IntelTrax: Top Stories July 27 to August 2
August 6, 2012
Data analytics solutions and other Business Intelligence tools were the primary focus of many of this week’s IntelTrax stories.
Big Data is a continued source of controversy within the analytics community, particularly regarding its existence and whether or not it is something old or new. “Big Data is Analytics for Dummies” argues that big data is simply the rebranding of an old concept.
The referenced article explains the reasoning behind the rebranding argument:
“Cloud computing, for instance, offers much the same thing “ASPs” offered ten years before, with the difference that this time round it is going to work. Similarly, analytics has been available for many years, as a high-cost service using high value supercomputers, and operated by white-coated high priests who have come into the field from linguistics, philosophy and computer science. If you have a big data set, and the money to have it explored, analytics has been there to reveal the secret trends within you information, which might give your business an edge.”
Another notable post from last week is “Data Miners and the Need for Certificates Debunked.” According to the article, due to the fact that every field has been infiltrated by data mining, the need for experts and certifications in the field has come about as a result.
When discussing whether or not certifications have value, the article states:
“The “data mining” definition has been created by marketing industries just to summarize in a buzz word techniques of applied statistics and applied mathematics to the data stored in your hard disk. I don’t want say that tools are useless, but it should be clear that tools are only a mean to solve a problem, not the solution. In the real world the problems are never standard and really seldom you can take an algorithm as is to solve them! …maybe I’m unlucky but I never solved a real problem through a standard method.”
A story that explains the importance of data analytics technology within the insurance industry is “Insurance Doubles Down on Analytics.” According to the article, insurance companies looking to detect fraud are strongly impacted by data and statistics which is one of the reasons why they are embracing the big data revolution.
The story cited:
“The report, which covers the spectrum of tools from business intelligence tools to advanced analytics tools, finds that the average insurer invests 9 percent of the IT budget on data and analytics. This amounts to almost $10 billion per year, and while the insurance industry has long used analytics for traditional risk-centric analysis, there is a shift in the ‘how, where, and when’ the industry leverages data and analytics, according to the report.”
As you can see, text analytics and big data analysis are becoming increasingly important for companies looking to manage their content in a way that makes the most out of a multitude of different types and structures of data. Digital Reasoning is an analytics company with experience providing affordable solutions for both the government and private sector.
Jasmine Ashton, August 6, 2012
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
Perfecting Web Site Semantics
August 6, 2012
Web site search is most often frustrating, and at its worst, a detriment to customers and commerce. Fabasoft Mindbreeze, a company heralded for its advances in enterprise search, is bringing its semantic specialization to the world of Web site search with Fabasoft Mindbreeze InSite. Daniel Fallmann, Fabasoft Mindbreeze CEO, highlights the features of the new product in his blog entry, “4 Points for Perfect Website Semantics.”
Fallmann lays out the problem:
The problem: Standard search machines, in particular the one provided by CMS, are unproductive and don’t consider the website’s sophisticated structure. The best example: enter the search term ‘product’ and the search delivers no results, even though product is its own category on the site. Even if the search produces a result for another term, there’s nothing more than a ‘relatively un-motivating list of links,’ not really much help to a website visitor.
Using semantics in the search means that the Web site is being understood, not just keyword searched. Automatic indexing preserves the existing site structure, while providing hassle-free search for the customer. In addition, InSite benefits the Web site developer, in that he/she can see how users are navigating the site and which elements are most often searched.
The attractive “behind-the-scenes” functioning of Fabasoft Mindbreeze InSite means that customers benefit from the intuitive, semantic search without the distraction of a clunky search layer. Satisfy your customers and your developers by exploring InSite today.
Emily Rae Aldridge, August 6, 2012
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext.
Customers Value Effective Web Site Search
August 2, 2012
A successful Web site search is essential in today’s market. Customers expect a pleasant appearance, intuitive interface, and effective search in public facing Web sites. Those features can all be added with the least amount of effort by choosing Fabasoft Mindbreeze InSite. Fabasoft Mindbreeze has long been a leader in enterprise search, but the newer InSite product enables customers to access effective search, outside your organization’s enterprise.
Registration is easy and includes a free 28 day trial. Fabasoft Mindbreeze InSite will crawl your site and complete an index of your content.
Read what one customer, Dr. Manfred Weiss of Computerwelt, is saying:
We want to stand out from the crowd with a top internet presence. Fabasoft Mindbreeze InSite is part of this strategy. Our readers value the service of a perfect search. Regardless of which of our portals the information is on, Mindbreeze finds it. Since the search function is operated as a Cloud service, we save time and money.
Do not worry about installation or configuration. Complete your registration now and let Fabasoft Mindbreeze do the work for you. Organizing your enterprise is no longer enough, set yourself apart from the pack by presenting an efficient search on your public facing Web site with Fabasoft Mindbreeze InSite.
Emily Rae Aldridge, August 2, 2012
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext.
Google Chases Amazon Into the Cloud
July 31, 2012
Is an atmospheric price war coming between Amazon and Google? Could be; Wired Cloudline reports, “Google Builds Out Cloud Platform with Partner Program.” Amazon has been working hard to build up its off-site platform, particularly with its attractive partner network. Now Google aims to provide some competition. Writer Mike Barton reveals:
“Google is now looking to get its cloud platform out there in the ‘channel’ with its partner program. ‘As a business, we know you spend a lot of valuable time thinking about IT solutions. We think it’s important to provide you with the best options for your business, which is why we are thrilled to introduce the Google Cloud Platform Partner Program,’ Eric Morse, Head of Sales and Business Development for Google Cloud Platform, wrote in a blog post. ‘This program provides our partners with the tools, training and resources they need to successfully address your business’ IT needs.'”
As with Amazon, two types of partner are specified under Google’s program. Service partners supply developers with consulting and implementation services for the various Google Cloud Platform products. Technology partners furnish tools that integrate with Google’s platform or use one of Google’s services as a foundation for their products. Navigate here to see a list of Google’s cloudy partners.
Cynthia Murrell, July 31, 2012
Sponsored by PolySpot
Inteltrax: Top Stories, July 23 to July 27
July 30, 2012
The growing availability of cloud based and open source analytics and the resulting beefed-up security demands surrounding such easily accessible software are the topics pervasive in this week’s posts on Inteltrax. As usual the nature and existence of ‘big data’ was discussed and the post, “Big Data is Analytics for Dummies”, accurately gets to the heart of the matter using text from the Tech Week Europe article as evidence.
“The author is probably spot-on with his analysis of the ‘big data’ hype invading industries around the world. Being right doesn’t change the fact that thanks to open source and cloud technologies more companies than ever before now have access to analytics. If the sage analysts need to dumb down their definitions then so be it. Thankfully, there are analytics providers committed to the industries and companies previously not invited into the analytics club.”
All that talk of openness among comrades came to a point with the announcement that Datameer was offering their analytics free of charge to academics mired in the muck of unstructured data. As the post, “Datameer Offers Free License to Academic Researchers”, quotes Market Watch,
“Academic researchers are particularly challenged by the massive amounts of data needed for their research. Collecting and analyzing data requires enormous computational effort and has typically been slow and tedious, often requiring a computer science background. Datameer offers an end-user focused tool that enables researchers themselves to integrate large quantities of data, do complex analysis in a familiar spreadsheet-like interface, and then visualize their results to easily understand, communicate and share their findings.”
Open and free are great especially in the world of costly analytics but both come with a price – heightened security risks. Inteltrax author Catherine Lamsfuss tackled security concerns with the post, “Security Top Concern for Cloud Based Software”. Live Mint compared cloud breaches to a door lock – it’s not a question of if the door will be broken down, but when. The article summarizes the state of security surrounding today’s cloud.
“These security issues should be at the forefront of companies’ decision making process when it comes to choosing a cloud based analytics provider. All cloud based software is protected to some degree but if protecting sensitive information is important than a thorough investigation into a provider’s security background is due.”
Whether one’s company is struggling with finding affordable cloud based analytics, applying open-source to existing systems or trying to strengthen security Digital Reasoning is a solid analytics provider more than capable of helping. With an extensive relationship with the intelligence community they understand the need for security but also are realistic about budgets, especially those of small and midsized businesses.
Follow the Inteltrax news stream by visiting www.inteltrax.com
Patrick Roland, Editor, Inteltrax.
July 30, 2012
Microsoft Embraces Cloud in Google Battle Move
July 25, 2012
It appears Microsoft is putting much focus on the cloud with the upcoming release of Office 2013 in an attempt to stay competitive with Google Apps.
The battle is highlighted in the article on ComputerWorld, “Microsoft Office 2013 Fires Shot at Google’s Enterprise Push.” Analysts say the move to the cloud is necessary for Microsoft to keep up with the search giant in the world of cloud-based office apps. Microsoft’s release preview included the cloud up front with multi-device tools and touch screen capabilities backing up the presentation.
We learn in the article:
“According to a May report from research firm Gartner, Google is far outpacing Microsoft in the cloud business. Compared with Microsoft, Google is winning one-third to one-half of new, paid-for, cloud-based office system seats, the analyst firm reported.
‘Google’s call to action is appealing to organizations generally not pleased with their current situation,” Gartner noted. “Primarily, the disaffected are moving to Google Apps, legitimizing that choice, and helping Google grow its base and defy all the early predictions of Google’s defeat’”
A full preview is available at http://www.microsoft.com/office/preview/en. Our opinion? We think neither company seems particularly concerned about search. How does one find a document amidst tens of thousands? Dropping buzzwords around does not make either company more navigationally easy to use, nor does it completely satisfy information-hungry users.
Andrea Hayden, July 25, 2012
Sponsored by PolySpot
Reasons for Amazon Cloud Service Shut Down Explored
July 24, 2012
Cloud computing may be affordable and energy efficient, but it is not without fail despite the efforts of marketing language might try to present it as otherwise. The recent Amazon EC2 Outage received some attention by Dmitriy Samovskiy in his article, “Applying 5 Whys to Amazon EC2 Outage.” He describes the reasons behind the service disruption which occurred on Friday June 29, 2012.
Using a deductive dialogue inquiring why this outage occurred, the author eventually states the following:
“The EC2 and EBS APIs are implemented on multi-Availability Zone replicated datastores. These datastores are used to store metadata for resources such as instances, volumes, and snapshots. To protect against datastore corruption, currently when the primary copy loses power, the system automatically flips to a read-only mode in the other Availability Zones until power is restored to the affected Availability Zone or until we determine it is safe to promote another copy to primary.”
Heavily immersed in a world of cloud computing, we have essentially replaced the local crash with an “out there” crash. Cloud computing is the future, but that does not mean we do not see room for critique as the feeling of helplessness creeps upon us when a crash occurs out there in the cloud.
Megan Feil, July 24, 2012
Sponsored by IKANOW
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