Commonsense Conclusions from Azure Consultant
June 26, 2014
An azure chip consultant explains that enterprise search is just what the doctor ordered for big data; Gartner declares that “Enterprise Search Can Bring Big Data Within Reach.” Um, it seems that search is kind of implied in the term. What good are data and data analysis if there is no way to find and use the information? Actually, research director Darin Stewart is talking about gaining the benefits of big data without the cost and turmoil of “overhauling the data center,” which, apparently, some folks don’t understand is an option. He writes:
“Providing big data functionality without overhauling the data center is achievable with a two-pronged approach that combines augmented enterprise search and distributed computing. Search is very good at finding interesting things that are buried under mounds of information. Enterprise search can provide near-real-time access across a wide variety of content types that are managed in many otherwise siloed systems. It can also provide a flexible and intuitive interface for exploring that information. The weakness of a search-driven approach is the fact that a search application is only as good as the indexes upon which it is built….
“Distributed computing frameworks provide the environment necessary to create these indexes. They are particularly well-suited to efficiently collect extremely large volumes of unprocessed, individually low-value pieces of information and apply the complex analytics and operations that are necessary to transform them into a coherent and cohesive high-value collection. The ability to process numerous source records and apply multiple transformations in parallel dramatically reduces the time that is required to produce augmented indexes across large pools of information.”
The article goes on to point out that cloud-friendly open-source tools to support such a framework are readily available. Stewart shares a link to his Gartner document on the topic (registration required), and is scheduled to speak about it at Gartner’s Catalyst Europe conference, held in London in mid-June.
Cynthia Murrell, June 26, 2014
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
Big Data for Enterprise Logistics
June 26, 2014
The complex field of logistics and transport management is one that can surely benefit from data analysis. Inbound Logistics brings the benefits to the attention of its readers in, “Big Data Tools Enable Predictive and Prescriptive Analytics.” Writer Shannon Vaillancourt advises that, since the cost of implementing data systems has decreased, now is the time for companies to leverage these tools to understand and adjust their transportation patterns. He writes:
“By leveraging the big data tools that are becoming more prevalent, companies can quickly spot trends that would otherwise have gone unnoticed. Many people are under the impression that big data only refers to a large amount of data. The second definition of big data is that the dataset is too difficult to process using traditional data processing applications. When it comes to supply chain operations, many large companies are still dependent on using a spreadsheet to manage a very complex global part of the business.
“With big data tools, shippers can move past the business intelligence side of measuring and diagnosing, and move into the predictive and prescriptive side. A big data tool will allow transportation teams to have fewer experienced supply chain staff members, because the data will be more actionable.”
Stewart seems to acknowledge the shortfalls of current prescriptive algorithms; he reassures readers that the prescriptive side will be more useful as the technology evolves. Right now, we know it as the algorithm that tells us to buy more stuff at Amazon. Someday soon, though, it might accurately tell a manager which means of transport will most efficiently get a certain shipment to its destination.
It is interesting to watch as the big data trend spreads into different industries. As the hype fades, more of the truly useful applications will become clear.
Cynthia Murrell, June 26, 2014
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
Microsoft Retires Some SharePoint Online Plans
June 26, 2014
In what is sure to cause a big uproar, Microsoft is discontinuing some popular SharePoint Online payment plans. Redmond Magazine covers all the details in their article, “Microsoft Ending Some SharePoint Online Plans This Month.”
The article begins:
“Microsoft is retiring some of its SharePoint Online and Office Online plans by the end of this month, while offering other plans as substitutes. A total of four plans are going away and won’t be sold after June 30, 2014, Microsoft announced today. Those plans include SharePoint Online Plans 1 and 2 with Yammer, plus Office Online with SharePoint Plans 1 and 2. Organizations currently licensed under those expiring plans can still use the software for a year or two, depending on how the software was purchased.”
Substitutions are suggested in a helpful chart that follows. Stephen E. Arnold also has a few suggestions. He has made a living out of covering all things search, and reports his findings on ArnoldIT.com. His SharePoint feed is full of tips and tricks for SharePoint, as well as all manner of search options, enterprise and otherwise. And while users are bound to be frustrated over SharePoint’s pricing changes, it is doubtful that it will do anything to change the demand for its ubiquitous product.
Emily Rae Aldridge, June 26, 2014
Amazon and Book Publishers: WalMart 101
June 25, 2014
I have been thinking about the reactions to Amazon’s approach to book publishing. I enjoyed the tone, examples, and modest outrage expressed in “New Amazon Terms Amount to ‘Assisted Suicde’ for Book Industry, Experts Claim.” The “claim” is a nice dodge too.
Amazon has a cost problem. Without cutting and pasting the financials, the Bezos machine faces a future with more costs than revenues. Now one can gild the lily in the manner of Wall Street cheerleaders, but the fact is Amazon needs revenue. Expenses keep on rising and one can only hope that hefty profits will characterize the company’s performance over the next nine to 12 months. How does one solve a problem with essentially uncontrollable costs for hardware, software, infrastructures, pesky humans, etc.? Easy. Find ways to generate new money.
Enter squeezing the hapless, ineffectual suppliers. WalMart 101.
The article points out that Amazon is offering book publishers assisted suicide. Perhaps some of these former gatekeepers should opt in. The digital revolution has been underway for a few years. Book publishers want life to be the way it was when owning a book meant the reader was a cut above the general population.
The article states:
The Bookseller’s editor Philip Jones said the ongoing negotiations “indicate a direction of travel that would see [Amazon] take a sizeable control over both a publisher’s inventory and its marketing”, and that “publishers spoken to – and obviously they will only speak on condition of complete anonymity – have every right to be concerned. This is a form of assisted suicide for the book business, driven by the idea that publishers are a sickly lot unable to run even the most basic operations efficiently.”
Perhaps it is a trifle too late? The Gutenberg museum in Strasbourg may want to start development of an exhibit showcasing publishing as it was in the 1990s.
Stephen E Arnold, June 25, 2014
Collective Venture Combines Traditional and Social Media
June 25, 2014
Social media has completely changed the way that news is spread, and who spreads it. Some say that the Arab Spring was due in great part to Twitter. But it seems that now traditional media is joining forces with social media in an effort to shape the future of news reporting. GigaOm covers the latest in their article, “VICE, Mashable, Digg and Others Form a Collective for Breaking News about Ukraine, May Expand into Other Areas.”
The article sums up the initiative:
“A group of six news organizations and digital-media outlets — including VICE, Mashable, Digg, Quartz, Mother Jones and NBC-owned Breaking News — have created a somewhat unusual collective effort aimed at reporting breaking news about Ukraine, an effort they are calling #UkraineDesk. For the moment at least, the venture consists of just a common hashtag that all the different entities have agreed to use, which is then pulled into a similarly-named Twitter account, but some of the players say if it works they may expand into other areas.”
If the concept is successful, it could change the way that news is received in the future. Keep an eye on not only this initiative, but also on how others are attempting to leverage social media for news coverage. It seems like the major networks and other big players are scrambling to keep up.
Emily Rae Aldridge, June 25, 2014
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
Building Lovely Data Visualizations
June 25, 2014
Data is no longer just facts, figures, and black and white graphs. Data visualizations are becoming an increasingly important way that data (and even Big Data) is demonstrated and communicated. A few data visualization solutions are making big waves, and Visage is one on the rise. It is highlighted in the FastCompany article, “A Tool For Building Beautiful Data Visualizations.”
The article begins:
“Visage, a newly launched platform, provides custom templates for graphics. There are myriad tools on the market that do this (for a gander at 30 of them, check out this list), but Visage is the latest, and it’s gaining traction with designers at Mashable, MSNBC, and A&E. That’s due in part to Visage’s offerings, which are designed to be more flexible, and more personalized, than other services.”
More and more companies are working on ways to help organizations decipher and make sense of Big Data. But what good is the information if it cannot be effectively communicated? This is where data visualizations come in – helping to communicate complex data through clean visuals.
Emily Rae Aldridge, June 25, 2014
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
HP Autonomy Makes Analytics Human
June 24, 2014
HP Autonomy has undergone a redesign, or as HP phrases it, a rebirth. HP is ready to make the unveiling official, and those interested can read about the details in the article, “Analytics for Human Information: HP IDOL 10.6 Just Released: A Story of Something Bigger.”
The article begins:
“Under the direction of SVP and General Manager Robert Youngjohns, this past year has been a time of transformation for HP Autonomy—with a genuine commitment to customer satisfaction, breakthrough technological innovation, and culture of transparency. Internally, to emphasize the importance of this fresh new thinking and business approach, we refer to this change as #AutonomyReborn.”
Quarterly releases are promising rapid updates, and open source integration is front and center. Current users and interested new users can download the latest version from the customer support site.
Emily Rae Aldridge, June 24, 2014
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
Elasticsearch Roundup
June 24, 2014
Followers can keep up with what is going on with elasticsearch by following the elasticsearch blog. The latest entry, “This Week in elasticsearch,” is a regular roundup of the latest news and need-to-know items.
The entry begins:
“Welcome to This Week in Elasticsearch. In this roundup, we try to inform you about the latest and greatest changes in Elasticsearch. We cover what happened in the GitHub repositories, as well as many Elasticsearch events happening worldwide, and give you a small peek into the future of the project.”
Moving through the content, lots of code updates are listed, as well as plugin and driver releases throughout the whole elasticsearch ecosystem. New slides and videos are also listed down the page. All in all, this is a helpful one-stop shop for those who follow elasticsearch but cannot commit the time to endless searching and browsing. Updates occur weekly on Wednesday, so set your bookmarks and stay tuned for the latest news.
Emily Rae Aldridge, June 24, 2014
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
SharePoint Burns Bridges with Payment Options
June 24, 2014
SharePoint is the mostly widely known and adopted enterprise search option for organizations of any size, and yet it also has a reputation for being one of the most difficult, on many levels. SharePoint has proven the critics right with their latest announcement to cut some popular payment plans. Read more in the CMS Wire article, “Microsoft Fiddles With SharePoint Pricing.”
The article begins:
“It’s hard to see the justification, but Microsoft just announced it will cut back four of its payment plans for SharePoint Online and Office Online once the plans expire at the end of June. While Microsoft certainly can cut back on plans whenever it wants, especially when those plans expire, the lack of an explanation could leave a bad taste in the mouths of enterprise customers facing higher prices in replacement plans.”
Stephen E. Arnold has made a career out of tracking these sorts of quirks in SharePoint, as well as all other aspects of search. His Web site, ArnoldIT.com, offers a helpful SharePoint feed for those who need to track the ups and downs. In the meantime, SharePoint is going to get a lot of feedback, mostly negative, on these new pricing plans. However, it is unlikely to dent their market share, as users will hesitate to rework their infrastructure, despite the price hike.
Emily Rae Aldridge, June 24, 2014
Simon And Schuster Is A Pearl For Oyster
June 23, 2014
Did you know that there is a Netflix equivalent for book junkies? Oyster is a service where users pay a nominal fee and read as many ebooks as they want. Oyster launched fall, but despite good marks it was still criticized for lack of big name authors and titles. That was resolved when Oyster signed a deal with HarperCollins to access their library, but according to The Next Web, “Subscription eBook Service Oyster Adds Simon And Schuster.” It’s a big deal when you consider that Stephen King, Ernest Hemingway, and Walter Isaacson will be available for download.
While this is great news for bibliophiles, Oyster’s rivals might be unhappy:
“As it gains traction, Oyster could represent a viable alternative to Amazon, which has secured a dominant position in the ebook space. It’s not quite as easy to binge on books as it is to burn through a TV series on Netflix, but it’s great having the option to peruse and skim through titles for an affordable monthly fee.”
Reading does take longer than watching a TV show. You can also do other things when watching T, unlike reading a book. There is competition for Amazon, which helps prevent a monopoly. Oyster should take on Audiophile next.
Whitney Grace, June 23, 2014
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
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