Dell Exec Criticizes HP Machine Project
July 24, 2014
Oh, dear. HP was so excited to declare it is working on a new kind of computer, dubbed simply the Machine. Dell’s head software honcho, however, decided to rain on its competitor’s parade, we learn from IT World’s “Dell Executive Says HP’s New Machine Architecture Is Laughable.” Apparently, the problem is that the new technology would render many existing programs obsolete. Gee, who’d ever want to support something so disruptive (besides, apparently, nearly everyone in Silicon Valley)? Writer James Niccolai reports:
“‘The notion that you can reach some magical state by rearchitecting an OS is laughable on the face of it,’ John Swainson, head of Dell’s software business, told reporters in San Francisco Thursday when asked to comment on the work. The basic elements of computing, like processor and memory, are likely to be reconfigured in some way, but not so radically that existing software won’t run, he said. ‘I don’t know many people who think that’s a really good idea.’”
Really? I think that’s called “technological progress,” and I believe many people are pretty keen on the idea. I, for one, haven’t always been pleased when required to update or swap out software, but I’m awfully glad I’m not running Windows 95 anymore. The write-up goes on:
“Jai Menon, head of Dell Research, said another advanced memory type — phase-change memory — is going to be here ‘sooner than what HP is banking on.’ Those are strong words from a company that isn’t exactly known for pushing the boundaries of computing, having built its business mainly on cheap servers and PCs. Dell’s long-term research looks out ‘two years and beyond,’ Menon said earlier in the day — not far enough that it’s likely to hustle a new memory technology to market itself. That didn’t stop Menon from claiming there are ‘at least two other types of memory technology better than what HP is banking on.’ He named phase-change memory as one of them — another technology HP has worked on in its labs.”
To be honest, we tend to be suspicious about big claims like HP’s Machine hype. However, to declare the project “laughable” because it accepts a changing software landscape seems short-sighted.
Cynthia Murrell, July 24, 2014
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
Discord in the Clouds
July 24, 2014
As a business strategy, Amazon Web Service’s total cost of ownership (TCO) calculator is a smart device. However, competitor VMware strives to poke holes in the calculator’s conclusions about the cost of its wares. The Register brings the challenge to our attention in, “VMware: Amazon’s Cloud Calculator a Load of Flatulant FUD.” (For those unfamiliar with the term, FUD stands for “fear, uncertainty, and doubt.”) VMware contends that, despite Amazon’s claims that it compares apples to apples, the calculator begins with “biased assumptions” about VMware’s offerings. Writer Jack Clark explains:
“Amazon’s calculator makes some strange assumptions, such as reckoning that a customer has no existing on-premises investment, chooses rather high server prices, and assumes that all IT shops are refreshing their hardware every three years, VMware says in its blog post. It also compares VMware’s feature-packed ‘VMware vSphere Enterprise Plus’ software against its infrastructure, which VMware feels is unfair as the tech has some features that Amazon lacks, so the cost comparison is not accurate. Naturally, VMware has tried to right these apparent wrongs and has performed its own cost calculation.”
And, naturally, VMware’s calculations shows their system as cheaper than Amazon’s—a good reminder to rely on third-party reviews for this sort of thing. VMware’s calculations reportedly factor in discounts from heavy cloud usage and the advantages of its Operations Management optimization package. Founded in 1998 and gone public in 2008, VMware is based in Palo Alto, California, and maintains offices around the world. They also happen to be hiring.
Cynthia Murrell, July 24, 2014
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
Box Moves into the Enterprise
July 24, 2014
The once maligned category of document sharing solutions is now being embraced and adopted by the enterprise. Solutions such as Box and Dropbox are now seen as a necessity because employees simply demand them. The latest success of Box is covered by CiteWorld in their article, “How Box Took Off at Toyota, Where SharePoint is Already Used.”
The article begins:
“Yesterday, file collaboration company Box shared some good news, announcing Toyota North America as a customer. The company has actually been using Box for a couple years now, says IS technology manager Dave Statham, who drove the Box deployment. In 2012, a group of Toyota execs wanted to use their new iPads to share product plans and other information, instead of the three-inch binders they usually carried . . . But hang on a second — about two years ago, Microsoft made a lot of noise when Toyota signed a contract for Office 365.”
So aren’t the collaboration solutions included with Office 365 adequate? Well, no. And while collaboration software might be included into the latest version of Office and SharePoint, it is not intuitive, leaving many organizations to look for an easier option – one that employees with use. Stephen E. Arnold has found the same things as he works and reports on SharePoint on his Web site, ArnoldIT.com. Stay tuned for the latest news on third party solutions that might help your organization bridge the gap left by SharePoint.
Emily Rae Aldridge, July 24, 2014
Behind the Faster Place Search at Pinterest
July 23, 2014
One of the engineers over at Pinterest gets into the nitty-gritty of the site’s place search in, “Introducing a Faster Place Search” at the blog Making Pinterest. Last fall, the invitation-only image hoarding site launched Place Pins. Designed with aspiring travelers in mind, the tool allows users to link pictures to a map that indicates where they were taken. Since then, the Place Pins team has continued to tweak the software. Engineer Jon Parise writes:
“We launched Place Pins a little over six months ago, and in that time we’ve been gathering feedback from Pinners and making product updates along the way, such as adding thumbnails of the place image on maps and the ability to filter searches by Place Boards. The newest feature is a faster, smarter search for Web and iOS that makes it easier to add a Place Pin to the map. There are now more than one billion travel Pins on Pinterest, more than 300 unique countries and territories are represented in the system, and more than four million Place Boards have been created by Pinners. Here’s the story of how the Place Pins team built the latest search update.”
See the article for Parise’s breakdown of challenges and how the team addressed them. One example: Users familiar with a single search box weren’t fond of the original two-box configuration—one for subject and one for place. The seemingly simple fix, combining both terms into one box, required the algorithm to break the query into two parts and identify any geographic names that appear. For that adjustment, the engineers turned to open-source geocoder Twofishes for assistance.
The post concludes with a note that more improvements are on the way. The updated place search has been incorporated into the iOS app, with inclusion in the Android app on the way “soon.”
Cynthia Murrell, July 23, 2014
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
Algolia
July 23, 2014
When you first visit Algolia’s Web site, two things jump out at you. One is this quote:
“Search your database in realtime. Search is a key element of your user experience. To keep your users engaged, search results need to show up instantly and be relevant to them, even when they do typos. Index your database records with our API and get results in milliseconds.”
The second is a counter recording the number of API calls Algolia has handled. The counter adds hundreds of API calls per second. Algolia must be doing something right if they’re answering billions of calls. So what sets Agolia part from other search software companies?
Algolia offers the usual features: database search, search by type, mobile, analytics, linguistics, etc. Agolia does highlight a few features, that while they are standard in other search companies as well, they have taken to a different level than their rivals. Agolia claims to always be up and running with three high-end servers, a low latency routing due to multiple data centers, and top of the line security.
Agolia is a search as a service company with domestic and international clients. Their Web site presents a comprehensive profile of their services and sells them as a reliable search software company.
Whitney Grace, July 23, 2014
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
Former Autonomy CFO Tosses Legal Flechette at HP
July 22, 2014
I read “Former Autonomy CFO seeks to Block HP-Shareholder Settlement.” You may have to answer some questions to see the document or try to log in to the paywalled Financial Times’ Web site. Yep, that’s the wonky orange newspaper that is a must read in London, but not so much in Harrod’s Creek, Kentucky.
The story seems to be straightforward. The former chief financial officer of Autonomy has “filed a legal motion to block” the Hewlett Packard shareholder deal. The idea is that if shareholders agree to let HP off the hook for its acquisition of Autonomy and the fascinating $5 billon write down, then HP will go after Autonomy. The law firm assisting HP will be the same outfit that helped shareholders sue HP for the deal in the first place. Got that?
The Financial Times quoted Mr.Hussein’s legal document about the legal action:
“HP seeks to forever bury from disclosure the real reason for its 2012 write down of Autonomy: HP’s own destruction of Autonomy’s success after the acquisition. And, by the broad bar order it seeks, HP seeks to absolve itself of its own responsibility for its losses.”
The FT did not include the link to the actual filing. You can find it at this link.
The issue, according to the Autonomy CFO’s document is that HP is using the shareholder settlement to bury certain facts about HP’s handling of Autonomy. Autonomy’s argument is that HP fumbled the ball after it conducted due diligence and bought Autonomy.
Autonomy wants HP to provide proof that Autonomy fooled HP, its Board, and its consultants. The idea is that Autonomy allowed these folks to review the financials, the marketing collateral, and other sources of information before deciding to buy Autonomy for $11 billion.
I am no longer surprised by the claims and counter claims. Several observations:
First, search and content processing as business sectors generate a disproportionate amount of thrashing. HP analyzes Autonomy. HP buys Autonomy. HP sues Autonomy. Shareholders sue HP. An individual no longer employed at HP Autonomy sues HP. Etc., etc. Fast Search was the leader in post sale legal maneuvering. Autonomy seems to be following the “fast” track now.
Second, HP bought Autonomy and then said it was tricked. Remember this is not like buying a bagel. Autonomy bought a company with thousands of customers and hundreds of million in revenue. If a bagel is bad, I either demand a different one or walk to another bagel shop.
Third, the acquisition took place three years ago. In that time, the enterprise search sector has been subjected to considerable pressure. Just check out the latest Gartner Magic Quadrant, G00260831. Notice that Elasticsearch (the fastest growing search system) is not in the Gartner analysis. The Gartner enterprise search report appears to mirror the nature of the enterprise search market itself. The HP Autonomy matter AND the preceding Fast Search & Transfer matter have, in my view, contributed to a general malaise for the search and content processing software. The equation in my mind works like this: Buying a search system = Trouble.
Net net: With the parties to the matter allowing their attorneys to put the pedal to the metal, there will be more excitement in the near future. Billing functions at law firms have steamrollers to operate.
Stephen E Arnold, July 22, 2014
Swiftype
July 22, 2014
Each search software company has their own blend on improving search and increasing accuracy. Swiftype uses the slogan “the easiest way to add great search to your Web site” and while its search software may fulfill that statement, it is something other search companies claim as well. The questions then, are it true and what makes Swiftype different from its competition? The latter is easier to answer than the former. Instead of focusing on one section of the search market, Swiftype provides solutions for a variety of Web sites including WordPress, startups, knowledge bases, mobile, publishers, ecommerce, and even open source.
“Swiftype is a hosted software service that eliminates the need to create your own search software from scratch, making it possible for any website owner or mobile app developer to add great search to their product. Features include powerful relevance algorithms, customizable search result ordering, fast auto complete with typo protection, real-time analytics and more. Exceptionally simple to integrate into your existing software, but also remarkably flexible, Swiftype can be extensively customized to match the specific needs of your business.”
The support for the Web site variety is in Swiftype’s favor, but the company also offers real-time analytics and developer support. Search is still in its infancy for mobile devices, but Swiftype has dedicated an entire area that optimizes search for apps on different smartphone brands and mobile Web browsers. Swiftype already supports a hefty client list: Twitch, Twilio, TechCrunch, and Shopify. Swiftype is proving to be a big player in search. Maybe they’ll be blazing new trails and leave its competition behind.
Whitney Grace, July 22, 2014
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
Dont Hold Your Breath for HPs The Machine
July 22, 2014
The article titled Does HP Have a Development Pipeline or a Pipe Dream? by Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols on Computerworld answers the titular question with great certainty. Calling on HP’s layoffs, troubled management, and Moonshot flop, the article goes so far as to predict HP’s demise to be more probably than their delivering on this new technology. The article states,
“Let’s do a reality check on HP’s plans. It needs one major technology breakthrough, one major step forward in existing technology and a new operating system to boot. Even HP doesn’t expect to see all of this working anytime within the next three years, but to think it can happen within that kind of time frame would be wildly optimistic… If this idea were coming from, say, Apple, IBM or Intel, I’d have to give them the benefit of the doubt.”
“The Machine” that HP is so excited to promote also requires two pieces of in-the-works technology to be fully functional, memristors and silicon photonics. Both of these are innovative pieces of the puzzle that will allow for an entirely new system architecture. But when? The article seems to posit that HP is in a race for its own survival. Things may not be so dire as that at HP, but perhaps they are when even an HP employee has admitted that memristors are far from becoming a reality in “this decade.”
Chelsea Kerwin, July 22, 2014
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
SharePoint Server Updates Coming More Frequently
July 22, 2014
Microsoft is not known for timely updates, but it does appear that they are attempting to address that problem, at least with their SharePoint suite. SharePoint Server updates are now being offered on a monthly basis. Redmond covers the latest in their article, “SharePoint Server Cumulative Updates Now Arriving Every Month.”
The article begins:
“Microsoft now delivers its SharePoint Server cumulative update (CU) releases on a monthly basis. The stepped-up release cycle was announced this week by Microsoft in conjunction with the July CU releases for SharePoint 2013 and SharePoint 2010. Those releases likely were unexpected by IT pros since they typically expect to see SharePoint Server CU releases only on the even months of the year.”
Microsoft is taking this step toward assisting SharePoint administrator by offering more frequent updates, but they still have a long way to go toward ultimate ease of use and oversight. Stephen E. Arnold has made a career out of all things search, including SharePoint. His Web site, ArnoldIT.com, features a SharePoint feed that many administrators will find helpful for keeping an eye on the latest tips and tricks. SharePoint still has a way to go when it comes to intuitive use; but in the meantime, third parties like Arnold can offer a great deal of assistance.
Emily Rae Aldridge, July 22, 2014
HP, Autonomy, the Vatican: Business Process Case Example
July 21, 2014
On Saturday (July 20, 2014) I read “Exclusive: Vatican Dispute Sheds Light on HP Case in Troubled Autonomy Deal.” The story notes that Reuters saw “a letter.” Because there was no link to the letter, I decided to wait and see how other “real” journalists reacted to the story.
I found “HP Autonomy Legal Case Takes Religious Twist with Vatican Deal Mystery” interesting. The article does a good job of summarizing Reuters’ recounting of Autonomy selling software to a reseller. Autonomy booked the revenue. The reseller in the US assumed the job of bundling up the software and services and collecting from the Vatican.
Several questions crossed my mind as I through about the original story and the rehash from the V3.co.uk Web site:
- Is this process different from the one used for selling or leasing an automobile through the value chain at a local Lexus dealership?
- From where did the copies of the source documents come? Under what circumstances? Why? How?
- Are other enterprise software vendors using different financial transaction methods? What are some examples germane to the HP Autonomy Vatican case example?
In my experience, there are many ways to sell or license software and services. These range from the open source or freeware approach to the pay for to get a license to use the proprietary deliverable (whether tangible or intangible). Vendors and customers choose an approach that meets the needs of the parties to the deal.
I ask myself, “Is this case example information, reformation, disinformation, misinformation?”
Stephen E Arnold, July 21, 2014
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