HP's 'End Run' Around Windows

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September 08, 2008
Tech Insider Technology & Science News, Product Reviews

NEWS  THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES HP's 'End Run' Around Windows As Hewlett-Packard steps up efforts to make Microsoft's operating system easier to use, some want to devise a rival version with Linux

Inside: This Week in Technology Welcome to the Tech Insider! This week, be sure to check out writer Aaron Ricadela's look at why the carefully crafted ecosystem of tech companies built around Microsoft's Windows operating system is showing signs of strain. Hewlett-Packard, a longtime Microsoft ally, has quietly assembled a group of engineers to develop software that would make Windows Vista easier to use, or bypass some of its more onerous features. A Skunk Works of engineers at the company is even angling to replace Windows with an HP-assembled operating system, sources say. We also have stories on outsourcing in the drug industry, on Alcatel-Lucent and Google. Enjoy! — Olga Kharif GET RSS  |  NEWSLETTERS

TECH INVESTING IN DEPTH Outsourcing the Drug Industry U.S. giants are rushing to partner with Indian and Chinese companies—tapping their brainpower and saving millions of dollars in the search for breakthrough treatments MANAGEMENT Can New Bosses Fix Alcatel-Lucent? Master telecom manager Verwaayen, abetted by French business savant Camus, already has a five-point plan to turn the equipment maker around TECHNOLOGY Microsoft Will Cut Xbox Prices in the U.S. The software giant aims to build its scale in game consoles to better compete with Sony and Nintendo—and to draw in more casual gamers TELECOM App Stores: Microsoft, Google Follow Apple Suddenly, the cell-phone app store market is getting crowded. Can rivals grab share from the maker of the iPhone? ENTERTAINMENT The Tug-of-War Among Japanese Video Game Makers With a deadline looming, Tecmo rejected a takeover offer from rival Square Enix. Now, it's exploring a merger with a different game outfit, Koei S&P STOCK PICKS AND PANS • From S&P S&P Picks and Pans: SanDisk, UST, Palm, Take-Two, Dell Analysts' opinions on stocks in the news Friday   TECH INNOVATION GIGAOM • From GigaOm VCs Back Tools to Look Inside the Cloud Smaller players in the WAN optimization industry attract venture capital interest thanks to the billions companies could spend on cloud computing   TECH SPECIAL REPORTS CEO GUIDE TO TECHNOLOGY How Cloud Computing Is Changing the World A major shift in the way companies obtain software and computing capacity is under way as more companies tap into Web-based applications CEO GUIDE TO TECHNOLOGY Best and Worst Places for Data Centers Demand for off-site computing power delivered over the Web is rising, but finding the best place for those machines isn't easy CEO GUIDE TO TECHNOLOGY Cloud Computing: Small Companies Take Flight Small businesses are flocking to the new services, which provide secure IT infrastructure with little up-front investment and no heavy lifting VIEWPOINT Enter the Cloud with Caution Here are nine questions to ask before trusting your company's data or computing tasks to an outside provider CEO GUIDE TO TECHNOLOGY Podcast: The Risks and Benefits of Corporate Cloud Computing Corporations are starting to look at the potential benefits of cloud computing—computing power obtained through the Internet. But large companies have particular security and reliability needs CEO GUIDE TO TECHNOLOGY Public-Private Alliances to the Rescue Many companies are realizing that they can play a crucial role in helping communities recover from natural catastrophes CEO GUIDE TO TECHNOLOGY Making Maps Work When Disaster Strikes GeoCommons, OpenStreetMap, and Mapufacture are three online hubs where people can collaboratively map areas, which could help in emergencies CEO GUIDE TO TECHNOLOGY The Do-Good Imperative Some of the most innovative ideas today are coming from efforts to address the needs of those most in need SPECIAL REPORT Best Young Entrepreneurs of Tech As the economy slumps, many entrepreneurs are looking past consumer Web sites to focus on products and services for companies SPECIAL REPORT The Power of Play Check out our special report on the current gaming industry, including an analysis of trends for 2008, profiles of radical innovators—and introducing the BusinessWeek Arcade, a celebration of some of the Web's best free games SUSTAINABLE TECH Special Report: Sustainable Tech Scientists are experimenting with viruses, salmon sperm DNA, potatoes, and more in making biomaterials for consumer electronics TECH HOMELAND SECURITY Homeland Insecurity The Homeland Security Dept.'s overreliance on outside contractors and insufficient management of them could leave the U.S. vulnerable TECH PIONEERS Meet This Year's Tech Pioneers The World Economic Forum has bestowed the coveted honor on 39 companies, which could become the Googles, a previous winner, of tomorrow BEST OF THE WEB Scaling the Social Web Move over, MySpace. Online players from media giant Viacom to auctioneer eBay are adding networking features for their users TECHNOLOGY SPECIAL REPORT Selling Computers to India With growth slowing in China, computer makers hope Asia's other big market will pick up the slack SPECIAL REPORT The Power of Gaming A recent report estimates that the video game market will increase to $48.9 billion in 2011. Our special report looks at some of the innovations sparking this growth SPECIAL REPORT The Future of Social Networking A rising tide of companies are tapping Semantic Web technologies to unearth hard-to-find connections between disparate pieces of online data SPECIAL REPORT Wireless World Ultrafast networks and whizzy features are about to turn your cellphone into—well, your right arm VIRTUAL LIFE The Coming Virtual Web In the future, the Internet is almost certain to look more realistic, interactive, and social—a lot like a virtual world NEXT-GEN GAME CONSOLES Game Definitely Not Over On the eve of the launch of PS3 and Wii, stakes in the console tussle amid Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft have never been higher CEO GUIDE TO TECHNOLOGY Taming the World Wide Web A rising tide of companies are tapping Semantic Web technologies to unearth hard-to-find connections between disparate pieces of online data TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH LIBRARY Powered By IT white papers, webcasts and reports for tech leaders and decision-makers SEARCH LIBRARY Most Popular White Papers Help | Advanced Search Find new documents on these hot topics now: Business Intelligence | Network Security | Storage Management | Wireless LANs | VoIP  BW MALL   SPONSORED LINKS Check Out IT Certification Preparation Materials  Sign Up With SkillSoft & Get Access to Training Materials for Over 50 Professional Certifications. Sun Microsystems' - Free 60 Day Trial Offer!  Test before you invest and Experience the Scalability, Performance, and Efficiency of Sun Systems Document Management Solution - Free Trial  Protect vital business documents and avoid expensive software licenses; Xythos Document Management. Hosted BlackBerry® services  Helps your business be more productive - affordably, securely, effectively. Hosted BlackBerry® services from Apptix  Boost your productivity without tying up resources. Buy a link now! This newsletter is a FREE service provided by BusinessWeek.com. To sign up for other newsletters, cancel delivery, change delivery options or change your e-mail address, please go to our Newsletter Preferences page. If you need other assistance, please contact Customer Service or contact: Wanda Cooper BusinessWeek Customer Rights Communications Data Services 1995 G Avenue Red Oak, IA 51566 Phone: 1-800-635-1200 View our corporate privacy policy. 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THE DEBATE ROOM Protect Pregnant Workers With pregnancy-discrimination claims against U.S. employers at record highs, pregnant workers need additional legal protection from bias. Pro or con?  THE WIRELESS WAY Navigating By Phone Arik Hesseldahl demonstrates the latest navigation software from Networks In Motion Subscribe on iTunes ADVERTISEMENT Win With Options In Any Market Have you been too busy to take advantage of the potential profit and protection benefits of options? Now OIO has a free introduction to these important tools - the "Options for Everyone" Guide. Whether you're a new trader or old hand, you'll learn how to trade options like a pro - free. WILDSTROMTECH MAVEN >> Hear Steve's podcast Tech & You Palm's new Treo Pro has lots to offer. Unfortunately, for now, that includes Windows Mobile Help Desk There are plenty of reasons to upgrade your PC monitor to an LCD model, but radiation from a CRT screen isn't one of them Ask Steve > MORE Tech & You >   Advertisement   Reader Poll: Special Issue Trouble at the office? In surveys, blogs, polls, and social media, BusinessWeek collaborated with readers to identify problems at work. Together we found answers.     In Your Face: Squeezing Extra Miles Per Gallon Reader HW Writes: " WWII German SI aircraft engines and the MB 300 Gullwing Coup SI engine used direct fuel (gasoline) injection. So it's nothing new. " Tell Us: Can the Auto Industry Cruise Comfortably at 35 mpg? >     FEATURED PRODUCT REVIEWS > > Samsung's Satisfactory Sound Bar Peek-ing at Your E-Mail More Product Reviews >> See our take on cell phones, PCs, digital cameras, music services, games, TVs, and Web services   BusinessWeek has teamed with J.D. Power and Associates to let you compare customer satisfaction and product quality ratings. Cable/Satellite Providers Consumer Electronics Copiers Digital Cameras TVs Telephone/Wireless All-Distance Phone Providers Wireless Service Internet Service Providers   Advertisement   FEATURED SPECIAL REPORT >> CEO Guide to Cloud Computing Slide Shows Best and Worst Places for Data Centers Podcast: The Risks and Benefits of Corporate Cloud Computing How Cloud Computing Is Changing the World A major shift in the way companies obtain software and computing capacity is under way as more companies tap into Web-based applications Cloud Computing: Small Companies Take Flight Enter the Cloud with Caution It's 2018: Who Owns the Cloud? VCs Have Their Heads in the Clouds Google and the Wisdom of Clouds A Sea Change Google's CEO on the Power of Clouds READER COMMENTS > MORE SPECIAL REPORTS >