internet - News, Features, and Slideshows

Features

• How to Make Meetings More Productive

  With the right collaboration tools and an open-minded management team, the phrase 'productive meeting' doesn't have to be an oxymoron.

• Cloud wars heating up in 2014

  Google, Amazon and Microsoft have all made strategic moves to gain cloud market share -- and the 'cloud wars' are only getting started.

• Trust issue looms large for tech companies capitalizing on personal data

  As tech companies increasingly rely on analyzing and selling user data to boost revenue, trust is emerging as one of the defining issues of the year for the IT sector.

• Bitcoin malware count soars as cryptocurrency value climbs

  As bitcoin values jumped in the last months of 2013, malware designed to steal the virtual currency exploded, security researchers from Dell SecureWorks said this week.

• Facebook coughs up $19bn to buy WhatsApp, draw younger users

  Facebook may be shelling out $19 billion in cash and stock for the messaging company WhatsApp to stanch the departure of younger users from the social network.

• 7 ways crowdsourcing can boost your brand and customer loyalty

  Businesses share their crowdsourcing success stories and explain the different ways to enlist and use the crowd (communities of professionals, customers and employees) to improve and even help market your products and services.

• iTunes is almost as big a biz as OEM Windows

  Apple's iTunes, software and services group generated almost as much revenue in 2013 as the Microsoft division responsible for licensing Windows to computer and smartphone makers, according to comparisons of the companies' financial statements.

• Twitter's slipping user growth spooks investors

  Twitter Wednesday reported that fourth quarter sales more than doubled over the past year, but the company nevertheless spooked investors by acknowledging a slowdown in new user growth and in user engagement.

• The future of Dynamics in a Nadella-led Microsoft

  Microsoft's Dynamics ERP and CRM product lines seemed safe immediately following former CEO Steve Ballmer's sweeping reorganization of the company last year. But now that longtime Microsoft executive Satya Nadella has been named Ballmer's successor, the time is ripe for more focused speculation on the future of Dynamics. Here's a look at what could be in store.

• SAP lays out its strategy for growth, with HANA at the forefront

  SAP's strategy event for the investment community on Tuesday offered few major surprises to anyone who's been closely monitoring the software vendor lately, but did serve to cement the company's future direction for product development, growth and customer retention. Here's a look at some of the highlights of the event.

• What new CEO Nadella's promotion means for Microsoft's Cloud

  Microsoft just appointed its Cloud guy to be the company's next CEO. Satya Nadella has impressively grown Microsoft into being one of the relevant members of the cloud computing industry, but industry watchers say there is a lot more the company must do to grow into one of the dominant companies in the market.

• With Motorola sold, Google can focus on robots, Glass and smart homes

  Now that Google has gotten rid of Motorola Mobility, the company can focus on its newest projects, like the smart home, wearable computers and robotics.

• 8 Ways to Use Web Analytics to Increase Online Sales

  Experts share their top tips on how businesses should interpret and use Web analytics reporting to improve customer engagement and increase purchasing on their websites.

• Ad blockers: A solution or a problem?

  Ad blockers can make websites cleaner and faster for users, but they can also take a nasty bite out of advertising revenue. How popular are they, and what can site publishers do about them?

• 10 Cloud Security Startups to Watch in 2014

  The market for cloud security tools is expected to grow significantly in the coming year. Here are 10 cloud security startups that could help boost cloud adoption in 2014 and beyond.