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Showing posts from October, 2019

Microsoft says it has come a long way since 'that' open source comment

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  Microsoft Australia's CTO told Red Hat Forum his company is committed to open source, and that the fundamental mission driven by Satya Nadella is best achieved through democratisation. Microsoft has copped a lot of flack over comments it has made regarding open source in the past; with one in particular made by its former CEO Steve Ballmer back in 2002 that described Linux and the General Public License as cancers. Highlighting the irony that Microsoft was presenting during Red Hat Forum 2019 in Melbourne on Tuesday, Redmond's Australian CTO Lee Hickin said the company has come a long way since those comments were made. "I recognise the irony of Microsoft here at an open source community event. I'm really proud to do that, and I'm humbled and privileged that we can be on the stage with Red Hat to share our story," Hickin said. Hickin has been with Microsoft on and off since 2005, saying that he's seen three leaders and three very different companies. &qu

Workday intros new blockchain powered credentialing technology

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  The company also unveiled a slew of machine learning-based apps and features during its annual Workday Rising event in Orlando. Workday held its Workday Rising user conference on Tuesday, where co-founder and CEO Aneel Bhusri and a parade of executives converged in Orlando to showcase the company's vision for the future and  new products in the pipeline . Workday's key goal during the event seemed to center on telling customers that it can support their business during transformation. "We are focused on innovation that adds value to you, our customer," Bhusri said during his keynote, noting the pivotal role machine learning will play in Workday's products and platforms going forward. Bhusri continued to call machine learning "the foundational and disruptive technology of the next five years." As for the key announcements, Workday is introducing a blockchain based system for verifying worker credentials and identity called Workday Credentials. The syste

Blockchain: Why the revolution is still a decade away

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  Blockchain has been a buzzword for a few years now, but the reality is that the technology is nowhere near ready for widescale adoption. From finance to fine art, the list of industries that blockchain could be applied is apparently never-ending – but in reality it could be another ten years before the technology actually starts delivering on its promises. Blockchain is currently going through what tech analyst Gartner describes as the 'trough of disillusionment', which occurs when a new technology's implementations fails and interest for it wanes. Gartner predicts that blockchain will only start recovering from its fall from 2021, and that it could take five to ten years before it starts transforming the way businesses operate. Or, as Gartner puts it, before it goes up the "Slope of Enlightenment". Avivah Litan, research vice-president at Gartner, doesn't see this happening before 2028, which is when she expects the technology to be fully scalable.  "T

Docker is in deep trouble

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  In a leaked internal memo, Docker CEO reveals the troubled company is looking for more money. Docker, the technology, is the poster child for containers. But it appears  Docker , the business, is in trouble. In a leaked memo, Docker CEO Rob Bearden praised workers -- despite the "uncertainty [which] brings with it significant challenges" and " persevering in spite of the lack of clarity  we've had these past few weeks."  Lack of clarity about what? Sources close to the company say it's simple: Docker needs more money.  Indeed, Bearden opened by saying: "We have been engaging with investors to secure more financing to continue to execute on our strategy. I wanted to share a quick update on where we stand. We are currently in active negotiations with two investors and are working through final terms. We should be able to provide you a more complete update within the next couple of weeks." Docker has already raised $272.9 million , but the company h