http://www.microscope.co.uk Feed of content from all MicroScope blogs English Copyright Reed Business Information 2009 Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:36:10 +0000 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/margins/2011/10/bucking-the-trend-in-tough-times-can-bring-its-own-problems.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/margins/2011/10/bucking-the-trend-in-tough-times-can-bring-its-own-problems.html Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:04:54 +0000 Having attended VMworld and Citrix Summit in the space of a week, one of the main impressions I came back with was that for all the talk about desktop virtualisation over the past two years or so, it is turning out to be a bit more complex and expensive than most people originally thought.While everyone understands the merits of desktop virtualisation, it appears that people are still concerned about the costs and the complexity involved. For instance, in the latest Citrix Channel Index, resellers reported that for most customers the cost of additional infrastructure and complexity of virtualisation technologies were http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/margins/2011/10/desktop-virtualisation-is-not-so-easy-pc.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/margins/2011/10/desktop-virtualisation-is-not-so-easy-pc.html Wed, 26 Oct 2011 14:03:46 +0000 Here's an interesting stat: according to Microsoft, it now has patent agreements with OEMs that account for over half of all Android devices. Including its latest deal with Compal, Microsoft has patent agreements with 10 Android device makers. There have been suggestions that Microsoft is actually making more money out of its Android patent deals than from Windows Phone sales, although the software giant has tried to downplay them. Still, while it sorts outs its mobile OS strategy, it must be a comfort for Microsoft to be making money from a rival platform. That said, it will probably have mixed http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/margins/2011/10/microsofts-android-patent-bonanza.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/margins/2011/10/microsofts-android-patent-bonanza.html Mon, 24 Oct 2011 10:23:17 +0000 http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/margins/2011/10/not-everything-is-virtual-at-vmworld.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/margins/2011/10/not-everything-is-virtual-at-vmworld.html Thu, 20 Oct 2011 12:32:52 +0000 There was a lot of hype around iCloud and the launch of iOS5 yesterday. They were bringing lots of wonderful features for Mac, iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch users, far too many for me to list here.But here's the thing: if Apple knew these products were going to be incredibly popular, don't you think it could have done something to make sure they were easy and quick to download? It has taken me close to 5 hours to download iOS5 onto my iPhone via iTunes. And even then, it dropped the connection two or three times.I thought about going for http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/margins/2011/10/ios5-and-icloud-upgrade-is-a-painful-process.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/margins/2011/10/ios5-and-icloud-upgrade-is-a-painful-process.html Thu, 13 Oct 2011 15:33:39 +0000 "Frustrated", "Numb", "Unchallenged" and "Underpaid". Those are the words used by IT professionals in Ireland when asked to describe how their job made them feel. Do their UK equivalents feel the same?According to the survey of IT professionals in Ireland by Archer Specialist Recruitment, as many as three-quarters of those who responded planned to leave their job in the next three years, a third complained their role did not match their skill set and just under half (45%) felt their future in the company where they worked was not secure.Not happy bunnies then. Archer's principal IT recruitment consultant Sam Perrin http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/margins/2011/10/frustrated-it-professionals-keen-to-switch-jobs.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/margins/2011/10/frustrated-it-professionals-keen-to-switch-jobs.html Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:49:23 +0000 If I was RIM, I might be asking some hard questions of my IT network provider (assuming I had one) in the wake of the much-publicised outages at the Blackberry-maker.According to the company's most recent pronouncement on the issue, which has left users unable to use Blackberry messaging or email services, the problem was caused by "a core switch failure within RIM's infrastructure".Of course, it's not quite that simple because, as RIM's statement explains, the system was "designed to failover to a back-up switch [but] the failover did not function as previously tested".What a way to find out. In RIM's http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/margins/2011/10/blackberry-outages-send-message-on-back-up-strategy.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/margins/2011/10/blackberry-outages-send-message-on-back-up-strategy.html Wed, 12 Oct 2011 12:22:59 +0000 Interesting to see Lord Digby Jones, former head of the CBI, calling on the government to change its procurement strategy and use "best value" rather than" best price" as the yardstick for contracts.Although we might quibble over what constitutes "best value", his sentiments are laudable, so laudable in fact that I wonder if he might also call on members of the CBI and other business bodies to follow the same yardstick in their procurement strategy.Lord Digby Jones obviously believes a shift to "best value" will help UK companies to win tenders to supply goods and services to central and local http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/margins/2011/10/best-value-for-government-contracts-what-about-everyone-else.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/margins/2011/10/best-value-for-government-contracts-what-about-everyone-else.html Mon, 10 Oct 2011 15:45:17 +0000 http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/margins/2011/10/steve-jobs-the-first-business-superstar.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/margins/2011/10/steve-jobs-the-first-business-superstar.html Thu, 06 Oct 2011 10:56:55 +0000 Doesn't look like Oracle's OpenWorld event in San Francisco is all that open after all. What else are we to think of the bizarre story that Salesforce.com CEO Mark Benioff has had his keynote speech, due to be presented at the event today (5 October), cancelled. And on the day before it was scheduled too.The redoubtable Benioff has arranged to present his keynote anyway, but in a nearby restaurant. "Larry just cancelled my keynote tomorrow," Benioff tweeted yesterday (4 October)."Join me @ St.Regis AME restaurant.""Larry", in case you haven't twigged, is Oracle CEO Larry Ellison.Of course, the story isn't quite http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/margins/2011/10/oracle-openworld-not-so-open-to-salesforcecom-ceo.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/margins/2011/10/oracle-openworld-not-so-open-to-salesforcecom-ceo.html Wed, 05 Oct 2011 13:16:39 +0000 The Government is planning to give the Health and Safety Executive a legal duty to make a cost recovery from organisations and businesses who are found to be in breach of health and safety law. Whilst this is nothing new to high risk sectors such as the offshore oil industry, it should be of concern to those that consider themselves low risk.In simple terms, the proposals will mean that only those sectors covered by HSE regulation will be at risk; those that only deal with local authority regulation will not be subject to this system.As for cost, HSE time will http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/businessman/2011/10/health-and-safety-or-you-pay.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/businessman/2011/10/health-and-safety-or-you-pay.html Mon, 31 Oct 2011 08:00:00 +0000 http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/businessman/2011/10/digital-marketing.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/businessman/2011/10/digital-marketing.html Fri, 28 Oct 2011 08:00:00 +0000 According to the Law Society, the European Commission is expected to issue a proposal for a Common Sales Law that would cover the whole of the EU.Whilst the new Law would want to harmonise the internal European market and increase cross border trade, the Law Society thinks that it may actually raise difficulties for businesses and consumers in the UK. In particular, there would be questions over interpretation and application over elements of contract law.Considering that our present legal system has been built up over centuries, it would take some time - and money - for private parties to litigate http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/businessman/2011/10/eu-common-sales-law.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/businessman/2011/10/eu-common-sales-law.html Thu, 27 Oct 2011 08:00:00 +0000 According to a recent set of statistics published by the Ministry of Justice, Employment Tribunal claims over the period April 2010 to March 2011 are down by 8 per cent to 218,100. Not bad at first glance. However, when compared to 2008/9's figures, the number of claims is still 44 per cent higher.Other numbers worth noting from the statistics include unfair dismissal claims falling by 16.5 per cent to 47,000 in 2010/11 and redundancy claims down 16 per cent to 16000. Equal pay claims also falling 7.5 per cent to 34,600 in 2010/11.Interestingly, of all the claims made, only 12 http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/businessman/2011/10/tribunal-claims-are-on-the-up.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/businessman/2011/10/tribunal-claims-are-on-the-up.html Wed, 26 Oct 2011 08:00:00 +0000 http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/businessman/2011/10/ministers-urge-businesses-to-tackle-employment-red-tape.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/businessman/2011/10/ministers-urge-businesses-to-tackle-employment-red-tape.html Tue, 25 Oct 2011 08:00:00 +0000 http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/businessman/2011/10/unfair-dismissal-rule-changes.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/businessman/2011/10/unfair-dismissal-rule-changes.html Mon, 24 Oct 2011 08:00:00 +0000 The Government has asked the Lancashire and the Hull and Humber Local Enterprise Partnerships to develop proposals for two new Enterprise Zones following the recent announcement by BAE Systems about their sites in Brough, Warton and Samlesbury.If successful, the goal is to have the new zones to be up and running by April 2012. Each Zone will have simplified planning rules, super-fast broadband and over £150 million tax breaks for new businesses over the next 4 years. They'll also benefit from a 100% business rate discount worth up to £275,000 over a five year period. http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/businessman/2011/10/plans-for-two-new-enterprise-zones.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/businessman/2011/10/plans-for-two-new-enterprise-zones.html Fri, 21 Oct 2011 08:00:00 +0000 The Government is seeking more health and safety prosecutions before Inquests with changes to an agreement - the Work-Related Deaths Protocol - between those who investigate and prosecute work-related deaths.Previously, only in exceptional circumstances were cases currently taken to an Inquest by regulators other than the Crown Prosecution Service. Health and safety offences were only usually brought at this stage if they were being tried in conjunction with manslaughter-related charges.The revised rules from 1 October now allow prosecution before Inquest where manslaughter or homicide charges are not relevant. http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/businessman/2011/10/changes-aim-for-swifter-justice-over-workplace-deaths.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/businessman/2011/10/changes-aim-for-swifter-justice-over-workplace-deaths.html Thu, 20 Oct 2011 08:00:00 +0000 http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/businessman/2011/10/dont-quote-me.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/businessman/2011/10/dont-quote-me.html Wed, 19 Oct 2011 08:00:00 +0000 http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/businessman/2011/10/negligence-and-dismissals.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/businessman/2011/10/negligence-and-dismissals.html Tue, 18 Oct 2011 08:00:00 +0000 I love the way IT is immortalized on the big screen, writes Nick Booth. In the early days of the computer's film career, it usually had a support role. The computer's big scene would be a comical one, where it would overload and go into meltdown. The mainframe playing the part would emote by whirring its tapes back and forth before exploding - for no apparent reason. My favourite misrepresentation of IT involved a young John Hurt, who played a young nerd in The Sweeney. The nerd is captured by The Mob, who force him to hack into The Bank's http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/it-in-context/2011/10/the-cloud-goes-to-hollywood.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/it-in-context/2011/10/the-cloud-goes-to-hollywood.html Fri, 28 Oct 2011 15:01:47 +0000 Logica recently held an event that asked: Has Britain lost its way as an innovator? How do we reclaim our position? While Logica tries to wrestle with that problem and create an innovation culture, there's another battle going on a mile or so down the road. How do we get the City of London to take a gamble on tech start ups? They're all very brave when trading billions of other people's money. But it seems they're pretty timid when it comes to backing their judgement with their own cash. Still they've got enough disposable income to chuck around. If http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/it-in-context/2011/10/can-logica-and-citymeetstech-create-a-culture-of-innovation.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/it-in-context/2011/10/can-logica-and-citymeetstech-create-a-culture-of-innovation.html Fri, 28 Oct 2011 14:50:14 +0000 http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/it-in-context/2011/10/has-technology-really-leveled-the-playing-field.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/it-in-context/2011/10/has-technology-really-leveled-the-playing-field.html Thu, 27 Oct 2011 10:37:25 +0000 Our reader has contacted us about our phone hacking story...It seems there is a better way to confound Piers Morgan and his like from hacking into your mobile messages.(I used Spinvox but, when someone in power found out I liked it, they promptly closed it down)Mobile phone developer HulloMail gives users the option to block any access to your messages via dial in. It's a new option in its SmartVoicemail doo dah. (Portal?)Still, who cares how it works? The bottom line is, if Piers and Rupe had your number and a password, they still wouldn't be able to call your http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/it-in-context/2011/10/ow-hullomail-could-have-prevented-phone-hacking.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/it-in-context/2011/10/ow-hullomail-could-have-prevented-phone-hacking.html Wed, 26 Oct 2011 12:56:14 +0000 Normal 0 false false false EN-GB JA X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} In any department of any big organisation you'll find them doing the work. While the C level strategists are meeting with suppliers on the golf course and the 'conference class' are doing what they do best, filling their diaries with face to face and online meetings, the ordinary Eddy Punch-Keys of the enterprise are keeping the company going. With the economy putting us on a http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/it-in-context/2011/10/troops-to-deploy-ibm-smartcloud-in-big-data-battle.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/it-in-context/2011/10/troops-to-deploy-ibm-smartcloud-in-big-data-battle.html Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:50:47 +0000 Normal 0 false false false EN-GB JA X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;} A new trade only trading system for SMEs could help them cut costs and boost their revenue without having to make any investment. A new trading system for SMEs, GoTradeLive, could give small business the trading power of bigger corporations, help them compete more effectively and help them run a tighter operation. Initially free, this cloud based online trading promises to be as simple to http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/it-in-context/2011/10/gotradelive-gives-smes-a-level-playing-field.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/it-in-context/2011/10/gotradelive-gives-smes-a-level-playing-field.html Tue, 25 Oct 2011 08:25:51 +0000 http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/it-in-context/2011/10/could-facebook-kick-start-the-british-economy.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/it-in-context/2011/10/could-facebook-kick-start-the-british-economy.html Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:50:00 +0000 IT users are a bit like wildebeest. Regular as clockwork, they are forced to migrate across harsh territory as their own environment becomes increasingly hostile and unable to support the population. So, like it or lump it, they are forced into a mass migration, to the fresh pastures of Windows 7. Where they will find only temporary respite before another cycle kicks in. For safety, the masses are huddled together and move as one. But the mass migration has many casualties. Predators lurk in all kids of areas, plotting to pick them off. The most dangerous part of the journey http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/it-in-context/2011/10/how-can-the-user-herd-survive-the-difficult-crossing-of-the-it-landscape-its-in-their-app-dna.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/it-in-context/2011/10/how-can-the-user-herd-survive-the-difficult-crossing-of-the-it-landscape-its-in-their-app-dna.html Fri, 21 Oct 2011 14:38:00 +0000 This column couldn't get to IP Expo yesterday, because it was at the launch of Moonfruit's new Guerilla Shop Building service, which was being introduced by Emma Jones, the alpha woman who runs Startup Britain, and she is someone you don't say no to.But we know exactly what went on. Everyone knows each other in this industry and we all talk about it in the pub afterwards.Here's what we thought we heard.Roger Black gave a speech to open IP Expo. Then Neil Crockett of Cisco lectured us about how Cisco was spending our taxes on the technological underpinnings of the http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/it-in-context/2011/10/this-column-couldnt-get-to.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/it-in-context/2011/10/this-column-couldnt-get-to.html Thu, 20 Oct 2011 08:28:59 +0000 http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/it-in-context/2011/10/ethical-hacker-is-top-attraction-at-ip-expo.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/it-in-context/2011/10/ethical-hacker-is-top-attraction-at-ip-expo.html Wed, 19 Oct 2011 20:53:00 +0000 MicroScope has long been a fan of Cisco CEO John Chambers. We admire him for, among other things, his easy-going manner, his old school Southern charm and his willingness to be outspoken and candid when it comes to the big issues of the day. Whether it's the strength of the economic recovery, public sector spending patterns, or simply an observation on the state of the switching market, John Chambers is the man with a pithy quote for all occasions. But with his recent statements about Cisco's Chinese rival, Huawei, Chambers seems to have rather hit a duff note. In fact, http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/network_noise/2012/04/meet-john-chambers-huaweis-new-marketing-star.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/network_noise/2012/04/meet-john-chambers-huaweis-new-marketing-star.html Tue, 10 Apr 2012 14:26:00 +0000 http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/network_noise/2012/04/booze-fuelled-blackberry-stabbing-caps-off-rotten-week-at-rim.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/network_noise/2012/04/booze-fuelled-blackberry-stabbing-caps-off-rotten-week-at-rim.html Wed, 04 Apr 2012 15:00:00 +0000 http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/network_noise/2012/04/the-return-of-the-payphone.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/network_noise/2012/04/the-return-of-the-payphone.html Tue, 03 Apr 2012 10:29:13 +0000 http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/network_noise/2012/03/start-up-offers-cisco-1-for-webex.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/network_noise/2012/03/start-up-offers-cisco-1-for-webex.html Tue, 13 Mar 2012 16:31:15 +0000 http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/network_noise/2012/02/welsh-businesses-could-get-cymru-domain-names.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/network_noise/2012/02/welsh-businesses-could-get-cymru-domain-names.html Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:11:00 +0000 http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/network_noise/2012/01/android-business-users-get-new-uc-functionality.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/network_noise/2012/01/android-business-users-get-new-uc-functionality.html Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:10:37 +0000 http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/network_noise/2012/01/the-network-will-continue-to-assert-itself-in-2012.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/network_noise/2012/01/the-network-will-continue-to-assert-itself-in-2012.html Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:16:00 +0000 Almost a year ago to the day I painted a mental image that those of us who have met Avaya worldwide channel boss Jeremy Butt would possibly rather forget. So let me paint it again for you!Last year I made the point that Avaya had gone on apologising for having dithered over its attitude to the channel for long enough, and called for it to get on with the business of doing business.I believe the words "sitting naked in the snow, flogging themselves with birch twigs" were employed.I'm happy to say that on the evidence of today's opening keynotes the http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/network_noise/2011/11/avaya-fires-and-misfires-on-opening-day-of-2011-var-show.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/network_noise/2011/11/avaya-fires-and-misfires-on-opening-day-of-2011-var-show.html Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:59:28 +0000 http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/network_noise/2011/10/could-nortel-have-been-an-apple-killer.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/network_noise/2011/10/could-nortel-have-been-an-apple-killer.html Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:11:00 +0000 http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/network_noise/2011/10/claranet-takes-blame-for-new-big-brother-website.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/network_noise/2011/10/claranet-takes-blame-for-new-big-brother-website.html Fri, 21 Oct 2011 12:42:55 +0000 As EMC took the wraps off its cloud infrastructure product range it's calling Vspex, it was interesting to see just where the vendor is pitching the product.The answer is of course squarely at the midmarket, a big opportunity for the vendor, which has enterprise products that have not made it down into that space before, as well as it's channel partners.Customers that found the prospect of buying a Vblock product too scary are going to find the Vspex more attractive and for the channel this is a good time to be taking an infrastructure product that can cope with the http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/quicke-view/2012/04/the-midmarket-cliche.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/quicke-view/2012/04/the-midmarket-cliche.html Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:36:10 +0000 Any business leader will know the importance of being clear in their language. Say something wrong and it can seriously damage the share price.So perhaps the Blackberry maker RIM's new CEO is getting a lesson in the value of being careful fairly early on his his stint at the smartphone specialist.Thorsten Heins responded to a $125m loss pointing out that it made sense to refocus the business on its core market in the corporate market.That led to headlines across the board about a decision being made to exit the consumer business. It has also led this afternoon to some serious http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/quicke-view/2012/03/careful-what-you-say-there-thorsten.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/quicke-view/2012/03/careful-what-you-say-there-thorsten.html Fri, 30 Mar 2012 15:19:28 +0000 The words 'iPad' and 'queues' seem to go hand in hand whenever there is a major product launch and sure enough its happened again.Apple fans down under queued up to get their mitts on the latest iPad giving the vendor the sort of exposure that money can't buy. You just know that those pictures of people waiting for hours and then rushing through open doors and reaching out across fully manned tills will go round the world.When the iPad version one came out in the UK I remember walking past a couple of people who were sitting on garden chairs http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/quicke-view/2012/03/apple-sparks-the-queues-again.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/quicke-view/2012/03/apple-sparks-the-queues-again.html Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:24:41 +0000 http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/quicke-view/2012/03/an-audit-is-the-first-step-to-a-better-service.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/quicke-view/2012/03/an-audit-is-the-first-step-to-a-better-service.html Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:06:29 +0000 The phrase barometer is one that is bound to be used in the context of Dell's results and the state of the PC market but there is also something else happening here with financial results again becoming an important indication of the health of the IT industry.When the world polunged into recession back in 2008 we all watched the quarterly results of the household names to see where the market was going looking for signs of hope and recovery. That stopped a bit last year when the phrase 'record quarter' became over used.But you sense in recent weeks, with the http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/quicke-view/2012/02/a-barometer-of-concern.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/quicke-view/2012/02/a-barometer-of-concern.html Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:10:58 +0000 Sitting down with a senior management figure at a vendor is always an interesting experience. They take your questions and respond directly and with a complete absence of waffle.Presumably media trained up to the hilt, the president will take a query and deal with it in the way that will not have any negative repercussions on its share price, will be in line with previous announcements and give you just enough of interest without disclosing anything they would have wished to have kept private.So when a senior industry figure tells you that they are going to be acquisitive you can http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/quicke-view/2012/02/want-it-straight-then-go-to-the-top.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/quicke-view/2012/02/want-it-straight-then-go-to-the-top.html Fri, 17 Feb 2012 09:24:06 +0000 It was with great sadness that we heard about the death of David Hurley, who passed away after a short illness at the weekend.Hurley had been a long standing contact of MicroScope and the relationship charted the ups and downs of the channel and his own progress as he led Anglia Business Solutions beyond being a major Microsoft partner into focusing on the fresh food market with its LINKfresh solution.Hurley had been around the channel for many years, helping found Anglia back in 1981, and had a wisdom and perspective that came from being there in the good times as http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/quicke-view/2012/01/remembering-david-hurley.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/quicke-view/2012/01/remembering-david-hurley.html Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:40:36 +0000 Where it was once computer adverts that grabbed the attention in the breaks in Super Bowl coverage this time around it looks set to be cars that are being plugged in the moments between the action.Volkswagon and Audi are just two of those that have secured highly coveted ad spots during next month's highly viewed sporting contest between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants.The irony is of course that an industry even older than computing, the automobile business, is in a position to spend serious money on promoting its products. Cars have been hammered in the recession http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/quicke-view/2012/01/cars-rather-than-computers-getting-the-ad-money.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/quicke-view/2012/01/cars-rather-than-computers-getting-the-ad-money.html Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:33:15 +0000 There are two contests which are currently dominating the television talk shows and radio phone-ins in America. The first is the race for the Republican nomination in the race to be the candidate to run against the President in the next election.The second, and much more widely debated, is who will come out of this Sunday winning a place to contest the Super Bowl. The final four teams play each other this weekend in one of the biggest games in the American football season, with the two winners knowing that the largest sporting spectacle awaits.Go to any American bar, and http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/quicke-view/2012/01/super-branding-as-all-eyes-focus-on-the-last-four.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/quicke-view/2012/01/super-branding-as-all-eyes-focus-on-the-last-four.html Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:43:56 +0000 Kodak is all too well aware of the changes that have happened in its natural markets that have left it now seeking bankruptcy protection.The digital revolution has not just touched its film operations but also had an impact on its printing activities.For those of us that grew up with the brand the announcement about its latest moves will perhaps not come as too much of a surprise when you consider the shift that has happened in the film market.The computer companies got involved in the market a few years ago and you are now just as likely to purchase a http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/quicke-view/2012/01/for-kodak-the-struggle-is-to-stay-relevant.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/quicke-view/2012/01/for-kodak-the-struggle-is-to-stay-relevant.html Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:31:46 +0000 http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/reseller-radar/2012/02/reseller-remakes-snakes-on-a-plane.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/reseller-radar/2012/02/reseller-remakes-snakes-on-a-plane.html Wed, 22 Feb 2012 14:12:00 +0000 With Valentine's Day literally just around the corner, one's thoughts naturally turn to overpriced meals served by harassed staff in crowded restaurants or, depending on circumstance, a bottle of wine and a Richard Curtis DVD.Over at B2B social media specialist Spiceworks, however, they've had the bright idea to find out what gets SMB IT professionals all passionate.When it comes to technology, obviously...We think you'll agree the results make for titillating viewing. http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/reseller-radar/2012/02/what-gets-it-pros-in-the-mood-for-love.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/reseller-radar/2012/02/what-gets-it-pros-in-the-mood-for-love.html Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:09:00 +0000 http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/reseller-radar/2011/10/teneo-gets-into-african-education-sector.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/reseller-radar/2011/10/teneo-gets-into-african-education-sector.html Tue, 11 Oct 2011 12:40:00 +0000 http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/reseller-radar/2011/08/onyx-takes-microscopes-future-in-its-hands.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/reseller-radar/2011/08/onyx-takes-microscopes-future-in-its-hands.html Fri, 26 Aug 2011 12:40:00 +0000 What with riots in London and Manchester, fall out from the News International phone hacking scandal and the ongoing worldwide economic crisis, not to mention Google's acquisition of Motorola and HP's sudden bloodbath, we'd almost forgotten it's meant to be the silly season. So what, then, do Lady Gaga, Ashley Cole and Christine Bleakley have to do with IT security? Well, a history of high-speed crashes, all-night partying and silly footwear has meant celebs don't have the best reputation behind the wheel. For this reason, security firm PC Tools decided the obvious thing to do was ask the great British http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/reseller-radar/2011/08/why-lady-gagas-driving-habits-should-get-you-worried-about-security.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/reseller-radar/2011/08/why-lady-gagas-driving-habits-should-get-you-worried-about-security.html Fri, 19 Aug 2011 13:23:13 +0000 http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/reseller-radar/2011/07/how-to-keep-vince-cable-occupied-during-the-summer-hols.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/reseller-radar/2011/07/how-to-keep-vince-cable-occupied-during-the-summer-hols.html Mon, 25 Jul 2011 15:53:59 +0000 http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/reseller-radar/2011/07/fake-reseller-presents-a-new-conundrum-for-apple.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/reseller-radar/2011/07/fake-reseller-presents-a-new-conundrum-for-apple.html Wed, 20 Jul 2011 12:03:00 +0000 http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/reseller-radar/2011/07/will-intercept-lingerie-campaign-get-women-into-the-channel.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/reseller-radar/2011/07/will-intercept-lingerie-campaign-get-women-into-the-channel.html Mon, 18 Jul 2011 12:30:00 +0000 http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/reseller-radar/2011/07/integralis-solves-office-location-pickle-with-gherkin.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/reseller-radar/2011/07/integralis-solves-office-location-pickle-with-gherkin.html Thu, 14 Jul 2011 15:25:00 +0000 Directors and employees at DCC-owned distie Micro-P have been taking a break from the cut-throat world of distribution to raise money for children's charities.Besides completing the Three Peaks Challenge and participating in a 50 mile Pennine hike, the firm's directors swapped Blackberries for trowels for a sponsored dig in aid of the firm's nominated local charity, Naomi House Children's Hospice.All 10 Micro-P directors spent a day getting the hospice's gardens ready for summer, raising £10,000 altogether, along with a selection of donated hardware and £2,500 from the Three Peaks event."In addition to raising £10,000 to help pay for crucial care http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/reseller-radar/2011/07/micro-p-racks-up-the-charity-karma.html http://www.microscope.co.uk/blogs/reseller-radar/2011/07/micro-p-racks-up-the-charity-karma.html Wed, 13 Jul 2011 16:34:23 +0000