Let’s deconstruct the “flash will die” theory. I’ve read about a articles recently predicting a sudden and abrupt end to the flash market. The rationale given was that as flash NAND gets cheaper, it also becomes less reliable. Here is due to the decreasing flash lithography and the increasing write density (choice of bits per cell). Each of those lowers the life expectancy of the technology. The concept is that, as this continues to happen, flash turns into unsustainable and the industry will move directly to something else. While I agree that flash will someday get replaced by another technology, i don’t believe that’s going to happen anytime soon. Except for NVDIMM, most competing memory technology is five to 6 years faraway from being appropriate for the enterprise, and NVDIMM should be used only in small quantities as a result of cost. There’s various technology that supports the flash NAND market. This includes flash controller technology that controls how and where flash is written. The... Read More »

If we do not control the technology we rely on, another individual will — and we would in contrast to the implications. When people fail to manipulate their actions, the law might step in. When people fail to govern their technology, code might intercede.  It’s happening already. Google is definitely on its strategy to developing self-driving cars. Definitely automated cars will save lives, fuel, and time because, let’s accept it, we’re terrible drivers usually. Normally you are an excellent driver, but statistically speaking, your average lifetime risk of dying in a car accident involves something like 1 in 84. Even when you drive flawlessly, another person won’t. You or someone you recognize could suffer for that. Expect that Google will do better, if we’re willing to give up control. It looks like we shall. Technology has become so complicated and robust that a lot of people prefer ease of use or the promise of security, real or not, over control. Apple has won... Read More »

Intel stands out as the biggest loser if Asus cancels dual Windows-Android devices owing to operating systems makers’ objections. Mobile World Congress: 5 Hot Gadgets (Click image for larger view and slideshow.) Asus’s introduction of the Transformer Book Duet TD300 on the Consumer Electronics Show earlier this year was a huge deal. Brian Krzanich, Intel’s CEO, joined Asus on stage and helped exhibit the convertible, a dual-boot machine that can run both Microsoft’s Windows and Google’s Android operating systems. Asus envisioned it’d be a piece machine by day and a private media device by night. Two months later, it seems that the product has become the victim of disapproval from both OS giants. Asus has “indefinitely postponed” plans to sell the device, in step with sources cited by The Wall Street Journal. The postponement comes after Microsoft and Google made clear to Asus their feelings about this kind of device. It’s no surprise that every platform maker wants devices to run just one platform. There... Read More »

Maria Roat After leaving the location of CIO for the U.S. Department of Transportation, I co-founded a marketplace called GOVonomy, designed to compare government needs and opportunities with emerging technology products from startups and growth companies. These kind of products are cloud-based and should require the government’s FedRAMP security assessment. Yet most private companies don’t seem to be attentive to the FedRAMP program and process, or the way it may also help improve their cloud security. In order portion of a brand new series of discussions with top government leaders for InformationWeek Government, I interviewed Maria Roat, the FedRAMP director at GSA. The FedRAMP program offers a very good opportunity for all enterprise cloud products and repair providers, although they don’t seem to be immediately planning to market to government, because the rigor can help improve the safety of all their products and decrease liability. On areas of improvement for GSA and the FedRAMP to think about, it’s going to help to have the third... Read More »

Automaker alliance will let cars be recognized as Android devices, seeks to dim Apple, Microsoft influence in automotive tech. CES 2014: 8 Technologies To Watch (click image for larger view and slideshow) Google, automakers Audi, GM, Honda, Hyundai, and graphics chip maker NVIDIA have formed the Open Automotive Alliance to increase the Android platform to vehicles. The coalition of technology and car companies aims to position Android in automobiles this year. The businesses hope to advertise innovation, safety, and a more intuitive user experience. Sundar Pichai, senior VP of Android, Chrome, and Apps at Google, said in an announcement that bringing Android to automobiles will facilitate the combination of mobile technology into vehicles and supply drivers with a well-known interface. The initiative should simplify developing mobile applications that run on or along side automotive electronics — in place of writing code to speak with many various proprietary systems, car-oriented apps can process data using common Android APIs. [How should mobile apps be like cocktails? See... Read More »