The VAR Guy

Here’s something fun out of Redmond. Microsoft has launched a line of touch-based mice. I think it has to do with Windows 8′s Metro interface, but Microsoft said the new line was developed to add productivity-based multitouch gestures. Is there more to this simple hardware launch? Here’s a quick reality check on the Microsoft Touch Mouse …

How could the week be complete without an Apple rumor or two? This time the latest buzz is around a new lighter and smaller battery Apple has commissioned from its manufacturers. Why? It could be for the iPad 3, which may have some interesting improvements. All the fun speculation is here, just read on …

As storage needs heat up, so does the need for interoperability among various storage components. Avere Systems is on board with that ethos, which is why the company has joined the Technical Support Alliance Network, making an interoperability promise with its NAS devices. A quick rundown follows …

Oracle E-Business Suite users rejoice: V1 Document Management has arrived, and with it the promise of the long sought-after “paperless office.” If e-management of tons of documents is on your to-do list your yourself or your customer, read on for a quick rundown on feature set and platform usage …

Meaghan Kelly, one of the best-known executives driving Hewlett-Packard’s small business initiatives, is taking on a new role within HP. Indeed, Kelly is joining HP’s Office of the CTO to focus full-time on a startup/VC project. Kelly’s new title: VP, Startup Central. The effort has clear implications for HP’s channel partners. Here’s why.

My big summer project, which I recently completed, was building my own computer case. The experience may not qualify me for the Guild of Master Craftsmen, but it did leave me with some novel thoughts, such as: Why do we house almost all our computers in ugly, nondescript plastic boxes? I don’t have the answer, but I do have proof that another world is possible.

If you’re been itching for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 to hit the scene, it might be worth the wait. Red Hat is now taking open suggestions on the latest version of its business operating system. That’s right, all “subscribers — users and partners” can discuss what they want to see in the upgrade. Read on and find out how to be heard …

Big-box retailer Best Buy has cut the prices of the BlackBerry Playbook, up to $150 for some models. Is this a sign of the times for BlackBerry maker RIM, and more importantly, can RIM really compete in the mobile marketplace anymore? Perspective you can only get here, coming up …

Here’s an interesting theory: Could HP’s $99 liquidation just have been a webOS adoption ploy? With HP’s official NextBench blog professing a short re-release of the HP TouchPad, has HP taken a Hail Mary longshot to make sure webOS doesn’t fall into obscurity?

Remember MeeGo? It was the love child between Nokia and Intel’s respective mobile OS technologies, and was supposed to be the future of netbooks and smartphones alike. But a new rumor suggests that it’s likely dead, despite Intel denying it.

Roughly three months after Astaro was acquired by Sophos, the unified threat management vendor is praising the ease of the integration of the two companies’ technology and partner communities.

Yes, The VAR Guy has a new owner — Penton Media. But did The VAR Guy sell his soul when Penton acquired Nine Lives Media? Hardly. Our resident blogger visited Penton Media’s Fort Collins, Colo., offices this week. During the visit, The VAR Guy gathered lots of information about Penton Media’s web prowess. It’s too soon to say how The VAR Guy may potentially leverage those resources. But our resident blogger promises to maintain his unique voice. Here’s a look at the visit.

Simon Witts, formerly the man in charge of Microsoft’s large enterprise systems integrator, ISV and Microsoft Dynamics partners and customers, has departed the company, Redmond confirmed.

Should enterprises upgrade to Windows 7? If you’re in the IT channel, chances are good you’ve pondered that question at least once or twice in the last few years. In a new e-book, however, Canonical urges administrators to consider another option: exiting the Microsoft ecosystem entirely by switching their desktops to Ubuntu. Here are the details.

Riding on the VMware VMworld wave, Parallels has launched a mobile iOS application in conjunction with a new version of Parallels Desktop for Mac to bring desktop virtualization to your iOS device. Any operating system virtualizable now can be accessed from your iOS device, as long as you’ve got an Internet connection. Tech specs and perspective to follow …

Mobile virtualization seems to be the future, as more and more consumers and business users demand access to virtualized desktops from their mobile devices. Samsung has teamed up with VMware to provide those features built in and ready to go in the latest and greatest Android devices. Here’s the breakdown on the digital revolution …

Lenovo continues to barrel into the PC market with sleek and stylish computers. This time, the focus is on thinness. Lenovo’s new IdeaPad U Series lineup of ultra mobile computers, which the company has dubbed “ultrabooks,” features the latest Intel Core processors and solid-state components. Are they the first real competitors to Apple’s MacBook Air lineup? Tech specs follow …

You may remember recently we looked at the Building Windows 8 Blog, in which the Windows 8 team described its strategy behind developing the new Metro-style GUI for Windows 8 and a refined update to the Windows Explorer Desktop. But should Microsoft have one team focusing its efforts on two different computing styles? And more importantly, can Microsoft truly be innovative if it can’t leave the past in the past?

We’ve been watching VMTurbo gain a lot of traction over the last few months. Recently, the company hired Citrix brass among adding virtual application management. Now, at VMworld 2011, VMTurbo announced it has inked a deal with Acronis to provide VM backup and recovery in conjunction with its VM monitoring solution. Details right here …

Intel is branching out into the governmental vertical with launch of the Intel Federal LLC, designed to help Intel work directly with the government and fuel the supercomputing needs of the nation. But is there room to play for the channel? Read on for the details …

AT&T has been hit with a Department of Justice action to halt the proceedings of the AT&T and T-Mobile merger. According to the DOJ, it’s anti-competitive and it would kill a low-cost player in the mobile phone market. Read on for AT&T’s official statement and some perspective …

ISVs and VARs building cross-platform mobile applications with cloud features might enjoy Microsoft’s latest release. Now, Windows Azure Toolkit has been released for Android, bringing iOS and Windows Phone 7 into one big fluffy Azure fold. What does that mean for ISVs and VARs? Here are the all-important details for developers …

If Canonical has its way, Ubuntu may soon be powering computers like the one in your car. At least, that’s what the release of Ubuntu Core, a new image of Ubuntu aimed at embedded devices, suggests. Here’s the scoop.