The VAR Guy

There’s been so much buzz about Microsoft Windows 8, but so very little mentioned about the official release date — until now. It looks as though Windows 8 will be ready by the summer of 2012, just in time for an October release date. Here are the quick details …

While Verizon and AT&T nickel and dime users on tethering options and limited data plans, NetZero — the company once famous for its free dial-up Internet service — has built out a new offering for the 21st century: NetZero 4G mobile broadband. And true to NetZero form, some of it is free. If you’re a VAR on the road looking for a quick Internet fix now and again, NetZero could be the answer …

Solid state storage, the storage chips that outfit all the mobile devices we love so much, are truly destined for more than just games and e-mail. We’re already seeing SSD solutions cropping up in advanced storage devices, and now Avnet Embedded is looking to educate its community with an event focusing on the wonderful world of SSDs. Where’s the locale? Everywhere — it’s an online virtual summit. Read on for the details …

Ever since Apple started building its own ARM-based CPUs, there’s been a growing demand to see what’s inside. The latest dissection reveals the “floor plan” of the new iPad’s A5X CPU again is bigger than its predecessors. How can Apple’s growing CPUs predict anything about the mobile industry? I’ll tell you…

If you’re a Dell VAR looking for an edge, Dell may have just given you one. It’s the brand new Dell trade-in program, which is specifically targeting current (or soon-to-be-former) EMC and NetApp customers. What’s the storage jazz all about? I’ll tell you …

Lenovo has always been on the edge of innovation in the PC market, so it should come as no surprise that Lenovo and SugarSync are working together to build out Lenovo Cloud Storage. Shipping on PCs and tablets, the new cloud technology is designed to a Dropbox of sorts for all things Lenovo and then some. Here’s the scoop …

Even though Google and Microsoft have become rivals as of late, Google’s not above showing Microsoft some love. Apparently, Google plans to launch a special Windows 8 Metro version of Chrome, uniquely designed for the Windows 8 environment and, more importantly, tablets. Here’s a look at Microsoft and Google’s relationship, plus cool new features in Chrome …

Pano Logic loves its customers and loves its partners, so how can it turn that love into a giant cornucopia of channel adoration? It’s simple, now that Pano Logic has created a VP of Customer Success position. I’ll explain …

Jenne Inc., the UC-focused VAD, is deepening its relationship with LifeSize, as both companies seek to capitalize on the growing videoconferencing market, which is predicted to hit $14 billion in 2017. That sounds like big money. So what should VARs know about this dynamic duo? Here’s a demo …

If you consider that the browser is the heart of any device experience these days, it should come as no surprise that Microsoft has put forth 110 percent when it comes to building out Internet Explorer 10 for Windows 8 Metro. In fact, there’s so much work involved, the Building Windows 8 blog did an overview of the feature set of IE 10 Metro for Windows 8. Here’s what you should know …

If you were looking to buy a BlackBerry Playbook, but were holding out for an official keyboard attachment, your wait is now over. RIM has launched the BlackBerry PlayBook Mini Keyboard, complete with touchpad. But is this what consumers have been clamoring for? Oh, RIM …

Tech Data is planning its semi-annual spring Channel Link conference in Las Vegas, with a considerable focus this year on boosting the reseller community. If you’re a VAR looking for an edge up, Channel Link could present perfect opportunity. Here’s why …

Published reports say Apple chose Samsung to be the exclusive provider of the new iPad retina display, which is interesting since Samsung and Apple have been battling it out in the courtroom over patents. But Apple’s relationship with Samsung may get cozier, since “an anonymous Samsung executive” has claimed his company also will be delivering the screen for an iPad mini. I’m as surprised as you are …

The new iPad isn’t even available to the general public yet, but that won’t stop us from thinking about its successor. The new new iPad, or iPad 4, should arrive sometime in 2013 and based on what Apple has — or hasn’t — done already, we can start making predictions on a fourth iteration of the iconic device. Comments welcome …

The Internet Architecture Board (IAB) has tapped Polycom’s principal UC engineer Mary Barnes to serve as executive director. What is the IAB and how does Polycom play into the future of the Internet? VARs working the UC space may be especially interested in knowing …

With the advent of Microsoft Windows 8 comes Windows Phone 8, the mobile successor to the Windows Phone 7 platform. Recently, we looked at Windows Phone 7 Mango, the subsequent update dubbed Tango, and the future ahead with Apollo. Turns out, Apollo is the code-name for Windows Phone 8. But a guaranteed upgrade path may not be possible, since Microsoft may be pushing new hardware specifically designed for Windows Phone 8. Let’s take a look …

F5 Networks announced its selections for its 2011 Channel Partners of the year. If you’re a channel partner focused on networking and traffic optimization, you might want to see which companies have been hitting all the high notes. The short list of honorees is coming up …

Just the other day we were looking at Symantec’s journey into mobile protection world. Now, we learn about the Symantec Smartphone Honey Stick Project. Don’t let the name confuse you — this has nothing to do with Android (specifically) or tasty sweets. Rather, Symantec dropped 50 phones with “private” information across five major cities and recorded the results. What can the channel learn? Let’s take a look …

Amid all the cloud app buzz, Apple has actually taken a step back from the online application world. It plans to shutter the popular cloud-based iWork.com, which has been in existence since 2009. Why is Apple pulling the plug and what’s Apple’s idea of cloud really all about? Let’s take a look …

Michael Dell has gone on the record with Bloomberg, revealing that Dell plans to gear up its resources to build Windows 8 tablets as soon as it can. With a big-name vendor such as Dell jumping on board the Windows 8 bandwagon, what can we expect in the tablet space at the end of 2012? Let’s take a look, because the channel needs to know …

The rivalry between Apple and Google continues, even in passive aggressive forms. The latest: There’s evidence within iPhoto for iPad that Apple may be phasing out the use of Google Maps. But why exactly? And why just iPhoto? Let’s take a look.

No, it’s not Shark Week, that’s on the Discovery Channel. This is SHARKFEST 2012, and Riverbed Technology, the WAN optimization network company, will be hosting the fifth annual convention focusing on Wireshark, the open source packet sniffer. But how does this play into the channel? I’ll tell you …

Symantec is looking to capitalize on the continued proliferation of mobile devices, with its Norton Mobile Security for Android now available for Galaxy phones. What exactly does mobile security provide, and more importantly, do we need it? Here’s a quick look …