Gartner, Inc., analysts have announced their top 10 technologies and trends that will be strategic for most organizations. The analysts presented their findings during the annual Gartner Symposium/ITxpo in orlando.

Gartner defines a strategic technology as one with the potential for significant impact on the enterprise in the next three years. Factors that denote significant impact include a high potential for disruption to IT or the business, the need for a major dollar investment, or the risk of being late to adopt.

The top 10 strategic technologies for 2009 include:

Virtualization – Much of the current buzz is focused on server virtualization, but virtualization in storage and client devices is also moving rapidly. Virtualization to eliminate duplicate copies of data on the real storage devices while maintaining the illusion to the accessing systems that the files are as originally stored (data deduplication) can significantly decrease the cost of storage devices and media to hold information. Hosted virtual images deliver a near-identical result to blade-based PCs. But, instead of the motherboard function being located in the data center as hardware, it is located there as a virtual machine bubble. However, despite ambitious deployment plans from many organizations, deployments of hosted virtual desktop capabilities will be adopted by fewer than 40 percent of target users by 2010.

Cloud Computing — Cloud computing is a style of computing that characterizes a model in which providers deliver a variety of IT-enabled capabilities to consumers. They key characteristics of cloud computing are 1) delivery of capabilities “as a service,” 2) delivery of services in a highly scalable and elastic fashion, 3) using Internet technologies and techniques to develop and deliver the services, and 4) designing for delivery to external customers. Although cost is a potential benefit for small companies, the biggest benefits are the built-in elasticity and scalability, which not only reduce barriers to entry, but also enable these companies to grow quickly. As certain IT functions are industrializing and becoming less customized, there are more possibilities for larger organizations to benefit from cloud computing.

Servers — Beyond Blades – Servers are evolving beyond the blade server stage that exists today. This evolution will simplify the provisioning of capacity to meet growing needs. The organization tracks the various resource types, for example, memory, separately and replenishes only the type that is in short supply. This eliminates the need to pay for all three resource types to upgrade capacity. It also simplifies the inventory of systems, eliminating the need to track and purchase various sizes and configurations. The result will be higher utilization because of lessened “waste” of resources that are in the wrong configuration or that come along with the needed processors and memory in a fixed bundle.

Web-Oriented Architectures – The Internet is arguably the best example of an agile, interoperable and scalable service-oriented environment in existence. This level of flexibility is achieved because of key design principles inherent in the Internet/Web approach, as well as the emergence of Web-centric technologies and standards that promote these principles. The use of Web-centric models to build global-class solutions cannot address the full breadth of enterprise computing needs. However, Gartner expects that continued evolution of the Web-centric approach will enable its use in an ever-broadening set of enterprise solutions during the next five years.

Enterprise Mashups – Enterprises are now investigating taking mashups from cool Web hobby to enterprise-class systems to augment their models for delivering and managing applications. Through 2010, the enterprise mashup product environment will experience significant flux and consolidation, and application architects and IT leaders should investigate this growing space for the significant and transformational potential it may offer their enterprises.

Specialized Systems – Appliances have been used to accomplish IT purposes, but only with a few classes of function have appliances prevailed. Heterogeneous systems are an emerging trend in high-performance computing to address the requirements of the most demanding workloads, and this approach will eventually reach the general-purpose computing market. Heterogeneous systems are also specialized systems with the same single-purpose imitations of appliances, but the heterogeneous system is a server system into which the owner installs software to accomplish its function.

Social Software and Social Networking – Social software includes a broad range of technologies, such as social networking, social collaboration, social media and social validation. Organizations should consider adding a social dimension to a conventional Web site or application and should adopt a social platform sooner, rather than later, because the greatest risk lies in failure to engage and thereby, being left mute in a dialogue where your voice must be heard.

Unified Communications – During the next five years, the number of different communications vendors with which a typical organization works with will be reduced by at least 50 percent. This change is driven by increases in the capability of application servers and the general shift of communications applications to common off-the-shelf server and operating systems. As this occurs, formerly distinct markets, each with distinct vendors, converge, resulting in massive consolidation in the communications industry. Organizations must build careful, detailed plans for when each category of communications function is replaced or converged, coupling this step with the prior completion of appropriate administrative team convergence.

Business Intelligence – Business Intelligence (BI), the top technology priority in Gartner’s 2008 CIO survey, can have a direct positive impact on a company’s business performance, dramatically improving its ability to accomplish its mission by making smarter decisions at every level of the business from corporate strategy to operational processes. BI is particularly strategic because it is directed toward business managers and knowledge workers who make up the pool of thinkers and decision makers that are tasked with running, growing and transforming the business. Tools that let these users make faster, better and more-informed decisions are particularly valuable in a difficult business environment.

Green IT – Shifting to more efficient products and approaches can allow for more equipment to fit within an energy footprint, or to fit into a previously filled center. Regulations are multiplying and have the potential to seriously constrain companies in building data centers, as the effect of power grids, carbon emissions from increased use and other environmental impacts are under scrutiny. Organizations should consider regulations and have alternative plans for data center and capacity growth.

Source: Gartner, Inc.

The new generation of popular sour candy is more trick than treat, warn dental experts. Most of it contains acid levels so high that it approaches the ph level of battery acid, according to the California Dental Hygienists’ Association (CDHA).

Sour candy comes in dozens of varieties and forms including hard, soft, chewy, gummy, gels, liquid sprays, crystals, foam sprays, powders, cotton candy and chewing gums. Most people think this type of candy is safer because it has less sugar, but they don’t know that the acid content is toward the extreme end of the acidic spectrum.

The CDHA is offering the following tips for this Halloween:

• Avoid, limit or seriously reconsider choosing or eating candy labeled “sour or tart”
• Remember that “sour” means “acid,” which is bad for teeth
• Look for the following acids on the back label of ingredients and avoid them: citric, lactic, malic, tartaric, fumaric, adipic, ascorbic
• Don’t be fooled by “concentrated fruit juice extracts,” which is a code phrase for ingredients that can be highly acidic
• If you choose to consume sour candies, rinse your mouth with water immediately afterwards to reduce the damaging effects from the acids
• DO NOT brush your teeth directly after eating sour candy as the toothbrush and toothpaste are abrasive. This will scratch and will remove more of the already softened enamel

Source: California Dental Hygienists’ Association
Photo: Erika Feltham

See all Halloween lists

Amazon.com Inc. has announced that it will offer release-date delivery for “Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09,” “Star Wars: The Force Unleashed,” “Fable 2” and “Gears of War 2.” For $5.98, Amazon customers can upgrade their shipping option for guaranteed delivery of these titles on the first day of availability to all addresses within the continental United States. Additionally, Amazon Prime customers will receive release-date delivery for free.

Here are the upcoming release dates for popular video titles:

• “Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09” will be released on Aug. 26, 2008
• “Star Wars: The Force Unleashed” will be released on Sept. 16, 2008
• “Fable 2” will be released on Oct. 21, 2008
• “Gears of War 2” will be released on Nov. 7, 2008

For more information, visit Amazon.com Videogames.

Source: Amazon.com

ACM SIGGRAPH has announced the Computer Animation Festival’s Best of Show, Jury Award, Student Prize, Audience Prize, and a special Well Told Fable Prize for SIGGRAPH 2008, the 35th International Conference and Exhibition on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques.

The winners are:

Best of Show Winner: Oktapodi (Gobelins, l’école de l’image, France) — Gobelins’ third-year students direct this animated short about two octopi in their comical escape from the grasps of a stubborn and determined restaurant cook.

Best Student Piece Winner: 893 (Supinfocom, France) — These students combine story and style in this tale of honor, tradition, and imagination.

Jury Award Winner: Mauvais Role (École Supérieure de Réalisation Audiovisuelle, France) — This is a tale that shows that you can achieve whatever you want, regardless of the opinions that surround you. Watch as a monster constantly cast in games, finds his perfect job in a game that you’d never choose for him.

Best Well Told Fable Prize: Our Wonderful Nature (Hochschule für Film und Fernsehen | “Konrad Wolf” Potsdam-Babelsberg) — This documentary uses time stretching, film camera work, and creative sound design to tell the story of water shrews in the wild.

Audience Prize: Oktapodi — Competition screening audiences were able to vote for their favorite selection to win the esteemed Audience Prize.

Source: SIGGRAPH

No longer does style have to be sacrificed for fuel economy. MyRide.com, a new online resource for consumers to research anything automotive, has compiled a list of the Top 10 Sports Cars by Annual Fuel Cost with cars that fit every budget.

Rankings for the Top 10 Sports Cars by Annual Fuel Cost guide were based on the EPA’s annual fuel-cost ratings, which reflect the current national average gas price and assume 15,000 miles divided between 55 percent city and 45 percent highway. When annual fuel cost was the same, the net gain between city and highway efficiency and MyRide.com reviews and ratings were used as a tiebreaker.

Source: Autobytel Inc.

Related lists:

• Worst Cars Since 1990
• Most Expensive Cars to Drive
• Most Expensive Car Options
• Least Expensive Cars to Drive
• AutoWeek’s 2008 Paris Motor Show Winners
• Best Sports Cars of 2009
• Eight Green Concept Cars

The winning video clip submissions and their creative teams are:

• “15 Step V2.0″ by Kota Totori, Japan, for the song “15 Step” (pictured)
• “16 Tracks Vs. Videotape 2.0″ by Wolfgang Jaiser and Claus Winter, Germany, for the song “Videotape”
• “Reckoner V2″ by Clement Picon, France, for the song “Reckoner”
• “Transmutation” by Tobias Stretch, U.S.A., for the song “Weird Fishes / Arpeggi”

“The aniBoom video competition, totally blown me away it has,” said Thom Yorke, lead vocalist of Radiohead. “We are proud that In Rainbows songs were the source of inspiration for so many amazing creations.”

For more information on the contest, go to aniBoom.com.

Source: Business Wire

In today’s wireless age, students need more than the typical school supplies. Cell phones are now on the list of necessities, and the new generation of techno-savvy students is not satisfied with having just any wireless device. Teens and young adults want the most-current, up-to-date cell phones with specific features and capabilities before they head back into the classroom.

Wirefly, the online comparison shopping site for cell phones and wireless phone plans, announced its Top 10 hottest selling “Back-to-School” cell phones for 2008:

1. AT&T LG Vu CU920 (Black, pictured) – This sleek touch-screen phone has a large display and a matte black finish, with 3G data speeds, wide-screen virtual keyboard for texting, and streaming live TV.
2. Verizon LG enV2 VX9100 (Black, Maroon) - The highly anticipated LG enV2 is slimmer and lighter than the original enV, and operates at EV-DO speeds; its large QWERTY keyboard and 2-MP camera help complete the package.
3. Sprint PCS LG Rumor (Black, Green, White, Blue) - Sprint’s LG Rumor was designed to deliver a top-notch messaging experience, and it does. A full keyboard and a built-in music player are among the features hidden inside the small shell.
4. T-Mobile BlackBerry Curve 8320 w/ myFaves (Titanium, Sunset Red) – The best-selling BlackBerry is available for all carriers, with internet browsing, texting, instant messaging, plus camera, music, and video.
5. AT&T Sony Ericsson W580i Walkman (Black, Pink, Grey, White, Red and Green) – The W580i is Sony’s best-selling Walkman phone, and it’s equipped to handle all of your music needs; features like Shake Control and Track ID set this phone apart from the competition.
6. Sprint PCS Palm Centro Onyx – The slimmest and best Palm ever is power-packed with Microsoft Windows applications plus high-speed internet, camera, video and music player.
7. Verizon Motorola W755 (Black Slate, Purple) – The solidly constructed Motorola W755 is housed in an elegant metallic shell with smooth touch-sensitive buttons, and supports V CAST, Bluetooth, and turn-by-turn directions.
8. AT&T BlackBerry Pearl 8110 (Red, Titanium) - As BlackBerry’s slimmest offering, the Pearl combines the power of a productivity device with the stylish look of a compact cell phone. The 8110 model adds GPS to a strong set of features.
9. T-Mobile Nokia 5310 XpressMusic (Red, Orange, Purple) – The Nokia 5310 XpressMusic is an eye-catching music phone with sleek external controls, support for 8 GB of expandable memory, and an FM radio built-in.
10. A&T LG Shine CU720 (Red, Black, Silver)- The LG Shine’s unmistakable 2.2″ mirrored QVGA display will attract attention anywhere, but its streaming TV & radio, video sharing, and 2-MP camera deliver more than just good looks.

Source: Wirefly

As motorists across the country struggle with $4 per gallon gasoline costs and search for ways they can reduce their impact on the environment, Enterprise Rent-A-Car is offering 10 Keys to “Green” Driving – useful tips that drivers can use to cut down on fuel use and save money:

1. Lighten your load: The more weight a car carries, the lower its fuel economy will be. On road trips, while it’s tempting to pack everything – kitchen sink included – it’s smart to leave heavy, unnecessary items behind. And, even for your day-to-day travel, take a few minutes to clean out your car to eliminate extra weight. Pack only what you need (including emergency items) for vacations, and remove unneeded items from your back seat and trunk. These simple steps can cut significant weight, enabling your car to use less fuel.

2. Reduce your speed and keep the RPMs down: As speed increases, so does drag. So, driving at higher speeds will reduce your fuel economy. In fact, for every 10 miles per hour you reduce speed, you improve your fuel economy by 4 mpg. In addition, avoid putting the pedal to the metal when the stoplight turns green, which increases your vehicle’s RPM level and lowers your fuel efficiency. For automatic transmission vehicles, accelerating gently prompts automatic gear shifting at lower engine speeds; with a manual transmission, the general rule is to shift gears between 2,000 and 2,500 RPM. Staying at or a bit below the speed limit and watching your RPMs can have a big impact on the environment and your bank account.

3. Plan routes in advance and combine trips: Whether gearing up for a weeklong vacation or a quick trip to the mall, plan out your route in advance to avoid heavy traffic times and areas. Sometimes, the shortest route can consume more fuel than a longer one, if rush hour or road construction leads to traffic jams and stop-and-go driving. And, warmed-up engines produce lower emissions, so try to combine several short trips into one to save fuel and cut down on pollution. Try to anticipate your errands and plan to knock them all out in one day, if not one stop.

4. Buy for the need; rent for the exception: Whether you are planning to rent or purchase a new vehicle, why choose more car than you need? More fuel efficient vehicles burn less fuel, which means less pollution. Research the fuel economy of various makes and models, including hybrids, and find the most environmentally friendly vehicle that fits your needs. And, for those occasions when your day-to-day vehicle won’t fit the bill, it’s easy to rent something that will. Whether buying or renting, focus on what you need.

5. Use the right fuel: Most cars don’t need premium fuel – although some vehicles do call for higher octane gas to maximize performance and fuel efficiency. Check your owner’s manual when choosing what grade of gasoline to use, and don’t spend the extra money on a premium grade if you don’t need to. If you have a FlexFuel vehicle, which is able to use E85 fuel (a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline), take a minute to locate E85 fueling stations near you by visiting www.e85refueling.com. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, using E85 can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 20 percent.

6. Avoid the top off: Drivers often top off their tank beyond the gas pump’s automatic cutoff point to get an even total or to squeeze in as much fuel as possible. But that extra squeeze can lead to spills and release gas vapors into the air. This wastes money and pollutes the air, even aggravating smog in bigger cities.

7. Carpool: Why have two or more cars on the road when one can get the job done? Set up a carpool group with several colleagues at work, or coordinate with family and friends to carpool for regular errands such as grocery shopping. Fewer vehicles on the road mean fewer pollutants in the air.

8. Keep tires properly inflated: Maintaining proper tire inflation levels can improve fuel economy. Tires lose air pressure over time and due to cold temperatures. As that air pressure decreases, rolling resistance increases, making your vehicle less fuel efficient. Your vehicle’s owner’s manual will show you the proper inflation levels.

9. Give the brake a break: Even after planning ahead, you may find yourself stuck in a traffic jam. When you do, be smart as you navigate your way through it. Avoid jack-rabbit starts and keep your acceleration moderate and steady, because cars use the most gas when they accelerate. Create space from the car in front of you, and look ahead for any potential slowdowns so you can ease off the gas rather than slam on the brake.

10. Cool off wisely: A common mistake drivers make is kicking off the air conditioning and rolling down their windows to save gas, regardless of circumstance. It is true that rolling down the windows in lieu of the AC can increase fuel economy at slower speeds, but at faster highway speeds, open windows can actually increase drag and hurt fuel economy. So, consider the weather – and your speed – before deciding how to stay cool on the go.

For more information, read about Enterprise’s environmental stewardship initiatives.

Source: Business Wire

The Motorist Choice Awards were designed by AutoPacific and IntelliChoice.com to recognize the vehicles that delivered both the highest customer satisfaction and the lowest cost of ownership. The awards take AutoPacific’s owner satisfaction data from new car and truck buyers and combine those data with IntelliChoice.com’s rating methodology to create a new kind of award that speaks to both the hearts and wallets of car buyers.

The complete list of winners for the 2008 Motorist Choice Awards include:

Source: Business Wire

• Changes in urination
• Swelling of face, hands, and/or feet
• Feeling more tired than usual
• Nausea/vomiting
• Headache, feeling dizzy
• Having trouble thinking clearly
• Severe itching not related to a bite or rash
• Shortness of breath, or feeling that you can’t catch your breath
• Loss of appetite, or change in the way foods taste
• High blood pressure

Kidney Disease Awareness and Education Week is sponsored annually by the American Nephrology Nurses’ Association (ANNA) as a way to educate policy makers about the needs of patients suffering from, or at risk for, end stage renal disease.

Learn more about general kidney health or find a TOP session near you here.

More information about Kidney Disease and Awareness Education Week is available on ANNA’s Web site.

Source: Business Wire