Operating systems software

Competition among operating system (OS) suppliers is growing, with new OS products being developed for emerging platforms such as smartphones and netbooks. Microsoft Windows is still the most important product for businesses, but Linux, Mac OS and Unix offer important alternatives, along with device-specific OS such as Android and Chrome. We examine the operating system software choices facing IT managers.

E-Zine 28 May 2024
Digital border problems are stacking up

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we examine the government’s post-Brexit plans for digital borders as problems begin to emerge. We find out about AI PCs and ask whether they will make any difference for enterprise IT. And we talk to Red Hat CEO Matt Hicks about the open source opportunities from AI. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
Feature 20 May 2024
IT strategy: Supporting a distributed workforce

The idea of supporting hybrid or fully remote workers has changed the dynamics of end-user computing support. We explore the challenges Continue Reading

Feature 20 May 2024

IT strategy: Supporting a distributed workforce

The idea of supporting hybrid or fully remote workers has changed the dynamics of end-user computing support. We explore the challenges Continue Reading
Blog Post 05 Apr 2024

What to expect from Red Hat Summit 2024

Amusingly, these days, when the Computer Weekly Developer Network and Open Source Insider team attended Red Hat Summit 2012, some of the event reportage ran with headlines that read ‘Linux comes of ... Continue Reading
News 12 Mar 2024

March Patch Tuesday throws up two critical Hyper-V flaws

Two critical vulnerabilities in Windows Hyper-V stand out on an otherwise unremarkable Patch Tuesday Continue Reading
Feature 05 Feb 2024

Why developers must work smarter, not just faster, with generative AI

With a lot to play for, including legal precedents, how can dev teams approach GenAI risks with a view to strong mitigation strategies? Continue Reading
Feature 05 Feb 2024

Sea-Lion explained: Southeast Asia’s first large language model

The Sea-Lion large language model was built to cater to the language and cultural diversity of Southeast Asia, which is currently underserved by existing models that mostly originate from the West Continue Reading
Definition 05 Dec 2023

shell program

A shell program is software that provides users with an interface for accessing services in the kernel. Continue Reading
News 22 Nov 2023

Nebulon upgrades SPU to Medusa2 with Nvidia DPU hardware

Nebulon aims to replace HCI with its OS on an offload card that it claims reduces server resource use by 25%. Medusa2 uses Nvidia DPU hardware and its own cloud control plane Continue Reading
Definition 31 Oct 2023

Windows key (winkey)

The Windows key (winkey) is a button on a Windows computer keyboard. Continue Reading
News 24 Oct 2023

Kaspersky opens up over spyware campaign targeting its staffers

Kaspersky has shared more details of the TriangleDB spyware that was used against its own workforce by an unknown APT group Continue Reading
Tip 05 Oct 2023

Red Hat vs. SUSE: How do these Linux distributions stack up?

Deciding between Red Hat and SUSE may not seem simple, but comparing training, pricing and certifications should help companies understand which would best suit their employees. Continue Reading
Definition 23 Aug 2023

Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code (EBCDIC)

Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code (EBCDIC) is an eight-bit encoding scheme that standardizes how alphanumeric characters, punctuation and other symbols are interpreted by a computer's operating system (OS) and applications. Continue Reading
News 21 Aug 2023

Red Hat CEO on AI moves and source code kerfuffle

Matt Hicks talks up Red Hat’s efforts to support generative AI adoption through OpenShift AI and weighs in on the issues surrounding the company’s decision to limit access to RHEL source code Continue Reading
Tip 18 Aug 2023

How to perform an Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) migration

An Azure Virtual Desktop migration begins in the planning stages, which should entail weighing the options for moving to AVD, including alternatives to direct migration. Continue Reading
News 17 Aug 2023

Researchers demo fake airplane mode exploit that tricks iPhone users

Exploit chain that tricks a victim into believing their iOS device is offline in airplane mode when it is not could open the door to grave privacy concerns Continue Reading
News 31 Jul 2023

SUSE takes aim at Red Hat in Linux, Kubernetes play

SUSE CEO Dirk-Peter van Leeuwen outlines strategy to capture the Kubernetes opportunity and offer enterprises an alternative to RHEL following Red Hat’s decision to limit access to RHEL source code Continue Reading
Blog Post 10 Jul 2023

China releases openKylin open source desktop operating system

It’s been a busy month in open source, already. While Red Hat continues to wrangle with its approach to open developer access on the Red Hat Enterprise Linus (RHEL) source code front (and that’s ... Continue Reading
News 03 Jul 2023

PAC slams HMCTS justice system transformation programme

HMCTS has consistently underestimated the scale and complexity of the reforms, and criticises the programme, which only has £120m of its £1.3bn budget left with only just over half of projects completed, MPs say Continue Reading
Definition 21 Jun 2023

hotkey

A hot key is a key or a combination of keys on a computer keyboard that, when pressed at one time, performs a task (such as starting an application) more quickly than performing a task by using a mouse or other input device. Continue Reading
News 21 Jun 2023

Software spending grows fastest as finance firms spend $652bn on tech in 2023

Banks and investment firms are increasing their spending on IT despite gloomy economic outlook, but priorities have changed Continue Reading
Definition 20 Jun 2023

OS X

OS X, also referred to as macOS X or Mac OS X, is Apple's proprietary, Unix-based operating system. Released in 2001 as the successor to Mac OS 9, OS X incorporates support for Unix-based applications as well as for those written specifically for the Mac. Continue Reading
Definition 15 Mar 2023

defragmentation

Defragmentation is the process of locating the noncontiguous fragments of data into which a computer file may be divided as it is stored on a hard disk, and rearranging the fragments and restoring them into fewer fragments or into the whole file. Continue Reading
Definition 08 Mar 2023

network operating system (NOS)

A network operating system (NOS) is a computer operating system (OS) that's designed primarily to support workstations, PCs and, in some instances, older terminals that are connected on a local area network (LAN). Continue Reading
News 08 Feb 2023

India launches homegrown BharOS

The homegrown Android-based mobile operating system could reduce India’s reliance on foreign software, but uncertainties around market adoption and software updates remain Continue Reading
E-Zine 16 Jan 2023

CW EMEA: Protecting the privacy of schoolchildren

In this month’s CW EMEA, we look at how schools in Germany have stopped using Microsoft Office 365 over lack of clarity over how data is collected, shared and used. We also delve into how former UK spy boss Richard Dearlove leaked names of MI6 secret agent recruiters in China to back an aggressive right-wing US campaign against tech company Huawei. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
News 02 Dec 2022

Post Office boosted its ‘coffers’ as Horizon system threw up unexplained shortfalls, inquiry told

The Post Office was ‘keen’ to make subpostmasters cover unexplained accounting shortfall as its business struggled, public inquiry hears Continue Reading
Definition 23 Nov 2022

cursor

A cursor is the position indicator on a computer display screen where a user can enter text. Continue Reading
News 03 Nov 2022

Russia risks shortage of PCs and software

Russian consumers and businesses could face a shortage of IT equipment including PCs and software Continue Reading
Feature 20 Oct 2022

What do the US’s new software security rules mean for UK organisations?

The White House announced recently that all software supplied to the US government and its agencies needs to be secure, so what does this mean for the UK and EU security sectors? Continue Reading
Feature 03 Oct 2022

Key ingredients for a successful API recipe

We look at how application programming interfaces can provide connectivity to drive internal and external business processes Continue Reading
News 14 Sep 2022

Amdocs claims industry’s first 5G-native charging system

5G- and cloud-native charging product will provide ‘endless’ monetisation opportunities for advanced standalone 5G and beyond, backed by proven multicloud deployment experience, says Amdocs Continue Reading
E-Zine 18 Aug 2022

CW APAC: Trend watch: Enterprise resource planning

Organisations are starting to look at refreshing their enterprise resource planning systems. In this handbook, focused on enterprise resource planning in the Asia-Pacific region, Computer Weekly looks at what’s behind this renewed priority, how GLS Group strengthened its processes, why firms want cheaper software maintenance and the benefits of best-of-breed cloud apps Continue Reading
Definition 29 Jun 2022

POSIX (Portable Operating System Interface)

POSIX (Portable Operating System Interface) is a set of standard operating system interfaces based on the Unix operating system. Continue Reading
E-Zine 14 Jun 2022

Managing Apple Macs in the enterprise

In this week’s Computer Weekly, with more people working remotely, the use of Apple Macs in the enterprise is growing – we look at how to manage them securely. Our latest buyer’s guide examines security in the supply chain. And 10 years on from the London Olympics, we find out how data innovation is revitalising its legacy. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
Definition 10 Jun 2022

icon

In today's age of technological advancement, most people recognize the word 'icon' as referring to a small selectable or nonselectable image representing or leading to something else in a computer's graphical user interface (GUI) or on the web. Continue Reading
News 11 May 2022

IBM lived up to its neutrality promise to Red Hat

Red Hat CEO Paul Cormier claims IBM has lived up to its commitment to maintain the neutrality of Red Hat three years on Continue Reading
News 22 Apr 2022

Linux Foundation control helps ready SONiC for enterprise

Under the Linux Foundation, SONiC could get enterprise features that make the open source network operating system more useful within campus and edge environments. Continue Reading
Blog Post 24 Mar 2022

Do you feel trapped by Microsoft?

Thoughts on loosening Redmond’s grip on your business I started thinking about reducing my company’s dependency on Microsoft a few years ago. Contributing factors were frustration with the ... Continue Reading
Definition 23 Mar 2022

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is an enterprise Linux operating system (OS) developed by Red Hat for the business market. Continue Reading
Feature 02 Feb 2022

Finland brings cryostats and other cool things to quantum computing

Not only is Finland the clear leader in refrigeration technology for quantum computers, but it also leads in fundamental research into the underlying quantum information theory Continue Reading
News 01 Feb 2022

Dutch software engineers join campaign for research funding

Software researchers from all over Europe are sounding the alarm: to maintain a strong international competitive position, more financial resources must be committed to software research Continue Reading
Definition 28 Jan 2022

SUSE

SUSE (pronounced soo-sah) is a multinational company that offers enterprise-grade open source products based on Linux technologies. Continue Reading
Definition 30 Dec 2021

timestamp

A timestamp is the current time of an event that a computer records. Continue Reading
Opinion 22 Dec 2021

A trial relying on computer evidence should start with a trial of the computer evidence

Learning from the Post Office Horizon scandal - the most widespread miscarriage of justice in recent British legal history Continue Reading
Blog Post 02 Nov 2021

Has Windows 11 strengthened the case for Chromebooks?

I was left with two overriding thoughts following Microsoft’s recent launch of Windows 11 and the Windows 365 Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS) proposition. My first thought was positive and pragmatic. ... Continue Reading
Blog Post 22 Oct 2021

MicroStream persistence framework open sourced

MicroStream 5.0 has arrived… and, now, the Java persistence framework is open source. MicroStream is a Java-native object graph persistence engine for storing any complex Java object graph or any ... Continue Reading
Blog Post 03 Oct 2021

Huawei drives wider operating system (OS) plans

Chinese telecommunications, data and cloud company Huawei also makes software. Logically, its smartphones, tablets and other devices carry a degree of home-baked goods, with its Emotion User ... Continue Reading
Photo Story 02 Aug 2021

Windows 11: A first look

We look at the next version of the Windows operating system and see how it improves productivity, IT management and security Continue Reading
Definition 30 Jul 2021

DOS (disk operating system)

A DOS, or disk operating system, is an operating system that runs from a disk drive. The term can also refer to a particular family of disk operating systems, most commonly MS-DOS, an acronym for Microsoft DOS. Continue Reading
E-Zine 27 Jul 2021

Are we getting cyber security skills all wrong?

In this week’s Computer Weekly, the chair of the new UK Cyber Security Council tells us how she plans to fundamentally reimagine what working in IT security means. Our latest buyer’s guide examines ERP modernisation and its role in digital transformation. And we take an in-depth look at the first preview version of Windows 11. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
News 20 Jul 2021

Volvo: Our friends in software

We speak to Volvo’s head of software platform about the company’s strategy to build a software-defined car Continue Reading
Photo Story 25 Jun 2021

Important LGBTQ+ figures who shaped tech’s history

As the world celebrates Pride month, we take a deep dive into the lives of some of the people who have shaped the technology we use today, who are also LGBTQ+. Continue Reading
News 27 Apr 2021

Apple OS updates patch multiple security holes

The much-heralded release of the privacy-centric iOS 14.5 also brings patches for multiple CVEs, and users of Apple smartphones, tablets and notebooks are best advised to update as soon as possible Continue Reading
News 01 Apr 2021

Project Monterey returns to haunt IBM and Red Hat

A tech initiative from the late 1990s has become IBM’s nemesis, as the owner of UnixWare and OpenServer file a copyright complaint Continue Reading
News 26 Feb 2021

Huawei opens developer lab in Singapore

Huawei’s Digix lab will provide software development resources to those who are building mobile apps for Huawei’s mobile platform Continue Reading
News 15 Feb 2021

ENIAC anniversary: What 75 years of computer technology have delivered

The ENIAC was a computer built for the US Army to calculate missile trajectories during the Second World War, but it was finally delivered in February 1946 Continue Reading
Blog Post 25 Jan 2021

Beneath the code: SUSE Enterprise Linux construction mechanics

As every good developer knows, when you want to learn more about what a platform or tools provider is bringing through the release pipeline: ignore the news, delete the press releases, don’t look ... Continue Reading
Blog Post 05 Jan 2021

CloudLinux commits to 'commits' on (CentOS replacement) Project Lenix

CloudLinux OS is a Linux distribution intended for use by shared [web] hosting providers. But there is more to the story than just the arrival of this distro, developed by software company ... Continue Reading
Feature 23 Dec 2020

Patching: Balancing technical requirements with business considerations

With an increasing reliance on subscription models alongside the regular patching of software, updates have become an essential part of modern business practices. However, care needs to be taken to ensure the optimum patching process is implemented Continue Reading
Blog Post 03 Dec 2020

Throwback Thursday: Linux on the Desktop

As our contribution to the bit of fun that is Throwback Thursday, we're taking a weekly stroll in the Freeform Dynamics archives. The first thing that struck me when I re-read our 'Linux on the ... Continue Reading
News 26 Nov 2020

Robots taking jobs, but creating careers

Robotic process automation developers tell Computer Weekly about the job they never expected to be doing Continue Reading
Blog Post 30 Oct 2020

RHEL 8.3 'tunes' up for auto-Ops-centricity

Red Hat, Inc. is still just that i.e. Red Hat, Inc. Now nestled under the IBM parent umbrella, the company appears to be very much its own entity. Some media reports have even suggested that Red ... Continue Reading
News 04 Aug 2020

Nordic enterprises look for SAP price reductions as they navigate Covid-19

Businesses in the Nordics are using SAP Cloud Platform to address Covid-19 challenges and are also seeking price reductions Continue Reading
News 31 Jul 2020

US lawmakers grill big tech chiefs over market power

Sixth antitrust hearing sees CEOs of major technology companies face combative questioning from members of Congress over their market power and dominance Continue Reading
News 15 Jul 2020

HSBC chooses AWS for public cloud business operations

HSBC will use a cloud platform from Amazon Web Services across its business operations to accelerate its public cloud use Continue Reading
News 01 Jul 2020

Mysterious EvilQuest macOS ransomware spreads through torrents

A new strain of ransomware, dubbed EvilQuest, is threatening Apple Mac environments, and seems to behave quite oddly Continue Reading
E-Zine 02 Jun 2020

What will be the IT security priorities of the post-coronavirus world?

In this week’s Computer Weekly, with the working world after the pandemic set to be very different, we assess the IT security priorities for the ‘new normal’. Facial recognition firms are racing to identify people wearing face masks. And how did Europe’s telecoms networks cope with the switch to remote working? Read the issue now. Continue Reading
News 15 Apr 2020

Microsoft patches 19 critical bugs in another heavy Patch Tuesday

The volume of vulnerabilities being uncovered by Microsoft remains high, with more than 100 fixes pushed out in April’s Patch Tuesday Continue Reading
News 08 Apr 2020

Australian open source project to expand global reach

Data61’s open source seL4 microkernel project will be supported by a new foundation created under the auspices of the Linux Foundation Continue Reading
News 09 Mar 2020

Google Cloud targets telcos with Global Mobile Edge Cloud

Google Cloud announces programme to help telcos address pressures to digitally transform in the face of the rise of 5G, network-centric business models and ‘dramatically’ raised consumer expectations Continue Reading
20 Jan 2020

Don’t become the next Travelex: Get ready for ransomware

With Travelex’s IT still in disarray and banks and travellers left without access to funds more than a week after it was hit by a ransomware attack, we ask what others can learn from the foreign exchange services company’s response to the incident. Continue Reading
News 14 Jan 2020

Turn the end of Windows 7 support into a security advantage

CISOs can take advantage of the end of support for Microsoft Windows 7 by making the case for more investment in cyber security Continue Reading
News 09 Dec 2019

China bans foreign computing kit from government contracts

All government offices and public institutions must eliminate foreign hardware and software within three years, according to a leaked directive dubbed 3-5-2 Continue Reading
Blog Post 03 Dec 2019

Ubuntu 19.10 offers ‘integrated’ AI/ML developer experience

Autumn (or Fall, depending on your level of Americanization) was a busy period… so busy in fact that the Computer Weekly Open Source Insider blog saw a number of milestone advancements go whizzing ... Continue Reading
News 08 Nov 2019

Security pros urged to get ahead of incoming BlueKeep exploits

The BlueKeep RDP vulnerability is beginning to be exploited in the wild, and security teams have no excuse for not trying to get in front of it, says Microsoft Continue Reading
News 19 Aug 2019

US extends temporary stay on Huawei ban

American network operators given extra wiggle room to wean themselves off Huawei’s hardware Continue Reading
News 09 Aug 2019

Huawei mobile IoT OS ready to plug Android gap

Huawei is positioning its microkernel-based, distributed HarmonyOS mobile operating system as a true competitor to both Android and iOS Continue Reading
News 08 Aug 2019

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.7 tailored for hybrid, multi-clouds

Red Hat released RHEL version 7.7 with features that make it easier to marry its legacy systems with the latest cloud-native applications, while urging users to move to RHEL 8. Continue Reading
Blog Post 06 Aug 2019

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.7, it's a bit better than 7.6

Red Hat… no, wait, stop there -- not Red Hat the IBM company, actually just Red Hat -- that’s how the company is still putting out news stories. We’ll start again, open source enterprise software ... Continue Reading
News 15 Jul 2019

How Suse is taking open source deeper into the enterprise

Suse’s focus on developer needs, industry-specific use cases and engineering partnerships with the likes of SAP are among efforts to take open source software deeper into the enterprise Continue Reading
Blog Post 03 Jul 2019

Buffer load stance

Neneh Cherry’s Glastonbury performance gained some unexpected attention from the tech world at this year’s festival, after the laptop playing the evergreen singer’s backing visuals crashed and ... Continue Reading
Blog Post 13 Jun 2019

Wind River pumps new beans into embedded Linux

It’s hard to know whether to pronounce software infrastructure company Wind River as wind (as in eaten too many beans, that thing that makes sails billow out) or wind (as in snakey, twisty) river. ... Continue Reading
News 08 May 2019

Red Hat Enterprise Linux to contribute $10tn to global business

A study on the economic impact of Red Hat Enterprise Linux by IDC revealed that the operating system is expected to contribute to business revenues worth 5% of the global economy Continue Reading
News 07 May 2019

RHEL 8 launches with AI, container and hybrid cloud focus

Red Hat rolled out its long-awaited Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8, designed to work across corporate data centers and multiple clouds and anchor its container and AI strategies. Continue Reading
Blog Post 18 Apr 2019

Ubuntu 19.04 is here

The Computer Weekly Open Source Insider team is running Ubuntu. More specifically, we’re running Ubuntu 19.04 on an originally Windows-empowered Lenovo laptop as a dual boot. NOTE: Incidentally, ... Continue Reading
Blog Post 03 Apr 2019

SUSE: A new mantra from edge to core to cloud

Enterprise Linux company SUSE loves Linux, obviously. As Linux lives so prevalently and prolifically in the server rooms of so many cloud datacentres, the firm has worked to develop technologies ... Continue Reading
News 29 Mar 2019

Windows 10 security breach highlights third-party vulnerabilities

The recent Windows 10 PC security breach brought on by third-party software from a Chinese tech company raises concern about the security strength of third-party providers. Continue Reading
News 29 Mar 2019

Middle East countries accelerate quantum computing research

Gulf countries must invest in quantum computing research to ensure they continue to to remain digital pioneers Continue Reading
News 25 Mar 2019

Suse renews focus on APAC as independent firm

Open source software company Suse plans to keep up with its growing business momentum in Asia by adding more headcount in emerging markets and shoring up call centre operations Continue Reading
News 12 Mar 2019

IBM’s APAC CEO talks up next chapter of cloud adoption

In the next phase of cloud adoption, enterprises will need to manage multiple cloud environments, as well as data to scale up their use of artificial intelligence technology Continue Reading
News 01 Mar 2019

Red Hat eyes Unix-to-Linux migrations in emerging ASEAN markets

Open source bigwig is starting its new fiscal year looking at Unix-to-Linux migrations in markets such as Thailand and Indonesia Continue Reading
E-Zine 21 Feb 2019

CW Nordics: Sweden to test e-krona and plans cashless society

Sweden’s vision of a cashless society has gained traction after the Riksbank (central bank) rolled out plans to test a digital currency, the e-krona. Also read how the Nordic region’s longer-established companies are playing a forceful role to advance digital transformation, and how Finland’s IT sector has rebounded strongly after Microsoft’s takeover of Nokia’s mobile phones and smart devices business units in 2014. Continue Reading
Feature 15 Oct 2018

Chromebooks and G Suite: a good working alternative

We look at Chromebooks as collaboration clients, both in Google-oriented and mixed-platform environments Continue Reading
News 25 Sep 2018

Mac OS Mojave zero-day warning

The latest version of Apple’s Mac operating system contains a vulnerability that could be exploited by attackers to access protected files, a researcher warns Continue Reading
Blog Post 07 Sep 2018

What can Chromebooks offer the enterprise desktop market?

If you’re an IT professional managing a large desktop estate or an end user with a Windows 10 PC, you’ll be aware that Windows is undergoing a tortuous transformation, with only enthusiasts and ... Continue Reading
E-Zine 04 Sep 2018

Power play – how GE builds digital into its products

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we speak to Bill Ruh, the head of GE Digital about how the business has changed to focus on customer outcomes following a change in senior leadership. The company is exploring new industries to take its Predix platform, such as the hospitality sector. We look at the problems of implementing SAP S/4 Hana and speak to experts about how to maximise success. We also explore the challenges of networking microservices. Our CIO interview is PayPoint CIO Jon Marchant. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
News 01 Aug 2018

Apple breaks Q3 records, while losing market share to Huawei

Apple has posted a record-breaking quarter, but its smartphones are not selling as fast. Huawei is now the second largest smartphone maker Continue Reading
News 20 Jul 2018

Cloud sales stoke Microsoft’s strong growth

Microsoft says cloud-based Office products made a huge contribution to sales growth Continue Reading
News 25 Jun 2018

Apple rejects claim of iPhone brute force hack

Apple has rejected claims by a security researcher that he was able to bypass the iPhone defences against brute force passcode hacks Continue Reading
News 11 Jun 2018

London wants to show it’s open for business in Tech Week 2018

London Tech Week 2018 kicks off with attracting young people into tech a key theme Continue Reading
Photo Story 30 May 2018

Build 2018: How Microsoft is embracing cross-platform development

Microsoft has realised the world is moving on from Windows. Azure supports Linux and Xamarin enables .Net developers to target IoS and Android devices Continue Reading