Automation, green IT initiatives, system performance predictablity will not get cut out of budgets; huge capital projects, and over-simplified network tools that require a lot of manual control will be out as we roll along in 2009.
– Most IT people have opinions about what is likely to happen in 2009 as a result of the new U.S. president and a struggling worldwide economy. At this time, not a lot of folks are optimistic that conditions will be turning around anytime before the end of the year.

In answer to that, let’s twist…

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is rolling out five new Phenom II processors for high-end desktops and gaming PCs. Included in the release is a set of energy-efficient tri-core and quad-core chips AMD says these will consume 50 percent less power than previous versions.
Microsoft says its Environmental Sustainability Dashboard for Microsoft Dynamics AX can help execs and IT administrators interested in green IT reduce their carbon footprint and save money by monitoring everything from energy costs and consumption to greenhouse gas emissions.
Over the weekend the Wall Street Journal reported that Microsoft will soon launch its own cell phone software store. This news comes on the tail of Microsofts limited release of its My Phone service, which syncs information like contacts and calendar appointments on a cell phone to a password protected website.
According to Reuters, business computer maker Sun Microsystems recently announced that two top executives with its mySQL open-source database unit are leaving the company. The two include, Marten Mickos, now former senior vice president who was chief executive of MySQL and MySQL founder Monty Widenius
New information is out, urging companies to keep an eye of Flash security. With hackers increasingly targeting Web 2.0 sites, knowing how to develop secure Adobe Flash applications can be a difference maker when it comes to avoiding mass compromises.
– Video Content….

Sen. Gregg Judd would bring a record to the Department of Commerce that unabashedly endorses an expansion of H1-B workers for the technology industry. That support, though, doesn’t necessarily mean either the U.S. House or Senate will go to expand the H1-B visa cap.
– In Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.), President Barack Obama’s new nominee to run
the Department of Commerce, the tech industry has found their man when it
comes to expanding the H1-B visa program. The 61-year-ancient senator is an
unabashed fan of the program.
A favorite of American technology companies, t…

Sen. Gregg Judd would bring a record to the Department of Commerce that unabashedly endorses an expansion of H1-B workers for the technology industry. That support, though, doesn’t necessarily mean either the U.S. House or Senate will go to expand the H1-B visa cap.
– In Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.), President Barack Obama’s new nominee to run
the Department of Commerce, the tech industry has found their man when it
comes to expanding the H1-B visa program. The 61-year-ancient senator is an
unabashed fan of the program.
A favorite of American technology companies, t…

EMC, Amazon.com and Data Domain watch revenues soar while most other companies keep struggling to avoid red ink. SAP, IBM, Sun Microsystems and others continue to lay off staff in IT management efforts to control operational expenses.
– This week’s IT earnings reports, as covered
daily by eWEEK staff and affiliated news services, indicate a huge disparity in
the performance of companies in the high-tech business world at the moment.

A quot;chosen few quot; are doing very well, thank you, while a vast majority
of enterprises…

In this eWEEK podcast hosted by Mike Vizard, the CEO of Training Camp, Chris Porter, says President Barack Obama needs to do more to make training opportunities for IT professionals who need to stay current more than ever if they want to keep their jobs or find new ones.
– Audio Podcast Content….

A new survey from Dice shows that IT salaries increased 4.6 percent in 2008 for an average annual pay of $78,035. But, the Dice study also found that job security concerns, fewer pay increases, keeping skills updated and canceled projects remain the top worry for IT professionals as they head into 2009. While the U.S. recession has hit Wall Street the toughest, those IT professionals working in the banking and financial services industry collected an average annual salary of $87,000, according to Dice.
– IT professionals saw their average annual salaries
increase 4.6 percent in 2008, but concerns about keeping IT skills up-to-date
and job security remain top priorities heading into 2009, according to a new
Dice survey released this week.
The 2008-09 Annual Salary Survey, which Dice
released Jan…