Category Archives: Cloud Computing
Microsoft to invest $500 million to expand hyperscale cloud computing and AI in Quebec – MarketWatch
Published: Nov. 22, 2023 at 7:41 a.m. ET
Microsoft Corp. MSFT said Wednesday its planning to invest $500 million in expanding its hyperscale cloud computing and AI infrastructure in Quebec over the next two years. The software giant said it will increase the size of its local cloud infrastructure footprint across Canada by 750%. The company cited a study by Ernst & Young that found that Microsoft has more than 3,200 partners and cloud infrastructure accounts in Quebec and supports more than 57,000 jobs that contribute more than $6.4 billion annually to the regions GDP. The investment will accelerate the pace of AI innovation and enable Quebec organizations...
Microsoft Corp. MSFT said Wednesday its planning to invest $500 million in expanding its hyperscale cloud computing and AI infrastructure in Quebec over the next two years. The software giant said it will increase the size of its local cloud infrastructure footprint across Canada by 750%. The company cited a study by Ernst & Young that found that Microsoft has more than 3,200 partners and cloud infrastructure accounts in Quebec and supports more than 57,000 jobs that contribute more than $6.4 billion annually to the regions GDP. The investment will accelerate the pace of AI innovation and enable Quebec organizations to further build on the significant capacity already in place across the province including an existing datacentre region, launched in 2016, the company said in a statement. As part of the plan, Microsoft will offer training in AI skills to people in Quebec and will work with KPMG Canada on providing cybersecurity protections for businesses. The stock was up 1% premarket and has gained 56% in the year to date, while the S&P 500 SPX has gained 18%.
Original post:
Microsoft to invest $500 million to expand hyperscale cloud computing and AI in Quebec - MarketWatch
Service Included, FinOps Foundation Counts Cost Of Cloud – Forbes
a restaurant in Paris on March 10, 2009. EU finance ministers reached a long-sought deal today to allow especially reduced sales, or value added, tax on certain services, including restaurants. Normally, EU countries cannot apply a VAT rate of less than 15 percent in order to avoid big price discrepancies across the EU single market, and allowing any exemptions requires unanimous backing from all member states. AFP PHOTO CAROLINE VENTEZOU (Photo credit should read Caroline VENTEZOU/AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty Images
Cloud has costs. Cloud computing has a cost in terms of staff training and the need to upskill software application development engineers with its new mechanics, syntax, architecture and structure. Cloud computing has a cost in relation to its environmental impact - a factor borne out of its need to run from server racks located in Cloud Service Provider (CSP) datacenters.
Cloud computing has a cost in the shape of cost savings, with IT infrastructure management, maintenance, updates, security provisioning and more all handled by the CSP hyperscaler platform (AWS, Google Cloud Platform, Microsoft Azure and the other vendor-specific clouds that also exist such as Oracles) of choice that an enterprise settles on. Cloud also has a cost in terms of migration charges as we move previously on-premises data and applications to the cloud - and of course, cloud has a cost because cloud computing isnt free.
With all those costs to consider, it is perhaps no surprise that weve seen the FinOps Foundation, established in recent times. A part of The Linux Foundation since 2020 (prior to which it was a standalone non-profit trade association) as a non-profit technology consortium, this group is focused on advancing the people and practice of FinOps to analyze and manage the cost of cloud.
In search of a formal definition of FinOps (which we have also discussed here), the foundations Technical Advisory Council states that, FinOps is an evolving cloud financial management discipline and cultural practice that enables organizations to get maximum business value by helping engineering, finance, technology and business teams to collaborate on data-driven spending decisions.
With cloud spending being the central focus of FinOps (although the other above-mentioned costs also forming an integral part of the miz) the FinOps Foundation has now launched the FinOps Open Cost & Usage Specification (FOCUS) version 1.0-preview. In terms of collaborators and supporters. AWS, Microsoft, Google Cloud and Oracle Cloud join large cloud spenders like CapitalOne, Walmart, Workday, Goldman Sachs and others as formal contributors to this specification i.e. all firms have aligned to this universal cloud billing specification.
This foundational project for the FinOps discipline is hoped to create an open specification for the presentation of cost and usage data. In other words, the team (the committee, the council, the board, the aligned organizations - everyone involved basically) have said that they are concerned with demystifying cloud spend and making it easier to show and report value. The goal of the FOCUS project is to normalize schema (the format and structure that information is presented in, such as that presented by a dataabse) and terminology for cost and usage data, helping organizations to achieve consistency and simplicity of understanding cost and usage across cloud and data sets.
We are establishing FOCUS as the cornerstone lexicon of FinOps by providing an open source, vendor-agnostic specification featuring a unified schema and language, said Mike Fuller CTO at the FinOps Foundation. With this release, we are paving the way for FOCUS to foster collaboration among major cloud providers, FinOps vendors, leading SaaS providers and forward-thinking FinOps enterprises to establish a unified, serviceable framework for cloud billing data, increasing trust in the data and making it easier to understand the value of cloud spend.
Senior director of engineering at Walmart Tim OBrien has said that he is glad to see the momentum gathering here. He thinks that having a vendor-neutral view of all cloud resources will enable teams to engage more proficiently with cloud partners and, in turn, better serve our users. Forrester analyst Lee Sustar predicts that the FOCUS standard will take off to normalize cloud billing in 2024. He is of the mind that this vendor-neutral multi-cloud view of resources will enable cloud engineers - but also non-IT stakeholders in finance and vendor management - to engage more competently with cloud operations teams.
The basics of good decision-making and execution requires clarity of information. FOCUS goes a long way to making that possible and we look forward to even greater innovation in the years ahead, said Anne Johnston, VP of Engineering Cloud Costs at Capital One. Corporate VP at Microsoft Fred Delombaerde echoes Johnstons positivity and says that his department is committed to working with the FinOps Foundation to bring together the knowledge and involvement of all major players in cloud billing to benefit all.
After the release of the initial FOCUS 0.5 at FinOps X (a FinOps conference, no relation to Twitter) this summer 2023, the formal release of FOCUS 1.0 includes many foundational advances, such as extending the specification for the presentation of both cloud and SaaS data sets and the inclusion of open source data converter implementations and data validators to accelerate adoption. To enable broader FinOps capabilities in the cloud, FOCUS 1.0 enables use cases for discount analysis, unit pricing allowing rate transparency, and detailed usage analysis while overlaying business context information via support for tags and resource metadata.
The FOCUS 1.0 release will also include a real-world practitioner use case library, with more than forty commonly performed FinOps use case examples tied to FOCUS data outputs, curated by experienced FinOps practitioners from massive cloud spenders including by Johnston of Capital One. These use cases offer a standardized approach to address common FinOps requirements, leveraging FOCUS data as the foundation. The entire library, along with comprehensive specifications and detailed instructions and SQL queries, is accessible online, simplifying navigation and ensuring users can easily find the resources they need, notes the foundation, in a technical statement.
Like cloud security, which many technology commentators will argue was somewhat overlooked at the outset of the cloud revolution, cost was never discussed as a major element of cloud over and above cloud providers claiming that they would save money on Capital Expenditure (CapEx) outlay. As we know count the pennies more closely and examine ALL the costs tabled at the start of this discussion, we can perhaps now really use FinOps to make cloud pay.
Its time to make cloud pay and service is included, literally.
I am a technology journalist with three decades of press experience. Primarily I work as a news analysis writer dedicated to a software application development beat. I have spent much of the last twenty years focusing on open source, analytics & data science, cloud computing, mobile devices & data management. I have an extensive background in communications starting in print media, newspapers and also television. If anything, this gives me enough hours of cynical world-weary experience to separate the spin from the substance, even when the products are shiny and new.
See the original post:
Service Included, FinOps Foundation Counts Cost Of Cloud - Forbes
Why 2023 Became the Year of Next-Level Technology Value – Medium
The world of technology is in a state of perpetual evolution, with each passing year bringing new breakthroughs and innovations. In the realm of cloud computing and technology, 2023 emerged as a pivotal year, marked by unexpected advancements around technologies like AI, computing and cloud with transformative shifts that promise to take businesses and individuals to the next level. In this article, we will explore the reasons why 2023 was poised to be the year of next-level cloud and technology value.
1. The Era of Edge Computing
Edge computing, the paradigm of processing data closer to its source rather than in centralized data centres, is set to revolutionize the way we interact with technology. As the Internet of Things (IoT) continues to grow, edge computing will enable real-time data processing and analysis, significantly reducing latency and enhancing user experiences. In 2023, we saw more businesses embracing edge computing to deliver quicker, more responsive, and more efficient services.
2. Quantum Computings Rise
Quantum computing, long confined to the realm of theory and experimentation, is taking its first steps toward practical applications. In 2023, we likely saw advancements in quantum computing hardware and software that could solve complex problems previously thought to be insurmountable. This technology has the potential to revolutionize cryptography, drug discovery, and optimization problems, unleashing a new era of problem-solving.
3. Cloud-Native Applications
Cloud-native applications are designed to harness the full power of cloud computing. They are lightweight, scalable, and capable of adapting to changing workloads and demands. By next year, cloud-native application development is expected to become more widespread as businesses recognize the advantages of rapid deployment, enhanced flexibility, and cost efficiency.
4. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Integration
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are no longer buzzwords but integral components of cloud technology. In 2023, we have seen further integration of AI and ML into cloud services, making it easier for businesses to analyze data, automate processes, and gain valuable insights. This convergence will lead to more accurate predictions and enhanced decision-making capabilities.
5. Improved Data Security and Privacy
With the proliferation of cloud services, the importance of data security and privacy has become paramount. In 2023, we have seen advancements in cloud security, including robust encryption, enhanced access controls, and stricter compliance measures. This will provide individuals and businesses with greater peace of mind when entrusting their data to cloud providers.
6. 5G Networks Empowering Cloud Services
The rollout of 5G networks is set to revolutionize cloud services. 5G will provide faster, more reliable connections, enabling real-time data transfer and improving the performance of cloud applications. This will facilitate innovations such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and IoT devices, all seamlessly integrated with cloud resources.
7. Hybrid and Multi-Cloud Environments
As businesses seek to optimize their cloud strategies, hybrid and multi-cloud environments are gaining popularity. These approaches offer flexibility, scalability, and redundancy. In 2023, we noticed a growing trend of businesses adopting these cloud strategies to balance workloads, reduce costs, and improve reliability.
8. Sustainable Cloud Technologies
The focus on environmental sustainability has reached the cloud and technology sector. More cloud providers are committing to reducing their carbon footprint, using renewable energy, and implementing energy-efficient data centres. This green shift in 2023 aligns with global efforts to combat climate change and reflects the growing importance of sustainable practices in technology.
9. The Democratization of Technology
Advancements in cloud technology are making it more accessible to a broader range of users. Smaller businesses and startups can now harness the power of cloud computing without the prohibitive costs associated with traditional on-premises solutions. In 2023, this democratization of technology is likely to accelerate innovation and drive economic growth.
10. Increased Collaboration and Remote Work Solutions
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of remote work and collaboration tools. As we enter 2024, these trends are set to continue and evolve. Cloud-based solutions for remote work, online collaboration, and video conferencing will see further developments, catering to the evolving needs of a distributed workforce.
Conclusion
As the year 2023 comes to an end, it has promised to be a watershed moment in the world of cloud and technology. The convergence of edge computing, quantum computing, cloud-native applications, AI, and improved data security is ushering in a new era of possibilities. This is a time when businesses can harness the power of cloud technology to optimize operations, enhance customer experiences, and unlock new avenues of growth.
As cloud technology becomes more accessible, sustainable, and integrated with AI and 5G, the innovation potential is boundless. The synergy of these developments is propelling us into the next level of cloud and technology value, setting the stage for a future where technological advancements empower individuals and businesses alike. Whether youre a tech enthusiast, business leader, or end-user, 2023 has been a year of changes and growth, as it unfolds with the promise of transforming our digital landscape in profound and exciting ways. So let 169Pi prepare you for 2024 with the trending technology and industrial use cases following the way of environmental sustainability.
Continued here:
Why 2023 Became the Year of Next-Level Technology Value - Medium
eSurfing Cloud Launches the WisHub One-Stop Intelligent … – PR Newswire
HONG KONG, Nov. 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Digital Technology Ecosystem Conference 2023themed "Revitalizing Digital Technology" was held in Guangzhou on November 10. At the conference, eSurfing Cloud released the WisHub one-stop intelligent computing service platform. Hu Zhiqiang, Chairman and General Manager of China Telecom Cloud Technology Co., Ltd., gave the audience more information about this platform.
People witness the quick development of foundation models in 2023. The ever-expanding parameter scale and fast iteration technical roadmap of foundation models drive model capabilities to leap forward. The quick development also brings many challenges to model training and application, such as the increasingly obvious bottleneck in computing power utilization, growing computing power costs, greater difficulties in model building, and more complex model deployment in industries.
Mr. Hu expressed that eSurfing Cloud has built full-stack model-based intelligent computing services to meet new requirements of cloud service providers in the foundation model era.To be specific, eSurfing Cloud has built an Artificial Intelligence Data Center (AIDC), upgraded the Cloud Warrior infrastructure platform, which integrates cloud and AI, launched the WisHub one-stop intelligent computing service platform, and built a cloud model ecosystem. All of them form an intelligent computing service system that integrates cloud and AI.
Intelligent computing infrastructure is the cornerstone of the entire system. To address the heat dissipation issue caused by AI-powered high-intensity computing, eSurfing Cloud has launched the liquid cooling DC module that integrates a customized liquid cooling intelligent computing server, achieving a PUE of 1.12. At the same time, eSurfing Cloud has upgraded the Cloud Warrior Platform to an infrastructure service platform that integrates cloud and AI, and developed high-performance RoCE networks and parallel file storage services. Great efforts have been devoted to improving core capabilities such as training acceleration and network acceleration. The O&M system has also been optimized to support all-round fault prediction and sensing of infrastructure. To support localization, the Cloud Warrior Platform is the first public cloud that loads the RoCE network and home-developed GPU solution, which have been put into commercial use.
Talking about platforms, eSurfing Cloud has released a one-stop intelligent computing service platform, WisHub, towards foundation models. The WisHub Platform summarizes and extracts key processes, complex technologies, and valuable experience during model development and training to build a one-stop pipeline for model production and application. This platform significantly lowers the threshold for model training, fine-tuning, deployment, and inference, and enables customers to focus more on model upgrades and applications.
The WisHub Platform breaks through technical difficulties including operator acceleration, model parallelism, and resumable training, and encapsulates high-performance computing capabilities, distributed computing scheduling capabilities, multi-phase training and inference acceleration technologies, and high-performance data storage technologies. Its core indicators such as stability and training and inference speed are significantly improved.
Based on four platforms on data, model development, model service, and application service, the WisHub Platform provides multiple product function modules, such as data preparation, model development, task management, and model optimization. Each function module contains multi-level components. Functions and components can be flexibly assembled to help users build dedicated tool sets for different scenarios.
With the upgraded infrastructure service platform Cloud Warrior and the intelligent computing service platform WisHub, eSurfing Cloud has provided multiple ecosystem modes for partners including model developers, model providers, application vendors, governments and research institutions, and industry associations.
Relying on the intelligent computing base and unique advantages in security, eSurfing Cloud will closely collaborate with partners in the industry to gather AI chip partners, general foundation model partners, industry model partners, and developers in and outside China to build a prosperous model innovation ecosystem, building advanced intelligent computing productivity and promoting the digital and intelligent transformation of the economy and society in all aspects.
Read more here:
eSurfing Cloud Launches the WisHub One-Stop Intelligent ... - PR Newswire
Predictive Maintenance (PdM) Market to grow by USD 16.57 billion growth between 2022 – 2027 | Growth Driven by Increased adoption of advanced…
NEW YORK, Nov. 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --ThePredictive Maintenance (PdM) Marketreport has been added to Technavio's offering.With ISO 9001:2015 certification, Technavio has proudly partnered with more than 100 Fortune 500 companies for over 16 years. The potential growth difference for the predictive maintenance (PdM) market between 2022and 2027 is USD 16.57billion.
Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Predictive Maintenance (PdM) Market 2023-2027
The increased adoption of advanced analytics by SMEs owing to the rise in cloud computing is notably driving market growth.Thecloud PdM tools adoption provides SMEs with new opportunities by leveraging technologies, such as mobility, AI, and IoT.PdM tools are adopted through the cloud across SMEs for better management of business operations through a centralized management system, with improved collaboration, productivity, simplified compliance, and risk management.Get deeper insights into the market size, current market scenario, future growth opportunities, major growth driving factors, the latest trends, and much more. Buy the full report here
Market Challenge - Lack of expertise and technical knowledge is a major challenge hindering the growth of the global PdM market.The shortage of talented people and niche skills to manageand operatepredictive analytics is a constant challenge for enterprises.PdM helps prevent equipment failure through corrective or planned maintenance. Additionally, PdM cannot exist without health monitoring. This part of developing an accurate and efficient model is a vital aspect of micro-segmentation since it requires extensive expertise.Hence, a lack of expertise and technical knowledge will negatively impact the growth of the global PdM market during the forecast period.Learn about additional key drivers, trends, and challenges available with Technavio. Read Sample PDF Report Now
The predictive maintenance (PdM) market is segmented based onComponent (Solutions and Service), Deployment (On-premise and Cloud), and Geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa).
Story continues
Thesolutions segmentwill be significant for overall market growth during the forecast period.The rising adoption of PdM solutions in various growing sectors such as energy and utilities, manufacturing, and healthcare is boosting the growth of the PdM market globally. Additionally,PdM integration guarantees the return on investment (ROI) and helps organizations meet and exceed sustainability goals, enabling remote machine monitoring globally.
Based on geography,North America is estimated to account for39% of the global market growth during the forecast period.View a Sample Report for insights into the contribution of all the segments and regional opportunities in the report.
Key Companies in the Predictive Maintenance (PdM) market:
Augury Inc., Avnet Inc., C3.ai Inc., Dell Technologies Inc., Deutsche Telekom AG, Fortive Corp., General Electric Co., Hitachi Ltd., Honeywell International Inc., International Business Machines Corp., PTC Inc., RapidMiner Inc., Reliability Solutions sp. z o.o., Robert Bosch GmbH, Rockwell Automation Inc., SAP SE, SAS Institute Inc., Schneider Electric SE, Siemens AG, Warwick Analytics Services Ltd.
Related Reports:
The industrial predictive maintenance market share in APAC is expected to increase by USD 7.44 billion from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 34.71%.
The predictive analytics market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 22.24% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 2,1601.17 million.
ToC:
Executive Summary
Market Landscape
Market Sizing
Historic Market Sizes
Five Forces Analysis
Market Segmentation by Component
Market Segmentation by Deployment
Market Segmentation by Geography
Customer Landscape
Geographic Landscape
Drivers,Challenges, &Trends
Company Landscape
Company Analysis
Appendix
About Technavio
Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provideactionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.
With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.
Contacts
Technavio ResearchJesse MaidaMedia & Marketing ExecutiveUS: +1 844 364 1100UK: +44 203 893 3200Email:media@technavio.comWebsite:www.technavio.com
Global Predictive Maintenance (PdM) Market 2023-2027
Cision
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/predictive-maintenance-pdm-market-to-grow-by-usd-16-57-billion-growth-between-2022---2027--growth-driven-by-increased-adoption-of-advanced-analytics-by-smes-owing-to-rise-in-cloud-computing---technavio-301996826.html
SOURCE Technavio
View original post here:
Predictive Maintenance (PdM) Market to grow by USD 16.57 billion growth between 2022 - 2027 | Growth Driven by Increased adoption of advanced...
Udemy Partners with Google Cloud as Inaugural Member of its New … – AiThority
Partnership seeks to meet the growing demand and upskilling requirements for millions of cloud computing professionals worldwide
Udemy, a leading online skills marketplace and learning platform,announced a new partnership with Google Cloud, joining their new Google Cloud Endorsed Content Program. Through this program, Google Cloud will endorse high-quality Udemy content that current and aspiring cloud professionals can trust to learn more about Google Cloud emerging technologies such as generative AI and prepare for future certification exams. This new Google Cloud Endorsed Content adds to a growing portfolio of Google Cloud training available on Udemy. Additionally, select Udemy instructors will be invited to preview new products and features coming to Google Cloud, allowing them to provide learners with fresh, relevant content the moment a new capability becomes available. This supports Udemys commitment to ensuring its content is keeping pace with the rate of technology changes in the marketplace. These new courses will be easily identifiable via Google Cloud Endorsed badges and will be featured on Udemys dedicated, Google Cloud Endorsement page.
Today, were at the forefront of the next digital revolution, and as a result, theres a critical need for skilled professionals who are well-versed in tools like Google Cloud to help their organizations modernize and take full advantage of all that AI-powered cloud computing platforms have to offer, said Greg Brown, President and CEO at Udemy. Were thrilled to be partnering with an iconic technology leader thats been at the cutting edge of innovation for more than two decades, so that together, we can help train the next generation of cloud computing professionals.
Recommended AI News: Google Cloud and Spotify Expand Partnership to Help Unlock Creator Potential and Reach Fans
With demand for cloud computing skills on the rise, Udemy currently offers more than 430 dedicated Google Cloud courses with nearly 500,000 enrollments over the past 12 months. Additionally, as it is becoming an increasing priority for organizations and professionals to understand generative AI, Udemy has seen increased interest in the 124 Google Bard courses available on its platform with more than 73,000 course enrollments since its launch in March 2023. Further, in Udemys recently published 2024 Global Learning & Skills Trends Report, Google Clouds Professional Cloud DevOps Engineer certification was noted as one of the most in-demand technical skills for 2024 with a 1,454% growth in course consumption over the past year alone.
As companies increasingly prioritize adoption of skills-based practices, it is critical that they have access to the freshest content available to support certification preparation so professionals can not only acquire new skills, but also validate them and demonstrate mastery to their employers. Udemys learning platform does just that and also recently introduced an Integrated Skills Framework earlier this year which provides organizations with a roadmap to help them understand and more easily navigate the fundamental components of a skills-based approach to learning. This approach, coupled with endorsement by Google Cloud, provides learners and organizations with confidence that they are accessing the most current, high quality Google Cloud certification preparation available.
Recommended AI News: Datadog Expands Strategic Partnership with Google Cloud and Integrates with Vertex AI
In the initial phase of the pilot program, Google Cloud will be focused on endorsing generative AI coursesbeginning with courses from world-renowned Udemy instructors Jose Portilla and Ranga Karanamwith plans to review and endorse additional content related to Google Cloud certification preparation, data analytics, developer content and infrastructure and networking capabilities in the coming months.
We are thrilled to announce Google Cloud Learning Services collaboration with Udemy to bring learners cutting-edge cloud computing and generative AI courses from industry experts like Jose Portilla and Ranga Karanam, said Natalie Van Kleef, Head of the Current & Future Technologists organization in Google Cloud Learning Services. This exciting partnership will empower developers to gain the skills and knowledge they need to become confident in these new technologies as generative AI continues to shape the future of work.
Recommended AI News: Box and Google Cloud Expand Strategic Partnership Across Generative AI and Go-to-Market
[To share your insights with us, please write tosghosh@martechseries.com]
View original post here:
Udemy Partners with Google Cloud as Inaugural Member of its New ... - AiThority
Windows-as-an-app is coming – Computerworld
My first computer was an IBM 360 mainframe. To use it, I relied on a 3270 terminal. From there, I quickly moved on to a PDP-11 minicomputer running Unix where my interface was a VT-102 terminal.
In those days, all the computing power was remote. Then, CP/M, Apple, and IBM PCs changed everything. And the desktop became where power lived. That was then; this is now. Today, we're moving back to remote computing and from the PC to cloud-based Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS) offerings such as Windows 365.
This is exactly what Microsoft has wanted for years. Don't believe me? Check out Windows App, Microsoft's gateway to all its remote Windows offerings.
Windows App, which is still in beta, will let you connect to Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365, Microsoft Dev Box, Remote Desktop Services, and remote PCs from, well, pretty much any computing device. Specifically, you can use it from Macs, iPhones, iPads, other Windows machines, and pay attention! web browsers.
That last part means you'll be able to run Windows from Linux-powered PCs, Chromebooks, and Android phones and tablets.
So, if you've been stuck running Windows because your boss insists that you can't get your job done from a Chromebook, Linux PC, or Mac, your day has come. You can still run the machine you want and use Windows for only those times you require Windows-specific software.
Mind you, you've been able to do that for some time. As I pointed out recently, all the Windows software vendors don't want you to run standalone Windows applications; they prefer web-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications. They can make a lot more money from you by insisting you pay a monthly subscription rather than a one-time payment.
Sure, Microsoft made its first billions from Windows and the PC desktop, but that hasn't been its business plan for years now. As Zac Bowden, a senior editor at Windows Central, recently spotted in a June 2022 Microsoft internal presentation, the company plans to "Move Windows 11 increasingly to the cloud: Build on Windows 365 to enable a full Windows operating system streamed from the cloud to any device. Use the power of the cloud and client to enable improved AI-powered services and full roaming of people's digital experience."
This move was coming long before Microsoft fell in love with AI. I saw Microsoft switching people to Windows DaaS coming down the road in 2018. Windows App will just make it easier than ever.
How easy is it? Very.
For example, you'll be able to use Windows remotely via browsers using ancient versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and, of course, Edge. Essentially, if your web browser supports HTML5, you should be good to go.
From a browser, you'll be able to redirect your local devices, such as a printer, microphones, cameras, and your location, as well as audio, and clipboard to your remote session. If you redirect your local clipboard to your remote session, you can copy and paste text.
Microsoft is confusing, though, when it comes to copying and moving files. One part says you can, another part on the same web page says you can't. Stay tuned.
Not all remote Windows services are supported, yet. Microsoft says you'll be able to use remote desktop PCs, for example, but not at the moment. Support is coming, though..
To harness Windows App, you must upgrade to the latest version of Windows 365. You must also, for now, have a business or student account. If you qualify, upon launching Windows 365, you'll be greeted with an invitation to explore the Windows App's features through an interactive tour. Post-tour, you can access the "Home" screen to connect with remote devices or apps, aided by intuitive filters designed to streamline the search process.
From this customizable Home screen, you can use multiple services and PCs from one screen although I wouldn't try this on a smartphone. Windows App will enable you to use multiple monitors with custom and dynamic display resolutions, and scaling. So, if you like running multiple displays, as I do, you'd be able to run your personal desktop on one display while running a remote Windows session on another.
It all looks interesting. But, as Microsoft warns, "Windows App is currently in PREVIEW." Windows app "may be substantially modified before it's released. Microsoft makes no warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to the information provided here."
At this point, I'd tinker with it. After all, like it or not, this is Windows' future. But I wouldn't think about using it for production anytime soon.
2 Soaring Stocks I’d Buy Now With No Hesitation – The Motley Fool
Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a buzzword in 2023 and for good reason. According to research from the McKinsey Global Institute, generative AI has the potential to increase global corporate profits by $4.4 trillion annually.
Unsurprisingly, AI stocks also stand to benefit dramatically in the case of a potential bull market. Although no one can definitively tell whether we are currently in a bull market or not, investors focused on generating long-term wealth can consider buying small positions in promising AI stocks such as Palantir Technologies (PLTR -2.49%) and Microsoft (MSFT -0.11%).
Here's why shares of these companies are well-positioned to soar even higher in the coming months.
Long before AI and machine learning became buzzwords, Palantir's cutting-edge software solutions -- including Gotham, Apollo, and Foundry -- were leveraging these technologies to analyze huge troves of data and derive actionable insights for its government and commercial clients.
Launched in April 2023, Palantir's Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) is also proving to be a major growth catalyst. Combining the power of large language models in its core machine learning algorithms, AIP enables users to interact and receive automated responses (a chatbot experience). Within five months of launch, AIP has been used by nearly 300 enterprise clients.
Palantir's recent go-to-market strategy, AIP Bootcamp, is also expected to accelerate the pace of customer acquisition for the company. Unlike traditional pilot projects that require one to three months, Palantir has managed to deliver real-time workflows to prospective clients within five days. This initiative has enabled the company to simultaneously approach multiple clients through multi-organization boot camps, reduce time to market, and ensure deep engagement of its IT team. Furthermore, these boot camps are also leading to expanded usage of the company's technologies by existing clients while also resulting in better unit economics.
Palantir reported impressive numbers in the third quarter with revenue and earnings surpassing consensus estimates. The company also posted its fourth consecutive quarter of positive net income. The total number of customers grew by 34% year over year to 453. The company also saw an acceleration in the pace of high-value deals, closing 80 deals valued at $1 million or more, 29 valued at $5 million or more, and 12 valued at $10 million or more in the third quarter.
Trading at a price-to-sales multiple of 21.5, Palantir is valued significantly higher than the software industry median multiple of 2.1. However, considering the broad customer base comprising multiple high-value clients, its impressive strategy to reduce conversion times for larger clients, and its improving financials, the premium valuation seems justified.
Coupled with the additional revenue streams from increased penetration of AIP in the global AI market (estimated to be worth $1.8 trillion by 2030), Palantir may see significant share price appreciation in the coming months.
Previously known mainly for its personal computing business (Office productivity suite), Microsoft now has a strong presence in several other rapidly growing markets such as cloud computing, search advertising, and cybersecurity.
Microsoft's $13 billion investment in OpenAI, creator of the widely famous chatbot ChatGPT, has also proven to be a masterstroke for this tech titan. Thanks to this strategic partnership, the company has been successfully integrating AI technology across its core offerings such as Azure, Bing, and Office 365 -- making them more efficient and cost-effective for customers.
For the past few years, the Azure cloud computing business has become a major revenue driver for Microsoft. In the first quarter of its fiscal 2024 (ended Sept. 30, 2023), the Intelligent Cloud segment saw a 19% year-over-year jump in revenue to $24.3 billion -- driven mainly by a 28% year-over-year jump in constant-currency revenue of Azure and cloud services business.
Microsoft expects cloud spending optimization to be a persistent trend in the cloud business, although the impact was higher in the past few quarters. Morgan Stanley analyst Keith Weiss expects the impact of this trend to lessen in the coming quarters. Nevertheless, increasing consumption and monetization of AI models and services (OpenAI models as well as other proprietary and open-source models) is proving to be the major growth catalyst for Azure. At the end of the first quarter, more than 18,000 organizations were using the Azure OpenAI service.
Microsoft is also gearing up for new revenue streams by monetizing several of its AI-powered assistants or Copilots. Prominent among them is Microsoft 365 Copilot, which was made generally available to enterprises on Nov. 1. Priced at $30 per month, this AI assistant is expected to make a meaningful contribution to the company's revenue -- considering that the Microsoft 365 productivity suite has nearly 345 million paid seats. Its already existing GitHub Copilot is used by 1 million paid users across 37,000 organizations. Priced at $100 per seat per year, this AI assistant has helped increase overall developer productivity by up to 55%.
Besides a robust diversified business model, Microsoft also boasts enviable financial numbers. The company surpassed analysts' consensus estimates for both revenue and earnings in the first quarter. The company also has a stellar balance sheet with $144 billion cash and $105.7 billion total debt.
Considering Microsoft's strength in the enterprise software and cloud computing business, AI tailwinds, and strong financial prospects, the company is an attractive pick now.
Here is the original post:
2 Soaring Stocks I'd Buy Now With No Hesitation - The Motley Fool
ZTE holds Core Network User Congress in Thailand, driving digital … – ZTE
Bangkok, Thailand,20 November 2023- ZTE Corporation (0763.HK / 000063.SZ), a global leading provider of information and communication technology solutions, has recently kicked off the ZTE 5G Summit & User Congress 2023 in Bangkok, Thailand. AIS from Thailand, Smartfren from Indonesia, Turkcell from Turkey andglobalindustry experts attended the ZTE Core Network Congress, a subsession of the summit, where they explored the new technologies, industries, and ecosystems of global computing power and 5G core network evolution. The participants shared a series of excellent solutions in the industry, showing the most innovative solutions and industry perspectives within the field.
Jason Tu,Technical Spokesperson atZTEsaid in the opening speech that the computing power and cloudified network are two sides of the same coin. As the computing infrastructure, ZTE's server storage products have been serving more than 50 countries, covering different industries such as communication, finance and the internet. In the first three quarters of 2023, overseas sales of computing infrastructure tripled compared to the same period last year. Cloudified CN products have also achieved excellent market performance, and the shipment of 5G SA core network products ranks top 2 globally. ZTE will continue to increase investments to provide green and carrier-class quality computing infrastructure products, as well as high-performance, high-reliability, and intelligent cloudified core network solutions to help all partners make digital transformations.
Arjchanint Oonhawat, Mobile Core Network Architecture and Solution Design Managerat AIS, made a speech about AIS-Towards becoming Cognitive Tech Co," and AIS represents comprehensive empowerment of society, enterprise, work, and life through new technologies such as 5G, Autonomous Networks, AI, Big Data, MEC, etc., aiming to transform from a digital life service provider to Cognitive Tech Co.
Tony Wijaya, Senior Vice Presidentof Network Assurance & Service Quality at Smartfren, shared in a speech entitled "The Largest vUDC of Smartfren in the World,"Smartfren's modern mobile network evolution and its development history, as well as the world's largest Cloud UDC jointly deployed by ZTE. Advanced technology from ZTE provided high capacity and reliability assurance of the vUDC in Smartfren live network. He also emphasized strong and long partnership with ZTE, where the vUDC implementation is one of exemplary successful case demonstrating fast and smooth delivery during project implementation, migration and stable operational stage.
Emre Yenidunya, Expert Telco Cloud Specialist at Turkcell, made a speech about Virtualization Journey and ZTE Servers." He shared the latest developments in Turkcell's network virtualization and emphasized the delightful collaboration with ZTE in the server domain. As Turkiye's largest mobile operator, Turkcell has achieved significant milestones in network virtualization, with a virtualization rate reaching 73%. They have established a unified cloud platform based on Red Hat OpenStack, deploying over 30 telco services, including IMS(100% Virtualized), DPI, CGNAT, and more. Starting in 2021, Turkcell chose ZTE's localized high-performance servers (under the Netas brand) to handle user plane data. The rapid delivery and local support provided by ZTE/Netas have ensured the smooth progress of Turkcell's network virtualization initiative.
Yang Rui, Technical Director of Computing and Core Networkat ZTE, delivered a keynote speech entitled "Evolution and roadmap of ZTE Cloud Core Network." She introduced the design principle of the ZTE cloud core network, that is, it must be a hexagonal fighter in the network, achieving balanced and comprehensive improvement in cloud native, full exposure, highperformance, highreliability, intelligence, and 2B operation enhancement, contributing to building a trustworthy network for partners.
Yang Lin, Chief Planning Engineer of Computing and Core Networkat ZTE, gave a speech about "ZTE View on Autonomous Network." He introduced the strategy and solutions of ZTE CCN product line to reshape all aspects of mobile core network from network O&M transformation, user experience optimization, new business innovation to network resilience and efficiency with intelligence and AI.
Liu Zhenghai, Marketing Director of Computing and Core Networkat ZTE, delivered a speech entitled "ZTE Server&Storage Product" at the conference. He said that ZTE's server products have entered major customer markets in the internet, finance, energy, and other industries at a large scale. ZTE server products have the advantages of high performance, high reliability, easy expansion, and easy management, as well as have outstanding performance in cloud computing, big data and NFV fields. Moving forward, ZTE will seize new opportunities in the computing era and contribute to the development of the global digital economy.
Xu Yunbao, Planning Director of Computing and Core Networkat ZTE, delivered a speech entitled "New Service of New Era" during the event. He emphasized that 5G New Calling upgrades traditional voice service, providing an intelligent, interactive and immersive service experience for both individual and industrial users. With full participation in the revolution and innovation of 5G New Calling industry, ZTE is committed to providing E2E 5G New Calling solution including terminal, network, service and application, aiming to build new ecosystem together with partners.
As a world-leading provider of telecommunications equipment and solutions, ZTE is committed to creating values for customers through continuous technological innovation andstrives to provide high-quality end-to-end 5G solutions, helping operators build simplified, agile, integrated, efficient, and reliable core networks, thereby facilitating robust development, and commercial successof 5G.
ABOUT ZTE:
ZTE helps to connect the world with continuous innovation for a better future. The company provides innovative technologies and integrated solutions, its portfolio spans all series of wireless, wireline, devices and professional telecommunications services. Serving over a quarter of the global population, ZTE is dedicated to creating a digital and intelligent ecosystem, and enabling connectivity and trust everywhere. ZTE is listed on both the Hong Kong and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges. http://www.zte.com.cn/global
FOLLOW US:
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/ZTECorp
Twitter http://www.twitter.com/ZTEPress
LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/company/zte
YouTube http://www.youtube.com/@ZTECorporation
MEDIA INQUIRIES:
ZTE Corporation
Communications
Email: ZTE.press.release@zte.com.cn
More:
ZTE holds Core Network User Congress in Thailand, driving digital ... - ZTE
Mercedes F1 accelerates AI adoption in off-track IT transformation … – ITPro
Mercedes F1 has announced a new partnership with SAP in a bid to overhaul its IT operations and expand the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline resource planning.
The partnership will give the racing team access to SAPs business artificial intelligence (AI) technology, providing capabilities for forecasting costs, predicting budget requirements, and optimizing the teams supply chain.
Mercedes will also be able to take advantage of SAPs secure S/4HANA cloud environment that will underpin the teams digital functions and allow for easy and reliable scalability over time.
A crucial foundation for success in modern F1 involves navigating the competitions cost cap, Mercedes said, which limits how much teams can spend in a single season. Overspending could see teams incur severe financial and competitive penalties.
The collaboration should help Mercedes avoid any difficulty in this regard, enabling the team to deliver accurate cost forecasts and budget optimization.
Mercedes CEO and team principal Toto Wolff expressed his optimism about boosting the teams efficiencies with the collaboration.
We have a shared heritage and commitment to innovation and improvement, which will meaningfully contribute to our on-track performance. SAP is a global leader in its field, and we could not think of a better partner to help us improve our efficiencies in 2024 and beyond.
Formula One is among the most data-intensive sports on earth, with teams leveraging a range of technologies to unlock performance insights.
Julia White, executive board member at SAP SE, said the use of technologies such as artificial intelligence can make the difference between success and failure.
Formula One is one of the most technologically innovative sports in the world, where incremental gains yield significant results. Given the extreme conditions under which Formula One teams operate, motorsports provide a global platform to showcase skill and engineering excellence, she said.
But beyond the race day performance, theres a lot going on behind the scenes. SAP is proud to partner with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team to make sure its operations are as fine-tuned as its cars.
As White noted, Formula One is uniquely placed to derive significant benefits from cloud technologies both behind the scenes, and in its on-track performance as well.
RELATED RESOURCE
Monitor AI activities and generate positive outcomes
DOWNLOAD NOW
With around 100 sensors on each car, and approximately 1,500 data channels, being able to quickly and securely process, organize, and provide insights on that data is essential.
In addition, the same data processing capabilities are vital for cost effectively refining the cars aerodynamic profile.
AWS simulations, for example,have played an important role in helping teams achieve the marginal gains that can decide a race or even a championship.
Enabling teams to model a cars aerodynamic performance without having to carry out prohibitively expensive and carbon-intensive physical tests is invaluable.
But ensuring the simulations match the accuracy of the physical tests requires significant compute capacity and AWS collaboration with F1 allows for teams to easily scale their computational tasks.
Mercedes will hope its partnership with SAP provides similar cost-saving and performance benefits on the business side of its operations.
See more here:
Mercedes F1 accelerates AI adoption in off-track IT transformation ... - ITPro