Enterprise
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US Navy decommissions the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier
It's the end of an era for the US sea power, in more ways than one: the Navy has decommissioned the USS Enterprise (CVN-65), the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. The vessel launched in 1961 and is mainly known for playing a pivotal role in several major incidents and conflicts, including the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Vietnam War and the 2003 Iraq War. However, it also served as the quintessential showcase for what nuclear ships could do. Its eight reactors let it run for years at a time, all the while making more room for the aircraft and their fuel.
Restauranteur hopes the Apple Watch will improve fine dining
Danny Meyer is considered to be quite the progressive restauranteur. His employees don't rely on tips to make ends meet (the practice is outlawed at his establishments, in fact), and they get various benefits including a share of profits. Aside from running his hospitality empire in an unorthodox way, he's also the mastermind behind Shake Shack. His next forward-thinking initiative doesn't involve any new management strategies, however. Rather, at one of his flagship restaurants he'll soon be ceding some of that responsibility to the Apple Watch.
BlackBerry is done making smartphones
In BlackBerry's latest quarterly financials released today, the company revealed it's getting out of the hardware business once and for all, choosing instead to "outsource that function to partners." It's not a huge shock given BlackBerry CEO John Chen has foreshadowed the cut and run several times. Earlier this year, he warned that if hardware wasn't making a profit by September it would be time to call it quits, and he's kept his word after the Mobility Solutions division posted an $8 million loss for this past quarter. This doesn't mean we've seen the last of BlackBerry handsets, though; they just won't be produced in-house anymore.
Microsoft's Edge browser stays secure by acting as a virtual PC
Microsoft has unveiled Windows Defender Application Guard for Microsoft Edge, a new system that will isolate the browser on Windows 10 Enterprise PCs, making them harder to hack. In a blog, the company wrote that it's "the first operating system to ship this type of technology alongside a browser." Using the Virtualization Based Security (VBS) recently introduced for Windows 10, Edge runs inside a small, virtual "PC," keeping it separate from processes including storage, other apps and, most importantly, the Windows 10 kernel.
Facebook's 'Star Trek' reactions show it doesn't know jack about Spock
Today is Star Trek's 50th anniversary, marking half a century since the show first aired on September 8th 1966. Here at Engadget, we're celebrating with an ancient Trekkie tradition: Nitpicking. Today, Facebook announced that it's temporarily replacing its "Like" buttons with a set of Trek-inspired reactions -- a laughing Captain Kirk, a sad, crying Geordi Laforge and an adorably angry Klingon. They're all perfect ...except for Spock. Facebook chose Star Trek's most emotionless character to represent its most emotive reaction: "Wow."
Google brings 'intelligent search' to business users
Google's new Springboard search may be aimed at companies, but it's just the kind of AI-powered tech that can trickle down to consumers. The search giant describes it as a sort of digital assistant that helps employees search through piles of documents in Gmail, Calendar, Docs, Drive, Contacts and other apps. Much like Google Now, it also "assists you throughout your workday by proactively providing useful and actionable information and recommendations," according to the company.
Microsoft's SQL database software now runs on Linux
Remember when Steve Ballmer likened Linux to cancer, and the notion of Microsoft courting the open source crowd was virtually unimaginable? The company has come a long, long way since then. Microsoft has unveiled a version of SQL Server, a flagship database program, for Linux. That's right -- you can get a major Microsoft data center app without having to touch Windows. The company is even working with the creators of key Linux distributions (such as Red Hat and Ubuntu maker Canonical) to get the program running smoothly. SQL Server for Linux won't officially ship until mid-2017, but there's already a preview for corporations that want a peek.
IBM might buy live video service UStream for $130 million
The first name that comes to mind when you hear "live-streaming video" might be Twitch, but even despite how that service has grown, it isn't exactly something you'd use for video conferencing or at work. Regardless of how much you want to drop a few Kappas to spice up a meeting. Which is why the Fortune report stating IBM is looking to buy UStream (which has been targeting business customers of late) doesn't seem too far-fetched. The publication's sources peg the deal in the neighborhood of $130 million cash in addition to "possible earn-outs and employee retention packages." It's a pretty paltry sum when compared against Amazon's $970 million Twitch purchase.
Indiegogo helps big companies crowdfund their gadgets
With certain exceptions, crowdfunding is usually geared toward startups with little more than a clever idea under their belt. But what if big companies want to gauge your interest in a new product -- where's their help? Indiegogo thinks it has an answer. It's trotting out Enterprise Crowdfunding, a service that gives large firms the strategy, support and stats they need to get their ideas off the ground. While companies are already using Indiegogo to try out their products (such as GE, Harman and Hasbro), the hope is that this will take some of the anxiety out of the process.
Slack's App Directory proves it's more than just a chatroom
All those apps in collaboration suite Slack are about to get a little easier to find and integrate within your team -- and over 160 of them live within the company's new Slack App Directory. Just type "/apps" and then the keyword of your choice to bring up a list of compatible applications. For example, "/apps productivity" in the Engadget Slack channel brings up Google Calendar, Wunderlist and WorkingOn, while "/apps video" comes back with storage and video chat applications like Dropbox and Google+ Hangouts. The idea is that when one of these integrated apps is connected, like Weiko's visitor check-in system for example, the relevant party will automagically get a ping saying their guest has arrived.
Uber hopes you'll rent a car to work as a driver
Uber is eager to get lots of drivers... so eager, in fact, that it's hoping to recruit drivers who don't even own a car. The ridesharing firm is partnering with Enterprise Rent-A-Car on a program that gives you a car rental, vehicle coverage and maintenance for $210 per week. Ostensibly, this gives you everything you need (outside of fuel) in one tidy package, and lets you taste life as an Uber driver when you either can't afford ownership or just don't want to jump in with both feet.
Google lures your workplace away from Office by covering app costs
Google really, really wants your company to jump from Microsoft Office to Docs. So much so, in fact, that it's willing to pay a lot to make sure that happens. It just launched a promo that will cover your firm's Docs costs so long as it's stuck in an enterprise agreement with someone else -- your workplace only starts paying when the old contract runs out. That's no small offer when Docs costs at least $50 per person per year, which could add up to tens of thousands of dollars at an outfit with hundreds of employees.
'Star Trek' virtual tour will recreate every deck of the Enterprise
You've probably seen a few attempts at recreating worlds in game engines, but never at this level of detail. Artist Jason B is working on the Enterprise-D Construction Project, an Unreal Engine-based virtual tour that aims to reproduce all 42 decks in the Enterprise from Star Trek: The Next Generation. While it's not quite photorealistic, the attention to detail in this digital starship is already uncanny -- the bridge, shuttle bay and other areas feel like lived-in spaces, just waiting for the crew to return. Jason is drawing on as much official material as he can to get things pixel-perfect, and he's only taking creative liberties in those areas where there's no canonical content.
Microsoft and Dell team up to put Surface tablets in your workplace (update: HP too)
Microsoft really wants Surface tablets to be mainstays of the corporate crowd, and it just formed a partnership with Dell to help make this happen. The Surface Enterprise Initiative will see Dell selling both Surface Pro tablets and their accessories through its commercial sales channels, eventually including its website -- yes, you'll see Microsoft slates available alongside Dell's own Venue Pros. Those machines will get full Dell support, too. The effort will only be available in the US and Canada when it kicks off in early October, but it'll spread to the Surface's 28 remaining business-friendly regions by early 2016.
Cisco is optimizing networks for Apple devices
Apple isn't content to expand its foothold in the workplace solely through major app deals and developer initiatives -- it wants corporate networks to be Apple-friendly as well. The Cupertino crew has teamed up with Cisco to optimize enterprise networks for iOS devices and apps, especially Cisco-made videoconferencing and collaboration tools. It's not hard to see why the two would forge a deal. This theoretically boosts iPhone and iPad sales to companies that want the smoothest possible experience, especially if they have thousands of users crowding their networks. Cisco, meanwhile, stands a better shot at selling network hardware and software to firms that are already set on using Apple gear. It may be hard to notice the change unless you're an IT manager, but you shouldn't be surprised if your next company-issued device has a fruit logo on the back.
Apple teams up with app devs to make iPad better for work
iPads are apparently not doing too hot at the moment, and Apple is looking for a way to reverse the drop in sales that's been going on the past six quarters. According to The Wall Street Journal, Cupertino hopes to accomplish that by making its tablets more enticing to businesses. The WSJ also reports the tech juggernaut is working with over 40 unknown enterprise app developers in an initiative that's internally called "mobility partner program" (MPP). The members in the alliance are developing iOS apps for entrepreneurs, such as accounting and digital cash register programs. Apple's also encouraging them to collaborate and create apps that work together. In addition, the partners are expected to send representatives to train Apple's business specialists.
Google is launching a new version of Glass, but only for workers
Good news, wearable fans: there's a new version of Google Glass on the way. Only... it's not really meant for you. Both Recode and the Wall Street Journal hear that Google is handing out a new, work-oriented version of its smart eyepiece to its enterprise partners' development teams. As for what it entails? Like 9to5Google hinted earlier, its a mix of performance and accommodating the demands of the working world. There's a hinge to attach it to different glasses, and the wider, thinner prism (aka the display) can move both vertically and horizontally. It also touts a faster Intel Atom processor, better wireless and longer-lasting battery packs that attach to the headset through magnets.
Google and BlackBerry team up for a secure enterprise Android
BlackBerry and Google are having a total peanut butter and chocolate moment here. The two companies have just announced that they're teaming up to create a more enterprise-ready version of the Android OS. The deal will see the heightened security features of BES12, BlackBerry's enterprise device deployment service, integrated into Android's 5.0 Lolipop build and Google Play for Work.
Apple Watch support is coming to IBM's enterprise apps
For the past year or so, Apple and IBM have collaborated on the MobileFirst for iOS project, a series of 22 enterprise-specific apps for iOS. These apps are designed to help service professionals better perform their duties but for some, constantly fishing out a phone or tablet to access those apps actually hindered their efforts. That's why Apple announced through its website today that three of these apps -- Hospital RN, Field Connect and Incident Aware -- will now work on the Apple Watch.
BlackBerry's first tablet in years is a secure Galaxy Tab S
BlackBerry's first experience with tablets was more than a little traumatic, but it hasn't completely given up on the idea. The company's SecuSmart wing has teamed up with IBM to launch the SecuTablet, an extra-secure version of Samsung's Galaxy Tab S 10.5. Reportedly, the slate's included security bundle prevents sensitive data from falling into the wrong hands while allowing personal apps. Yes, you can watch YouTube on the same device that carries your classified documents. You aren't likely to find this in stores (certainly not at its $2,380 price) as a result, but ongoing German government tests hint that you may well see it in the field -- and there's a real chance that it will outlive its ill-fated predecessor.
