Articles by Jack M. Germain

How businesses must handle customer interactions is changing as customers adopt messaging as a communication preference. Companies that fail to keep up with the rapid advancements of digitizing this process will be left behind Since the pandemic, three times as many companies reported that 80% of their customer interactions are now digital. Therefo...

In the wide-open field of videoconferencing tools spawned by the pandemic, the Poly Studio P5 professional webcam should be high on your list of candidates for home or office use This USB 2.0 plug-and-play camera comes with an integrated type A cable, privacy shutter, and an adjustable monitor clamp that doubles as a desktop base. The removable upp...

Is e-commerce declining or fitting in the post-pandemic world? The answer might well depend on how the limits of e-commerce are drawn in the "new normal" business world E-commerce boomed throughout the pandemic, giving a sharp pivot to a largely virtual world. This shift produced a 55% increase in online spending worth $1.7 trillion....

The conviction of former Uber Chief Security Officer Joseph Sullivan may pose a chilling reassessment of how chief information security officers (CISOs) and the security community handle network breaches going forward A San Francisco federal jury on Oct 5. convicted Sullivan of failing to tell U.S. authorities about a 2016 hack of Uber's databases....

Software security continues to plague open-source developers and users as well. Ongoing efforts to fix broken security issues are producing innovative solutions. However, like a game of whack-a-mole, new security hurdles continue to pop up Ubuntu Linux users can now grab some free security help to make keeping up with patches and maintenance a bit ...

Last mile delivery of products ordered online is a nagging problem for merchants and consumers, and it is even more challenging for food retailers The innovative Phononic EV might be driving a new solution to deliver groceries efficiently and sustainably while rivaling Amazon's planned aerial drone package delivery system....

Federal legislators last week began the process of better securing the open-source software used by government agencies with a new bill titled "Securing Open Source Software Act of 2022." Sens. Gary Peters, D-Mich., and Rob Portman, R-Ohio, introduced the legislation that seeks to address open source software risks in government. The proposed Bill,...

Google's Nest Cam with battery is a home security camera by Google that offers an innovative portable outdoor/indoor security solution with advanced features at an entry-level price of $179.99 Now, with a product bundle from smart home accessories brand Wasserstein, the Nest Cam can be paired with a new 3.5-Watt Premium Solar Panel priced at $79.99...

Data privacy laws are becoming a major focus globally as businesses scamper to meet new compliance obligations Privacy regulations generally bind any business or organization to store securely all data they collect or process. What they do with that data is strictly regulated....

Business executives often believe a necessary CRM tool is working for them when in reality it does just the opposite. Take the case of what brands hope to achieve with customer data and what they actually can do This stark disconnect underpins the need for technology that improves a company's agility, scalability, and ability to generate meaningful...

Businesses should be increasing their market spend as a key strategy to weather the current economic setbacks. Not doing so will likely lose customers to competitors who boosted theirs, according to a study by commercial mix analytics firm Analytic Partners. Online visibility platform Semrush suggests similar findings. We spoke with both firms for advice on budgeting for marketing in a recession...

As the open-source model continues to prove its sustainability in the enterprise, the software community is ramping up its security mindedness. That concern was evident in recent weeks as leading Linux groups led the way for better code security Google announced a new initiative to zero in on software vulnerabilities. Already a generous provider of...

Other than malware and hacking, nothing has the potential to be more dangerous to your Windows 10 or Windows 11 computer's health than electrical failure Power outages resulting from weather or a variety of other events can occur in a flash and leave you with lost data....

Vulnerability management is a major cybersecurity strategy that many organizations never seem to successfully solve The threat landscape is evolving, fueled by digital transformation, remote work, and ecosystem complexity. About a third of the recent attacks are based on the exploitation of vulnerabilities in software that companies use....

Advances in technology are spreading through law enforcement centers nationwide to help police departments better solve crimes and protect public safety. In this regard, law enforcement agencies are defined by some of the same gadgetry that is revolutionizing big business Technological advancement is driving reforms in neighborhood policing strateg...

Is your favorite Linux desktop Cinnamon, MATE, or Xfce? Or you are hankering for a change to something different and potentially better? Then one of your best options is the upgrade to Linux Mint 21 "Vanessa" released on July 30. It comes in a choice of Ubuntu- or Debian-base flavors....

Retailers are stuck with a growing pile of unsold inventory as shoppers reprioritize their buying needs amid relentless inflation. Coupled with ongoing supply chain bottlenecks, this surplus merchandise stacked high in warehouses and back rooms is costing retailers more money to store Adding to this storage backlog -- and causing additional headach...

Do you use a big screen monitor with a desktop computer or a laptop as your sole daily driver? Either way, adding a second display will more than double convenience and productivity Intehill's P15NF 15.6" QLED portable monitor can boost your work and play performance. This plug and play, no configuration required portable panel is an ideal FreeSync...

Cloud-native microservices platform Lightbend wants open-source licensing to better meet developers' needs and is doing something to make that happen. However, the replacement fix is not a traditional open-source license. Rather, it transitions there in time The company, whose user base includes some of the world's largest brands, on Wednesday anno...

As consumers continue to explore virtual shopping in the metaverse, two companies forge the path for shoppers with platforms that make e-commerce more inviting by bringing 3D virtual showrooms and virtual try-on rooms to reality Emperia, a company that creates virtual shopping experiences for brands, has seen an increase in engagement using virtual...