The Insider News

Ars Technica[^]:

Windows RT distinguishes itself from Windows 8 in two main ways. First, it runs on ARM processors rather than x86 ones. Second, it bars the installation of third-party desktop applications. The built-in Windows applications like Notepad work, and of course, the bundled Office 2013 apps run on the desktop, but any attempt to run third-party applications is greeted with an error message. After a little under two-and-a-half months on the market, the first cracks have started to appear in Microsoft's lockdown. A developer going by the name of clrokr has published a way of defeating this limitation, enabling arbitrary desktop applications to be run on Windows RT.

Wikibon[^]:

Fair price comparisons are a valued treasure among customers attempting to identify the lowest cost scenario for a particular product or service. However, in many cases, price is but one factor that CIOs use in making strategic technology decisions. Obviously, if a lower cost product is incapable of meeting business goals, that product will not garner much consideration in an assessment. But, when the lower cost product provides what might be an adequate solution, perhaps the lower cost will win the day.... It is these two key metrics – overall cost and feature set – that continue to drive the war of words between Microsoft Hyper-V and VMware vSphere.

Simply Ahmazing, Our World is[^]:

In the past year and half I've been learning Java (for Android), Python and JavaScript (& HTML/CSS) (for web development) and I've come to realize that the best way to learn programming from a book or tutorial is to read it 3 times! Yes, read it 3 times!! Reading new content this way has helped understand new languages/concepts well. I'm confident it can help you, a beginner to programming or a certain programming language, maximally absorb knowledge from whatever it is you're reading.

AllThingsD[^]:

Cars are getting smarter and more connected, but there still seems to be a small variety of app icons sitting on the dash — usually Pandora radio, in-car navigation and not much more. But 2013 looks to be the year automakers move beyond a few pre-approved partnership-driven test apps and into the great unknown.

Redmondmag.com[^]:

Following the surprising immediate departure of Windows President Steven Sinofsky late last year, many are asking who will be CEO Steve Ballmer's successor. The talk persists despite the fact that Ballmer told The Wall Street Journal late last year he had no intentions of vacating the CEO chair any time soon; he said he plans to stick around until the board thinks he can't handle the job.... Who's potentially positioned to lead the new, devices- and services-centric Microsoft? Here are a few of the names I've heard bandied about.

Aral Balkan[^]:

A person who calls for greater diversity is not necessarily advocating the implementation of a quota system — that’s a straw man fallacy. Similarly, having a diverse roster of speakers at a conference does not imply that those speakers were not chosen on merit. Diversity and a merit‐based selection process are not mutually exclusive. To state the contrary is a false dichotomy. And before assuming that a conference probably couldn’t find enough women because not enough women applied (blaming the victim), first find out whether or not the selection process actually included an open call for talks.

Leah Hanson[^]:

Haiku is a really sweet OS, and seems really stable for alpha stage software. It seems to have the essential software for my needs, and it runs fast even on the eee. Besides, Linux is just too mainstream.

Medium[^]:

We increasingly live in a computer-embroidered reality, and the ability to manipulate that reality is empowering. If we can find a way to bring that ability to a wide audience, it could have an impact comparable to the invention of the printing press. This is end-user computing. “End user” means everyone: people like you, me, your friends and family. We all use computers in our daily lives to accomplish both work and personal goals. When those end users can write and run their own programs, they will have fully harnessed the power of computing.