Today in Tech

Intel recently announced plans to invest $20 billion into a massive new semiconductor fabrication plant in Ohio. This announcement comes as Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said the U.S. urgently needs to increase domestic chip manufacturing capacity. A recent Commerce Department survey revealed that the ongoing chip shortage was in dire straits late last year, with some manufacturers reporting they had less than five days’ supply of chips. While the new Intel plant, predicted to open in 2025, won’t alleviate the ongoing chip shortage, current supply chain issues highlight the need for increased investment in semiconductor manufacturing. Mario Morales, group vice president of IDC's enabling technologies, semiconductor, storage, and DataSphere research, joins Juliet to discuss the significance of Intel’s plan and provide an update on the chip shortage.

Earlier this week, Microsoft announced plans to buy video game giant Activison Blizzard for $68.7 billion. Microsoft branded the deal as a metaverse play, but some industry analysts see it as Microsoft capitalizing on Activision’s weakened position. Computerworld executive editor Ken Mingis and senior reporter Lucas Mearian join Juliet to break down Microsoft’s planned acquisition, including how it relates to the metaverse and what it means for the tech industry. #Microsoft #Activision #news  Article: https://www.computerworld.com/article/3647294/microsoft-to-buy-video-game-maker-activision-blizzard-for-687b.html

This week, Apple said it paid developers $60 billion in 2021. That suggests that, last year, the App Store raked in more money than ever. Still, 2021 was not all roses for the App Store. In September, Apple’s lawsuit against Epic Games over in-app purchasing ended. While the judge ruled in favor of Apple most of the time, the judge decided that the company engaged in anti-steering practices. Apple continues to face pressure abroad to allow outside payment methods for the App Store. So, where does the Apple go from here, and what changes might it be forced to make? Computerworld executive editor Ken Mingis and Macworld executive editor Michael Simon join Juliet to discuss what’s next for the App Store. 

When the transition to Apple silicon was announced, Apple said the shift would last two years. Now, Mark Gurman, author of the Power On newsletter, suggests the transition could wrap up by WWDC in June. That means users would see an Apple silicon-powered Mac Pro (as well as the higher-end Mac mini and 27-inch iMac) in the coming months. And while Apple continues to distances itself from Intel, the latter chipmaker claims that its new Core i9 processor is faster than the M1 Max. Macworld executive editor Michael Simon and Computerworld executive editor Ken Mingis join Juliet to discuss Intel’s new processors, what an Apple silicon Mac Pro will look like and what other devices will receive new chips this year. Plus, they’ll discuss what Apple’s brief $3 trillion valuation means for the company.

Recently, U.S. Cyber Command confirmed it has acted against ransomware groups, underscoring the importance of cybersecurity to national security. Effective risk management frameworks, such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, can help organizations assess risk and mitigate or protect against ransomware attacks or other cyber incidents. Cynthia Brumfield, analyst, CSO Online contributor and author of the new book, "Cybersecurity Risk Management: Mastering the Fundamentals Using the NIST Cybersecurity Framework", joins Juliet to discuss what the NIST framework is and how IT teams can apply its advice to best protect their organizations.

Apple leveled up its Mac game in 2021 by adding its M1 chips to new devices and introducing the M1 Pro and Max chips to its users. In 2022, even more Macs, like the Mac Pro, may get the Apple silicon treatment and receive the next generation of M-series chips (perhaps an M2?). Users can also likely expect a lower-cost, 5G-powered iPhone SE, a new Apple Watch, the iPhone 14 and maybe even some AR glasses. Computerworld executive editor Ken Mingis and Macworld executive editor Michael Simon join Juliet to discuss what business users and consumers alike can expect from Apple in 2022 and if the company can maintain its 2021 momentum in the new year.

As employees return to the office, IT can apply lessons learned from supporting remote workers to transform their networks. Cloud architectures such as SD-WAN and SASE could continue to be useful. Network as a Service, or NaaS, is still in its early stages but could offer cloudlike agility when it comes to buying network equipment. But, as the chip shortage and broader supply chain issues continue to plague the tech industry, IT must be prepared to prioritize and compromise network projects. Brandon Butler, a research manager at IDC covering enterprise networking, joins Juliet to discuss what enterprise networking trends he predicts to see in 2022. Follow everyone on Twitter-- Juliet: https://twitter.com/julietbeauchamp Brandon: https://twitter.com/BButlerIDC

Last week, Apple filed a lawsuit against NSO Group, the technology firm behind the Pegasus spyware. In its lawsuit, Apple seeks to hold NSO Group accountable for alleged surveillance of select iPhone users, as well as ban the firm from using any Apple products. While digital rights activists commend Apple for standing up for privacy rights, they say they want to ensure that the precedent set by the case applies only to bad actors and not organizations in support of user privacy. Computerworld executive editor Ken Mingis and senior reporter Lucas Mearian join Juliet to discuss what the lawsuit means for Apple, those affected by the spyware and digital rights overall. #Pegasus #Apple

The ongoing chip shortage and supply chain disruption continue to disrupt tech buyers, and the holiday season will likely further complicate the issue. Tech buyers should expect stock shortages and longer delivery timelines. While some retailers, like Apple, are beginning to catch up with hardware demand, customers are waiting longer for their devices than in previous years. Even though it might take awhile to receive your device, there's still some good news: if it breaks, you'll be permitted to fix it yourself. Apple will roll out its Self Service Repair program in 2022, allowing iPhone 12 and 13 users to purchase replacement parts and repair manuals and fix their devices themselves. Macworld executive editor Michael Simon and Computerworld executive editor Ken Mingis join Juliet to discuss what tech buyers need to know ahead of the holiday shopping season, including predicted deals, availability and delivery problems. They also explain what they know about Apple's new Right to Repair program and how it could change the repair process.

By rolling out some Android 12 features exclusively to Pixel users, Google gave itself an opportunity to further differentiate its own devices from the rest of the Android pack. New updates, like the Material You interface, give Pixel owners the chance to redesign the look and feel of their phones. Plus, Android 12 and the newly launched Pixel 6 both purport to have privacy-centric changes. So, how does the Pixel Android 12 experience compare to the experience of Galaxy user? Computerworld managing editor Val Potter and contributing editor JR Raphael join Juliet to discuss new Android 12 features, including how it performs on the new Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro versus other Android devices.