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The Reboot: Top Five Things You Must Do in GTA IV

Rio Pesino — Fri, 16 May 2008 07:01:06 +0000

Grand Theft Auto IV has been out for a few weeks now, and most hardcore gamers have probably finished the story mode. So what else is there to do in Liberty City? Plenty. In this episode of The Reboot, host Rio Pesino gives you his top-five list of the things you must do in GTA IV, beside than story mode.

Tags: Grand Theft Auto IV, Liberty City, The Reboot, Rio Pesino, GTA IV

The Deal - Gary W. Parr on Sovereign Wealth Funds

Jason Lopez — Fri, 16 May 2008 03:01:45 +0000

“None of us smart enough to call the bottom in financials or any other industry,” says Gary W. Parr, vice chairman at independent investment bank Lazard. Noting the value to investors of structuring deals for a few years of protection before converting to common, Parr says he’s seen funds change their practices to keep up with the times.

“It tells you something about the sophistication of the funds changing very quickly - in a matter of months, from buying common to buying structured securities — and secondly it tells you something about time horizon — they don’t have to worry about performance quarter to quarter.”

Parr was on-hand to give a keynote talk entitled, “The rise of sovereign wealth funds,” and Parr took time for this podcast to speak with Jason Lopez about foreign investment in the U.S. and around the globe. (Parr points out that the largest investments by sovereign wealth funds are being made in Europe, not the U.S., although the sovereigns are, for some, cause for concern.)

The Deal’s Private Capital Symposium brought together private equity professionals, angel investors, buyout and venture investors, corporate acquisition professionals, M&A advisors and professional services providers. The event took place in New York’s Essex House, on May 14, 2008.

Tags: Gary W. Parr, The Deal, Private Capital Symposium

The Deal - Opportunities in a Sluggish Market

Jason Lopez — Fri, 16 May 2008 00:00:59 +0000

When times get tough, investors need to answer a few key questions: which industries are most attractive for investment? What deal structures are investors choosing? Where are sellers’ expectations?

In this podcast, although there was some consensus around the prediction that deal flow in the U.S. will drop below the impressive levels it has achieved in recent years, the expert voices of a panel discussion tackling “Opportunities and priorities in a sluggish economy” hold true to their panel title, expressing optimism at the opportunities that present in a down market.

From manufacturing to distribution and even food processing, all kinds of industries are facing tough decisions about how to continue in the current economic climate. That means opportunities for investors, and that’s just in the U.S. Abroad, particularly in Asia, there’s still a healthier climate for deals. About deals in Asia, Peter Berger, managing director at SAC Private Capital, says, “That’s where the dealflow is”

So, what’s going to happen? If we’re in the “eye of the storm,” as CCMP Capital Managing Director Jonathan Lynch says, then “it’s going to get worse.” But with an “inexhaustible supply of bad management,” even the so-called good times keep turnaround investors like Raquel Palmer at KPS Capital Partners busy. These days, with more shakeouts, they’re even busier than usual.

In addition to Berger, Lynch and Palmer, panelists included Steven Besen, partner at Shearman & Sterling; Timothy O’Hara, managing director and head of global credit business at Credit Suisse; and Hamilton “Tony” James, president and chief operating officer with The Blackstone Group.

Tags: Peter Berger, Jonathan Lynch, Raquel Palmer, Steven Besen, Timothy O’Hara, Hamilton “Tony” James, The Deal, Private Capital Symposium

The Deal - Deals in the Middle Market

Jason Lopez — Thu, 15 May 2008 23:15:13 +0000

Whether you call it a credit crunch or a credit squeeze, there’s evidence to be found that the chilled climate for deals has spread from the realm of the mega-deal into the middle market. To discuss the new economic realities in deal-making, The Deal convened a panel, “Deals in the Middle Market: How do they differ in this climate?” at the recent Private Capital Symposium, held in New York City.

For this podcast, panelists Steven Rattner, managing director, DLJ Merchant Banking Partners, and James Epstein, partner, Pepper Hamilton, spoke with PodTech’s Jason Lopez.

Tags: middle market, The Deal, Steven Rattner, James Epstein, Jason Lopez, The Deal, Private Capital Symposium

CIO Digest Preview: Define Retentive: Email Document Policy Management

editor — Thu, 15 May 2008 22:39:43 +0000

In this podcast, writer Alan Drummer provides an overview of a CIO Digest article titled Define Retentive. Drummer expands on ways organizations can streamline their email and document management policies. For more information, visit www.symantec.com/ciodigest.

Tags: CIO Digest, IT, Symantec, Alan Drummer, Define Retentive

Robert Taylor, formerly of Fulton County, GA

editor — Thu, 15 May 2008 21:36:01 +0000

Robert Taylor, CEO of KennTechnologies, Inc. and former CIO at Fulton County, Georgia, spoke with Patrick E. Spencer, Symantec’s director of publishing and customer marketing programs and editor in chief of CIO Digest, about the unique IT challenges local government CIOs face today, ranging from email and document archiving and e-discovery, to endpoint security, to storage management. Under Robert’s direction, the IT department at Fulton County, Georgia received numerous accolades and awards for its technology thought leadership. The role and importance of technology was accentuated in the story surrounding Andrew Speaker, the TB patient who flew to France for his wedding and returned to the U.S. through Canada. For more on Robert and how the technologies his team implemented helped in uncovering email and voice mail related to Andrew Speaker and his interaction with Fulton County, check out the InfoWorld article .

For more Executive Spotlight Podcasts from Symantec, visit http://go.symantec.com/esp.

Tags: CIO Digest, IT, Symantec, Robert Taylor, Fulton County, Patrick E. Spencer, KennTechnologies, Andrew Speaker

David S. Finn, VP and CIO, Texas Children’s Hospital

editor — Thu, 15 May 2008 20:34:36 +0000

David S. Finn, VP and CIO at Texas Children’s Hospital, whose background is in theatre, describes the “production” aspects of IT and the nuances of pediatric IT to Patrick E. Spencer, Symantec’s director of publishing and customer marketing programs as well as editor in chief of CIO Digest. Under his leadership, the 230-member IT and 60-member biomedical services organizations at Texas Children’s Hospital play a critical role in helping to deliver some of the best pediatric care in the world. For more on David and Texas Children’s Hospital, check out the April issue of CIO Digest.

For more Executive Spotlight Podcasts from Symantec, visit http://go.symantec.com/esp.

Tags: David S. Finn, CIO Digest, Texas Children’s Hospital, IT, Symantec

Myrna Soto, VP of Governance and CISO, MGM MIRAGE (Part Two)

editor — Thu, 15 May 2008 19:28:40 +0000

Patrick E. Spencer, Symantec’s editor in chief of CIO Digest, sat down with Myrna Soto, VP of Governance and CISO at MGM MIRAGE, to discuss how she leverages a mixture of industrial psychology, Six Sigma, an MBA, and best practices from the Project Management Institute to map a successful path from strategy to executive for an organization with more than 67,000 employees, millions of annual guests, and 17 properties. For more on Myrna and the IT strategies she is leveraging at MGM MIRAGE, check out the April issue of CIO Digest.

Listen to Part One of the Executive Spotlight Podcast with Myrna.

Tags: Patrick E. Spencer, Symantec, CIO Digest, Myrna Soto, MGM MIRAGE

Xbox 360 Spring Showcase ‘08: Interview with Microsoft’s Shane Kim

Rio Pesino — Thu, 15 May 2008 18:49:59 +0000

The Xbox Spring Showcase wasn’t all about the latest titles. Microsoft Game Studio head Shane Kim spoke with The Reboot’s Rio Pesino and several other members of the media about a number of topics, including the Xbox Newton controller rumors, Blu-Ray, digital distribution and the evolution of Xbox Live.

Tags: Xbox, Microsoft Game Studio, Shane Kim, The Reboot, Rio Pesino, Blu-Ray

Myrna Soto, VP of Governance and CISO, MGM MIRAGE (Part One)

editor — Thu, 15 May 2008 18:28:17 +0000

Listen to Part Two of the Executive Spotlight Podcast with Myrna.

Tags: CIO Digest, IT, Symantec, Patrick E. Spencer, Myrna Soto, MGM MIRAGE, Six Sigma

Fueling the Desktop Revolution with VMware Virtual Desktop Infrastructure

editor — Wed, 14 May 2008 18:44:30 +0000

Enterprise computing has come a long way from the days of centralized mainframes in the 1970’s to the fully distributed desktops and laptops we see today. With the workplace becoming more technologically diverse and increasingly mobile, desktop IT workload grows exponentially with each new user and configuration. Is there a solution that can give IT centralized control while still providing end users with a familiar interface? Yes there is - VMware Virtual Desktop Infrastructure allows you to centrally deliver virtual desktops from your secure datacenter to your end users. Virtual desktops look and behave like traditional PCs. Therefore, users can still customize their desktops, download additional applications without adding to the IT support queue. VMware virtualization helps you take back control of the desktop.

This podcast features VMware Desktop Specialist Todd Dayton in an interview that dives into the architecture behind VMware Virtual Desktop Infrastructure, applicable use cases and tips on how to get started.

The Server Virtualization Blog has a great and concise explanation of the VM value proposition in a recent post by Bridget Botelho, including links to case studies.

Tags: enterprise computing, mobility, IT, VMware, virtualization, Virtual Desktop, data center

California State Parks Explore the World of IP

Michael Johnson — Tue, 13 May 2008 22:47:33 +0000

The California Department of Parks and Recreation is harnessing the power of IP to converge networks, increase capacity and support new capabilities. Alan Friedman, department CIO, discusses the migration from frame relay to managed MPLS and highlights how the new Verizon Business network is enabling new school outreach programs and transforming department operations, all while keeping an eye to the environment.

Tags: IP, Alan Friedman, CIO, frame relay, MPLS, Verizon Business, Multiprotocol Label Switching

Exploiting end-user trends to create value with sticky services - The “Me” network for the “We” experience

Michael Johnson — Tue, 13 May 2008 21:15:03 +0000

The communications industry is experiencing the explosion of the “Me-We” phenomenon! Customers want “Me” services that are personalized, easy to use and focused on their needs. At the same time they want what we call the “We” experience, access to their friends and their social communities, such as MySpace, Facebook and YouTube. So how can Service providers address these new market dynamics and user trends, grow their revenue, create value, and retain customer stickiness? John Giere, Chief Marketing Officer, Alcatel-Lucent explains how the Service Delivery Environment (SDE) is the answer for creating the “Me” network for the “We” experience.

Listen to John Giere address:
* Key findings on user-trends from current market studies and analysis.
* Enterprise applicability of the “Me” network for the “We” experience.
* Opportunities and challenges to creating a “Me/We” network.
* Benefits of embracing an SDE for the “Me/We” experience.

For more information visit:
www.alcatel-lucent.com/servicestransformation

Tags: MySpace, Facebook, YouTube, Service Delivery Environment, SDE, John Giere, Alcatel-Lucent

Fujitsu North America CIO Discusses Working Effectively With Your Service Provider

Michael Johnson — Mon, 12 May 2008 19:00:58 +0000

In this podcast, Jeff Meier, chief information officer for Fujitsu North America, discusses how a broad range of Verizon Business services enable his firm’s U.S.-based business operations. Meier then looks ahead to future initiatives with Verizon Business and offers personal suggestions on how to create and maintain a productive relationship with a communications services provider.

Tags: Jeff Meier, Fujitsu, Verizon Business

Brand Engagement: The Latest Insights From Brian Haven, Forrester Analyst

Jennifer Jones — Mon, 12 May 2008 08:32:33 +0000

Brian Haven, Senior Analyst at Forrester Research talks to Marketing Voices at the Forrester Marketing Forum in Los Angeles about the latest thinking about brand engagement today. Haven tells Jennifer Jones that although social marketing is taking off and many corporations are engaging in conversations with their customers, the science of brand engagement is far from complete. Haven mentions Nike and its use of social marketing as one fine standout example today.

Tags: brand engagement, Brian Haven, forrester marketing forum, Jennifer Jones, Marketing Voices, Nike, social media

The Reboot: Xbox 360 Blu-Ray in the Works?

Rio Pesino — Fri, 09 May 2008 19:01:09 +0000

A new Xbox 360 Blu-Ray rumor is circulating around the Web. Chinese newspaper Economic Daily News claims a subsidiary of computer hardware firm Asus has been chosen by Microsoft to produce internal Blu-Ray players for the Xbox 360. Also in this episode of http://www.rebootshow.com The Reboot with Rio Pesino, the Grand Theft Auto sales war between Sony and Microsoft rages on, fans of the PC version of EA Sports’ Madden series get left out in the cold for the second straight year and a pole dancing game may soon be coming to the Nintendo Wii.

Tags: Xbox 360, Blu-Ray, Asus, Rio Pesino, Grand Theft Auto, Nintendo Wii

Virtual Desktops - The Wave of the Future?

Paul Lancour — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:00:34 +0000

Join BearingPoint Senior Manager Laurent Mandorla as he explores the importance of virtual desktops and why they are being hailed as the wave of the future. Over the last few years, there has been a lot of buzz around virtualization, although it’s only recently that organizations have begun to embrace it. Statistics show that by the year 2011 there will be 700 million users. This is a bold prediction that has many people investing heavily in this solution as a new offering for their clients.

A virtual desktop is one where all computing happens remotely. It contains a very simple screen that allows you to replace the heavy workstations that are currently being used by the majority of companies. Virtual desktops provide a “virtual” space, in which the user can place all their application software. The most compelling argument that vendors use to convince organizations to buy in to this solution is the fact that all the data and applications are in one secure location. Someone can still manage all of their employee’s desktops, even when the computer is off.

The recent trend has been for companies to move to Windows Vista. This allows an organization to keep the same hardware, which is a viable solution to cut costs. So, why are some people hesitant to invest in this? The answer seems to be that virtual desktops are not a “one size fits all” solution - but there are ways for easy implementation, which is where BearingPoint comes in. We assist with the pain points or doubts that an organizations goes through. It is our goal to assist with the development of a strategic roadmap that brings the client all the way through the deployment. We bring our expertise to the table to ensure the transition is smooth and that our clients are on their way to cost-saving success.

Tags: BearingPoint, Laurent Mandorla, virtual desktops, virtualization

Intel ISEF 2008: Atlanta Hosts Global Science Fair

Jason Lopez — Tue, 06 May 2008 23:01:57 +0000

In this video podcast, Dr. Oren Shriki, a science teacher at the Israel Arts and Sciences Academy, speaks about Intel’s International Science and Engineering Fair, taking place in Atlanta, May 11-16. (As excitement builds toward the event’s opening, you can follow along on a dedicated Intel ISEF blog.)

Many of the best young scientists from around the world will attend, selected through regional science fairs for a wide range of skills, from identifying and addressing important scientific challenges or questions to using organized and logical thought to reach conclusions. The participants in Intel ISEF are very likely to be tomorrow’s leaders in technology, medicine and health, agriculture, environmental science and engineering.

During Intel ISEF, their work will be judged by professional scientists who will look for gifted communicators with excellent foundational understanding in specific research and the scientific process.

No matter what the judges decide, however, participants in the annual event will benefit from meeting their peers from around the world, hearing from Nobel laureates and scientists involved in the same kinds of research as theirs, and also creating lasting memories, like those found on the blog of 2004 ISEF alum (and member of a Fourth Award-winning team) Jayson Reggie Obos.

Here’s more information about the science fair as well as a quick look at recent ISEF events, including the 2007 Intel ISEF in Albuquerque, N.M.

Tags: Oren Shriki, Intel, International Science and Engineering Fair, ISEF, science fair, environmental science, Nobel laureate

Mobile Marketing: The Next Opportunity

Jennifer Jones — Sun, 04 May 2008 07:01:01 +0000

Worldwide mobile content revenues are expected to surpass $44 billion by 2011, so it shouldn’t surprise anyone that mobile entertainment and campaigns are growing annually by leaps and bounds, with marketers beginning to investigate mobile opportunities seriously. Marketing Voices spoke with the head of Phluant Mobile, David Breckling, to find out what the trends and challenges are in executing innovative mobile marketing campaigns.

Tags: mobile, mobile entertainment, Marketing Voices, Phluant Mobile, David Breckling

The Reboot: Grand Theft Auto IV Launch Party

Rio Pesino — Sat, 03 May 2008 07:01:04 +0000

Videogame chain Game Crazy held a number of Extreme GTA Experience Parties to celebrate the launch of one of the most anticipated games for 2008, Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto IV. GTA IV has received rave reviews from just about every video game Web site out there, including Gamespot, Gametrailers and IGN. The Reboot’s Rio Pesino was at one of Game Crazy’s GTA IV Launch Parties, where hundreds of gamers waited until midnight to purchase their copy of the game.

Tags: Game Crazy, Grand Theft Auto IV, The Reboot, Rio Pesino, GTA IV

What are the challenges facing the sourcing and procurement organizations today?

Rio Pesino — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 23:47:01 +0000

Join BearingPoint senior manager Bill Stotzer in exploring the challenges facing the sourcing and procurement organizations today. Many financial institutions have identified procurement cost savings and made an attempt at cost reduction. Some have achieved greater success than others. We see two primary factors contributing to the low success rate in cost reduction. First, due to favorable market conditions in the Financial Services sector over the past five years, minimal attention was paid to cost effective Sourcing and Procurement. Second, the financial services industry has also experienced a significant amount of merger & acquisition activity over the last 5 years. Although a fair amount of integration activities have occurred, the combination of these institutions has created another set of challenges.

Sourcing and procurement cost takeout is very easy to understand at the strategic level. One needs to identify where an organization can consolidate spend, use enterprise leverage to negotiate lower unit cost, and then direct the users to purchase from the new enterprise contract. However, in a large global institution, with a fair degree of autonomy in the business units, these tasks can be very difficult to implement. Many companies use leading practices in isolated pockets throughout the enterprise. We look at Sourcing and Procurement across 11 different attributes using an enterprise maturity model to help clients understand their position relative to leading industry practices, determine the maturity level goals of the client and develop a multi-year roadmap to achieve those goals.

For those who want to reduce cost and improved performance, there is some solid advice that we can offer. Sourcing and procurement cost takeout is very easy to understand at the strategic level, but very difficult to implement in a large global institution, with a fair degree of autonomy in the business. BearingPoint informs their clients to focus on four key areas, if they want to achieve their cost takeout goals. The four areas are to develop a case for change, align executive management around the case, create a multi-year roadmap and possibly the most important, make sure the project has a disciplined benefits realization process in place. The users and stakeholders must see the financial benefit of the transformation, because everyone will ask themselves, “Is the pain worth the gain.” Executives need to see the quantitative analysis to say “yes” - the pain is worth the gain.

Tags: BearingPoint, Bill Stotzer

Using Design to Increase Customer’s Experience On The Web

Jennifer Jones — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 07:01:43 +0000

Marketers are looking for a way to make the customer’s online experience better. Kerry Bodine, principal analyst of Forrester gets just how to do that. She explores how user-centered design processes, design-centric corporate cultures, and organizational structure contribute to the creation and sustainability of superior customer experiences. Marketing Voices spoke to Kerry at the Forrester Marketing Forum in early April about her perspective.

Tags: Forrester, forrester marketing forum, Interactive Web Design, Jennifer Jones, Kerry Bodine, Marketing, Marketing Voices, social media

How to Make On-Boarding Easier for Your New Hire

Paul Lancour — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:00:41 +0000

Join BearingPoint senior manager Randy Nease as he explores employee on-boarding and how it can be made easier for the new hire. Employee on-boarding begins when the new hire accepts a company’s offer, and continues all the way through setting their performance goals. In the midst of this, there are the duties of payroll initiation, employee benefit enrollment and providing them with everything they will need to be productive, such as a permanent seat with an equipped computer.

The employee on-boarding process is a great concern for most organizations. The concern being that there is not a single owner of this process, so it is essential to get every responsible party involved. A company needs to ensure that groups such as procurement, real estate for seat assignment, and IT for computer set up are all engaged. In the past, an email was sent company-wide and the manager of the new hire assumed all tactical objectives would be completed. As many companies soon found out, this was hardly ever the case.

BearingPoint has partnered with Oracle to provide a solution to on-boarding that involves a precise architecture that serves as the foundation of your central system. This architecture provides a single point of access and serves as a new hire portal for both the employee and the company. This system serves as a tracker for what needs to be done and what has been completed to ensure a smooth transition for your new hire.

Tags: human resources, BearingPoint, Randy Nease, on-boarding, Oracle

The Reboot: Wii Smashes March Hardware Sales

Rio Pesino — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 07:01:44 +0000

The Nintendo Wii brawled its way to the top of the hardware sales list in March. It was the highest single-month unit sales of any platform outside the holiday timeframe, according to market research firm NPD Group. In this episode of The Reboot, host Rio Pesino breaks down the Wii sales numbers and other gaming news for the week, including Midway’s latest Mortal Kombat game, a delay of another Midway title and Pro Gamers in the Olympics?

Tags: Midway, Mortal Kombat, Nintendo, NPD Group, Olympics, Pro Gamers, Rio Pesino, The Reboot, TNA iMPACT, Wii

The Deal: Private Capital Symposium 2008

Jason Lopez — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 01:00:37 +0000

The private capital markets are in an intriguing position. The economy is sluggish after last year’s sub-prime mess and major buyout firms have not seen a lot of action. That was expected. But the middle markets have only dropped off slightly. In this podcast John Morris, assistant managing editor at The Deal, speaks with PodTech’s Jason Lopez about what makes the middle markets different.

These and other issues are the subject of the upcoming Private Capital Symposium 2008, hosted by The Deal (May 14 in New York City). The one-day conference will cover issues such as where opportunities exist in a struggling economy, how financing has changed, why the middle markets are okay, and what is happening with sovereign wealth funds. Keynote speakers include Tony James of The Blackstone Group and legendary investment-banker Ken Moelis.

Tags: Buyout, John Morris, equity, Ken Moelis, private capital, the deal, Tony James