While offering a few key upgrades, the iPhone 7 exterior design remains relatively unchanged. According to Ian Fogg, head of mobile analysis, IHS Technology, this is a risk, given that the iPhone is the main driver of growth for the company — directly affecting the up-sell of its other devices. “iPhone models with big exterior design change trigger a larger jump in shipments, while incremental ‘S’ designs have seen lower year-on-year growth rates,” said Fogg. Only time will tell if Apple’s significant upgrades in camera and battery technology will offset the lack of other major changes.

In this slideshow, we’ve highlighted new features debuting on the iPhone 7, Watch Series 2 and AirPods. Preorders for the iPhone 7 (retailing for $649) and 7 Plus (retailing for $769) will begin September 9^th, with availability beginning September 16^th.

The Latest Apple Debut

Click through for more on upgrades to the iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, Watch Series 2 and AirPods.

iPhone 7 – Camera

The biggest upgrade with this release of the iPhone is seen in the camera technology. While the iPhone 7 and iPhone Plus both include a 12MP wide-angle camera, the iPhone 7 Plus will also include a 12MP telephoto camera. According to Apple, the ISP technology will allow you to capture sharp close-up photos and videos with optical zoom at 2x and improved digital zoom at up to 10x for photos and 6x for video. In the near future, Apple will also be releasing the depth-of-field effect for iPhone 7 Plus that will allow you to keep faces sharp while creating a blurred effect in the background. Both phones also come with a 7MP front-facing camera and optical image stabilization to reduce blur associated with motion and handshake.

iPhone 7 – iOS and Processing

iPhone and iPhone 7 Plus come with iOS 10, which includes an update on Messages that delivers more expressive and animated ways to message friends and family, the ability for Siri to do more, new ways to interact with apps and more places to use 3D Touch.

The new smartphone uses an A10 Fusion chip that is said to be 2x faster than the iPhone 6. The new chip is also expected to provide up to two more hours of battery life on the iPhone 7 and up to one more hour on the iPhone 7 Plus than the previous generation. Both phones will be available in 32GB, 128GB and 256GB models, with the new jet black finish available only in 128GB or 256GB models.

iPhone 7 – Finishes and Water Resistance

The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will now come in five finishes – jet black, matte black, gold, silver and rose gold. The case of the iPhone 7 has been reengineered to provide splash and water resistance – the phone is not waterproof.

iPhone 7 – Retina HD Display

With a new wide color gamut, the Retina HD display is able to deliver cinema-standard colors. According to Apple, more shades of the color spectrum can be used to create an image, meaning that what you see on the screen is a truer representation of the world. The new Retina HD display has also been deeply integrated with 3D Touch throughout the iOS.

The iPhone 7 comes with a screen that measures 4.7″ and supports a 1334×750 resolution. The iPhone 7 Plus comes with a larger screen size of 5.5″ and supports a 1920×1080 resolution.

iPhone 7 – Now in Stereo

The iPhone 7 will now come with stereo speakers, delivering twice the audio output of the iPhone 6. The smartphone comes with EarPods that have a Lightning connector. If you want to listen with wired headphones you already own, the device will ship with a headphone jack adaptor, as the headphone jack has been removed.

AirPods

If you’re not prone to losing small items, you might want to check out the new AirPods, a wireless set of headphones that will be available in late October. According to Apple, after a simple one-tap setup, AirPods are automatically on and always connected. The AirPods are also compatible with Apple Watch, iPad and Mac. With a double-tap to either AirPod, you’re also able connect directly to Siri without taking your iPhone out of your pocket – allowing you to make calls, play music, adjust the volume, etc.

The AirPods provide up to five hours of battery life on a single charge and the case provides additional charges for more than 24 hours of listening time.

Watch Series 2

Apple Watch Series 2 is packed with fitness and health capabilities including a water resistance 50 meter rating for swimming and built-in GPS so users can now run without an iPhone. Apple Watch Series 2 also features a brighter display and a dual-core processor. Combined with the performance enhancements of watchOS 3, Apple Watch Series 2 makes it easier to access third-party apps, receive and respond to notifications and conveniently use Apple Pay. Apple Watch Series 2 will be available in more than 25 countries beginning Friday, September 16 and will retail for $159. 

The post Apple Debuts iPhone 7 and Watch Series 2 appeared first on IT Business Edge.

“We’re in the midst of a critical transition period, as more IoT products offer the anytime/anywhere access and seamless experiences that today’s consumers want and need,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CTA. “This is a pivotal point in consumer technology history, as emerging tech categories – virtual reality, voice-controlled digital assistants, drones – push the entire industry forward. And the value of these innovations goes far beyond entertainment – today’s technology is changing our lives for the better.”

According to CTA’s industry report, “U.S. Consumer Technology Sales and Forecasts,” while the five largest tech categories (smartphones, tablets, LCD televisions, laptops and desktop computers) will account for about half of the tech industry’s revenue this year, the story will change in 2017. Next year, CTA predicts that emerging tech will account for more than half of all consumer tech revenue.

IoT Fueling Industry Revenue Growth

Click through for more on how emerging technology fueled by IoT connectivity will change over the coming months, as identified by Computer Technology Associates (CTA).

Emerging Tech: 4K UHD Ecosystem

2016 will be a flagship year for 4K Ultra High-Definition (4K UHD) TVs, driven in part by the market introduction of next-generation technologies like HDR. CTA expects shipments of 4K UHD displays will reach 15 million units (a 105 percent increase), and revenue will exceed $12.9 billion (a 69 percent increase). New to the market in 2016, 4K UHD Blu-ray players will further build the 4K UHD ecosystem with 700,000 units sold and $63 million in revenue.

Emerging Tech: Wearables

Driven by the popularity of fitness activity trackers, unit sales of all wearables in 2016 are forecast to reach almost 48 million units (a 39 percent increase). Fitness activity tracker volumes will hit 28 million units in 2016 – a 60 percent increase from 2015 – with revenues reaching $2.2 billion – a 62 percent increase. After a year of strong growth, smartwatch unit growth is slowing, while revenue will decline for the first time. Units are expected to increase 15 percent to 12.2 million units, earning $2.8 billion in revenue, a decline of eight percent.

Emerging Tech: Smart Home

CTA projects the smart home category – including smart thermostats, smart smoke and CO2 detectors, IP/Wi-Fi cameras, smart locks, smart home systems, and smart switches, dimmers and outlets – to reach 9.5 million units sold in 2016 (a 29 percent increase). Revenue will grow to $1.3 billion (a 24 percent jump).

Emerging Tech: Drones

Drone sales are expected to reach record heights, topping 2.4 million units (up 112 percent from 2015) and $799 million in shipment revenues (an 80 percent increase from 2015). CTA’s forecast also delineates expected U.S. drone sales for units below and above 250 grams, the FAA’s threshold for mandatory drone registration, expected to reach 1.6 million units (below 250 grams) and 825,000 units (above 250 grams).

Emerging Tech: Virtual Reality (VR)

With several global tech leaders introducing VR headsets to the consumer market in 2016, CTA expects this to be the tech sector’s overwhelming leader in year-to-year growth. Unit sales will increase by 296 percent over last year, reaching 800,000 units sold. Total revenues are projected to reach $432 million, a 332 percent increase this year.

Emerging Tech: Digital Assistant Devices

This is the first year the semi-annual CTA report has included projections for voice-activated devices that provide a cloud-based artificial intelligence-powered virtual assistant, such as Amazon’s Echo. Sales are projected to reach 2.2 million units (up 32 percent) in 2016 and earn $392 million in revenue (increasing 32 percent).

Emerging Tech: 3D Printing 

Ever-expanding 3D printing capabilities will drive the sector’s unit sales growth to increase 56 percent from last year, to reach 171,000 units sold. Total revenues will reach $148 million, a 35 percent increase.

Maturing Tech: Smartphones

CTA projects unit shipments to reach 183 million in 2016 (up five percent), while revenues will reach $55 billion (a four percent increase). As tremendous innovations in smartphone hardware over the past few years have lengthened the replacement cycle, 2017 will be the first year smartphones see a slight decline in unit sales and revenue.

Maturing Tech: Televisions

The TV market will remain on par with 2015, with unit sales estimated to reach 39.7 million units in 2016 (down one percent) and revenues expected to reach $20 billion (a three percent increase). LCD TVs, the category leader, will contribute 38.8 million units (a one percent decline) and $19.2 billion (two percent growth). Key areas of growth are large screen sizes, 4K UHD and smart TV displays.

Maturing Tech: Tablets

After momentous growth and widespread adoption over the past five years, tablet sales will decline again in 2016. CTA expects sales of 65 million units in 2016, a two percent decrease, and revenues of $19 billion, down five percent.

Maturing Tech: Laptops

Unit shipments of laptops are expected to reach 25 million units in 2016, a six percent decrease. Revenues are expected to reach $15.8 billion, an eight percent drop.

Maturing Tech: Desktops

Amid an accelerated decline, desktops are projected to sell seven million units (13 percent decrease), earning $4.6 billion in revenue (a 15 percent decrease).

The post IoT Adoption, Emerging Tech Driving Industry Revenue Growth appeared first on IT Business Edge.

So what can we expect in the future? In this slideshow, we’ve highlighted some of the innovative new futures that will be included in this year’s Windows 10 Anniversary Update, expected later this year.

What’s Coming to Windows 10?

Click through for some of the new features that will be included in Microsoft Windows 10 Anniversary Update, expected later this year.

Windows Ink

For those who like working with more flexibility and don’t like being tied to a keyboard, Microsoft is introducing Windows Ink. Using a pen or fingertip, users will have the capability to jot down notes using Sticky Notes or edit Office documents. Users will also be able to draw diagrams and watch them turn into the real thing on the computer. And because Windows Ink stays active when your device is locked, you’ll be able to jot down notes even when you don’t have time to enter a password. Windows Ink requires a touch-enabled device and the pen will be sold separately.

Cortana

In the Anniversary Upgrade, Cortana will be accessible even before you log in to your system. Whether you want to make a note, play music or set a reminder, Cortana will have you covered.

Windows Hello

Presently, Windows Hello lets you unlock your PC and devices with facial recognition or a quick touch. The new Windows Hello will also let you unlock your PC simply by tapping your Windows Hello-enabled phone. It will also give you instant access to paired apps and protected websites on Microsoft Edge. Windows Hello requires specialized hardware, including fingerprint reader, illuminated IR sensor or other biometric sensors.

Games

Windows 10 will also deliver DirectX 12 games and Xbox Live features that will enhance your gaming experience. Users will be able to connect and play games over all devices. Additionally, Microsoft Studios is introducing a full range of new games for Windows 10.

The post New Features: Windows 10 Anniversary Update appeared first on IT Business Edge.

But where can you find the best pay? That depends. Due to the variance in the cost of living – such as housing, transportation, food, etc. – the buying power of the same paycheck in Silicon Valley (where the cost of living is 21.3 percent higher than the national average) isn’t going to be equal to a paycheck in Madison, Wis. (where the cost of living is 2.3 percent lower than the national average).

To get an accurate read on the value of software engineer salaries across the country, Glassdoor has identified the 25 Best Paying Cities for Software Engineers by identifying the ‘real adjusted salary” for each city.

‘Real adjusted salary’ is determined by looking at the ratio of each city’s local median software engineer base salary to its official cost of living figures from the federal government. (Note: Government figures compare the average cost of living price level in each city to the national average, which is set at 100.)

25 Best Cities for Software Engineer Salaries

Click through for the 25 best paying cities for software engineers based on the city’s ‘real adjusted salary,’ as identified by Glassdoor.

Seattle, Wash.

Seattle, Wash., boasts a real adjusted salary of $105,735, with a cost of living of 7.1 percent above the national average. Median base salary for the city is $113,242. At the time of posting, there were over 4,000 software engineer job openings.

San Jose, Calif.

San Jose, Calif., boasts a real adjusted salary of $100,989, with a cost of living of 21.3 percent above the national average. Median base salary for the city is $122,500. At the time of posting, there were over 2,000 software engineer job openings.

San Francisco, Calif.

San Francisco, Calif., boasts a real adjusted salary of $99,751, with a cost of living of 20.3 percent above the national average. Median base salary for the city is $120,000. At the time of posting, there were over 2,000 software engineer job openings.

Madison, Wis.

Madison, Wis., boasts a real adjusted salary of $97,236, with a cost of living of 2.3 percent below the national average. Median base salary for the city is $95,000. At the time of posting, there were over 100 software engineer job openings.

Raleigh, N.C.

Raleigh, N.C., boasts a real adjusted salary of $94,142, with a cost of living of 4.4 percent below the national average. Median base salary for the city is $90,000. At the time of posting, there were over 400 software engineer job openings.

Austin, Texas

Austin, Texas, boasts a real adjusted salary of $91,185, with a cost of living of 1.3 percent below the national average. Median base salary for the city is $90,000. At the time of posting, there were over 800 software engineer job openings.

Boston, Mass.

Boston, Mass., boasts a real adjusted salary of $90,171, with a cost of living of 10.9 percent above the national average. Median base salary for the city is $100,000. At the time of posting, there were over 1,900 software engineer job openings.

Sacramento, Calif.

Sacramento, Calif., boasts a real adjusted salary of $89,669, with a cost of living of 2.6 percent above the national average. Median base salary for the city is $92,000. At the time of posting, there were over 100 software engineer job openings.

Portland, Ore.

Portland, Ore., boasts a real adjusted salary of $89,374, with a cost of living of 0.7 percent above the national average. Median base salary for the city is $90,000. At the time of posting, there were over 400 software engineer job openings.

Atlanta, Ga.

Atlanta, Ga., boasts a real adjusted salary of $89,286, with a cost of living of 4.8 percent below the national average. Median base salary for the city is $85,000. At the time of posting, there were over 1,300 software engineer job openings.

Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas

Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, boasts a real adjusted salary of $88,294, with a cost of living of 0.8 percent above the national average. Median base salary for the city is $89,000. At the time of posting, there were over 1,300 software engineer job openings.

Durham-Chapel Hill, N.C.

Durham-Chapel Hill, N.C., boasts a real adjusted salary of $88,143, with a cost of living of 4.7 percent below the national average. Median base salary for the city is $84,000. At the time of posting, there were over 100 software engineer job openings.

Omaha, Neb.

Omaha, Neb., boasts a real adjusted salary of $88,017, with a cost of living of 5.7 percent below the national average. Median base salary for the city is $83,000. At the time of posting, there were over 100 software engineer job openings.

Phoenix, Ariz.

Phoenix, Ariz., boasts a real adjusted salary of $87,997, with a cost of living of 1.4 percent below the national average. Median base salary for the city is $86,765. At the time of posting, there were over 500 software engineer job openings.

Salt Lake City, Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah, boasts a real adjusted salary of $87,262, with a cost of living of 0.3 percent below the national average. Median base salary for the city is $87,000. At the time of posting, there were over 200 software engineer job openings.

Denver, Colo.

Denver, Colo., boasts a real adjusted salary of $85,878, with a cost of living of 4.8 percent above the national average. Median base salary for the city is $90,000. At the time of posting, there were over 800 software engineer job openings.

San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio, Texas, boasts a real adjusted salary of $85,696, with a cost of living of 5.9 percent below the national average. Median base salary for the city is $80,640. At the time of posting, there were over 100 software engineer job openings.

Charlotte, N.C.

Charlotte, N.C., boasts a real adjusted salary of $85,653, with a cost of living of 6.6 percent below the national average. Median base salary for the city is $80,000. At the time of posting, there were over 300 software engineer job openings.

San Diego, Calif.

San Diego, Calif., boasts a real adjusted salary of $85,034, with a cost of living of 17.6 percent above the national average. Median base salary for the city is $100.000. At the time of posting, there were over 600 software engineer job openings.

Pittsburgh, Pa.

Pittsburgh, Pa., boasts a real adjusted salary of $84,926, with a cost of living of 5.8 percent below the national average. Median base salary for the city is $80,000. At the time of posting, there were over 400 software engineer job openings.

Houston, Texas

Houston, Texas, boasts a real adjusted salary of $84,493, with a cost of living of 0.6 percent above the national average. Median base salary for the city is $85,000. At the time of posting, there were over 300 software engineer job openings.

Boulder, Colo.

Boulder, Colo., boasts a real adjusted salary of $84,424, with a cost of living of 9.4 percent below the national average. Median base salary for the city is $92,360. At the time of posting, there were over 150 software engineer job openings.

Palm Bay-Melbourne, Fla.

Palm Bay-Melbourne, Fla., boasts a real adjusted salary of $84,122, with a cost of living of 4.9 percent below the national average. Median base salary for the city is $80,000. At the time of posting, there were over 100 software engineer job openings.

Tucson, Ariz.

Tucson, Ariz., boasts a real adjusted salary of $83,248, with a cost of living of 2.7 percent below the national average. Median base salary for the city is $81,000. At the time of posting, there were over 50 software engineer job openings.

Huntsville, Ala.

Huntsville, Ala., boasts a real adjusted salary of $83,242, with a cost of living of 8.7 percent below the national average. Median base salary for the city is $76,000. At the time of posting, there were over 200 software engineer job openings.

The post Top 25: Which Cities Pay Software Engineers the Best? appeared first on IT Business Edge.

In this slideshow, we’ve featured 10 iOS apps that are excellent for mind-mapping, diagramming, and connecting the dots to your breakthrough idea. Apps are available for download through the iTunes App Store.

Brainstorming Apps for Apple Devices

Click through for 10 iOS brainstorming apps that can help you jot down and fine-tune your ideas.

MindNode

MindNode helps you create a visual representation of your ideas, starting with a central thought and growing from there. With an intuitive, well-organized interface, you’re able to focus on your primary idea and be as creative as you like, generating and connecting thoughts. The infinitely expanding canvas lets you tackle even the biggest projects and ideas.

Requires: iOS 8.0 or later
Compatibility: iPhone, iPad and iPod touch – offers Apple Watch app for iPhone
Cost: $9.99

Grafio 3

With Grafio, you can create diagrams with the tip of your finger. Draw a rectangle, circle or ellipse and watch Grafio recognize and replace it with a perfectly drawn shape for your diagram or schematic. You’re also able to drag and drop objects onto the canvas for more complex designs, add text and add images to complete your idea.

Requires: iOS 8.0 or later
Compatibility: iPhone, iPad and iPod touch
Cost: $7.99 – also offers in-app purchases

OmniGraffle 2

OmniGraffle 2 turns your iPad or iPhone into a canvas to quickly create diagrams, process charts, page layouts, website wireframes or any number of other designs. Using simple multi-touch gestures, users can draw shapes, drag in objects, and style everything until it’s just right. The app also keeps lines connected to shapes when they are moved, giving users plenty of flexibility to get ideas down.

Requires: iOS 9.0 or later
Compatibility: iPhone, iPad and iPod touch
Cost: $49.99 – also offers in-app purchases

Paper by FiftyThree

When inspiration happens, put it on Paper. Paper provides the opportunity to capture and connect your notes, photos and sketches. You can create checklists, spotlight details in photos and sketch diagrams. It’s like a wall of sticky notes for everything that inspires you.

Requires: iOS 8.0 or later
Compatibility: iPhone, iPad and iPod touch
Cost: Free – also offers in-app purchases

Grid

Grid is the place to build and organize your creative ideas, especially with friends and fellow builders. Every Grid is a personal sandbox that can hold ideas, small and large, and gives you the space to let your ideas free. Grid also allows you to invite colleagues to join your creative grid and synchronize your data on any device.

Requires: iOS 8.0 or later
Compatibility: iPhone, iPad and iPod touch
Cost: $1.99

Mindly

Mindly helps you organize your inner universe, give structure to your thoughts, capture ideas, plan a speech and more. You can attach notes, images or icons to any element, creating visual clipboards that can be reorganized to streamline ideas and synchronize with iCloud.

Requires: iOS 8.1 or later
Compatibility: iPhone, iPad and iPod touch
Cost: Free – also offers in-app purchases

Popplet

Popplet is an easy-to-use tool that helps you capture and organization your ideas. With Popplet, you can quickly jot down your ideas and sort them visually. With the latest version, you can have as many Popplet boards as you want.

Requires: iOS 6.1 or later
Compatibility: iPhone, iPad and iPod touch
Cost: $4.99

MagicalPad

MagicalPad is a digital notebook that allows you to visualize and organize your ideas, notes, mind maps, outlines, checklists, etc. It offers full-featured note-taking and authoring tools, advanced mind-mapping tools, and visual task management. You can track and manage your tasks.

Requires: iOS 7.0 or later
Compatibility: iPhone, iPad and iPod touch
Cost: $2.99

Curator

Curator allows users to collect, organize and present ideas anywhere. The app allows you add websites, images and text notes to a visual interface, use drag-and-drop to quickly move content, present straight from the app, as well as share and collaborate on boards.

Requires: iOS 9.0 or later
Compatibility: iPhone, iPad and iPod touch
Cost: Free – also offers in-app purchases

iThoughts

iThoughts is a mind-mapping tool that enables you to visually organize your thoughts, ideas and information. You can import and export ideas to and from popular desktop applications, design multiple layouts and embed documents such as PDF, XLS, DOC, etc. You’re also able to assign tasks and email reports.

Requires: iOS 8.2 or later
Compatibility: iPhone, iPad and iPod touch
Cost: $11.99

The post 10 iOS Brainstorming Apps to Organize Your Ideas appeared first on IT Business Edge.

“The IoT demands an extensive range of new technologies and skills that many organizations have yet to master,” said Nick Jones, vice president and distinguished analyst at Gartner. “A recurring theme in the IoT space is the immaturity of technologies and services and of the vendors providing them. Architecting for this immaturity and managing the risk it creates will be a key challenge for organizations exploiting the IoT. In many technology areas, lack of skills will also pose significant challenges.”

This slideshow features the top 10 IoT technologies Gartner has identified that should be on every organization’s radar for 2017 and 2018.

IoT Technology 2017 and 2018

Click through for the top 10 IoT technologies Gartner has identified as critical to successful IoT navigation over the next two years.

IoT Security

The IoT introduces a wide range of new security risks and challenges to the IoT devices themselves, their platforms and operating systems, their communications, and even the systems to which they’re connected. Security technologies will be required to protect IoT devices and platforms from both information attacks and physical tampering, to encrypt their communications, and to address new challenges such as impersonating “things” or denial-of-sleep attacks that drain batteries. IoT security will be complicated by the fact that many “things” use simple processors and operating systems that may not support sophisticated security approaches.

“Experienced IoT security specialists are scarce, and security solutions are currently fragmented and involve multiple vendors,” said Mr. Jones. “New threats will emerge through 2021 as hackers find new ways to attack IoT devices and protocols, so long-lived ‘things’ may need updatable hardware and software to adapt during their life span.”

IoT Analytics

IoT business models will exploit the information collected by “things” in many ways — for example, to understand customer behavior, to deliver services, to improve products, and to identify and intercept business moments. However, IoT demands new analytic approaches. New analytic tools and algorithms are needed now, but as data volumes increase through 2021, the needs of the IoT may diverge further from traditional analytics.

IoT Device Management

Long-lived nontrivial “things” will require management and monitoring. This includes device monitoring, firmware and software updates, diagnostics, crash analysis and reporting, physical management, and security management. The IoT also brings new problems of scale to the management task. Tools must be capable of managing and monitoring thousands and perhaps even millions of devices.

Low-Power, Short-Range IoT Networks

Selecting a wireless network for an IoT device involves balancing many conflicting requirements, such as range, battery life, bandwidth, density, endpoint cost and operational cost. Low-power, short-range networks will dominate wireless IoT connectivity through 2025, far outnumbering connections using wide-area IoT networks. However, commercial and technical trade-offs mean that many solutions will coexist, with no single dominant winner and clusters emerging around certain technologies, applications and vendor ecosystems.

Low-Power, Wide-Area Networks

Traditional cellular networks don’t deliver a good combination of technical features and operational cost for those IoT applications that need wide-area coverage combined with relatively low bandwidth, good battery life, low hardware and operating cost, and high connection density. The long-term goal of a wide-area IoT network is to deliver data rates from hundreds of bits per second (bps) to tens of kilobits per second (kbps) with nationwide coverage, a battery life of up to 10 years, an endpoint hardware cost of around $5, and support for hundreds of thousands of devices connected to a base station or its equivalent. The first low-power, wide-area networks (LPWANs) were based on proprietary technologies, but in the long term emerging standards such as Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) will likely dominate this space.

IoT Processors

The processors and architectures used by IoT devices define many of their capabilities, such as whether they are capable of strong security and encryption, power consumption, whether they are sophisticated enough to support an operating system, updatable firmware, and embedded device management agents. As with all hardware design, there are complex tradeoffs between features, hardware cost, software cost, software upgradability and so forth. As a result, understanding the implications of processor choices will demand deep technical skills.

IoT Operating Systems

Traditional operating systems (OSs) such as Windows and iOS were not designed for IoT applications. They consume too much power, need fast processors, and in some cases, lack features such as guaranteed real-time response. They also have too large a memory footprint for small devices and may not support the chips that IoT developers use. Consequently, a wide range of IoT-specific operating systems has been developed to suit many different hardware footprints and feature needs.

Event Stream Processing

Some IoT applications will generate extremely high data rates that must be analyzed in real time. Systems creating tens of thousands of events per second are common, and millions of events per second can occur in some telecom and telemetry situations. To address such requirements, distributed stream computing platforms (DSCPs) have emerged. They typically use parallel architectures to process very high-rate data streams to perform tasks such as real-time analytics and pattern identification.

IoT Platforms

IoT platforms bundle many of the infrastructure components of an IoT system into a single product. The services provided by such platforms fall into three main categories: (1) low-level device control and operations such as communications, device monitoring and management, security, and firmware updates; (2) IoT data acquisition, transformation and management; and (3) IoT application development, including event-driven logic, application programming, visualization, analytics and adapters to connect to enterprise systems.

IoT Standards and Ecosystems

Although ecosystems and standards aren’t precisely technologies, most eventually materialize as application programming interfaces (APIs). Standards and their associated APIs will be essential because IoT devices will need to interoperate and communicate, and many IoT business models will rely on sharing data between multiple devices and organizations.

Many IoT ecosystems will emerge, and commercial and technical battles between these ecosystems will dominate areas such as the smart home, the smart city and health care. Organizations creating products may have to develop variants to support multiple standards or ecosystems and be prepared to update products during their life span as the standards evolve and new standards and related APIs emerge.

The post Top 10 Internet of Things Technologies for 2017 and 2018 appeared first on IT Business Edge.

Top 20 Job Benefits and Perks

Click through for 20 companies that raise the bar and go beyond basic job perks, as identified by Glassdoor.com.

Netflix

Netflix offers one year of paid maternity and paternity leave to new parents. They also allow parents to return part-time or full-time and take time off as needed throughout the year.

Overall Benefits Rating: 4.1 out of 5

REI

REI encourages its employees to get outside by offering two paid days off a year, called “Yay Days,” to enjoy their favorite outside activity. The company also provides an employee discount program for REI gear, special grants to meet personal outdoor challenges and tuition reimbursement.

Overall Benefits Rating: 4.0

Salesforce

Salesforce employees receive six days of paid volunteer time off a year, and if they use all six, they receive a $1,000 grant to donate to a charity of their choice. The company also makes nonprofit donations up to $5,000 per year, organizes volunteer trips worldwide, offers an on-site fitness and massage center, provides sit-stand treadmill desks and 24/7 backup care for loved ones.

Overall Benefits Rating: 4.5

Spotify

Spotify provides six months of paid parental leave, plus one month of flexible work options for parents returning to the office. The company also covers costs for egg freezing and fertility assistance.

Overall Benefits Rating: 4.2

World Wildlife Fund

World Wildlife Fund employees take Friday off every other week, also known as “Panda Fridays” at the nonprofit. The company also provides childcare assistance and backup childcare, flexible working options, shuttle service and discounts for a variety of fitness clubs and retailers.

Overall Benefits Rating: 4.5

Airbnb

Airbnb gives its employees an annual stipend of $2,000 to travel and stay in an Airbnb listing anywhere in the world. The company also provides supported paid volunteer time, parental leave, daily meals and snacks, and a wellness program.

Overall Benefits Rating: 4.6

PwC

PwC offers its employees $1,200 per year for student loan debt reimbursement. The company also offers six weeks of paid time off for both mothers and fathers after the birth of a new child or placement of a child through adoption or foster care, up to $5,000 for adoption-related expenses, backup child care and professional development opportunities.

Overall Benefits Rating: 4.0

Pinterest

Pinterest provides a unique take on the parental leave policy by providing four paid months off, plus an additional month of part-time hours, as well as two counseling sessions to create a plan to re-enter the workplace.

Overall Benefits Rating: 4.7

Burton

Burton employees receive season ski passes and “snow days” to hit the slopes after a big snowfall. The company also provides product discounts, discounted lift tickets, free snowboarding lessons, department ride days and flexible Friday summer hours. Dogs are welcome at the office.

Overall Benefits Rating: 4.0

Twilio

Twilio offers employees a Kindle plus $30 a month to purchase books. The company also offers time off when you need it, travel and gym stipends, pre-tax commuter funds and catered meals.

Overall Benefits Rating: 4.0

Twitter

Twitter is well-known for providing perks such as three catered meals a day, but some lesser-known benefits include on-site acupuncture and improv classes.

Overall Benefits Rating: 4.3

Accenture

Accenture covers gender reassignment for their employees as part of their commitment to LGBTQ rights and diversity. The company also offers up to 16 weeks of paid maternity leave, backup child care, online educational resources, and an online wellness and fitness program.

Overall Benefits Rating: 4.0

Walt Disney Company

Walt Disney Company wants its employees to enjoy the “Happiest Place on Earth” as much as its visitors by offering free admission to its parks for employees, plus their friends and family, as well as discounts on hotels and merchandise. The company also provides adoption assistance programs, on-site child care centers, and merchandise discounts at Disney stores.

Overall Benefits Rating: 4.0

Facebook

Facebook provides $4,000 in “Baby Cash” to employees with a newborn. The company also provides life insurance and survivor support, support for family planning including adoption and surrogacy assistance, a wellness allowance to support healthy activities, and commuter support.

Overall Benefits Rating : 4.7

Evernote

Evernote hosts classes through “Evernote Academy,” which offers team-building courses like macaroon baking. The company also offers vacation stipends, catered meals, high tea, and athletic programs.

Epic Systems Corporation

Epic Systems Corporation offers employees a paid four-week sabbatical to pursue their creative talents after five years at the company. If you go to a country you’ve never visited, the company helps cover the flight and hotel expenses for you and a guest.

­Overall Benefits Rating: 4.3

Adobe

Adobe shuts down the entire company for one week in December and one week over the summer. The company also offers a sabbatical program that allows for 4, 5 or 6 additional weeks of paid time off after 5, 10, or 15 years of regular, continuous employment, adoption fee assistance, and backup childcare.

Overall Benefits Rating: 4.6

Asana

Asana employees have access to executive and life coaching services outside of the company. The company also covers 100 percent of insurance premiums, and offers generous parental leave, unlimited vacation time, commuter benefits and Uber credits.

Overall Benefits Rating: 4.9

Zillow

Zillow pays for employees who are traveling to ship their breast milk. The company also provides convertible desks, in-office yoga classes, $5,000 adoption fee assistance, and covers 80 percent of dependent insurance premiums.

Overall Benefits Rating: 4.5

Google

Google provides the surviving spouse or partner of a deceased employee 50 percent of their salary for the next 10 years. The company also provides on-site physicians and nurses for convenient medical care, time off for new parents with some extra spending money to help welcome their new bundle of joy, and tuition reimbursement.

Overall Benefits Rating: 4.6

The post 20 Companies that Raise the Bar on Job Perks appeared first on IT Business Edge.

In this slideshow, we’ve pulled together a variety of the new security products that vendors are debuting at the RSA Conference 2016. From machine-learning threat intelligence to secure key management and incident response portals, organizations are sure to find something that will fit their needs.

New Security Products at RSA Conference 2016

Click through for 17 innovative, new products that are being debuted at RSA Conference 2016.

Acuity Solutions

Acuity Solutions has announced the release of BluVector 2.0, a next-generation machine-learning malware detection and cyber-hunting solution, built upon BluVector’s patented machine-learning capabilities. According to the company, BluVector provides enterprises with faster, more accurate malware detection, allowing security analysts to quickly identify previously undetectable threats to their networks. With BluVector 2.0, enterprises now have the ability to train their BluVector appliance on their environment, through a groundbreaking new artificial intelligence capability.

LSE

With its LSE LinOTP Authentication Provider, LSE is expanding the portfolio of existing authentication provider products for Microsoft Windows and Linux operating systems to OS X®. This token solution enables implementation on a cross-platform and cross-technology basis. The new product improves the login security with a One-Time Password solution (OTP). LSE LinOTP backend supports all existing OTP implementations, such as mobile apps (Google Authenticator, FreeOTP) and tokens (i.e., OATH, Yubikey). The configuration is done via an integrated OS X® Environment native configuration dialogue.

CounterTack

CounterTack is adding robust new remediation capabilities to its malware hunting platform, Active Defense, and further integrating its enterprise security suite of products, with Sentinel.

Sentinel: Continuous monitoring of the operating system

• Enhanced dashboard capabilities and threat visualization.
• Real-time detection, analysis and response demonstrations around advanced attacks, including PowerShell and Ransomware.
• Deep integration with network security platforms like Blue Coat Systems, and enhanced SIEM integration.

Active Defense: The malware hunter

Comprehensive threat and IOC remediation capabilities that include endpoint and threat quarantine and the ability to kill processes contributing to security incident escalation – built for enterprise security teams for more enhanced capabilities to triage known threats.

Responder PRO: Forensic-level reverse engineering and malware analysis

• Additive and more advanced Linux threat data.
• Broader-scope, deeper analysis capabilities for incident responders to view and reverse-engineer threats.

Intercede

Digital identity and credentials expert Intercede has announced new security software designed for deployment alongside Intel’s latest hardware-based identity protection technology, Intel® Authenticate. Intercede software, running on the 6th Gen Intel® Core™ vPro™ processor, works in combination with Intercede’s MyID credentials management solution to replace password-based access control for networks, applications and services with certificate-based, highly secure and convenient hardware-backed protection.

CyberArk

CyberArk has announced new real-time threat detection and containment capabilities to help organizations secure against cyber attacks targeting Microsoft Active Directory infrastructure. The new CyberArk Privileged Threat Analytics v3.0 features targeted analytics and the ability to analyze network traffic to better detect indications of an attack early in the lifecycle, including credential theft, lateral movement and privilege escalation. According to the company, these features enable incident response teams to visualize the threat and shut down in-progress attacks – including Kerberos authentication attacks like “Golden Ticket,” which can lead to a complete network takeover and massive business disruption.

WinMagic

WinMagic, Inc. has introduced security software that encrypts virtual machines running on Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) platforms. Addressing the growing concerns of protecting critical assets stored within virtual environments, SecureDoc CloudVM is an enterprise encryption solution that offers support for Windows-based platforms running in public, private and hybrid cloud environments through application aware intelligent key management.

The application-aware-intelligent-key-management capability embedded within SecureDoc CloudVM offers a single pane of glass view into where and how encryption is being deployed. The solution increases visibility and strengthens data security within virtual environments by controlling the encryption key management system across a vast array of layers including endpoints, file servers, virtual servers, enterprise file sync and share (EFSS) solutions and Internet of Things (IoT) instances.

Tripwire

Tripwire, Inc. has announced a range of new proactive endpoint detection and response (EDR) features in its flagship product, Tripwire® Enterprise. According to the company, the new EDR functionality can discover and assess the security of endpoint assets on an organization’s network, enabling real-time detection, analysis and response to cyber attacks.

Tripwire Enterprise now gives users the power to automate the remediation of unauthorized file or process changes, which can be the first indications of a compromise. The new functionality also makes it possible for users to detect a breach, contain the attack and anticipate where attackers are going to strike next.

Splunk

Splunk has announced major advancements in its security analytics portfolio with new versions of Splunk® User Behavior Analytics 2.2 (UBA) and Splunk Enterprise Security 4.1 (ES). According to the company, the new capabilities of Splunk UBA and Splunk ES provide customers the best union of machine learning, anomaly detection, context-enhanced correlation and rapid investigation capabilities. Security organizations can respond to prioritized true threats, gain additional visibility across the attack lifecycle, and gain better insights into anomalous behavior and malicious activities across their organization. Both Splunk UBA 2.2 and Splunk ES 4.1 will be generally available in April 2016.

Guidance Software

Guidance Software, maker of EnCase®, has announced the availability of Certified Forensic Security Responder (CFSR) training. This highly anticipated certification fills the skills gap with industry-accepted tools and methodologies for users in forensic analysis, or root cause analysis, which supports the incident response cycle.

Knowledgeable security professionals are in high demand with projected openings outpacing the number of available applicants. In 2014, there were 82,900 information security analysts with that number expected to rise to 97,700 by 2024. More than 209,000 cybersecurity-related jobs are currently unfilled. Certifications like CFSR may help new and experienced IT professionals acquire the skills they need to transition into the security industry.

Trend Micro

Business cloud users are estimated to grow from 50 million in 2013 to 695 million by 2022, making data security a top operational concern for organizations transitioning to the cloud. Trend Micro, a global leader in security software, has announced the expansion of its Cloud App Security solution to Box, Dropbox and Google Drive. The comprehensive solution enhances the content security built in to SaaS services to defend against targeted attacks and implement compliance initiatives.

NetLib

NetLib has announced the release of Enterprise Manager for their flagship product NetLib Encryptionizer for SQL Server. An innovative security solution, Enterprise Manager enables organizations of all sizes to manage their encryption needs across the enterprise – no matter where they reside geographically as well as on physical, virtual or cloud environments. The administrator will be able to easily control key management to meet the new PCI compliance standards.

ManageEngine

ManageEngine has launched Key Manager Plus, a comprehensive, web-based, SSH key management solution at RSA Conference 2016. Available immediately, the new product joins ManageEngine’s privileged identity management suite to help administrators take control of SSH keys. According to the company, Key Manager Plus provides visibility into the SSH environment, enabling administrators to pre-empt breaches and compliance issues.

RiskVision

RiskVision, the enterprise risk intelligence company formerly known as Agiliance, has announced RiskVision 8.0, which features a risk data architecture breakthrough in the war against cyber-attacks and other operational risks. According to the company, RiskVision with Active State Risk Intelligence provides always-on assessments, Big Data scale, proactive insights and regulatory-ready results, establishing new benchmarks for risk management effectiveness and efficiency.

Rook Security

Rook Security, a managed security services provider (MSSP) that anticipates, manages, and eliminates threats, has announced War Room™, an enterprise app that provides real-time unified incident and crisis management collaboration in the cloud. Designed out of necessity to raise the bar beyond the highly inefficient and disparate ways enterprises communicate when managing incidents and crisis response, War Room is an action-oriented cloud-service command center that aggregates the pieces of information enterprises need to have a comprehensive view of incident details in one shared space.

Dell

Dell has announced the launch of the Dell SonicWALL Capture Advanced Threat Protection Service, which enhances organizations’ ability to safeguard against today’s shape-shifting cyber threats. Taking a first-to-market, adaptive, multi-engine sandboxing approach, Dell Security is incorporating the VMRay third-generation Analyzer threat detection analysis engine with the Lastline Breach Detection platform and the Dell SonicWALL Sonic Sandbox threat analysis engine, to deliver a three-layer level of defense that organizations need in order to safeguard against today’s unknown threats.

Tenable Network Security

Tenable Network Security, Inc., a global leader transforming security technology for the business needs of tomorrow, has announced a new solution for Unknown and Shadow Assets at RSA Conference 2016. According to the company, through active scanning, intelligent connectors and continuous listening, Tenable’s solution helps organizations discover all assets in their environment, bringing unknown and shadow assets into their security program.

Centripetal Networks

Centripetal Networks is releasing the latest version of RuleGate® Network Protection System (NPS) 2.7, a fully integrated threat intelligence-based defense platform. The platform dynamically updates threat intelligence from more than 40 sources, normalizes the intelligence, and applies it to the network to alert, block or redirect malicious traffic. The platform includes the Advanced Cyber Threat™ (ACT) service, the RuleGate® network appliance and QuickThreat®, Centripetal Networks’ real-time threat intelligence analytics application. The newest features give organizations the ability to prioritize threats based on business enterprise security policies to ensure the most urgent threats are dealt with first.

Three important features include:

• Intelligent Packet Capture – PCAP data focused on the threat and made available directly to the cyber analyst.
• SSL Inline Content Inspection – deployment option provides visibility into encrypted traffic with inline inspection and filtering of SSL-encrypted traffic and no loss of network performance.
• Multi-Dimensional Indicators – multi-dimensional indicators factor in 5-tuple network information in combination with IP, domain or URL indicators to form more precise identification.

The post Hot New Security Products Debuting at RSA Conference 2016 appeared first on IT Business Edge.

Glassdoor has released their list of the top 25 jobs in the U.S. for 2016. From this list, we’ve pulled the top 10 tech jobs and featured them in this slideshow. The 25 best jobs were selected based on each job’s overall Glassdoor Job Score, which was determined using three key factors – earning potential based on median annual base salary, career opportunities rating and the number of job openings. The jobs that made the list stand out across all three categories.

2016’s Hot IT Jobs

Click through for the top 10 tech jobs in the U.S. for 2016, as determined by Glassdoor.

Data Scientist

Data scientists are a hot commodity right now. With structured and unstructured data growing at an exponential rate, organizations are in dire need of individuals who can mine complex data and provide advice based on statistical data.

Job Openings: Over 1,700
Median Base Salary: $116,840
Career Opportunity: 4.1
Job Score: 4.7

Solutions Architect

Looking for a position that combines innovation, creativity and technical know-how? If so, a solutions architect position might be the answer. Solutions architects work with internal and external clients to identify business needs, develop solutions, and then oversee the implementation of those systems.

Job Openings: Over 2,900
Median Base Salary: $108,000
Career Opportunity: 3.5
Job Score: 4.6

Mobile Developer

With the advent of the Apple iPhone, our culture changed. We now have access to everything and everyone nearly 24/7. While some may say we’re over connected, it’s critical for businesses to provide easy points of access for their customers. As such, mobile developers are in high demand.

Job Openings: Over 2,200
Median Base Salary: $90,000
Career Opportunity: 3.8
Job Score: 4.6

Software Engineer

Software engineers play a critical role in an organization’s product development — whether it’s for internal or external clients – including development, consolidation, testing and implementation.

Job Openings: Over 49,000
Median Base Salary: $95,000
Career Opportunity: 3.3
Job Score: 4.5

Analytics Manager

Analytics managers work to structure, manage and extract data from multiple sources. They then apply that statistical knowledge, as well as data modeling, to provide accurate information to answer business questions.

Job Openings: Over 900
Median Base Salary: $105,000
Career Opportunity: 3.7
Job Score: 4.5

Software Development Manager

Software development managers are in charge of designing and developing new software systems, as well as modifying legacy systems with upgrades or to fix errors.

Job Openings: Over 1,900
Median Base Salary: $135,000
Career Opportunity: 3.4
Job Score: 4.4

QA Manager

QA managers are responsible for product testing, including usability, security and compliance. QA managers need to have experience in resource allocation, change management and risk analysis, and have an extensive technical background.

Job Openings: Over 3,700
Median Base Salary: $85,000
Career Opportunity: 3.4
Job Score 4.4

UX Designer

Working with marketing and sales, UX designers conceptualize, design and develop web or program interfaces focused on meeting user needs and ease-of-use. UX projects may be focused on mobile, web or desktop applications.

Job Openings: Over 800
Median Base Salary: $91,800
Career Opportunity: 3.6
Job Score: 4.3

Technical Account Manager

Technical account managers bridge the gap between technical teams and internal or external business customers, focusing on developing solutions that will meet the needs of the client.

Job Openings: Over 1,100
Median Base Salary: $69,548
Career Opportunity: 3.7
Job Score: 4.2

Software Architect

Software architects create customized software solutions for clients, and are often charged with developing standard coding practices.

Job Openings: Over 600
Median Base Salary: $130,000
Career Opportunity: 3.4
Job Score: 4.2

The post 10 Best Tech Jobs in the U.S. in 2016 appeared first on IT Business Edge.

Cool Gadget Gifts

Click through for 25 great gadget gift ideas featuring the latest in connectivity and automation.

Amazon Echo

Amazon Echo is designed around your voice and connects to a cloud-based voice service called Alexa. Connect it to your local Wi-Fi and you can ask it questions to gain all sorts of useful information. With far-field voice recognition, the device is able to pick up your voice from across the room, even while playing music. It can create shopping lists, provide current news, control lights, set timers, update your calendar, and provide traffic updates. You can also ask Alexa to reorder previous purchases from your Amazon Prime account, stream music, and play audiobooks from Audible.

Cost: $179.99

Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+

The Samsung Galaxy S6 edge+ is available from a wide variety of cellular providers including Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T and Sprint. With a 5.7″ Quad HD Super AMOLED 2560×1440-resolution display, you can watch videos and images come to life on your screen. The Galaxy S6 edge+ allows you to keep your top five contacts and apps at your finger tips for quick access by displaying them on the edge screen, which also lights up to discreetly let you know who’s contacting you. Built-in technology allows you to recharge wirelessly.

Cost: Varies by carrier

Lenovo Yoga 900 Laptop

Looking for a 2-in-1 laptop? Check out the Lenovo Yoga 900, which comes equipped with the latest Intel Core i7 processor, Windows 10, and JBL speakers with Dolby DS 1.0 Home Theater certification for an immersive audio experience. The Yoga 900 weighs in at a mere 2.8 lbs and has a 360-degree watchband that lets you bend, flip or fold the device to best suit your apps.

Cost: Starts at $1,199

Samsung Gear S2

With elegant curves and premium finishes, the Samsung Gear S2 will turn heads. The intuitive circular face and bezel let you navigate effortlessly to get to what you need. And with access to important notifications at a glance, you can get more out of every moment of your day. The Gear S2 is compatible with most Android devices and offers wireless charging, a wireless S Health app to monitor your active lifestyle, and access to a wide variety of third-party apps.

Cost: Starts at $249.99

Bose SoundLink

Cut the cord and set your music free with Bose SoundLink on-ear wireless headphones. The sound is powerful and clear; you can switch easily between music and calls with intuitive controls, and it will play for hours with a long-lasting rechargeable battery. The headphones are 40 percent lighter than comparable headphones for a comfortable fit.

iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus

Having begun the multi-touch phenomenon with the first iPhone, Apple takes the next step in innovation by introducing 3D Touch. Along with recognizing familiar gestures, such as swipe, pinch, etc., the iPhone 6s series will also recognize force, enabling new gestures, including peek and pop.

A light press will give you a peek at the content you’re interested in; continue pressing and it pops you directly into the content itself. While peeking, you can flick up for more action options, flick right for common actions like marking an email as read, or flick to the left to delete it. Third-party developers are also taking advantage of 3D Touch by providing actionable options without having to even open the app.

Cost: Varies by carrier

Satechi 5-Port USB Charging Station Dock

Pressed for time and overwhelmed with managing power cords for multiple mobile devices? Check out the Satachi 5-Port USB Charger, which allows users to charge up to five devices at the same time via five 2.4A USB ports. It also comes equipped with a Qualcomm Quick Charge port than can provide 5v/9v/12v of power.

Cost: $44.99

Acer Aspire R14

The Acer Aspire R14 is a 14″ convertible laptop that comes with a 360-degree dual-torque hinge that allows it to open in four positions – laptop, tablet, display and tent. The laptop comes equipped with 802.11ac wireless networking, a Zero Air Gap display, Acer TrueHarmony Plus and Dolby Audio technology, and an anti-smudge treatment that resists oil and grime accumulation on the screen. It also comes loaded with Windows 10 running on Intel Core i processors.

Cost: Starts at $479.99

Apple Watch

With the Apple Watch, you can receive and respond to notifications in an instant, track daily activity, and control music using only your voice. Connect Apple Watch to Apple Pay and you can quickly and conveniently pay for groceries in a snap. There are also 10,000 apps available in the app store.

Cost: Starting at $349

Marble DOCK for Apple Watch

Looking for an elegant charging solution for an Apple Watch? Check out DOCK for Apple Watch Marble Edition. Featuring a brushed metal rotating arm, you can comfortably use and navigate the watch face as you charge.

Cost: $119.99

Nest Learning Thermostat

The Nest Learning Thermostat learns your preferences as you use it and, after a few days, begins to automatically adjust to your schedule. The mobile app also allows you to control the thermostat while away and receive notifications when a problem arises with the temperature in your home. The device lights up when you walk into a room, displaying the time or current temp.

Cost: $249

Microsoft Surface Pro 4 / Surface Book

The new Surface Pro 4 offers the versatility of a laptop and tablet and weighs only 1.73 pounds. It has a 12.3-inch PixelSense display with high contrast and low glare, and can easily switch from laptop to tablet with a multi-position kickstand and keyboard. The device comes with 6^th Gen Intel Core m3, i5 or i7 processors and sports a battery life of up to nine hours.

Cost: Starting at $899

The Surface Book is a high-performance laptop that weighs just 3.34 lbs. It has a 13.5-inch PixelSense display with 3000×2000-resolution, and is calibrated for true-to-life color. The laptop comes with the 6^th Generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processors and up to 16 GB of memory and sports a battery life of up to 12 hours.

Cost: Starting at $1,499

Apple TV

Streaming digital media has become a mainstay in today’s world. Apple TV has taken this idea and run with it, adding apps, games and more. Apple’s Siri has also been integrated into the device, allowing you to tell Siri what you’re looking for and find it faster.

Cost: Starting at $149

Fitbit Surge

The Fitbit Surge amps up functionality by providing built-in GPS tracking that give you pace, distance, routes and elevation climbed, providing continuous heart rate monitoring, and connecting to smartphone features such as call and text notifications. You can control your music, too.

Cost: Starting at $249.95

Samsung Galaxy Tab S2

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 is a portable, lightweight tablet that comes with 32 GB of storage, plus an additional 128 GB with the microSD™ card. It supports Microsoft Office — allowing to you work on documents across multiple devices; has split-screen capability — allowing you to use two apps at once; and offers Quick Connect to quickly connect and sync devices.

Cost: $499

VEYEM Portable Ergonomic Stand

The VEYEM Portable Ergonomic Stand is designed to improve ergonomics, reduce desk clutter and increase productivity. The stand elevates your portable monitor vertically above your laptop, positioning your screen at eye-level.

Cost: $64.99

Apple iPad Pro

The new iPad Pro has the largest screen on any iOS device to date, but weighs only a fraction more than previous iPad devices. The 12.9-inch diagonal Retina display (2732 x 2048 px) is able to support a full-size on-screen keyboard and an image depth of 5.6 million pixels.

The tablet includes the new A9X chip, a third-generation 64-bit chip that provides two times the memory bandwidth of A8X and two times faster storage performance. It has an average battery life of about 10 hours, but comes with a new variable refresh rate to help save battery life. The refresh rate will respond to on-screen action, slowing to save energy when things aren’t moving so quickly.

Cost: Starting at $799

Huawei Watch

The Huawei Watch was inspired by the classic designs of luxury watches but has the cutting-edge technology of a smart watch. Powered by Android Wear, the watch features iOS and Android compatibility, built-in Wi-Fi and Google Now voice commands. More than 4,000 apps are available from the Google Play Store. The watch also includes built-in health and fitness-tracking capabilities.

Cost: Starting at $299

GoPro HERO4 Session

HERO4 Session packs the power of GoPro into a small, lightweight camera featuring a rugged, waterproof design, easy one-button control, 1080p60 video and 8 MP photos. The camera maximizes battery life by automatically powering off when not recording.

Cost: $199

Stamina InMotion Compact Strider

The elliptical motion of the Stamina InMotion Compact Strider gives you a low-impact, calorie-burning, cardiovascular workout in a small footprint. Whether you are pressed for time, space, or both, the InMotion Compact Strider is your fitness solution. Since you can use it sitting or standing, it is the perfect fit for the home or office to tone your calves, thighs, and glutes while getting your heart pumping.

Cost: $159

LG Watch Urbane

It may look like a traditional timepiece, but the LG Watch Urbane is really a smart watch packed with technology like Android Wear that lets you send texts, check scores and get turn-by-turn directions simply by saying “OK Google.” You can also get alerts, track and record your heart rate and steps, and even synch to your favorite music. Add a pair of Bluetooth-ready headphones, and you’re working out phone-free. The LG Watch Urbane is compatible with Android 4.3 or higher and iOS 8.2 or later.

Cost: $349

Double Robotics Telepresence Robot for iPad Tablet

Having your own Double in the office means you can be free to roam around anywhere without having to schedule a meeting. Place an iPad tablet in this mobile robotic base and control it via a remote iOS device or computer (Chrome browser preferred) from anywhere in the world. This device takes telecommuting to a whole new level by allowing you to have a physical presence in the office and speak to co-workers at anytime. Go to meetings and video chat remotely.

Cost: $2,499.99

Jawbone UP2

The Jawbone UP2 makes fitness fashionable. This device keeps track of activities, sleep patterns, food consumption and more. The Smart Couch app encourages you to make informed healthy choices and helps you celebrate along the way.

Cost: $99

Brookstone Pocket Projector Micro

The Brookstone Pocket Projector Micro projects images up to 50″ diagonal on just about any flat surface. The built-in speaker fills the room with sound without the need for a separate speaker. Plus, the 15-lumen LED lamp is perfect for watching movies or playing games in a semi-dark room.

Cost: $229.99

The post Best Tech Gadget Gifts for Directors & Gadget Lovers appeared first on IT Business Edge.