LearnSmart Training Blog

Intel announced a new, 3D method of chip building. The new process will allow for  computer chips to process information quicker and with less power in less space.  The third dimension was necessary to increase power and speed while reducing the amount of space required. Think about it like a developer in New York City. Land is expensive, so the best way to make efficient use of it would be to build skyward, increasing efficiency while utilizing the same or less space.

Intel says that their new chips will be 37%  faster in low-voltage applications and would cut power consumption by as much as 50%. “The timing of the announcement Wednesday is significant, said Dr. Bohr, because it is evidence that the world’s largest chip maker is not slipping from the pace of doubling the number of transistors that can be etched onto a sliver of silicon every two years, a phenomenon known as Moore’s Law”

Competitors claim that Intel might be going down the wrong path by investing billions into an unproven technology, but the rewards of accomplishing this feat could outweigh the risks.

How do you see this advancement in Chip technology affecting technology in general? How will it affect the IT industry and business computing?

Don’t forget to check out our proven study materials for Network+, CompTIA A+, MCITP Certification, and more! Get ahead by using our LearnSmart training for your knowledge and certification needs.

Apple iPad 2

Jason Hiner of TechRepublic reviews the Apple iPad 2 and examines why it is still winning with business users. Hiner highlights the standout features including the simple, one button design,  the burgeoning ecosystem of business applications, 10+ hours of battery life  and the price.  Hiner, on the “Bottom line for business”, writes:

“The iPad 2 is a minimal refinement of the original iPad that adds a better screen, a slimmer form factor, and a dual core processor (the new cameras are barely worth mentioning). However, by retaining its great battery life, simple user experience, huge catalog of apps, and low price, the iPad 2 has enough to maintain a stronghold over the nascent multitouch tablet market. Even among business professionals — many of whom use the iPad for both work and personal use — the iPad 2 remains the tablet of choice. And, judging by the early competitors so far this year, it’s not in danger of being dethroned in 2011.”

The iPad 2 is certainly beneficial to students, IT, and business professionals alike because of its customizable nature and convenient, mobile sensibilities. Because it is essentially an application delivery system the iPad 2 will continue to improve for specific purposes as more and more applications are introduced to the already budding app store.

Want the best IT Training and an iPad 2? This is the last week PrepLogic will be offering an iPad 2 FREE with Ultimate Access.

Utilize your iPad, iPad 2, and other devices for your PrepLogic training. We have compatible training  for certifications including Network+, CompTIA A+, CCNA Certification and the MCITP Certification.

With unemployment still at an unsettling 9%, many people may be surprised to hear there are actually fields experiencing labor shortages. One of those fields lacking qualified candidates is computer engineering, reports The Wall Street Journal.

According to the Conference Board, countrywide there were an estimated four unemployed people for every job opening posted online in December. That statistic may sound discouraging, but if you are looking for a computer or math-related position, such as JavaScript engineer or software engineer, there are jobs to be had. And well paying jobs at that!

The Wall Street Journal reports, many companies are having trouble finding highly skilled applicants for technical positions, particularly when it comes to computer programming.  Gowalla Inc, a location-based social networking company, faces this very problem in their search for four computer programmers. Many of the skills needed by its programmers are so rare that the company is now willing to hire computer engineers without related experience and train them on the job, says their chief executive Josh Williams.

Accounting firm Ernst & Young LLP also struggles to find applicants with the right skills set. When Ernst & Young advertises for openings in its finance and IT consulting practices, which require experience and sometimes advanced degrees, they might only get 10 résumés in a week, and even fewer will meet the qualifications, aid Wendy Edgar, Americas director of experienced recruiting told The Wall Street Journal.

According to the Conference Board, even if all 225,500 job seekers whose last jobs were computer and math-related were to take a current opening, there would still be nearly 350,000 positions left to fill. And these positions are paid well. Very well. At Gowalla, a software engineer with no experience can start at $50,000, with potential  to earn $150,00 or more.  Glassdoor.com reports information technology advisory managers at Ernst & Young can expect to make between $80,000 and $180,000 a year.

The combination of job openings and pay scale, particularly in this slow-to-hire economy, make the fields of computer programming and software engineering undeniably attractive.

Interested in JavaScript engineering? Check out PrepLogic’s new JavaScript Specialist LearnSmart Video Training.

The Computer History Museum, a museum dedicated to the invention and history of computers and located in Mountain View, CA, has a new exhibit open!

Revolution: The First 2000 Years of Computing is a rich, multimedia exhibition that traces the history of modern computing, everything from the abacus to the smart phone.

Revolution is fun, informative and thought-provoking. It has something for everyone, from technical experts and geeks to curious non-techies who wonder how sophisticated computing technology ended up in, among other places, their microwave ovens. The exhibition spins the stories of computing history in an orientation theater, 19 galleries and five mini-theaters showing high-definition videos produced by the Museum. Each gallery is a themed mini-exhibition that covers a particular aspect of the evolution of computing.

- http://www.computerhistory.org/visit/

Massive Uniservo tape drives were used on UNIVAC 1 computers in the 1950s.

Design inspried by the Xerox Alto, Robert Belleville built this computer in 1980 around an Intel 8080 microprocessor.

For more information about the Computer History Museum, visit http://www.computerhistory.org/.