#Tech

A random assortment of ramblings on all things tech from a former developer, technology manager and comedy writer.

by Phil Johnson

Phil Johnson is a writer and editor for ITworld.com, after having survived 17 years in the corporate wild as a software/web developer, technical lead and project manager.

In his spare time these days, when he's not chauffeuring his daughters to and from school, lessons and Justin Bieber movies (ugh), he enjoys drawing cartoons, tweeting about his life and taking pictures of cranes.

The $200,000 software developer: We can build him, we have the technology

Posted Jun 13, 2013 - 06:00 am

It’s unusual for a software developer to make $200,000 per year, but not unheard of. Here’s some advice about what it takes to get there
Bloomberg, Bureau of Labor Statistics
The only thing programmers have to fear is... all of these things

Posted Jul 02, 2013 - 06:00 am

From being outsourced to getting bored to hurting somebody with a bug, software developers find lots of things to worry about
Apple, bug
Untucked: Apple's new uniform

Posted Sep 13, 2012 - 12:08 pm

[chunklet]
Untucked shirts: Apple's new executive uniform? REUTERS/Beck Diefenbach
[/chunklet]
Apple, EA
Bills would make movies and in-flight entertainment accessible

Posted Mar 18, 2013 - 11:55 am

Senator Tom Harkin has introduced legislation to require captioning and video descriptions at movie theaters and during in-flight entertainment
21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act, ACAA
For visually impaired users, the iPhone is the only way to go

Posted Oct 16, 2012 - 12:25 pm

[chunklet]
The American Federation for the Blind said, in terms of accessible smartphones, there is't much choice beyond the iPhone
Apple, blind
Here be weird programming habits!

Posted Aug 13, 2013 - 06:00 am

Whether due to boredom, OCD or unrequited love, software developers can develop some real idiosyncrasies
baseball, career
Justine Bateman goes from Family Ties to for loops

Posted Jun 04, 2013 - 06:00 am

The former 80’s sitcom star has gone back to college full time to study computer science
1980s, Academy Awards
The Accidental IT Administrator

Posted Oct 02, 2012 - 11:50 am

[chunklet]
Guess who gets to take care of this mess? ITworld/Phil Johnson
[/chunklet]
administration, Apple
The government running Google? What could possibly go wrong?

Posted Mar 25, 2013 - 11:35 am

Are Google’s products and services becoming a critical infrastructure that the government should ensure survives?
All Things D, Amazon
WTF? Patent troll goes after popular podcasters

Posted Feb 28, 2013 - 12:39 pm

It used to be that all you needed to put out a podcast was a microphone, a computer and some content. If one company has its way, that list may soon also include money to pay licensing fees
ACE Broadcasting Network, Adam Carolla

October is...
Unified Communications Month

BY THE NUMBERS: UC&C

HOW-TO: Look alive and professional in Web meetings

TIP: Use your cell phone as a WiFi VOIP phone

TOOLBOX: Six alternative tools for small business collaboration

CASE STUDY: Enterprise social network moves ad agency into the future

Microsoft's Security Essentials isn't the best antivirus program, according to Microsoft

2 comments
AMD pushes forward with new video cards and a few surprises

2 comments
Keep your old Facebook posts out of search with this one settings change

1 comment
BRIC Nations Plan Their own "Independent Internet"

1 comment
Build interactive HTML5 sites and graphics with Google's free Web Designer tool

1 comment

White Papers & Webcasts

White Paper

5 Steps for Building a Secure Cloud

Webcast On Demand

Containerization Options: How to Choose the Best DLP Solution for Your Organization

Webcast On Demand

CDW Software Asset Management

See more White Papers | Webcasts

Join today!

Get FREE access to premium content, in-depth reviews, practical tips

How it works: The basic tech behind the Internet
You may think you know, but do you really know?
Free and cheap ways to study for IT certifications
Helpful tips for finding inexpensive study resources and getting hands-on experience
iOS vs. Android vs. BlackBerry vs. Windows Phone
Which platform provides the security you need?