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HP Unveils ZBook Studio X360, 'World's Most Powerful' Laptop for Professionals
Of particular interest to tech professionals is the HP ZBook Studio x360 G5, which the company has dubbed "the world's most powerful convertible PC." The laptop offers professional-grade performance needed to run multiple apps at once, according to Hewlett-Packard.
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Why Blockchain Adoption Has Stalled in Financial Services and Banking
To be sure, there is no shortage of hype and hope about what blockchain could do for FIs. As The Financial Times notes, FIs could use blockchain technology for everything from the recording and updating of consumer identities to the clearing and settlement of lands and securities. Yet critics say that most FIs still don't have a clear business case for using it. Beyond confusion as to why FIs should be using blockchain at all, there are also concerns about security, legal issues, and the immaturity of the technology itself.
7 Free Tools for Network Monitoring, Graphing, Backup
From device discovery to visibility into systems, networks, and traffic flows, the complimentary open source monitoring tools discussed in this article may be able to help your IT Department.
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Fiserv Expands Its CardFree Cash Service to More ATMs
Fiserv announced that three ATM manufacturers are now supporting the company’s 3-year-old CardFree Cash service: Genmega, Triton, and Hyosung America. To use CardFree Cash, users obtain an access code, which they can activate from their phones. With the access code and a temporary PIN, they can then get cash at any machine supporting Fiserv’s Popmoney network. Fiserv promotes the service as a convenience for consumers who have forgotten or lost their wallets, or who don’t want to carry a wallet with them on trips to the beach or similar excursions.
How 125 ATM Industry Players Plan to Make Windows 10 Your Last Microsoft Upgrade
After migrating their ATM fleets from Windows XP to Windows 7 in 2014, deployers are now facing the chore of upgrading again — this time to Windows 10 IoT — by January 2020. Windows 10 boasts improved security and increased functionality — both great for the ATM industry. No one is questioning that it's a good product. But neither is anyone excited about the prospect of living through another round of road mapping, scheduling, assessing, upgrading, testing, tweaking, and retesting involved in the introduction of a new operating system. And then there's the cost.
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The Mobile Payments Market Is Set to Grow Due to Technological Innovation
According to data provided by Allied Market Research (AMR), the mobile payment market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 33.8% from 2017 to 2023 and reach a market value of $4,574 billion by 2023. The growth projections are attributed to an increasing demand for hassle-free purchase of goods and services, as well as an increased preference of consumers toward digital and cashless payments. Based on mobile payment type, the mobile payment market is split into mobile wallets/bank cards and mobile money, according to AMR.
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MITRE Evaluates Tools for APT Detection
A new service from MITRE will evaluate products based on how well they detect advanced persistent threats. The first round will be based on APT3/Gothic Panda and will evaluate the products' ability to detect the threat, and afterwards the results will be made public.
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BAI Calls for Innovation Awards Nominations
BAI is now accepting nominations for its BAI Global Innovation Awards. Since its inception in 2010, the program has created a community of forward-looking leaders and organizations whose innovations educate and inspire others, as well as provide year-round thought leadership and idea exchange. The deadline for submission is Friday, April 13. Visit bai.org/globalinnovations/awards for more information.
What Is the Best CRM Software? Key Features to Look For
The best CRM software is the one that has the right capabilities and features for your objectives. That selection process is harder than it sounds, however, as organizations are faced with an abundance of choices and priorities to consider when determining which customer relationship management software can best meet their needs today and into the future. This article covers CRM planning, features and how to choose a CRM.
4 (More) Ways FIs Can Win and Keep Millennials
So how can FIs engage millennials when they are least likely to have a personal relationship with their FI? The article suggests 4 ways: 1) Consider face-to-face interactions sacred; 2) The future remains digital; 3) Omnichannel alignment matters; and 4) Apps must meet high expectations.
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Online Banking/E-Commerce/Website Design
Consumers Keen on Digital Payments, TSYS Study Finds
Emerging payment options are gaining widespread acceptance with consumers across age groups, especially those in the 25–34 age demographic, according to the new TSYS U.S. Consumer Payment Study. But despite the rise of new payment methods, many consumers still want to pay for things the traditional way, with debit (44 percent), credit (33 percent) or cash (12 percent), according to the study.
The Four Pillars of Digital Transformation in Banking
Four out of five FIs believe that digital will fundamentally change banking and completely transform the industry’s competitive landscape. But according to research from the Boston Consulting Group, less than half (43%) confess they don’t even have a digital strategy.
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Global WAN Survey Highlights the Importance of Network Simplification
Cato Networks' new report, “State of WAN 2018: Too Complex to Ignore,” predicts SD-WAN will grow 200% year-over-year. At the same time, the additional abstraction layer that is SD-WAN and its impact on the network security architecture significantly increases WAN complexity. Simplification for connectivity, security, and the cloud will be major themes for WAN transformation in 2018, according the report.
AT&T, Verizon, CenturyLink and Others Advance On-Net Business Fiber Availability
AT&T, Verizon and CenturyLink's aggressive build-outs of fiber into commercial buildings have continued to increase the availability of fiber connectivity. Vertical Systems Group said that fiber reach into large and medium-sized business buildings in the U.S. rose to 54% in 2017. As a result, the overall U.S. fiber gap dropped to less than 50% (45%) for the first time since VSG initiated research in 2004, the research group says.
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This Call May Be Monitored for Tone and Emotion
MIT spin-out Cogito has developed software that they say can detect signs of distress and other emotions in a caller’s voice. In addition to nudging call agents to pep up their tone, or respond to distress in a caller’s voice, Cogito’s software listens to the pace and pattern of calls. Agents see a notification if they start speaking more quickly, a caller is silent for a long time, or the caller and agent talk over each other.
Skills Employees Need to Work from Home
While remote work has its perks, it also requires a unique skill set to ensure success. If you are considering working from home or hiring employees who will work from home, you may want to watch this quick video.
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