InformationWeek: The Business Value of Technology

Mesh networks are well suited for wireless access over large areas, such as a campus or public venue. Get the basics on how mesh networks work, their drawbacks and open source options in this comprehensive report.

Ready to catch the Metro? Windows 8 is a major shift, with features borrowed from desktop gadgets and mobile devices, and it brings a slew of new paradigms for developers. Here's what you need to know.

Keep these new features, functions and development methodology shifts in mind as you consider if and when to make the switch.

Smartphones and tablets are everywhere. If you need to reach your customers or employees on these devices, now’s the time to start developing mobile apps. We provide essential information to help you get started, including development basics for Apple iOS, Google Android, RIM BlackBerry and Microsoft Windows. We also look at the pros and cons of cross-platform development and discuss how to build secure apps from the get-go.

HTML5 and native aren’t the only choices when building ­mobile applications. Hybrid approaches may serve you better. Here’s how to decide when to go native, when to go Web and when to split the difference.

IT Pro Impact: HTML5: Remember when Netscape proclaimed the operating system ­irrelevant? Had Microsoft not squashed the company by embedding Internet Explorer in Windows, that vision of the future may have already been realized. Still, better late than never.

As more employees use their own tablets and smartphones for work, IT teams need to figure out how to back up data created while on the go. The answer: a smart mix of policies, cloud services and mobile device management. We outline a data protection plan that doesn’t depend on end users, because “BYOD” shouldn’t mean “back up your own data.”

Coding for the big four mobile platforms is expensive and complex. Cross-platform tools can help, but challenges remain.

Android and Apple devices make backup a challenge for IT. Look to smart policy, cloud services, and MDM for answers.