Speed, Scale, Security: Orchestrating a Great Download Experience | SlashdotMedia AdOps Asset Management

Speed, Scale, Security: Orchestrating a Great Download Experience

Delivering software is becoming harder every day. Not only do you have to compete in a universe of 15 billion connected devices, but also with a growing number of users downloading everything from new applications to virus updates.

The result is a growing congestion that can undermine your ability to get your application, software patch, or device update to your end users as quickly as possible. And every minute that your users spend trying to download your software is a minute they can’t spend using it.

What it ultimately comes down to is latency.

Software Download: The Challenge for Game Developers

Digital distribution is the fastest growing method to sell games, upgrade and fix game software, and push out new enhancements to existing games. For example, Steam, one of the largest game distribution sites in the world, distributes over 3000 games to more than 100 million active users while supporting 5-8 million players simultaneously. The percentage of video gamers choosing digital distribution over DVDs grew from 40% in 2012 to over 50% in 2013, according to the Entertainment Software Association, and this number will keep climbing.

Nintendo’s Limelight Solution

Families and children around the world love Nintendo. They are fans of the state-of-the-art game consoles such as the new Wii U and they enjoy the variety of exciting game classics from Mario Bros. to Princess Zelda. And, thanks to the educational value of the content, Nintendo captures the hearts of audiences both young and old.

So what is Nintendo’s secret sauce? They understand what it means to create meaningful connections with fans by managing their digital content across devices and by leveraging the power of video. Nintendo provides authentic and homogenous high performance gaming and entertainment experiences to fans on their game consoles and on their branded websites.

Building a Better Game Experience

As the video game market has grown, it has become increasingly competitive. Traditional console and PC games are now competing against smartphone and tablet titles as the mobile segment explodes in popularity. But gamers have limited time playing, on average, only 1-2 hours per day2. In order to capture mindshare, and a share of the $100 billion gaming wallet, game developers and studios must expand their titles to become more of an experience. Although they must provide a top quality story-line with easy-to-use controls, they must also extend that game experience into new channels and new platforms if they hope to remain top-of-mind with gamers.

Software Download: The Challenge for Game Developers

Digital distribution is the fastest growing method to sell games, upgrade and fix game software, and push out new enhancements to existing games. For example, Steam, one of the largest game distribution sites in the world, distributes over 3000 games to more than 100 million active users while supporting 5-8 million players simultaneously. The percentage of video gamers choosing digital distribution over DVDs grew from 40% in 2012 to over 50% in 2013, according to the Entertainment Software Association, and this number will keep climbing.

The State of Digital Downloads

The way we interact with the world is transforming, thanks to the devices we use every day—tablets, smartphones, computers, and gaming consoles. No longer do we look to analog sources of information and entertainment. We are increasingly beholden to a blossoming digital world through which we acquire information, express ourselves, and interact with each other. The result is a growing relationship with those devices. From sun-up to sundown, they keep us connected to the digital content and applications that have begun to define our lives.

The State of Digital Downloads

The way we interact with the world is transforming, thanks to the devices we use every day—tablets, smartphones, computers, and gaming consoles. No longer do we look to analog sources of information and entertainment. We are increasingly beholden to a blossoming digital world through which we acquire information, express ourselves, and interact with each other. The result is a growing relationship with those devices. From sun-up to sundown, they keep us connected to the digital content and applications that have begun to define our lives.

Flash Storage Delivers on the Promise of VDI

As organizations consider desktop virtualization, they often uncover that picking the right storage can make or break the success of the project. Learn how a NetApp All-Flash FAS solution can help you deliver cost effective virtual desktop performance while reducing your management costs.

Integrated Hardware Maintenance for Non-IBM Products

Storage, server and networking hardware, like people, have life spans. Like human adolescents, they need to be nurtured when they’re younger - with updates and refinements to maintain a healthy, productive life. Once these products reach midlife, their stability increases and the need for updates decreases. As the equipment ages, its performance may not be as optimal as it once was. However, with cost-effective support, it can still perform many useful functions. Tailoring maintenance to a piece of equipment’s lifecycle, in this manner, is a practical way to help extend its life and cut costs.

View IBM's privacy policy here

Making the case for a PC refresh – Three reasons to upgrade to new client systems

When upgrading client PCs, there’s a balance to be achieved between the direct costs of refreshing systems and the overall value gained by increasing productivity with more secure devices. By understanding all the factors that contribute to total cost of ownership, organizations can develop a stronger business case for upgrading that moves beyond budget constraints to focus on value.

**Intel and the Intel logo are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries.**

Evolution of End User Computing: Evolving to Better Meet Customer Needs

End user computing as we know it is undergoing a huge transformation, making the status quo no longer sustainable. Many industry experts think end user computing is no longer about the device or technology… it’s about the overall experience. CIOs should look to embrace and proactively respond to the changing trends within end user computing, and this guide provides best practices for creating a tangible, cost-effective 3-5 year strategic plan that enables increased end user productivity while maintaining IT control.

**Intel and the Intel logo are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries.**

Scenario Planning for End-User Computing: Act Now to Keep Your Users Productive Through 2018

Although many of the trends driving end-user computing today are obvious, what is less obvious is how disruptive those trends will be to IT operations. IT leaders that fail to adapt will risk losing control and becoming irrelevant in an era of mobility, BYOD and personal cloud. Download this paper, compliments of Dell and Intel.

Gartner, Scenario Planning for End-User Computing: Act Now to Keep Your Users Productive Through 2018, Leslie Fiering and Stephen Kleynhans, 21 March 2014.

**Intel and the Intel logo are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries.**

Best Practices to Drive Cost and Value Optimization in End-User Computing

Use Gartner's TCO framework to determine what is the relative cost of owning different device types. Examine cost-saving opportunities achievable by managing endpoints in different ways or by moving to alternative architectures. Download this Gartner paper, compliments of Dell and Intel, to learn more about possible needs to adjust PC procurement strategies to reflect current market conditions and hardware reliability improvements, and to reduce TCO.

Gartner, Best Practices to Drive Cost and Value Optimization in End-User Computing, Federica Troni, 25 September 2014

**Intel and the Intel logo are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries.**

Cheat Sheet: Mobility and Your Remote Workforce: What to Consider Before Deploying New Laptops

Older PCs are a risk due to a lack of robust hardware-based security, older processors, and outdated operating systems. This Cheat Sheet paper discusses the points you should consider when selecting notebooks and laptops for your mobile and remote workforce. Download this paper today to learn about how combining the right hardware upgrades with newer OS options and endpoint management software can provide the needed protection against today’s security risks.

**Intel and the Intel logo are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries.**

Bring Your Own Device – BYOD: Optimised in 10 Steps

When you consider the current IT trends in detail, one trend dominates: cloud computing. And in the context of cloud computing the topic "Bring Your Own Device" is in the headlines again and again. Although both topics have nothing to do with each other directly, both are somehow always related in context. Due to a lack of legal regulations, this trend has so far not really prevailed in Europe. Moreover, many CIOs often cite data security as a reason not to use BYOD programmes. But technical possibilities are quickly outpacing existing concepts. Whereas it was previously unthinkable that private devices and systems could be integrated into a company's infrastructure, this trend has nevertheless gradually found its way into companies.