2nd Possible CEO Successor Quits Cisco

Cisco, other Western companies are poised to help

(NEWSER) - China is preparing a surveillance network with an area bigger than New York City—and Cisco is among the Western companies set to help. China says the system of up to 500,000 cameras is aimed at preventing crime, but human rights advocates fear it could be used to stamp out political dissent, the Wall Street Journal reports. Under construction for the next few years in the city of Chongqing, the project is due to stretch across 400 square miles. More»

Video gizmos were all the rage only two years ago

(NEWSER) - Flip video cameras were so hot two years ago that Cisco Systems shelled out $590 million to buy the startup that built them. So much for that. Cisco announced today it was shutting down its Flip business, reports the Huffington Post . The easy-to-use gadget had its moment—the Wall Street Journal uses the word "iconic" in its product obituary—but it was done in by ever-advancing smartphones. More»

These folks know how to make 140 characters count

(NEWSER) - Fast Company surveys the world of Twitter and suggests 10 people worth following based on their creative tweeting. Full list here, along with samples . A peek:

1. Dawn Danby, @altissima : She a "sustainable design strategist" who covers her own field, often in haiku-like form.
2. Padmasree Warrior, @Padmasree : Cisco's chief technology officer tweets about the tech world.

Google hired 786 employees in Q1

(NEWSER) - If you went to MIT, the economy shouldn’t look half bad. Tech companies are hiring again, often even fighting over top recruits, the Wall Street Journal reports. Yesterday, Google announced that it had hired 786 employees in the first quarter, and said it expected to “continue hiring aggressively throughout the year.” The announcement came alongside a stellar earnings report that showed a 37% profit jump for the company. More»

From the improbable to the top secret, it takes all kinds

(NEWSER) - The Business Insider figures you've also wanted to know how your favorite high tech concern got its name. Well, you're in luck! Here goes:

1. SUN Microsystems: It's actually an acronym for Stanford University Network, the school where the founders met.
2. Cisco: Actually not an acronym, as often assumed. It's just San Francisco without the San Fran, which is why the "c" was not capitalized originally.