Kitsap Mall is rolling out a new tool for its shopping center security team, the original personal electric transporter, the Segway PT.

“We’re finding the Segway not only helps our security officers respond quickly when they need to, but it also invites interaction with our customers. This kind of positive connection with our visitors promotes the welcoming, secure environment we know is important to Kitsap County consumers,” said Rene Morris, senior property manager at Kitsap Mall. read more »

Top U.S. bookseller Barnes & Noble Inc. said sales at its stores dropped sharply during the holiday quarter and forecast continued weak sales, sending its shares down 6 percent.

The company, a target of billionaire investor Ron Burkle who says it lacks proper governance, said it was betting on a consumer shift to buying digital books for future growth, a market now dominated by Amazon.com. read more »

Enterprises faced an increased number of software audits from revenue-hungry vendors in 2009, as well as new types of disputes, says a new Forrester report.

Here are some areas to watch, plus advice on playing smart defense with “traffic cop” auditors.

Perhaps nothing is as heart-stopping as when the IRS auditors come a knockin’, but the arrival of software vendors – with their audit checklists and licensing agreements in hand – isn’t for the faint of heart, either. And in 2009, according to Forrester Research, companies witnessed intensified audit measures and enforcement vigilance by software vendors. read more »

The Washington State Commute Trip Reduction Board submitted its 2009 report to the state Legislature, outlining the performance of the program that is designed to reduce congestion on the roads by implementing alternatives to peak-time transportation demands. The Kitsap Telework Project was included in the report as proof that telecommuting could be a viable option for not only reducing highway congestion but also providing other benefits like reducing pollution.

The Kitsap Telework Project was a $150,000 pilot funded by the Legislature that recruited local companies and employees to participate read more »

Washington state hopes to make owning an electric vehicle easier, and a project is in the works to add charging stations around Puget Sound.

Last year, the state Legislature adopted a bill directing the state to install charging outlets for electric vehicles at places like rest stops and state parks. The bill also provides tax incentives for EV infrastructure. read more »

Anybody can be a graphic design “expert” these days, thanks to the overabundance of software and inexpensive tech gadgets like printers. Looking for ways to save money while working on a tight budget, business owners are often tempted to “hire” a creative family member to come up with a logo, or, better yet, doing it themselves.

While there is generally nothing wrong with the idea of wearing multiple hats as a small business owner or getting help from friends and family as a startup, there are few things that are best left to the professional. Legal matters, for example. Setting up an accounting system. Coming up with a look and a brand. read more »

Microsoft’s Mac software group has always faced a balancing act — trying to meet the expectations of longtime Microsoft Office users while making the experience feel native to Apple’s operating system. That challenge just got bigger, based on new details emerging about the next version of the software. read more »

Microsoft’s Mac Business Unit, which earlier gave new details about the next Mac Office version, might be the most logical group inside the company to consider developing software for Apple’s iPad. When we asked about its plans, they didn’t dismiss the idea, but made it clear that it wouldn’t be a top priority.

“Our main focus right now is Office 2011, but we are looking into the iPad though we have nothing firm to share at this time,” a representative of the Microsoft group said via email in response to our inquiry. read more »