This Week In Products: Toshiba launches Satellite Pro M40

Wireless

Toshiba adds to commercial notebook line
Toshiba of Canada Information Systems Group, launched the Satellite Pro M40, a 2.8 kg notebook which features an Intel Celeron M processor, a 40GB hard drive and a Combo CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive.

The Satellite Pro M40 has a 15.4-inch widescreen and a built-in dual-mode Wi-Fi 802.11b/g Wireless LAN for maximum functionality and mobile access. The Satellite Pro M40 has a suggested list price (SLP) of $1,099.

The Satellite Pro M70 weighs 2.7 kg and features Intel Centrino mobile technology including Intel Pentium M processor. It also features a 15.4-inch widescreen LCD, a five-in-one card reader, serial DDR2 and serial ATA technology.The Satellite Pro M70 has a SLP of $1,299.00

Infrastructure

IBM puts Power5+ into SMB servers
IBM announced Unix systems for small and medium sized businesses that use an enhanced version of the Power 5 chip.

The p5 systems from IBM are available with a combination of AIX 5L Unix, Red Hat or Novell SuSE Linux operating systems. They include:The IBM System p5 550Q – uses the Quad Core Module for database applications. The 1.5 GHz quad-core Power5+ processor package can run up to twice as many workloads as previous four-way IBM eServer p5 550 servers. For example, using Simultaneous Multi-Threading, the new eight-way p5-550Q with Power5+ processor – through two quad-core modules with up to sixteen simultaneous threads – allows customers to consolidate multiple servers into one system.

The IBM System p5 520 is designed for use as a small database server, a branch applications server, and for highly secure e-business and business intelligence and high-performance computing (HPC) applications for enterprises of all sizes.

The IBM System p5 550 is a four-way database server with 1.9 GHz Power5+ dual-core modules. It can function as a scalable database or versatile departmental or regional server for businesses of all sizes and is a strategic platform for scalable database servers, e-commerce application servers, Web servers, operations systems, and for BI and HPC workloads, IBM said.

The IBM System p5 505 is a dense rack server in a 1U form factor utilizing 1.5Ghz and 1.65Ghz POWER5 processors in 1 and 2-way configurations.

Plus projector features Dual Colour Mode
Dynamic Digital Technologies Inc. said it would distribute Plus Vision’s Digital V-339 XGA Projector.

Exclusive to V-339, the DCM (Dual Colour Mode) feature allows for switching between Vivid Mode, which is capable of extremely natural colour reproduction and Dynamic Mode, which emphasizes clearness for projecting in bright locations, the company said.

The V-339 weighs 2.8 lbs and produces a brightness of 1,300 lumens. It also incorporates the Unplug & Go function, which allows for the power cable to be unplugged immediately after use, and the Iris Lens Cover that protects the lens and opens and closes with a twist.

Lava connects POS to printer
Lava Computer MFG released the DataTapIP, which serves as an Ethernet link between a POS station and a printer.

The product taps into a serial printer’s data stream and performs data-splitting and routing functions. This permits transaction data to be ported to and printed out onto a serial printer, while simultaneously sending text for overlay onto images captured by any DVR. Transaction images can be viewed on end-user networks or the Internet.

In ‘sniffer mode’ can filter select data the instant it is received or sent. In this mode, it can bypass or selectively grab specific data being tracked.

Networking

Nokia preps for SIP-driven voice-over-IP
Nokia announced the VoIP Server for IP-based voice service.

The Nokia VoIP Server is compliant with the standardization work done by 3GPP and ETSI TISPAN. This enables convergence of legacy voice and SIP-driven VoIP, independent of access. With the Nokia VoIP Server, fixed and mobile operators can offer VoIP to their customers with supplementary services such as Caller ID and SMS text messaging.

The Nokia VoIP Server can be implemented as a stand-alone solution in fixed networks as a first step toward convergence, the company said. Alternatively, it can also be deployed as an application server within the IMS framework.

The Nokia VoIP Server is currently being trialled by a number of key operators and will be available for volume deployments in the first half 2006.

Data management

Siebel brings on-premise CRM to SMBs
Siebel Systems, Inc. announced the availability of Siebel CRM Professional Edition 7.8, its on-premise offerings for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). delivers customer relationship management (CRM) capabilities specifically designed to support the unique business requirements of SMBs.

Siebel CRM Professional Edition 7.8 includes Siebel Connectors to Microsoft Exchange and Outlook, which allows Siebel users to directly access and manage Siebel contacts, appointments, and tasks from Microsoft Outlook. Additionally, changes that are made to shared customer data in one application will be automatically synchronized with the other application. Through Integration with Microsoft SharePoint, Siebel users can use Microsoft’s portal technology to develop personalized microsites that include key sales and service information from Siebel.

Integration with Siebel Contact OnDemand, meanwhile, allows Siebel CRM Professional Edition 7.8 to integrate with Siebel Contact OnDemand, a hosted contact center that provides telephone infrastructure and automated call routing. Siebel CRM Professional Edition also delivers features for managing and administering internal IT support that adheres to IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) standards.

Open source tool tackles project management
The Project-open core team released version V3.0.0 of its open-source based project management software.The 3.0.0 version runs with the free PostgreSQL database on both Linux and Windows, allowing SMEs to take advantage of Internet technology with no license cost.

The software is an integrated translation workflow and project management system for translation agencies (SLVs, MLVs) and language service providers in general. It covers the entire project life cycle from sales (CRM-light), staffing and project execution (timesheets, incidents and discussions, file storage and oversight) to invoicing and payment, Project-Open said.

With ]project-translation[, any authorized user can access the system anytime and from anywhere, evaluating relevant projects and process information. The integrated financial controlling module allows checking profits and losses for projects and customers.

You can find the ]project-translation[ online demo server at: http://ptdemo.dnsalias.com/. For free downloads, please visit: http://project-open.org/download/

GPS system designed for any hardware device
Cygnus Online announced the release of its Cygnus Track version 1.3 GIS Mapping and Tracking application.

The product is a .Net platform Web-based GPS-tracking system based around Spatially Aware’s Map Suite mapping controls. It comes bundled with both a world map and detailed maps of the United States. Features include authentication/authorization, resource-based security, multiple-language support, a reporting engine, and customizable fields.

Cygnus Track doesn’t require specific hardware devices. It works with the GPS-enabled devices you already have and allows you to use a variety of devices simultaneously. Also, there are no per-locations fees. You own the software, so you can request positioning as often as you like. You can also set up devices to record vehicle ignition on/off, monitor vehicle performance, and even integrate in a panic button.

Cygnus Online offers a variety of purchase and hosting options, programs for resellers, as well as installation, training, support, and customization.

E-Business

IntroWizard packs 89 built-in designs
IntroWizard Technologies has released Flash4D Professional Edition, a Windows application to create Flash Web site intros, CD presentations, and screensavers.

Choose one of the 89 built-in designs, and customize it to your taste. You can add text, create text effects, and include stock images. Using the detailed design program that is included with Flash4D Pro, all important elements can be customized in the designs, such as background colors, text font, size, and color, and the look of your Web-link and replay buttons. Flash4D Pro even includes stock music that you can include in your Flash movies.

Once you have selected your template and customized it, Flash4D Pro lets you save your work as a Web site intro, a presentation, a screensaver, a movie, or a Flash pop-up.

Flash4D Professional Edition runs under Windows 95/98/Me/2000/XP, costs US$99 for a single-user license, and may be purchased online. You can download a free 15-day trial version.

IBM focuses on accessibility market
IBM released a set of accessibility technologies for the maturing workforce, including:

Keyboard Optimizer — helps users adjust their keyboard accessibility settings to suit their typing style. For example, it adjusts settings for one- or two-handed typing, and for long or short key presses, characteristics that could be caused by a disability.

Web Adaptation Technology — The software can magnify the contents of a Web page and adjust font, image, and page layout to improve readability. It also features a “text to speech” feature for those with visual impairments and eases typing for people who have difficulty with a keyboard — users with tremors, arthritis or those recovering from a stroke — by detecting errors and automatically adjusting keyboard sensitivity to accommodate typing. This technology, which was developed with the input of seniors to be particularly easy to use, is the basis of WebAdapt2Me, which is now being sold to companies, organizations and educational institutions, IBM said.

Mouse Smoothing Software — enables people who suffer from hand tremors to eliminate excessive cursor movement, thereby allowing more normal use of a personal computer. Computer users can simply download the software and it filters out the shaking movements of the hand – in a similar way to how the image stabilizing systems of some camera lenses work.

Reflexive User Interface Builder – helps software developers build applications that feature popular graphical user interfaces that are still accessible to people with disabilities and mature workers.

Security

WinGuard Pro runs checks in the background
WGP Security Solutions announced the release of WinGuard Pro 2005, a security program for the Windows 9x/NT/2000/XP platforms.

WinGuard Pro 2005 runs automatically at system startup and sits in the background monitoring any programs and files opened. It will protect such applicable content with a password as soon as the user tries to access them. Programs and files can be added and removed on the fly. By adding a few names to itsr protection list; WinGuard Pro 2005 can also prevent users from installing new software on a system.

For example, entering the word ‘Setup’ into itsr list, would lock out all Setup programs used to install new software on the system. A similar method of protection can be used on Zip and self extracting Exe archives alike. WinGuard Pro 2005 also allows for further protection so that users cannot bypass the WinGuard Pro 2005 security software-restricting access to MS-DOS, the CTRL+ALT+DEL keys and bootup keys are among some of the other security features offered.

Sonasoft stands by MS SQL Server
Sonasoft Corp. announced an intelligent standby capability for Microsoft SQL server. The offering is a replication solution for enabling disaster recovery protection for SQL Servers.

The standby system can be located on-site or at a remote site for protection against natural and man-made disasters. The standby capability supports one-to-one, many-to-one and one-to-many standby scenarios. In the one to one standby scenario, for each primary server there is a standby server at the remote site. In the many to one standby scenario, multiple databases from different primary servers can be replicated to a single standby server at a remote site. Instead of creating standby for all databases on all servers, one can select the key databases from different servers and create standby for them on a single server at the remote site, Sonasoft said.

One-to-many standby scenario allows one-to-many live replication of a single database, instance or entire SQL Server.

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Jim Love, Chief Content Officer, IT World Canada

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