Data management
IBM adds to Tivoli self-healing lineup
IBM released several self-healing products. These include IBM Tivoli Monitoring, which allows companies to manage online applications, such as e-mail or bill paying systems, by proactively correcting IT service problems like “hung” applications, and fixing the problem across a company’s servers, operating systems and databases before it impacts users. The software detects the need for specific procedures — such as bringing on additional servers when capacity overload approaches, automating they way common problems are corrected. In addition, the software supplies security encryption for services across an entire enterprise, which ensures that data passing through the monitoring technology, such as passwords, are safeguarded.
IBM Tivoli Composite Application Manager is designed to speed up access to information on the Internet — from booking a vacation to conductingresearch before buying a car — by predicting and fixing bottlenecksthat crop up as dozens of different systems connect under astandards-based Service Oriented Architecture, or SOA. Tivoli System Automation for Multiplatforms, meanwhile, can pinpoint the statusof complex applications running on multiple platforms and operatingsystems and use pre-set instructions, or policies, to automaticallybring them back online if the system fails because of a power outage orother cause.
Cybermatrix sorts out scheduling
CyberMatrix Corp. has released version 1.00 of CyberMatrix Employee Scheduler, an application for creating and managing employee schedules.
Assign employees into categories, enter their day/time availability and scheduling priority in order to affect the generated schedules. Use the manual scheduling features to adjust the schedules graphically after automatic scheduling takes place. Manage holidays, leave and sick days with the schedule exception features. The software can even be setup to act as a time clock that records when employees arrive and leave for the day.
Use the schedule view to view by single employee, by all employees, by week and by employees in the week. Filter the schedule by day, or employee. Employee Scheduler is multi-user ready. Share employee schedule data over a network amongst multiple employees. Exchange schedule data with other programs via the CSV import/export feature. Access data from other database applications using the separate ODBC driver.
Employee Scheduler runs on Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000, NT 4.0, XP and 2003 server. System requirements: Pentium, 32 MB RAM and 10 MB hard disk space. Employee Scheduler costs US$100 for a single license. Multi-seat and site licenses are available.
Watermark Creator supports batch work
Image Tools Group announced the release of an extended version of EasyWatermark Creator 1.5, a visual protection tool. The version offers a wider support for batch work, the command line mode, and advanced options for EXIF tag information. It also allows using watermark protection as a part of multi-stage image processing.
Features include support for BMP, JPEG (JPG), PSD, PCX, PNG, TGA, TIFF, ICO (only watermarks), GIF formats in images and watermarks. It includes a choice of colors and fonts (including system languages), regulated degree of transparency and angle; and the ability to make, save, and edit lists of applied watermarks. Support for EXIF data (including edit option) and compression quality inJPG files is supported, as is the ability to save images with watermarks.
Easy Watermark Creator 1.5 runs under Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP platforms and costs US$23 for a personal license and US$35 for a business license.
WelcomRisk identifies project pitfalls
Welcom, announced WelcomRisk 2.6, a version of its formalized qualitative risk management tool.
Browser-based WelcomRisk 2.6 features an Enhanced Waterfall chart to show a planned risk score line along side an actual risk score line. This allows project leaders to compare the baseline risk score and response plans to the actual results. The Risk Map, a bubble-style report, helps managers identify which project risks to focus on and which ones can be delayed to a future time. The Centralized Reporting page puts a variety of statistical reports in one view and provides wizards for custom report creation. Version 2.6 also provides an Impact Value function. Pulling data from project scheduling and cost management systems, or through manual entry, this calculates the cost and schedule impact to a project and allows managers to more adequately develop contingencies and reserves to cover potential risks. WelcomRisk users can adapt the software to their specific organization’s business needs by adding additional capabilities or views to the core application.
Full use WelcomRisk licenses are US$1,500. Team member licenses are US$500. Minimum package fee is US$15,000 for one full use license plus 25 team member licenses. Volume discounts are available.
Instant Demo creates Flash movies
NetPlay Software released Instant Demo Version 5.0, an easy-to-use Windows screen recording application that creates Flash movies for demonstrations, presentations and training.
The Flash movies created by Instant Demo play immediately in the viewer’s web browser regardless of file size; there is no download delay. Instant Demo v5.0 introduces MP3 sound compression, making it possible to create software presentations with a narrated soundtrack that can be instantly streamed over a broadband or dialup Internet connection. The Flash movies can be played on any operating system that supports Flash 4.0 or newer.
Instant Demo v5.0 introduces video editing and cutting without loss of sound synchronization, noise removal techniques providing studio quality sound, and MP3 encoding of the Flash soundtrack. NetPlay Software has licensed MP3 encoding technology from Fraunhofer IIS and Thomson and an MP3 encoding license is included with each Instant Demo license purchased.
Instant Demo v5.0 has the ability to record and create screen presentations of desktop resolutions up to 3200 x 3072 pixels. The new 64 bit file format allows for continuous recording over several weeks, months or even years. Instant Demo v5.0 captures all desktop activity, including output from software DVD players and layered window effects such as animated help assistants. Instant Demo v5.0 introduces additional support for E-Learning via the Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM). Presentations created by Instant Demo can be exported as a SCORM 1.2 compliant resource package for use with other E-Learning management systems.
Storage
XLSeries packs in 1TB of capacity
Iomega Corp. announced the Desktop Hard Drive XL Series, a compact four-drive enclosure with 1TB of capacity.
Users of the new 1TB Iomega Desktop Hard Drive XL Series can store up to 18,500 hours of music, 4,000,000 photos, or 1,500 hours of video on a single Iomega XL series device.
The Iomega XL Series drive connects to the host PC through one of its three built-in interfaces: FireWire 800, FireWire 400 or USB 2.0 (backwards compatible with USB 1.1). Measuring 6.42 inches x 7.99 inches x 12.52. Four 250GB SATA drives, each running at 7200 RPM with 8MB cache are included.
Users who want the maximum performance possible can configure the XL series drive for data striping across four high-capacity SATA disks (RAID 0). The drive also features two pass-through FireWire 800 ports and a USB 2.0 expansion port, giving users the flexibility of attaching an additional USB 2.0 hard drive or other peripheral.
The new Iomega XL Series drive ships with Dantz Retrospect Express software for data backup and disaster recovery. For Windows users, Iomega includes Iomega Automatic Backup Pro software for professional-level backup and disaster recovery for critical data. The Iomega Desktop Hard Drive XL Series is now available for US$899.95.
Sonasoft backs up Exchange, SQL servers
Sonasoft Corp. announced a Backup/Recovery and Disaster Recovery tool for Microsoft Exchange and SQL servers.
The SonaSafe product is a centralized management based software which provides automated disk-to-disk backup and recovery. SonaSafe Backup and Recovery Suite also maintains a redundant, standby server by continually updating the data with that retrieved from the primary system. The standby system can take over instantly in the event of primary system failure. The standby system can be on-site, or located at a remote site for protection against natural or man-made disasters.
The software includes the ability to load balance by distributing mailboxes across multiple Exchange Servers, and the ability to facilitate migration of Exchange and SQL servers from one version to another.
Second Copy 7 enforces backup rules
Centered Systems announced the release of Second Copy 7, an automatic backup utility for Windows 95/98/Me/NT4/2000/XP/2003.
Second Copy 7’s setup wizard helps users define different profiles, each indicating different sets of files and rules. These profiles can be organized in groups by different categories such as daily backups, weekly archives, accounting files, etc. Setup wizard also assists the user in setting the frequency of the backups, including specific days of the week, hours of the day, or any desired time intervals. Files can be stored on any local fixed or removable disks, zip drives, CD-RW’s, DVD’s, as well as on storage devices on other computers across a network. Second Copy 7 backups can span across multiple disks.
Features include up to 256-bit AES encryption, FTP support, E-mail notification, as well as support to run as a service. Other features include PKZip compatible compression, file synchronization, and the archiving of up to 25 earlier versions of files. You can ignore files older than a certain date, and set zip file compression ratios. You can run any program before or after running each backup operation.
Second Copy 7 comes with an enhanced Zip viewer. For added security, the compressed files and customized settings can be protected using encrypted passwords. Second Copy 7’s built-in auto-dial and auto-login features enable users to back up their files remotely to their servers in the office, or any other location.
Second Copy 7 can also run at Windows start up and shut down, creating second copies of important data files. The two-way synchronization option allows the user to maintain files in two places, ensuring that the latest version is always available at either location. Advanced users can create macros that specify destination directory names, and allow for date/time stamping of each backup folder. Second Copy 7 also supports a command line interface for advanced users. Progress bars monitor backups while Second Copy maintains a log of all backup activity.
A single user license of Second Copy 7 costs US$29.95 and may be purchased online.
Wireless
Nokia preps for UMTS service
Nokia unveiled its 6282 phone, a device designed to support 1900MHz UMTS networks.
The phone features a 2.2 inch, 320×240 pixel QVGA display, a one megapixel camera, FM radio, digital music player with hot-swappable miniSD card support and Bluetooth technology. The Nokia 6282 phone (GSM 850/1900/1800/UMTS 1900 MHz) is expected to be available during the first quarter of 2006 in markets offering 1900MHz UMTS service.
Featuring the Series 40 Platform 3rd Edition, the Nokia 6282 phone uses an ‘Active Standby Mode’, which allows the idle screen to keep owners informed of calendar and to-do items and to provide quick access to the most-used applications. By positioning the imaging controls on the exterior, the Nokia 6282 converts to a conventionally-oriented imaging device that allows one megapixel still images and 15 frame-per-second VGA video content to be captured by using the screen as a horizontal viewfinder.
E-Government
VersaForm offers up e-records software at no charge
VersaForm Systems Corp. announced that its Electronic Medical Records (EMR) program-VersaForm EMR Basic Edition-is available free to health care providers. With VersaForm EMR, clinicians can create patient and visit records, track problems, medications and labs, and create progress notes. All aspects of a patient’s visit can be recorded electronically.
VersaForm EMR includes a set of pre-defined templates that address frequently seen conditions. VersaForm EMR also allows for existing paper records to be scanned into the system.
When integrated with VersaForm Practice Management, electronic claims and billing will automatically flow from treatment room to insurance claims without separately entering charges. The open database technology of VersaForm EMR permits integration with other systems as well.
In addition to Electronic Medical Records software, the company offers additional modules to handle appointment scheduling, automatic retrieval of lab results and automatic processing of Electronic Remittance Advice. The entire suite, which may be sold as separate components or as a bundle, provides a complete solution for medical offices, outpatient clinics, or other institutions that must track clients’ medical conditions, from schools to jails.
Security
Anonymizer offers broad array of security tools
Anonymizer Inc., unveiled an all-in-one product for protection against malicious code, phishing scams, pharming threats, evil twin attacks, hidden spyware, adware, privacy-invading tracking bugs, dialers, browser hijacking, keyloggers, password crackers, system monitors, remote control programs, and more.
Features of Anonymous Surfing 6.0 include real-time indicators that show users what threats they’ve just been protected against;prevention mechanisms that keep users from accidentally visiting known phishing and pharming sites; advanced alerts that save users from falling victim to malicious Web sites containing hidden spyware and other malevolent code; and privacy news alerts that keep users informed about the latest Internet threats.
Anonymizer Anonymous Surfing provides Wi-Fi data security, phishing and pharming security, and 128-bit SSL encryption further secures users by creating a virtual tunnel from their PCs to the Anonymizer network.
Anonymizer Anti-Spyware, Version 3.0, meanwhile, includes proactive detection that stops spyware and adware before it downloads to user’s PCs, through a real-time ActiveX Shield. Real-time scanning allows uses to identify and eliminate unwanted and malicious applications, including entries in the Windows Registry and other areas where programs leave remnants. It also includes a database that updates spyware definition files in minutes.
