Archive for March, 2010

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An open-source package-management system for windows

March 31st, 2010
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Microsoft is continuing its efforts to attract more open-source developers to make their wares available on Windows. The latest component of that strategy is CoApp, a new open-source package-management platform that one of the company’s developers is starting to assemble.

The goal of CoApp is to assemble in a single place a “community-driven package-management system” and associated tools to encourage the development and maintenance of open-source applications on Windows, according to a March 31 blog post by Garrett Serack, Microsoft’s Open Source Community Software Developer.

Open-source developers need a better way to get current binaries, compilers and libraries they need to get their software working on Windows, Serack said. Consumers of open-source software on Windows need these things, too.

“Clearly there is a strong need for a package management system, along the same lines as apt, rpm, synaptic (and others) but built for the Windows platform, and compatible with Windows features,” Serack said. “I’m not interested in simply making a knock-off of the Unix-style way of doing things. Windows doesn’t store binaries in c:\usr\bin (/usr/bin) and libraries in c:\usr\lib (/usr/lib), so we’re not going to do things like that.”

Serack explains more of the background of why he is creating CoApp in his post:

“The biggest challenge to using/building/maintaining many Open Source applications on Windows, is that Windows does a lot of things differently than Linux and Unix . Different filesystems, command lines, APIs, user experiences … well, pretty much everything. Regardless of personal opinions about it being the ‘right-way’ or ‘wrong-way’, it suffices to say that it is just simply different.

“In order to build an Open Source application like PHP for Windows from scratch, I need to have a collection of libraries created from a fair number of different projects.”

CoApp will handle multiple versions of binaries using WinSxS (side-by-side), including multiple copies of the same version of the same library, compiled with different compilers. It also will support both 32- and 64-bit systems; provide tools and methods for handling dependencies; allow for upgrades and patching of libraries and apps, and more.

Source:http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=5762

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Apple’s march madness ends with airport updates

March 31st, 2010
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Apple released more than 2 GB of software updates during March – and that’s only counting one variant of the Mac OS X 10.6.3 updater.

The list for the month ended with three AirPort related updates.

AirPort Utility 5.5.1 (available in Mac and Windows versions) fixes a variety of bugs, making sure that all settings are honoured when importing a configuration, and propagating MAC address control lists to extended networks.

The latter issue meant devices that were supposed to be denied access to the network could connect via a network extender even if they could not connect to the main base station.

Time Capsule and AirPort Extreme Base Station Firmware Update 7.5.1 has fixes for 5GHz guest networks and performance, among others.

All three updates can be downloaded via Apple’s Support Downloads page, and may also be available via Software Update (Apple Software Update on Windows).

Source:http://www.itwire.com/business-it-news/networking/38030-apples-march-madness-ends-with-airport-updates

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Computer software co. coo lists mill valley 6bd for $2.195M

March 31st, 2010
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Alyosh Agarwal has listed for sale a six-bedroom, five-bath home at 36 Glen Dr. in Mill Valley for $2.195 million.

The 5,000-square-foot house, built in 1989, is in North of Blithedale Ave.

David Pfeiffer and Jan Gregg of Pacific Union are the listing agents for the property.

Mr. Agarwal is the chief operating officer at FJA-US Inc, FJA Group Germany, a computer software company.

Prior to that, he was managing director at MP2 Capital and was president and owner of Independent IT and Management Consultant, co-founder and chief executive officer for USA operations and managing director for Germany at FJA Group and served as founder/executive director at Innosoft GmbH.

He earned his Ph.D. in business and information systems from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich in Germany.

According to BlockShopper.com, there have been 151 home sales in Mill Valley during the past 12 months, with a median sale price of $897,000.

Source:http://sf.blockshopper.com/news/story/2700064350-Computer_software_co_COO_lists_Mill_Valley_6BD_for_2_195M

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Aspen avionics and seattle avionics software partner on charts

March 31st, 2010
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Aspen Avionics, Inc., manufacturer of the innovative Evolution Flight Display System, and Seattle Avionics Software, developer of cutting-edge aviation software and data solutions, announce their partnership to develop a certified chart application for Aspen’s Evolution Flight Display System. The new chart and geo-referenced airport diagram capabilities will be a standard feature in Aspen’s Multi-Function Display (MFD) products, and available via upgrade for Evolution displays already installed in customers’ airplanes.

The much-anticipated chart application includes the full AeroNav (formerly NACO) library of U.S. Instrument Approach Procedure (IAP) charts, Departure Procedure (DP) charts, Standard Terminal Arrival (STAR) charts, and geo-referenced airport diagrams. Users can zoom and pan with an easy-to-use interface. Geo-referenced airport diagrams display aircraft position, increasing situational awareness while maneuvering on the ground.

Aspen’s exceptionally crisp, clear display technology coupled with Seattle Avionics’ advanced software provides users with an intuitive and safety-enhancing tool that will make flying with the Aspen Evolution an even better experience.

“We are pleased to be working with Aspen on this. Our two companies have similar missions—to provide easy to use, affordable technology that makes flying safer and more enjoyable,” says Seattle Avionics Software President John Rutter.

“We are looking forward to providing our customers with this latest system enhancement,” said John Uczekaj, Aspen’s President and CEO. “The Evolution philosophy is one of continued expansion and upgradability of the product line. This new software does just that—it gives customers increased utility out of the investment they’ve already made in their Aspen glass panel.”

Charts and geo-referenced airport diagrams will come standard on Aspen Evolution MFDs as part of the planned April 2010 release. This upgrade will be available, free of charge from Aspen, to current Evolution MFD customers. One-time and annual subscription updates will be available through Seattle Avionics Software. Availability of charts for outside the United States is scheduled for Q4 2010.

Source:http://www.rotor.com/Default.aspx?tabid=510&newsid905=63403

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Wizzard software announces 4th quarter and year end 2009 financial results

March 31st, 2010
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Wizzard Software  announced fourth quarter and full year 2009 financial results today, recording revenues of $1,469,980 in the fourth quarter of 2009, a 2% increase from revenues of $1,440,719 in the fourth quarter of 2008. The increase for the fourth quarter of 2009 reflects an increase in revenue in our media business with the launch of our podcast App products and from an increase in sales of our legacy speech software.

For the full year 2009, Wizzard recorded revenues of $5,193,690, a decrease of 15% from revenues of $6,108,140 for 2008. The decrease for the full year 2009 reflects a decrease in revenue in our legacy healthcare business segment due to the economic recession and a lower demand for healthcare staffing.

During the 4th quarter of 2009 Wizzard’s Media business, where the Company sees large opportunity, has launched many new initiatives and expects most of its future growth to occur, saw a 43% increase in revenue over the fourth quarter of 2008 and a 24% increase in revenue over the third quarter of 2009. The fourth quarter of 2009 was a record quarter for our Media business.

Wizzard’s legacy speech software business saw a 144% increase in revenue in the fourth quarter of 2009 with revenues of $245,876, versus revenues of $100,762 in the fourth quarter of 2008. The 4th quarter of 2009 was one of the Company’s best quarters for speech software sales coming off its best third quarter in Company history.

Wizzard’s legacy healthcare business segment had revenues of $769,339 in the fourth quarter of 2009, versus revenues of $975,667 for the fourth quarter of 2008, a 21% decline. While the healthcare business segment, specifically staffing, was the main reason for the overall drop in fourth quarter and full year revenue, the Company saw continued strength in the home healthcare side of the business with revenues matching the third quarter of 2009.

For the full year ended December 31st, 2009, Operating Expenses totaled $5,724,544, a 35% decrease from Operating Expenses of $8,778,462 for 2008. As a result Wizzard had a Loss from Operations of $3,884,285 versus a Loss from Operations of $6,817,244 in 2008, a decrease of 43%.

Wizzard’s net loss available to common shareholders was $6,509,017, or $0.13 per share, for the full year 2009, versus a net loss of $10,064,948, or $0.23 per share in 2008 and $0.44 in 2007. These numbers include non-cash expenses.

“We believe we are building a strong media asset with our Podcasting and mobile App business and we continue to see accelerated network growth due to a continuing change in people’s entertainment consumption habits,” says Chris Spencer, Wizzard CEO. “With the first six months of App sales under our belt, we see significant growth opportunity for our podcast Apps business. This is the future consumption and monetization model for online media and Wizzard Media is delivering it today. As we continue to be the publishing platform of choice for the best podcast publishers we expect to continue along our path of becoming one of the top global new media powerhouses of the future.

For the full year 2009, Wizzard Media, through its premier podcast-hosting service Libsyn, received 1.4 billion download requests for podcast with an average of 3.77 million requests for podcast episodes per day in 2009. The audience reached by the Wizzard Media network grew to 18 million unique monthly individuals in 2009. The number of podcasts on the Wizzard Media Network grew to 13,463 as of December 31st, 2009.

In mid-2009, Wizzard Media introduced a new monetization product for its podcast publishing customers with the launch of an iPhone(R) podcast App. The newly launched podcast companion App for popular podcasts on the Wizzard Media Network offers audiences access to their favorite podcast directly on their iPhone or iPod(R) Touch, bonus episodes and other content and new social communication features such as Twitter and Facebook, creating an unprecedented level of audience entertainment.

Gartner predicts that 21.6 Billion Apps will be sold/downloaded, in 2013 worth $29.5 Billion. With the new Apple Tablet expected soon and the recent launch of the iPhone in China, Wizzard’s management believes the number of people using iPhones and iPod Touch type devices to consume podcasts and interact with Apps will continue to grow well beyond the current 50 million user-base. To date, Wizzard Media has launched 181 iPhone Apps with top podcast Apps on the Wizzard Network having now converted approximately 28% of their audience from free, to paid. Wizzard plans to expand its Apps to work with Google Android, Palm WebOS and Blackberry in 2010.

Additionally, Wizzard has acquired 15 popular iPhone Apps that it markets via advertisements on its podcast network taking the total number of all Wizzard Apps to 225 with 35 more in the approval process. Subsequent to 2009, Wizzard launched In App Advertising technology for its podcast Apps as well as In-App Purchasing, allowing for future content sales and subscription models.

In 2009, Wizzard executed multiple national brand advertising campaigns for companies including Comcast, Ford, Navy Medical, Go Daddy, Direct TV and Starz HD. These campaigns ran across multiple podcast shows, bringing the total number of advertising campaigns launched in 2009 to 93, with 22 different advertisers and 61.9 million ad impressions. In the fourth quarter of 2009, Wizzard had its best quarter in Wizzard Media history in terms of advertising impressions delivered with 22.4 million ads delivered vs. 14.6 million ads delivered in the third quarter of 2009.

The previously mentioned numbers and statements are highlights from Wizzard’s 2009 10K filing. For a complete and detailed financial description of Wizzard Software Corporation

Source:http://www.marketwatch.com/story/wizzard-software-announces-4th-quarter-and-year-end-2009-financial-results-2010-03-31?reflink=MW_news_stmp

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NetSuite announces nominees for first annual ‘Hairball awards’

March 31st, 2010
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Cloud-based business software provider NetSuite  has announced the nominees for its first annual Hairball Awards – a new awards program that recognizes businesses that have reduced system complexity, lowered operational costs and boosted employee productivity by replacing their on-premises systems with NetSuite’s cloud-based buiness software.

In other words, the “Hairballs” honor companies that have eliminated “the hairball of applications and middleware that hinders productivity and drives up costs due to brittle integration, incompatible processes, low productivity and high maintenance costs.”

Thirty companies have been nominated in 10 categories. Winners will be announced at SuiteCloud 2010 in San Francisco on April 15.

“The Hairball Awards are a light-hearted approach to a very serious problem facing businesses of all sizes today — the fact that literally thousands of organizations are painfully gagging on their inefficient, tangled mass of complex, expensive enterprise software systems,” saidZach Nelson , CEO of NetSuite, in a release. “We recognize those who have coughed up their biggest on-premise software hairballs and are now reaping the benefits of cloud computing business management suites.”

NetSuite Hairball Award nominees have been named to the following categories:

–Most Applications Replaced: MYCOM, Nobel Learning Communities, Valiant Solutions
–Most Improved Productivity: KANA, Nomis Solutions, One Call Now
–Greatest Cost Reduction: Asahi Kasei Spandex America, Cartridge World, Fresh Produce Group
–Most Global Solution: ABS-CBN, Jollibee, SolarWinds
–Best Enterprise Deployment: Campus Living Villages, Wireless Matrix
–Best Ecommerce Solution: Afloral.com, InkjetSuperstore.com, Virtual Inventories
–Best Manufacturing Company Solution: Mountz, RedBuilt, Schaeffer Manufacturing Co.
–Best Services Company Solution: AbilityNet, POSitive Technology, TradingScreen
–Best Software Company Solution: ForeScout, PeopleNet, TradeCard
–Best Wholesaler/Distributor Solution: CB Engineering, Distribution Video & Audio, Ira Wood & Sons

NetSuite made news two weeks ago when it issued a response to Microsoft’s  new incentive program to get businesses to switch from NetSuite’s cloud-based business software to Microsoft Dynamics ERP. Taking a play straight out of NetSuite’s strategy to lure over customers from Sage and SAP, Microsoft is offering companies in the U.S. a credit of up to $850 for switching from NetSuite to Microsoft Dynamics GP, Microsoft Dynamics NAV or Microsoft Dynamics SL. The promotion runs until June 25, 2010.

“Clearly Microsoft is extremely concerned about the sheer number of customers switching from Great Plains to NetSuite- otherwise they wouldn’t have made this announcement,” NetSuite officials said in a statement. “They’re feeling the pressure, because mid-sized companies in just about every industry are leaving Microsoft Great Plains antiquated architecture and bloated cost structure behind. Today’s businesses want more — they’re moving to the modern, integrated, web-native and cloud-based simplicity of NetSuite. In fact, with the announcement of the NetSuite SP100 program last week, Microsoft resellers are now making the move to NetSuite — because they’re recognizing that their customers want cloud solutions not on-premise.”

Source:http://www.tmcnet.com/channels/business-software/articles/80491-netsuite-announces-nominees-first-annual-hairball-awards.htm

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Cleversafe responds to cloud security challenges with cleversafe 2.0 software release

March 31st, 2010
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Cleversafe Inc., the leader in resilient storage solutions ideally suited for storage clouds and massive digital archives, announced its Cleversafe 2.0 software to address the cloud security challenges existing with legacy storage approaches. With this new release, Cleversafe addresses the core principles of information security – confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA).

Given that security vulnerabilities for data most often occur when multiple copies of data are retained and replicated, according to a 2009 Verizon Business Data Breach Report, the best defense against such breaches is to avoid retaining the data in the first place. The report also recommends minimizing the retention and replication of data. Users leveraging Cleversafe’s approach to storing data eliminates this threat, while also preventing disclosure of information to unauthorized individuals or systems.

Cleversafe’s Dispersed Storage(TM) technology, which has been in the market for more than two years, seamlessly and securely divides data into slices, and then disperses them to multiple storage nodes typically across three or four data centers. Each individual slice is unrecognizable as data and therefore inherently secure, whereas a defined threshold of slices can be used to bit-perfectly recreate the original data. This approach replaces costly replication with only a 30-60 percent storage expansion and yet has even higher availability than four replicated copies.

Cleversafe’s approach solves the problems of traditional perimeter security – which does not work in a virtualized or cloud infrastructure. Customers value the approach of how securing the confidentiality of data shifts from securing the perimeter to transforming data to be inherently secure.

Key functionality enhancements within Cleversafe 2.0 align with the CIA principles of information security:

Confidentiality
— Securing data in a multi-tenancy environment is possible with
Cleversafe’s 2.0 SecureSlice(TM) confidentiality, which virtualizes
data using keyless encryption and advanced secret sharing techniques,
making slices unrecognizable and inherently secure. Although common
advice is to encrypt data in the cloud; key management, bulk
encryption, and re-encryption after compromise present serious
challenges to cloud storage. Cleversafe solves all these problems with
a keyless encryption approach. Customers are in control of
reconstructing their data, with the confidence that their data is
inherently secure in motion or at rest because the original data can’t
be recognized without access to a threshold number of slices.

Integrity:
— PerfectBits(TM) integrity, included in Cleversafe 2.0, guarantees
bit-perfect data storage and delivery. With both slice level integrity
checking and data level integrity checking, data is verified as
bit-perfect each and every time before being delivered. This ensures
data cannot be modified without authorization, and detects malicious
threats. PerfectBits integrity also proactively monitors and corrects
data integrity through an intelligent background process on storage
nodes. Proactive error correction is crucial for long-term archives
and massive digital stores where information isn’t frequently
accessed.

Availability:
— Cleversafe 2.0 includes features to enable upgrade, expansion, and
migration with an always-on architecture. Zero downtime upgrades, hot
swap disk replacement, storage and performance expansion without
interruption, and an architecture that tolerates six or more
simultaneous failures, helps cloud storage providers deliver on their
SLAs. SmartWrite(TM) assurance guarantees availability for writing
data by ranking Slicestor nodes, whereas SmartRead(TM) optimizes
content distribution, even under failure conditions of storage nodes,
or an unbalanced network. These features are table stakes for
dispersed storage platforms.

This new release follows on the recent expansions to the Cleversafe hardware platform. Last month, Cleversafe expanded its hardware platform with 8 and 24TB storage capacities for storage nodes and an all-in-one storage cabinet for enterprise-class data centers. This allows customers to scale from terabytes to petabytes of storage for large digital content files, such as videos, audio files and images. These hardware progressions also provide the foundation for Cleversafe 2.0 improved resiliency enhancements.

“A number of vendors are now vying for leadership in the race to create a secure data abstraction layer,” said John Webster, Senior Partner of Evaluator Group. “With the release of Cleversafe 2.0, Cleversafe demonstrates a clear lead.”

“The landscape of storage is changing as data continues to proliferate exponentially,” said Chris Gladwin, CEO of Cleversafe. “Typical cloud security approaches include replication to increase availability, which incurs tremendous overhead expenses and compromises confidentiality. Encryption alone isn’t gaining momentum for the cloud as additional challenges, such as key management, are introduced. Cleversafe has committed its research and resources to ensure information resiliency by architecting it into the DNA of our storage platform, thereby decreasing costs and complexity for organizations deploying cloud storage.”

Source:http://pr-canada.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=180716&Itemid=58

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