Posts Tagged ‘Laptop’

US software expert slams state’s free laptop scheme

February 6th, 2012

The Tamil Nadu government may be trumpeting its scheme to distribute computers for free to students but it is setting a poor example for what a state should do, says American software freedom activist Richard Stallman.

“It distributes laptops loaded with non-free software to children, teaching them to be dependent on paid products. It creates a system of digital colonisation,” Stallman, who has waged a storied battle against software giants like Bill Gates, said in an e-mail interview to The Times of India. He criticised the state’s ambitious free laptop scheme that hands out computers with the Windows operating system.

Stallman, who will be in Chennai on Monday to deliver a lecture on free software at IIT-Madras, said he is appreciative of the efforts of Kerala and Karnataka, states that have extended support to the free software movement by moving schools to GNU/Linux operating systems and including lessons on them in the syllabus. “Karnataka put the system in place in high schools a couple of years ago,” he said.

“A country has the resources to develop a free computing platform that is much safer and cheaper than available alternatives and does not use non-free software. More Indian states should open their windows to free software,” says Richard Stallman, president of Free Software Foundation, an international organisation dedicated to eliminating restrictions on copying, redistributing, understanding, and modifying computer programs.

He praised efforts in India to develop applications and programs for regional languages. “I appreciate these efforts to ‘localise’ computing for the common man. Computer users should have the right to modify, personalise and change programs,” he said.

Speaking on some latest trends in and challenges to the free software movement and the GNU Linux platform, Stallman said one must respect the user’s freedom as “no one is too rich or too poor to need freedom”.

Asked about the possibilities of free software in cellphones and on tablet/PC platforms, Stallman said manufacturing companies still maintain secret specifications for these products.

Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/US-software-expert-slams-states-free-laptop-scheme/articleshow/11772757.cms

RES Software Enters 2012 Following Record-Breaking Year

February 2nd, 2012

RES Software, the proven leader in dynamic desktop solutions, today announced its record growth for the third consecutive year, with fourth quarter bookings topping $14 million and product license sales up over 30% for the year. This success is the result of strategic product development, strong results from the global sales teams and the channel, and increased participation in top-tier technology partnerships. Throughout 2011, RES demonstrated its leadership in cutting desktop management costs, while providing IT the ability to monitor, manage and secure the end user’s workspace across an increasingly hybrid mix of delivery platforms and devices, including desktops, laptops, thin clients, virtual desktops and mobile devices.

Noteworthy figures for 2011 include:

• 100% increase in premiere channel partners in North America, now totaling 36 organizations and almost 100 trained and certified RES professionals nationwide

• Overall expansion in North America resulting in a 158% increase in bookings

• The EMEA region saw more than 60 new channel partners and 350 newly certified professionals

• An increasing emphasis on the UK market leading to a 136% increase in bookings

• A growing install base with customers in 27 countries worldwide

• 75 new employees hired globally to support market expansion
The following developments helped propel RES Software to success in 2011 and will enable the company to further support its quickly expanding global customer and partner base in the coming year:

• Global Organizational Expansion and Developments –RES Software accelerated its North American growth, building on momentum that was established on entering the market in 2009. Over the last year, the company has doubled the number of employees in North America and continued to invest heavily in key European countries, especially the UK.

• Product Innovation – Continued development and innovation resulted in the addition of a number of enhancements and new products to the RES Software award winning product portfolio, including the introduction of patented RES Virtual Desktop Extender, RES Workspace Manager 2011, and RES Dynamic Desktop Studio Lite. RES also launched its first cloud-based offering, the free RES Baseline Desktop Analyzer, giving IT administrators insight into their live user environments to help them plan for major migrations or other desktop projects. RES Workspace Manager Express was released to provide IT administrators the foundation to start managing user workspaces free of cost.

• Channel Partner and Customer Growth – The addition of many new customers and channel partners in 2011 contributed to increased license sales by RES Software. The company added more than 80 new value added resellers globally. RES saw tremendous growth within key verticals, including healthcare, financial services, insurance, education, government and legal. Strong support and maintenance programs supported significant deferred revenue growth as well.

• Solidified Technology Partner Relationships – Throughout 2011, RES Software continued to demonstrate its strong bond with some of the industry’s largest technology vendors, including Microsoft, Citrix and Intel. After announcing a strategic commitment to the Microsoft System Center family of products, RES was invited to showcase its products in the Microsoft Partner Solutions Center. Citrix also elevated the company’s standing within the Citrix Ready® program, and RES played an important role in Intel’s Cloud Builders program and Intel’s Intelligent Desktop Virtualization initiatives throughout the year.

The continued rise of the “consumerization of IT” has workers accessing corporate computing resources via a range of different devices, including rich clients, tablets and smartphones, and through a variety of methods (traditional installation, remote and local virtualized delivery) across both private and public clouds. By managing desktop resources independently of devices, RES Software simplifies IT for organizations. More specifically, the unique context-aware capabilities of the company’s software provide greater control, compliance and intelligence during a time of unprecedented information access, regulatory concern and information overload.

“RES Software has continued to prosper and grow, and we are entering 2012 in a strong market position. The continued global expansion of our customer and partner bases serves as a clear validation of our deep understanding of the needs today’s IT organizations are facing,” said Klaus Besier, CEO of RES Software. “We’re looking forward to expanding our product range in 2012, and continuing to develop enterprise solutions that simplify IT is our ultimate goal. There has never been a time when IT had to be as flexible, secure and versatile as it is today, and we expect to build on our success and maintain momentum in the coming year and beyond.”

Source:http://www.openpr.com/news/209210/RES-Software-Enters-2012-Following-Record-Breaking-Year.html

Students given eye care software

January 25th, 2012

The University of KwaZulu-Natal’s optometry department has been bolstered with a software donation of R600 000 from Digital Optometry.

Handing the programme over at the university’s Westville campus on Monday, Graham Chrich, an optometrist from donors Digital Optometry, said Spectrum High Care would make life easier for students.

The days of doing eye tests with eye charts would soon be gone.

“This software has more accuracy,” he said. Optometrists would need only the program loaded on to a laptop.

Optometry lecturer Rekha Hansraj said it would be a big help to the students.

“I used to manually fit lenses when I was younger and now these students will have everything digitally.”

”It also caters for different ages and different people because it has various languages and has pictures displayed on the screen which will not distract people.”

Chrich presented all third- and fourth-year students with their own Spectrum Eye Care software and support packs.

He also announced that the top student in optometric studies could win a prize worth R25 000 from Digital Optometry which would include a laptop, case and two-year software sponsorship once they were in professional practice. – The Mercury

Source:http://www.iol.co.za/lifestyle/students-given-eye-care-software-1.1218830

Basic computer training with speaking software

January 3rd, 2012

As their names were called out one by one, they stood up and went up front to receive a Dell laptop and a 4 GB pen-drive each.

The nine students were then instructed to open the sealed carton box, pull out what was inside and place it on the table. Next they were asked plug the adaptor in the power port and identify the ethernet and drive port.

Nine visually impaired students of the National Institute of Visual Impairment, Khaling (NIVIK), are in Dewathang for a one-month training, which started yesterday, to learn basic computers. They are guided by six resource persons.

The laptops are installed with speaking software that gives instructions each time a button is pressed. “I always wished to own a laptop but could never afford to buy it,” one of the students said. “Even if I’d bought, I would not know how to use it.”

Another student said that he could listen to music too. “It’s such a pride being visually impaired yet owning a laptop,” 20-year old class XI student, Jigme Yangzom, said.

Three of the nine students are of low vision major, three are of low vision minor, and three severely impaired (complete blindness).

Principal of NIVIK and one of the resource persons, Tshongpen Wangdi, said similar courses were given to three batches, but this was the first time it was given to pre-service students.

“We’re expecting these students to qualify for college, for which knowing how to use a computer is necessary,” he said.

During the 88 sessions, these students will learn basic computer course in Microsoft excel, word, powerpoint, internet browsing and using email. The course is funded by the government and laptops are by an agent in Norway.

Source:http://www.kuenselonline.com/2011/?p=24314

Software makes NGS analysis simpler

December 2nd, 2010

Equipped with a robust computational core and simple user interface, SeqSolve performs tertiary-level analyses for biologically relevant results.

SeqSolve also allows transcriptomics labs to step into RNA-seq data analysis through enabling complete profiling of RNA-seq data.

Results are original, biologically relevant and supported by powerful statistics.

The first version of the SeqSolve solution features a broad RNA-seq analysis portfolio, including differential gene expression measurement, as well as dynamic and interactive scientific visualisations.

It comes with exclusive Click and Go technology and an intelligent quality control system that allows complete and automatic profiling of transcriptome data.

The initial analysis with SeqSolve was published earlier this year in Nature Journal and is the same analysis that can now be automatically performed in minutes on a laptop by the commercial version of SeqSolve.

Source:http://www.laboratorytalk.com/news/nig/nig103.html

Anti-theft software helps recover laptops, phones

November 1st, 2010

Property thefts are typically the most common crimes on college campuses, but some students are finding better ways to secure their belongings anti-theft software.

As of Oct. 26, there have been 274 reports of thefts on campus in 2010, according to Sgt. Blake Tabor, LSU Police Department spokesman. There were only 229 during the same time frame last year.

“Thefts overall are up by 45, and that includes all kinds of theft,” Tabor said.

Tabor said anti-theft software can help facilitate retrieval.

“If students have that kind of software on their computers, it makes our chances of recovering [items] that much greater,” he said.

A student helped LSUPD officers recover his stolen laptop Oct. 11 by activating anti-theft software.

The free software, downloaded from preyproject.com, installs a small agent into a laptop or phone. When the item is stolen, the owner can activate the agent, which sends out the item’s exact Wi-Fi location, according to the website.

The software also lets owners take screen shots, sound an alarm, send the thief a message, activate the webcam, wipe all personal passwords or even lock down the laptop, according to the website.

Det. Kevin Scott, LSUPD spokesman, said officers caught the perpetrator within hours of the laptop being stolen.

“We were able to pinpoint his exact location and recover the laptop within 16 hours,” Scott said.

Tabor said LSUPD has been assisted by similar software in the past. There are different types of anti-theft software, including GadgetTrak and Bak2u for phones and laptops and LoJack for laptops.

Recording serial and model numbers is another way students can keep track of items, Tabor said.

Tabor said the data can be plugged into the National Crime Information Center, a computerized database where stolen items can be tagged and recovered.

“The vast majority doesn’t record that information,” he said. “Without those records, recovery is like a shot in the dark.”

Source:http://www.lsureveille.com/news/anti-theft-software-helps-recover-laptops-phones-1.2388813

Dell Unveils New XPS Laptops And Alienware Arena Portal

October 25th, 2010

Providing the ultimate mobile entertainment experience, Dell’s family of new XPS laptops deliver pulse pounding JBL and Waves sound design, a cinema-like HD video experience featuring cutting-edge graphics from NVIDIA, and the industry’s first Skype-certified laptops with HD video streaming webcams so you can stay close to friends and family.

In addition, the new family of laptops which come in 14- and 15-inch screen sizes are all 3D TV ready and include NVIDIA’s 3DTV Play software which allows users to connect their Dell XPS notebooks to new 3D HDTVs and play hundreds of popular PC games in 3D, watch Blu-ray 3D movies, and browse 3D photos and videos in immersive, stereoscopic 3D.1 Featuring exceptional sound, video and now 3D-capabilities, the new premium systems mark the return of the highly regarded XPS brand, which blends elegantly crafted style, world-class features and premium performance in products that stand up to rigorous standards. The XPS brand joins the Inspiron and Alienware families in enhancing Dell’s offerings just in time for the holidays.

The XPS laptops were designed for creative explorers — individuals who are passionate about art, film, photos, and value an immersive entertainment experience. Their daily lives are multimedia experiences that they share with each other, whether it’s uploading photos, creating videos or listening to their favourite band play a concert on the other side of the world.

The stylish laptops come standard with silver anodized aluminum display back and palmrest, or can be personalized with one of more than 70 original designs from Dell Design Studio.

“We’re pushing the limits once again this time with our new line of XPS laptops, which offer pulsing audio from JBL and Waves, new high-definition screens driven by NVIDIA technology and the industry’s first Skype-certified laptops with the first webcam allowing HD video streaming,” said Ian Chapman-Banks, General Manager, Consumer, Dell Asia Pacific. “The XPS brand has always been the standard-bearer for outstanding performance from Dell, and the new line of laptops is no exception. No laptop PCs have ever sounded or looked so great.”

Source:http://www.hardwarezone.com/tech-news/view/93292

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