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SAP, Salesforce.com make apps with Google Wave

Google's Wave communication and collaboration platform is getting early interest from enterprise application vendors like Salesforce.com and SAP.

Both companies have built prototype applications using Wave, which was released in preview mode for about 100,000 users on Wednesday after being available only to developers. Wave combines a range of technologies such as document sharing and instant messaging into a system for real-time collaboration.

SAP Research and the vendor's NetWeaver development team created an application called Gravity using Wave. In a demonstration video, Gravity is used to develop process models for a hypothetical merger between an insurance company and a bank. Once completed, the process models are exported into SAP's BPM (business process modeling) software for further refinement.

Meanwhile, Salesforce.com created an extension that employs Wave for customer service. A demonstration video shows how a customer in need of support can use Wave to start a dialogue with an automated support robot. The system also creates a case record in Salesforce.com. If the robot can't answer the user's questions, the user can request a live representative, who joins the conversation.

Google is mulling the prospect of a "monetizable wave extension store," according to an official blog post, through which these applications and others could conceivably be sold.

But while Wave is an intriguing technology, at this point it doesn't quite meet the needs of enterprises, according to Redmonk analyst Stephen O'Grady.

"For both ISVs and enterprises, the usability will have to be improved," he said. "It's still an intimidatingly new technology for less technical users, so Google would do well to work with potential partners to abstract needless complexity and exposing only the business functionality required."

Google acknowledged that Wave remains a work in progress in an official blog post this week, saying it "isn't quite ready for prime time" and noting that key features, such as a draft mode, remain to be implemented.

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Windows Server 2008 R2

Windows 7 may be grabbing the headlines, but it’s not the only new operating system on the block. Originally dubbed Windows 7 Server, the now more conservatively styled Windows Server 2008 (WS 2008) R2 could do for servers what the Vista replacement is expected to deliver on the desktop. That’s because, unlike the R2 for Windows Server 2003, the WS 2008 R2 is packed full of enhanced and, in some cases, totally new features, the most keenly awaited of which has to be Hyper-V 2.0.

The new Windows hypervisor removes the thorn of live migration from Microsoft’s side, enabling virtual machines to be migrated between host servers while still running, for example to balance loads or allow for server maintenance. Rival VMware has had this option with VMotion for years but it’s costly, whereas with Hyper-V 2.0 it’s bundled in both the full Windows Server 2008 R2 package and the standalone Hyper-V Server implementation.

Live migration is facilitated by another new feature of the R2 release called Clustered Shared Volume, part of an enhanced Failover Clustering role that enables virtual hard disks used by virtual machines (VMs) to be shared.

Clustering in WS 2008 wasn’t always easy, but we had no problems setting up an R2 cluster. Indeed, once we’d sorted out the servers to use and the disks we wanted to share the whole process took just a few minutes using the enhanced Failover Clustering Manager in WS 2008 R2 to both configure the cluster and manage VM migration.

Migrating virtual machines
We were also impressed by the speed and ease with which VMs could be migrated. That’s because there’s a lot of background preparatory work with a duplicate VM first created on the target server to which memory and state information from t he source VM is replicated. That done, the source VM is shut down and the new VM started in seconds with no discernible interruption in service as far as applications and users are concerned

Live migration can also be managed from the command line PowerShell interface, although to fully exploit this and other new Hyper-V features you’ll need the R2 release of System Center Virtual Machine Manager, expected within 60 days of the new hypervisor. Note, however, that you still can’t migrate VMs between servers with processors from different vendors, although migration to another processor family from the same vendor is now possible.

Other changes in Hyper-V include the ability to boot physical as well as virtual machines from VHD images, and add and remove storage on running VMs. Terminal Services also gets an overhaul and a new name – Remote Desktop Services – reflecting the inclusion of new Virtual Desktop Integration technologies. However, 2008 R2 isn’t just about virtualisation with lots of other usability and management enhancements plus new facilities when Windows 7 clients are connected to the OS.

We installed the software on a variety of servers and found the process a lot quicker and simpler than for the original WS 2008 product with far less operator input required. Tools to automate rollouts are available but a typical bare metal install took us around an hour with the end result a minimal yet secure server ready to be fine-tuned using the re-vamped Server Manager console from which we added the various roles and features we wanted. These are unchanged from WS 2008 but the setup tools are, again, more automated, added to which Server Manager can now be run remotely - a real boon when servers are tucked away in inhospitable machine rooms.

Another new addition is an Active Directory Administrative Center, a kind of super console that groups together tools to perform directory tasks, such as manage users, computers and sites across multiple domains and forests. Again, this is a welcome addition, although some work is needed to make the interface as slick as the more mature Microsoft Management Console snap-ins it’s designed to replace.

Likewise, it’s good to find a recycle bin implemented to undo changes made to the Active Directory structure. However, the recycle bin wasn’t turned on by default and there’s no graphical interface requiring us to scrabble about on the command line and wade through the help files to activate and make use of this option.

PowerShell 2.0 is another key component with lots of new features including an Active Directory plug-in and new remote management tools. System administrators have been calling for these since WS 2008 was first launched, but a fair degree of technical competence is needed to master PowerShell, and its command line interface doesn’t suit everyone. Smaller businesses in particular could struggle and will be better off using the graphical tools which deliver the same functionality in a more accessible format.

'Better together'
Then there are the so-called 'better together' features when WS 2008 R2 is deployed alongside Windows 7 desktops. The most notable is DirectAccess, giving remote users secure access to network resources without the need for a complex virtual private network. We tried it with the release candidate of Windows 7, and were impressed with both the seamless client experience and at how straightforward it was to set up and manage. Unfortunately there are no plans to extend DirectAccess to other client platforms at present which will seriously limit its uptake.

Other more widely applicable R2 enhancements include an updated web server (IIS 7.5) together with support for both IIS and .Net applications in Server Core. However, there are issues to bear in mind, such as the fact that WS 2008 R2 is 64-bit only, plus the need for well specified hardware to get the best of what it has to offer.

On a server with the latest quad-core Xeon 5500 processors and 64GB of RAM, for example, the OS sailed through the various tasks we gave it. On an older single core Xeon box with a more modest 4GB of memory, however, it struggled, especially when we tried to run multiple VMs when there were noticeable delays and lots of extra disk activity.

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Review: Trend Micro Worry-Free Business Security Advanced 6.0

Internet threats continue to grow at an alarming rate, making it hard to keep protection up to date, while the tools themselves can be really intrusive. Trend Micro’s Worry-Free Business Security Advanced 6.0 addresses both issues, most notably through its innovative new Smart Scan technology, which offloads much of the work involved to remote servers elsewhere.

Rather than maintain a collection of signatures on each client, Smart Scan signatures are divided into those for known threats, such as Trojans and spyware (around 80 per cent), and those mutating rapidly, which it handles using heuristics (roughly 20 per cent). Only the heuristic scanning is done locally on the client PC, with the rest handled either by a security server on the LAN or, if out of the office, a Trend service in the Cloud.

The end result is the ability to distribute updates more rapidly while the local client has far less impact in terms of processing and memory requirements. The new Worry-Free client can also be configured to pause during high CPU consumption, plus it offers a number of other enhancements including protection against threats transmitted by portable USB devices.

As the name implies, the Worry-Free suite is designed to take the worry out of network protection with a suite of tools to protect against viruses, spam, spyware and most other common malware. Customers with limited expertise can get a reseller to install and remotely manage the product, but given that it took us less than half a day to fully deploy on a small company LAN, most small business managers should be able to get by without outside help.

The first task was to configure the central security server, for which we used an existing file server running Windows Server 2003, although any version of Windows from 2000 onwards can be employed. There’s support too for both 32-bit and 64-bit implementations, and for small deployments a desktop PC can be used instead. A web server is also needed to host the management console, which we didn’t have, but that wasn’t a problem as the setup program installing Apache on our server could handle this side of things.

We then needed to distribute the security agent to our other servers, desktops and notebooks, for which a variety of tools are available. In our case we opted to push the software out centrally via the web console, which worked reasonably well, except for a couple of PCs where we emailed the users a link for them to install locally. Alternatively, we could have added the link to an internal web site, used login scripts or created a custom package for distribution using Windows group policy or a third-party distribution tool.

Regardless of deployment method, the agent took just a couple of minutes to install and once in place started protecting the PC straight away. Moreover, unlike some security tools, the default settings are likely to suit most customers’ needs. So, for example, Smart Scan is turned on by default and updates retrieved from the server on an hourly basis. Another nice feature is the availability of different security profiles for when users are in the office and connected to the LAN, or when out and about.

A security agent for Exchange is also included, although on our network we had an SMTP server and a lot of small businesses will use hosted services. Fortunately, that’s not a problem as you also get a bundled licence for Trend’s hosted security scanner, InterScan Messaging Hosted Security. To use this we simply provided Trend with our domain name, and then had our DNS records updated to point incoming mail at the InterScan servers. That done, messages were filtered for viruses and spam before being forwarded to our local SMTP mail server as normal.

Other things we liked included the ability to disable Windows autorun when a USB device was connected to a client, graphical management of quarantined files, and the ability in this release to filter and block access to specific types of web site. The fact that users hardly noticed what was going on was a major plus too, the Smart Scan technology making the Worry-Free client far less of a drain compared with a lot of alternatives.

On the downside, Worry-Free is a Windows-only solution with no protection available for either Apple Mac or Linux systems. Another potential concern was that, like other security suites, it might prove a little too comprehensive for its own good, but with Worry-Free Business Security Advanced 6.0, Trend seems to have found the right balance between security and ease of use. Indeed, once configured, we found it very straightforward to manage with little day-to-day administration required other than the occasional check of the web-based console to see what it was up to.

Source

Microsoft Security Essentials Available for Download

After introducing its antivirus software to 75,000 beta testers in June as Microsoft Security Essentials Beta, Microsoft has made its Security Essentials antivirus software available as a free download.

The software, initially code-named Morro, is said to protect PCs against malware, computer viruses, and spyware. Microsoft replaced its subscription-based Windows Live OneCare with Morro after discontinuing OneCare in June.

Microsoft Security Essentials is ideal for low-bandwidth scenarios or less-powerful PCs, according to the company. By targeting the core anti-malware features that most consumers do not keep up to date, the software behemoth said, it will provide the essential protection that consumers need without overusing system resources.

Not a Suite

The Redmond, Wash.-based company said making the software available free is about taking down cost barriers that in the past have stopped customers from purchasing up-to-date security protection for their PCs.

"Security has always been one of the big issues surrounding Windows, so it makes sense for Microsoft to make it easy as well as cheap for Windows users to be protected," said Michael Gartenberg, an Interpret analyst.

Microsoft is also quick to remind potential users that the Security Essentials software is not a security suite that provides rich PC-tuning capabilities or backs up data.

"But if what you are looking for is 'install and forget' malware protection and solid quality, Microsoft Security Essentials may be just what you have been waiting for," the Microsoft Security Essentials team wrote in an official blog. Because it's free, no registration is required and no personal information is collected, according to Microsoft.

The software, which is available in eight languages and in 19 markets for Windows PCs, runs in the background so PC users are able to work without interruptions or long waits.

Wiping Out Competition

While Microsoft said its security software is to protect PC users, the free software may also wipe out the need to pay for other security software, including those from Arbor Networks, Symantec and McAfee.

When Microsoft first introduced the beta version of Security Essentials, analysts said the move would cause sleepless nights for competitors McAfee and Symantec, who would be worried about users switching from paid-for to free software.

"Microsoft has not been troubled in the past about adding features to Windows at the expense of third parties to make Windows users' lives better, so this move totally makes sense," Gartenberg said.

The free software release comes just weeks before Microsoft's new Windows 7 operating system will hit store shelves. It's unclear if Security Essentials will be tied into Windows 7 as its default antivirus software or continue as a stand-alone download.

One thing that is clear is that Microsoft will be walking a tight line if it includes the software protection in Windows 7 after facing $1 billion in fines from the European Commission for including Windows Media Player in a previous version of Windows.

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Shadow Professional

Shadow Professional

The most reliable privacy protection software on today's market

Shadow Professional is a complete suite of tools to keep web activity, files and documents strictly private. Press start and surf web without any evidence. Make your secret bookmarks hidden, shred files, use disk wiper and have hidden folder for your private documents.

Packed with its Hidden Secret Folders for downloaded files, with Secret Bookmark, with complete Manual Clean Up Editor and with Active Shred Editor - Shadow Professional is premiere, full featured and extremely reliable solution for anyone who wants to take care of their own privacy, whether in home or office.

Shadow Professional Features :

Privacy Mode - your secret web sessions without leaving browsing evidence.
Privacy Mode - support for applications
Password protection from unauthorized use
Panic Keys, Hot Keys and Boss Keys
Scheduler
Stealth Mode
Complete support for Internet Explorer, Internet Explorer 7, Firefox, Netscape, Netscape Browser 8, Opera and AOL latest version
Multi Profile Support for Browsers
Erase Browser Cache
Erase Browser URL History
Erase Browser Typed URLs Addresses
Erase Browser Cookies
Erase Auto complete Forms
Erase index.dat files without restart
Reset Browser Download Folder Memory
Clear Google Toolbar History
Clear Google History
Clear Yahoo History
Reset Opera Tabs
Cookie Manager
Typed URL-s Manager
Profile Manager
Erase Windows Temporary Files (Temp Folder)
Erase Recent Document History
Erase Run History
Erase Search History
Erase Find Computers History
Empty Recycle Bin
Empty Clipboard
Clear Open/Save Dialog History
Clear User Assist Tracks from Registry
Delete MS Office Temporary Files
Erase Outlook Express Deleted Mails
Erase Folder Streams from Registry
Clear Printer Streams
Clear Windows Swap Files
Empty Windows XP Prefect Folder
Clean Last Windows Logon Name
Erase My Network Places History
Erase CHK Files
Clear History Tracks From Various Programs
Plug-in Editor to make your own Plug-ins
More than 240 predefined Applications Plug-ins
File Shredder with Windows Shell integration
Implemented U.S. Department of Defense DoD 5220.22-M and Gutmann secure-erasing methods.
Disk Wiper to shredd unused free space
Home Page Protection
Secret Bookmark Editor
Secret Hidden Folder
Encrypted Folders
Integrated Secret Folder Viewer.
Secret Folder works in Safe Mode and over the Local Network
Active System Tray Integration

Size: 4,18 MB
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Creative Suite 4 Design Premium trial DVD

This software trial is a fully functional version of Adobe® Creative Suite® 4 Design Premium edition in a DVD set. Every feature and aspect of the product is available for you to test-drive. With the purchase of this trial DVD set, you can:

Evaluate the latest version of the software you know
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Converting your trial

When you are ready to buy, you can easily convert your product trial for unrestricted use without reinstalling the software in most cases.

Other ways to try products

Individual components of Creative Suite 4 are available to download as 30-day trials:

Adobe InDesign CS4 : Download free trial
Adobe Illustrator CS4 : Download free trial
Adobe Photoshop CS4 Extended : Download free trial

Adobe Illustrator CS3 software allows you to create sophisticated artwork for virtually any medium. Industry-standard drawing tools, flexible color controls, and professional type controls help you capture your ideas and experiment freely, while timesaving features such as easier-to-access options let you work quickly and intuitively. Improved performance and tight integration with other Adobe applications also help you produce extraordinary graphics for print, web and interactive, and mobile and motion designs.

Explore new paths with the essential vector tool
Discover new ways to experiment with color; work faster with new drawing tools and controls; and produce artwork for print, web, mobile, and motion designs with Adobe Illustrator CS3 software.

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Live Color
Explore, apply, and control color variations using Live Color, which lets you select any artwork and interactively edit the colors to see results immediately. Use the Color Guide panel to quickly choose tints, shades, or harmonious color combinations.

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Quickly and accurately convert photos, scans, or other bitmap images to editable and scalable vector paths using Live Trace.

Drawing tools and controls
Draw in Adobe Illustrator more quickly and fluidly than ever. Easier and more flexible anchor point selection, improved operating performance, and a new Eraser tool help you create artwork efficiently and intuitively.

Integration with Adobe design applications
Speed your way through graphic designs and print production thanks to tight integration with Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, and Acrobat software.

Live Paint
Easily paint any closed or partially closed area of your artwork with the Live Paint Bucket, which automatically detects and corrects gaps and lets you interactively select colors from a Swatch palette for faster work.

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Discover more options faster and free up screen space by accessing anchor point controls, clipping masks, envelope distortions, and more from the context-sensitive Control panel.

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Review Internet Explorer 8

With Internet Explorer 8 promised to arrive in 2008, Microsoft has taken a huge step forward this week by announcing the first public beta of the new browser.

Predictably named 'Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1' the browser won't be the radical (and much needed) overhaul seen between IE6 and IE7. Instead the primary difference will be 'Acid2' compatibility - in a nutshell: compliance with universal web standards so that everything on a web page looks and works as it should. This sounds obvious but, with designers constantly having to configure sites to work with multiple browsers, it isn't and should solve a vast array of programming problems and speed web page design. Firefox 3 will also pass Acid2 tests.

In addition to this, IE8 will also add ACR (automatic crash recovery) - saving your web pages in event of a crash - something most other browsers have had for years, expand its phishing filter (and rename it 'Safety Filter') to encompass malware threats and add a context sensitive right click menu (postcodes offer map searches, etc).

Grab it from the link below and for those obsessed with the minutiae check out the full release notes. Having tested out the beta myself, Firefox and Opera fans have nothing to fear, but IE users will get a little closer to knowing what it feels like to use a decent web browser...

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Internet Download Manager v5.18

Internet Download Manager v5.18 - The best way to handle your downloads and increase download speeds. Added full support for Windows Vista, YouTube, Google Video, MySpaceTV, IE7 and Firefox

Internet Download Manager (IDM) is a tool to increase download speeds by up to 5 times, resume and schedule downloads. Comprehensive error recovery and resume capability will restart broken or interrupted downloads due to lost connections, network problems, computer shutdowns, or unexpected power outages. Simple graphic user interface makes IDM user friendly and easy to use.Internet Download Manager has a smart download logic accelerator that features intelligent dynamic file segmentation and safe multipart downloading technology to accelerate your downloads. Unlike other download managers and accelerators Internet Download Manager segments downloaded files dynamically during download process and reuses available connections without additional connect and login stages to achieve best acceleration performance.

Internet Download Manager supports proxy servers, ftp and http protocols, firewalls, redirects, cookies, authorization, MP3 audio and MPEG video content processing. IDM integrates seamlessly into Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape, MSN Explorer, AOL, Opera, Mozilla, Mozilla Firefox, Mozilla Firebird, Avant Browser, MyIE2, and all other popular browsers to automatically handle your downloads. You can also drag and drop files, or use Internet Download Manager from command line. Internet Download Manager can dial your modem at the set time, download the files you want, then hang up or even shut down your computer when it's done.

Other features include multilingual support, zip preview, download categories, scheduler pro, sounds on different events, HTTPS support, queue processor, html help and tutorial, enhanced virus protection on download completion, progressive downloading with quotas (useful for connections that use some kind of fair access policy or FAP like Direcway, Direct PC, Hughes, etc.), built-in download accelerator, and many others.

Version 5.18 adds IDM download panel for web-players that can be used to download flash videos from sites like YouTube, MySpaceTV, and Google Videos. It also features complete Vista support, YouTube grabber, redeveloped scheduler, and MMS protocol support. The new version also adds improved integration for IE and IE based browsers, redesigned and enhanced download engine, the unique advanced integration into all latest browsers, improved toolbar, and a wealth of other improvements and new features.