Software News

titleConfused consumers hang up on advanced cell phone features
/titlecategory1/categoryConfused consumers hang up on advanced cell phone features.
Along with a new focus on user interface simplicity, handset manufactures and cell phone software developers are also working on application marketplaces that dramatically simplify the processes of distribution, purchasing, and downloading. Apples App Store just served its 500 millionth application download last week and Android has a blossoming marketplace. Palm has an app store for its current devices and forthcoming Linux-based Pre smartphone, and even Microsoft will join the mobile app store party with the launch of Windows Mobile 7. /p p A number of existing and upcoming solutions are poised to bring some usability to cell phones. While it is unfortunate to see such a high level of frustration with these devices persist even in 2009, carriers and handset manufacturers are finally listening and taking the competitive battle to the hitherto unscathed pastures of simplicity and user experience.a href=http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20090119-confused-consumers-hang-up-on-advanced-cell-phone-features.html target=_blank rel=nofollowmore/a
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titleWallingford Software Launches Free Edition Of InfoWorks RS
/titlecategory1/categoryWallingford Software Launches Free Edition Of InfoWorks RS.
Wallingford Software has announced the immediate availability of InfoWorks RS free edition: a 250-node edition of the InfoWorks RS 1D modelling solution for river and coastal systems. InfoWorks RS is the most sophisticated and comprehensive river modelling package in the world, with users throughout Europe, North America and Asia. /p p InfoWorks RS free edition provides the ideal introduction to river modelling for small flood risk assessments, localised flood mapping updates and refinements, assessing bridge afflux, small flood defence and river engineering design, catchment flood and surface water resource management plans, receiving water impact studies and river restoration design. /p p InfoWorks RS free edition will also prove invaluable for teaching river modelling in university and consultancy environments.a href=http://www.wateronline.com/article.mvc/Wallingford-Software-Launches-Free-Edition-Of-0001 target=_blank rel=nofollowmore/a
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titleAutonomy pays $775m for US software group Interwoven
/titlecategory1/categoryAutonomy pays $775m for US software group Interwoven.
The blue-chip technology group Autonomy is banking on a rise in companies turning to software to deal with legal challenges and increased regulation after it splashed out $775m (pound;559m) on the US group Interwoven. /p /p p The Cambridge-based firm announced yesterday it had agreed a $16.20-per share deal for Interwoven, which specialises in content management software for the legal sector. Autonomy shares closed up almost 4 per cent at 1,072p. /p p The combination of the two companies will redefine how global 2000 corporations, leading law firms and government regulators will discover, analyse and manage information, it said in a statement. The deal was funded by $162m cash reserves, a share issue worth about $350m, and new debt of $200m. /p p Autonomy, run by Mike Lynch, specialises in software tracking unstructured data including emails, instant messages and voice calls.a href=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/autonomy-pays-775m-for-us-software-group-interwoven-1513508.html target=_blank rel=nofollowmore/a
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titleTest Drive the latest software with the Microsoft Action Pack
/titlecategory1/categoryTest Drive the latest software with the Microsoft Action Pack.
Get the latest Microsoft? software, tools, training, and business-critical support at an affordable cost to help you close more sales, differentiate yourself from the competition, and develop a roadmap for growth. Your Microsoft Action Pack subscription (MAPS) consists of a Welcome Kit and three Quarterly Update Kits that include internal-use software licenses for key desktop solutions such as Microsoft Office, server software such as Windows? Server?, Windows Essential Business Server, or Windows Small Business Server and the Windows Vista? Business and Windows Vista Ultimate operating systems. Visit us at http://partner.microsoft.com/actionpack, call 877-283-1925 or email MAPS-NA@microsoft.com for more details today. p This Promotion Valid Thru: 6/30/02009 br p Microsoft Corporation br Microsoft US Partner Program br 1 Microsoft Way br Redmond WA 98052 br 877-283-1925 br MAPS-NA@microsoft.com /p .a href=http://www.crn.com/promofinder/view.jhtml?promo_id=16600001 target=_blank rel=nofollowmore/a
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titleAegis All Over
/titlecategory1/categoryAegis All Over.
Thus costs about $12 million a ship, mainly for new software and a few new hardware items. This is seen as a safe investment. The Aegis anti-missile system has had a success rate of over 80 percent, in knocking down incoming ballistic missile warheads during test firings. To achieve this, two similar models of the U.S. Navy Standard anti-aircraft missile are used, in addition to a modified version of the Aegis radar system, which can now track incoming ballistic missiles. /p p The RIM-161A, also known as the Standard Missile 3 (or SM-3), has a range of over 500 kilometers and max altitude of over 160 kilometers. The Standard 3 is based on the anti-missile version of the Standard 2 (SM-2 Block IV). This SM-2 missile turned out to be effective against ballistic missiles ballistic missile warheads that are closer to their target.a href=http://www.strategypage.com/dls/articles/Aegis-All-Over-1-25-2009.asp target=_blank rel=nofollowmore/a
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titleJamming Stretches Across the World as Musicians Collaborate over
/titlecategory1/categoryJamming Stretches Across the World as Musicians Collaborate over.
They can also play piano together via the Web using special software programs, such as TimeWarp Technologiesrsquo;s Internet MIDI Software. /p I believe this is going to make it possible to develop musical communities of students and teachers who otherwise wouldrsquo;ve had a hard time hellip; getting together, says George Litterst, president of TimeWarp Technologies, in Massachusetts. /p Gay Garard-Brewer never imagined she would continue to teach her piano students after moving from California to Montana. But after installing the TimeWarp software and a DSL connection two months ago, she started to teach them over the Internet. Recently, she and Litterst even played piano with her students and watched from afar during a piano recital in California. /p One advantage of teaching remotely, she says, is having greater availability for lesson times, but a disadvantage is not being able to reach over and take a kidrsquo;s hand hellip; and [move] it to the correct spot. /p Another obstacle when teaching remotely, Shoemaker says, is the occasional loss of video and audio capabilities through Skype due to poor Internet connections.a href=http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/life-times/article/7390.html target=_blank rel=nofollowmore/a
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titleTale Of Two Microsofts: How Does Redmond Develop Software?
/titlecategory1/categoryTale Of Two Microsofts: How Does Redmond Develop Software?.
My recent post (a rant, really) More Than Coding Mistakes At Fault In Bad Software, lamented the lack of well-tempered development practices, particularly as regards PC software, among most programmers. Which leads directly to another can of worms — namely, how do they do things at Microsoft? /p p According to my sources, theres both a very good side to the software behemoth and a not-so-great component. Here are excerpts from two e-mails I received from people who Ive verified worked at Microsoft. (References which could reveal the names of the guilty have been removed.) /p p The first correspondent gives a highly encouraging report of a thorough approach thats applied toward constructing software: /p I entered Microsoft in 2000. They had a very formal model and set of training required for all new hires.a href=http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2009/01/tale_of_two_mic.html target=_blank rel=nofollowmore/a
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titleAccuracy main concern for tax software
/titlecategory1/categoryAccuracy main concern for tax software.
Intuit Canada Inc.s QuickTax remains the top-selling tax software package in Canada but the Edmonton-based firm has belatedly recognized it needs to respond to users who are demanding more value. /p p In a column I wrote last April, I noted that many loyal QuickTax users had become restless as the competitive alternatives dried up. Intuit bought out one domestic competitor called TaxWiz, offered it a few years then quietly withdrew TaxWiz from the market. /p p The other major alternatives, apart from various web-based applications listed at www.netfile.gc.ca, are TaxTron and UFile. Both trumpet their 100% Canadian credentials. And now, as reported yesterday, HR Block Canada is offering a retail tax package which is essentially a repackaged or white label version of UFile.a href=http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/calgarybusiness/story.html?id=7f5d3eaf-4224-43fc-9776-b07d949c00ee target=_blank rel=nofollowmore/a
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titleSoftware Development Communities: Size Matters
/titlecategory1/categorySoftware Development Communities: Size Matters.
When it comes to comparing software development communities, it turns out that size does matter. When comparing two programming languages, most of us focus on things like syntactical differences, supported paradigms (such as object-oriented programming), deployment issues, performance, and many other factors. However, for large enterprise development, and especially for large enterprise development with many unknowns or risk factors, the size of the development community for that particular language can be an important consideration. The same argument can be made for frameworks, libraries, and other development tools. /p p While newer languages and frameworks with smaller development communities certainly have their advantages, there is no denying that some of their appeal can sometimes be traced to motivating factors such as the Magpie Effect, resume-driven development, Emperors New Clothes Effect, Lemmings Effect, and other such motivators.a href=http://www.javaworld.com/community/?q=node/2327 target=_blank rel=nofollowmore/a
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titleRE: Social malware works for others, why not Mac?
/titlecategory1/categoryRE: Social malware works for others, why not Mac?.
Back on-topic, the same explanation goes for this iWorks malware, people know the risks of downloading pirated software, they know what theyre doing is risky - and they still do it. The people who download, install pirated software and complain about the negative effects - I have the same sympathy for them as those who have bareback sex and complain afterwards theyve contracted an STD. They knew the risks but went ahead and did it anyway. Oh, and lets be honest, iWorks is hardly an expensive piece of software - for goodness sake, just buy the damn thing; really NZ$179 and even cheaper if youre a student. /p .a href=http://www.newmobilecomputing.com/thread?345070 target=_blank rel=nofollowmore/a
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