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Dell adds secure application data synchronization to cloud portfolio

Publié: mai 15, 2012, 9:47pm CEST par Ed Oswald

Less than a week after announcing a major Desktop-as-a-Service product in Simplified DaaS, Dell said Tuesday it would offer methods to securely sync sensitive data across disparate cloud services. Called Integration Packs, Dell initially is offering synchronization services between Salesforce CRM and the software version of QuickBooks.

An integration pack for synchronization between the online version of QuickBooks and Salesforce CRM and Microsoft Dynamics and Salesforce CRM is due in June. All three packs have a $65 monthly service charge, Dell says.

Dell created the services from its in-house Boomi technology, which it acquired from a company of the same name back in 2010. Boomi specialized in data transfer between different cloud applications. The process of setting up synchronization is handled through wizards during the setup process and do not require third-party installation services.

All synchronization is done automatically and without user intervention. Order and invoice creation can be streamlined, as well as productivity and speed in collecting accounts receivable, Dell says.

Much of Dell's cloud portfolio is aimed at the small and medium-sized business segment, and data synchronization between applications is a useful service. With often limited staffing, SMBs benefit most from services like this which save time and manual labor from negating the need to synchronize accounts manually. SMBs turn to the cloud in order to save time and money, and Dell may have a valuable service here to offer these potential customers.

"Our customers tell us integration is a core requirement to successful adoption of cloud applications", cloud business software chief Paulette Altmaier says of Tuesday's announcement.

Photo Credit: sheelamohanachandran2010/Shutterstock
Chrome 19 arrives with tab syncing -- get it now!

Publié: mai 15, 2012, 7:16pm CEST par Mark Wilson

Google just pumped out another stable release of its web browser as Chrome 19 sees the light of day. It seems as though new browser releases are becoming an almost daily occurrence these days, so what can you expect from Google’s latest offering? Well the big new feature to be found in this release is tab syncing -- and this is as self-explanatory and awesome as it sounds.

In many regards Chrome is playing catch-up with Firefox here, as Mozilla’s web browser has featured the ability synchronize tabs for some time now. Chrome 19 takes very much the same approach so that whenever you are signed into your Google account any tabs you have open are automatically synced to the cloud. When you switch computers you can then access any tabs you had open on another machine by accessing the Other devices menu of the new tab page.

The feature works with all flavors of Chrome regardless of whether you are using Linux, Windows, OS X or even Android. You could be working on a project in the office before heading off home to continue working. Rather than remembering the names of the sites you have been looking at, or emailing yourself links, Chrome 19 ensures that you will have the same tabs available on your home computer so you can pick up where you left off.

And while tab syncing is undeniably great, it doesn’t end there. The same sync service is also used to synchronize your browsing history, bookmarks, themes and app settings between devices. It is also possible to synchronize browser extensions, helping you ensure that you have a uniform browsing experience no matter what computer you are using.

If you have followed the development of Chrome through the beta channels, these sync options are nothing new, but it’s great to see such a useful feature making its way out to the stable version. It almost goes without saying that the latest release also includes a bunch of bug fixes so if you have been experiencing problems with your browser, you should find that troublesome issues have been addressed with this release.

You can find out more and download a free copy of the app by paying a visit to the Google Chrome 19 review page.
VMware woos developers with Java cloud development platform

Publié: mai 15, 2012, 7:15pm CEST par Ed Oswald

VMware is known for its work in virtualization. The company aims to change that, and announced on Tuesday a new product to assist in the automation, deployment and management of complex applications on its cloud infrastructure. vFabric Suite 5.1 is a new product that takes code acquired through VMware's acquisition of SpringSource and adds additional functionality to make it more attractive to developers.

Application deployment automation, PostgreSQL and SQLFire support, and enterprise support have been added to the SpringSource code. VMware says that the service will help provide developers with the core application services they need to run Java Spring applications either on-site or in the cloud.

"The cloud era is driving a transformation in applications", Cloud and Application Services vice president Jerry Chen says. "This is driving a real transition in the type of technologies our customers are using to build, run and manage these new applications". The initial release of vFabric suite last year led to a doubling of VMware's cloud business during 2011.

vFabric suite's new version will be available within the next month or so for $1,500 per virtual machine. SQLFire is available at a rate of $2,500 per VM. The company says that it decided to sell vFabric Suite in this manner so that customers would only pay for what they need, rather than purchase excess licenses that may never be used.

That said, VMware has a large mountain to climb when it comes to actually attracting developers. SpringSource's Java development framework is somewhat popular, it does have competitors in the space from Oracle and the open-source Eclipse project. And then there's Microsoft.

The Redmond, Wash. company's .NET framework remains quite popular among developers, and Amazon recently added .NET support to its Beanstalk Platform-as-a-Service offering. Given AWS' strong position in the market, and .NET's comprehensive set of development tools, VMware has its work cut out for it if it wants to become a true player in the development space.

It's likely going to require a good deal of marketing and cajoling on the company's part to convince that its own tools are on the level of Microsoft's, say analysts.

Photo Credit: Sergej Khakimullin/Shutterstock
HCSS debuts construction ERP apps for iOS, Android devices

Publié: mai 15, 2012, 7:10pm CEST par Tim Conneally

Texas-based software company HCSS, which makes solutions for the construction industry, today announced a new suite of mobile applications for iOS and Android that connect construction field personnel with their home base job management and accounting systems.

With the new applications, simply called "HCSS Field Apps," employee and equipment hours can be tracked, production quantities can be managed, truck fleets can be tracked in real time, employee certifications and licenses can be handled, job site diaries and photos can be filed, and costs can be managed on a more granular and fluid level.

HCSS designed these to be standalone applications rather than web-based portals like many enterprise resource planning (ERP) offerings because the target user is going to be in areas where there might not be any data infrastructure. As such, these do not require a constant connection to be usable.

This type of mobile ERP software is not uncommon, with companies like Penta Technologies offering field management and communications software for rugged workplace devices, but HCSS is riding the wave of consumer hardware being used in the workplace, and offering software on the most popular mobile platforms gives the company an advantage in that its software can be installed on a wider variety of hardware.
SAP combines enterprise core with ready-to-use cloud

Publié: mai 15, 2012, 7:01pm CEST par Ed Oswald

SAP aims to show that it is a serious player in the cloud computing sector today, announcing several new cloud initiatives under what it calls an "accelerated" strategy. The company's deeper commitment to the cloud stems from its $3.4 billion merger with human capital management service provider SuccessFactors several months back.

Former SuccessFactors CEO Lars Dalgaard is now head of SAP's cloud unit, and he is tasked with turning the company's cloud business around. At the Sapphire Now Conference -- SAP's annual gathering in Orlando -- Dalgaard is showing off a line of solutions arranged around four different themes: people, money, customers and suppliers.

"The cloud is a completely new paradigm", Dalgaard argues. "We will provide integration among the cloud solutions and external content out-of-the-box with on-premise business software. We are passionate about bringing creative and innovative first-in-class applications to market with a beautiful user experience".

On the people and money front, SAP is integrating SuccessFactors' human resources services -- Employee Central -- with its own in-house cloud based payroll solution. Financials OnDemand is now integrated with Employee Central, which allows for companies to better manage cash flow. SAP says its Travel OnDemand service is also slated for integration in the near future.

Sales OnDemand will now receive quarterly updates, an obvious move to bring it more in line with rivals like Salesforce.com. A new application called Social Customer Engagement OnDemand will manage social reach, good news given a large majority of companies these days seem to be wasting money on social CRM initiatives.

For suppliers, SAP is investing in its Sourcing OnDemand and Information Interchange OnDemand solutions that will assist in supply acquisition and invoice management, respectively.

SAP's moves Tuesday are getting good reviews. "Today’s announcements show SAP combining its core strength of large enterprise applications with a ready-to-use cloud strategy for the first time", Forrester analyst Stefan Ried says. "SAP’s long-term cloud strategy needs to be a triple play: SaaS applications, an application-centric platform to extend them, and a new platform for the next generation of social business networks".

While Ried may be correct in saying SAP has finally got it right with the cloud, its track record so far has been pretty poor. The last major foray into cloud software back in 2007 was a major failure. SAP spent $500 million to introduce Business ByDesign, an effort aimed at making its management tools more manageable and affordable to small and medium sized business.

Even after an attempted relaunch in 2010, the service was only able to garner about 1,000 customers, which came nowhere near to recouping its costs.

Photo Credit: Alexander Kirch/Shutterstock
Frak, yeah, I'd use iPad if there was Google Chrome

Publié: mai 15, 2012, 6:48pm CEST par Joe Wilcox

What timing. I posted my iPad for sale on Craigslist over the weekend -- and two people are jockeying to get ahead of the other to buy it today. But I'm suddenly unsure about selling, after seeing a Macquarie Capital report claiming that Chrome will come to iOS as early as this quarter. Hot damn!

I rarely make decisions based on rumors, nor should you. Besides, the "timing is unclear, but it could be as soon as Q2 and is very likely to be a 2012 event", according to Macquarie Capital. "Could" be this quarter and "likely" this year stink of pure speculation -- or big back door should there be no Chrome for iOS this year. In the end, I'll likely sell the iPad, but must convey this: Chrome would be a very good reason to buy an iOS device but be akin to Google cutting off one limb to save another.

Shine That Tablet's Chrome

Yesterday, Ian Betteridge and I bantered back and forth about Chrome and iOS on Google Plus. He called Google services on Apple devices a "pretty good experience", to which I responded: "I would agree about the Google ecosystem with iPhone (and iPad) if Chrome was option. That's the deal breaker for me, sadly. I'm seriously thinking about selling my iPad, for that reason -- and another: Galaxy Nexus is tablet enough for me, so far".

As expressed last week, "You can have iPhone 4S, I'll take Galaxy Nexus". But there's more. I find the Google and Samsung branded smartphone good enough replacement for my iPad, too. Chrome for Android is one reason, Galaxy Nexus' super sharp, 4.65-inch, 1280 x 800 resolution screen is the other. Repeating a sentiment from my Galaxy Nexus HSPA+ review: I'd by the phone just for Chrome, which currently is only available for Android 4 "Ice Cream Sandwich", in beta.

Presumably, Chrome would be available for the newest iOS version, which means broader distribution than Android, since Apple doesn't have the same fragmentation problem. Based on number of devices accessing Google Play during the previous 14 days, Ice Cream Sandwich accounted for just 4.9 percent of the Android install base on May 1. Chrome has limited reach at best on Android, while distribution could be enormous on iOS, assuming people using the browser on the desktop go mobile, too. There, Chrome is third-most used browser and closes on Firefox, according to Net Applications.

Chrome is a huge improvement over the stock Android browser. It's fast and flows, but sync capabilities, which include active tabs on the desktop, really stand out. Last week's huge Google+ for iPhone update shows that the search and information giant can deliver exceptional user experiences on iOS. Why shouldn't Chrome be same?

A TACtical Decision

The problem: Chrome for iOS, particularly iPad, removes an important reason to choose Android tablets over Apple's. Google gains in one area, while giving up somewhere else. If Google offered Chrome for iOS right now, I'd keep my iPad. How many other people considering Apple's tablet would choose it over an Android because of Chrome? You can help answer that question by taking our poll.

In April, with considerably smaller install base, iPad took decisive mobile browser usage share lead from iPhone, according to NetApps. More broadly, in the mobile device category, Safari has 63.84 percent usage share, compared to 18.87 percent for Chrome. Google's browser could make usage share leaps competing alongside Safari on iOS devices. The cloud-connected device era is all about mobile. Google should want Chrome on market-leading devices like iPad.

If Google made Chrome available for iPad and iPhone, how likely would you be to use it over Safari?

Then there are traffic acquisitions costs, which eat into Google search margins. Macquarie Capital: "If GOOG gains market share, it could reduce our estimate for Google.com TAC meaningfully". Google pays Apple to compete with Android -- and Chrome, for that matter -- via Safari's search bar. Google's TAC goes down when people use Chrome.

Something else: Google services have a cloudy future on Apple devices. There already are rumors Apple will ditch Google Maps for a home-grown option in iOS 6. I expect to see a Siri search service someday replace Google. Chrome for iOS would be an important anchor for Google services as Apple offers more of its own from the cloud.

Even then, Chrome faces hurdles placed by Apple. Based on the browsers currently available for iOS, Safari is default for mail and other services. So Chrome would be at disadvantage, as long as Apple only allows Safari to be default. However, surely Chrome could be default for Google services -- gulp, right?

From that viewpoint, Chrome will always be better on Android. That said, Chrome on iOS ought to be pretty good, and if Google is going to feed the hand that bites it, better to extend existing services rather than pay TAC to Apple.

My question for you: Would you use Chrome over Safari on iPad or iPhone? Please answer the question below and take our poll above.
Easily change your Windows DNS settings

Publié: mai 15, 2012, 4:44pm CEST par Mike Williams

Troubleshooting, security, performance, there are lots of different reasons why you might want to change your PC’s DNS settings. But Windows doesn’t exactly make this easy. And even when you’ve figured out where you need to be (Network and Sharing Center > click the Internet connection > Properties > TCP/IP > Properties) you’ll still need to look up the address of whatever alternative Domain Name Service you’d prefer to use.

DNS Jumper, though, is a free and portable tool which offers a far simpler solution. The program provides a lengthy list of free DNS options, and all you have to do is choose one and click “Apply DNS”. (Although clicking “Flush DNS” to flush your DNS cache might also help, as it’ll allow the new service will take effect right away.)

Unsure which service might be best? Another option is to just click “Fastest DNS”. DNS Jumper will then test each service in turn before recommending the speediest, which you can again apply with a click.

Or, if you know precisely what you’re doing, then you can easily add additional services or edit the existing list (it’s held in an INI file in the program folder), and then use the program to quickly switch to whatever you need.

Playing around with DNS settings can be a risky business, of course. And DNS Jumper recognizes that and does its best to help out, by automatically backing up your original configuration when first run (choose “Restore” from the service list later to recover them). But there are still scenarios here where you could end up with faulty DNS settings and effectively a broken internet connection, so this isn’t a program for the networking novice, or anyone else who doesn’t know precisely what to do to restore their default setup, when necessary.

If you already know how to configure DNS, though, and are just looking for a quicker and easier way to do it, then DNS Jumper is ideal: compact, portable and hassle-free. Grab a copy for yourself and take a closer look.

Photo Credit: Sergej Khakimullin/Shutterstock
Emergency Kit 2 boosts speed by 450%

Publié: mai 15, 2012, 3:22pm CEST par Nick Peers

Austrian anti-malware vendor Emsisoft has announced the release of version 2 beta of its free portable malware removal and repair kit.Emsisoft Emergency Kit 2.0.0.4 Beta provides a selection of free tools for detecting and removing malware from an infected PC, including two scanning tools (one GUI, one command-line), a manual investigation and removal tool, plus BlitzBank, which can delete files, drivers and Registry entries at boot time to thwart malware protection.

Version 2 incorporates the scan engine from Emsisoft Anti-Malware 6, plus promises a 450-percent speed improvement on the previous build as well as direct disk access for better rootkit detection and removal.

The new scan engine employs Emsisoft Anti-Malware 6’s “dual scan engine framework”, which is designed to utilise multiple processor cores to boost performance, which is probably the prime driver behind Emsisoft’s claim that Emergency Kit 2 averages a 450-percent speed improvement on its predecessor without a loss in scanning functionality.

There’s a new direct disk scanning option that promises better rootkit detection, and this is reflected in changed scan presets -- in Rootkit scan is added by default, while Cookie scans are excluded.

The application also claims improved false positive handling -- an important improvement seeing as it erroneously claimed a Quicken 2002 DLL on our system was a Trojan. Users also gain greater control over what actions should be taken after a scan is complete -- click Actions on scan end when setting up a scan to choose what happens by default.

Version 2 also sees a new system for storing settings, which means existing settings are lost when updating from version 1 to 2. Like all Emsisoft beta updates, you need to have installed the previous version of Emsisoft Emergency Kit, then update through the Emergency Kit Scanner’s internal update system: on the main screen, click Updater settings, tick “Install beta updates”, then return to the Security Status menu before clicking Update now.

Emsisoft Emergency Kit 2.0.0.4 Beta is available now as a free download for PCs running Windows.

Photo Credit: kentoh/Shutterstock
Xara releases Photo and Graphic Designer MX 8, Designer Pro X 8

Publié: mai 15, 2012, 2:15pm CEST par Mike Williams

Xara unveiled the latest versions of the Designer family, Photo and Graphic Designer MX 8 and Designer Pro X 8. (Which, if the names mean nothing to you, are the packages formerly known as Xara Xtreme and Xara Xtreme Pro.)

As usual with these particular applications, Xara aims for maximum versatility. So both programs can handle most photo-editing, illustration, basic Flash animation and web graphics tasks, while Xara Designer Pro X 8 can also create complete websites and online presentations and has support for a stack of high-end design features (PANTONE, colour separation, PDF/X, XPS and more).

While the “What’s New” list this time doesn’t include any particular standout feature, there are still more than enough interesting additions to justify giving the programs a closer look.

New features in both Photo and Graphic Designer MX 8 and Designer Pro X 8, for instance, start with the new Text Styles option. This provides an easy way to modify the look and feel of the text right across your document, in just a few clicks.

Photo-editing improvements include powerful colour selection and hue adjustment tools.

The new Share menu makes it easy to share media files with Flickr, Facebook and other Xara/ MAGIX MX applications, and you get improved image optimisation, enhanced import in many areas (SVG, PDF, RAW, web URLs), faster publishing, and a stack of usability improvements.

Designer Pro X 8 gains various useful web features. These include smart page resizing (objects automatically reposition as you add or remove text); the ability to embed the fonts you need for a website within its pages; an MP3 player, new charting and QR Code widgets, and various web presentation improvements.

Elsewhere, a new Shape Builder tool allows you to paint onto an existing shape to edit and adjust it. Or, if you prefer the easy life, you may be more interested in the new bundled content: clipart, print templates, web themes and more.

As previously, Xara Photo and Graphic Designer MX 8 remains the value offering, delivering a vast amount of functionality for a very reasonable $89. If you need Designer Pro X 8′s web features and extra power, though, the program can be yours for $299, and trial builds of both editions are available now.